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Mapleton Mystery #1
Deadly Secrets
Listening Length: 10 hours and 31 minutes
Mapleton, Colorado’s police chief, Gordon Hepler, would rather be on the streets than behind a desk, but he promised his late mentor he’d accept the position. And to Gordon, a promise is a promise, even if the person you made it to isn’t around anymore. However, doubts creep in, and he wonders if he was shoved into the job because his mentor thought he couldn’t cut it on the streets.
Everything changes when a fatal traffic accident well outside Mapleton seems connected to the elderly Rose and Sam Kretzer, two of Mapleton’s most beloved citizens. When Gordon ties the car accident to a grisly murder in Mapleton—the first anyone in town can remember—he’s afraid he’s into more than he bargained for.
The arrival of Megan, the Kretzers grown godchild, and Justin, their grandson, add to Gordon’s troubles when Megan is mugged and someone breaks in and ransacks the Kretzers’ home. Gordon’s fears that he’s in over his head are realized when his investigation seems to link the Kretzers to a Nazi war criminal. Can he work with the big-city detective brought in to assist? Will he be able to solve the crime without revealing the secrets of his citizens?
Mapleton, Colorado’s police chief, Gordon Hepler, would rather be on the streets than behind a desk, but he promised his late mentor he’d accept the position. And to Gordon, a promise is a promise, even if the person you made it to isn’t around anymore. However, doubts creep in, and he wonders if he was shoved into the job because his mentor thought he couldn’t cut it on the streets.
Everything changes when a fatal traffic accident well outside Mapleton seems connected to the elderly Rose and Sam Kretzer, two of Mapleton’s most beloved citizens. When Gordon ties the car accident to a grisly murder in Mapleton—the first anyone in town can remember—he’s afraid he’s into more than he bargained for.
The arrival of Megan, the Kretzers grown godchild, and Justin, their grandson, add to Gordon’s troubles when Megan is mugged and someone breaks in and ransacks the Kretzers’ home. Gordon’s fears that he’s in over his head are realized when his investigation seems to link the Kretzers to a Nazi war criminal. Can he work with the big-city detective brought in to assist? Will he be able to solve the crime without revealing the secrets of his citizens?
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 2, 2011
2294 people are currently reading
1831 people want to read
About the author
Terry Odell
64 books224 followersTerry Odell was born in Los Angeles and after living several decades in Florida now makes her home in Colorado. An avid reader (her parents tell everyone they had to move from their first home because she finished the local library), she always wanted to "fix" stories so the characters did what she wanted, in books, television, and the movies. Once she began writing, she found this wasn't always possible, as evidenced when the mystery she intended to write rapidly became a romance.
However, her entry into the world of writing can be attributed to a "mistake" when her son mentioned the Highlander television series on a visit home. Being the "good mother" she began watching the show and soon connected with the world of fanfiction, first as a reader, then as a critique giver, and then, one brave weekend, she wrote her first short story.
Things snowballed (if one can use that analogy in central Florida!) and soon she was writing her first original novel. Much later, she mentioned something about a recent Highlander episode to her son, and he said, "Oh, I've never actually watched the show, I just thought the concept was cool." Little did he know what he'd started.
"
However, her entry into the world of writing can be attributed to a "mistake" when her son mentioned the Highlander television series on a visit home. Being the "good mother" she began watching the show and soon connected with the world of fanfiction, first as a reader, then as a critique giver, and then, one brave weekend, she wrote her first short story.
Things snowballed (if one can use that analogy in central Florida!) and soon she was writing her first original novel. Much later, she mentioned something about a recent Highlander episode to her son, and he said, "Oh, I've never actually watched the show, I just thought the concept was cool." Little did he know what he'd started.
"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
March 14, 2019
The first in the Mapleton Mystery series by Terry Odell. Gordan Hepler is the police chief in Mapleton, Colorado. He has issues on whether he should really be in that position but there he is. And when a car accident is really a murder and then a beloved citizen of Mapleton is murdered, Police Chief Hepler finds himself too busy to worry about it.
Other important characters in the story are Megan Wyatt and Justin, and Rose and Sam Kretzer. Megan is back to visit her godparents, Rose and Sam, who raised her when her parents died. Justin is the Kretzers grandson who is also visiting. I don't want to write too much about the plot. I don't want to say anything that may be a spoiler to some. But I enjoyed the book. Just a FYI - This is not a romance. More of a cozy mystery with hints of romance.
Other important characters in the story are Megan Wyatt and Justin, and Rose and Sam Kretzer. Megan is back to visit her godparents, Rose and Sam, who raised her when her parents died. Justin is the Kretzers grandson who is also visiting. I don't want to write too much about the plot. I don't want to say anything that may be a spoiler to some. But I enjoyed the book. Just a FYI - This is not a romance. More of a cozy mystery with hints of romance.
November 28, 2012
The idea of the story line was good and the characters were likable. Although, I felt like I was waiting for something big to happen through the first half of the book. It was a little too slow moving for my taste and I found it difficult to get into the story. I didn't feel an overwhelming sense of closure at the end like I do with most mysteries.
March 15, 2017
In Deadly Secrets by Terry Odell, Megan rushes back to her hometown of Mapleton, CO when her best friend, Angie, warns her of a sense of impending danger for Rose and Sam Kretzer, the now-elderly couple who reared her from the age of five when her parents died. Arriving in Mapleton, Megan finds Rose and Sam's grandson, Justin, in residence, remodeling the entire house and hiding a secret. In trying to establish a friendly, adult relationship with the man who used to be her childhood enemy, Megan follows Justin to the pond for his run, but not being acclimated to the altitude, she can't keep up and waits for him on a bench. However, when Justin returns to the bench, he finds a young couple making out there and assumes Megan has given up and gone home. The next thing we see is the police chief, Gordon Hepler, getting a call that Megan appears to have been attacked but is not alert enough to indicate what happened. When Gordon gets a call at 4am that there has been a murder, a woman with her throat slit, he wonders what is happening to his peaceful town.
Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation
November 28, 2014
A police procedural married to a romantic cozy
Tiny Mapleton, Colorado is the domain of newly minted Police Chief Gordon Hepler, a competent cop with some doubts about being thrust to the top of his field. His normal trouble calls trend toward the nuisance calls about a ghost in Betty Bedford's vintage clothing store.
After a seven year absence from home, event planner Megan Wyatt comes back to visit her aging adoptive grandparents, Sam and Rose Kretzer. Their frailness and the furtiveness of their by-blood grandson who's also visiting raise Megan's hackles. Something's going on here and she means to get to the bottom of it. And when did Jumbo Justin turn into a hottie?
Like popcorn in the microwave, events hit Mapleton in a blinding flurry. A stranger is dead. Megan is assaulted in the park. Homes are ransacked. Then Betty is found dead, and Chief Hepler's sure a ghost isn't to blame. He calls in help and rolls up his sleeves.
Both story lines, the police procedural one and the amateur sleuth one, weave and diverge in a skillful manner, keeping my interest level high throughout the book. I found the book to be intricately plotted with deliberate pacing. Although I read book 2 of this series first, it was a joy to read this one and spend time with familiar characters. I very much enjoyed my visit to Mapleton and Odell's keen eye for detail.
Tiny Mapleton, Colorado is the domain of newly minted Police Chief Gordon Hepler, a competent cop with some doubts about being thrust to the top of his field. His normal trouble calls trend toward the nuisance calls about a ghost in Betty Bedford's vintage clothing store.
After a seven year absence from home, event planner Megan Wyatt comes back to visit her aging adoptive grandparents, Sam and Rose Kretzer. Their frailness and the furtiveness of their by-blood grandson who's also visiting raise Megan's hackles. Something's going on here and she means to get to the bottom of it. And when did Jumbo Justin turn into a hottie?
Like popcorn in the microwave, events hit Mapleton in a blinding flurry. A stranger is dead. Megan is assaulted in the park. Homes are ransacked. Then Betty is found dead, and Chief Hepler's sure a ghost isn't to blame. He calls in help and rolls up his sleeves.
Both story lines, the police procedural one and the amateur sleuth one, weave and diverge in a skillful manner, keeping my interest level high throughout the book. I found the book to be intricately plotted with deliberate pacing. Although I read book 2 of this series first, it was a joy to read this one and spend time with familiar characters. I very much enjoyed my visit to Mapleton and Odell's keen eye for detail.
June 25, 2019
One of my tests for how well a book is written is, can I "see" the author writing this? If I can't it means that the text grips and engages me so much that I can't see the writing process. With this book, I can see that. It doesn't mean that the story is bad, in this case it is quite good, however, I can see the author in front of their word-processor writing. I think this is a result of the author not adding enough character into the cast.
On the plus side I didn't see who the perpetrator of the crimes was. So that was a pleasant surprise.
This book isn't bad, but it's not great either. I have read far, far worse.
On the plus side I didn't see who the perpetrator of the crimes was. So that was a pleasant surprise.
This book isn't bad, but it's not great either. I have read far, far worse.
November 20, 2019
Thank the gods that is finally over! For someone who doesn't read a lot of mysteries it would probably be fine, but it was just too long, too drawn out for me. And the romances were completely unnecessary. Almost wish I gave up on it & saved myself all that time. Oh well.
April 16, 2025
When Megan decides she needs a break to visit Rose and Sam Kretzer who raised her - she never anticipated the tangled mess she would find when she unexpectedly shows up. She surprised to find Justin, the Kretzer's grandson already there, making all kinds of repairs and updates to their home. When Megan goes for walk to clear her mind after her trip someone tries to kill her. Then Justin is acting all strange. The story gets stranger and stranger until they are able to figure out a secret that Sam Kretzer has been keeping for many years is about to be revealed to the whole of his small town if he doesn't die first.
January 23, 2023
I found this book easy to read on a trip, engrossing enough with a good twist that I couldn't see at the start, interesting characters with hidden motives that reveal themselves slowly in a well-paced arc.
A good easy mystery, well written and with brief romantic interludes that aren't wearying.
Chief of Police Gordon is an easily relatable character and I look forward to reading more of his exploits in Mapleton!
A good easy mystery, well written and with brief romantic interludes that aren't wearying.
Chief of Police Gordon is an easily relatable character and I look forward to reading more of his exploits in Mapleton!
March 29, 2019
Mapleton, Colorado's police chief, Gordon Hepler, would rather be on the streets than behind a desk dealing with budgets and the town council, but he promised his late mentor he'd accept the position. When a fatal traffic accident, a murder, and several break-ins set a pattern of violence, the whole town begins to worry. This is a story of family relationships and how far people will go to protect each other.
March 16, 2020
A good solid mystery
I'd read this author again. I enjoyed the mystery part of the book, but the romance was a little lame and extraneous.
I'd read this author again. I enjoyed the mystery part of the book, but the romance was a little lame and extraneous.
January 3, 2026
An enjoyable listen. I didn't guess the killer at all!
Love the small town and the characters that feel like family, sticking their nose in where it doesn't always belong.
Love the small town and the characters that feel like family, sticking their nose in where it doesn't always belong.
July 21, 2017
Deadly Secrets (Mapleton Mystery #1) by Terry Odell Narrated by Steve Marvel
Gordon Hepler, is questioning his decision to take the job as Mapleton, Colorado’s police chief when suddenly there are two dead bodies found in and around Mapleton. Rose and Sam Kretzer, two of Mapleton’s beloved residents, somehow seem be connected the these mysterious incidents. Also at the center of everything going are Megan the Kretzer’s Goddaughter and their Grandson Justin both of which have recently arrived in town to visit. Megan is attacked and threatened and Justin is receiving suspicious phone calls about a journal that may be hidden and contain information about the Holocaust . Can Chief Hepler solve who is behind these killings before someone else is found dead? Is Justin involved than he is letting on? Is Megan’s visit the catalyst to everything that is happening?
Deadly secret is the first official mystery book written by Author Terry O’dell. She previously wrote romance novels. Although this book is classified as a police procedural she keeps true the her beginning by adding a touch of romance to the storyline. I enjoyed her combination of these two genres. The book is well written, her characters are realistic, she includes just the right amount of red herrings to keep her readers involved in the mystery. Her characters range from young adults that are still trying to find their place in the world to senior citizens that have seen and lived though a lot and are still strong and outgoing people.
I listened to the audio version of this book which was Narrated by Steve Marvel. Mr. Marvel did a great job bringing the story to life. He has a great tone of voice, great timing and pace, wonderful diction which defined each character’s voice.
I would recommend this book both print and audio versions to anyone that enjoys a good mystery. I don’t really remember any bad language but there is a scene that involves adult relations although it nothing very graphic.
Gordon Hepler, is questioning his decision to take the job as Mapleton, Colorado’s police chief when suddenly there are two dead bodies found in and around Mapleton. Rose and Sam Kretzer, two of Mapleton’s beloved residents, somehow seem be connected the these mysterious incidents. Also at the center of everything going are Megan the Kretzer’s Goddaughter and their Grandson Justin both of which have recently arrived in town to visit. Megan is attacked and threatened and Justin is receiving suspicious phone calls about a journal that may be hidden and contain information about the Holocaust . Can Chief Hepler solve who is behind these killings before someone else is found dead? Is Justin involved than he is letting on? Is Megan’s visit the catalyst to everything that is happening?
Deadly secret is the first official mystery book written by Author Terry O’dell. She previously wrote romance novels. Although this book is classified as a police procedural she keeps true the her beginning by adding a touch of romance to the storyline. I enjoyed her combination of these two genres. The book is well written, her characters are realistic, she includes just the right amount of red herrings to keep her readers involved in the mystery. Her characters range from young adults that are still trying to find their place in the world to senior citizens that have seen and lived though a lot and are still strong and outgoing people.
I listened to the audio version of this book which was Narrated by Steve Marvel. Mr. Marvel did a great job bringing the story to life. He has a great tone of voice, great timing and pace, wonderful diction which defined each character’s voice.
I would recommend this book both print and audio versions to anyone that enjoys a good mystery. I don’t really remember any bad language but there is a scene that involves adult relations although it nothing very graphic.
March 15, 2019
Kept Me Guessing
One , two, three or four separate crimes? Or are they related to one objective. A car accident, a mugging, a murder and a home invasion. Each one so different from the other, how could they be linked.
Megan returns “home” for a visit and stumbles into a mystery. Justin on the other hand returns to the same home to search his grandparents house for a secret. The two hadn’t seen each other in years and although they we not friendly as kids they become bonded as adults.
One after another, crimes are committed and no one knows what’s next or why. Justin has a secret that is probably the cause of all this but doesn’t want to reveal it.
Good story line. Most characters are well defined and mostly believable. Very few editing issues. All in all well written.
I enjoyed this and would recommend it to mystery lovers.
One , two, three or four separate crimes? Or are they related to one objective. A car accident, a mugging, a murder and a home invasion. Each one so different from the other, how could they be linked.
Megan returns “home” for a visit and stumbles into a mystery. Justin on the other hand returns to the same home to search his grandparents house for a secret. The two hadn’t seen each other in years and although they we not friendly as kids they become bonded as adults.
One after another, crimes are committed and no one knows what’s next or why. Justin has a secret that is probably the cause of all this but doesn’t want to reveal it.
Good story line. Most characters are well defined and mostly believable. Very few editing issues. All in all well written.
I enjoyed this and would recommend it to mystery lovers.
March 4, 2019
The mystery was underwhelming and felt contrived. The main characters were likeable but the premise was weak. A young woman rushes back to visit the elderly couple that raised her after the death of her own parents. Their biological grandson is also there rushing through home renovations and being mysterious. he has morphed from a fat, clumsy nerd into a hunky hottie. In the meantime, the hunky police chief must confront a spate of violent crime including homicide in this once quiet small town. the assorted romances are not convincing and the mysterious, such as it is, is tepid. The motivation does not make sense. The first half of the book meanders but the pace does pick up during the last third. It is okay but far from riveting.
