My name is Jeb Crawford, and I'm the sheriff of Lavender in the Texas Hill Country. We have a simple way of life out here. Get a lot of tourists - people who like to mosey around in the town's little shops. A peaceful lot for the most part. Every once in a while we get trouble - usually petty crimes like shoplifting and speeding. Most times the culprits apologize and promise to do better. Their contrition may be prompted by the fact that my department is situated in the back half of a church building.
When you think small-town sheriff, Andy Griffith may come to mind. We're a bit more savvy here in Lavender than the law enforcement folks were in Mayberry. Not quite as sophisticated as the cops on TV shows nowadays, even though plenty of ladies tell me I remind them of Tom Selleck. Now, it's true I have the mustache, and the height, and maybe ol' Tom and I are around the same age. That's where the similarities end 'cause I'm a small-town boy at heart.
Things are tough for a widower in these parts with more single women than men, and I have to dodge the ladies quite often. The only one who catches my fancy is Rowena Flowers, but she's a tough nut to crack. I see more of Rowe's niece Sabrina who has a way of showing up smack in the middle of a murder investigation. And that causes more'n enough conflict with my Deputy, Patricia Rosales.
See, Deputy Pat has a jealous streak a mile wide when it comes to the local game warden who happens to be sweet on Sabrina. She doesn't tolerate Sabrina sticking her nose into investigations for a second, and she's not too keen on Sabrina's cat, Hitchcock, either. Hitchcock has a way of popping up where you least expect him, and I can't help but like the little fella.
In spite of Deputy Pat's undesirable traits, I can depend on her for the most part. There are times when she heads down the wrong investigatory path. She may argue and cajole, trying to make her case like a kid who truly believes she should be allowed a second ice cream cone. Thank goodness she listens when I put my foot down and say "It's my way or the highway, Deputy Pat, because I'm the sheriff."
GIVEAWAY:
You can enter to win a copy of THE BLACK CAT KNOCKS ON WOOD, a June 2016 release from Berkley Prime Crime, the second book in the Bad Luck Cat series, following BLACK CAT CROSSING.
To ENTER, leave a comment here. We'd love to hear about your own cat, your opinion of Sheriff Crawford, or a comment about the series in general. A winner will be chosen at 10:00 PM CST on June 17, 2016.
Kay Finch is the National Best-Selling Author of the Bad Luck Cat Mysteries by Berkley Prime Crime. Though her character, Sabrina Tate, has left the paralegal profession behind to move to the Texas Hill Country, Kay still works as a paralegal at a Houston, Texas law firm. She resides in a Houston suburb with her husband and pets, where she's at work on Bad Luck Cat Mystery #3.
Posts
This is a new series to me! I am intrigued by Sheriff Crawford and would love to read more! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeletekaren(dot)kenyon(at)rogers(dot)com
Thanks for entering.
DeleteI just started this series but I love it and look forward to reading the next book. I also have a black cat with green eyes. His name is Shadow.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoy the series. Thanks.
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