Harkness: A High Desert Mystery By Michael Bigham
Harkness: A High Desert Mystery is about Matt Harkness, Sheriff of Barnesville in 1952 and his dog Addison..A young girl is brutally murdered and her boyfriend is missing. It is his job to find whoever murdered the girl and find her missing boyfriend. One murder leads to three, including one who is Harkness's secret love. In this small town there are a lot of suspects and Matt finds the task getting more difficult as each suspect is eliminated. This is a story full of secrets, illicit love affairs and great amount of alcohol consumed by the sheriff. It was refreshing reading a story that did not have cell phones, computers or other technology but it does have a likeable sheriff, his dog and his `39' Chevy pickup Harkness calls Hoopie. A suspenseful, fun read...I do love a great mystery and this debut novel shouts 'series'. I recommend it highly. Mystery Harkness: A High Desert Mystery is about Matt Harkness, Sheriff of Barnesville in 1952 and his dog Addison..A young girl is brutally murdered and her boyfriend is missing. It is his job to find whoever murdered the girl and find her missing boyfriend. One murder leads to three, including one who is Harkness's secret love. In this small town there are a lot of suspects and Matt finds the task getting more difficult as each suspect is eliminated. This is a story full of secrets, illicit love affairs and great amount of alcohol consumed by the sheriff. It was refreshing reading a story that did not have cell phones, computers or other technology but it does have a likeable sheriff, his dog and his `39' Chevy pickup Harkness calls Hoopie. A suspenseful, fun read...I do love a great mystery and this debut novel shouts 'series'. I recommend it highly. Mystery I got sent this book free and as a free book and fairly short read, it's definitely worth a look.
As it's a short story, the net closes in on the culprit fairly quickly, there are no great twists and turns. There are a few things you don't see coming though and it's fairly action packed so it's exciting and easy to get through quickly.
I didn't really understand why it was set in 1952, it made it seem a bit outdated. According to the times there was homophobia and racism which I found a bit uncomfortable to read. I don't really see what it added to have it set in that time, the story of the double murder would have worked just as well in a modern setting.
Overall, definatly a good read, I would recommend it for anyone looking for a quick, exciting mystery. Perfect for a holiday as you don't have to put much into it to find it enjoyable. Mystery
This was a great mystery and the start of a series I hope anyway this one takes place in Oregon in 1952 when two kids vanish without a trace Virginia Kelly and Joey McIntyre. What starts out as a simple investigation for Matt Harkness leads to murder of three people Virginia, Joey, and Matt's lover Kate. There are so many colorful characters in this book, from the Judge Barnes who's Kate's husband, to Jeff McIntyre the town dentist, in the middle of it all is Matt Harkness trying to find out who killed the girl he loved plus the kids. Of course there is Addison his newly acquired dog who has taken to Matt even when Matt would rather Addison attach to someone else. I would put these books up with Wayne Zurl's Prospect Sheriff series.
Definitely a great series for those who love cowboys and the 50's. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and couldn't put it down until the killer was nabbed! Mystery SEX, SURPRISE, AND A MODERN-DAY MATT DILLON!
It’s 1952, and the residents of the small Eastern Oregon town of Barnesville don’t have much to do except jump in bed with their neighbors. The town is a sexual pressure-cooker, driving the behavior of just about everyone - including Sheriff Matt Harkness, who’s having an affair with the judge’s wife.
In fact, Harkness is doing that very thing when he gets the call that two teenagers have gone missing. One is the popular high-school quarterback, son of a rich family. The other is an Okie girl whose family lives in a one-room shack.
As a fictional character, Matt Harkness is full of surprises. His first-person narration packs plenty of humor and personality - sort of like a modern-day Matt Dillon - making him immediately likeable. But just when you think you know what he’s going to do next, he does something else - and danged if it isn’t always just the right thing. And the surprises just keep on coming, revealing new depths to his character right up to the end.
Harkness is a man of his times, shaped for both good and bad by his experiences in WWII. He deals with issues like bigotry and sexual suppression in a believable manner. We come to know him as a good man, but never a self-righteous one. The pursuit of justice is his job, and he’s good at it, but he never loses sight of where his next woman, or his next drink, is coming from.
As a modern-day Western sheriff, Harkness has a horse of sorts - a ‘39 Chevy pickup he calls Hoopie, and a sidekick - a neurotic wiener dog named Addison. He’s forced to deal with some horrific murders, one of which strikes very close to home, before finally confronting the killer man-to-man on the High Desert.
This is author Michael Bigham’s first novel, and he’s done a hell of a job. The plot twists are always unexpected, but they always satisfy. By the time you reach the end, I predict you’ll be a fan of both Bigham and Harkness, and looking forward to the next book in the series.
Mystery Author Michael Bigham pulls you in with a slow, country feeling in the opening pages of HARKNESS. As you slid into the rhythm of the story, Bigham picks up the speed for a riveting mystery.
Matt Harkness may be the sheriff of a small western town, but he’s a far cry from a typical western sheriff. He doesn’t get along with horses so he drives a ‘39 Chevy pickup dubbed ‘Hoopie,’ cowboy boots hurt his feet, and his sidekick is a wiener dog named Addison that adopted him.
His experience during World War II has shaped Harkness in both good and bad ways. He isn’t self-righteous or thinks himself above others because he’s the law. He is out for justice, but never loses sight of where his next drink is coming from or who the next woman he beds could be. The small town of Barnesville set on the Oregon High Desert in 1952 is full of secrets and Harkness is the keeper. His secret is he’s having an affair with the wife of the county’s most powerful man, the judge.
After a star-crossed teenage couple disappears, Harkness has to start revealing some of the town’s best kept secrets and then murder becomes a part of the investigation. Harkness is forced to deal with hideous crimes, one of which hits too close to home.
Bigham has crafted characters that are flawed and problematic. He’s given them realistic traits and actions that will cause you to like some, hate the others. He has created his protagonist with rough edges, but a good heart as he struggles to do the right thing.
The story deals with tough issues such as bigotry and spousal abuse in a plausible manner. Bigham incorporates bits of humor throughout to balance the story. He also explores keeping secrets and how they escalate to serious problems.
HARKNESS moves at a steady pace with a good blend of small-town activities adding to the story. The characters are authentic, the mystery compelling, and the outcome filled with surprises along the way.
While not your typical western, HARKNESS has enough flavor of the genre to appeal to western fans and not too much to discourage those who don’t like the genre. Matt Harkness reminds me a bit of Augustus ‘Gus’ McCrae (of Lonesome Dove fame).
Bigham has done an excellent job with his debut release. He has created a protagonist in Matt Harkness readers will want to visit with again and again. HARKNESS is an entertaining read that will have you wishing you lived in Barnesville and glad you don’t.
FTC Full Disclosure - A copy of the book was sent to me by the author in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Mystery Sheriff Matt Harkness when faced with the disappearance of two teenagers is led into a trickery game of death and secrets.
Goodreads Giveaway Winner. Mystery In Harkness, Bigham has created a conflicted hero who lives right on the edge of justice. A World War II veteran, Harkness returns to Barnesville and picks up a relationship with the woman he loves. Problem is, she's now married to the town's big-wig, who also happens to be his boss. His fairly regular routine is unsettled when Joey McIntrye, the high school's star football player, goes missing along with his girlfriend, Virginia Kelly. Having lived in Barnesville a long time, Harkness is privy to many secrets, and he must weigh what to reveal in order to help him solve the crime.
The challenge with a character like Matthew Harkness is making him likable enough. In the opening pages he's in bed with the Judge's wife. He drinks too much. Some of the words he uses would curl your mother's hair. He can be a bit violent at times. But overall, Bigham did a fine job of smoothing out those edges to keep the reader rooting for him.
Before I knew I would be helping to promote this book, I had read the first chapter and was totally intrigued. As a lover of westerns and mysteries, Harkness was a great match for me. Bigham delivered a solid story that kept me turning the pages. The tension slowly built to an explosive conclusion. Along the way, there was the comic relief provided by Addison, the wiener dog that adopts Harkness. In the end, I couldn't say I liked most of the people in Barnesville, but I would definitely return for another adventure; see who else is hiding dirty secrets there.
If you like western mysteries and conflicted heroes, you should give Harkness a try. Mystery
In this thrilling debut novel, by Michael Bigham, Sheriff Matt Harkness faces a perilous challenge. He isn't your typical Western sheriff. Cowboy boots make his arches ache, he's phobic of horses, he drives an old battered pickup and his faithful companion is a wiener dog named Addison. Set on the Oregon High Desert in 1952, life in the small town of Barnesville has been easy-going for Matthew until a star-crossed teen-age couple disappears. Harkness is the keeper of secrets in his little town and to solve the crime, he must decide which secrets to expose. One secret involves Judge Barnes, the county's most powerful man. But Harkness had a secret of his own: he's in love with the Judge's wife. How much is Harkness willing to risk to catch a murderer? Harkness: A High Desert Mystery