Sheriff Jules Clement grew up in the small town of Blue Deer, Montana, but left for college and to explore the world. He returned to become sheriff and it's been pretty peaceful so far. Until someone takes shots at the resident screenwriter and all the complex relationships in the small town explode into a series of crimes and revelations that will have Jules working double-time to solve this crime spree.

I'm intrigued by the fact that it's the first book in the series because it feels like you've fallen into the middle of the story and are expected to know the characters although Harrison does a great job of introducing them and how they're all connected. Because, boy, are they all connected. It's a very twisty plot that keeps you guessing what's happening and who's guilty of it. Just when I thought I had the hang of it, another thing happens that makes me question everything. And it's not done in a way that feels like the author is trying to dig themselves out of a plot hole, everything feels deliberate and very much like what the characters would do.

I enjoyed the narration by Justin Price but did have trouble figuring out who was speaking a couple of times. Nothing major, but it made me have to go back on a couple of conversations to make sense of them.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the twisty read!

Set in the fictional Montana town of Blue Deer, author Jamie Harrison starts a series focused on Jules Clement, a former archeologist and now town Sheriff.

Blue Deer is populated with a host of unusual characters, some recent arrivals. These newer arrivals are a mix of different types of artists and famous people, and it's the shooting of screenwriter George Blackwater that opens this novel.

Jules Clement is an unlikely person for a sheriff. He's well travelled, well read, mild mannered, and seemingly too calm and peaceful for the role. Jules is called on to deal not only with the shooting, but also conflicting and confusing motives, exacerbated by the quirkiness of the characters, many of whom are bedhopping with one another (Jules not being immune to this activity either.)

While the shooting appears initially to be the result of a feuding couple, facts come to light that widening the suspects to include George's brother Ray. Jules also finds links to an accidental death that occurred when George and Ray were in high school.

Pretty soon, bodies are turning up, and Jules is upset, and the motivations of all the personalities involved keep this case nicely messy and interesting.

The characters are eccentric, and there's almost a surfeit of quirk throughout, but I still liked this story and the sometimes elliptical conversations between characters.

This novel felt distinctly different from other mysteries I've read. Perhaps that's why I did like it, as it confounded my expectations, and that's always great.

I listened to this book, and voice actor Justin Price brings a somewhat folksy, wry tone to the proceedings, highlighting the sheer weirdness of the town and its inhabitants.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Highbridge Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.