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Deputy Tempe Crabtree #8
Kindred Spirits
Tempe Crabtree is the resident deputy of Bear Creek, a small mountain community in the southern Sierra. Her continuing interest in the spiritual side of her heritage often causes unrest in her marriage to her minister husband. Kindred Spirits is about a troubled marriage, a "perfect" murder, a murder victim whose spirit won't rest until the murderer's identity is revealed, the genocide of the Tolowa nation, and two dangerous trips for Deputy Tempe Crabtree as she searches for answers.
- GenresMystery
200 pages, trade paperback
First published August 1, 1999
About the author
Marilyn Meredith
57 books130 followersaka 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 12, 2022
Tempe is put into danger
After a murder and forest fire, Tempe is asked to officially investigate the murder. She learns more about her Indian heritage and uses that knowledge to discover the truth.
After a murder and forest fire, Tempe is asked to officially investigate the murder. She learns more about her Indian heritage and uses that knowledge to discover the truth.
March 10, 2026
This was a fun read for me because of the connections to local people and places. I recognized the Crescent City airport, Sheriff's station, Smith River Indian Shaker church, Highway 101, the customs and practices of the Tolowa, and so forth.
September 23, 2008
A forest fire is raging in the higher elevations of Bear Creek canyon. Deputy Tempe Crabtree has orders to check out some of the houses in the path of the fire and make sure everyone obeyed the evacuation order. Due to the raging fire, Tempe couldn’t quite make it to the home of Vanessa Ainsworth, an artist who lived in a secluded area. She was stopped by firefighters at the entrance to Vanessa’s home.
When the firemen were able to clear the way to Vanessa’s place they found that Vanessa didn’t survive but her death was not due to the fire. Vanessa’s dog, her only companion, suffered the same fate as its owner.
One suspect was Eric Figueroa, who formerly lived with Vanessa, but now lived in town since Vanessa had issued a restraining order against him. The only other suspect was Vanessa’s ex-husband, Acton Ainsworth, who lived in Crescent City. It was rumored that Acton was bitter towards Vanessa because of the large settlement she had received from him in their divorce. Both suspects had an alibi so the investigation was at a dead end.
Vanessa was of Indian heritage and since Tempe was too, Tempe’s superiors requested that she make a trip to Crescent City to inform Vanessa’s cousin Abby of Vanessa’s death.
Tempe agreed to make the trip and hit it off immediately with Abby, Vanessa’s cousin. Although Tempe had only recently began to show an interest in the spiritual side of her heritage she was very interested in the information Abby had to offer regarding her tribe and their beliefs. Abby also filled Tempe in on Vanessa’s life and the period of time when she was married to Acton.
Tempe returned home with a little more information but no hint of who might have killed Vanessa. Tempe was not at a good place in her life. Her husband Hutch, a minister, and Tempe had had many disagreements about the casino that was built in the area. Hutch was against it and Tempe had mixed feelings. Tempe was hoping for some time off work and a chance to reconnect with her husband. Vanessa’s spirit began appearing to Tempe and Tempe felt sure that Vanessa would not rest until her murderer was brought to justice.
Calling the Dead, Judgment Fire and now Kindred Spirits are books not to be missed. The mystery as well as the way Hutch and Tempe work out their differences makes for interesting reading.
When the firemen were able to clear the way to Vanessa’s place they found that Vanessa didn’t survive but her death was not due to the fire. Vanessa’s dog, her only companion, suffered the same fate as its owner.
One suspect was Eric Figueroa, who formerly lived with Vanessa, but now lived in town since Vanessa had issued a restraining order against him. The only other suspect was Vanessa’s ex-husband, Acton Ainsworth, who lived in Crescent City. It was rumored that Acton was bitter towards Vanessa because of the large settlement she had received from him in their divorce. Both suspects had an alibi so the investigation was at a dead end.
Vanessa was of Indian heritage and since Tempe was too, Tempe’s superiors requested that she make a trip to Crescent City to inform Vanessa’s cousin Abby of Vanessa’s death.
Tempe agreed to make the trip and hit it off immediately with Abby, Vanessa’s cousin. Although Tempe had only recently began to show an interest in the spiritual side of her heritage she was very interested in the information Abby had to offer regarding her tribe and their beliefs. Abby also filled Tempe in on Vanessa’s life and the period of time when she was married to Acton.
Tempe returned home with a little more information but no hint of who might have killed Vanessa. Tempe was not at a good place in her life. Her husband Hutch, a minister, and Tempe had had many disagreements about the casino that was built in the area. Hutch was against it and Tempe had mixed feelings. Tempe was hoping for some time off work and a chance to reconnect with her husband. Vanessa’s spirit began appearing to Tempe and Tempe felt sure that Vanessa would not rest until her murderer was brought to justice.
Calling the Dead, Judgment Fire and now Kindred Spirits are books not to be missed. The mystery as well as the way Hutch and Tempe work out their differences makes for interesting reading.
October 9, 2008
Kindred Spirits is part of the Tempe Crabtree Series, and Tempe is a deputy in Bear Creek, who is part Native American and married to a Christian minister Hutch Hutchinson. Her police counterparts in Dennison don't seem to take her seriously, even though she takes care of business in Bear Creek and beyond.
The main case in this mystery is the death of Vanessa Ainsworth, formerly the wife of Acton Ainsworth, a major furniture shop owner and philanthropist. While a wildfire rages in Bear Creek, displacing many residents, Deputy Crabtree and firemen discover a body--Vanessa Ainsworth--after having contained much of the fire. Crabtree is on the case even when her legal counterparts push her to the sidelines. She's quickly sent to speak with Vanessa's family and friends in Crescent City, which is when the real twists and turns begin. You'll meet some intriguing characters along the way, including my personal favorite, the trenchcoat, VW bus driving Lanny Hargrove.
The twists and turns in this novel will keep you guessing most of the way, but even if you figure out who the killer is before Tempe and the other detectives do, the way Meredith meshes in Tempe's troubled marriage and her questions about her heritage will keep you interested. What worked best for me about this novel is the evolution of Hutch from the beginning to the end; he grows even more compassionate and grows to understand the importance of Tempe's drive to find the truth. He also learns to open his heart to issues and situations he normally would disapprove of, fear, and dismiss. Tempe easy to love and her drive to discover the truth is addicting.
The main case in this mystery is the death of Vanessa Ainsworth, formerly the wife of Acton Ainsworth, a major furniture shop owner and philanthropist. While a wildfire rages in Bear Creek, displacing many residents, Deputy Crabtree and firemen discover a body--Vanessa Ainsworth--after having contained much of the fire. Crabtree is on the case even when her legal counterparts push her to the sidelines. She's quickly sent to speak with Vanessa's family and friends in Crescent City, which is when the real twists and turns begin. You'll meet some intriguing characters along the way, including my personal favorite, the trenchcoat, VW bus driving Lanny Hargrove.
The twists and turns in this novel will keep you guessing most of the way, but even if you figure out who the killer is before Tempe and the other detectives do, the way Meredith meshes in Tempe's troubled marriage and her questions about her heritage will keep you interested. What worked best for me about this novel is the evolution of Hutch from the beginning to the end; he grows even more compassionate and grows to understand the importance of Tempe's drive to find the truth. He also learns to open his heart to issues and situations he normally would disapprove of, fear, and dismiss. Tempe easy to love and her drive to discover the truth is addicting.
September 18, 2008
Tempe Crabtree is a deputy sheriff in Bear Creek, a small town at the base of the Sierra Mountains, and she's married to Hutch Hutchinson, the local preacher. After a forest fire ravaged through their small community, Vanessa Ainsworth, a local artist, and her dog are discovered dead. The coroner informs Tempe that they were shot before the fire. Since no one in Bear Creek knows much about Vanessa, the investigation goes nowhere. Tempe is visited by Vanessa's spirit, who warns her of danger. Being the only woman in the Sheriff's Department and Native American, too, Tempe is sent to Crescent City to investigate Vanessa's past. She contacts Vanessa's cousin and close friend and they tell her all about Vanessa and teach her some Indian lore, too. While she's in Crescent City, Tempe is followed, leading her to believe she's on the right track. The trail leads Tempe and Hutch to Santa Barbara and an exciting climax to the mystery.
Kindred Spirits is the eighth book in Marilyn Meredith's Tempe Crabtree mystery series. It is not necessary to read any of the other books in the series to enjoy this one. It is a solid, entertaining, and somewhat predictable mystery with some Native American facts woven into the story. I'm sorry to admit that I don't know much about Native American history; this book made me want to rectify that.
Kindred Spirits is the eighth book in Marilyn Meredith's Tempe Crabtree mystery series. It is not necessary to read any of the other books in the series to enjoy this one. It is a solid, entertaining, and somewhat predictable mystery with some Native American facts woven into the story. I'm sorry to admit that I don't know much about Native American history; this book made me want to rectify that.
April 18, 2019
Marilyn Meredith is following in the literary footsteps of award-winning, best-selling mystery author, Tony Hillerman. In Spirit Wind, Native American people, places and culture play huge roles in fleshing out a classic murder mystery. Meredith has the skills and imagination, and she does the research, to create a mystery novel ( and series of novels) that readers of Southwestern mysteries will love.
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August 23, 2008Since I wrote the book, what I'm hoping first is that people will enjoy the book, but my secondary desire is that readers will learn about the Tolowa people, a little known Native American tribe located in the coastal areas of northern California and southern Oregon.
August 27, 2008
Marilyn Meredith weaves this fast read mystery with soul-touching mystery as well as wit. I plan to read all the Tempe Crabtree Mystery series. I have a two yr. old granddaughter named Tempe and I'm going to save all the series for her to read when she grows up!
November 15, 2013
Wow! The Best ‘Spine-Tingling’ Tempe Crabtree Mystery Yet!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews