Death at the Bar X Ranch

Mary Malone Mystery #1

by Marlene Chabot

Newly unemployed teacher Mary Malone never suspected she would become a Miss Marple wannabe when she and her recently widowed aunt decide to sublet her private investigator brother's apartment in the Foley complex near downtown Minneapolis. After having listened to a message intended for the PI's ears only, Mary is determined to solve what sounds like an easy case for Reed Griffin, owner of the Bar X Ranch, and soon finds herself not only facing down her demons from childhood―fear of horses―but also being surrounded by two deaths and three very deceiving men.

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

I was born in Minneapolis, MN. Later, I had the opportunity to live in Ohio, Iowa, and Maryland. Moving around and traveling has helped me understand people from different parts of the country.

I received a degree in education from St. Cloud State University, a two year business marketing degree from Anoka Ramsey Community College, and a certificate from the Institute of Children's Literature.

I'm proud to be a local and national member of Sisters in Crime, an organization started by Sue Grafton in the 1980's

My creative writing juices started flowing around age 50. Looking to Colonel Sanders and Grandma Moses for inspiration in new career accomplishments, I firmly believe it's never too late to accomplish your dreams whatever they may be.

I don't like to write mysteries containing gore-I'd rather have the reader say, "Ah, that was a good book without all the detailed description a murder entails." In each of my novels so far I've incorporated minute factual events that have happened to me personally in real life.

I have five published novels to my credit plus six short stories in anthologies. I'm currently working on my sixth novel titled Death of the Pickle King. From 2007 through 2016 I wrote freelance material for HER VOICE, a woman's quarterly publication put out by Brainerd Dispatch in Brainerd, MN.

Reviews

[Susan]

I hope it’s just this edition but there were several grammatical errors that detracted from the story of a TEACHER. I also disliked the repetitive comments about her size, her “roommate”, and other such remarks. Maybe I’m just over the cozy mystery thing.

[Margie Olsbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Malone and Aunt Zoe begin the story forming a zany roommate duo, and soon stumble into the detective business. Many hilarious adventures happen along the way in this tale set mainly on a horse ranch in Minnesota. Early on we meet a "steering-wheel-eating" horse. As there is more to the case than what first meets the eye, Mary and the whole crew determinedly keep plugging away to put together all the pieces. A bonus within the enjoyable story is that Marlene Chabot provides a number of horse facts that many people might not know.

[Linda Kokora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed reading Marlene Chabot's books. She gets you involved with her characters and makes them come alive. Some of them go from book to book.
She combines humor and mystery in her style.
It feels like a nice clean read that has me looking forward to her next adventure.