Deadly Secrets: A Police Procedural Cozy Blend (Mapleton Mystery Book 1)

Name: Deadly Secrets: A Police Procedural Cozy Blend (Mapleton Mystery Book 1)
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (8351 reviews)
Author: Terry Odell

by Terry Odell

Mystery Thriller Historical Fiction

4.3 (8,351)

4.3 stars from 8,351 reviews. One of the highest rated Mystery Thriller books we track.

318 pages~5.3 hr readPublished by CreateSpace Independent Publishing PlatformPublished 2011-01-01

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Perfect for you if...

You enjoy mysteries that unfold slowly with real stakes for characters you actually care about, not just puzzle-box plots.
You appreciate small-town settings where everyone knows everyone and secrets have weight because the relationships are genuine.
You like stories that grapple with moral grey areas: doing the right thing sometimes means betraying people you love.

Maybe not for you if...

You want high-octane action and fast pacing; this is a procedural that takes time to build atmosphere and character.
You're looking for a light, cosy read with no real darkness; this involves WWII history and a grisly murder that aren't glossed over.
You prefer standalone mysteries; this is book one in a series and ends with threads left for later instalments.

About this book

Gordon Hepler, police chief of Mapleton, Colorado, accepted the position after promising his late mentor he would take it on, though he prefers street work to desk duties. When a fatal traffic accident outside town appears connected to Rose and Sam Kretzer, two of Mapleton's most respected residents, complications arise with the arrival of their grown ward Megan and grandson Justin. Megan is mugged, and Justin's renovation of his grandparents' house is interrupted by a break-in and ransacking. When Gordon connects the car accident to a murder in Mapleton—the first in anyone's memory—the investigation takes an unexpected turn: evidence seems to link the Kretzers to a Nazi war criminal. The case deepens when a big-city detective arrives to assist. Gordon must navigate solving the crime while protecting the secrets of his townspeople. The novel centers on a secret journal kept by a Nazi during WWII and explores how far people will go to protect those they love, set against the backdrop of a small Colorado community.

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Currently #4,760 in the Kindle store — a top-10K bestseller.

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Currently 4.3★ from 8,351 reviews

Gaining approximately 13 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.3 over the tracking period.

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