I was happy to welcome the return of Mick Hardin — at the end of another semester and just in time to help get my summer reading revved up. All kinds of Kentucky birds accompany Hardin as he privately investigates the murders of Shifty Kissick’s boys, Barney and Mason. The oldest brother of the Barney and Mason — Raymond — arrives from California to help Mick. A potential love interest appears, briefly at least, and we witness Mick and Raymond doing their military to abort an apocalypse in a teacup of narcotic and environmental bad behavior.

Again, the Appalachian settings and characters are beautifully rendered, and Mick fits so well within the place and people. Offutt’s Rocksalt, Kentucky, and its environs become as familiar to the reader as they are to Mick. His emotional struggle with finalizing his divorce and his rather bumbling but charming attempts to relate to and support his sister Linda, who is running for reelection as sheriff, also ring true.

All in all, Shifty’s Boys is another satisfying Mick Hardin novel.