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Mapleton Mystery #6
Deadly Options
Not yet published
Expected 24 Jan 21A Mapleton Mystery/Pine Hills Police Crossover.
Are Gordon’s Days in Mapleton Numbered?
All Mapleton Police Chief Gordon Hepler wants is to enjoy a rare quiet moment and have a peaceful lunch. Before he can finish his sandwich, Angie, his wife, calls to say her business partner is going to be arrested at a wedding reception they’re catering. Seems her partner stumbled upon the body of one of the guests—the mother of the groom. Was it a natural death? Suicide? Homicide?
A death at an event could mean the end of Angie’s catering business. What will happen to their plans to move out of Angie’s cramped apartment and into a house they can call their own?
Gordon and his officers deal with questioning guests, including a self-centered bride and her new husband who doesn’t seem upset that his mother has died unexpectedly. Or was it unexpected? They are eager to set off on their honeymoon.
So much for quiet. On top of a homicide investigation, the mayor’s making demands again. The crime lull is over. Angie and Gordon’s house-hunting brings an unpleasant surprise. Then there’s the matter of an unexpected letter from the mayor of Pine Hills, Oregon.
Is it time for Gordon to rethink his career?
Are Gordon’s Days in Mapleton Numbered?
All Mapleton Police Chief Gordon Hepler wants is to enjoy a rare quiet moment and have a peaceful lunch. Before he can finish his sandwich, Angie, his wife, calls to say her business partner is going to be arrested at a wedding reception they’re catering. Seems her partner stumbled upon the body of one of the guests—the mother of the groom. Was it a natural death? Suicide? Homicide?
A death at an event could mean the end of Angie’s catering business. What will happen to their plans to move out of Angie’s cramped apartment and into a house they can call their own?
Gordon and his officers deal with questioning guests, including a self-centered bride and her new husband who doesn’t seem upset that his mother has died unexpectedly. Or was it unexpected? They are eager to set off on their honeymoon.
So much for quiet. On top of a homicide investigation, the mayor’s making demands again. The crime lull is over. Angie and Gordon’s house-hunting brings an unpleasant surprise. Then there’s the matter of an unexpected letter from the mayor of Pine Hills, Oregon.
Is it time for Gordon to rethink his career?
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 24, 20021
4 people are currently reading
17 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.
"
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 8, 2021
I won this book from the author and enjoyed it. Even though I haven’t read the first 9 in the series I was able to understand the story. I would like to read the first 9 in the series.
March 16, 2021
Deadly Options earns 4.5/5 Spreadsheets...Entertaining!
Jurisdiction protocols take two murders investigations out of the hands of the Chief Hepler and his team and into the hands of outside departments in this tenth book of Terry Odell’s Mapleton Mystery series. The mother-zilla of the groom is found dead, but the suspects and the victim are not locals. Then a belligerent drunk at a local bar is implicated in his wife’s death again in another town. Police work isn’t always chasing perps and arresting killers; sometimes it is interviews, online searches, fortuitous breaks, and collaborating with other police departments. Terry Odell has brought another well-written, more character-driven, look into the Mapleton’s police force in this tenth book. It is, however, somewhat of a departure from previous books without the “murderer on the loose” intensity, it emphasizes a more cozy side of police procedurals. The two unrelated murders were quite fascinating mysteries, but due to jurisdiction, the investigations do not directly engage the lead characters and details often play out off the pages. I have become invested in the core set of male protagonists so reading about their everyday life and relationships offered enjoyable entertainment, and I found reading about your favorite characters in realistic encounters and seeing them as “real” people is insightful.
Odell’s story focuses on Hepler’s personal and professional issues as he deals with the mayor on the budget and body cam reports, keeps a peripheral eye on his team, hunts for a house, and takes a long weekend to explore a possible out-of-state job offer. Small town life, family connections, and a camaraderie among co-workers are incorporated well. The lab results, interviews, and insights from other detectives offer a few clever twists, but my Sherlock meter spiked when late in the story another murder actually falls into Hepler’s lap—Fun! The victim had my maiden name.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Jurisdiction protocols take two murders investigations out of the hands of the Chief Hepler and his team and into the hands of outside departments in this tenth book of Terry Odell’s Mapleton Mystery series. The mother-zilla of the groom is found dead, but the suspects and the victim are not locals. Then a belligerent drunk at a local bar is implicated in his wife’s death again in another town. Police work isn’t always chasing perps and arresting killers; sometimes it is interviews, online searches, fortuitous breaks, and collaborating with other police departments. Terry Odell has brought another well-written, more character-driven, look into the Mapleton’s police force in this tenth book. It is, however, somewhat of a departure from previous books without the “murderer on the loose” intensity, it emphasizes a more cozy side of police procedurals. The two unrelated murders were quite fascinating mysteries, but due to jurisdiction, the investigations do not directly engage the lead characters and details often play out off the pages. I have become invested in the core set of male protagonists so reading about their everyday life and relationships offered enjoyable entertainment, and I found reading about your favorite characters in realistic encounters and seeing them as “real” people is insightful.
Odell’s story focuses on Hepler’s personal and professional issues as he deals with the mayor on the budget and body cam reports, keeps a peripheral eye on his team, hunts for a house, and takes a long weekend to explore a possible out-of-state job offer. Small town life, family connections, and a camaraderie among co-workers are incorporated well. The lab results, interviews, and insights from other detectives offer a few clever twists, but my Sherlock meter spiked when late in the story another murder actually falls into Hepler’s lap—Fun! The victim had my maiden name.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
February 24, 2021
An engaging small-town police mystery that begins with the death of a mother-in-law at her son’s wedding. Not knowing if there are health reasons for the woman’s death, Police Chief Gordon Hepler and his team investigate. When the autopsy is complete, will they be investigating a murder? Gordon’s helpful assist to a man that is drunk is complicated when the man’s ex-wife is found dead. What has happened to their quiet small town? Woven through the investigations is the possibility of a new job offer for Gordon, a possible change in Angie’s business, and the need for Gordon and his wife Angie to find a home of their own, but the home offers more surprises for Gordon. Small town politics are woven through the investigations as Gordon and his team are stretched to the limit. I enjoyed this mystery that didn’t involve graphic murder details, but focused on the investigations. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation from the author. (by paytonpuppy)
April 27, 2021
Book 10 of the Mapleton Police Series felt like a wonderful homecoming with familiar characters. Chief Gordon Hepler, Angie, Solomon, and all the gang were there. It’s a mystery, so people were killed and the cops investigated. The best part is the interplay between Hepler and Solomon as they brainstorm cases. Gordon and Angie look for houses and even take a weekend vacation to Oregon figuring more “stuff” out.
I love the underlying theme of this book. This one never fails to resonate with me: there’s no place like home. Thanks for another great read, Terry Odell.
I love the underlying theme of this book. This one never fails to resonate with me: there’s no place like home. Thanks for another great read, Terry Odell.
February 11, 2021
I received a free advance copy of this book and my review is optional.
The book was off to a slow start but picked up speed as it went along. The ending had a nice cliff hanger so I anticipate there will be another book to the series in the future.
I always enjoy Ms Odell's books.
The book was off to a slow start but picked up speed as it went along. The ending had a nice cliff hanger so I anticipate there will be another book to the series in the future.
I always enjoy Ms Odell's books.
February 28, 2021
It starts slow, but it increases with multiple character interactions. It gathered me in and keep my attention. It seems to beg for a follow up story. I can't wait.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews