Suspicion points its nasty little finger at Katie because she's at the scene of the crime. Yet all she set out to do was visit her brother, Dr. Todd Thomas. Katie only has a few clues to guide her to what really happened to the fallen coach and the men responsible for traveling to its destination.
Now, Sheriff Thatacus Murphy's search for the late stagecoach leads to a very confused young lady with a gun in her hand. Not far from her is a body of man. The sheriff has the power to throw Katie in jail, but he doesn't have evidence that she was responsible for the mens' deaths and a missing money bag from Victor City Bank. The guilty party has to be located and pay for his/her crime.
A couple of things worried the sheriff. For one, Katie was the Ladies Champion of Westhill Rifle Association for four years running. Therefore she had the skill to raise, aim and fire a rifle. She is also an educated young woman having graduated from a Ladies college. Put intelligence and marksmanship together and you've got yourself a suspect.
Couple things working in her favor, though. The Sheriff might have found her with a gun in her hand, but she could have been acting in self defense. A woman's gotta protect herself .
THIS MAN THATACUS MURPHY brings back the charm of the old west and all the dangers that accompany it. A fast read that weaves mystery with romance. You're drawn into Katie's struggle to clear her good name and the sheriff's challenge to solve the case and keep the town's roughins from killing each other. The book offers a sense of place making you feel like you're walking down a dirt road that leads to merchants, homes, jail and a saloon. Several of the characters are developed, while others only appear through short dialogue. Plot follows through to resolution leaving no unanswered questions. The story flowed well, but I wish it was longer. I would have liked to have known more about the bartender, the sheriff and Katie's brother. Also wondered why a woman would travel alone in that day and age.
