St. Louis police homicide detective Dan Cutter has retired from that high-stress position to a rural life in Stone County, where his old friend is the sheriff--and an on-call job as the county's homicide detective. He's had a little time to get to know his new colleagues and neighbors, but is still "You moved here from St. Louis, right?" when a well-like businessman turns up dead near his truck some miles from home, shot to death almost execution-style.

Dan soon finds himself comforting the grieving wife and daughter, while he and his partner, Liz, a full time detective in this slower-paced community, start piecing together the evidence.

Who knew Frank? Everyone. Who were his enemies? The only one with a motive that looks strong enough to kill over was sitting in jail at the time, and had been for several weeks.

Yet, clearly, someone did kill him.

A lug wrench has a thumb print that doesn't match anything in the criminal fingerprint database. Both wife and daughter had handled the threatening note they received, and only has their fingerprints recoverable on it.

Stone County may have a slower pace than St. Louis, but it's not any less complicated.

I like the characters who are clearly going to be the regulars, and everyone gets enough characterization to seem human and plausible. This looks like a good start to an enjoyable new mystery series. Recommended.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, and am reviewing it voluntarily. ( )