Deadly Trail

by Marilyn Meredith

The tranquility of the town 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 several more people...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1096412012
• ISBN13: 9781096412014
• Release Date: April 2019
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Can Deputy Crabtree find the real killer?

Deputy Tempe Crabtree arrests Nick Two John for slashing the tires of a logging truck during a protest. On the way to the jail, he repeatedly begs for his freedom. He believes that with her Native American heritage, she should understand she should understand what the loggers represent and not arrest him. Then he offers to reveal a secret information if she'll release him. While she is curious to know the information, she does not give in. She begins to regret that decision when Andre Donato, owner of the Bear Creek Inn, collapses and dies in the kitchen when Tempe and her minister boyfriend Hutch are there eating dinner. It is ruled a heart attack until another worker collapses with similar symptoms. She is saved, but it becomes evident that both people were poisoned. The police center their investigation on Nick Two John. Deputy Crabtree is convinced he didn't do it, but she is soon pushed out of the investigation. She comes up with other suspects with good motives and begins to investigate on her own. When she becomes the target of the killer, she knows she's close, but can she discover the identity of the killer before the killer takes care of her? I highly recommend this book. It is the first I've read in this series. It won't be the last. Deputy Crabtree is a very likeable character. Her son and fiancé really add to the story. The townspeople do too. I like the setting. It is a very fast and enjoyable cozy read.

A Sequel and a Prequel All in One!

Greed, adultery and murder in a small town have long been mystery and literary themes. The fact that these concepts have been done before does not diminish the enjoyment of this light mystery by Marilyn Meredith. This novel is an installment of the series featuring Deputy Tempe Crabtree and the people of Bear Creek, California that began with the novel "Deadly Omen." This is my first experience with this author and for the most part, I enjoyed the work.As the novel opens, Deputy Crabtree is forced to arrest Nick Two John after she witnesses him slashing the tires of a logging truck during a protest. Nick Two John thinks that as a fellow Native American, Deputy Crabtree should understand what the loggers represent and not arrest him. Instead, she arrests him and takes him to the station despite his begging for freedom every mile of the way. As they get closer to the station, his begging turns into promises of secret information if she grants him his freedom. She does not accept his offer and he does not like it."He climbed out slowly. She took hold of his arm and guided him toward the stairs that led to the back door of the plain, boxy building. His face sullen, his black eyes flashed with anger. "' You're going to remember that I gave you the opportunity to prevent what's about to happen in Bear Creek. You're going to be real, real sorry you didn't listen.'"His comment seems to ring true as in a matter of hours during a dinner with her Minister boyfriend, Hutch, the owner of the Bear Creek Inn, Andre Donato collapses and dies in the kitchen. It at first looks like death by natural causes, but then another worker at the Inn falls gravely ill with the same symptoms and is rushed to the hospital. She is saved and recovers as an investigation begins. It quickly becomes clear that both victims ingested poison, which makes Andre's death a murder.While the clues seem to pint to Nick Two John, Deputy Crabtree believes that he is innocent for a variety of reasons. She quickly determines that the suspect list is very long and that a number of people had reason to kill him. Pushed to the periphery of the investigation by the detectives on the case that discount her theories, Deputy Crabtree investigates on her own. Rarely does she rely on her position and instead uses various subterfuges to question people who had their own reasons to kill him. Soon, she finds herself a target of a killer, but she does not know which of her suspects is the killer.While overall fairly enjoyable, this is a light read. The characters are for the most part, stereotypical with limited development, even in the case of the major character, Deputy Crabtree. She is of mixed heritage and partly Native American and has very little knowledge of her ancestry. The reader is told repeatedly that she has guilt over her lack of knowledge, but the character does not seem to show such internal emotional conflict except for a couple of very minor instances. Instead, the character recites pat a

As exciting as it is original

Marilyn Meredith is an extremely accomplished writer, having produced pieces for local newspapers, and national magazines, as well as writing several how-to books. Her career spans more than twenty-five years, and in that time she has covered such topics as: community care issues; genealogy; and now mysteries. She is also an instructor for the renowned Writer's Digest School, which is known to most mystery writers. Marilyn has published two books on the genealogical roots of her family, plus a mystery called The Astral Gift. She is a member of several writing groups.Tempe Crabtree is a Deputy for the village of Bear Creek, nestled in the Southern Sierra. She is engaged to be married to Pastor Hutch Hutchinson, and life seems idyllic until the owner of a local inn, Andre Donato, is apparently poisoned. Although it technically isn't Tempe's job to investigate the homicide, she feels compelled to get to the bottom of who would murder the unpopular Donato. Particularly when Nick Two John has an extensive knowledge of botany and a motive for getting Andre Donato out of the way. Tempe isn't so sure, and sets off to find the real killer:"'I'm not supposed to be investigating the murder," Tempe said. "That's the detectives' job. Sergeant Guthrie reminded me quiet emphatically.' Hutch squeezed her shoulder. 'But I know you, sweetheart. You've been busily asking questions. I saw you with Wilbur Carmony. It didn't look like you were having a casual conversation.'"Meredith entices the reader with this short what she calls "prequel" to the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series. As always, a female in the role of deputy in a beautiful mountain setting mixed with Indian ancestry is a sure recipe for a thrilling mystery. Of course Tempe sticks her nose where it doesn't really belong, which only endears her to the reader. Tempe is an upstanding woman, a mother, and a soon-to-be bride. She is likeable and interesting, as is the plot. Meredith presents the reader with all the usual suspects, but throws in an unexpected twist and denouement, which is as exciting as it is original. Deputy Tempe will hopefully return soon!

A wonderful Whodunit!

A prequel to the popular series featuring female Deputy Officer, Tempe Crabtree, Deadly Trail proves to be a solid and clever, cozy-mystery. Marilyn Meredith style is poised and efficient, and her storytelling ability is comparable to anyone writing in the genre.Bear Creek is a backwoods town. Quiet. But just because everyone knows everyone else, does not mean that everyone likes everyone else. This becomes obvious when Andre Donato, owner of the town's main restaurant, is murdered.Deputy Crabtree, aside from being the only female officer in the department, is also a single mother of a teenaged boy and engaged to marry the town's pastor. When she learns the detectives assigned to the case follow a close-minded approach and plan to arrest Nick Two John, a local Native American, Crabtree conducts an investigation of her own.Tempe Crabtree quickly learns that, aside from Two John, there are a host of suspects who could benefit, financially and physically, from Donato's death. As her hunt for answers leads her closer to the truth, she winds up placing her own life and lives of others in jeopardy.Meredith has written a taut, compact mystery with three-dimensional characters. She knows how to draw her readers in with short chapters and tension-building scenes. A true puzzle with all of the pieces for the reading-sleuth to gather. I look forward to reading the other titles in the series.--Phillip Tomasso III, author of Johnny Blade & Third Ring