Stillwater

A Jack McBride Mystery

By: Melissa Lenhardt

Narrated by: William Dufris

Big secrets run deep. Former FBI agent Jack McBride took the job as chief of police for Stillwater, Texas, to start a new life with his teenage son, Ethan, away from the suspicions that surrounded his wife's disappearance a year earlier. With a low crime rate and a five-man police force, he expected it to be a nice, easy gig; hot checks, traffic violations, some drugs, occasional domestic disturbances, and petty theft. Instead, within a week he is investigating a staged murder-suicide, uncovering a decades' old skeleton buried in the woods, and managing the first crime wave in 30 years. For help navigating his unfamiliar, small-town surroundings, Jack turns to Ellie Martin, one of the most respected women in town - her scandal-filled past notwithstanding.

Despite Jack's murky marriage status and the disapproval of Ethan and the town, they are immediately drawn to each other. As Jack and Ellie struggle with their budding relationship, they unearth shattering secrets long buried and discover the two cases Jack is working, though 50 years apart, share a surprising connection that will rattle the town to its core.

©2015 Melissa Lenhardt (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

rjkaral

The story is so so. Slow at times, great at times, fantastic at times but at times one wants to put the book away.

Stillwater

A great story full of intrigue and humor as well . I enjoyed the narrators attempts at drawl and female voices. The story was one I wanted to keep listening to without breaks, because you were waiting to see what predicament the main character would get into next!! (Chief Jack McBride, ). The love interest in the story was somewhat unrealistic but this Chief was in desperate need of it!! I had a few fun laughs at his expense.

Needs one more chapter

I feel like someone removed the last chapter of the book.
A second book to wrap up the loose ends would be a great opportunity to continue Jack Mcbride mystery saga.
What happens to Ethan and Olivia?
Why mention the haunted house?
Does Jack and Ellie end up together?
Is Bucks body ever found? Did he really die?
What's the history of the abandoned church?

A good read

This book is pretty well crafted. The story is solid and keeps the reader guessing what the outcome will be. The characters are believable and overall the book is a good read. It starts off a little slow however, but once you're into the story it become quite engaging. It's a shame the second book in the series is not available on Audible to listen to, as many of the plot lines are unresolved at the end of this book and it's a little annoying. I hope Audible is working on access to the second book.

What's with the ending?

I loved the book. Plot and characters were ok but I really didn't like how it ended.

Book #2

I haven't read a non fiction in years and was very excited how quickly I was interested. I wish I would have done my research first that there is a second book that is not on audible so now I'm left hanging! That is the only reason 3 stars. So many unanswered questions!

Very well writing, very good narration.

The story is very well written. The motives, the methods, the emotions, the characters, and the plot are all believable. Unlike so much detective / police fiction everything in the book is reasonable but also riveting. While the story concerns itself with small town politics, it is free of any political correctness, political generalizations, and the constant and irrelevant present labeling in so many modern books.
Meslissa Lenhardt deserves an extra star or... for ending the book on an emotional cliff , thereby compelling us to get the next book in the series.

The narration is also very good.

Cliffhanger

Good book, but second book in the series isn't available yet on Audible. I didn't realize that. Recommend waiting for next book to be available or be prepared to read book two of you want conclusions for the story lines.

interesting intro to Jake

Good character development for series. Just deep enough into the relationship that I have to catch the next in series. Interesting background on characters 🤔

Just ok

The ending was lame & anticlimactic. The narrator was fine. It’s just there was no real resolution to all parts of the story.