Deadly Trail

Deputy Tempe Crabtree #1

by Marilyn Meredith

The tranquility of the village of Bear Creek in the Southern Sierra is disrupted by the suspicious death of the owner of the local Inn. Investigating a murder case isn't Deputy Tempe Crabtree's job, but when the detectives don't look any further than Nick Two John as the primary suspect. Tempe begins asking questions. Putting the planning for her wedding to Pastor Hutch Hutchinson on hold, it doesn't take long for her to discover there are several more people who wanted the victim dead, including his wife. Tempe follows the trail of clues putting her job, her upcoming marriage and herself in peril.

Genres: Mystery

194 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2018

About the author

aka F.M. Meredith.

Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series and the under the name F. M. Meredith, the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. She borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the town of Bear Creek and the surrounding area, including the nearby Tule River Indian Reservation.

For the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, she uses a lot she remembers from her time living on the coast, in a place much like Rocky Bluff.

She does like to remind everyone that she is writing fiction. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America
Series:
* Deputy Tempe Crabtree

Reviews

[Sandy Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced, quick read. The prequel to the Tempe Crabtree series.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Deadly Trail”, first in the 'Deputy Tempe Crabtree' series, is set in and around the town of Bear Creek in the Southern Sierra.
When the owner of the local inn drops dead, while Tempe and her fiancee Pastor Hutch Hutchinson are enjoying their dinner, she thinks it is a heart attack.
But, when another employee is found unconscious just a few hours later it's clear that heart attacks are out of the question.
The evidence quickly points to Nick Two John who was having an affair with the dead man's wife.
An expert concerning local plants he has cultivated many which offer both herbal remedies and deadly poisons.
Tempe ain't convinced that he's guilty and, even though it is not strictly her job, she questions the hell out of every possible suspect, often repeatedly.
Her future husband is less than impressed with her diligence.
It's a linear story and the writing style is very plain but Tempe proves an interesting character.
I'll have forgotten it completely in a few days.
3 Stars.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading books with the Native American story line. Nick Two John was charged with a murder of a man who owned the Inn near his place. Everyone thought he was guilty bur Tempe who worked as a deputy for that area. Nick was having a affair with the dead mans wife. One of the waitress's at the Inn also had a big crush on Mr. Donato the owner. This girl was Elise was a married woman too. Officer Tempe kept doing alot of police investigating on her own after they put Nick Two John in jail for the murder. Tempe's boyfriend who she was planning on marrying disagreed with her - he thought Nick was guilty

[Quetzi Fernald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found out this book is actually the prequel to the Tempe Crabtree series so I'm half way through it & it's just as good as the othe two I've read only Tempe & Hutch (Bear Creeks town Preacher) aren't married yet. Here Hutch is trying to set the date inbetween a murder case. Tempe struggles with her job as Deputy Police of Bear Creek. I love all the drama that's playing out in this book & series.

[eben schaefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, simple, okay

This story was okay, believable. Decent characters, decent plot. But overall it just seemed like not enough in most areas. Characters not quite developed enough. Not quite enough suspense. Dialogue didn't flow enough. Just too many areas where it fell short to be rated any better. Couldn't rate it worse, though, because the bones of it are good.

[Carol Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

I really like the warm, mature relationship between the two main characters and between mother and son. Just a nice, clean and well written mystery. I would definitely recommend.

[Jewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

good series, I'll try book 2.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is called a prequel to a series, and is a very fast and easy read. I enjoyed the setting, in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. The main character is a deputy with Native American heritage; she is interested in learning more about her ancestry while trying to solve a murder.

[Lorna Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

How nice to learn the backstory on Deputy Tempe Crabtree and Hutch. Also a nice introduction to Nick Two John and the Inn. This is another well-written mystery by a first-class mystery writer.