The Unpopular Sheriff

by Andrew Allan

Sheriff Pete Corson’s job is to serve and protect the citizens. But, they hate his guts.

They think crime is rising, they don’t feel safe, and they’re dead solid certain Pete will never measure up to his legendary lawman father.

But now, there’s a stranger in town. He’s hiding somewhere. Turns out, he’s a mafia assassin on the run from his old crew. They’re hell-bent on revenge and coming to Kansas to spill blood.

Guess whose help the town needs now…

Genres: Ebooks

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2020

Reviews

[Silver Surfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one hell of a thriller. Action and intrigue all the the way. Just couldn’t put it down wanted to see what happens next. Different hero in this one, I wonder if we will get to see a sequel. Highly recommended.

[Carol Edholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced story, mystery upon mystery, more angles than a lightening bolt, with a complete surprise ending. This latest novel by Andrew Allan is well worth reading.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unpopular Sheriff - This book proves that Walt and DB are not the only characters in the world of Andrew Allan that are interesting and able to get the job done. A deputy elected sheriff inpon the murder of his father, the previous sheriff handles his job responsibilities, the kidnapping of a young child and corruption while dealing with influential forces trying to get him ousted. The storylines are intriguing and keep the reader immersed until the last page. The characters run the gamut from good to plain evil. Realistic personalities, realistic dialogues and a vivid imagination from a talented storyteller with a fast pace, humor and twists make this difficult to put down. Never once, does the reader think "I wish W and DB was here". Mininmal vulgar language and no graphic gore. 5*

Passport - Good Lord, I love the stuff that comes out of Andrew's imagination. I hurt myself belly laughing my way through the pages. Yes, there's Walt and Ilsa, but no DB. Passport does a wonderful job taking DB's place as the third wheel to W&I. I would like to see DB and Passport working together in a future book. Plenty of humor, action and intrigue. Needs a new editor, the same from the last book. I contacted the author to review his books. 5*

Killers, Bikers and Freaks #1 - A well written, action packed suspense novel. The characters and plot are well thought out and believable. The author's writing style reminds me a lot of Jimmy Buffet's and Elmore Leonard. 5*

Sell Shock (#1.5) - Picks up where Killers, Bikers and Freaks left off. A well written, funny, twisting plot with the same lovable characters and more. By the second chapter, you're already LYAO and sucked in for the ride. You can't help it, may as well be a cat needing to satisfy its curiosity. And satisfaction is what you get, until the story ends and you're going, What, it can't be over! You've got to read Killers, Bikers and Freaks first; this is where we meet our fine, funny characters and get hooked on this author's work. 5*

Bodies, Blades & Rituals #2 – OMGosh! It’s the first sentence and I’m already rolling on the floor LMAO! I love the books by Andrew Allan; you can’t be in a rotten mood when you reading one of his hilarious, action packed, intriguing little yarns. Do yourself a favor and read them in order; it’s the only way to get the full entertainment value of these books. BB&R starts where Sell Shock ends, a few weeks later. Well-written, suspense filled, action packed, with touches of humor; BB&R keeps the reader intrigued. It was difficult to put the book down once I started reading it. We have our continuous cast of characters that keep us cheering and rooting for them. And of course, the bad guys are BAD. The subject of the story is current and is just as horrible as in Roman Times or 600 or even 200 years ago; meaning it’s a dark side of humanity. Like drugs, it’s not only for the lower class, but indulged in by a worse class of people. 5*

Walt's Fault - Oh boy, did Walt step on, and in it, big time. DB calls in a favor since Walt owes him and he can't say no. All kinds of things happen in this quickly read, short read. Action packed and intriguing, with the usual dirty characters found in DB's world and a couple of kinks that make everything extremely interesting. The ending was a little too quick. 4*

Temples, Tempests & Blood #3 - I absolutely love this series! I have so much fun with the escapades, the humor and the characters Walt and DG. While there is plenty of humor, there is darkness and violence, and the baddies are depraved.

While you can read this book by itself, I strongly recommend that you start at the beginning or read the previous book at least. This well written series is hard to put down when started and each book builds upon the previous foundation. The pace is always fast and the dialogues are always snappy, witty, scary, etc., but realistic. The characters run the gamut but Walt, DG and Ilse are the center. The descriptions are vivid but never graphic, and certainly places the reader in the spider/fly's position. While managing the lighthearted side of the characters and their lives, Mr. Allan does not shy away from horrible crime subjects. 5*

[Michael Nethery · Rating 5 out of 5]

AA writes what I like! Always action. Always exciting. Most of his works I have read in a single session
Lost a lot of sleep with his books :)

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read Andrew Allen's other books which made me look forward to this one. So when I received an ARC to read and review, I was delighted. And, was also delighted with this book! Quite different from the Walt Asher books that we've come to enjoy and love, this is the story of a man who gets elected sheriff after the death of his sheriff father. There are a few storylines here which are all artfully tied together complete with plots you will completely enjoy and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Plenty of action, thrills, suspense, and corruption included. No spoilers, but this book includes kidnapping, a mafia hitman, and the quest to discover why he is so unpopular. Sheriff Pete is a wonderful character (hopefully a continuing collection) whom I hope to see much more of. Different than the other books, but excellent none-the-less. I received a complimentary copy and am happy to leave this honest review.

[Denise Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Modern Midwest Sheriff Story

I like this story because it shows a typical small Midwest town. The residents might be friendly but look out for secrets. Sheriff Pete gets a poor grade from the mayor and the residents. But why? People start dying and the sheriff won't let up investigating. A hometown boy returns and the mafia are not far behind. An old kidnapping unsolved haunts the sheriff as he solves the current mess. Details are finely woven and the story progresses nicely. A good read.

[RN · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book, not in my usual genre of non-fiction, because it is based in Kansas

I didn't expect to like this book. I'm more into the non-fiction genre. I enjoyed it though, not only because of the familiar towns in Western Kansas (I live in Eastern Kansas, Franklin County and was born in Overland Park). Sheriff/Deputy Pete, although only in his 40s, reminds me of my grandpa S. who was a deputy in Missouri. At 5'1" and in his 70s, thugs thought he was just a scrawny, old deputy past his prime. He was tough as nails and could get the best of them every time!

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unpopular Sheriff - This book proves that Walt and DB are not the only characters in the world of Andrew Allan that are interesting and able to get the job done. A deputy elected sheriff inpon the murder of his father, the previous sheriff handles his job responsibilities, the kidnapping of a young child and corruption while dealing with influential forces trying to get him ousted. The storylines are intriguing and keep the reader immersed until the last page. The characters run the gamut from good to plain evil. Realistic personalities, realistic dialogues and a vivid imagination from a talented storyteller with a fast pace, humor and twists make this difficult to put down. Never once, does the reader think "I wish W and DB was here". Mininmal vulgar language and no graphic gore. 5*

Passport - I love the stuff that comes out of Andrew's imagination. I hurt myself belly laughing my way through the pages. Yes, there's Walt and Ilsa, but no DB. Passport does a wonderful job taking DB's place as the third wheel to W&I. I would like to see DB and Passport working together in a future book. Plenty of humor, action and intrigue. Needs a new editor, the same from the last book. I contacted the author to review his books. 5*

Killers, Bikers and Freaks #1 - A well written, action packed suspense novel. The characters and plot are well thought out and believable. The author's writing style reminds me a lot of Jimmy Buffet and Elmore Leonard. 5*

Sell Shock (#1.5) - Picks up where Killers, Bikers and Freaks left off. A well written, funny, twisting plot with the same lovable characters and more. By the second chapter, you're already LYAO and sucked in for the ride. You can't help it, may as well be a cat needing to satisfy its curiosity. And satisfaction is what you get, until the story ends and you're going, What, it can't be over! You've got to read Killers, Bikers and Freaks first; this is where we meet our fine, funny characters and get hooked on this author's work. 5*

Bodies, Blades & Rituals #2 – OMGosh! It’s the first sentence and I’m already rolling on the floor LMAO! I love the books by Andrew Allan; you can’t be in a rotten mood when you reading one of his hilarious, action packed, intriguing little yarns. Do yourself a favor and read them in order; it’s the only way to get the full entertainment value of these books. BB&R starts where Sell Shock ends, a few weeks later. Well-written, suspense filled, action packed, with touches of humor; BB&R keeps the reader intrigued. It was difficult to put the book down once I started reading it. We have our continuous cast of characters that keep us cheering and rooting for them. And of course, the bad guys are BAD. The subject of the story is current and is just as horrible as in Roman Times or 600 or even 200 years ago; meaning it’s a dark side of humanity. Like drugs, it’s not only for the lower class, but indulged in by a worse class of people. 5*

Walt's Fault - Oh boy, did Walt step on, and in it, big time. DB calls in a favor since Walt owes him and he can't say no. All kinds of things happen in this quickly read, short read. Action packed and intriguing, with the usual dirty characters found in DB's world and a couple of kinks that make everything extremely interesting. The ending was a little too quick. 4*

Temples, Tempests & Blood #3 - I absolutely love this series! I have so much fun with the escapades, the humor and the characters Walt and DG. While there is plenty of humor, there is darkness and violence, and the baddies are depraved.

While you can read this book by itself, I strongly recommend that you start at the beginning or read the previous book at least. This well written series is hard to put down when started and each book builds upon the previous foundation. The pace is always fast and the dialogues are always snappy, witty, scary, etc., but realistic. The characters run the gamut but Walt, DG and Ilse are the center. The descriptions are vivid but never graphic, and certainly places the reader in the spider/fly's position. While managing the lighthearted side of the characters and their lives, Mr. Allan does not shy away from horrible crime subjects. 5*

Grindhouse Pulp Series:
The Pimp's Henchman, #1 - I love this author's work and this quickly read novella had me hurting from all the belly laughs. This is a gory, vulgar and in places twisted story, but that's what happens in this line of work. While the descriptions are vivid, they aren't actually graphic when it comes to the violence. The scene at the end is a little strong, but this is a very sick, twisted sadist in charge. Hang in there, it gets funny, not the sicko stuff but how it's stopped by a "wow, handy that was just laying around" thingie. If you liked the other books by Mr. Allen and things like Pulp Fiction and Get Shorty, you'll like this funny, dark story, too. It's definitely a good way to spend a little time relaxing. I contacted the author to review his books. 5*

Black Magic Massacre, #3 - A quickly read funny, gory, touch of girlie, voodoo vibes, ridiculous but entertaining and intriguing story. Walt and DB are probably wondering about the change in genre by their creator. Oh, family and romance are also part of the story. The last sentence was great. 4*
Grindhouse Pulp Series end.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

It was definitely strange following the footsteps of an unpopular sheriff. Hard to imagine things happening that way yet plausible at the same time. He writes a great story.

[Sean Pfile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Fast paced thriller! A twist @ every turn! Sheriff Pete is 10 times better than Mayor Pete! A fantastic new protagonist from the mind of Andrew Allan! Can’t wait for the next adventures of Pete.

[Lee Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool I like the change to make me guess what’s next!
I hope there is a series! Thanks for a great read

[Karen greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started this book. It was good....very good. Is is a different kind of story with a good cast of characters and plenty of action too.

[Darren Bourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever looked at the number of books that you have loaded onto your reading device (be it a tablet, a Kindle, or an iPad) and wondered what it was that piqued your interest in a particular book or a certain author (currently I have over two hundred digital e-Pubs on my tablet - and that is after having culled the TBR pile recently). This is just one of those books that were at the bottom of the pile that, due to being medically waylaid from work and recovering from an operation, that I recently read and decided to post a review of. This book, The Unpopular Sherriff, was published back in 2020 and written by Andrew Allan. I received a complimentary copy and am happy to leave this honest review.

Now, I will be honest, this is the first book written by this author that I think that I have read and I think that I can say that this will likely not be the last book of his that I read.

The Unpopular Sheriff is a story about a sheriff in middle America (Kansas, to be exact) who recently was elected to take over as the constabulary for a rural county following the death of his father, the previous sheriff, in the line of duty. The new sheriff now has to handle his increased job responsibilities (after having been upgraded from a deputy to a full sheriff), the tailings of a case that had plagued the previous sheriff (the kidnapping of a young child), corruption while dealing with influential political and financial forces that continuously try to get him ousted from his new position, in addition to having to deal with criminal enterprises that appear to be outside what one would come to expect of law enforcement in rural Kansas ( a mob hitman from Florida....).

As this was the first writing by this author I had the opportunity to read, I found the initial chapters to be a bit sluggish and was a bit hard to get into. Ultimately, the storylines became a little more complex (and towards the end of the book) and became more intriguing and able to keep the reader immersed until the last page. The characters run the gamut from good to plain evil. Realistic personalities, realistic dialogues, and a vivid imagination from a talented storyteller with a fast pace, humor, and twists make this difficult to put down. At the end of this short read (I believe only 236 pages), I could easily see giving this book four stars on a five-star rating scale and would likely enjoy reading the next book in the series.

As with all my literary ramblings, this is my five cents worth.

[Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a stellar read, except for two things. When I downloaded the book, I was intrigued that someone had written a book with the setting in southeast Kansas. It's a place I can relate to, since I live in southeast Kansas, but Winfield is in south central Kansas, not far from Wichita. That wasn't necessarily a strike, although a simple search online would have clarified that. I did one just to make sure before I brought it up in this review. It's not really a big deal. I didn't take any stars from the review because of it, but I was kind of bummed about it.

My second point did cost a star. There were no character descriptions. I cannot connect with a character who has no face. At one point late in the book, it's mentioned that Pete has a mustache. Well, what about the rest of him? It's also insinuated that Deputy Rice may have a weight problem. That's all we got for descriptions of ANY of the characters. Nothing for Bates, Willis, the Mayor, Tim Corrizi, Buddy, Arlene, Melcher--they were strangers to me when I started reading the book and I couldn't pick them out of a small gathering at the end. I wouldn't know any of them if they were standing in front of me.

With that being said, the story was quite good. There are three big mysteries involved. Pete Corson's father's murder (his dad was the sheriff before Pete), a mafia hitman is running around the county with some very bad dudes after him. Pete has to find him before they do. Finally, the kidnapping of Melcher's little girl. This was a real page-turner with a few plot twists that took me by surprise. The small town politics did not surprise me and were one hundred percent believable.

Did I hate Pete Corson? Absolutely not. I admired him for standing up to his adversaries when they tried to hand him his backside on a silver platter. He couldn't be bought and would not be controlled. He had integrity, honesty, and tenacity. I like that in any person, fictional or not.

This would have been a five star read had there been character descriptions, but since I couldn't see anybody and the characters were mere shadows going through the motions, I did take away a star and probably will not continue with the series.

[Jerry Walch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read The Unpopular Sheriff, the first book in a two-part series by a talented new writer. Well, he's new to me at least, although he's quite prolific. The book had me on the edge of my seat, burning through the pages, as Allan created characters that were easy to love or hate. The small-town setting and character interactions were easy to picture, and I never had to suspend my disbelief. Sheriff Pete was a great character, and I was rooting for him from the beginning. The story felt very realistic like it could have been taken from yesterday's news.

The ending was unexpected, but it fit the story perfectly. It was explosive, satisfying, and set the stage for the second book, The Unpopular Deputy. You don't have to read the second book to enjoy this one, as it stands alone as a thrilling read. If you're a fan of spine-tingling, realistic thrillers, then this book is definitely worth checking out.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a series that features Pete Corson, a county sheriff in Kansas. It had a very realistic ring to the story as the sheriff has to deal with several crime cases at the same time. He has personnel issues with deputies, some good, some bad. His personal relationship with live-in girlfriend had just ended. So, everyday issues and annoyances encroach upon his official duties. Who doesn’t face those intrusions in real life? It is a police procedural mystery as Sheriff Pete is no one man gang. He has a team and again some deputies are better at their jobs than others. Mystery lovers will find plenty of unexpected plot twists that will pull the reader along as the primary case, an intrusion of mafia hit men into small town Kansas, moves rapidly to a conclusion. Now, the story starts slowly, but don’t give-up as it builds to in interesting and violent conclusion. The characters are realistic and small-town Midwest people to their cores.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Unpopular Sheriff
Andrew Allan

Police procedural.

Pete takes over as sheriff after Pops was shot, crime unsolved. Then there’s the case of the kidnapped daughter of a prominent citizen he inherited. And the return to town of a former highschool classmate who left town to become a Tampa Mob enforcer. But it’s the history he doesn’t know that has Pete troubled.

I’ve never understood how the overlapping levels of American Law Enforcement work and neither do Americans or they’d never have had 9/11. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. And know that friends can betray you, you have only to ask Jesus about that one.

We are still waiting to find what is being distributed from that massive new building.
And as the story ends much is left unresolved.

Text needs a good editor.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a very different book by Andrew Allen. I have read and enjoyed all of his Walt Asher stories which are set in Florida but this is the story of Sheriff Pete who resides in Kansas. As usual the characters are well developed and believable if not always likable. The plot is interesting and multifaceted. It involves a kidnapped girl, a former resident who is involved with the Tampa Mafia and constant conflict with the town mayor. I thought the plot moved along smoothly and tied together well at the end.
Overall I think this is Andrew Allen’s best book and I definitely recommend it. I was pleased to receive this book as an ARC and I am glad to have the opportunity to leave this honest review.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. I immediately read it straight through. It is quite different from his Walt Asher series, but written in the same exciting and clear style. His characters are always extremely realistic and come with human flaws. The plot was imaginative and full of surprises. I couldn't quit until I finished the book, and then I had to spend some time thinking about it. I think it's better than the Asher stories because the people are much more human. Now I plan to read it again.

[Joanie Hinton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheriff Pete is not well liked by the town residents, not like his father was when he was sheriff before he was killed. And now there is word that a past local is coming back to town and he's running from the Tampa mob that he used to work for. And the mob is sending men to take him out. Bodies start piling up and the mayor and some of his "friends" don't want Pete as sheriff in case he finds out secrets they don't want known so the conspire to oust him from his job. But no matter what Pete won't give up.

[Janet Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big-Time Criminals in Small-Town Kansas
This book is the first in a new series starring the sheriff of a small Kansas town. A big-city criminal returns to his small-town roots and creates a huge dust-up. There are many moving pieces to this plot. I would not call this a clean novel. There is no foul language. While there is no on-screen sex, we find out more than we want about teenage girls dragged into prostitution. There is not a lot of violence, but what there is was too graphic for me. That alone is enough for me to not continue the series.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thriller that you will not want to put down. A small town in Kansas has a little girl, Ellie Melcher, kidnapped. A fake kidnapping turns into a real one. Pete is the sheriff, as his father was sheriff before him was killed in the line of duty. A former resident, Corizzi, wants to leave the mob in Tampa and comes home to Kansas. The mob follows to clean up loose ends. A lot of action and twists and turns in this story line. A real page turner.

[Ken Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different book form Andrew this time, not set in Florida and Walt isn't in it.
Pete is the sheriff in a small town, took over from his father when he was killed. But the whole town seems to hate him, blame him for the increase in crime, etc.
A tale that will keep you guessing just what is going to happen next.

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this book was certainly a departure from the usual offerings from Andrew Allan. And I Really enjoyed it. Sheriff Pete has a hard time convincing the town that he’s as good as his father, the previous sheriff who was killed in the line of duty. A great thriller all the way through. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review

[Manfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller with a new hero from Andrew Allan. A new sheriff the town people don't like. A little girl abducted, a mafia killer in town and the mob hunting him on it's way. Add a corrupt politician and a rich business man who cares about nothing but himself and you get an entertaing read with a few twists. I hope there will be a sequel.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book every reader hopes to find. One that is easy to read but keeps you up sooo late turning page after page. Many circumstances are against the sheriff but he holds fast to the “high ground” while solving the present case of mafia infestation and a cold case of a missing girl at the same time. It’s always satisfying to see the good guy win.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allan strikes again

Although this story is vastly different than what I am used to from this author it’s actually a good read when you get into it Pete is a great character as is bates and Arlene try it you will like it a lotttttt

[Christmas Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The action never stops as character after character help to build the tension in a small Kansas town. And when the Mafia arrives all hell breaks loose and life will never be the same again.
Highly Recommended

[nx74defiant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good story. Things have not been going well for Sheriff Pete. His girlfriend is moving away. His popularity is down, crime is up. He is called upon to save the day. Not everything is wrapped up since this is the start of a series.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Unexpected Treasure

This story starts with a bang and doesn't let up. Sheriff Pete is my new favorite lawman and I can't wait to see what comes next.