Panther Creek
Panther Creek
A Pawnee Country Mystery
J. D. Daugherty and Hoolie Smith return in this riveting 1928 mystery. A sadist is preying on young women, especially Native American girls. He murders them and dumps their bodies by two creeks—one near Pawnee and one near Claremore—both named Panther Creek.
Hoolie, his family, and his friend John Tall Soldier have driven to Pawnee, Oklahoma, to visit the Shield Chiefs. After Mary Shield Chief goes missing, Hoolie and John find her body in the bed of Panther Creek. Hoolie’s family begin a hunt for the murderer.
Meanwhile, J. D. has a new partner in Liz Shelby, daughter of oil man Big Bill Shelby. Together they search for the missing daughter of another wealthy Tulsa family, but they soon find her body at Panther Creek near Claremore.
Their cases colliding, Daughtery, Shelby, and the Smith clan find themselves up against a wily killer and running against time to bring him to justice.
“Well-researched and well-written, fans of mystery and history alike will find Panther Creek a deeply rewarding read. Fans of Tom Holm’s work will be delighted to see Hoolie Smith on the case.”—Theodore C. Van Alst Jr., author of Sacred Folks: Stories
“An engrossing story that will lead readers into an often-unexplored past of mysterious murders solved through the cultural prism and persistence of strong women characters.”—Frances Washburn, author of The Sacred White Turkey
“Tom Holm transports the reader to a time and place in Indian Country where not so long ago a serial killer took the lives of young American Indian women just because he could. The parallels between then and now are sobering.”—Sara Sue Hoklotubbe, author of Betrayal at the Buffalo Ranch
Tom Holm is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and a descendent of the Muskogee Creek. He is also author of the mysteries Andarko and The Osage Rose, both featuring Daughtery and Smith.
Prologue
Chapter One. A Trip to Pawnee
Chapter Two. Elizabeth Shelby
Chapter Three. The Shield Chief Family
Chapter Four. Claremore
Chapter Five. The Pawnee Jail
Chapter Six. The Doozy Hits the Road
Chapter Seven. The Pawnee Investigation Steps Up
Chapter Eight. The Cases Pile Up in Tulsa
Chapter Nine. The Investigation Moves to Claremore
Chapter Ten. The Collier Op
Chapter Eleven. Back to Claremore
Chapter Twelve. A Chase in the Darkness
Chapter Thirteen. Pawnee Country
Chapter Fourteen. Who Killed Freddy Krendle?
Chapter Fifteen. Flint Comes to Pawnee
Chapter Sixteen. Back Home
Epilogue
