Book Review: End of the Trail by Marilyn Meredith

Deputy Tempe Crabtree is back in a new story that finds her drawn into the search for a missing hiker that could put her life in danger.

In End of the Trail by Marilyn Meredith, Tempe decides to join the search for a missing hiker. At a nearby campsite, she finds the hiker's wife and two of their close friends. Tempe quickly realizes there is more to this than meets the eye.

As people try to prevent Tempe from discovering the truth, she finds herself in harm's way. She will need to count on her husband Pastor Hutch, her friend Nick Two John, and maybe even her ghost hunting friend to solve this one.

I didn't realize how much I missed Tempe until I started this book. All the residents of her little community, the Bear Creek Inn, and the fabulous location came flooding back from previous Tempe adventures. Her Native American ancestry also plays a role.

As Meredith has always done well, she works Tempe's everyday life into the plot of the unfolding investigation. Fans of the series will recognize familiar names and be introduced to some newcomers.

Another thing I appreciate about Meredith's writing is that it gets right to the point. End of the Trail opens with a well-written conversation between Tempe and Hutch that hooks the reader into the story. I simply couldn't walk away and read it in between meetings and other daily chores.

I found the last chapter of End of the Trail piquing my curiosity of what the future looks like for Tempe and Hutch. It will be interesting to see what Meredith comes up with next.

If you like engaging police stories, you'll want to grab End of the Trail. This is a stand alone story, but part of the joy of picking this one up is that I knew these characters before. It's worth starting from the beginning.


File Size: 2603 KB
Print Length: 175 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: B087SFTC6K
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: 31 Months LLC (May 1, 2020)
Publication Date: May 1, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B087ZQMZ8P

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

For a list of Tempe Crabtree books, visit http://fictionforyou.com

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 25

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Memorial Day, everyone. I hope you have some plans for rest and relaxation. This Memorial Day is special for us because so many local remembrances are also including the 89 veterans lost at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke--including my father-in-law. It is also our son's birthday, so we are having him over for supper.

In my reading world, I'm on the final few chapters of this one.

I need to sneak this one in next.

Then this one.

That's it for me. I'm doing my best not to request new books for review. That only makes catching up harder. 

How do you stay on top of your TBR pile? Are you caught up on book reviews or are you a bit behind? 

Free on Kindle: Deadly Omen, Book 1 of the Tempe Crabtree Mystery Series by Marilyn Meredith

A candidate for princess is murdered at a Native American pow wow while Tempe Crabtree is working there in her capacity as deputy. Tempe's investigation takes her onto the Bear Creek Indian Reservation. Her search for the killer puts her job in jeopardy, strains her marriage, and almost gets her killed.

File Size: 2916 KB
Print Length: 213 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1096900319
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: 31 Months LLC; 3 edition (May 4, 2019)
Publication Date: May 4, 2019
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07RGCVSYK

Book 1 of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. Purchase here!

Guest Blogger: Marilyn Meredith, Author of A Cold Death

Deputy Tempe Crabtree and her husband answer the call for help with unruly guests visiting a closed summer camp during a huge snow storm are trapped there along with the others. One is a murderer—another a ghost.

How Tempe Has Changed

by Marilyn Meredith

When the series began Tempe Crabtree knew little about her Indian heritage. She didn’t grow up on the reservation and all she knew about being a Native American came from stories her grandmother told her. These stories play an important part in a couple of the mysteries.

When she went to high school she was made fun of for being an Indian by some of the other students, and shunned by the Indian kids who lived on the reservation.

Her friend, Nick Two John, is the one who gradually teaches her about what it means to be an Indian and some of the Bear Creek Indian legends. Many of these legends are also a basis for plots. Her feelings about her heritage and all it means change throughout the series.

As time goes on, she has reached out more and more to Indian mysticism and spirituality to help her solve the mysteries that confront her, despite her pastor husband’s objections.

What hasn’t changed is her willingness to risk her life to help others. Her strength has remained consistent throughout.

While writing this, I realize that I probably should have had her appearance change a bit—but hopefully the reader will use his or her own imagination to see Tempe with natural changes as she’s aged. To be honest, I see her in my mind’s eyes as the more mature woman that she is today.

What is your opinion about how much a series character should change?

Marilyn

Anyone who orders any of my books from the publisher‘s website: http://mundania.com

can get 10% off by entering MP20 coupon code in the shopping cart. This is good all the time for all my books, E-books and print books.

On Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074XNP87Z

Marilyn Meredith’s published book count is nearing 40. She is one of the founding members of the San Joaquin chapter of Sister in Crime. 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, a place with many similarities to Tempe Crabtree’s patrol area. Webpage:  http://fictionforyou.com Blog:  http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/ and you can follow her on Facebook.

Contest: Once again I’m going to use the name of the person who comments on the most blogs on my tour for the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery—which may be the last in the series.

Tomorrow I’ll be here:

https://amymbennettbooks.com/

My Journey as an Author

Book Review: River Spirits by Marilyn Meredith

Tempe...is...back! In this exciting new installment of the Tempe Crabtree Mystery Series, an actor is murdered during filming at the Bear Creek Indian Reservation. Tempe is sent in to uncover the culprit. Meanwhile, her son, Blair, arrives home with some big news.

This series keeps getting better and better. Familiar faces from Bear Creek (Hutch, Miqui Sherwood, Nick Two John, and Claudia) are joined by a film crew shooting a movie at the reservation. When an actor is found murdered at the Painted Rock shelter, Tempe discovers numerous people could have wanted this man dead. In a style that readers have come to expect from Meredith, Tempe's personal and professional lives collide as she works to uncover a murderer. The Native American elements of the series continue to play a vital role in the plot--including the legend of the Hairy Man.


A perfect stand-alone novel, River Spirits will draw you in from the very first page and have you longing for more Tempe once you're done.

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Mundania Press LLC (September 30, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1606594117
ISBN-13: 978-1606594117
Also available in Kindle format

Also available from the publisher, all formats:
http://mundania.com/book.php?title=River+Spirits
For Nook
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/river-spirits-marilyn-meredith/1120425385

Contest: The winner will be the person who comments on the most blog posts during the tour.
He or she can either have a character in my next book named after them, or choose an earlier book in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series—either a paper book or e-book.


I received an electronic ARC from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Raging Water by Marilyn Meredith

Deputy Tempe Crabtree is back in Raging Water by Marilyn Meredith.

Tempe has her hands full with a rash of burglaries and the murder of two older women. Were these harmless ladies the victims of an addict who wanted their prescription drugs?

A fast-moving thunderstorm quickly adds to Tempe's woes. With the water rising, temporary shelters are set up and relocated residents' tempers flare. A mud slide blocks the road into town, stranding the residents of Bear Creek--including the murderer.

Superb! Thrilling! A real page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The Tempe Crabtree Mystery Series has been one of my favorites since I began reading it. I never miss a book. In this installment, Tempe is battling many issues. There's a burglar on the loose, which leads to her being yanked out of bed at an ungodly hour. The murder of two best friends is puzzling, and a raging storm leaves everyone on edge. So, in addition to trying to fight crime, Tempe is put in the undesirable position of having to notify people to evacuate to shelters, break up disagreements, and keep herself out of danger. There is so much going on in this book, you'll be flying through it and be eager to read it over again once you're done.

Meredith has spent a good deal of time with Tempe, her family, and the residents of Bear Creek. It shows. Her characters are well-developed. There's enough back story so newcomers to the series aren't lost, but enough new characters and crime solving to keep long time fans satisfied. I like how each book stands alone, but also helps move the characters along in their lives in the process. We don't see Detective Morrison in this book, but Meredith smartly includes conversations between Morrison and Tempe, so the character is not forgotten. He and Nick Two John are my favorite characters.

If you're looking for a riveting mystery, you'll want to pick up a copy of Raging Water by Marilyn Meredith.




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

This is the 40th book I've read for the following challenge:

It is the 24th book I've read for the following challenge:

It is the 10th book I've read for the following challenge: