Mapleton Mystery

A dog finding a bone is no big deal-until it turns out to be human. Mapleton Police Chief Gordon Hepler and the mayor can't agree about what being a cop means. To Gordon, it's keeping his citizens safe. To the mayor, it's generating revenue by issuing speeding and parking tickets. When two runaway dogs waylay Gordon on the way to what he hopes will be an uneventful afternoon at a backyard barbeque, more than his afternoon is interrupted. As dogs will do, these have uncovered a bone. Trouble is, it turns out to be human. When it leads to the discovery of more human remains, Gordon needs to find out why they're on the property, when they got there, and who they belonged to. After all, somebody needs to care Over the mayor's objections, Gordon pursues the investigation of the bones along with an unusual outbreak of petty crimes, accidents, and a dispatcher who seems to be losing it. Before long, he's got more puzzle pieces than he knows what to do with-and no puzzle to fit them into. When people he loves are endangered, no mayoral directive will stop Gordon from saving them.

Solving a crime is like piecing together a puzzle. But what happens if the pieces don't fit? When Police Chief Gordon Hepler's doctor orders him to cut down on the stress in his life or risk losing his vision, Gordon books a winter retreat at a remote Bed and Breakfast. Hours away from Mapleton, where nobody knows he's a cop, he plans to relax and try to forget about his eyes. However, traveling "incognito" doesn't mean he's left his cop instincts behind. His curiosity is piqued when one of the other guests at the B&B doesn't appear to be who she claims. Before he can explore the puzzle she presents, a man shows up, pleading for help. His car's gone off the road, and his wife is inside. Although a blizzard is approaching, Gordon can't refuse the frantic man's request and agrees to help him search. Fighting the storm, Gordon and the man struggle down a ravine to the car. What they find turns out to be one more puzzle, and it's not the last Gordon faces. Are they unrelated coincidences? Or part of one bigger mystery? Or is he seeing a crime where none exists? Well outside his jurisdiction, with his health at stake, Gordon wonders whether he should follow his cop impulses, or remember he's on vacation and let the locals handle it. When it becomes personal, Gordon has no choice.

When life seems too good to be true-watch out. Mapleton Police chief Gordon Hepler thinks his troubles with the small-town politics are behind him. The town council has even awarded him a reserved parking place. But an early-morning summons from the new mayor has Gordon on alert. Instead of yet another budget dispute, the mayor announces an independent film company is making a movie in Mapleton. For the mayor, it means good press for Mapleton-and more importantly-more money for the town coffers. For the citizens, it means rubbing elbows with celebrities. For Gordon, the news means headaches, extra shifts, and scheduling issues. But he's a pro. He'll ensure the company has his full cooperation while continuing to protect his town. When a member of the film crew is found dead, everything goes sideways. The mayor pushes Gordon to adopt a business as usual mentality, and let the film company handle the investigation. But a murder on Mapleton soil makes it Gordon's jurisdiction, and nothing the mayor says can make him halt his investigation. When other members of the cast and crew haven't reported in, Gordon wonders if he's looking for more suspects or more victims. Will Gordon listen to the mayor, or risk his job to find the truth?

If you're with a cop, there's no escaping mystery and crime, even on a Caribbean cruise. Angie Mead thinks time away from Gordon's "Cop Stuff" is what he needs to distract him from being suspended as Mapleton's Chief of Police and get over killing a man. A Caribbean cruise, where Gordon has no jurisdiction, seems the perfect solution-and Angie is looking forward to some fun in the sun. Communication mishaps and Gordon's apparent lack of interest in their getaway create second thoughts for Angie. That is, until a series of petty thefts give Gordon a new bone to chew on. When he includes Angie in his investigative way of thinking, the two of them switch to sleuthing mode, and their real adventure begins. Petty thievery is only the beginning. A passenger from their dinner table dies under suspicious circumstances, bringing Gordon's cop credentials to the attention of the ship's security. Soon Angie and Gordon are neck deep in the onboard intrigues.

Will a string of mysterious trespassing incidents give rookie police officer Ed Solomon his chance at being a big-time detective? Gordon Hepler and Ed Solomon are reminiscing at Finnegan's bar one snowy night, about a case that turned Gordon's career path around and had Solomon rethinking his desires to be a big-city detective. Back then, Gordon had no intentions of being a cop, and Ed was a greener-than-green rookie police officer being trained by Arch Hepler, Gordon's father. In most places, people breaking into garden and storage sheds might not be a big deal, but in the small town of Mapleton, Colorado, it's a veritable crime wave, at least according to Chief Dixon. Kids playing pranks? Or something more serious? Could these trespassers have something to do with a much bigger, big-city crime? What starts out as a perfunctory investigation soon escalates. Will Dixon, Arch Hepler, and new rookie Solomon discover the truth before Mapleton sees its first homicide in decades? Deadly Assumptions, a cross between a cozy mystery and a police procedural, is the seventh offering in Terry Odell's Mapleton Mystery series. It, like all the others, can be read as a stand-alone.

This 9th book in Terry Odell's Mapleton Mystery series pits Gordon against a cat-and-mouse killer. Someone is playing a game with Mapleton's Chief of Police ... and it's deadly. For Mapleton Police Chief Gordon Hepler, life has become predictably boring-despite being a newlywed. Being a husband is great. Dealing with nothing but parking violations, speeders, and the occasional disorderly complaint is monotonous. Gordon wonders if he's been so busy dealing with "Chief Stuff" that he's lost his edge as a street cop. Especially when his biggest challenges are handling the penny-pinching mayor and deciding what goes into the station's vending machines. A few anonymous prank letters are about the only 'non-normal' things to hit his desk, and even those pose no apparent threat. When a tragic car accident kills a friend, Gordon soon learns it was no accident. Determined this is the case meant to pull him out of his workplace rut, Gordon delves into the investigation. He and his colleagues uncover a string of similar murders all across the country over the last 20-odd years. Then, going through a victim's personal effects, Gordon discovers the same type of anonymous letters that he's been receiving. Now it's a race against the clock to find the killer before another victim is chosen. Or is Gordon the next casualty on the killer's list?

A Mapleton Mystery/Pine Hills Police crossover, a blend of cozy and police procedural from Award Winning Author Terry Odell. Are Gordon's Days in Mapleton Numbered? All Mapleton Police Chief Gordon Hepler wants is to enjoy a rare quiet moment and have a peaceful lunch. Before he can finish his sandwich, Angie, his wife, calls to say her business partner is going to be arrested at a wedding reception they're catering. Seems her partner stumbled upon the body of one of the guests-the mother of the groom. Was it a natural death? Suicide? Homicide? A death at an event could mean the end of Angie's catering business. What will happen to their plans to move out of Angie's cramped apartment and into a house they can call their own? Gordon and his officers deal with questioning guests, including a self-centered bride and her new husband who doesn't seem upset that his mother has died unexpectedly. Or was it unexpected? They're eager to get off on their honeymoon. So much for quiet. On top of a homicide investigation, the mayor's making demands again. The crime lull is over. Angie and Gordon's house-hunting brings an unpleasant surprise. Then there's the matter of an unexpected letter from the mayor of Pine Hills, Oregon. Is it time for Gordon to rethink his career?

Nothing Ever Happens In Mapleton … Until It DoesA small town police procedural-cozy mystery blend. In the eleventh offering in Terry Odell's Mapleton Mystery series, Deadly Relations brings back familiar faces and introduces new ones. (Not to mention a couple of dogs and cats!) Gordon Hepler, Mapleton, Colorado's Police Chief, is called away from a quiet Sunday with his wife to an emergency situation at the home he's planning to sell. A man has chained himself to the front porch, threatening to set off an explosive. When Gordon discovers he knows the arsonist-his brother-in-law from his previous failed marriage-he's sent down an unexpected road to find his ex-wife, who, along with his brother-in-law, has disappeared. Does Gordon need to worry that his brother-in-law will put in another appearance to finish what he's started? Meanwhile, he has to find a balance between his Chief Stuff and his Cop Stuff. Is Mapleton facing a homeless problem? Then there's the town council, the budget, the upcoming election, plus finding a way to keep his officers up to speed with all the changes in crime. Adding the thorn-in-his-side reporter who seems to want to undermine everything Gordon's trying to do for his town, creates more headaches. Although it's part of the series, this-and all the Mapleton books-can be read as small-town police procedural stand alones.

Deadly Adversaries is the twelfth offering in Terry Odell's Mapleton Mystery series. Reconnect with familiar faces, and meet some new ones. Gordon Hepler, Mapleton's Chief of Police, has his hands full. During the groundbreaking ceremony for expansion of the community center, he discovers a dead body. Shortly afterward, the center's CEO is assaulted. Does someone have it in for the community center and its new programs designed to benefit the homeless? Or does it have something to do with the highly contested upcoming mayoral election? Frustration builds as clues and suspects fall into other jurisdictions, effectively tying Gordon's hands. The investigation soon resembles a giant bowl of spaghetti. Can he follow the rules and still protect his city? Although it's part of a series, this police-procedural cozy-mystery blend-and all the Mapleton books-can be read as small-town stand alones.

Things are looking up in Mapleton. Police Chief Gordon Hepler is relieved that the mayoral election is over-after three recounts. But in Mapleton, peace doesn't last long. The bitter mayoral loser won't let go of the election, a new council member threatens to slash police funding, and Police Chief Gordon Hepler finds himself caught in the middle.Meanwhile, during Angie's delayed diner remodel, she uncovers an old journal that hints at secrets from the past. Soon, she's digging into Colorado's history. Has her search for answers put her in danger?Gordon is faced with protecting his town-and Angie-while untangling threats that span both history and the present.Blending Colorado history with modern-day police work, Deadly Ambitions will keep readers turning pages to watch Gordon and Angie investigate crimes, both past and present. Terry Odell began writing by mistake, when her son mentioned a television show and she thought she'd be a good mom and watch it so they'd have common ground for discussions. Little did she know she would enter the world of writing, first via fan fiction, then through Internet groups, and finally in groups with real, live partners. Her first publications were short stories, but she found more freedom in longer works and began what she thought was a mystery. Her daughters told her it was a romance so she began learning more about the genre and craft. Now a multi-published, award winning author, Terry resides with her husband and rescue dog in the mountains of Colorado. You can learn more about her books, social media accounts, and sign up for her newsletter via her website.

The first three novels in Terry Odell's Mapleton Mystery series Deadly Secrets: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. Deadly Bones:A dog finding a bone is no big deal-until it turns out to be human.Mapleton Police Chief Gordon Hepler and the mayor can't agree about what being a cop means. To Gordon, it's keeping his citizens safe. To the mayor, it's generating revenue by issuing speeding and parking tickets. When two runaway dogs waylay Gordon on the way to what he hopes will be an uneventful afternoon at a backyard barbeque, more than his afternoon is interrupted. Deadly Puzzles:Solving a crime is like piecing together a puzzle. But what happens if the pieces don't fit?When Police Chief Gordon Hepler's doctor orders him to cut down on the stress in his life or risk losing his vision, Gordon books a winter retreat at a remote Bed and Breakfast. Hours away from Mapleton, where nobody knows he's a cop, he plans to relax and try to forget about his eyes.

Deadly ProductionWhen life seems too good to be true-watch out.Mapleton Police Chief Gordon Hepler thinks his troubles with the small-town politics are behind him. The town council has even awarded him a reserved parking place. But an early-morning summons from the new mayor has Gordon on alert. Instead of yet another budget dispute, the mayor announces an independent film company is making a movie in Mapleton. When a member of the film crew is found dead, everything goes sideways. Will Gordon listen to the mayor, or risk his job to find the truth? Deadly FunSomeone is playing a game with Mapleton's Chief of Police … and it's deadly.For Mapleton Police Chief Gordon Hepler, a few anonymous prank letters pose no apparent threat. When a tragic car accident kills a friend, Gordon soon learns it was no accident. Going through a victim's personal effects, Gordon discovers the same type of anonymous letters that he's been receiving. Now it's a race against the clock to find the killer before another victim is chosen. Or is Gordon the next casualty on the killer's list? Deadly OptionsAre Gordon's Days in Mapleton Numbered?Gordon's wife, calls to say her business partner is going to be arrested at a wedding reception they're catering. Seems her partner stumbled upon the body of one of the guests-the mother of the groom. Was it a natural death? Suicide? Homicide?On top of a homicide investigation, the mayor's making demands again. Then there's the matter of an unexpected letter from the mayor of Pine Hills, Oregon. Is it time for Gordon to rethink his career?

Three Mapleton Mystery Novellas, a blend of police procedurals and cozy mysteries, now available in one volume. Deadly Places Life is a balancing act. When you're a cop, the choices can be deadly. Ed Solomon, long-time police officer in the small town of Mapleton, Colorado, has been ribbed for thinking there's a ring of assassins out killing deadbeat dads. However, he's convinced these killers exist and they're doing their dirty work from behind an innocuous-looking travel blog. Proving the ring exists has been a sideline investigation for him, but it's shoved further onto the back burner when Ed is forced to assume the duties of Chief. Ed loves being a cop, but the Chief Stuff is getting him down. He's juggling his own police duties, mounds of paperwork, and keeping the mayor happy. With all the extra hours, family tensions are on the rise as well. But when someone leaves an anonymous message for him at the station, handing him a new clue, he's determined to prove these assassins exist. Setting up a sting operation by posing as a deadbeat dad makes Ed a target. Will he catch the assassins before he becomes their next victim?