Rating: 
Summary: A great first novel; a new mystery writer to watch
Review: I was amazed that this is the author's first novel! Apparently, bestseller Harlan Coben agrees. My local mystery book store is publicizing a quote from Harlan: "There's a new sheriff in town when it comes to Texas crime writing, and his name is James Hime. The Night of the Dance is a fine debut and destined to be both a mystery lover and Lone-Star favorite." -- Harlan Coben The Night of the Dance has everything you'd hope for in a great read. There are a bunch of wonderful characters, each with a distinctive voice and well-developed personality. The Texas hill country setting is convincing, from local traditions to interactions between differing social strata. There are healthy doses of humor in the book, although I'd put its overall tone somewhere between the soft- and hard-boiled traditions (it's not a jokey Carl Hiaasen-type mystery). The author layers on several different plot lines and keeps them all running smoothly. I read everything by Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, Dennis Lehane, Lawrence Block, James Lee Burke, Jonathan King (recently received the Edgar for Best First Novel), and I really think that anyone who likes those authors will enjoy reading James Hime's first book as well. I think we'll be hearing a lot about this author in the coming years.
Rating:
Summary: A true to life redneck Texas tale!
Review: I'm not typically a mystery reader but this book is special. It's engaging, all the way and keeps you guessing, right up to the end. I'm giving this book as my 'Christmas book' for 2003 but not waiting until Christmas to do it. I am sure that James Hime will be heard from again but for a first novel this is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Can't put it down
Review: I'm not typically a mystery reader but this book is special. It's engaging, all the way and keeps you guessing, right up to the end. I'm giving this book as my 'Christmas book' for 2003 but not waiting until Christmas to do it. I am sure that James Hime will be heard from again but for a first novel this is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional Debut
Review: James Hime has created characters and a place as well-drawn as any I've read in quite awhile, with a great deal of dry wit and a satisfying mystery as well. The novel *feels* like Texas, hot and dry and feels like a small, rural town -- with real people living their secret lives. Hime does a beautiful job of capturing their language and their attitudes, while providing a solid story. I look forward to reading more from him.
Rating:
Summary: A Must for Your Murder Mystery Library
Review: James Hime's first novel The Night of the Dance is an excellent murder mystery. Hime succeeded in keeping me fascinated from the first through the last page because he comes out the gate with a fast pace and sustains his intensity through the last word. The characters are tremendously enhanced through Hime's obviously intimate knowledge of Texas dialect and colloquialisms. The Night of the Dance has an excellent and exciting plot with numerous unexpected and intriguing twists that will keep you guessing. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-written, fast paced murder mystery. I am looking forward to the future adventures of Jeremiah and Clyde.
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Summary: Reader fro Kelso, WA
Review: Really!!!a good story. Worth the time and money to read this one. No lull chapters in this one...action keeps moving and fun characters. I enjoyed this book and look forward to this author's future books. Great first novel.
Rating:
Summary: Really good debut novel....
Review: Since I have little time to read popular fiction, I concentrate on debut novels...sort of a hobby. The cover caught my eye as I have a great love for the old (and new) West. What distracted me throughout this book was the use of "of" instead of "have," as in "could of," "should of," etc. At first, I thought it was just how these people talked...but, after ruminating on this problem, why not "should've" and "could've"? When the veterinarian 'talked' that way too, I was stumped. Here is an educated man who certainly would not WRITE 'could of' in a million years. Five stars for keeping my interest throughout.
Rating: 
Summary: Edgar Award Nominee
Review: Some books can take their time to hit their stride. They start out slow and may require a lot of effort by the reader to follow what is happening and/or care about what is happening. THE NIGHT OF THE DANCE is one of those books. After reading 50 pages of this book about a year ago, I put it down and did not pick it up again until it's recent Edgar nomination. With that recommendation I forced myself through the book and , as so very often happens with Edgar books previously discarded, am very glad I did. It took a couple of hundred pages before the pages started flying but fly right by they eventually did.
The remains of Sissy Fletcher are found in a pasture in Sleepy Washington County, a rural part of Texas. Sissy disappeared ten years ago after a local Rodeo Dance. It was assumed at that time she left for a large city never to return. Sheriff Dewey Sharpe appears to be in over his head especially when there are several murders around town over the next few days. He enlists the help of ex- Texas Ranger, Jeremiah Spur to work the case, as well as, Deputy Clyde Thomas, a black man who is formerly of the Dallas PD and left the city because of racial bias. Together they must roam the town and try to discover the killer from some pretty unsavory characters.
Slow starts can kill a book in it's track- especially those written by a debut author. Kudos to those readers on the Edgar committee who decided to stick this one out. Multiple characters are introduced over the first 100 pages. It may take another 100 pages to become comfortably familiar with them before the pacing can truly pick up. Most of the characters are richly portrayed and carefully constructed. However, there are some problems with several stereotypic characters and some pretty silly dialogue by our local villains Martin and his sidekick, Dud. The pacing is maddeningly slow and the length is at least 100 pages too long. Make no mistake about it. This is a very ambitious and extraordinarily well written debut. Perhaps a bit too ambitious but a worthwhile nominee.
Rating:
Summary: Edgar Award Nominee
Review: Some books can take their time to hit their stride. They start out slow and may require a lot of effort by the reader to follow what is happening and/or care about what is happening. THE NIGHT OF THE DANCE is one of those books. After reading 50 pages of this book about a year ago, I put it down and did not pick it up again until it's recent Edgar nomination. With that recommendation I forced myself through the book and , as so very often happens with Edgar books previously discarded, am very glad I did. It took a couple of hundred pages before the pages started flying but fly right by they eventually did.
The remains of Sissy Fletcher are found in a pasture in Sleepy Washington County, a rural part of Texas. Sissy disappeared ten years ago after a local Rodeo Dance. It was assumed at that time she left for a large city never to return. Sheriff Dewey Sharpe appears to be in over his head especially when there are several murders around town over the next few days. He enlists the help of ex- Texas Ranger, Jeremiah Spur to work the case, as well as, Deputy Clyde Thomas, a black man who is formerly of the Dallas PD and left the city because of racial bias. Together they must roam the town and try to discover the killer from some pretty unsavory characters.
Slow starts can kill a book in it's track- especially those written by a debut author. Kudos to those readers on the Edgar committee who decided to stick this one out. Multiple characters are introduced over the first 100 pages. It may take another 100 pages to become comfortably familiar with them before the pacing can truly pick up. Most of the characters are richly portrayed and carefully constructed. However, there are some problems with several stereotypic characters and some pretty silly dialogue by our local villains Martin and his sidekick, Dud. The pacing is maddeningly slow and the length is at least 100 pages too long. Make no mistake about it. This is a very ambitious and extraordinarily well written debut. Perhaps a bit too ambitious but a worthwhile nominee.
Rating:
Summary: Thing are not what they seem in small town Texas
Review: Ten years ago a preacher's daughter disappears on the night of a rodeo dance. After her body is discovered an investigation ensues conducted by a good ole boy Sheriff, a retired Texas Ranger, and the rural town's only black Deputy Sheriff. This is a highly unlikely threesome-as different from each other as they can possibly be. They add their own unique personalities and viewpoints to the story. In the course of the investigation a lot of the town's skeleton's come tumbling out of the proverbial closet. James Hime has written a very strong debut novel. Several times I thought I knew the outcome, but each time I was wrong. Intricately plotted, there is a twist at every turn. A very atmospheric novel which conveys the feeling of small town rural Texas both the good and the bad. I look forward to the author's next book
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