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Jules Clement #4
Blue Deer Thaw
In the wake of a bachelor party that veered out of control, bodies begin to pop up in the strangest places around the tiny town of Blue Deer, Montana, and Sheriff Jules Clement is on the case. Reprint.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Jamie Harrison
7 books124 followersJamie Harrison is the author of six novels: The Center of Everything (January 2021, Counterpoint), The Widow Nash (2017), and the four Jules Clement/Blue Deer mysteries, slated to be reissued soon by Counterpoint Press: The Edge of the Crazies, Going Local, An Unfortunate Prairie Occurrence, and Blue Deer Thaw. She was awarded the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Reading the West Book Award for The Widow Nash, and was a finalist for the High Plains Book Award.
The Center of Everything (2021) was a January pick by Oprah Magazine, People Magazine, and Indie Next, with a Rave status at Book Marks: https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/the...
The Center of Everything (2021) was a January pick by Oprah Magazine, People Magazine, and Indie Next, with a Rave status at Book Marks: https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/the...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 20, 2016
Winter is the cruelest season in the tiny town of Blue Deer, Montana. The weather is awful; Seasonal Affective Disorder is crushing the spirits of more than a few of the town's citizens; people are freezing to death in the snow or in the icy rivers; vehicular accidents are up; suicides are spiking, and everyone can hardly wait for spring to finally arrive.
Jules Clement, the sheriff of Absaroka County, is as anxious as anyone for the winter to be over, because he is the one who has to deal with all above-mentioned problems. But at least he has found a diversion: He's spending some of his off-duty hours cataloging the art collection belonging to the eccentric, millionaire owner of the Sacajawea Hotel. This gives him a chance to utilize his skills as an archaeologist, which was his profession before he returned home to Blue Deer to run for sheriff.
The hotel renovation is proceeding slowly and not so surely, which is a major concern for Jules' best friends, Alice and Peter, who are finally getting married after living together for the last ten years. They are planning to hold a party, the likes of which Blue Deer has never seen, but it all depends on the hotel being finished and ready to go. That's an iffy proposition and a lot of people are on edge as a result.
In the middle of all of this, a woman dies, drunk, during a major snowstorm only a few yards from her home. It may be an accident, but Jules is suspicious of the woman's husband who's a major pain in the ass and who seems not to care at all about the fact that his wife has died. Then, two bodies are pulled from local rivers, suicides or maybe not.
In addition, there's all the usual crap that goes down in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, and Jules is sick and tired of dealing with it all. He's also developing feelings for his beautiful deputy, Caroline, which would be inappropriate given their professional relationship. But, this is Blue Deer after all, not some large city where the department might have a pain-in-the-ass HR director, and so who knows what might happen?
Jules is threatening to hang up his spurs and walk away from it all, but in the meantime he has to deal with these various crises, not the least of which is the question of whether the upcoming marriage between Peter and Alice will actually come off. As was the case in the previous three books in this series, it's great fun watching Jules deal with all of this and following the adventures of the town's other eccentric characters.
Each time I review one of these books, I feel compelled to point out that these are not cozy mysteries, even though on the surface they may sound like it. These are books that will entertain large numbers of readers across the crime fiction spectrum, and a reader closing in on the end of this one can only hope that Jules Clement will not make good on his threat to ride off into the sunset.
Jules Clement, the sheriff of Absaroka County, is as anxious as anyone for the winter to be over, because he is the one who has to deal with all above-mentioned problems. But at least he has found a diversion: He's spending some of his off-duty hours cataloging the art collection belonging to the eccentric, millionaire owner of the Sacajawea Hotel. This gives him a chance to utilize his skills as an archaeologist, which was his profession before he returned home to Blue Deer to run for sheriff.
The hotel renovation is proceeding slowly and not so surely, which is a major concern for Jules' best friends, Alice and Peter, who are finally getting married after living together for the last ten years. They are planning to hold a party, the likes of which Blue Deer has never seen, but it all depends on the hotel being finished and ready to go. That's an iffy proposition and a lot of people are on edge as a result.
In the middle of all of this, a woman dies, drunk, during a major snowstorm only a few yards from her home. It may be an accident, but Jules is suspicious of the woman's husband who's a major pain in the ass and who seems not to care at all about the fact that his wife has died. Then, two bodies are pulled from local rivers, suicides or maybe not.
In addition, there's all the usual crap that goes down in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, and Jules is sick and tired of dealing with it all. He's also developing feelings for his beautiful deputy, Caroline, which would be inappropriate given their professional relationship. But, this is Blue Deer after all, not some large city where the department might have a pain-in-the-ass HR director, and so who knows what might happen?
Jules is threatening to hang up his spurs and walk away from it all, but in the meantime he has to deal with these various crises, not the least of which is the question of whether the upcoming marriage between Peter and Alice will actually come off. As was the case in the previous three books in this series, it's great fun watching Jules deal with all of this and following the adventures of the town's other eccentric characters.
Each time I review one of these books, I feel compelled to point out that these are not cozy mysteries, even though on the surface they may sound like it. These are books that will entertain large numbers of readers across the crime fiction spectrum, and a reader closing in on the end of this one can only hope that Jules Clement will not make good on his threat to ride off into the sunset.
October 2, 2018
found them again in the bookshelves, love!
June 5, 2020
Difficult reading at best. Supposedly a mystery but two thirds of the book is about small town life in Montana via three subplots: (1) the sheriff and a female deputy having a love affair, (2) two residents have a wedding and reception with descriptions about the menu, the guests, and the stresses about having a wedding, (3) a resident inherits some artwork and antiques from his ex-wife and we go through long passages describing the pieces. Along the way three dead bodies turn up, but there is hardly any investigation, searching for clues, or interviewing of witnesses because the sheriff and deputies have no time for regular police work. Only in the final third of the book is there any action, and one of the deputies is killed, but by this time who cares? In the end the sheriff quits and the series ends.
There are 61 named characters in the book - apparently the entire population of the town. Names pop up and disappear for no apparent reason. What motivates an author to have so many named characters in a relatively short book?
There are 61 named characters in the book - apparently the entire population of the town. Names pop up and disappear for no apparent reason. What motivates an author to have so many named characters in a relatively short book?
December 31, 2017
This book is really hard to rate. The underlying mystery (not meant to be underlying I don't think) is actually good. Unfortunately there is way too much description of random characters and the descriptions of food and art are pretentious to say the least. Whole pages describing food which is supposedly fine dining just because they put it in French (eg goose liver and green beans who the hell would eat those together?) rather detracts from the story and makes the characters sound totally bonkers.
The author had some nice ideas for the actual mystery and included multiple twists so there were always several possible solutions. There did need to be a check for typos especially at the start of the book where it was at least 1 per page.
The author had some nice ideas for the actual mystery and included multiple twists so there were always several possible solutions. There did need to be a check for typos especially at the start of the book where it was at least 1 per page.
March 27, 2018
I spent about half the book being distressed by the dysfunctionality of the entire cast, but the second half enjoying it, focussing more on the "dry humor."
I can tell you first hand that not every inhabitant of small Montana towns, spends their time drinking and bed hopping. Though I hear there is plenty of that going on.
Nice to have a book which demands that you pay attention, far on the spectrum from those that overexplain each detail and repeat the lead character's reasoning over and over.
Well written, well plotted, and only slightly too grim for my preferences.
I can tell you first hand that not every inhabitant of small Montana towns, spends their time drinking and bed hopping. Though I hear there is plenty of that going on.
Nice to have a book which demands that you pay attention, far on the spectrum from those that overexplain each detail and repeat the lead character's reasoning over and over.
Well written, well plotted, and only slightly too grim for my preferences.
October 14, 2019
One of my 11 best mysteries read in 2000.
October 3, 2024
I rate this book high because of the story and characters. Funny in parts always interesting and well paced. Will seek others by this author.
March 20, 2013
Although the subtitle is "A Mystery", I forgot there was any sort of mystery involved but enjoyed spending time with the main characters. The book meandered--in fact, I would say it was a bit loopy--and then, about 50 pages from the end, I got the sense that Jamie Harrison remembered that it was supposed to be a mystery. From there, it quickly became a bit of a downer (and this is after laughing out loud, as I realized that she's trying to keep people from coming to Montana and painting as bleak a winter picture as possible), and then it was over.
I won't go back and read the earlier books in the series, and I won't look out for additional ones either. It was fine, but...enough.
On an editorial note, there were a few things that made me cringe and wonder whether there was an editor or whether perhaps said editor just didn't know enough to make some obvious factual corrections.
I won't go back and read the earlier books in the series, and I won't look out for additional ones either. It was fine, but...enough.
On an editorial note, there were a few things that made me cringe and wonder whether there was an editor or whether perhaps said editor just didn't know enough to make some obvious factual corrections.
July 25, 2016
I left the section about when I read the book blank because it is a long time ago and I just re-read this and the other 3 in the series. Jamie Harrison writes a good story with excellent characters and enough twists and jiggles and convolutions to keep anyone happy. The setting is well-evoked and adds to the ambiance of the story-line. And of course the protagonist is wonderfully drawn and carefully monitored.
I do not know what happened to Ms. Harrison. I assume that writing was not how she wanted to spend her life since she kind of falls off the map after the 4 Jules Clements books. Too bad. I wish she had kept at it.
I do not know what happened to Ms. Harrison. I assume that writing was not how she wanted to spend her life since she kind of falls off the map after the 4 Jules Clements books. Too bad. I wish she had kept at it.
February 24, 2016
#4 in the Sheriff Jules Clement mysteries. This 2000 entry is, regrettably, the finale of an enjoyable laid-back series.
Sheriff Jules Clement, Blue Deer, MT mystery - Jules takes up a relationship with deputy Caroline, while investigating deaths related to the art objects he is cataloging at the Sacajawea House.
Sheriff Jules Clement, Blue Deer, MT mystery - Jules takes up a relationship with deputy Caroline, while investigating deaths related to the art objects he is cataloging at the Sacajawea House.
April 12, 2023
A good Montana book.
August 25, 2009
Not the heavyweight literary figure that her father Jim Harrison is, she writes very fine mysteries.
January 18, 2010
Such a fun read. I enjoyed the main character immensely. Certainly no giant of literature but a nice voyage out West.
February 19, 2011
A nice wrap-up to the Blue Deer series, this one's more about the characters than the plot. Regardless, the plot is a good mystery wrapped up in jealousies and art. I'm glad I stuck with this series.
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May 16, 2011Jules Clement
June 30, 2012
If you stick with the book you will find the mystery submerged in details about wedding planning and art appreciation . Sheriff Jules Clement finally gets what he has been looking for.
April 6, 2013
Not my favorite of hers, but it is still fun to read for the locale and trying to match up people and places.
June 28, 2013
I am not a mystery/detective fan but I did enjoy this because of the hero.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews