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Seasons of Death
Award-winning authors, Marlene Mitchell and Gary Yeagle have combined their talent and creativity for your reading pleasure. Travel through the Great Smoky Mountains, visit Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and the scenic routes that lead to Cades Cove, Iron Mountain, Cherokee and Townsend in this chilling suspenseful trilogy. Book One: In the fall of 1969 a backwoods farmer and his wife were murdered by four drunken hunters. The farmer's three dogs, a horse and two fawns were also killed. Two young sons managed to escape, but were unable to identify the killers. The murders were never solved. Now, decades later, someone has decided to take revenge by killing one person every season in a manner that shocks even the most hardened law officer. In the small town of Townsend, Tennessee, the four-man police force begins the daunting task of solving the murders. With vivid characters and familiar Smaky Mountain settings, the reader will not be disappointed in this fast-paced thriller with an intriguing climax.
330 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
54 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 27, 2012
This is another book I got for free and I'm very glad I read it. I really liked the story, although the first murder scene was almost too gruesome for me to continue. I'm glad I did though, because the characters were interesting and believable.
My only complaint is that that editing was a bit sloppy.
My only complaint is that that editing was a bit sloppy.
December 25, 2012
Good murder mystery set in the Smoky Mountains. Well written. Good read!!!
November 3, 2021
I purchased this series of books at the Kimswick Apple Butter Festival. What a treat to have two Missouri authors in attendance this year. This author is from Arnold, Mo.
I enjoyed the first book immensely! I’m unsure how I feel about the ending. I’m anxious to start book two. I want to know if it takes up where book one ended.
If I knew how, I’d give it a 4 1/2.
Rates with my top reads for 2021!
I enjoyed the first book immensely! I’m unsure how I feel about the ending. I’m anxious to start book two. I want to know if it takes up where book one ended.
If I knew how, I’d give it a 4 1/2.
Rates with my top reads for 2021!
June 9, 2020
This is a good mystery about murders in the Smokey Mountains. By the end of the book it appears that the murderer is known to the lead detective but he has not shared it with the other members of the team. Am anxious to read the second book to see if indeed he has got his man
January 23, 2020
Plot twist much!?
October 25, 2016
This book was quite well written and reasonably well edited. I should commend the authors here. I just found that the few problems I had were big ones.
Right off the bat, there are four rather gruesome murders in the book, each of which is told from the perspective of the victim. The first is the worst of these, as a man is tortured to death. I almost gave up reading--but I had already noted that one of the authors was Marlene Mitchell, and I had liked her Yard Sale https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and thought that her Chester County Boys was pretty good https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I'm not sorry I did, as there was a lot to like about this book, although as I say this was only the first of a few big problems.
It couches itself as if a mystery, but it is more a police procedural. There are no real clues pointing to the killer, despite the involvement of profilers putting together an accurate picture. We know quite a bit about the murders, even that the murderer is known to at least one of his victims (but not to at least one other), but there is no background information to connect what we know about the murders to the person who ultimately is revealed as the killer. That's fine; once we know it's not a mystery it is well done as what it is.
The primary viewpoint character, a young officer in a small town police department who is sharp enough to gain approval from other police departments and the FBI but is disliked by his own boss, is smart and likeable, but here we have another problem. He sees the killer in the neighborhood shortly after the first murder--from a bit of a distance as a stranger throwing trash in a can outside a store. He sees him again near the second murder, through car windows in a rain storm, lighting a pipe. Ultimately, though, we discover that the murderer is someone he knows rather well, and in neither case does it strike him that this person looks like someone he knows. That's odd--because of the way our brains do discrimination and generalization, we are more apt to think that a stranger is someone we know than to mistake someone we know for a stranger. His failure to recognize that person, even to suppose he must be mistaken, was perhaps necessary for the author's pretext at a mystery, but it worked against her intent, because it was very nearly proof positive that the viewpoint character did not know the killer. Yet the viewpoint character did know the killer, and fairly well at that.
He stumbles on the proof quite accidentally, and gets a private confession from the killer. It is all explained, and it is a credible portrait of a psychopath--and then because of the officer's relationships not so much with the killer but with others who have relationships with the killer, he is faced with the struggle concerning how to proceed, whether to have the man arrested.
I think he makes the right decision, to inform the FBI of what he has discovered; then in what is quite literally presented as divine intervention the situation changes such that he decides not to tell them, to treat it as moot: the killer will never strike again, and no one will be troubled by the revelation that this person, friend, family member, was the horrible killer who shook their small towns. There will be no arrest, no trial, no imprisonment; why bother revealing the answer? I had actually wondered whether the author was going to solve the problem this way, but it was abrupt and dissatisfying.
Besides, the young officer had been assigned to the FBI task force (along with the sheriff from a neighboring town, a police chief whose Native American ancestry supposedly gifted him with keen observational and profiling skills, and one FBI agent) trying to solve these. He has to tell them something. They are figuring that it will be several months before the next attack, and will be working hard to determine who, when, where, and how, based on their conclusions concerning why. He will be part of that team, but he knows that the effort is wasted. The fact that he knows the killer is dead isn't going to be sufficient unless he tells them, and it only becomes more complicated from there. Our divine fix does not really fix anything.
Maybe the author knows that. I perceive that there is a sequel available, so I expect that something else will come of this. I don't believe I have a copy of that, although it appears that the next book on my stack is another by the same author. She writes well, and I look forward to seeing what she will do with the next one.
Right off the bat, there are four rather gruesome murders in the book, each of which is told from the perspective of the victim. The first is the worst of these, as a man is tortured to death. I almost gave up reading--but I had already noted that one of the authors was Marlene Mitchell, and I had liked her Yard Sale https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and thought that her Chester County Boys was pretty good https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. I'm not sorry I did, as there was a lot to like about this book, although as I say this was only the first of a few big problems.
It couches itself as if a mystery, but it is more a police procedural. There are no real clues pointing to the killer, despite the involvement of profilers putting together an accurate picture. We know quite a bit about the murders, even that the murderer is known to at least one of his victims (but not to at least one other), but there is no background information to connect what we know about the murders to the person who ultimately is revealed as the killer. That's fine; once we know it's not a mystery it is well done as what it is.
The primary viewpoint character, a young officer in a small town police department who is sharp enough to gain approval from other police departments and the FBI but is disliked by his own boss, is smart and likeable, but here we have another problem. He sees the killer in the neighborhood shortly after the first murder--from a bit of a distance as a stranger throwing trash in a can outside a store. He sees him again near the second murder, through car windows in a rain storm, lighting a pipe. Ultimately, though, we discover that the murderer is someone he knows rather well, and in neither case does it strike him that this person looks like someone he knows. That's odd--because of the way our brains do discrimination and generalization, we are more apt to think that a stranger is someone we know than to mistake someone we know for a stranger. His failure to recognize that person, even to suppose he must be mistaken, was perhaps necessary for the author's pretext at a mystery, but it worked against her intent, because it was very nearly proof positive that the viewpoint character did not know the killer. Yet the viewpoint character did know the killer, and fairly well at that.
He stumbles on the proof quite accidentally, and gets a private confession from the killer. It is all explained, and it is a credible portrait of a psychopath--and then because of the officer's relationships not so much with the killer but with others who have relationships with the killer, he is faced with the struggle concerning how to proceed, whether to have the man arrested.
I think he makes the right decision, to inform the FBI of what he has discovered; then in what is quite literally presented as divine intervention the situation changes such that he decides not to tell them, to treat it as moot: the killer will never strike again, and no one will be troubled by the revelation that this person, friend, family member, was the horrible killer who shook their small towns. There will be no arrest, no trial, no imprisonment; why bother revealing the answer? I had actually wondered whether the author was going to solve the problem this way, but it was abrupt and dissatisfying.
Besides, the young officer had been assigned to the FBI task force (along with the sheriff from a neighboring town, a police chief whose Native American ancestry supposedly gifted him with keen observational and profiling skills, and one FBI agent) trying to solve these. He has to tell them something. They are figuring that it will be several months before the next attack, and will be working hard to determine who, when, where, and how, based on their conclusions concerning why. He will be part of that team, but he knows that the effort is wasted. The fact that he knows the killer is dead isn't going to be sufficient unless he tells them, and it only becomes more complicated from there. Our divine fix does not really fix anything.
Maybe the author knows that. I perceive that there is a sequel available, so I expect that something else will come of this. I don't believe I have a copy of that, although it appears that the next book on my stack is another by the same author. She writes well, and I look forward to seeing what she will do with the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2014
Seasons of Death was well written. Being somewhat familiar with the lovely Smoky Mountains area, it was illuminating to follow the murder mystery on the map and visualize the landscape. It wasn't all that long ago when, one supposes, that these little towns existed pretty much on their own, pretty much rustic authenticity. By the time we arrive at the book, which is almost the 21st century, we have the quaint little town with a National Park as well as amenities like golf courses and country clubs. However one still gets the impression that this was from the 1970's or 80's without really telling us very much. There are no computers or cell phones, not that they really add to a story line, but it seems odd that the story line does not play on the historical aspect rather than simply omitting the modern, leaving it to the reader, primarily. Sausage and gravy biscuits for breakfast with steaming hot coffee at diners, gratifyingly, remain steadfast.
Besides belonging to the primitive, in the sense mentioned above, the story is not only about a single murder, but a series or murders by a serial killer. One gathers that this book is part of a series and that's fine because it doesn't make this story implausible or contrived, as series of books often do. My one substantial criticism is when we finally meet the serial murderer who describes himself as a psychopath.
While it is indeed true that psychopaths have triggers, often sourced by deep emotional scars early in life, most often it is not something which can be well hidden in day to day life. In the present case this "psychopath" has a family, a profession and is well thought of in a small town in which we suppose he is a respected social figure. Typically psychopaths will act in a certain way but restrain themselves from a typical familial relationship. The reason for that is that it is all too easy for part of the psychopathic personality to emerge suddenly and without warning. It is characterized by often brutal activities without empathy and it is beyond chilling. Hence I didn't believe that Professor Pearl provided much of the characterization of an authentic psychopath. He reminded me more of an unusually restrained and calculating member of Greenpeace with early childhood emotional scars.
On the other hand, I liked all the other characters in the book and found them realistic and interesting. the writing was better than decent, making you believe you were actually there in the town of Townsend or in the outlying areas. Still you expected that the police would have picked up on some other clues a bit faster than they did, but I suppose that's what allows the writers to write more books. This was one a lovely diversion from the nonfiction books that seem to overwhelm my life lately and I am thankful for the time I spent reading it.
Besides belonging to the primitive, in the sense mentioned above, the story is not only about a single murder, but a series or murders by a serial killer. One gathers that this book is part of a series and that's fine because it doesn't make this story implausible or contrived, as series of books often do. My one substantial criticism is when we finally meet the serial murderer who describes himself as a psychopath.
While it is indeed true that psychopaths have triggers, often sourced by deep emotional scars early in life, most often it is not something which can be well hidden in day to day life. In the present case this "psychopath" has a family, a profession and is well thought of in a small town in which we suppose he is a respected social figure. Typically psychopaths will act in a certain way but restrain themselves from a typical familial relationship. The reason for that is that it is all too easy for part of the psychopathic personality to emerge suddenly and without warning. It is characterized by often brutal activities without empathy and it is beyond chilling. Hence I didn't believe that Professor Pearl provided much of the characterization of an authentic psychopath. He reminded me more of an unusually restrained and calculating member of Greenpeace with early childhood emotional scars.
On the other hand, I liked all the other characters in the book and found them realistic and interesting. the writing was better than decent, making you believe you were actually there in the town of Townsend or in the outlying areas. Still you expected that the police would have picked up on some other clues a bit faster than they did, but I suppose that's what allows the writers to write more books. This was one a lovely diversion from the nonfiction books that seem to overwhelm my life lately and I am thankful for the time I spent reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2013
Seasons of Death by Marlene Mitchell and Gary Yeagle
This mystery features a small town cop as the main protagonist. Grant Denlinger is a young man pondering his future in law enforcement while faced with the antagonism of his red necked Chief. Grant is thrust into a series of grisly murders that are totally out of character for his small town.
The authors start the book with a graphic depiction that tends to turn the stomach. It certainly captures your attention. The story doesn’t start slowly, it explodes in the first few pages. Then you are lulled into a folksy mystery that explodes again. The authors do a great job of dragging your attention away from the TV and painting a true 3-dimentional heart stopper.
The culmination of the story leads to an ethical dilemma. Grant is faced with a major decision that will impact the rest of his life. Motive and means take a new perspective in the final twist of the plot knife. What is good and what is evil and what responsibility does the average man have for cleansing the soul or perhaps the community.
I highly recommend the book.
This mystery features a small town cop as the main protagonist. Grant Denlinger is a young man pondering his future in law enforcement while faced with the antagonism of his red necked Chief. Grant is thrust into a series of grisly murders that are totally out of character for his small town.
The authors start the book with a graphic depiction that tends to turn the stomach. It certainly captures your attention. The story doesn’t start slowly, it explodes in the first few pages. Then you are lulled into a folksy mystery that explodes again. The authors do a great job of dragging your attention away from the TV and painting a true 3-dimentional heart stopper.
The culmination of the story leads to an ethical dilemma. Grant is faced with a major decision that will impact the rest of his life. Motive and means take a new perspective in the final twist of the plot knife. What is good and what is evil and what responsibility does the average man have for cleansing the soul or perhaps the community.
I highly recommend the book.
December 7, 2012
For the most part, “Seasons of Death” seems to have nothing to do with the book’s synopsis. I was expecting the book to be nearly entirely about seeking revenge for the death of the killer’s parents. Instead it’s about an animal rights activist seeking to avenge harm done to animals and the ensuing police procedural. If not for the police procedural, the book would be a near bust.
There are a few parts that stretch the believability factor as to how someone could pull off some of the stuff that was pulled off without being discovered especially in light of what the reader discovers of the killer later in the book. Someone would have had to have been in a coma not to have noticed those acts being performed.
The ending was really lame. For obvious reasons, I won’t go into why.
I have critiqued this book, still it held my interest because the police procedural was pretty decent and wasn’t over the top in useless descriptions of things of no relevance.
There are a few parts that stretch the believability factor as to how someone could pull off some of the stuff that was pulled off without being discovered especially in light of what the reader discovers of the killer later in the book. Someone would have had to have been in a coma not to have noticed those acts being performed.
The ending was really lame. For obvious reasons, I won’t go into why.
I have critiqued this book, still it held my interest because the police procedural was pretty decent and wasn’t over the top in useless descriptions of things of no relevance.
August 31, 2014
The story takes place in Townsend Tennessee, in the Smokey Mountains. A photographer discovers the mangled and tortured dead body of Ada Pittman just off a well traveled path in the state park. The corpse has his fingers lopped off and has been left to be eaten by the animals. Grant, a rookie police officer is first on the scene. Just when the furor of the first murder settles without a suspect, a realestate mogul is discovered with her fingers and toes lopped off. There is a serial killer on the loose. Grant pursues the case in spite of abusive treatment by chief of Police Brody. This is a good story. The killings are graphic and I found I had to skim them, a little much for me to take. And the ending though justified, bothered me.
August 8, 2015
Great page turner mystery set in Townsend, TN near Cades Cove
I was really surprised at how good this book was. I expected a simple cozy mystery but what I got was a complex mystery that was easy to read and interesting. I tried the book because of the setting in Townsend. We goto the Smokes and stay near Townsend a couple times each year so I was interested in how a mystery might be written about this area. I could picture the settings because they accurate in how they were described. Season of Death is a page turner whether you are familiar with the Smokes are not. The story really captures the imagination and holds it till the end.
I was really surprised at how good this book was. I expected a simple cozy mystery but what I got was a complex mystery that was easy to read and interesting. I tried the book because of the setting in Townsend. We goto the Smokes and stay near Townsend a couple times each year so I was interested in how a mystery might be written about this area. I could picture the settings because they accurate in how they were described. Season of Death is a page turner whether you are familiar with the Smokes are not. The story really captures the imagination and holds it till the end.
December 14, 2012
The plot premise, an animal rights activist avenging the abuse of animals seemed something that would interest me but I had some difficulty with this book.
The characterizations seemed somewhat lacking with quite a few of the supporting characters feeling more like 'stock southern small town' characters rather than real people. The romance didn't quite seem reasonable, particularly the 'triangle' introduced and the ongoing references to religious beliefs felt awkward rather than an integral part of the storyline.
The characterizations seemed somewhat lacking with quite a few of the supporting characters feeling more like 'stock southern small town' characters rather than real people. The romance didn't quite seem reasonable, particularly the 'triangle' introduced and the ongoing references to religious beliefs felt awkward rather than an integral part of the storyline.
December 31, 2012
This was almost a good read but several things bothered me. There was a continuity problem. For example, Grant, the good cop, drives his police cruiser to a crime scene but leaves in his personal Jeep. The included love story needed to be developed. It became important to the story but did not seem important enough to write about in more detail. The ending was not very good. It seemed to say, "the author is tired of this story so let's get it done." It also needed a proof reader. There were obvious errors in grammar and word usage. It needs to be rewritten.
January 9, 2013
This book had me whirling in circles. I did enjoy the story a lot, but my college English Professor would be rolling in her grave if she read any of this, plus anyone alive would choke on the extra commas and apostrophes. About halfway thru the story and after looking over some of the other reviews, I went looking for a picture of the author and couldn't find one. Finally today I found one and she looks like someone's grandmother. A very demented grandmother. This is a good story and could be great with some editing and finesse. Glad it was free tho.
February 2, 2014
It is hard for me to explain why, but once I started this book I couldn't put it down. Negative aspects included editing errors and some plot loose ends that were left dangling. Positives of the book were the complexity of the plot, details of the setting, and the fact that it was a good story. I did guess the antagonist about two thirds through the book, but I was hoping I was wrong. I wasn't. Overall, I could see this story as it played out and I enjoyed it.
May 18, 2016
I can't understand all the good reviews for this book. I found the writing to be ponderous, with poor grammar and writing in general. The violence was beyond necessary and the detectives plodding at best. I didn't finish although I did skim to the ending and that was even more ludicrous than the earlier part of the book. I never did get to a part that actually explained the description. Great location was the only good thing I can say about it.
May 21, 2017
Great story, characters you love ,really rich story line. You feel like you are living along with them. Can't wait t o read more like this wonderful book, I am sad there are not more books in this series. I have so ma y characters that I want to know more about.
If you like reading about mountain people and how they live and survive such harsh conditions they endure. Great series!
If you like reading about mountain people and how they live and survive such harsh conditions they endure. Great series!
March 28, 2013
This was such a great late-night book, although it was a bit gory in places. The plot and characters were well done. There are a couple of word omissions and typos, but not enough to get in the way of a good story. I was disappointed in the denoument; but as soon as I started the sequel, I was better with the ending. Loved it!
August 27, 2013
Alright when getting this book I was excited about reading some about the mountains of eastern Tennessee, but once into it I grew not so excited.
First of all let me say for the most part the book was written well. But for me it:
To read more of my review:
Breath of Life
First of all let me say for the most part the book was written well. But for me it:
To read more of my review:
Breath of Life
November 4, 2018
Magnificent writing!!
This book was a lucky find! The title and book cover was the hook. Every page and detai!ed character including such detailed descriptions of location and incidents was perfect!!!! I was there watching. Each page was never enough till the last. Love 📚reading great books!!!! Anxious to begin the next......
This book was a lucky find! The title and book cover was the hook. Every page and detai!ed character including such detailed descriptions of location and incidents was perfect!!!! I was there watching. Each page was never enough till the last. Love 📚reading great books!!!! Anxious to begin the next......
November 4, 2018
Wonderful series!! The final page was sad for me as no more of these wonderful mini-saga's. Loved each and every one - cleverly interwoven characters and situations which were all put into a closing bundle leaving no one or nothing left to wondering - WHAT? I loved it - and I am a very avid reader and these 3 books were put at the top of my list in series readers.....XLNT!!
March 30, 2014
I enjoyed all three books in this series. They keep you riveted and intrigued. If you like a good mystery with detailed visuals of the places and character building, then you will love this series.
July 24, 2016
Great Book!
I really enjoyed reading this story. It was interesting, never bogged down or dragged, and in my opinion, is very well written. I look forward to reading other books by this author!
I really enjoyed reading this story. It was interesting, never bogged down or dragged, and in my opinion, is very well written. I look forward to reading other books by this author!
December 9, 2013
good read....surprise ending!
February 18, 2015
Great read
Great book! Suspenseful to the very end. Many twists and turns. Can't wait to read more books from this author.
Great book! Suspenseful to the very end. Many twists and turns. Can't wait to read more books from this author.
June 27, 2018
Great read!
I really liked the characters. I also like the setting of the Smokey Mountains, it's my neck of the woods.
I really liked the characters. I also like the setting of the Smokey Mountains, it's my neck of the woods.
November 7, 2013
It was alright.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews