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Hope Walker Mystery #9

A Hopeless Sheriff

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A funny cozy mystery series full of bold women, a quirky and lovable town, and one seriously hopeless romance.A Hopeless Sheriff is Book 9 in the Series and the Fourth Book of Season Two of the Hope Walker MysteriesInvestigative reporter Hope Walker doesn't have a problem.She's got lots of them.The mayor is out to get her.The hunky guy she likes just left town.The local bank's been robbed.And now the new sheriff is doing everything to get in her way.And that just might be the biggest problem of all. Because there's been another murder in Hopeless.And as usual, Hope's the only one who can solve this mystery.Buy the ninth book in the Hope Walker Mysteries, A Hopeless Sheriff, today!Five Star Praise For The Hope Walker Mysteries-"I really think this series and each book has the perfect mix of humor, mystery, real life, and suspense."-"I love this series. Carson has me guessing the whole time!"-"This book is every bit as good as the first! I can't get enough of Hope and the rest of the gang. An engaging plot, and laugh out loud humor make it difficult to put this book down."-"I absolutely enjoyed reading this cozy mystery. It had everything I look forward to in a mystery and once started I couldn't put it down."The Hope Walker MysteriesSEASON ONE- Book A Hopeless Murder- Book A Hopeless Heist - Book A Hopeless Discovery- Book A Hopeless Game- Book A Hopeless ChristmasSEASON TWO- Book A Hopeless Journey- Book A Hopeless Valentine- Book A Hopeless Queen- Book A Hopeless Sheriff- Book A Hopeless StormSEASON THREE- Book A Hopeless Spring

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2021

654 people are currently reading
143 people want to read

About the author

Daniel Carson

39 books165 followers
Daniel Carson lives in Nebraska with his wife and their perfect adoring children who have never ever misbehaved. Not once. Honest.

His days are a mixture of... teaching, cooking, driving, cleaning, more cooking, lots more driving, cleaning and more driving. So much driving. When the children finally go to bed, Daniel writes stories.

The Hope Walker Mysteries is a cozy mystery series with action, humor, and just a bit of romance. A Hopeless Murder is the first book in the series.

The Baking School Mysteries is a culinary cozy mystery series where the food is a delicious, the people are nosy but lovable, and murder is always on the menu. Fudge Frosting Murder is the first book in the series.

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5 stars
716 (66%)
4 stars
287 (26%)
3 stars
69 (6%)
2 stars
6 (<1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Maria.
3,117 reviews100 followers
February 14, 2025
Oh, how I love this series! Each book just gets better and better. The mysteries are great and I love Hope’s investigative style as well as the conclusions she comes to as she digs to find the guilty party. I laugh with her at Katie’s and her grandmother’s antics and I can’t get enough of her and Alex! But the cliffhanger in this one… it’s enough to drive me to drink! I need to know what happens and while there is a next one, it’s not on audio yet and as much as I love the narrator for this series, I may have to actually read it to see what happens next.
84 reviews
February 1, 2022
I absolutely love this series, and this book did not disappoint. The characters are so real to me and humor is great. Sometimes I laughter out loud! The ending on this one has me crying out for more!
Profile Image for Peter Baran.
891 reviews63 followers
July 6, 2022
Book 9 - and the couple at the heart of these still haven't kissed - he is a hopeless sheriff indeed (he's not even the sheriff any more). Blowing out the previous books cliffhanger - where Hope was offered the job of Sheriff, it races through a bank robbery and a bit of a reversal on the new sheriff to get to an all new cliffhanger which predictably interrupts that kiss. Nonsense but cosy mystery romcom par excellence.
Profile Image for Olive Breece.
19 reviews3 followers
November 2, 2021
Be prepared to stay up late

I made the mistake of starting this book late one evening and couldn't put it down. The characters are almost like family now and the story's twists and turns keep you glued to the book until you turn the last page. I just got this book and I've already finished it and can't wait for the next one! Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.
Profile Image for Gale.
303 reviews3 followers
August 9, 2022
What can I say? I'm a sucker for a light, clever summer read!
Profile Image for Marci.
77 reviews
January 21, 2024
Sooo Good

I still don't know who actually robbed the bank. We know who killed her. We know who ended up with the $$, but who robbed the bank?
Profile Image for CarolKat.
2,280 reviews29 followers
July 1, 2024
At the end of the last book, Hope made a decision to go through all the names in the late Sheriff Kline's journal looking for leads on her mother, or possibly her father. Mayor Gemima Clark and the Town Council fired Alex as Sheriff and Gemima tells Hope she's the new Sheriff since she's been solving all the murders.

As this book opens, we get a summation of Hope's early life to the present. Then Hope begins her search for her mother by visiting one of the names from the late Sheriff Kline's journal. Ned Osterholm is a furniture maker and at the time when Hope's mother left town, he was dating her. He explains that while he did offer to support her mother, he is not her father. Granny had scared him enough with what would happen to him should he cross that line. He just doesn't know who Rebecca cross that line with. He did however tell Hope that her mother seemed to be afraid of something or someone. He believes she left to protect not only herself but also Hope.

As Hope is finishing up talking with Ned, Katie calls with the news that the Hopeless bank has been robbed. It's here in our story that we find out Gemima's true choice for sheriff. Cameron Stangle is a veteran lawman from Boseman, Montana. He got the budget Alex had been fighting for and he hired Jonathan Craft as his deputy.

Sheriff Stangle is very by the book and won't talk about ongoing investigations, at all. Especially not to Hope since she owns the Hopeless News. After getting what information she can from Katie, her kids and the others at the scene, Hope gets a call from Alex. He saying he needs to talk to her, tonight.

Alex now lives in Boise and is searching for a new job, but they meet at Spezias, a nice bistro, in Hopeless.

There's much that happens in this book, and Alex has some things he needs to figure out.

Hope finds out a lot about the bank and a previous robbery, one that led to the current ownership. She also eliminates another possible 'father' with no further leads to her mother.

Did I mention there's a murder? Of course, there is. One of the bank employees that Hope suspects. Sheriff Stangle also comes around to her way of thinking and things get a bit easier for Hope.

I love the way this story unfolds, with so many threads to pull.

I am already reading the next one.
13 reviews1 follower
October 26, 2021
This is the 9th installment of Daniel Carson's A Hope Walker Mystery series, and arguably the most anticipated book in the series so far. A Hopeless Queen (Book 8) certainly left us on the edge of our seats, and I was just as eager as anyone to get my hands on this one.

I will avoid spoilers here, but I think Carson delivers a solid story here that does a great job of moving the ongoing story arc along, while also providing us with another fun stand-alone mystery to puzzle over and solve. Are their answers and some semblance of resolution to some of our most pressing series questions? Yes. Does Daniel Carson give us even more of a reason to anxiously anticipate Book 10, A Hopeless Storm? Of course! Again, no spoilers, but this is the penultimate "episode" in the second season of this series. I always enjoy a good setup to a finale, and Carson delivers and then some here.

Never fear, all of the fun interactions we have come to expect between Hope and her family and friends are here. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments that are balanced well with the right amount of heartfelt interactions and the clever mystery plots that Carson is known for.

(Are you just here for the Hope and Alex scenes? Then you are going to want to read this!)

Daniel Carson has quickly risen through the ranks of my list of favorite cozy authors. A Hopeless Sheriff only solidifies his place at the top.
Profile Image for Loretta TheMoodyRedhead.
1,088 reviews4 followers
October 28, 2021
Argh! So frustrating the end of this book. I am happy knowing the next book, book 10 “A Hopeless Storm” should wrap up everything in season 2, because it’s the season finale. It’ll be released on December 28, 2021, thankfully.

A lot happened in this one. Alex and Hope spent a lot of time together and it’s so obvious the two like each other, but each person is too darn stubborn to say anything. Hope doesn’t want to be rejected and Alex doesn’t want to hurt gods pride. Blah blah blah. At least the end shows progress.

Man, kudos to Darwin. Again! Hope has called him during every crime and he has given her a main puzzle piece every time. He’s amazing! Without his skills, I doubt she’d help solve anything!

Next book for me to read is “Ghostly Dead: A Ghost Cozy Mystery Series (Haunted Everly After Book 7)” by Regina Welling.
Profile Image for Calista Cates.
103 reviews
March 3, 2024
Somewhat Redeemed

I said, I think in my review of book one, "A journalist never burns a source." Hope burns a source almost every book. I was a journalist for 30 years, this is driving crazy. These books were written and published years ago so the errors won't get fixed. Carson needs to hire a continuity editor. April's name is not Angela. And Hope did not put in a bid on the cabin after the estate cleared probate.

With all that being said I still enjoyed the book and this series. Continued great plots, great characters, wonderful dialogue.
Profile Image for Skye.
29 reviews
January 16, 2024
Romantically Dull

As wonderful as this series is, the back and forth “relationship” of Hope and Alex is just gaggy at this point. It’s like a TV show that waits five years to get a couple together, to the point where no one is invested in it. If you can’t even manage a kiss after nine books, I’m no longer interested in the romance aspect. The characters and the story are interesting and fun to follow along. But I could care less if Hope and Alex ever get together.
Profile Image for Richard Cowart.
632 reviews
April 3, 2024
Hope is still the editor of the Hopeless News but the new sheriff does not want her involved in any of the cases. There is a bank robbery and then a murder and even though she is warned off by the sheriff and mayor she still investigates while also trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance of her mother. Alex shows back up to help her with the investigations. Great reading with a little romance some fun and good story line
9 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2021
Thank You!!

This is one of my favorite book series!!! It is a little laugh out loud humor…. who done it….romance all wrapped up in a great series. This book did not disappoint and leaves me anticipating the next !!
I love to read and I Thank you for giving me a series that I can’t wait to get home and curl up on the couch with!!
240 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2022
Fabulous series!

This is the second book in this series I've read tonight, and I just borrowed the next one to read now - the series is that good! I love how Hope and Alex are being developed into a team. And that longer-running themes are resolving. Seriously, if you're a fan of Tonya Kappes , you'll love these books!
Profile Image for Sue.
1,764 reviews29 followers
January 8, 2024
Another wonderful book by Daniel Carson. I love the Hope Walker mysteries. The characters are terrific, the murders are fun to guess and Hope’s personal life very interesting to read. I’m enjoying the mystery surrounding her mom and her budding relationship with Sheriff Alex Kramer. Another 5 star read.
836 reviews10 followers
October 28, 2021
Lots of Twists & Turns in This One!

Love this series! I just preordered book 10. I was overjoyed to hear that he plans to have 25 books in this series. A side note - I want Katie as my best friend! I really enjoy her snarky sense of humor.
Profile Image for Jana Gundy.
1,919 reviews17 followers
October 30, 2021
So funny and entertaining!

I have loved this series from book one and I’ve never been let down. I will say that the author puts poor Hope through a lot but it’s worth every minute of your time!
Profile Image for MommyO.
378 reviews
January 1, 2022
Love this series

Hope Walker is clever, spunky, and her extended family provides constant entertainment. I look forward to seeing how the characters continue to evolve and grow, eagerly awaiting the next book!
9 reviews
June 14, 2023
fun series

I enjoy the series. The characters are fun but sometimes very immature for their age. Also, there’s some discrepancies between books. Overall, it’s a fun mystery series.
7 reviews
December 30, 2021
running out of steam

What a shame that, like so many series, the books go downhill after a few. Had this been the first I read, I would not have read more of the series.
293 reviews3 followers
May 17, 2023
cliffhanger

Daniel, you keep making me wait for the conclusion of so many questions. Still enjoying the series but ready for some pieces up in the air to resolve!
3,403 reviews12 followers
November 19, 2023
I was starting to get very annoyed at Hope being her own worst enemy but things may be looking up.
Profile Image for Ruth.
872 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2024
Loved this one! Alex and Hope make progress, another mystery is solved and Hope starts looking for her mom. The last two pages were perfect!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,127 reviews1 follower
February 24, 2024
Just keeps me coming back plus I need to read all available before my kindle unlimited expires.
534 reviews2 followers
June 3, 2024
Great read

Talk about mysteries within mysteries! This one had several, not to mention the question of who Hope's father is, where her mother is. So much to figure out!
29 reviews
March 29, 2025
I love this series! Short but lots of entertaining characters. A single narrator (Audible) with a variety of voices to keep it interesting.
55 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2025
Good one

In this book, you can feel the trajectory toward Hope and Alex getting together and towards Hope finding her mother. It definitely keeps the suspense going.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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