GRR Reviews The Sheriff's Surrender (Ladies' Shooting by Susan Page Davis

The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis is an interesting historical western romantic suspense when a woman started a shooting club in town after several murders (including the sheriff). It's a fun tale even though the mood seems to ping-pong a bit.

Gertrude "Gert" Dooley knows her way around firearms and is a better than most men in town, but she only has eyes on rancher Ethan Chapman. When the town sheriff of Fergus, Idaho was found dead of a NOT self-inflicted head wound, Ethan was voted in as the new sheriff. However, the ladies in town are worried that a murderer is loose in town, so the Gert formed a Ladies' Shooting Club to teach the ladies how to defend themselves. That leaves Ethan in a tough place... The ladies want Ethan to catch the culprit, while the men want the club disbanded for... something frivolous like disturbing the peace or danger to the public or something. When an attempted murder left the mayor in grave condition and another dead body was found, can the ladies and Ethan find the real culprit before he strikes again?

There were several twists and turns. My problem with the story is it couldn't quite decide whether it should be comedic or serious, so it sorta did both. The part where the shooting club meets was slightly comedic as the ladies have all sorts of guns, from tiny little Deringer to big shotguns and everything in between, but the part where people got shot and died are completely straight and brutal. Still, it's a great tale.

Category: Historical Western

Primary Plot: Woman organized the ladies shooting club in town after several murders including the sheriff; new sheriff may be in danger...

Tropes: conspiracy, enemies to lovers, law enforcement

Overall Rating:  4/5