May 9, 2019
Wonderful mystery set in Colorado by a Colorado author. I live in Colorado myself..... the reason I picked this one to read.
Deadly Secrets is #1 in the Mapleton Police mystery series with Chief Gordon Hepler as the main protagonist, though the POV shifted among various characters. It kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Everyone had secrets and tried to protect others from the knowledge but if they'd communicated with each other sooner, things might have been resolved sooner. Just a great story I highly recommend to lovers of mysteries and police procedurals.
Deadly Secrets is #1 in the Mapleton Police mystery series with Chief Gordon Hepler as the main protagonist, though the POV shifted among various characters. It kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Everyone had secrets and tried to protect others from the knowledge but if they'd communicated with each other sooner, things might have been resolved sooner. Just a great story I highly recommend to lovers of mysteries and police procedurals.
August 28, 2020
Unclear plot line
Nice to have German Jews as a centerpiece. The reason for the murder and scheme felt forced, a different blind of improbable, and a stretch. Less romance than many of these books which was nice, and very happy to not have the "oh no, I have two fascinating and compellingly different men falling in love with me" trope. Felt like there was a thread dropped about the female lead character regarding the photos. Overall a bit trite and a few too many stereotypes.
Nice to have German Jews as a centerpiece. The reason for the murder and scheme felt forced, a different blind of improbable, and a stretch. Less romance than many of these books which was nice, and very happy to not have the "oh no, I have two fascinating and compellingly different men falling in love with me" trope. Felt like there was a thread dropped about the female lead character regarding the photos. Overall a bit trite and a few too many stereotypes.
June 9, 2017
Not the best book by this author that I have read. The mystery itself was ok. The multiple POVs were a little odd. I did like the character of Gordon, but without Angie's POV, their escalated relationship didn't make sense. Justin's blackmail didn't make a lot of sense either, and I was irritated with the constant references to Oma and Opa when the text wasn't directly from Justin. And Megan wasn't the most likeable character. I wasn't really rooting for her. Still, an ok book.
December 25, 2018
Summary
Was surprised that this book turned out like it did. I enjoyed the book. Was disappointed that it didn't end with a hint about Megan and justin. Knew that this would be the reason for a followup book but it just ended without any suggestion at all. I thought that their attraction and their past history was a important soundboard of the book. Enough so they should have had some mention at the end of the book.
Was surprised that this book turned out like it did. I enjoyed the book. Was disappointed that it didn't end with a hint about Megan and justin. Knew that this would be the reason for a followup book but it just ended without any suggestion at all. I thought that their attraction and their past history was a important soundboard of the book. Enough so they should have had some mention at the end of the book.
April 16, 2019
An onion mystery!
Layers...lots of layers!
The opening chapter was so full of unanswered questions. All kinds of questions about relationships, how and why. I had to keep going.
I am now invested in reading the next story and to see if any other layers get settled. I suspect there is much more to Opa Sam and Oma Rose. I want to know more of Gordon's backstory and his future. And what is Megan's backstory?
Onward to the next Mapleton mystery!
Layers...lots of layers!
The opening chapter was so full of unanswered questions. All kinds of questions about relationships, how and why. I had to keep going.
I am now invested in reading the next story and to see if any other layers get settled. I suspect there is much more to Opa Sam and Oma Rose. I want to know more of Gordon's backstory and his future. And what is Megan's backstory?
Onward to the next Mapleton mystery!
July 9, 2019
I enjoyed this mystery and liked the characters. The opening grabs you and doesn't let go until the end. Odell did a great job of creating Mapleton, Colorado--it's a place I'd love to live. Her characters were well defined, even minor characters like the sisters running the B&B. Will be reading the next in the series.
January 30, 2015
Readable mystery with a bit more romance than necessary and characters could have been more defined and I found the actual plot and motive somewhat of a reach.
December 12, 2020
Really, really bad!
I got 3/4 of the way through this horrible book. I’d like to give this lady some credit for feeling her way through her first novel, but the fact is, it makes no sense. Everything about it is counterintuitive. There’s nothing in this that makes me think that her elderly Jewish characters are stupid, or emotionally fragile, yet the civilian protagonists are risking literally everything to keep them from finding out that one of them has a dying Nazi brother. Why? It’s nonsense! Then we have a police chief and a county deputy working to solve a murder, and one is withholding information from the other and risking the investigation just to spare the old folks some embarrassment. We have grown men posturing like high school boys. We have gratuitous sexual situations that add nothing at all to the story. We have the heroine getting scared and acting like a grade school kid. We have page after page of idiotic decisions with no sane justification, juvenile interactions... and so on...
I got 3/4 of the way through this horrible book. I’d like to give this lady some credit for feeling her way through her first novel, but the fact is, it makes no sense. Everything about it is counterintuitive. There’s nothing in this that makes me think that her elderly Jewish characters are stupid, or emotionally fragile, yet the civilian protagonists are risking literally everything to keep them from finding out that one of them has a dying Nazi brother. Why? It’s nonsense! Then we have a police chief and a county deputy working to solve a murder, and one is withholding information from the other and risking the investigation just to spare the old folks some embarrassment. We have grown men posturing like high school boys. We have gratuitous sexual situations that add nothing at all to the story. We have the heroine getting scared and acting like a grade school kid. We have page after page of idiotic decisions with no sane justification, juvenile interactions... and so on...
April 10, 2019
Deadly Secrets is a suspenseful mystery with twists and turns and many suspects floating around to keep the reader engaged. I enjoyed this Mapleton Mystery and look forward to more books by this talented author.
I liked the way the author created this story with likable characters and others not so likable. She intertwined a love interest in two of the main characters, Justin and Megan, who had a not so pleasant past as young children. Their relationship grows much to their surprise. While this is happening Justin’s grandparents’ past is uncovered with shocking revelations that reverberate across the unsuspecting family.
This is a quick read that will grab you and not let go until you figure out who and what is behind the mysterious journal that many are looking for. Who will find it? What damage can it do to the family involved? Will the Police Chief Gordon be able to handle this case before more lives are taken? Find out for yourself in this fascinating read.
I liked the way the author created this story with likable characters and others not so likable. She intertwined a love interest in two of the main characters, Justin and Megan, who had a not so pleasant past as young children. Their relationship grows much to their surprise. While this is happening Justin’s grandparents’ past is uncovered with shocking revelations that reverberate across the unsuspecting family.
This is a quick read that will grab you and not let go until you figure out who and what is behind the mysterious journal that many are looking for. Who will find it? What damage can it do to the family involved? Will the Police Chief Gordon be able to handle this case before more lives are taken? Find out for yourself in this fascinating read.
June 5, 2020
This is the first book in the Mapleton Mystery series set in Mapleton, Colorado. The main character, Police Chief Gordon Hepler is debating his career change within the force when suddenly he is faced with a fatal road traffic accident, house break ins, muggings and murder. Also thrown into the mix is an old couple and their link to a Nazi war criminal. It all resolves around a secret journal and someone who will stop at nothing, to get their hands on it.
I thought the first half of this novel was quite drawn out but then it seemed to get moving and things started to happen. In my opinion there was something lacking and I though it needed a big dose of stimulation to hold my attention. I read to the end and although it was a fair story, I'm not sure that I would be rushing to read the second book in this series.
I thought the first half of this novel was quite drawn out but then it seemed to get moving and things started to happen. In my opinion there was something lacking and I though it needed a big dose of stimulation to hold my attention. I read to the end and although it was a fair story, I'm not sure that I would be rushing to read the second book in this series.
February 1, 2024
Megan goes back to her Oma and Opa home because she heard something was going to happen to them. Justin who lived with them when younger also comes back around the same time. Megan and Justin weren't real close then. Seems someone was looking for Megan for some reason and maybe even trying to kill or hurt Justin and Oma and Opa, But why? The older ones had lived around the time when Nazi's took over . No one ever talked about any of it though. What were they looking for a book , notes and such from the Nazi time? It all come down at the end when Megan and Justin find out that Opa may have had a brother and a sister held captive at one time. His brother had written some information about his time there. He didnt want everyone to know about it . Just his brother Opa. But someone else wanted that information enough to kill for it.
