Review: The Sheriff's Surrender

The Sheriff's Surrender

By Susan Page Davis

Publication date: December 1, 2009

My rating: ****

My review:

Fergus, Idaho used to seem like a safe place to live until the sheriff is murdered. While Ethan Chapman is appointed to be the temporary sheriff the women in town are still worried about their safety. Gert Dooley is known as the best shot in the area and when she agrees to help another lady learn how to shoot it is the beginning of the Ladies Shooting Club. As other townspeople are attacked more and more women flock to join the shooting club so they can defend themselves. Then Gert and the other ladies decide to try to help Ethan catch the killer with or without his agreement.

The Sheriff's Surrender is an enjoyable Christian historical fiction novel. Gert Dooley is such a fun character. Gert has always been overlooked and considered plain but she doesn't really notice her outward appearance. She may not be like the other ladies in town who wear frilly dresses and observe social niceties but she is brave, smart, and she has a good heart. When her brother Hiram's wife died in childbirth, Gert moved out west to take care of him and she has been there ever since. She helps him out both with his work, test firing the guns he repairs, and she cooks for him and his best friend Ethan. I like how Gert is willing to teach any of the ladies in town to protect themselves, even strange and smelly Milzie or the local prostitutes. She befriends them all regardless of how the other townspeople treat them. I really found her to have many admirable qualities. Newly elected sheriff Ethan Chapman is a good love interest for Gert. Ethan at first only sees Gert as his best friend's sister. He appreciates her skills with a gun and I liked that he was open to Gert's shooting club and their help with his investigation. He sticks up for her even when prominent townspeople disapprove. The romance is not a huge part of the story but it is sweet to see them realize their feelings for each other.

There are a lot of characters in the book and a number of potential suspects. The mystery of who is behind the attacks kept me guessing. I liked that it took me awhile to figure it out because there were some red herrings. I particularly enjoyed how the killer was caught. I did wish romance was more developed but overall I liked The Sheriff's Surrender.  I look forward to reading more about Gert and her friends in the next book.