Review: Buck Fever

Blanco County, Texas is full of some strange goings-on. Deer season is about to start, and poachers are trying to get a jump on things. But when Red and Billy Don accidentally shoot a man in a deer suit, while confused about the antics of the buck they were actually aiming at, it's time for the authorities to get involved.

The buck (named Buck) is actually a pet of the game warden, John Marlin, and his best friend Pete Colby. They raised Buck the buck since he was a fawn. They eventually had to release him to the wild, but he never really strayed far. Roy Swank owns one of the largest ranches in the area, and thinks he owns all the deer located there. He cultivates a trophy herd so he can charge important people exorbitant sums to shoot them. He has even taken to importing deer across the border from Mexico. Unfortunately, he has recently attempted to increase his income by joint venturing with some scurrilous Columbians, who use the imported deer to smuggle drugs into Blanco County. Buck becomes an unwitting participant.

Marlin gets wind of the plot, but he can't trust the local Sheriff, who's in Roy's pocket, nor can he go to the Feds without proof. So he must try to obtain proof, with only the help of his friend Pete, and an honest deputy in the Sheriff's department. Red and Billy Don attempt to find out what Roy's angle is also, while working for him, in order to increase their own supply of bucks (the green kind). Everything comes together (or falls apart) on the day of the big hunt.

This is a humorous mystery, with quite a few laugh-out-loud scenes, reminiscent of Carl Hiassen or Bill Fitzhugh. The characters are fun, and although the bumbling fools and bad guys get to be a bit cartoonish, on the whole the plot rolls along at a good pace and the resolution is what you would want to see as a reader. "Bone Dry" is the next in the series. If it's as much fun as this was, it should be good.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, John Purcell, Jr. - RAM

Book Review: Buck Fever