February 9, 2018
Nazi diary stirs up trouble
Holocaust survivors Sam and Rose settled in Colorado and led peaceful lives until someone found out about a diary written by Sam's older brother, who became a Nazi helper in the prison camps. Two different people tried to get the diary from Sam, one of whom would stop at nothing to get it-- assault, kidnapping and murder. Sam and Ross's grandson and the orphan girl they raised arrive just before things start going haywire. The police are assisted by the county sheriff's department, tips from the townspeople, endless coffee from the local coffee shop and a very friendly waitress. The devoted grandparents provide inspiration for a couple other romances. Lots of adventure and detective work with a little romance to lighten the mood.
Holocaust survivors Sam and Rose settled in Colorado and led peaceful lives until someone found out about a diary written by Sam's older brother, who became a Nazi helper in the prison camps. Two different people tried to get the diary from Sam, one of whom would stop at nothing to get it-- assault, kidnapping and murder. Sam and Ross's grandson and the orphan girl they raised arrive just before things start going haywire. The police are assisted by the county sheriff's department, tips from the townspeople, endless coffee from the local coffee shop and a very friendly waitress. The devoted grandparents provide inspiration for a couple other romances. Lots of adventure and detective work with a little romance to lighten the mood.
March 5, 2019
One of those stories where if anyone did what they should have and talked to the other characters there would be no story. Fun, but not great or that compelling.
I was perplexed by the fact that two characters forget they had asked the hotel if the grandparents had checked out and been told no, so when they get a text message the grandparents (who really don't like to text) had gone home they rushed off to do the same and also didn't check out of the hotel. Emergencies do happen, but a sensible person would have double checked with the hotel and asked for at a least a security check before they go racing off since they had gotten no phone calls of any sort.
I was perplexed by the fact that two characters forget they had asked the hotel if the grandparents had checked out and been told no, so when they get a text message the grandparents (who really don't like to text) had gone home they rushed off to do the same and also didn't check out of the hotel. Emergencies do happen, but a sensible person would have double checked with the hotel and asked for at a least a security check before they go racing off since they had gotten no phone calls of any sort.
November 2, 2020
Just finished reading Deadly Secrets book #1in the Mapleton Mystery Series. This is a mystery that has you on edge but at ease from the beging but as you read it gets more on edge as to why someone would murder two people and try to abduct a woman and threaten Justin and Megan's grandparents all for a long ago journal of WW2. When you reach the part of the book of the journal it will shock you; it did me. Terry O'Dell please keep writing this series I loved all the Characters. Well I will a mit that I like Police Chief Gordon Hepler more.
February 15, 2021
Rose and Sam Kretzer are two of Mapleton's most beloved citizens. When a deadly car accident and a gruesome murder happen in Mapleton, the first one the town can remember, police chief Gordon Hepler has a case on his hands that involves Rose and Sam, their grandson, their god child, the lady the owns the bookstore, a newspaper reporter, and a journal that has Nazi secrets written in it. A well-written story with many a twist and turn (and a little romance thrown in here and there) kept me reading to find out what would happen next.
February 16, 2021
This is a really sleepy twister! Just when you think you have it all figured out, WHAM! The author hits you up side your head and you have to rethink everything. This is got some really good twists and some nice sharp hairpin turns.
Get ready! You may need seatbelts. I will definitely be going to Mapleton to keep up with these characters! While this is a longer read, I did manage to read it in a 12 hour shift! Love working nights.
This si really well done Terry Odell. Thank you
For you readers out there, pick it up, and start reading. You will enjoy!
Get ready! You may need seatbelts. I will definitely be going to Mapleton to keep up with these characters! While this is a longer read, I did manage to read it in a 12 hour shift! Love working nights.
This si really well done Terry Odell. Thank you
For you readers out there, pick it up, and start reading. You will enjoy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews