Jeanne Reviews: The Trash Harem: Tempe Crabtree Mystery Series by Marilyn Meredith

Retired deputy Tempe Crabtree finds herself back investigating crime when she receives a call from friends who have moved to Temecula, California.  Jonathan and Samantha Reynolds had been settling in nicely in their new retirement community, with Jonathan helping out some of the neighborhood women with getting their garbage out for pickup.  When one of the women is found murdered, Jonathan becomes a prime suspect. Not only did he find the body, but he had a key to the house and his fingerprints are inside.

There’s also the matter of the will. . . .

I picked this one up in part because the jacket copy mentioned a tie-in with Erle Stanley Gardner, author of the Perry Mason books which I devoured in middle school, along with watching the re-runs of the TV show.  Gardner lived in Temecula until his death in 1970, and the Temecula Valley Museum has a permanent exhibition dedicated to him.  Gardner does play a sort of role in the book, and there is some information about him, but I confess I was somewhat disappointed. It seemed somewhat superficial, especially given the role Gardner or some image of him plays in the book. 

Native American religion also plays a role but the references seemed (to me, at least) to be pretty vague and rather generic.

The plot was well done and it was a good mystery.  I do like Tempe, and the solution was a surprise. Some of the supporting characters were very well done, too.

Other titles in the series include:

End of the Trail
Spirit Wind
A Cold Death
Seldom Traveled
Not as it Seems
River Spirits
Spirit Shapes
Raging Waters
Bears With Us
Invisible Path
Dispel the Mist
Kindred Spirits
Judgment Fire
Calling the Dead
Wingbeat
Intervention
Unequally Yoked
Deadly Omen
Deadly Trail