Broken Heartland

by J.M. Hayes

Book Overview

Sleepy Benteen County, Kansas, turns frantic on election day. Sheriff English, better known as Englishman, faces his toughest re-election challenge yet. The radical religious right is out to unseat... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159058452X
• ISBN13: 9781590584521
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Length: 229 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Hullabaloo in the Heartland

Broken Heartland: A Mad Dog and Englishman Mystery J.M. Hayes Poisoned Pen Press (2007) ISBN 9781590584521 Reviewed by Elizabeth Gunn (3-28-08) Sheriff English is a down-to-earth striver who does the best he can with the always inadequate means at his command in a dying Kansas town. His brother tries to help, but Mad Dog has issues about his ethnicity (exactly how many sixteenths of him are Cheyenne?) and his quest to become a shaman strikes a distinctly odd note in straight-laced rural society. Some confusion is caused by the fact that the sheriff's daughters are both named Heather, but the girls are so bright and resourceful, it's worth keeping them straight. The English brothers' sensibilities fall somewhere between the Marx and Coen brothers', shrewd insights alternating with zany non-stop action. Mad Dog travels with a wolf-hybrid with extra-sensory powers, and his Mini-Cooper carries a bumper sticker reading, "Jesus would use his turn signals." The one thing you can't do is stop reading.

What a Day!

The novels in this series all take place in the span of a single day. In this instance it is Election Day 2006, and Sheriff English, better known as "Englishman," is running for reelection in a hard-fought battle with a war hero backed by the religious right. But what a day it turns out to be. Before dawn, the only available deputy rams a school bus carrying the county teen choir (if, in fact, there is one). The Englishman's brother, Mad Dog, rushes back from a quest in the Black Hills because of a premonition that the sheriff is in danger. The same fear brings Englishman's two daughters hurrying back from their colleges to keep their father safe. Then a Columbine-like massacre takes place in the high school. A private security force takes control of a nearby farm and holds Mad Dog and others prisoner there. One hectic day in the life of Benteen County, Kansas. To review more about the plot would spoil the reading. Needless to say it's exciting and well worth reading, and is recommended.

zany law enforcement tale

In Benteen County, Kansas, the election for sheriff is a hot race between the incumbent Sheriff English AKA "Englishman" and braggart Lieutenant Greer, who has the support of the radical right in a state in which the political spectrum runs from the far right to the extreme far right. However, Englishman has other problems to deal with when his only Deputy Wynn is severely hurt during a high speed chase car accident involving a station wagon and a school bus. With Wynn in a Wichita hospital's intensive care unit Englishman claims he is to busy to attend a Buffalo Springs Chamber of Commerce pancake breakfast or debate his opponent. To himself, the sheriff expects to lose his job for legally upholding the law. Meanwhile, his half-brother born again Cheyenne Mad Dog has a feeling that Englishman needs him so accompanied by his wolf Hailey rushes from the Black Hills to Kansas. Englishman's two college student daughters feel the same way as their uncle and rush home to help their dad too. All three are right as angry Buffalo Springs High School student Chucky Williams threatens to make Columbine and Virginia Tech look minor while an army of organ harvesters abduct Mad Dog to reap his inner parts. When you mix a Mad Dog with an Englishman you can expect a zany cocker tale that will elate those fans who appreciate the offbeat in their police procedurals. Even Dorothy would not want to go home to this mess as fans observe a day in the life of a county sheriff on the Plains when even he questions whether he would be better off losing the election. Although life is as out of control here in the BROKEN HEARTLAND as it was in PRAIRIE GOTHIC, and MAD DOG AND ENGLISHMAN, J.M. Hayes provides a zany law enforcement tale. Harriet Klausner

Drama in a small town

Broken Heartland: A Mad Dog and Englishman Mystery J.M. Hayes Poisoned Pen Press (2007) ISBN 9781590584521 Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (6/07) "Broken Heartland" is a quick read. There is action on every page. The people in this small county in Kansas believe that the sheriff election is exciting. Little do they know that it will become an afterthought. A school shooting leads to the discovery of hostages being held at a nearby farm. The quiet little town only had a handful of deputies, so the sheriff's daughters have to end up trying to keep order. The town coroner was one of my favorite characters. The Heather 1 and Heather 2 names are a bit too much at times, but beyond that, the characters are fascinating. Part of the social division in the county is between the members of the Buffalo Springs Church of Christ Risen and the non-members. The members of the church tend to be holier-than-thou. Mad Dog enters the church to speak to a member. The pastor makes a sarcastic comment about being surprised to see him at a church. Mad Dog replies, "...you've got that big welcome sign by the front door. I didn't think anyone would mind." When Mad Dog is not made welcome, he asks, "So the welcome sign is only for show?" There are many questions "Broken Heartland" leaves the readers wondering. Will Heather quit law school to become a deputy? Why did Chucky start shooting in the school? Why are people being held hostage at that farm? Who will win the election? Anyone who loves a good mystery will love "Broken Heartland." The title does not accurately reflect the excitement of the book. You cannot judge this book by the title. I recommend reading this "Mad Dog and Englishman Mystery."