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Murder in the Worst Degree
A body washes up on the beach and leads Detectives Milligan and Zachary on a murder investigation. Suspects the victim’s family members, his housekeeper, three long-time friends, and a mystery woman.
- GenresMystery
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2014
40 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
F.M. Meredith
20 books16 followersA.K.A. Marilyn Meredith is the author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries and the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, under the name, F.M. Meredith
Series:
* Rocky Bluff Police Department
Series:
* Rocky Bluff Police Department
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 25, 2014
Murder in the Worse Degree is the latest novel in the Rocky Bluff Mystery Series. While I haven't read all of them, I have read quite a few and they were all good, but this is one story I especially liked. Ms. Meredith knows how to write a solid mystery with interesting characters, and this time she threw in a clever twist at the end that I wasn't expecting, but in my opinion, made the story exceptional. I recommend this novel to all mystery lovers.
August 17, 2020
Good cozy mystery
Good cozy mystery lots of characters and bad guys. Interesting ending vEnjoyable light reading. I read this on kindle. It was nice that there were no spelling errors nor missing words in the lift to e read from print
Good cozy mystery lots of characters and bad guys. Interesting ending vEnjoyable light reading. I read this on kindle. It was nice that there were no spelling errors nor missing words in the lift to e read from print
November 23, 2022
An intense murder mystery
When a victim helps generate a profile picture of a rapist, it looks eerily like one of the cops. The chief puts him on administrative leave until things are sorted out. A body washing ashore kicks off the tale. Things ultimately work out well.
When a victim helps generate a profile picture of a rapist, it looks eerily like one of the cops. The chief puts him on administrative leave until things are sorted out. A body washing ashore kicks off the tale. Things ultimately work out well.
May 12, 2024
Good, light read. Nice for a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon.
Good book with a great cast. Light but still compelling. Love these characters who will be great over the long haul.
Good book with a great cast. Light but still compelling. Love these characters who will be great over the long haul.
March 12, 2017
Very good
I will recommend this book, specialy to people who want love, action and a lot môre in a story. Worth reading
I will recommend this book, specialy to people who want love, action and a lot môre in a story. Worth reading
April 25, 2014
It’s always fun to return to author F.M. Meredith’s fictional town of Rocky Bluff where you’re bound to find an intriguing murder, typical crime and delightful characters to re-connect with.
In the latest installment, MURDER IN THE WORST DEGREE, the body of a wealthy, elderly man – Harlan Knight – washes ashore. It’s up to Detectives Doug Milligan and Felix Zachary to find out what really happened to him. During their investigation, they find out the son, grandson, daughter, housekeeper, and housekeeper’s son stand to inherit with Knight’s death. They also discover Knight’s three Marine buddies and a mysterious secret girlfriend are also included in the will.
Meanwhile, a serial rapist seems to be on the loose in Rocky Bluff. When one of his victims gets a look at his face, the description she gives officers looks a lot like one of their own.
As the officers are dealing with the daily problems of crime, they are also adjusting to a new police chief. Changes are being made by Chief Chandra Taylor and the officers aren’t quite sure what to make of them or her.
The author has created a cast of characters that are likable and realistic. She blends the ongoing police activities with each of the officers’ home life creating a well-balanced story. Meredith combines a number of activities together demonstrating how small towns handle the pressure of rising crime with budget cuts and the shortage of manpower.
MURDER IN THE WORST DEGREE moves at a fast pace and holds the reader’s attention with a number of twists and turns. While this is the 10th installment in the series, it can be read on its own.
The story is an enjoyable cozy murder mystery that will have you laughing and guessing as officers get closer to the real killer.
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author as part of her virtual book tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
be, if you were in a mystery murder story?
In the latest installment, MURDER IN THE WORST DEGREE, the body of a wealthy, elderly man – Harlan Knight – washes ashore. It’s up to Detectives Doug Milligan and Felix Zachary to find out what really happened to him. During their investigation, they find out the son, grandson, daughter, housekeeper, and housekeeper’s son stand to inherit with Knight’s death. They also discover Knight’s three Marine buddies and a mysterious secret girlfriend are also included in the will.
Meanwhile, a serial rapist seems to be on the loose in Rocky Bluff. When one of his victims gets a look at his face, the description she gives officers looks a lot like one of their own.
As the officers are dealing with the daily problems of crime, they are also adjusting to a new police chief. Changes are being made by Chief Chandra Taylor and the officers aren’t quite sure what to make of them or her.
The author has created a cast of characters that are likable and realistic. She blends the ongoing police activities with each of the officers’ home life creating a well-balanced story. Meredith combines a number of activities together demonstrating how small towns handle the pressure of rising crime with budget cuts and the shortage of manpower.
MURDER IN THE WORST DEGREE moves at a fast pace and holds the reader’s attention with a number of twists and turns. While this is the 10th installment in the series, it can be read on its own.
The story is an enjoyable cozy murder mystery that will have you laughing and guessing as officers get closer to the real killer.
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the author as part of her virtual book tour in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
be, if you were in a mystery murder story?
March 30, 2021
This is the first book I've read in the series. It is supposed to stand alone but I found it difficult to understand certain characters because the comments made about them did not provide any background to make them understandable. The story takes place in the fictional southern California town of Rocky Bluff, placed near Ventura and Santa Barbara. It unfolds through the experiences of the police officers who work there as they investigate the mysterious death of an elderly man and try to capture a rapist who has viciously attacked two women. The department has a new chief, a black woman. The officers under her command have their own personal problems and worry about how she will make changes that will negatively affect them. The story bounced around. It had many inaccuracies that needed to be edited, such as sentences that were repetitious and the same question asked of a character more than once, with a different answer each time. Probation and parole were treated as though they were one and the same when they are two completely separate functions in California. Officer Ryan, married to Barbara (a widow with three boys) is ready to leave her because she is having a baby with Downs Syndrome. When he forces himself to see the newborn she looks beautiful to him and he is happy that she looks "normal." Barbara can't leave the hospital until the doctor has finished testing the baby to see what her limitations will be. If she has many limitations, will Ryan decide to run? Yet the author never gives us the answer. Gordon, who is constantly referred to as having problems (but never identified) wants to marry officer Lisette. She believes that if she marries another officer she will lose her job. She thinks the new chief frowns on relationships between two officers. However, Doug and Stacey, are both officers and are married. They are not losing their jobs. Why doesn't Lisette notice that? Sorry to say I was not impressed with this book and can't recommend it.
April 23, 2014
MURDER IN THE WORST DEGREE is a place where old friends connect. It’s the tenth book in the series, so regular readers meet up with familiar characters. Although I read one or two books in the series, it was long ago so I’m close to being a newcomer. The story holds up well for new readers. In nearly all parts of the story the reader meets the characters before they have much time on stage, a technique I much prefer over its inverse.
This is another case, though, where a Cast of Characters would have been helpful. It’s often very difficult for a reader to know when was the last instance of a character, to flip back exactly that number of pages to see who they are, their job title, who they’re married to, the names of their kids. In a long running series there are a great many players whose relationship to other characters is not always obvious. A Cast of Characters is an easy place to flip back and find out if the person one is reading about is really the person one remembers. Don’t worry about our getting ahead of ourselves plot-wise—most of us are smart enough to skip over the characters we haven’t yet met.
The characters are treated with loving care in MURDER IN THE WORST DEGREE; this is a characteristic I remember from the earlier books. And so, the reader develops a strong interest in their wellbeing.
Though events occurring around Rocky Bluff Police Department seem like ordinary, innocuous police business, it isn’t more than a page or two before one is hungrily eating up the pages.
A light, satisfying tale.
Theresa de Valence, http://www.ReviewsByTdeV.com
This is another case, though, where a Cast of Characters would have been helpful. It’s often very difficult for a reader to know when was the last instance of a character, to flip back exactly that number of pages to see who they are, their job title, who they’re married to, the names of their kids. In a long running series there are a great many players whose relationship to other characters is not always obvious. A Cast of Characters is an easy place to flip back and find out if the person one is reading about is really the person one remembers. Don’t worry about our getting ahead of ourselves plot-wise—most of us are smart enough to skip over the characters we haven’t yet met.
The characters are treated with loving care in MURDER IN THE WORST DEGREE; this is a characteristic I remember from the earlier books. And so, the reader develops a strong interest in their wellbeing.
Though events occurring around Rocky Bluff Police Department seem like ordinary, innocuous police business, it isn’t more than a page or two before one is hungrily eating up the pages.
A light, satisfying tale.
Theresa de Valence, http://www.ReviewsByTdeV.com
April 28, 2014
F.M. Meredith shows she knows how to keep it fresh for fans of her long-running Rocky Bluff P.D. Series. Several changes have come to the department: a new police chief, some retirements, and a promotion for Felix Zachary to detective. That doesn't mean new fans will feel lost. Not only is there just enough backstory to help newbies feel comfortable, each book is a stand alone, so you truly can pick up any book in the series for a great read that blends the personal and professional lives of the members of the Rocky Bluff P.D.
Murder in the Worst Degree, like the other books in the series, draws its strength from the likable, complex set of characters working within the department. Coupling this cast with an intriguing plot with twists and turns along the way, you'll enjoy getting to know everyone while trying to figure out the suspects and motives.
One of the best aspects of this series, and this book in particular, is that you see plausible situations played out in this fictional police setting, by a group of people who seem almost as real as one of your friends or relatives.You meet new characters within the town as the police department follows the clues and works to keep the residents of Rocky Bluff safe. It's a perfect blend of both worlds. I would love to see these novels turned into a television series.
If you enjoy mysteries that are equally character driven and plot driven, Murder in the Worst Degree is a perfect choice.
Murder in the Worst Degree, like the other books in the series, draws its strength from the likable, complex set of characters working within the department. Coupling this cast with an intriguing plot with twists and turns along the way, you'll enjoy getting to know everyone while trying to figure out the suspects and motives.
One of the best aspects of this series, and this book in particular, is that you see plausible situations played out in this fictional police setting, by a group of people who seem almost as real as one of your friends or relatives.You meet new characters within the town as the police department follows the clues and works to keep the residents of Rocky Bluff safe. It's a perfect blend of both worlds. I would love to see these novels turned into a television series.
If you enjoy mysteries that are equally character driven and plot driven, Murder in the Worst Degree is a perfect choice.
March 24, 2014
In real life, police seldom have the benefit of being able to concentrate on one case at a time. F. M. Meredith realistically depicts this in her mystery series.
Her cops in this particular book are dealing with the body of an elderly man found washed up on a beach, a serial rapist whose attacks appear to be escalating, plus an assortment of drug deals, auto accidents and other minor incidents. At the same time, the officers have the normal run of family concerns, love interests and adjustments to a new chief of police.
If all that isn’t enough to keep them on their toes, Meredith throws in an earthquake to add a bit more tension.
This is the 10th in the Rocky Bluff PD series, but it isn’t necessary to have read the preceding books to enjoy this fast-paced, well-plotted addition. I’d be willing to wager if you haven’t read the earlier books, this one will incline you to seek them out.
Her cops in this particular book are dealing with the body of an elderly man found washed up on a beach, a serial rapist whose attacks appear to be escalating, plus an assortment of drug deals, auto accidents and other minor incidents. At the same time, the officers have the normal run of family concerns, love interests and adjustments to a new chief of police.
If all that isn’t enough to keep them on their toes, Meredith throws in an earthquake to add a bit more tension.
This is the 10th in the Rocky Bluff PD series, but it isn’t necessary to have read the preceding books to enjoy this fast-paced, well-plotted addition. I’d be willing to wager if you haven’t read the earlier books, this one will incline you to seek them out.
September 27, 2020
Although this is the tenth book in the series, there's enough backstory seamlessly woven into the story so new readers aren't lost. There are so many characters, though, that I sometimes had to stop and think about who was who. The interrelationships among the police officers and their families could get a little confusing. This was a good mystery with a surprising twist at the end, but the personal lives of the characters is as important as the police work. These folks seem like real people that the reader can relate to. I appreciate that all the loose ends of the mystery are tied up, but there are enough interesting developments in the characters' lives that the reader wants to read the next installment.
April 27, 2016
This is the only book in the series I've read. Although I don't think it was necessary to read the others in order to follow this one, I did find it difficult to keep all of the characters straight, which might have been less of a problem if I'd read the previous books. There were a lot of characters, and they're sometimes referred to by their first names, other times by their last names, so it seemed like a cast of thousands.
As a standalone book, it was too short to give each of the many characters much dimension, but I assume that over several books, the characterizations get fleshed out. I felt as though I were reading a few chapters of a book, or a very condensed version of a larger book. I also found the plot to be too predictable.
As a standalone book, it was too short to give each of the many characters much dimension, but I assume that over several books, the characterizations get fleshed out. I felt as though I were reading a few chapters of a book, or a very condensed version of a larger book. I also found the plot to be too predictable.
February 5, 2014
"The body that washes up on the beach leads Detectives Milligan and Zachary on a murder investigation that includes the victim’s family members, his housekeeper, three long-time friends, and a mystery woman."
Truly and interesting, good quick read. (It probably took me all of 6 hours tops to read it.) This police procedure mystery was well plotted, well written and most enjoyable. So wonderful to find an author that doesn't need 300 pages plus to really write an entertaining novel! And, even though this is 10th in a series - this is the first I've read and would recommend to anyone who likes to read!
Truly and interesting, good quick read. (It probably took me all of 6 hours tops to read it.) This police procedure mystery was well plotted, well written and most enjoyable. So wonderful to find an author that doesn't need 300 pages plus to really write an entertaining novel! And, even though this is 10th in a series - this is the first I've read and would recommend to anyone who likes to read!
April 13, 2014
I've read all of the books in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series by F.M. Meredith and "Murder in the Worst Degree" was one of my favorites. The fictional town of Rocky Bluff has become real to me and I've come to love and care about what happens to each of the characters. In this book, a wealthy elderly man is found murdered and there's a long list of possible suspects. As detectives investigate the case, a serial rapist is also on the loose. Are the two cases connected? You'll want to read the book to find out.
February 12, 2014
I was lucky enough to get an advanced Readers Edition of this book, for an honest review.
I must say I really enjoyed this fast paced story. From the first page I was filled with excitement of a good murder. Full of twists and turns and suspense.
Murder in the Worst Degree is #10 in the series but reads as a stand alone book. I will be reading the rest of the series in the near future
I must say I really enjoyed this fast paced story. From the first page I was filled with excitement of a good murder. Full of twists and turns and suspense.
Murder in the Worst Degree is #10 in the series but reads as a stand alone book. I will be reading the rest of the series in the near future
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October 24, 2015Murder in the Worst Degree is the tenth book in F. M. Meredith’s Rocky Bluff Police Department series. You can read an interview with the author here. I selected this title from Cheap Kindle Books.
For the full review, click here: http://nighttimenarratives.novelblogs...
For the full review, click here: http://nighttimenarratives.novelblogs...
July 7, 2021
This book starts with one of my favorite opening lines of all time and then goes on to tell my favorite in Meredith's Rocky Bluff mystery series. As always, this story is well-crafted and engagingly told. Her characters breathe on the page. Highly recommended for all fans of who-done-it mysteries.
April 5, 2016
Rocky Bluff
For people who do not like gory mysteries , this is a nice book to read. Reminds me of the stories that started the mystery genre. Nice to have a story with full pledge characters with lives outside the police station.
For people who do not like gory mysteries , this is a nice book to read. Reminds me of the stories that started the mystery genre. Nice to have a story with full pledge characters with lives outside the police station.
April 5, 2016
Quick read
Quick reading. There was not a bundle of technical law enforcement jargon to muddle through. Semi normal every day small town happenings
Quick reading. There was not a bundle of technical law enforcement jargon to muddle through. Semi normal every day small town happenings
May 7, 2016
Good
the murder that started an investigation that led to other crimes some of which were rape victims.the police department kept following leads.
the murder that started an investigation that led to other crimes some of which were rape victims.the police department kept following leads.
August 1, 2016
Interesting read
Well developed characters are woven into an interesting mystery story. This whodunit detective story kept me interested to the end.
Well developed characters are woven into an interesting mystery story. This whodunit detective story kept me interested to the end.
Want to read
May 13, 2014Guest on Marja's blog.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews