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An Ollie Stratford Mystery #2
Creek Crisis
THIS SERIES CAN BE READ IN ANY ORDER.
Want to Mingle with Hollywood Stars?
Ollie Stratford isn't comfortable mingling with movie stars and television celebrities, but that’s exactly where she finds herself when a mysterious Portuguese film producer hires her event center.
Ollie thinks everything is going to be fun and games... until the brawling and fisticuffs amongst the Divas break out. When one of the celebrities ends up dead, and the Sheriff and his deputy leave town for Vegas, Ollie decides justice can't wait.
But the more Ollie digs, the deeper the confusion. Who didn't want this person dead?
If you love action-packed cozy mysteries with a feisty protagonist, you'll love Creek Crisis, the second in a fun series of Ollie Stratford Murder Mysteries set in a small Texan Hill Country town, with all its quirky inhabitants.
Pick up this page-turner today!
Want to Mingle with Hollywood Stars?
Ollie Stratford isn't comfortable mingling with movie stars and television celebrities, but that’s exactly where she finds herself when a mysterious Portuguese film producer hires her event center.
Ollie thinks everything is going to be fun and games... until the brawling and fisticuffs amongst the Divas break out. When one of the celebrities ends up dead, and the Sheriff and his deputy leave town for Vegas, Ollie decides justice can't wait.
But the more Ollie digs, the deeper the confusion. Who didn't want this person dead?
If you love action-packed cozy mysteries with a feisty protagonist, you'll love Creek Crisis, the second in a fun series of Ollie Stratford Murder Mysteries set in a small Texan Hill Country town, with all its quirky inhabitants.
Pick up this page-turner today!
185 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2017
473 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
August 19, 2018
If you're looking for an enjoyable cozy, then Amazon is the place to go. This is the second book in the Ollie Stratford series, and it's worth reading. In addition to a murder to be solved, N. C.Lewis further develops the main character and the supporting cast. I enjoy learning something new in each book of a series. This has a solid story. This might considered a spoiler so stop reading here! My only, only complaint with the ending of this particular tale is that the killer was not one of the prime suspects. That might not be problem for some readers, and it won't stop me from reading more novels in this series because I've come to like the characters that populate these books.
February 11, 2024
Okay this was probably 3-3.5 stars but I took away points because the MC finds a dead body and immediately not only tampers with evidence but REMOVES evidence from the scene and hides it … 😕😕😕🙄🙄😒😒 so nope
January 20, 2018
What an awesome story
I loved it. It's full of suspense with a touch of humor. I like all of this author's books. I can't wait to see the next book in the series.
I loved it. It's full of suspense with a touch of humor. I like all of this author's books. I can't wait to see the next book in the series.
September 14, 2019
I finished the book
I would to be able to give it more than two stars. The good thing is no bad language. It just really was not realistic. I could not figure out if Milly was crazy or just innovative. I have a hard time sympathizing with women who “just have to solve the murder” because law enforcement is too stupid. Sorry.
I would to be able to give it more than two stars. The good thing is no bad language. It just really was not realistic. I could not figure out if Milly was crazy or just innovative. I have a hard time sympathizing with women who “just have to solve the murder” because law enforcement is too stupid. Sorry.
January 21, 2018
Puppets, Really?
Not what I expected. Sure, I'm used to cozy mysteries with pets and food and eccentric characters, but puppets and gurus. I'm afraid this one was a little corny for me. Another single woman getting involved in police business. Ugh! No surprise there!!
Not what I expected. Sure, I'm used to cozy mysteries with pets and food and eccentric characters, but puppets and gurus. I'm afraid this one was a little corny for me. Another single woman getting involved in police business. Ugh! No surprise there!!
August 4, 2018
This is my second attempt with this series, and I think I'm going to let it go. It's not terrible, but it just doesn't float my boat. Some of the characters are fun, but the overall writing style is just somehow lacking for me. Your mileage may vary.
March 7, 2018
"Creek Crisis" introduced me to the fascinating Ollie Stratford series, by N.C. Lewis. Ollie Stratford has moved from the world of business (she was a professor of statstics) to the world of event planning. All is not going exactly as planned, and money is tight. Along comes an offer to host a celebrity event, which she happily accepts. Strong personalities, diva ike behavior, and fisticuffs enlighten the night. To be followed the next mrning by Ollie and her hound Bodie discovering the dead body of one of the divas on her property. The Sheriff and his deputy are off in Las Vegas, leaving Ollie to deal with matters somewhat on her own.
As many possible suspects as there are, there are alibis. And it is never a good idea to go down to the police station and accuse someone of the crime, only to find that he is the nephew of the female deputy taking the complaint! Celebrities from the past, a very strange guru who makes himself known, checks that bounce, and three young kittens that are tossed into the river enliven this narration.
crime, only to find that he is the nephew of the female deputy taking the complaint! Celebrities from the past, a very strange guru who makes himself known, checks that bounce, and three young kittens that are tossed into the river enliven this narration.
People aren't who or what they seem. The characters are well constructed and interesting, and the small town Texas background has a flavor of its own. The story moves along swiftly, with not too many loose ends. I look forward to reading more books in this series!
As many possible suspects as there are, there are alibis. And it is never a good idea to go down to the police station and accuse someone of the crime, only to find that he is the nephew of the female deputy taking the complaint! Celebrities from the past, a very strange guru who makes himself known, checks that bounce, and three young kittens that are tossed into the river enliven this narration.
crime, only to find that he is the nephew of the female deputy taking the complaint! Celebrities from the past, a very strange guru who makes himself known, checks that bounce, and three young kittens that are tossed into the river enliven this narration.
People aren't who or what they seem. The characters are well constructed and interesting, and the small town Texas background has a flavor of its own. The story moves along swiftly, with not too many loose ends. I look forward to reading more books in this series!
June 3, 2021
When I finished the first book of this series, the sophomoric writing and atrocious punctuation had me saying I wouldn't bother with another. Then Book #2 came across as a freebie, and since I love the Texas Hill Country, I gave the series another chance. It's a good thing I don't drop mysteries until I know who the perpetrator is. This wasn't worth reading all the way through.
How many times do we have to be told that a Tahoe is a truck? Is it really unreasonable to ask that "the owner of the newspaper" be given even a fictitious name if there's some reason we can't know who he is? Can Lewis be given a crash course in the use of semicolons? Can s/he get a copyeditor who will look at timelines? The activities on some days simply do not track. Further, some characters are somewhat well-developed while others are mere superficial mentions, though they appear several times. Dialog is stilted.
If you haven't read the first book, mentions of "John" and his death in the second will simply throw you. They're used as if the reader remembers all about him from Book 1, where he took a lesser role.
How many times do we have to be told that a Tahoe is a truck? Is it really unreasonable to ask that "the owner of the newspaper" be given even a fictitious name if there's some reason we can't know who he is? Can Lewis be given a crash course in the use of semicolons? Can s/he get a copyeditor who will look at timelines? The activities on some days simply do not track. Further, some characters are somewhat well-developed while others are mere superficial mentions, though they appear several times. Dialog is stilted.
If you haven't read the first book, mentions of "John" and his death in the second will simply throw you. They're used as if the reader remembers all about him from Book 1, where he took a lesser role.
February 20, 2018
This was a rather interesting read.
This is the first book I have read in this "series", but I didn't feel lost at all. Ollie is the main character and I got that she recently moved and it was mentioned - more than once - that she helped solve a previous case, but that was about it. Nothing else was mentioned about the previous book so I don't feel like anything was missing with starting with book 2. And nothing in book 2 confused me that I felt I had to read book 1 first.
The book was a little slower than I like my mysteries, but there was no doubt a wide array of viable suspects to the murder case. There were definitely enough players to keep me guessing and the guilty party was not one that ever even crossed my mind.
If you like a cozy, easy mystery read - this is definitely right up your alley.
It didn't take me long to finish. It wasn't gory, dirty, or violent. There were enough people to keep it interesting and engaging trying to figure out "who done it". I would definitely recommend for those who like a less violent, cleaner, mystery.
This is the first book I have read in this "series", but I didn't feel lost at all. Ollie is the main character and I got that she recently moved and it was mentioned - more than once - that she helped solve a previous case, but that was about it. Nothing else was mentioned about the previous book so I don't feel like anything was missing with starting with book 2. And nothing in book 2 confused me that I felt I had to read book 1 first.
The book was a little slower than I like my mysteries, but there was no doubt a wide array of viable suspects to the murder case. There were definitely enough players to keep me guessing and the guilty party was not one that ever even crossed my mind.
If you like a cozy, easy mystery read - this is definitely right up your alley.
