The characters are not very subtle, but they are a relatively fun group to trek around the countryside with. The story is told from the perspective of Townsend who also chronicled the first Beef mystery. This is, first and foremost, a comedy. A tongue-in-cheek amusement that actually has a decent murder-mystery storyline as its frame. The humor is redundant and the plot is not a speeding bullet train. However, it is entertaining and it all turns out right in the end. ( )

The second Sgt. Beef story (?): the good Sergeant is still a policeman, fresh from his success in Case with Three Detectives, and contemplating retiring to life as a private investigator.. ( )