Hidden Currents: Claire Booth’s New Sheriff Hank Worth Mystery Pulls Branson Under
There is something about a small town in spring that makes you think nothing bad could possibly happen there. The dogwoods are blooming, the tourists have not fully descended yet, and everyone is still riding the high of surviving another Ozark winter. That is exactly the calm Claire Booth shatters in her latest release, and honestly, it is one of my favorite things she does as a writer. She builds a world you want to move into, then reminds you that quiet places hold the loudest secrets.
I have been sipping my coffee this week with Branson, Missouri on my mind, which is exactly where this story lives. If you have followed along with the Sheriff Hank Worth series before, you already know Hank as the kind of lawman who would rather keep the peace than chase headlines. If this is your first stop in Branson County, you are in for a treat, because Booth writes small town tension the way it actually feels: personal, messy, and impossible to escape when everyone already knows your business.
This new installment, called Hidden Currents, is book eight in the series, and it might be one of the most emotionally layered yet. Grab your coffee, settle in, and let me walk you through why this one belongs on your nightstand the moment it releases.
What Hidden Currents Is Really About
At the surface, Hidden Currents starts with a murder that looks like a simple burglary gone wrong. Gene Willard, the owner of Branson’s local fishing store, is found brutally killed, and the initial assumption points to a robbery. But Booth does not let readers stay comfortable for long. Almost immediately, the case begins peeling back layers that suggest something far more personal than a random crime.
Gene’s messy divorce, a stepson harboring resentment, and an employee dealing with a violent ex all become threads Hank has to untangle. It is the kind of setup that keeps you flipping pages, because you genuinely do not know who to trust. Everyone in Branson has a motive shaped by history, and Booth uses that tension to explore how small towns hide their most painful truths in plain sight.
What makes this book stand out is how the murder investigation intersects with a separate, highly charged storyline. The long delayed trial for the men charged in the near fatal assault of Chief Deputy Sheila finally moves forward, and it stirs up county wide tempers at the worst possible time. Hank is stretched thin trying to manage both crises, and that pressure gives the story an added layer of realism you do not always find in cozier procedurals.
Meet Sheriff Hank Worth And Branson Missouri
If you are new to this series, Sheriff Hank Worth is not your flashy, larger than life crime drama hero. He is grounded, practical, and deeply committed to the community he serves, even when that community makes his job nearly impossible. Booth has spent eight books building him into someone who feels like a real person you might know, someone juggling department politics, personal stakes, and the exhausting realities of small town law enforcement.
Branson itself functions almost like a character in the series. Booth sets her stories in this real Ozark town where big city country music tourism collides with small town Ozark politics, creating a strange and convoluted backdrop for crime fiction [web:3]. That contrast between glittering theaters downtown and quiet, secretive neighborhoods just outside of them gives the series its distinct flavor.
This grounded setting is part of why the series has resonated with readers who love authors like Terry Shames and Steven F. Havill. It is procedural fiction that respects its readers, trusting them to follow layered relationships and long simmering grudges instead of relying on over the top twists. Branson feels lived in, and that authenticity carries through every page of Hidden Currents.
Why This Installment Hits Differently
Every long running series has an entry that pushes its main character further than before, and Hidden Currents feels like that moment for Hank. He is not just solving a murder this time. He is watching his department fracture under the weight of a politically explosive trial while simultaneously trying to protect people he cares about from a killer motivated by pure revenge.
Booth has always excelled at layering personal stakes into her procedurals, and this book leans into that strength. The tension between Hank’s professional duties and his personal loyalty to Sheila creates emotional weight that goes beyond your typical whodunit. You feel the exhaustion of a sheriff who cannot separate his job from his community, because in a town like Branson, those two things are the same thing.
There is also something satisfying about watching a series mature over eight books. Characters we have grown attached to are allowed to evolve, relationships shift, and old wounds resurface in ways that feel earned rather than forced. If you appreciate character driven mysteries that reward long term readers, this installment delivers exactly that kind of payoff.
The Author Behind The Ozark Mystery Series
Claire Booth did not start out writing fiction. She spent more than a decade as a daily newspaper reporter, working in cities from Washington D.C. to South Florida, the Seattle region, and the Bay Area. During that time, she covered crimes so strange and convoluted they genuinely felt more like fiction than reality.
That journalism background shows up clearly in how she constructs her mysteries. Booth does not rely on shock value or exaggerated drama. Instead, she builds cases that feel plausible, rooted in the kind of tangled human motives that actual investigative reporters encounter. It is a refreshing approach in a genre that sometimes prioritizes twists over believability.
Eventually, Booth decided she had experienced enough of the real world and turned her attention to novels instead, which led to the creation of the Sheriff Hank Worth series. Her critically acclaimed books have earned comparisons to other respected procedural writers, and Hidden Currents continues that tradition with confidence. If you want to dig deeper into her background or catch up on her earlier titles, her official author site is a great place to start exploring.
Ready To Dive Into Branson County
Hidden Currents releases on September 1, 2026 through Severn House, and if you love procedurals with emotional depth and small town texture, this is one to add to your list. Mystery fans who enjoy slow burn tension paired with genuine character development will find a lot to love here, especially if you already have a soft spot for stories where the setting feels just as important as the plot.
If today’s post made you want more magical, moody, and mystery filled reading recommendations, I would love for you to stick around Nevermore Lane a little longer. Browse a few more posts while your coffee is still warm, and if you are new here, consider this your invitation to join me for a virtual coffee chat. Pull up a seat, tell me what you are currently reading, and let us talk about the books that keep us up past our bedtime.
Like what you read? Drop me a line – let’s chat over virtual coffee.
~ Chrystal
HIDDEN CURRENTS
by Claire Booth
August 24th – September 18, 2026 Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis:
SHERIFF HANK WORTH MYSTERY SERIES
Another outstanding book in an ever-evolving police procedural series perfect for fans of Terry Shames and Steven F. Havill.
When spring settles over Branson, Missouri, Sheriff Hank Worth hopes for a quiet season. Instead, the town is rocked when Gene Willard, owner of the local fishing stores, is savagely murdered. What looks like a burglary gone wrong quickly descends into something far more personal. Gene’s messy divorce, his resentful stepson, and a terrified employee with a violent ex all weave a tangle of motives. As Hank digs deeper, the investigation collides with the long‑delayed, politically explosive trial of the men charged in his chief deputy Sheila’s near‑fatal assault. Tempers run high throughout the county, stretching Hank’s department to the breaking point. With personal stakes rising and the community on edge, Hank must unravel lies, expose old betrayals, and confront a killer driven by revenge. In a place where everyone knows everyone else’s business, the hardest secrets to uncover may be the ones floating right near the surface.
Book Details:
Genre: Police Procedural
Published by: Severn House
Publication Date: September 1, 2026
Number of Pages: 240
ISBN: 9781448313891 (ISBN10: 1448313899)
Series: The Sheriff Hank Worth Mystery Series, Book 8
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Books-A-Million | Goodreads | BookBub | Severn House
Read an excerpt:
CHAPTER ONE
The lake was calm and glassy, reflecting the bluffs on the other side. The giant bur oak rustled above them, its foliage almost fully returned after its winter shedding. The tree had stood near the White River for more than two hundred years, adding rings as settlers built Branson around it and dammed its river to create the lake. On this side, the shoreline was flat, dotted with homes, a cabin resort, the edge of downtown where Main Street met the water, and the park where Sam Karnes and Brenna Cassidy now stood.
It would make a beautiful background, Brenna said. There was no guarantee the weather would be good, Sam thought. But he looked at his fiancée’s face and kept his mouth shut. They had decided on a May wedding, before everything got too hot and sticky with summer humidity. That didn’t mean they’d be safe from the rain, though. That could come any time. He thought maybe he should suggest a contingency plan, then remembered his boss’s advice. “You can have an opinion on the food and the music. Everything else—tread carefully.”
So he stood quietly as Brenna framed potential photos with her hands. Where to take the wedding party pictures was one of the last decisions they needed to make. He hoped.
“This area looks good,” he said. “Doesn’t it? It’s not too far from the church.”
She half-nodded and moved to eye things from a different angle. “I don’t know how to avoid that darn plaque. It ruins every shot.”
He walked over to it. It was such a part of the scenery, he’d almost forgotten it was there. When some enterprising 1970s tree aficionado figured out the oak was older than the country, it became the Liberty Tree and the plaque went up in time for the bicentennial. Now the thing needed a good cleaning and, if Brenna had anything to do with it, a relocation.
“If we shoot this way, you don’t see the lake. And if you do it that direction . . .” She sighed. “Big old ugly plaque.”
It stood on a waist-high column. Sam leaned against it and watched Brenna wander around this end of the park. The darn thing was wider than he was. He thought about that and stepped away. Then did some hand measurements.
“What if we covered it up?”
Brenna walked back to him. “What do you mean?”
He moved so he stood directly in front of it. It was clearly visible behind his thin frame. “We put Roddy in front of it.” He spread his hands out a foot on either side, which was about how wide his groomsman Roddy Hale was. “He’d block the whole thing. We just have to arrange the order of everybody so he’s right here.”
Brenna considered that. “I think that could work. Don’t move. Stay right there.”
She walked fairly far away while Sam stood with his hands out as if he was illustrating the size of a particularly large trout. A mom with two young children walked by and gave him a look. He wished he had his sheriff’s deputy uniform on. Then he’d look like he was doing something important instead of just standing around like a sketchy weirdo in the park. The lady hustled her kids past and headed to the picnic area. Sam watched her go as another group came by on their way to the shoreline. By the time they noticed him, Brenna had gestured that he could put his hands down.
“Yes, that’s going to work. Good thinking, babe.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “And good thing you have a football linebacker as a friend.”
Sam laughed at that. Roddy’s size had come in handy many times growing up. He told her a few stories as they walked back to his car. By the time they got there, the group near the picnic area had equipment out, and a lady in slacks and a silk blouse was pointing them in multiple directions.
“Looks like someone else is planning an event, too,” he said, opening the passenger door of his Subaru for Brenna. “The way they’re measuring things, maybe it’s a whole wedding ceremony.”
She scoffed. “That would be way too risky. What if it rained?”
CHAPTER TWO
Sheila Turley had left him a note. And a file. It never boded well when she did this. Hank Worth sat down at his desk and cautiously slid the paperwork closer.
Gursey’s at it again. He’s all yours this time.
The Branson County sheriff opened the file and pulled out the arrest report. Sheila, his second-in-command, only printed things out when she wanted to make a point. Or wanted quick action. Because Hank wasn’t known for staying on top of his email. And she knew this particular suspect was a pet project of his. Gursey Rugg.
The young man had shoplifted again. The twenty-three-year-old was always plucking cheap items off the shelves of local retailers. If it was food, he’d eat it. If it wasn’t, he’d sell it on cheaply to friends and use the money for drugs. If the shopkeepers caught him, they’d call Hank’s deputies and Gursey would spend a while behind bars. But only rarely did people press misdemeanor charges. It wasn’t worth anybody’s time and, even if it had been, the sticky-fingered addict would still be back out on the street soon enough. So instead, he sobered up in Hank’s jail, swore he’d stay off the meth, and slouched back off into an existence where everyone involved deserved better and no one knew how to accomplish it.
But this time, Gursey overstepped. A magpie entranced by bright and shiny, he’d scooped up a handful of the wrong thing in the wrong store. Fourteen hand-tied, rare-feathered flies from Reel Life Outfitters. The owner was a newcomer. Purchased the two venerable fish and tackle stores on opposite ends of Lake Taneycomo when Lyle Boskins retired and seemed to be doing well. But it turned out he wasn’t willing to do nice. He wanted to press charges. And that meant a felony, because of the misdemeanor convictions Gursey had already accumulated. And a felony meant a stint in state prison, which wouldn’t be good for the fragile kid.
Hank re-read the narrative included in the arrest report. Then he got up and walked over from his office in the sheriff’s department Forsyth headquarters to hear from the man himself.
“Hi, Gursey. How you doing?”
“Hey, Sherf.” A disheveled scarecrow the color of a ghost rose to a seated position on the cell bunk. The jail scrubs hung off him in folds, and his dull brown hair stuck out in a dozen directions. At least it was clean. The young man blinked blearily and steadied himself on the mattress.
“What happened?” Hank leaned against the bars. “Last I heard, you were doing pretty well.”
Gursey shrugged, clavicles jutting like wings. “I was. Ask my addiction counselor. I got one of those, did you know? Nice lady. Always worried all the time, though.”
“It sounds like she was helping. When was the last time you saw her? Because right now you don’t look so hot.”
Gursey rubbed his wrists together. “Don’t feel so hot, neither.”
“You coming down off something?”
“Not really. Not like last year. At all, man, I swear. Just a little bit when Morty come to town.”
Hank had no idea who that was. He sighed and ran his hand through his dark hair in frustration. “And when did Morty come?”
“’Bout two weeks ago. He brought some homemade stuff, fresh cooked. I don’t remember much after that, ’til last night—I think. There weren’t no Morty anymore and I was at some trailer someplace.” He shifted suddenly from staring at the ground to looking Hank straight in the eye. “And that sucked, man. It was gross, and I was gross, and I don’t like that anymore.”
Hank blinked in surprise. After every previous arrest, Gursey had promised to stop the drugs. But until right then, he’d never come close to saying he wanted to stop. He kept Hank’s gaze as he continued to talk. “I walked ’til I got past Honey Lane and then saw that fishing place. Figured it would have a bathroom. I went in, and bro, I just wanted money for food. Thought I could turn some stuff over for a few bucks. I—”
“Stop talking,” Hank said. “Just take a deep breath and stop talking.” The goal of keeping Gursey out of state prison would not be helped by a confession to the county sheriff. He considered the inmate. In their numerous interactions in the four years since Hank became sheriff, Gursey had never made this much eye contact. It gave Hank hope. And made him a lot more willing to do what he was going to do once he left the cell block.
***
Excerpt from Hidden Currents by Claire Booth. Copyright 2026 by Claire Booth. Reproduced with permission from Claire Booth. All rights reserved.
Author Bio:
Claire Booth spent more than a decade as a daily newspaper reporter, working all over the country—from Washington, D.C., to South Florida, the Seattle region, and the Bay Area. She spent much of it covering crimes so convoluted and strange they seemed more like fiction than reality. Eventually, she had enough of the real world and decided to write novels instead. Her critically acclaimed Sheriff Hank Worth mystery series takes place in Branson, Missouri, where small-town Ozark politics and big-city country music tourism clash in, yes, strange and convoluted ways.
Catch Up With Claire Booth:
ClaireBooth.com
Severn House
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram – @claire.booth10
X – @clairebooth10
Facebook – @claireboothauthor
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