Audible Book Review: The Double-A Western Detective Agency by Steve Hockensmith

This is fun listening and ‘deducifying’.

The Double-A Western Detective Agency
A Holmes on the Range Mystery
By: Steve Hockensmith
Narrated by: John McLain
Series: Holmes on the Range, Book 6

Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-18-19
Language: English
Publisher: Steve Hockensmith
Genre: Mystery, Westerns
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4,25 and Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer’s dream has come true: The Sherlock Holmes-worshiping cowboy brothers are finally in business as professional detectives. But their fledgling A.A. Western Detective Agency faces a few challenges. Their partner, Col. Crowe, is almost as cantankerous and secretive as Old Red himself. The colonel’s daughter, Diana, insists on tagging along for the Amlingmeyers’ first assignment. And that assignment lands them smack dab in the middle of a range war - with Big Red and Old Red expected to shoot it out with rustlers rather than rustle up clues and solve a mystery.
When the violence claims an unexpected victim, however, the Amlingmeyers are called upon to holster their guns (for a moment) and use their “Holmesifying” skills to track down the killer. But someone else is tracking them...someone who seems to set one ambush after another for the brothers. Will the Double-A Western Detective Agency’s first case also be its last?
©2018 Steve Hockensmith (P)2019 Steve Hockensmith

Review:
Big Red and Old Red Amlingmeyer have finally managed to establish their own detective agency with the help of a partner, Col. Crowe. The Double-As are big fans of Sherlock Holmes but on their own have only had limited chance to use their skills. Cantankerous Old Red provides the detecting expertise while Big Red provides the muscle, reading and support skills. Although they resisted teaming with Crowe’s daughter, Diana, she provides the charm, sophistication and calm.

Now they have secured a legitimate, paying case to help uncover cattle rustlers. They arrive in town to find a highly divided and tense situation. They walk in on a band of bullying gunmen threatening the local sheriff and innocents. Big Red and Old Red stand to help the sheriff and step right into the middle of a range war. It turns out the bullies they anger are the newly hired gunman for the man who hired the agency.

When a man is unexpectedly murdered, the fingers are pointing at the accused elder son of their employer’s opposition. But the clues and evidence are pointing to the employer’s bully. Big Red and Old Red are off the case of the alleged rustlers but hired by opposition to investigate the murder to protect of the accused.

As the two begin their investigation they get attacked, first by two mysterious strangers and then by a gentleman dandy who appears as a friend of Diana. Old Red suspects that Diana is reporting behind their back while she is frustrated that they are keeping details from her. It might sound a bit convoluted, but it makes for fun detecting and “deducifying” as Big Red states. I enjoyed the friction and banter among the brothers and Diana. I also liked the mystery and the trail of clues. This is apparently book six in a series but read fine as a standalone. I would be interested in reading/listening to more in the series. There are quotes and references to Holmes’ cases which make it more fun for mystery and Holmes’ fans.

Audio Notes: John McLain does a nice job with the narration. His voice and tone fit the rough western setting. He provides distinct voices and successfully delivers the humor in the brotherly ribbing. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: Received March 2019 from the author for review. This qualifies for 2019Audiobook Goal.