It didn't take me long to finish. It wasn't gory, dirty, or violent. There were enough people to keep it interesting and engaging trying to figure out "who done it". I would definitely recommend for those who like a less violent, cleaner, mystery.
March 6, 2021
Hollywood comes to the Hill Country
Ollie Stratford’s dream of a lucrative event site business is not proceeding as well as she hoped. Potential clients are overly demanding and infinitely cheap and her bank account is slowly but surely moving into the red. The offer by Karina Pope, executive assistant to a Portuguese film director, to rent Ealing Homestead as the set for his new movie will provide a much-needed financial boost. Ollie is even happier when she learns who will be in the movie and the whole town is excited over their new Hollywood fame until she finds the corpse of one of the actors. The sheriff wants Ollie to stay out of his case but she is determined to help. She could not prevent her husband’s murder years ago but she will not stand idly by and let someone get away with this one.
This is the first book I have read in this cozy series. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing about the killer’s identity and sometimes Ollie leaped to unexpected conclusions, but overall it was an enjoyable story and I would like to read more books in the series.
Ollie Stratford’s dream of a lucrative event site business is not proceeding as well as she hoped. Potential clients are overly demanding and infinitely cheap and her bank account is slowly but surely moving into the red. The offer by Karina Pope, executive assistant to a Portuguese film director, to rent Ealing Homestead as the set for his new movie will provide a much-needed financial boost. Ollie is even happier when she learns who will be in the movie and the whole town is excited over their new Hollywood fame until she finds the corpse of one of the actors. The sheriff wants Ollie to stay out of his case but she is determined to help. She could not prevent her husband’s murder years ago but she will not stand idly by and let someone get away with this one.
This is the first book I have read in this cozy series. There were plenty of twists to keep me guessing about the killer’s identity and sometimes Ollie leaped to unexpected conclusions, but overall it was an enjoyable story and I would like to read more books in the series.
January 29, 2018
Dr Ollie Stratford buys a large homestead on impulse at an auction and is now stuck with how to a) make it pay and b) pay the bills that this monster is churning out. She thought it would be a good idea to turn it into an event centre but found that most people who rent out large centres have very different and sometimes very strange expectations, like miniature donkeys and chariots for a wedding. So when a film crew wanted to use her farm, she jumped at it. Even more so when a couple of the names on their list were celebrities that she was familiar with, but what Ollie did not bargain for was that one of them would end up dead.
A good follow up to Texas Troubles. This can be read as a standalone but it is also nice to read about the characters whom you have met in the previous book and how things have moved on from there. I enjoyed this book and found it a comfortable relaxing read, with enough red herrings to make it interesting.
A good follow up to Texas Troubles. This can be read as a standalone but it is also nice to read about the characters whom you have met in the previous book and how things have moved on from there. I enjoyed this book and found it a comfortable relaxing read, with enough red herrings to make it interesting.
July 18, 2018
The secrets out!
A good solid cozy. She has settled on her property but money is an issue. After one attempt she is out of event planning. Miniatures donkeys - - need I say more? However a film crew wants to use her property for an event. They will supply everything. With things looking up she is more relaxed until the body of one of the actors turns up dead, wrapped in a tarp, well away from known trails and hidden by leaves. Feeling that she let her husband down by not investigating his kidnapping - she resolves to solve this. Can she do so? Is her financial position more stable? A good plot with the killer as a surprise. Great characters but where exactly are her children?
A good solid cozy. She has settled on her property but money is an issue. After one attempt she is out of event planning. Miniatures donkeys - - need I say more? However a film crew wants to use her property for an event. They will supply everything. With things looking up she is more relaxed until the body of one of the actors turns up dead, wrapped in a tarp, well away from known trails and hidden by leaves. Feeling that she let her husband down by not investigating his kidnapping - she resolves to solve this. Can she do so? Is her financial position more stable? A good plot with the killer as a surprise. Great characters but where exactly are her children?
November 17, 2017
Ollie is doing an event for a bunch of Hollywood actors. People she really doesn't care for, but money is money. Things are going fine until a fistfight breaks out at the event between the Hollywood Divas. Then one of them ends up dead. With the sheriff and his deputy out of town in Vegas, Ollie decides this can not wait and sets off to solve this murder. Of course there are bound to be a few (ha) bumps along the way, and the characters in this small Texas town really aren't as helpful as they are a hinderance. This is a fast paced funny story. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. The review is of my own choice and my own opinion.
December 27, 2017
Plausible characters, good story
Well developed, realistic characters. Lewis has done a good job of describing the hill country of Texas and what it is like to live in a small community. Being this is the 2nd book of the series I like that Dr. Ollie Stratford is fitting in at Merlin Creek. Since there is another murder and since Ollie solved the last murder, everyone (except police) is expecting her to solve this one. The suspects are many and Ollie has her own problems she should be focusing on. . . . . should she be trying to find this killer? What does she have against the celebrity guru? A great read. I loved it.
Well developed, realistic characters. Lewis has done a good job of describing the hill country of Texas and what it is like to live in a small community. Being this is the 2nd book of the series I like that Dr. Ollie Stratford is fitting in at Merlin Creek. Since there is another murder and since Ollie solved the last murder, everyone (except police) is expecting her to solve this one. The suspects are many and Ollie has her own problems she should be focusing on. . . . . should she be trying to find this killer? What does she have against the celebrity guru? A great read. I loved it.
January 28, 2018
Ollie does it again
Ollie has opened her ranch as an event center and the first event is with a film crew staring Hollywood names and an unknown director . The day after Ollie takes a lesser used trail into town and finds body of a guest from the day before . Knowing the attitude and ability of the sheriff's department , Ollie and Millie start to look into the murder. But everyone has an excellent alibi. Who's the murderer ? Leave it to Ollie to figure it out .
Ollie has opened her ranch as an event center and the first event is with a film crew staring Hollywood names and an unknown director . The day after Ollie takes a lesser used trail into town and finds body of a guest from the day before . Knowing the attitude and ability of the sheriff's department , Ollie and Millie start to look into the murder. But everyone has an excellent alibi. Who's the murderer ? Leave it to Ollie to figure it out .
January 14, 2018
The second book Creek Crisis of THE OLLIE STRATFORD MYSTERY SERIES is just as great as the first one TROUBLE IN TEXAS. In this book Ollie has to fight to get to the truth of who killed a stand in Actress and why. But Ollie is fighting the reminds that surround her Husbands death to, because his and this death are similar in that the police didn't do much to solve their murders. So its HP to Ollie to find out. This series is a clean mystery that the whole family will enjoy reading together. 5 GOLD STARS PLUS 5,000 MORE.
January 14, 2018
Putting on the Ritz
5 stars plus more is what this book gets. Avoid clean read with enjoyable Characters. There was nothing bad with the plot of the storyline. What I really liked it that Ollie wanted Justice for the person who died and for her Husband as well. The fact that Ollie still very much misses him pushes her to fight for the underdog and do right by what she believes in the truth.
5 stars plus more is what this book gets. Avoid clean read with enjoyable Characters. There was nothing bad with the plot of the storyline. What I really liked it that Ollie wanted Justice for the person who died and for her Husband as well. The fact that Ollie still very much misses him pushes her to fight for the underdog and do right by what she believes in the truth.
February 8, 2018
This is the first time reading this author and the first in the series that I have read. The main character is Dr. Ollie Stratford, who is trying to start a new career to host different events at her place in Texas. She finds a body while out walking her dog and ends up trying to figure out who did it. She has some really strange friends but she acts as if they are normal. She does figure it out but almost loses her life doing it. I look forward to reading more.
December 23, 2018
Perseverance Pays
This cozy mystery brings would-be event host, Ollie Stratford into the film industry. After a singer is strangled and She finds the body, Ollie takes it personally and looks for killer. Three kittens, Millie the erstwhile reporter, a guru, a Portuguese director, and assorted other interesting characters make this an entertaining read. Definitely a cozy and quick story.
This cozy mystery brings would-be event host, Ollie Stratford into the film industry. After a singer is strangled and She finds the body, Ollie takes it personally and looks for killer. Three kittens, Millie the erstwhile reporter, a guru, a Portuguese director, and assorted other interesting characters make this an entertaining read. Definitely a cozy and quick story.
October 14, 2020
As normal DR. Ollie is busy teaching at the college and trying to make Ealing ranch
Help provide some income. Then when all seems lost another murder rears it ugly
head, but this time its a pop singer. Murdered on Dr. Ollies ranch, plunges her in head first. With her friends, as they put their heads together and noses to the ground snooping out clues. But can they put it all together be for someone else
is killed.....namely Ollie. Another great mystery, so grab a copy and read it.
Debra H.
Help provide some income. Then when all seems lost another murder rears it ugly
head, but this time its a pop singer. Murdered on Dr. Ollies ranch, plunges her in head first. With her friends, as they put their heads together and noses to the ground snooping out clues. But can they put it all together be for someone else
is killed.....namely Ollie. Another great mystery, so grab a copy and read it.
Debra H.
October 30, 2017
Loved It
Book 2 in this series starts a couple months after book 1. Ollie is now teaching and is getting her new event center off the ground. Iam enjoying this character, however the writing needs some clarifiecation, as how did she get all the permits to open so fast? And was this her first event. There where a couple of places that seemed to jump.
Book 2 in this series starts a couple months after book 1. Ollie is now teaching and is getting her new event center off the ground. Iam enjoying this character, however the writing needs some clarifiecation, as how did she get all the permits to open so fast? And was this her first event. There where a couple of places that seemed to jump.
February 15, 2018
It's decent
The story is interesting, and I like Ollie, the main character/amateur sleuth. Proofreading was not good enough. Using forth instead of fourth hit me like a speed bump. All in all, the book is amusing and not in the least taxing. If I come across another N. C. Lewis book, I will read it.
The story is interesting, and I like Ollie, the main character/amateur sleuth. Proofreading was not good enough. Using forth instead of fourth hit me like a speed bump. All in all, the book is amusing and not in the least taxing. If I come across another N. C. Lewis book, I will read it.
June 1, 2018
Book 2. Special
I was very pleased with this second book on the series. It maid minimal reference to the first book, as necessary to add clarity to the story, and explains why these books can be read in any order. This book was as good as the first which I thought was excellent, looking forward to reading book three.
I was very pleased with this second book on the series. It maid minimal reference to the first book, as necessary to add clarity to the story, and explains why these books can be read in any order. This book was as good as the first which I thought was excellent, looking forward to reading book three.
January 12, 2019
This is the #2 Book in the Ollie Stratford Mystery Series and I read it out of the order of the series.
Dr Ollie Stratford buys a large homestead at an auction. turns it into an event center to make money.
A film crew wants to use her farm. The celebrities starred in a TV show similar to "Little House On The Prarie". Ollie finds one of them dead and starts looking for the murderer.
Dr Ollie Stratford buys a large homestead at an auction. turns it into an event center to make money.
A film crew wants to use her farm. The celebrities starred in a TV show similar to "Little House On The Prarie". Ollie finds one of them dead and starts looking for the murderer.
October 26, 2020
Ollie's Entertainment Center has moved right along and the latest group to book it has celebrities and even a Guru.The fun disappears when a murder takes place and the police are all at a meeting in Vegas. Ollie jumps in to help. The Hill Country of Texas has a lot of strange characters and each book introduces more. Fun to Read'
October 30, 2017
Twists and turns.
This book was full of exciting twists and turns of suspects. I was completely shocked to see who the killer was. A very good page-turning mystery that I really enjoyed reading!
This book was full of exciting twists and turns of suspects. I was completely shocked to see who the killer was. A very good page-turning mystery that I really enjoyed reading!
November 18, 2017
Great read
A new author for me and two books in I'm hooked if you love a great cozy with great characters then take a chance on N C Lewis like me you won't be sorry can't wait till the next
A new author for me and two books in I'm hooked if you love a great cozy with great characters then take a chance on N C Lewis like me you won't be sorry can't wait till the next
January 22, 2018
Hill Country Mystery
Good read for animal lovers and mystery readers. Interesting characters that will keep you coming back for more. A displaced New Yorker, Ollie, gets herself some great friends and in some deep trouble trying to make money at her new home.
Good read for animal lovers and mystery readers. Interesting characters that will keep you coming back for more. A displaced New Yorker, Ollie, gets herself some great friends and in some deep trouble trying to make money at her new home.
January 26, 2018
Fun, quick read
While I enjoy the characters and the story line, the inconsistencies were bothersome. However, they didn't stop me from finishing the book. These are just such enjoyable stories, hard not to like them.
While I enjoy the characters and the story line, the inconsistencies were bothersome. However, they didn't stop me from finishing the book. These are just such enjoyable stories, hard not to like them.
January 31, 2018
Another series that makes me want to visit Texas
Enjoyable, easy reading. I liked that I had to read a way into it before I was sure whether the main character is female or male. That made it more interesting because the characterization was not stereotypical.
Enjoyable, easy reading. I liked that I had to read a way into it before I was sure whether the main character is female or male. That made it more interesting because the characterization was not stereotypical.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews