“The Idaho Affairs” contains both Jace Wilkinson mysteries, The Idaho Affair and The Idaho Matter. They go together like peanut butter and jelly, and make a wonderful snack for anyone hungry for a really fun read.

Ex-FBI agent Jace Wilkinson is the new sheriff in Crystal Falls, an old-fashion small town where common sense conservatism reigns, which makes life worth living for the 600 or so residents. It’s also a place where some very weird things happen. But, that just makes it more interesting.

There’s a host of memorable and unconventional characters that are so unique and likable, you can’t help but love spending time with them.

The Sheriff has a couple of really strange murders to solve. He and his department, which consists of only himself and his deputy, Janie Simpson, use some very unorthodox methods to solve the cases and apprehend the killers.

Narrator Jace reminds me of a combination of Sheriff Andy Taylor, Sheriff Walt Longmire, and Mike Baxter. He’s a real man, a true American patriot, funny, and great at his job. If I were in a tight spot, I’d want this man to have my back. Plus, he tells a great story.

Deputy Janie Simpson could be Hannah Montana’s twin, but that’s where the similarities ended. “She didn’t look like she was big enough to hold a gun, but I saw in her file that she had excellent marks on the range -- the tree out back of the office -- and had scored high on all her law enforcement tests. She was smart, and she was eager to learn. She was twenty-one, but she looked fifteen or sixteen. If I’d been twenty-six instead of thirty-six I’d have pitched a tent on her front yard until she agreed to let me take her to the drive-in.”

Along the way, they garner help from a few locals who add a heaping helping of entertainment and humor to the adventure.
There’s Rushing River, who’s part Kutenai Indian--a very small part, according to Ellen, the town librarian. His real name is Eddie Alder. At the suggestion of Ellen, Eddie researched his family history, and learned the Indian part. “Next thing you knew, he’d thrown out all his jeans and flannel shirts, and started wearing buckskin with tassels. And he let his hair grow long. It was hard to get near him after that, because apparently his ancestors didn’t take baths. Or maybe it was just Eddie. He wouldn’t answer to Eddie anymore, either. He renamed himself Rushing River.”

The beautiful redhead, Abbie is the town's M.E. and veterinarian. “There is just one thing wrong with Abbie: she’s nuts. I don’t mean she’s actually crazy, mind you, it’s just that Abbie is the town liberal.” This is a woman you don’t want to try logic on; you’re just asking for trouble.

Geraldine is the match-making, lovable owner of the Buffalo Carcass, the town’s only cafe. She reminds everyone of Aunt Bea from The Andy Griffith show.

Larry’s the local ambulance driver. “Larry wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but his dad owned the only ambulance service in town. It was the reason he had a job, as I doubted anyone else would hire him. Not because he was obnoxious or unhelpful, but simply because he seemed to be the reason Murphy’s Law was invented.”

My favorite character, other than Rushing River, is Fiona. She does make-up on the departed at the mortuary. “She was young and pretty, with long black hair she was constantly changing to reflect the classic film star she was infatuated with at the moment. She was a movie buff and when she wasn’t making the dead look presentable for their last starring role, she was watching old movies. It sounded weird when someone had first told me about her, but that was before I’d met her. She was as sweet as Abbie was nuts. She was so innocent, in fact, she seemed to belong to another time. I always hoped some geeky young man obsessed with classic films would move into town and discover his soulmate.”

With this odd assortment of characters in a quirky, but lovely small town still unsullied by liberals, (excluding Abbie) there’s plenty of fun, laughter, and a down-home, hopeful feeling that Bobby Underwood seems to bring to every story, leaving the reader with a smile.

What I loved most about these stories was the banter between the characters. Underwood has a keen ear for great dialogue, and he certainly transfers it to the page. Treat yourself to two fun stories in one. Read “The Idaho Affairs”. ( )