A slight, enjoyable mystery that takes itself exactly as seriously as it should, and doesn't outstay its welcome, Mad Dog and Englishman was a good read, especially given its current price on the Kindle (free).

Sheriff English has a Deputy he can't fire, an ex-wife that won't quit, and half-brother whose senses are on a leave-of-absence. But these small-town tribulations pale into nothingness when the local priest's mutilated corpse shows up. Who killed him, and why?

Hayes' writing is what really sets this book apart from other, more pedestrian mysteries, with similarly preposterous plots. He captures the rural setting with great accuracy and affection. Anyone from a small town will recognise the types and the way they react, but I was really impressed by how he refused to turn his characters into superheros when the plot demanded it. Instead, when a very unusual violence sweeps into town, the characters are at a loss, and make several bad decisions - exactly as ordinary people would do.

But whatever the danger, the tone remains light, and the narrative bustles along. In this respect, Mad Dog and Englishman felt very "television" to me - lovable characters, light tone, dastardly deeds. This isn't a knock on the book, but anyone looking for adamantine logic and emotional (or otherwise) realism should best look elsewhere.

They would be missing out though. Hayes has written an enjoyable romp, almost a perfect holiday read. ( )

First Line: Summer in Benteen County, Kansas, is a season possessed of all the gentle subtlety of an act of war.

When Sheriff English's part-Cheyenne brother, Mad Dog, arrives in the park to meditate, he finds the mutilated body of Reverend Peter Sims, and the entire county is set on its ear. Benteen County is sparsely populated. Everyone knows everyone else's business. Sheriff English has never had to investigate a homicide, even the coroner (who's been on the job for over seventeen years) has never had to deal with a murder victim. So it's important that they do everything right.

Since Mad Dog is the natural prime suspect, Sheriff English has to not only look for suspicious characters, he has to delve into the history of the Simms family, which is very dark indeed. More murders seem almost inevitable-- just like that tornado that's on the horizon.

Hayes brings small town Kansas to life and doesn't put a foot wrong with his cast of characters. Sheriff English's ex-wife is a teacher, and they have a mouthy teenage daughter. Although they're divorced, they can't seem to keep their hands off each other-- which is something the entire town knows.

There's also the incompetent police officer who got his job through nepotism. He can't use his handcuffs because his kid lost the key and he hasn't got the replacement yet. The dispatcher is good at her job, but she's also Gossip Central. The guy who lives behind the police station keeps planting roses in the parking lot and then has fits when the police run over them. Anyone who's ever lived in a small town recognizes these folks.

The identity of the killer and the reason behind the murders were a bit obvious to me, but that didn't matter so much because I truly enjoyed getting to know this corner of Kansas and the entire cast of characters. This first book has set me up perfectly, and I can't wait to continue with the series. ( )

Offbeat but enjoyable mystery set in Kansas with an incipient tornado lurking. ( )