Accidentally becoming part of an attempted murder investigation isn’t usually on the agenda when trying to clear your mind and yet, Elliot finds himself in just the predicament. As he’s taking a walk after a tough day at school dealing with a bully, Elliot stumbles upon a man in need of help.
When officers get to the scene, the only information Elliot has for them is that a blue pickup truck sped by and then this man came crawling out saying “Chad Monsoon” then passed out. He was shot in the chest, but no gun has been found. They ID the man as Jack Coutts – clearly someone thought he was dead and dumped him, but EMTs got him stable and brought him to the hospital.
Jack’s friend Ryan Coogan (Guest Star Tyler Posey) comes in after being called since he’s listed as Jack’s emergency contact and he’s asking about his friend. Sid tells him that Jack has been shot and is in critical condition. Now, we all know I try to figure out whodunit when I watch this show; Ryan wasn’t on my radar at first. He seemed to really be concerned about his friend and I mean, hello, he was Jack’s emergency contact. He tells Karl that he and Jack met in a bereavement group and he shared that he lost a friend named Jordan and Jack lost his daughter. After contacting Jack’s ex-wife, Karl learns that she and Jack’s daughter was killed in a ski accident.
“Strangers Among Us” – MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN, Pictured: Tyler Posey as Ryan Coogan. Photo: Kailey Schwerman/ FOX © 2025 Fox Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Since the accident, Jack has been on the hunt to find the people responsible for his daughter’s death. When he last contacted his ex-wife, he told her he believed he found them. That’s what brings us to what Jack was trying to say when Elliot found him; “Chad Monsoon”. There was a Chad, but it was Chad Wilkinson, who Jack reached out to selling a used jet ski. Chad’s jet ski was called “Monsoon”. When Sid and Laila go to check it out, they notice the damage to it and decide to bring in forensics. It turns out, Chad’s jet ski was the one involved in Jack’s daughter’s tragic death.
Chad admits to hosting a party on that day, but he was not the one on the jet ski. To make matters worse, remember that gun they couldn’t find? The bullet removed from Jack was traced back to a gun registered to Chad. He lied and said the gun was stolen, but the truth was, when he fell short on payment for “party favors”, he used the gun as a form of payment to his friend Jordan.
I believed Chad was guilty until he started naming folks at the party and would you look at that – Ryan Coogan was in attendance. Now remember what I said earlier: Ryan was in a bereavement group after losing his friend Jordan. Yes, the same Jordan who supplied Chad with “party favors”. Which means Ryan, who was friends with Jordan, could possibly have access to this gun as well. It’s all starting to come together now.
“Strangers Among Us” – MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN, Pictured: Jaden Rain as Elliot Gifford and Rossif Sutherland as Karl Alberg. Photo: Kailey Schwerman/ FOX © 2025 Fox Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
When Ryan shows up at the hospital wanting to enter Jack’s room to drop off a rose quartz I just knew. It was him. When the officer watching Jack’s room wouldn’t let him in, he got a bit desperate and pulled the alarm clearing everyone in the hospital. He enters Jack’s room and attempts to finish the job. Thankfully the officer returns and stops him – saying sorry and trying to kill your supposed friend isn’t a way to repent, Ryan.
A flashback scene reveals that Jack went to Ryan after finding out that Chad was the owner of the jet ski that killed his daughter. Ryan was trying to convince him to leave it to the cops, but he messed up mentioning Chad’s name when Jack didn’t. He outed himself as knowing what happened that day. He got closer to Jack to manipulate his involvement in what happened. What a sick and twisted man.
“Strangers Among Us” – MURDER IN A SMALL TOWN, Pictured: Jacob Shoemay as Brent Holman and Marcia Gay Harden as Mayor Christie Holman Photo: Kailey Schwerman/ FOX © 2025 Fox Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Speaking of sick and twisted, why is it that people in prominent positions have kids who feel like they’re above everyone else? I’m not a fan of Mayor Holman and this episode just made it worse. Her son is a bully (I can’t stand a bully) and has made Elliot’s time at school unbearable. When he found Jack, he also found the gun used to shoot him, but he didn’t let police know and kept it for himself. I don’t think he had any intentions of using it at school, but when his younger foster brother saw that he wouldn’t stick up for himself, he took matters into his own hands. He stole the gun that he knew Elliot had and went after Brent. Sid and Laila arrive just in time to deescalate the situation. Mayor Holman is thankful of course but when Sid tries to tell her that her son is a bully, you’d think this would come as a shock, right? No, she’s well aware and has done nothing to correct his behavior. “He’s my son” umm, yeah we know, now put some sense into him. This could’ve gone badly for him, does she understand that? Doesn’t seem like she does.
What’d you think of tonight’s episode of Murder in a Small Town? Share your thoughts below or connect with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs
