Book Review: Unequally Yoked

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Unequally Yoked     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Marilyn Meredith
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Police Procedural
Series: Tempe Crabtree Mystery # 2
Golden Eagle, Oct 2000, $10.95, 206 pp.

Resident deputy of Bear Creek in the Southern Sierras, Tempe Crabtree responds to a report of a missing child at a Lake Dennison campground. At the scene, Jan Leaphorn explains that her three years old daughter is missing. A search yields nothing so a neighbor organizes a manhunt with the cooperation of the authorities. That proves futile too. A few days later, a fisherman on the other side of the lake finds the body of a little girl.

Jan identifies the corpse as her child. Tempe notices that a footprint near the crime scene matches that of the mother's boyfriend, Andy Muldock, who has done time for child abuse. The police arrest Andy for murder, but at an Indian mourning ceremony, Tempe realizes that the prime suspect could not be the killer. Now to prove that and identify the real culprit is going to require luck and skill.

Although there are many potential suspects besides Andy, Tempe uses deductive reasoning and her instincts to insure justice prevails. Her perseverance, dedication, and guts (especially in light of her superior's position that the case is solved) demonstrate Tempe is a role model for anyone to follow. The mystery is well drawn and the supporting cast add realism to the entertaining story line. UNEQUALLY YOKED is a top-notch police procedural that sub-genre fans take pleasure in reading.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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