Deadly Relations — Terry Odell

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. 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.