Book Review: Reversal of Fortune by F. M. Meredith

 The Rocky Bluff P.D. is back investigating its latest murders in Reversal of Fortune by F. M. Meredith.

Beth Milligan and Kayla Duval stumble upon the body of the  town's fortune teller. Detective Doug Milligan and his partner, Detective Felix Zachary, arrive to investigate. Reviewing the woman's long list of clients, it soon becomes apparent more than one person could have a reason for wanting Bernadette Wolfort dead. 

When the body of one of their prime suspects is discovered on the fortune teller's property, Doug and Felix know the two murders are related. But who wanted both of them dead? And why? 

It is so wonderful to be back in the small beach town of Rocky Bluff, where the understaffed and overworked members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. live. Having followed this community for years, it is always good to catch up with what is going on in my favorite characters' lives. 

As Doug and Felix investigate these murders, the personal lives of the Rocky Bluff P.D. unfold in the background. Meredith does a fabulous job of sprinkling in a bit of backstory and bringing readers up to date with our favorite Rocky Bluff P.D. members, with one or two of those personal stories unfolding as subplots during the investigation. In Reversal of Fortune, Kayla Duval, the mayor's daughter and Beth's best friend, is dealing with a pushy aunt who has got it in her mind that the girl's deceased mother would prefer Kayla live with her in Los Angeles instead of staying with the father she didn't even know until her mother was diagnosed with cancer. The other subplot is that trouble could be brewing for Gordon Butler and his wife Lizette. 

Reversal of Fortune, like other books in the series, stands alone as an engaging and easy read. You can sit down and read a book in one or two sittings and feel totally satisfied with the outcome when done. I am not sure what is up next for the Rocky Bluff P.D., but I know I will keep reading as long as Meredith keeps writing.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09XLQCNZB
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (April 9, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 212 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8449705860

I received a paperback copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

F. M. Meredith, also known as Marilyn Meredith, has had 48 books published as well as two short stories, most are mysteries, but also a few Christian horror, a roman with supernatural elements, and a cookbook. She’s taught writing in many venues including for Writers Digest and many conferences. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra with her husband. 

You can visit her website at http://fictionforyou.com/ or her blog at https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.

First Chapter Review: Reversal of Fortune by F. M. Meredith

 

Reversal of Fortune, the latest Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery by F. M. Meredith, came out in April. The author is currently on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. My full review will appear at this blog on June 27. 

BLURB: A fortune teller is murdered in the small beach town of Rocky Bluff, California. The RBPD’s investigation uncovers several suspects—all with motives and opportunity. But which one killed her? The body of a suspect is discovered on the fortune teller’s property. Clearly, the two killings are related, but how? And who killed them?

Meanwhile, the mayor’s daughter, Kayla, whose best friend is Detective Doug Milligan’s daughter, is upset because her mother’s sister wants her to leave Rocky Bluff to live with her in Los Angeles. Can her friends convince Kayla’s aunt to leave her there with her father?

COVER: One of the things I like about this cover is that it follows the rest of the series (16 other books) with a solid background, the police shield, crime scene tape, and same font. This makes it easily recognizable to fans. 

FIRST CHAPTER: Beth Milligan calls her father when she and her best friend Kayla stumble upon the body of a fortune teller, which kicks off a new investigation for Detective Doug Milligan and other members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. 

KEEP READING: You know that answer is yes. I've read all the books in this series. I loved it from book 4 and went backwards and then forwards following the members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. and their families. As Meredith does with her other popular series, this police procedural follows the professional and personal lives of the local police force. 

In the first chapter, we meet several familiar characters and get a tiny bit of backstory sprinkled in so the reader can understand the characters even if this is the first book of the series they have read. Meredith manages to amaze me with her ability to keep the reader in familiar territory, yet create fresh storylines with each new book. 

I look forward to sharing my full review on June 27.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09XLQCNZB
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (April 9, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 212 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8449705860
• 
  

I received a paperback copy from the author. This First Chapter Review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Not As We Knew It by F. M. Meredith

 

A missing woman, a fatal fire, and a pandemic... oh, my! Not As We Knew It by F. M. Meredith is the latest book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. Set in current times, this series follows the lives of the Rocky Bluff P.D. and their families. 

Doug Milligan investigates the disappearance of Geneva Portman, Lizette Butler is responsible for training the new hire, and Abel Navarro looks into a fatal fire. When Chief Taylor hears rumblings of protests nearby, she must put together a plan to keep the residents of Rocky Bluff safe.

I had wondered if the recent pandemic would play a role in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. I'm glad the author decided to "go there." Though possibly risky, I'm not sure she could ignore it and keep the current timeline.

One definite advantage is that the Rocky Bluff P.D. was challenged in ways it never had been before. Yes, they have dealt with earthquakes, dense fog, wildfires, being perpetually understaffed due to tight budgets, and crimes big and small, but the pandemic created issues and strong emotions no one could imagine that impacted every person in some way or another. I applaud Meredith for having the guts to take this on. 

Not As We Knew It stands alone, but these books are all short reads, so you could easily start at the beginning. I would really love to see this book series picked up as a TV series. Having followed it for years, the recurring characters have become some of my favorites, and I would love to see this community transition to the small screen. 

What other challenges might the Rocky Bluff P.D. face? I guess we will have to wait and see.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08NDT3FW5
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (November 14, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 183 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8564552684

This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Bones in the Attic by F.M. Meredith

 

Halloween is coming to Rocky Bluff. Beth Milligan and other students are turning a city-owned property into a haunted house to benefit their art class. That is until one of the students finds a skeleton in a trunk in the attic. Now, all their plans might be ruined. Meanwhile, Officers Butler and Ayala are performing a wellness check on a resident whose neighbors say he hasn't been seen in a while.

Welcome back to Rocky Bluff, where the understaffed police department stays busy investigating crimes big and small in their beach community.

Bones in the Attic by F. M. Meredith is another great installment in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. Continuing to follow favorite characters and new residents that play a role in individual stories, this police procedural reflects the day-to-day actions of law enforcement where personal lives and professional lives intersect. Some characters introduced in earlier books become recurring characters like Beth Milligan, Kayla Duvall, and Devon Duvall. It is interesting to watch them and their relationships develop in future books. 

Like in previous books, various subplots happen alongside the main plots. Some carry over book to book, with the author providing small bits of backstory so the reader is not lost if they pick up a book in the middle of the series. As with all the books in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, Bones in the Attic stands alone, but I bet you will want to start with the first book and follow along.

I can't wait to see what comes next for the Rocky Bluff P.D. and their families.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aakenbaaken & Kent (August 28, 2019)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1938436970
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1938436970

This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Unresolved by F. M. Meredith

 

Two murders stretch the resources of the Rocky Bluff P.D. to its limits in Unresolved by F. M. Meredith.

In the 13th book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, the body of Mayor Leland Asher is found at a construction site, and an elderly resident of the town dies under mysterious circumstances. The investigation is slow going while the list of suspects keep growing.

Frustrations abound within the Rocky Bluff P.D. community as they attempt to solve two murders. Award-winning author Marilyn Meredith, writing as F. M. Meredith, weaves a story where there are tons of questions and not enough answers. 

In Unresolved, we meet several new characters alongside many fan favorites. I wonder which ones will play roles in future books. Even though I had some idea how this one would end, the conclusion wound up satisfactory and the last page drops a hint of what the reader may see in the future for some characters. 

If you like police procedurals without gory details or sex, then Unresolved is an excellent choice. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08C4G8D9Q
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (June 30, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8657624595

This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: A Crushing Death by F. M. Meredith

 

When a body is found under the condemned pier, the manner of death causes lots of questions. Meanwhile, Beth Milligan is facing an issue and Chief Taylor is being pursued by someone she once arrested for violent attacks on women.

A Crushing Death by F. M. Meredith follows the various members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. and their families. The twelfth book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. follows a plot and several subplots as it continues to explore the personal and professional lives of the local police force.

This is one of my favorite series. Meredith never ceases to amaze me with how she keeps the series fresh, while continuing the stories of my favorite characters. 

One storyline that truly touched home was Abel Navarro and his family being faced with how to best help his aging parents. As many of you know, this is something that our family has been dealing with for the last several years. It is never easy to figure out what to do and family members can have differing opinions.

There were some twists and turns to this one that I didn't expect, which is always fun. I am so glad I ordered these together so I could read them one after the other. Looking forward to more Rocky Bluff P.D. adventures.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08B2ZZRSZ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (June 11, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 225 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8653019791

This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Violent Departures by F. M. Meredith

 

Another engaging police story awaits you in Violent Departures by F. M. Meredith.

When a local college student goes missing, the Rocky Bluff P.D. is called in to investigate. Officer Gordon Butler already has a lot on his mind. He is training the recent new hire and still hoping to spend time with his fiancée to plan a wedding date and location. Meanwhile, Doug and Stacey Milligan are planning a move to a new home. Doug's daughter, Beth, will be coming to live with them, so they need more space. He is sure he's found the right place at the right price, but Stacey isn't so sure.

I am so thrilled to be back reading this superb series. I have missed it!  In Book 11, we see many of the regular members of the Rocky Bluff Police Department, a new member of the force, and some new residents of the town. 

Meredith continues to find that perfect balance between personal and professional in her stories. In addition, she creates a story that has a main plot and numerous subplots, which rings true to life. Characters face crises big and small along the way, allowing for great character development. I personally look forward to watching the future development of Beth. Her role in Violent Departures makes me think we will see a lot more of her. Fingers crossed.

If you like police procedurals or stories where the characters come together to create a community, you will enjoy Violent Departures. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08B7LNPQC
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (June 15, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 265 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8654246790

 This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Bargain E-Book: Tangled Webs by F. M. Meredith

What better time to catch up on one of my favorite series. This book is on sale for only 99 cents starting today through January 28.

Officer Gordon Butler and his overanxious trainee Dakota Ayala are dispatched to a scene where they find a woman named Melody White who has been stabbed to death. Gordon is not surprised. He’d been called to that address several times to confront Jacob Hulsey who had stalked the victim. The neighbor who placed the call to the Rocky Bluff Police Department reported seeing Hulsey there the night before. But when another neighbor says Melody’s ex-husband had threatened her, and then one of Melody’s co-workers at the day care center where they worked reported a clash between Melody and her boss, suspects seem to be multiplying like Russian nesting dolls. And to add to the difficulty of sorting it all out, Gordon’s new partner is making moves on Gordon’s wife, and detective Doug Milligan’s daughter Beth has become moody and secretive. At least two of the suspects and maybe some others are weaving tangled webs.

File Size: 736 KB
Print Length: 137 pages
Publisher: Aakenbaaken & Kent (September 27, 2018)
Publication Date: September 27, 2018
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07HRKZ927

PURCHASE HERE!

F.M. Meredith is the author of over thirty novels including the Rocky Bluff P. D. crime series. Her many relatives and friends in law help her provide realistic stories of police officers and their families. She is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her online at http://fictionforyou.com

Guest Blogger: F.M. Meredith, Author of Unresolved (Rocky Bluff P.D. Series)

Rocky Bluff P.D. is underpaid and understaffed and when two dead bodies turn up, the department is stretched to the limit. The mayor is the first body discovered, the second an older woman whose death is caused in a bizarre manner. Because no one liked the mayor, including his estranged wife and the members of the city council, the suspects are many, but each one has an alibi.

Copies may be purchased from Book and Table by emailing bookandtablevaldosta@gmail.com with a 10% discount and free shipping.

Books may be ordered from all the usual places as well.

One of My Favorite Characters in the Rocky Bluff P.D. Series

Cheryl asked me to tell about my favorite character in this series, but instead, I wanted to tell you about a fairly new character that I’m growing fond of, the new Chief of Police, Chandra Taylor.

Chandra, the second African American on the RBPD, came to Rocky Bluff from the San Francisco Police Department. She knew her chance of advancing beyond lieutenant were nil. Though the small beach town of Rocky Bluff certainly didn’t compare to San Francisco, it didn’t take long before Chandra began to enjoy her job, the police officers who worked under her and the community itself.

In A Crushing Death, Chandra’s life was threatened by a man she’d arrested in the past and Detective Milligan and his wife, Officer Stacey Milligan, not only protected her but became friends in the process.

When the mayor is murdered and the other members of the city council all become suspects, Chandra finds herself attracted to the man who has become the new mayor, Devon Duvall. Whether or not this attraction will develop, of course, depends upon Devon’s innocence.

It’s always fun for me as an author, when new and interesting characters become a part of the Rocky Bluff series. I hope that readers will enjoy this new twist as well.

F. M. Meredith lived for many years in a small beach community much like Rocky Bluff. She has many relatives and friends who are in law enforcement and share their experiences and expertise with her. She taught writing for Writers Digest Schools for 10 years, and was an instructor at the prestigious Maui Writers Retreat, and has taught at many writers’ conferences. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and serves on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/

Musing Mondays - April 14

This is a weekly meme run by Miz B of Should be Reading.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying it.
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

My Musing:

Just polished off the latest Rocky Buff P.D. novel by F.M. Meredith. I love these books and they are all quick reads. I polished this one off in less than twenty-four hours. That doesn't mean it was short on content. It amazes me how much Meredith can pack into one 176-page book. Murder, a serial rapist, several developments in the personal lives of the members of the Rocky Bluff Police Department, and a few surprises make this an awesome read.

