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Mapleton Mystery #4.7
Deadly Assumptions
Will a string of mysterious trespassing incidents give Rookie Officer Ed Solomon his chance at being a big-time detective? Gordon Hepler and Ed Solomon are reminiscing at Finnegan's bar one snowy night, about a case that turned Gordon's career path around and had Solomon rethinking his desires to be a big-city detective. Back then, Gordon had no intentions of being a cop, and Ed was a greener-than-green rookie police officer being trained by Arch Hepler, Gordon's father.
In most places, people breaking into garden and storage sheds might not be a big deal, but in the small town of Mapleton, Colorado, it's a veritable crime wave, at least according to Chief Dixon. Kids playing pranks? Or something more serious? Could these trespassers have something to do with a much bigger, big-city crime?
What starts out as a perfunctory investigation soon escalates. Will Dixon, Arch Hepler, and new rookie Solomon discover the truth before Mapleton sees its first homicide in decades?
Deadly Assumptions, a cross between a cozy mystery and a police procedural, is the seventh offering in Terry Odell's Mapleton Mystery series. It, like all the others, can be read as a stand alone.
In most places, people breaking into garden and storage sheds might not be a big deal, but in the small town of Mapleton, Colorado, it's a veritable crime wave, at least according to Chief Dixon. Kids playing pranks? Or something more serious? Could these trespassers have something to do with a much bigger, big-city crime?
What starts out as a perfunctory investigation soon escalates. Will Dixon, Arch Hepler, and new rookie Solomon discover the truth before Mapleton sees its first homicide in decades?
Deadly Assumptions, a cross between a cozy mystery and a police procedural, is the seventh offering in Terry Odell's Mapleton Mystery series. It, like all the others, can be read as a stand alone.
- GenresMystery
96 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2018
15 people are currently reading
43 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.
"
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 31, 2020
Deadly Assumptions earns 5/5 Hindsight Memories...Flashback Entertainment!
It’s been two years since Chief Dixon passed away and Gordon took over the Chief role, and with Gordon’s father, Archie Hepler, also a great cop, gone, too, “wallowing” in a drink seems apropos. Ed joins in with a retelling of a story from fifteen years back, when he was a “green” recruit under the tutelage of Hepler’s dad, Chief Dixon was in charge, and Gordon was away at college with no intention of following in his father’s footsteps. It was a dark and stormy night... A call came in about a possible break-in, and Dix reports an uptick of minor issues: trespassing, property damage, vandalism. Then strangers appear. A husband disappears. Assumptions are made, however, logical, but the old adage about “assuming” may put them in jeopardy...or dead. Engaging! It was delightful to be whisked back in time before the original novel when Solomon was a rookie, Hepler’s dad was his training officer, and Chief Dixon “Dix” was in charge. The narrative changes to first-person from Solomon’s perspective, but the drama was more explorative, real police work, and lamenting the tech shortcomings of the Mapleton PD. But, the “don’t assume anything rule” escalated well at the end for quite a page-turner experience.
Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
It’s been two years since Chief Dixon passed away and Gordon took over the Chief role, and with Gordon’s father, Archie Hepler, also a great cop, gone, too, “wallowing” in a drink seems apropos. Ed joins in with a retelling of a story from fifteen years back, when he was a “green” recruit under the tutelage of Hepler’s dad, Chief Dixon was in charge, and Gordon was away at college with no intention of following in his father’s footsteps. It was a dark and stormy night... A call came in about a possible break-in, and Dix reports an uptick of minor issues: trespassing, property damage, vandalism. Then strangers appear. A husband disappears. Assumptions are made, however, logical, but the old adage about “assuming” may put them in jeopardy...or dead. Engaging! It was delightful to be whisked back in time before the original novel when Solomon was a rookie, Hepler’s dad was his training officer, and Chief Dixon “Dix” was in charge. The narrative changes to first-person from Solomon’s perspective, but the drama was more explorative, real police work, and lamenting the tech shortcomings of the Mapleton PD. But, the “don’t assume anything rule” escalated well at the end for quite a page-turner experience.
Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
August 28, 2018
Solomon runs into Gordon at Finnegan's and tells him about a case when he was a rookie and Gordon's father was his partner. This is a good story told from a rookies point. I received a copy from the author but wasn't required to write a review. This is my honest opinion.
August 29, 2018
A California rookie officer transplanted to small town Colorado Law Enforcement. Having lived in both places and having been a part of a small town police department, I was hooked immediately. Read without stopping and was entertained through the whole story. Definitely a good read!!!
August 29, 2018
What do you find in a sleepy small town in Colorado ? Mystery comes in the form of several insignificant breakins which on their own seem nothing but put them together and what do you get?
This is a really entertaining and enjoyable story which I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is a really entertaining and enjoyable story which I thoroughly enjoyed.
September 7, 2018
In hindsight two cops meet in a bar to reminisce about their lives. Years ago Ed Soloman has just been hired as a rookie cop on the Mapleton Police Force. He was determined to be the best cop he could be. His training officer was Archie Hepler. Soloman had always wanted to be a detective but with Mapleton being so small there was not much chance of that happening. Then a series of shed break-ins becomes so much more - a jewel heist with ties to Mapleton. They are off to the races! This is a book worth reading - it is all about police officers and their ability to work together as a team. When some of their own find themselves in a hostage situation they form a united front to save them. A very believeable storyline and plot with a delightful combination of characters. It is a great read - Terry Odell never fails to satisfy, keep you alert and interested. I received a copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
September 17, 2018
After former Chief Dixon’s funeral, Chief Gordon Hepler and Officer Ed Solomon belly up to the bar. With snow falling around their Colorado locale, Ed shares how he came to stay on this force. When he first began working as a cop in Mapleton, he worked for Gordon’s dad. Coming from California, Ed felt like a fish out of water but he was determined to be a good cop.
A report of a disturbance on someone’s property became his case, and that was the tip of a larger issue. Using low tech tools and dogged police work, Ed earns the respect of his peers.
A solid police procedural, and a quick read visiting with familiar characters.
Muddy Rose Reviews
A report of a disturbance on someone’s property became his case, and that was the tip of a larger issue. Using low tech tools and dogged police work, Ed earns the respect of his peers.
A solid police procedural, and a quick read visiting with familiar characters.
Muddy Rose Reviews
October 1, 2018
Solving the crime, step by step
In this novella, Ms Odell takes us back to where it all began to Ed Solomon’s rookie season training under Gordon’s dad. As Ed is given the opportunity to put together the pieces relating to the crime, the reader follows along to the exciting conclusion.
In this novella, Ms Odell takes us back to where it all began to Ed Solomon’s rookie season training under Gordon’s dad. As Ed is given the opportunity to put together the pieces relating to the crime, the reader follows along to the exciting conclusion.
October 18, 2025
Enjoyable trip down memory lane, giving us a good look at the back stories fur several characters, aside and those who have passed. It's an enjoyable short read, to give you good background as the series continues.
September 2, 2018
I really enjoy this series. Good characters, good puzzles.
December 3, 2019
Some reminiscing and backstory to clarify the reasons for staying a small town cop in Mapleton, Colorado.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews