In the dynamic Western The SideHill Detective, Deputy Vern Birdwell starts his career at the early age of sixteen, using the skills to solve crimes and catch criminals that he developed hunting game for the table. Over time, Vern becomes a detective and helps bring Western law enforcement into the new century. He falls in love with the beautiful librarian Mabel Hanson, just as he begins searching for a murderer and bank robber. Deep down, Vern is a peace-loving man, and is determined to get through his career without killing anyone. Will justice prevail? Will he catch the bad guys ... and the girl? First-time author Jon Alfred Smith was born in Puyallup, Washington, and now resides in Albany, Oregon. "My wife was seriously ill for five years till she passed away last April. I was her full-time caretaker. I had free time between the times when she needed help, but I couldn't leave so I started this book, hoping to make a birthday gift of it to her. She passed away before it was finished and never got to read it. I think she would have liked it. We had been married for 45 years, three days and nineteen hours." Publisher's website: http: //sbprabooks.com/JonAlfredSmith