Gordon Butler, my favorite character in the series, has been one of those guys who if he didn't have bad luck wouldn't have any luck at all. Maybe things are changing for him. At least I can hope. Most of the members of the Rocky Bluff PD are familiar names, but there was a new introduction, in addition to the numerous townsfolk unique to the crimes.

Look for my review on April 28.

Book Review: Angel Lost by F.M. Meredith

The Rocky Bluff P.D. is back with the latest book in this mystery/crime series, Angel Lost, by F.M. Meredith.

Vice Officer Stacey Wilbur is having trouble keeping the thoughts of her upcoming wedding at bay while at work. Between her job and all the wedding plans, she hasn't had much time to spend with her fiancé, Detective Doug Milligan. Then comes a new case, a flasher showing himself off to women jogging along the beach. Stacey decides to set herself up as bait, and Doug is less than happy about it.

Vaughn Aragon has recently transferred to the Rocky Bluff P.D. from L.A. He says he is looking for a slower lifestyle, but his strange behavior makes some of his fellow officers suspicious.

Abel Navarro has trouble concentrating on his work when his mother begins to show signs of Alzheimer's. One forgotten memo could put an officer's life on the line.

When a mysterious angel appears in the window of a local furniture store, not everyone is sure what to make of it. Is it real? Is it a hoax? One thing's for sure, it means members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. will be working crowd control until the excitement dies down.

The lives of the Rocky Bluff P.D. are never boring.

I began reading the Rocky Bluff P.D. series when Smell of Death came out. That was prior to my working with Marilyn Meredith (also writing under the name F.M. Meredith), to promote her Deputy Tempe Crabtree and Rocky Bluff P.D. books. What I picked up right away on with this series, is that Meredith focused on showing how the personal lives of the members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. are impacted by their jobs. From divorces, to deaths, to marriages, and everything in between, a career in law enforcement means you don't leave your job at the door when you come home.

With Angel Lost, it appears the author decided to concentrate more on the personal lives of her characters than their jobs. Not that there isn't a lot going on at the Rocky Bluff P.D.--there is--it's just that we have Stacey and Doug's upcoming wedding, Gordon Butler (my favorite) planning to move out of Doug's house so that Stacey and her son Davey can move in after the wedding, and Abel's mother developing signs of Alzheimer's. The appearance of the angel in the furniture store window is also something I consider more personal, as Barbara and Ryan Strickland are a bit divided over if it's real or not.

After I read Smell of Death in 2008, I purchased and read all the previous books in the series:

Final Respects
Bad Tidings
Fringe Benefits

I believe the first book I represented through Pump Up Up Book was No Sanctuary, followed by An Axe to Grind. The series has changed publishers since the beginning, so some books are only available through the author's website.

Upon considering Angel Lost against the previous books in the series, I felt it wasn't as edgy as the others. The crimes, though many, didn't hold as much of an element of danger as I have come to expect from the Rocky Bluff P.D. books. While I still enjoyed watching the further development of characters I've grown to love, I kind of was hoping for a major gruesome murder. Does that make me a sick individual?

I was glad to see the addition of Vaughn Aragon to the force. He quickly became a favorite. I hope we see more of him in future books. I'm also hoping my other favorite, Gordon, gets a book that focuses mostly on him. A lot of what he gets into brings comic relief, but you have to like a guy who attracts nothing but bad luck and odd cases.

With Angel Lost, Meredith continues to do what she does best:  provide an entertaining story that draws you in and takes hold of you until the very last word. In addition, all these books, while part of a series, are excellent stand-alone novels. This book, like the others, left me eager for more of the members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. It's a good thing I know 2012 will bring the next book. I'm not sure I could wait patiently otherwise.


Title:  Angel Lost
Author:  F.M. Meredith
Publisher:  Dark Oak Mysteries
ISBN-10: 1610090055
ISBN-13: 978-1610090056

SRP:  $12.95


The author paid a fee to promote her book with a virtual book tour through Pump Up Your Book! This fee did not include a favorable review. I received no monetary compensation for this review, which contains my honest opinions of the book. An e-Copy of the book was provided free of charge by the author.

What Are You Reading?

Yes, that's me, buried underneath a pile of books.  LOL!  I keep saying I won't add to my TBR pile, but then I see all these great books I want to read. I have several books I'm reading for virtual book tours--some Pump Up Your Book's clients and some for others.

I recently read The Innocent by Vincent Zandri. He is a client of Pump Up Your Book--not my client, but he's been with us to promote a few books. When I heard he was touring again, I knew I had to read this one. Zandri has such a following. I needed to know why.

The Innocent is an excellent read. Gripping, raw, and edgy. It's is available in a Kindle edition for only 99 cents right now.

I finished The Tudor Secret (The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles) by C.W. Gortner a few days ago. I loved his The Confessions of Catherine de Medici and The Last Queen, so I knew I was going to read this one. I had the pleasure of helping him promote The Confessions of Catherine de Medici and will work with him on the The Tudor Secret. The latter features a fictional main character. The writing is superb and the plot intriguing. It's a must read.

Over the weekend I read, Angel Lost, the latest Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel by F.M. Meredith. This book will be available in March. Marilyn is also one of my clients. I've read all the Rocky Bluff P.D. books and this new one is great.

Next up, I'm reading Resurrection Garden (A Decade Series Mystery) by Frank Scully. This is Frank's first book, published by new Canadian e-Publisher, MuseItUp Publishing. I'm thrilled to have a chance to help Frank promote this first of several books we'll be seeing from him. Then after that, I need to read The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson: A Novel by Jerome Charyn, which is being released from W.W. Norton & Company on Valentine's Day. Dickinson is one of my favorite poets, so I hope this is a good book.

How about you? What did you just finish reading? What's up next?

Fringe Benefits by F.M. Meredith -- Book Review

A bored, self-centered housewife, a cop who plans the perfect murder, a teenage son who can't handle life at home, a violent rapist who only attacks on Wednesdays, and a series of odd break-ins, come together for an engaging police procedural in Fringe Benefits by F.M. Meredith.

Officer Cal Sylvester has been known to step out on his wife before, but he gets more than he bargains for when he hooks up with the greedy wife of a fellow officer. Darcy Butler, the wife of Sylvester's rookie partner, Gordon, is a looker, but his plan to make their affair a more permanent relationship is squashed when Darcy refuses to marry someone who makes as little money as a cop. So Sylvester plans the perfect murder to get his hands on his wife's insurance money.

Sixteen-year-old Adler "Patch" Costello has always been a screw up. Unlike his angelic sister, Jill, he's been a thorn in his parents' side since the day he was born. Unable to deal with his parents' constant criticism, Patch takes to the streets, unaware he's about to become a pawn in a dangerous chessboard that leads to a future he can't conceive.

Members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. work hard to keep the streets of the growing beach community clean, investigating odd break-ins, arresting drunk drivers, and searching for a knife-wielding rapist who only attacks on Wednesday; not knowing that one of their own is operating on the edge of the law.

In the third book of the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, my favorite character is introduced, Gordon Butler. A rookie cop, who if he didn't have bad luck would have no luck at all, is partnered up with Cal Sylvester a veteran who isn't above taking advantage of the fringe benefits of being a cop.

Gordon is a cop eager to do his best, but the poor guy is the butt of most jokes. His efforts to be a good cop despite his many mishaps, is what endeared him to me in later books in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. What happened with Darcy had been mentioned in future installments, but it was good to finally know the entire story behind how Gordon found himself single again.

Fringe Benefits definitely has an edge to it. You've got a cop who plans to off his wife to collect the insurance money, a teenager whose home life is so bad that he would rather live on the streets than deal with his parents, and the rising crime rate that growth seems to bring.

Abel Navarro, who was more of a supplementary character in earlier books, also gets some time in the limelight. He's frustrated because he keeps arresting drunk drivers, but the D.A. doesn't even bring the cases to court. Navarro gets his own lesson in fringe benefits when he arrests a fire chief from a nearby community for drinking and driving, but discovers he shouldn't have wasted his time. Abel's wife, Maria, is only mildly supportive, and hopes that her husband won't make too many waves that could interfere with his chances for a future promotion.

As with previous and future installments in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, there is a perfect mix of police work and how being involved in law enforcement impacts the family.

I've always been more of a mystery type of person, where the identity of the actual perpetrator is unknown until the very end, so it surprises me how much I've enjoyed reading the books in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, where the reader typically, though not always, knows who committed the crime and journeys along with the detectives as they uncover the clues that lead to an arrest.

It took me a little over a day to finish Fringe Benefits, and if I didn't have a TBR pile that rivaled the Empire State Building, I would reread the next three books in the series. While I am sad to be done--for now--with my Rocky Bluff P.D. friends, I'm hoping next year will bring another superb installment from F.M. Meredith.

Fringe Benefits is available through the author's website and also comes in a Kindle edition.

Here is a list of the Rocky Bluff P.D. books in order:

Final Respects
Bad Tidings
Fringe Benefits
Smell of Death
No Sanctuary
An Axe to Grind

The first three books are only available from the author's website, though Final Respects, Fringe Benefits, No Sanctuary (Book 5), and An Axe to Grind (Book 6) are all available at the Kindle Store. An Axe to Grind, the most recent release in this series is available in a Kindle edition for only $1.99.

Once you read one book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series you're going to want to own them all. Meredith creates characters you can't help but want to know more about.

Bad Tidings by F.M. Meredith -- Book Review

I read through Final Respects so quickly and was so eager to continue with the Rocky Bluff P.D. series that I moved right onto Bad Tidings, which I finished in under a day.

In the second book of this series, Lieutenant Tom Gilbreath is often the one who gets to deliver bad news. Little does he know that he's about to receive some bad news of his own.

Officer Joe Guzzo has a perfect wife, but suffers from a wandering eye. Is it any wonder he and many of the other officers in the department notice Officer Georgia Lindquist is a knock-out?

Two murders rock the once small beach community of Rocky Bluff and keep Lt. Gilbreath busy while he faces a crisis of his own.

As I already mentioned, I moved swiftly from Book 1 into Book 2 of the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. Not only did I not want to lose my momentum on learning the back story of characters I have become attached to through the reading of the other books in this series, I was so impressed with the first book that I didn't have the desire to read anything else but Bad Tidings this week, which also explains why I'm reading Fringe Benefits right now.

Like Final Respects before it, there are several smaller crimes that take place, but the two murders are the focus of the story. As has been true in every Rocky Bluff P.D. book I've read, the reader not only gets to watch the detectives unravel clues and capture criminals; he also gets a chance to see how each officer's job affects his family.

Now divorced, Doug Milligan has thrown himself into his job and is considering taking Officer Lindquist out on a date. Problem is, several others guys, single and married, are interested in the sexiest member of the department. Is jealousy going to affect their working together?

In addition to familiar characters, readers get a chance to meet some new faces. But again, as someone who read the later installments of this series first, I truly enjoyed moving back in time to see where characters like Frank Marshall were in Bad Tidings as opposed to where they are in An Axe to Grind.

With Joe Guzzo, Meredith created a cop that you really don't like too much, which was new for the series when the book first came out. In Final Respects, the cops were all good guys. They dealt with stuff, but they didn't have serious flaws that made you want to beat them with a stick. Guzzo, on the other hand, while a good cop, he's a jerk as a husband. He's stepping out on his beautiful wife, and his son doesn't seem to be too high on his priority list either. What ultimately happens with him didn't come as a surprise, but I have to admit I spent some of my reading time wondering how Meredith was going to deal with Guzzo.

Bad Tidings by F.M. Meredith is an excellent police procedural. Meredith's level of research is obvious, and she shares her knowledge without losing the reader in a bunch of jargon and unncessary details.

You can purchase this book from the author's website. If you are interested in picking up a copy of Bad Tidings, you better do it soon. Once the author's copies are gone, it will no longer be available. And let me tell you, if you get into this series like I have, you won't want to miss this one.


Title: Bad Tidings
Author: F.M. Meredith
Publisher: The Fiction Works
ISBN: 1-58124-788-5
SRP: $12.99

Final Respects by F.M. Meredith -- Book Review

Start your day off right with a superb crime novel. Final Respects by F.M. Meredith is the first book in her Rocky Bluff P.D. series. Now six books into the series, it still gets compliments on how well it shows how the job affects family life and vice-versa.

Final Respects is a strong opening installment for this series. I had begun reading the series when Smell of Death was released, then read and promoted the next two books: No Sanctuary and An Axe to Grind. After being with some of these characters for three books, I wanted to know more about what had brought them to the current point in their careers; so I purchased Final Respects, Bad Tidings, and Fringe Benefits (I am reading this one now).

In Final Respects, mortician Stuart Honich is tortured by the owner's three daughters who insist upon playing amongst the caskets and bodies in the mortuary. The girls despise Stuart as much as he does them, and revenge would be oh so sweet if he could get it.

Doug Milligan has dreamed of being a cop since he was a boy, but his wife hates every part of his job. Why can't Kerrie be more like his best friend, Al's wife, who supports his being a cop all the way?

Ryan Strickland puts his career above all else. The ambitious publicity hound will do anything to further his career.

The murder of the Milligan's babysitter begins a series of events that could lead to the destruction of the entire Rocky Bluff P.D. and many innocent citizens.

I've been a big fan of the Rocky Bluff P.D. series since I started reading, but I have to say, this is one of my favorite books so far. You have the silly side of it with the young Tiedemann girls bugging the hell out of Stuart Honich, who takes his job very seriously. You really want to tell the guy to lighten up.

On the serious side you have the murder of the Milligan's babysitter, which could lead to problems that no one in the Rocky Bluff P.D. could even fathom. And in between those you have the camaraderie and competition between the members of the department.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book, however, is how each officer's wife reacts to his job. Kerrie Milligan hates everything about Doug's job: the hours, the danger, fearing any bad news that might come, etc. If there is something to complain about, Kerrie will find it. Then there's Barbara Bertalone, who is the wife of Doug's partner, Al. She supports Al in every way. She's even excited about a new program the department is unfolding.

Having the ablity to look back at the beginning of the series and knowing what the lastest installments contain, it's easy to see that Meredith knew exactly what she wanted to accomplish with this series. She started off in Final Respects showing how law enforcement careers affect the family, and all the other installments I have read, do the same.

While Final Respects, like the other Rocky Bluff P.D. books, are perfect stand-alones, you'll get so close to these characters that you'll want to read all six of them.

You can purchase Final Respects from the author's website. It is also available in a Kindle edition.

I highly recommend Final Respects by F.M. Meredith.

Title: Final Respects
Author: F.M. Meredith
Publisher: The Fiction Works
ISBN: 1-58214-444-4
SRP: $13.99

Contest to Win the First Two Rocky Bluff P.D. Crime Novels by F.M. Meredith at Marilyn's Musings

Okay everyone, you already know that I am a big fan of F.M. Meredith's Rocky Bluff P.D. series. What you might not know is that the author is running a giveaway where you have the chance to win a copy of the first two books in this series: Final Respects and Bad Tidings.

Final Respects is the story of three little girls who play in their father's mortuary. It is also the story of several policemen and how what happens in their private lives affects the job and how what happens in the job affects their private lives. The crime in this one is the murder of police officer Doug Milligan's babysitter.



Bad Tidings is about a police detective who often has to deliver bad tidings to others and finds out some bad tidings of his own.

The best place to buy these books is directly from the author's website.

Marilyn mentions in this post that once her copies of Bad Tidings are gone, you won't be able to get this book anywhere; so don't wait if you are interested in owning the entire Rocky Bluff P.D. series--which I would highly recommend because you'll want to know more about these characters whose stories the author has woven in such a way that you'll care for them as if they were you're own friends and family.

You can find details for how to enter this giveaway at Marilyn's Musings. A winner's name will be drawn at noon on April 19th, so enter now!

An Axe to Grind by F.M. Meredith - Book Review

Doug Milligan, Stacey Wilbur, Abel Navarro, Gordon Butler, Frank Marshall, and more familiar names are back in An Axe To Grind, the latest in the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series by F.M. Meredith.

Doug Milligan and his partner, Frank Marshall are investigating the murder of a stalker. There are several suspects, which include the father and brother of the girl who was being stalked. Meanwhile, Stacey Wilbur, now a Vice-Officer, is working a case involving a soccer coach who might be a pedophile.

With their busy work schedules, Doug and Stacey's romance is pushed to the back burner, and even though Stacey and her mother, Clara, continue with wedding plans, a lot hinges on whether Gordon Butler can find himself an apartment so he can move out of Doug's house.

When Doug sets out on his own to corner the murderer, Stacey is in a race against time to find him before it's too late.

Right from the start, like Meredith does with all the books in this series, the reader is instantly drawn into the world of the Rocky Bluff P.D. Gordon Butler, who is usually the butt of many jokes around the station, is flagged down by a paperboy who has just discovered one of his customers looking more than a bit worse for wear. Butler is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters in this series because you just can't help but feel sorry for everything that he manages to step into.

Doug and Stacey's romance, which began in the previous installment of this series, No Sanctuary, continues with great difficulty in this one. One thing I've always said about the Rocky Bluff P.D. series is that Meredith does an excellent job of blending the personal and professional lives of the people working in the Rocky Bluff P.D. Whether it is Doug and Stacey, Abel Navarro and his wife Maria, Ryan Strickland, the Department's public relations officer, and his wife Barbara, or any other member of this fictional police force, the author has created characters that you easily care about, just like they were your next door neighbors.

With her masterful storytelling, Meredith includes many twists and turns to keep you guessing who the real culprit is. But what I like best about all the Rocky Bluff P.D. books is that the pace doesn't slow down. Every new clue leads to something else, and before you know it, you're at the end of the book and eager to read more.

I impatiently await the next book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series by F.M. Meredith!


Title: An Axe to Grind
Author: F.M. Meredith
Publisher: Dark Oak Mysteries (Oak Tree Books)
ISBN-10: 1892343789
ISBN-13: 978-1892343789
SRP: $12.95

Available in a Kindle edition for only $1.99!




Disclosure: This blogger acted as the first editor on An Axe to Grind. She was not paid to provide this review.

Favorite Moments from the Rocky Bluff P.D. by Author F.M. Meredith

Today's guest blogger is F.M. Meredith. This is the pseudonym for multi-published award-winning author Marilyn Meredith. Marilyn has published nearly thirty novels, including the Rocky Bluff crime series. An Axe to Grind is the latest in this series. No Sanctuary, the previous release from this series, was a finalist the mystery/suspense category of the Epic best in e-books contest. Marilyn also writes the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. The lastest in this series is Dispel the Mist. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Epic, and serves on the board of the Public Safety Writers Association. She was an instructor for Writers Digest School for many years, served as an instructor at the Maui Writers Retreat and many other writers’ conferences.

You can visit the author online at http://fictionforyou.com and her blog at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com.

"Favorite Moments from from the Rocky Bluff P.D. Series" by F.M. Meredith


The first book, which I wrote having no idea there would be more to follow, was Final Respects. My favorite part of that book is where the three little girls are tormenting the man who works in the mortuary. Years ago when my daughter was in grammar school, her best friends’ dad owned a mortuary and the family lived next door. My daughter loved to spend the night there and later told me that she and her friends played hide 'n seek among the caskets and bodies. (Blogger's note: Yuck!)

In Bad Tidings I love the relationship between Lt. Tom Gilbreath and his wife, Marlene, so much better than the one between Officer Guzzo and his perfect wife. In this book, two murders bring chaos to the small beach community of Rocky Bluff and keep Lt. Gilbreath busy while he is facing a crisis of his own.


When I conceived the idea for Fringe Benefits, which is about a very bad cop, I asked my policeman son-in-law how he would kill his wife and get away with it. He had a perfect idea and that’s what I used in this book. My favorite moment in this story is when the police officers who work alongside the cop realize what he’d done.

Smell of Death is a darker book that the rest because it has three grisly murders in it, but Officer Stacey Wilbur and Detective Doug Milligan realize they have a mutual attraction for one another. I have several favorite incidents in this book, but I think I like the scenes with the barefoot burglars the best. (Blogger's note: This is the first book of this series I read. I agree about the darker aspect and the barefoot burglars. I tried to imagine them running around that way.)

My favorite scene in No Sanctuary is when Officer Stacy Wilbur confronts the murderer. She is one gutsy gal. I also like all the scenes with bumbling Officer Gordon Butler. He provides a lot of comic relief in several of the books. (Blogger's note: This is my favorite out of the books I've read.)


In my latest book, An Axe To Grind, I love how Stacy strikes out on her own to look for her fiancé, Detective Doug Milligan, when he goes missing. She is one tenacious female who isn’t about to give up. The romance between Doug and Stacey continues, but moves slowly while Doug is busy investigating the case of a murdered stalker.

One thing about writing a continuing series like this, I’m as anxious to find out what’s going to happen next as any of the fans.

Vote for No Sanctuary by F.M. Meredith at The New Covey Video Trailer Awards

Hello all,

The trailer I put together for F.M. Meredith's (Marilyn Meredith's) No Sanctuary is now up at The New Covey Video Trailer Awards. Voting is open until midnight on June 19th.

Please stop by and vote for entry # 14 No Sanctuary at http://thenewcoveytrailerawards.blogspot.com/.

Thanks. I appreciate your support.

The Members of Rocky Bluff P.D. Are Talking

Make sure you drop in at the Rocky Bluff P.D. blog. Barbara and Ryan Strickland, Detective Frank Marshall, and other members of the Rocky Bluff P.D. and their families are talking and you'll certainly want to hear what they have to say.

You might also get to hear from some of the other people in town that you'll meet in No Sanctuary, the latest release in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series.

Want another good reason to stop by the Rocky Bluff P.D. blog? The author, F.M. Meredith, is running a contest. Do you want to know the details? Well, you're just going to have to wander on over there to find out.