A good mystery. The characters are simple and complex at the same time. The story hops right along through the most important aspect doesn't appear until perhaps 2/3 of the way. The thing I would quibble about is the seeming lack of likable characters, even the main character, except for one of the deputies. We don't live in a world where few are likable. I will seek out more books by the author. ( )

The second book in this series finds Sheriff Hank Worth having to navigate a lot of territory in his new hometown. First, a complaint about someone stealing the bark from elm trees out on someone's land and then, there's the election for sheriff. This is Hank's wife Maggie's hometown, so she knows what it will take for this outsider who was appointed to fulfill a term to win one on his own. It entails some of the humorous parts of the book, such as when campaign manager Darcy is appalled to learn Hank is actually from California, not just someone who lived there a little while. The slippery elm bark leads to the discovery of undocumented workers, drug trafficking in the backwoods of the county and long held grudges and secrets from warring families. It did not end how I thought it would and I really liked the growth these characters are receiving as the series goes on. Sam and Shelia, in particular. ( )

“’I know that ain’t what the Bible says, but I do,’ she said. ‘He’s always got horrible music playing, he don’t got no housekeepin’ skills, and he’s mean as a constipated goat.’” (Page 145, Another Man’s Ground)

While that description fit more than a few of our neighbors at the old apartment complex over the years, the same could also be said of several different characters in Another Man’s Ground by Claire Booth. Second in the Sheriff Hank Worth Mystery Series, the events of The Branson Beauty are still on everyone’s mind. Those events had a definite impact on the local community and could easily affect the upcoming election for sheriff. Just doing the job isn’t good enough, especially when you have a slick and well-funded opponent. An opponent who is going to take advantage of everything that happens as a result of the current investigation.

Vern Miles is upset as well as he should be because somebody is messing with his land and his livelihood. A person or persons unknown has been coming onto his land and stripping the bark off his trees. His particular type of elm tree has a substance in the bark that get processed and sold in stores as a supplement to treat various conditions. Not has somebody trespassed on his land and stolen bark from trees in such large quantities that the trees will die, that damage also destroys his income.

Unfortunately, those damaged and dying trees are just the start of the problem in the woods for Branson, Missouri Sheriff Hank Worth. There are undocumented workers running around the woods as well. The same woods are also hiding a couple of bodies and it least one potential murder suspect. All those problems in the woods, past events, and a couple of other things, are messing with his chances of being elected Sheriff in the upcoming election.

Dealing with it all is going to be difficult to say the least.

The second in the series that started with The Branson Beauty is a very good read. Another Man’s Ground seamlessly picks up the action after several months after the first book and keeps things rolling right along to a very satisfying conclusion. All the characters are back along with some new folks, a complex mystery, and the author’s clear appreciation for the area. Another Man’s Ground is a very good read well worth your time.

Another Man’s Ground
Claire Booth
http://www.clairebooth.com
Minotaur Books (St. Martins Publishing Group)
http://www.minotaurbooks.com
July 2017
ISBN# 978-1-250-08441-5
Hardback (eBook format available)
320 Pages
$25.99

Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Texas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2018 ( )

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It started with a simple phone call about stripped slippery elm bark and quickly become something much more complicated. Sheriff Hank Worth's investigation into the theft of the bark of a tree used as a herbal remedy evolves into the discovery of not one but two dead and buried bodies, a host of illegal immigrants in his county, and a miss-step that just might cost him the election as sheriff in the second book in the Sheriff Hank Worth mystery series, Another Man's Ground by Claire Booth.

Sheriff Hank Worth is a transplant to Branson, Missouri from the "city." He was appointed sheriff a few months back and is now running for election. Although Hank's wife was born and raised in Branson, Hank isn't a part of the "good ol' boy" network and doesn't have the political clout of his opponent and long-time county deputy sheriff, Gerald Tucker. Hank doesn't exactly get along with his campaign manager and he's sure her advice at a local luncheon may have cost him the election. As if dealing with the campaign and all of its drama and fallout wasn't bad enough, Hank must also keep under wraps the illegals he found while investigating the bark theft, attempt to discover the identity of the two dead bodies buried years apart, discern why they were killed and disposed of, and handle a family that can only be described as bad-tempered and ornery if not deadly when crossed. Can Hank find the answers to the theft, identify the remains and killer, and do so before the election?

Another Man's Ground is the second book in the Sheriff Hank Worth mystery series by Claire Booth but the first book that I've read (a situation that will be quickly remedied I assure you). I found this to be a fast-paced, engaging, and enjoyable read despite constant interruptions due to travels between hospitals and nursing homes, nursing home drama, back-to-back-to-back migraine headaches, and more. I enjoyed the personal and workplace drama that Hank encounters and found him to be a realistic and believable character. I actually liked most of the characters in this story, including the colorful, crusty and cantankerous Jasper Kinney, campaign manager Darcy Blakely, and Hank's co-workers -- Alice and Sheila (I really liked Sheila). Another Man's Ground is a taut mystery that provides humor with the twists and turns in the story, mixing family drama, big city boy versus small town boy, and more. Although I didn't read The Branson Beauty (again, something that will be rectified soon), I didn't feel as if I coming into this series and missing too much backstory (of course I could be wrong). If you've read The Branson Beauty, then I'm pretty sure you already have Another Man's Ground on your TBR list (if not, add it ASAP). If you haven't read The Branson Beauty, then I strongly urge you to read it and grab yourself a copy of Another Man's Ground to read immediately afterward. I look forward to reading more in this series and consider myself fortunate to have been introduced to this new-to-me author and series.

This review originally posted on 08/11/2017 at http://www.thebookdivasreads.com/2017/08/2017-book-273-another-mans-ground-by.ht.... ( )