Down in the Dumps

By H. Mel Malton

There is a killer at work in the sleepy village of Cedar Falls. The peaceful order of puppet-maker Polly Deacon's back-to-nature rural life is violently interrupted when she finds her best friend Francy's abusive husband lying dead in the dump with a hole in his chest. What's worse, Francy can't remember what happened the night of the murder. The cops soon get involved...and in more ways than one, as Polly finds herself falling for hunky officer Mark Becker. Afraid that the police will arrest Francy for the murder and exasperated with their ineptitude, Polly decides that only she can get to the bottom of the mysterious murder. The situation comes to a head as the outspoken and resourceful Polly begins receiving threats to her life. As she searches for answers, Polly discovers that the puzzle often points inward and she is forced to question her values and her friendships. But where there is death, there is also grief and passion, and passion in Cedar Falls is never simple, and sometimes, as Polly discovers, it can also be deadly.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0929141628
• ISBN13: 9780929141626
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Napoleon and Co
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

The Muskokas Brough To Life

Polly Deacon has escaped from a failed marriage in big city Toronto for the fictional locational of Kuskawa and a small shack on a farmers land. This is where she grew up and has now come to recover. She lives the life of a recluse - no phone, no toilet, nothing. Except her friends, her aunt and her atristic pursuits. Along the way, she stumbles across the body of a friend's husband. This leads her out of her cabin and into the realm of mystery. I found the novel funny, the settings interesting and the characters show some promise. While Polly hides from the world, the world brings to her some issues such as child abuse, wife assault and alcoholism. A fine novel.

Quirky Murder Mystery

This is an off-beat mystery set in the back woods of Canada. Polly Deacon is a sassy puppet-maker who investigates the murder of her best friend's unpleasant husband. Loads of plot twists, saucy and irreverent humour and strong characters make this a great read - I was hooked from the first page. This book is a must for anyone who doesn't take their murder mysteries too seriously and who likes detectives that aren't run of the mill...(ie, little old ladies or embittered police inspectors) Get hold of a copy now!