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Praise for the Sherri Travis Mystery Series
Zoomer Magazine, in their July/August 2011 issue, chose Sherri Travis Mysteries
as one of three Canadian mystery series for their Best Cottage Reads feature,
saying
"These three series are sure to join the ranks of our national talent, finding acclaim on the International crime scene."
Good Morning America
put the Sherri Travis Series in the top 6 Mystery series for 2010.
January Magazine included A Brewski for the Old Man
in it's "Best books for 2010" list.
Book Reviews
"High tension, wonderful descriptions of the Florida countryside, and a very real,
heartbreaking theme of man's inhumanity toward man makes this book a must read."
.....Allene Reynolds at Mystery & Me Blog ~July 12, 2011
"The Sherri Travis mysteries started out well and have gotten better in many respects —
the writing keeps getting tighter, and Smallman knows how to crank up the reader’s tension.
The dialogue is often sharp and funny, and her portrayal of Florida and its residents seems spot on.
Champagne for Buzzards and its predecessors are certainly read-in-one-sitting books (in a good way).
One can’t help wanting more and anticipating the next book in this entertaining and fast-paced series."
......Sandra Kasturi at ~ The National Post
~ May 21, 2011
Champagne For Buzzards is the fourth in a series that gives the reader a casual style and storytelling with staying power.
The pacing is that of a southern drawl, with a core of beer, bars and bad behaviour.
There's a dark side to this tale, one of sexual stalking and slave labour but it's Smallman's "down-home" story telling that paints the scene
and welcomes you into the action. This novel is just the ticket for a summer escape of lounging with a beer, a barbecue and a mystery.
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR-July 2011-
Don Graves Champagne For Buzzards review
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With its seven-foot snakes and nasty horses,
Florida ranch country can be as dangerous as the mean streets of any big city.
Sherri Travis doesn’t do country. She likes it even less when she meets Clay Adams’ psychotic neighbors
and finds a dead man in the back of her pickup.
With fairy lights dancing through the Spanish moss and violent men closing in,
the surprise birthday party Sherri plans for Clay turns deadly.
And while it isn't the party Sherri hoped for, it's a good one just the same.
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The third book in the series A Brewski for the Old Man tells the story of the return to Jacaranda of Ray John Leenders,
the man who abused Sherri when she was a child. Back in town he's living with a woman who has a young daughter.
Sherri doesn't want to get involved; it's none of her business - except,
except - she knows the woman and her daughter and it's impossible to stay uninvolved.
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"..Smallman, winner of the Unhanged Arthur Ellis for her first Travis novel, is at the top of her game in this fast-paced tale."...
Margaret Cannon reviews "A Brewski for the Old Man" ~Globe& Mail~ March 7, 2010
"A murder-mystery crossed with chick-lit, this book is a lot of fun. It's worth a read if you are into similar
types of books like the Stephanie Plum and Bubbles Lablonski novels."
.....Shannon at ~ http://HerFreeReads.wordpress.com
The latest Travis amateur sleuth (see Margarita Nights and Sex in a Sidecar) is a terrific thriller
as the lead protagonist’s horrific childhood comes back to haunt her with two males who she knows still belong in the swamp, preferably dead.
The story line is fast-paced from the moment Sherri realizes Lacey’s RJ nightmare is her RJ nightmare and never slows down
as the bartender fails to heed the advice of the late Miss Emma not to stoke the fire.
Readers will appreciate this caring Floridian as she sets out to prove her innocence though caught in the nightmarish returns of two violent males.
Amazon.com #1 Reviewer-Harriet Klausner
Phyllis Smallman is a gifted writer, and has a strong and captivating protagonist in Sherri Travis.
Sassy yet vulnerable, full of self-doubts about her relatively new relationship with wealthy boyfriend Clay Adams,
Sherri is an engaging figure whose combination of single-minded determination, absolute candor, and underlying sense of values utterly beguiles the reader.
Add to that the strong sense of place unique to the Florida Keys, together with the menace of a major storm reminiscent of the film classic Key Largo,
and you have the perfect recipe for a fascinating read. I'm already looking forward to the next installment in the Sherri Travis saga.
Sherbrooke Record
Jim Napier
Sex in a Sidecar Review
The second Sherri Travis thriller is an exhilarating tale refreshed by the hurricane that assaults Florida.
The story line is fast-paced even when Sherri and company prepare for Myrna and never slows down as the plot twists once the clean-up begins.
Fans will appreciate Sherri's amateur sleuthing and especially enjoy Phyllis Smallman's humor in the midst of danger
as the heroine and her former mother-in-law cannot share a continent let alone a state even with their lives on the line. The two Travis' tales are wonderful mysteries.
Amazon.com #1 Reviewer-Harriet Klausner
Review of Sex in a Sidecar
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Florida has two seasons. The rainy season brings hurricanes, the dry season delivers tourists - both can be nasty.
Sherri Travis is tending bar at the Bath and Tennis Club where two women have been murdered.
A rich socialite, who comes in daily for her quota of side-cars, decides to commit suicide by being the next victim,but first she has to decide who the murderer is.
Sherri pours the drinks and listens to the stories, trying to make sense of it all.
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Margarita Nights is a cozy with grit -- serving Jack Daniels instead of tea.
In a small Florida beach town, Sherri Travis is a bartender with
attitude and a woman with an inconveniently murdered husband who turns out to be as
much trouble to her dead as he was alive.
Sifting through the debris of Jimmy's life, Sherri finds more than a few
people who wanted her lying, scheming, scam artist husband gone -- but
which one actually did the deed?
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"This is a terrific Book, with snappy dialog, rapid pacing and characters you'd love to meet in a beach bar.
Back when Janet Evanovich was still writing fresh, original material she was this good."......Lindor Reynolds~ Winnipeg Free Press~
... "characters you'd love to have a drink with and a sense of place that captures the essence of the Sunshine State.".... Don Graves-~ Hamilton Spectator~
This terrific cozy serves Long Island tea as Sherri goes from sarcastic doubter to griever (for both Jimmy and Andy) to lover to killer pursuer.
She makes the tale fun with her sass, spunk and spitfire sleuthing.
The support cast is super also as the island community in the mind of Jimmy's mom is divided into three groups:
the rich, the servant class from the other side of the causeway and the trailer trash.
Phyllis Smallman provides an entertaining Florida west coast amateur sleuth with a touch of romance.
Harriet Klausner ~ Amazon #1 Reviewer
'Sherri is a likable protagonist, a strong woman with an interesting circle of loyal friends, and one or two who aren't what they seem to be.
The plot keeps the reader guessing, with plenty of twists and turns, and the setting is well-drawn,
taking us from the most sordid depths of Jacaranda to the heights of the well-heeled with equal ease.
This is a very impressive, well-written, tightly constructed first novel.'
Shirley Wetzel ~ Amazon Reviewer
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Sherri Travis Short Mysteries
Jack Daniels And Tea
Things are out of control in Dutch's bar.
When the laughter and singing are followed by murder,
Sherri Travis discovers reason in the chaos and justice for a friend.
Bitty And The Naked Ladies
Some crimes are perfect. Greed leads Sherri into temptation and delivers her to evil.
Excerpts from Reviews of the Sherri Travis Series
...
"Snappy Dialogue, intriguing plot makes Saltspring writer's third outing for sleuthing bar owner a charm"...
Moira Dann~The Victoria Times Colonist
..."Phyllis Smallman is a gifted writer, and has a strong and captivating protagonist in Sherri Travis.....
Her works are attracting a growing legion of admiring fans"...
Jim Napier~ The Sherbrooke Record
Additional Reviews
Deadly Diversions - July 12, 2011-
Jim Napier ~ Champagne for Buzzards
Globe & Mail April 2011 Margaret Cannon
Champagne for Buzzards Review
My First Review from the United Kingdom
UK Dana ~ Read It Swap It Forums
Connie's Reviews Blog Connie Gregory A Brewski for the Old Man Review
CBC News Cutting Edge Rosemary McCracken
A Brewski for the Old Man Review
Victoria Times Colonist- Moira Dann A Brewski for the Old Man Review
Sherbrooke Record - Jim Napier A Brewski for the Old Man Review
Hamilton Spectator-Don Graves A Brewski for the Old Man Review
Review Links:
Night Owl Reviews
Buy the books: Print Form
Amazon Canada
Chapters Indigo
Independent Mystery Booksellers
McNally Robinson
Books A Million
Amazon USA
Barnes & Noble
Powell Books
Dead Write Books
Amazon.co.UK
Amazon.fr
Electronic Format ~ eBook Readers
Sony eBookstore
Kobo eBookstore
Amazon Kindle eBookstore
Apple iBook Store
Barnes & Noble Nook Books
Books a Million eBook Store
Google eBook Store
Autographed Copies
Signed Copies of Phyllis Smallman books are available at:
Dead Write Books
#1- 4333 W 10th Ave.,
Vancouver, B.C. V6R 2H6
phone 1 604-228-8221
(see link above)
Salt Spring Books
Telephone: 250-537-2812
Bryan Prince Bookseller
1060 King St W., Hamilton, Ontario
Telephone: 1-905-528-4508
Memberships
Mystery Writers of America
Crime Writers of Canada
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