The Rock Hole

A Red River Mystery

By: Reavis Z. Wortham

Narrated by: Traber Burns

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

It’s a whole other country out there.

In 1964, when Ned Parker, farmer and part-time constable, is summoned to a cornfield one hot morning to examine the remains of a tortured bird dog, he discovers that there is a dark presence in their quiet community of Center Springs, Texas. Ned is usually confident handling moonshiners, drunks, and instances of domestic dispute. But when it comes to animal atrocities—which then turn to murder—the investigation spins beyond his abilities.

Ned combines forces with John Washington, a well-known black deputy sheriff from nearby Paris, Texas, to track down a disturbed individual who has become a threat to their small community.

As the case takes a dizzying series of twists and brings forth eccentric characters as well as several dead ends, Ned’s cranky friend, Judge O. C. Rains, is forced to contact the FBI. Then, sinister warnings that his family has been targeted by the killer lead Ned to the startling discovery that he knows the murderer very well. After the failed abduction of his precocious grandchildren, Top and Pepper, the old lawman becomes judge and jury to end what has become a murder spree in the Red River bottomlands. And it signals the end of an era in Center Springs.

In bald-headed, pot-bellied Ned Parker, Wortham has created an authentic American hero reminiscent of the best heroes and antiheroes in a story that blends country humor with heart-pounding suspense and ends with a stunning climax that may well shock our civilized sensibilities.

A Poisoned Pen Press Mystery

©2011 Reavis Z. Wortham (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

A Great Read

Wonderful story, extremely well developed characters and outstanding narration!!! I loved every minute of it!

Best Book I have listen to in a long time

Very good story and narrator was great!! Great book for 1960's history in the south

great story, great narrator

storyline moved along smoothly keeping reader's attention throughout without being too predictable. Well written and well read. will definitely check out the rest of the series.

Not your ordinary story.

This book was read by the perfect narrator. His voice and cadence fit beautifully with the story line. Gruesome a few times but generally just a good story. The characters were well developed and interesting. I would recommend it, but keep a handkerchief handy at the end.

Marvelous story

What did you love best about The Rock Hole?

This is a marvelous story set in 1964 in Texas.It is told from the perspective of Ned's 10 year old grandson who has come to live with his grandparents. Constable Ned Parker is tasked with arresting moonshiners, arresting drunks and stopping fights, until his county is plagued with animal mutilations. While these killings are gruesome, they are a minor part of the story compared to greater whole. The author is a true story-teller and does a brilliant job of developing the characters and capturing the era.The narrator is fabulous and brings the characters to life. I found myself laughing in several places. If you live in Texas,as I do, and can remember the 60's you will love this book.

Like a story from my youth

Would you consider the audio edition of The Rock Hole to be better than the print version?

Yes, did not read print version, but felt Mr. Burns was excellent

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Loved the character development. Not so happy with the sadism. I would have liked the criminal to be more involved in the story.

Have you listened to any of Traber Burns’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

When the good old days were not the good old days

Any additional comments?

Grew up on the north side of the red and there were many things that brought back memories. Some good memories: the neighbors, the party line, hunting on the creek but also some bad the racial prejudice, the hard work, the tornados and the cellars in the middle of the night

good story

I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it. don't know why not. it is a good story.

Mystery, humor, thrills, and great characters!!

THE ROCK HOLE is an usual combination of old time Texas humor and chilling thriller. The year is 1964, and these small communities are mostly segregated by white, black, and American Indians. Ned Parker is the white Constable, who is married to an Indian; best friends with the Black Deputy Sheriff, John Washington; uncle to Cody, a brave Vietnam war veteran; and forever friend of an old codger, Judge O. C.Rains. After a car crash killed his parents, ten year old Top, has come to live with his grandparents. Pepper, Top's ten year old tomboy cousin, spends most of her time at their house also.

Though a Constable, Ned really considers himself a farmer, who from time to time, finds himself dealing with drunks, bootleggers, and fighting families. But a new evil has entered his community. Someone is viciously mutilating animals, and he seems to be escalating his violence. The communities in Texas and near by Oklahoma are affected. The chase is on to catch this person who also seems to have a grudge against Ned and his family.

This story is populated by wonderfully fleshed out characters, with a feeling of story telling that reminds me of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and A TIME TO KILL. The atmospheric descriptions took me right back to the good and bad times of the 1960s. It reads like a combination of small town community, and good old fashioned westerns. Great mystery, but feels like literature at it's finest. Great start to this series!

Enjoyed it thoroughly

This book is set in 1960's , at a time when racial segregation and prejudices were commonplace, and told (partially) through a narrator recalling events of his childhood, and in that it reminded me of "To Kill a Mockingbird". The story is a chilling account of a small town in south USA terrorised by a series of brutal killings, and the lawmen who pursue the killer. Despite the gruesome subject, the story is narrated with sympathy and simplicity, and the characters are deep and touching. I can recommend this to anyone who likes a good mystery, an authentic feel of time and place, as well as well developed characters. However, the book contains descriptions of human and animal remains which may be upsetting to some. Personally, I found them a lot more moving than the mere description of violence would have been. I will be continuing with the series.

Nostalgic story behind hideous crime...

a story about growing up in a small Texas town..while trying to find the killer