Deadly Secrets

Mapleton Mystery

By: Terry Odell

Narrated by: Steve Marvel

Mapleton, Colorado's police chief, Gordon Hepler, would rather be on the streets than behind a desk dealing with budgets and the town council, but he promised his late mentor he'd accept the position. And to Gordon, a promise is a promise, even if the person you made it to isn't around anymore. However, doubts creep in, and he wonders if he was shoved into the job because his mentor thought he couldn't cut it on the streets.

Everything changes when a fatal traffic accident well outside Mapleton seems connected to elderly Rose and Sam Kretzer, two of Mapleton's most beloved citizens. The arrival of Megan, the Kretzer's grown ward, and Justin, their grandson add to his troubles when Megan is mugged. In addition, Justin is renovating his grandparents' house despite their objections, and then someone breaks in and the house is ransacked. When Gordon ties the car accident to a grisly murder in Mapleton - the first anyone in town can remember - he's afraid he's into more than he bargained for.

His fears are realized when his investigation seems to link the Kretzers to a Nazi war criminal. Can he work with the big-city detective brought in to assist? Will he be able to solve the crime without revealing the secrets of his citizens?

Deadly Secrets revolves around a secret journal kept by a Nazi during WWII, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. Set in a small Colorado community, Deadly Secrets deals with people trying to do what they think is right while protecting those they love.

©2011 Terry Odell (P)2016 Terry Odell

A great cozy mystery!

A great cozy mystery with creative plot twists and characters, this book was a really enjoyable read! It contains hints of intrigue and a dark past. The characters come across as very round, very real people.

I also appreciate the fact that this book treats the cops in a positive light, with the main characters collaborating with the police, who certainly are highly competent, opposed to the police in most cozy mysteries.

The reader did a great job too, making the book all the more enjoyable.

Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this audio book with no expectation of my giving a review. However, it was so great that I would have gladly paid to get the book and look forward to buying the next in the series!

Not the tale I was looking for

law-enforcement, family-dynamics, murder

Seemed to trudge along rather tiredly. I just couldn't get engaged with the storyline. The characters are interesting, though.
The narrator also seemed affected by ennui.

Good read with a slightly different take on WWIi history

Fun characters of different ages. Proving older people can move past the horrors of war snd get on with their lives.

A Cozy Mystery

A murder has taken place in the small town of Mapleton, CO and it has the town on edge. The story revolves around Sam and Rose's link to the murder but it feels more about Justin and Megan. The world the author has imagined is every burned out, and over worked persons dream...small town with a very relaxed pace. The time and imagination taken to walk us through the characters lives was a refreshing change of pace for me. We do have a romance in the midst of the story but it doesn't dominate or distract from the mystery on hand.

Steve Marvel does a wonderful job narrating the Mapleton Mystery! I really enjoyed how he brings each character to life! I hope for the future listeners sake that Odell keeps Marvel as her narrator for the rest of the books in this series. Great job to both of you!

Keeps you wondering

I got hooked on this series with the second book and had to go back and buy the first one. I look forward to reading/listen to the rest and am only disappointed to see that there are only 5 books.