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Maggie Bishop

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Murder at Blue Falls: the horse found the body ... Paperback – August 15, 2012

by Maggie Bishop (Author)

4.1 73 ratings

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Tall, strong but discouraged Jemma Chase returns home to lead trail horse rides at the family’s Blue Falls Dude Ranch near the Appalachian mountains’ cozy resort town of Boone, North Carolina, and earn some cash from free-lance carpentry and photography. A series of minor crimes in the valley escalates to arson in this whodunit mystery novel. When her horse finds a body, Jemma, a CSI wannabe, investigates to solve a mystery. Detective Tucker is called in and it twists and turns like the valley’s Elk Creek Road which drops a thousand feet in three miles. A mystery of this magnitude involves many suspects, including these: Is it the neighbor caught hunting out of season? A guest on the dude ranch? The Christmas tree farmer using the wrong chemicals? Could the farrier be involved? The former skateboarder who imports Mexican pottery? The brothers raising marijuana in the woods? Jealous husband? Besides the murder, who hates the dogs in the valley? Because of her argument with a neighbor whose son is tearing up the horse ride trails with his four-wheeler, Jemma becomes the number one suspect when the neighbor's dog is poisoned. Detective Tucker of the Watauga County Sheriff's Department is a dedicated peace officer, single and prone to working long hours. Standing six feet tall, Jemma intrigues Detective Tucker when he finds that he can look straight into her eyes. During her interview, Jemma reveals that years before, she was arrested in Colorado on a drunk driving charge. He hates drunk drivers. He interviews Jemma Chase about the dog poisoning and decides she is too calm and her answers too ready to be completely innocent. Jemma figures the only way to prove her innocence is to solve the crime herself. By this time, she and Detective Tucker have called a truce. He might as well go along with her since she’ll go ahead on her own anyway. But someone doesn't want Jemma snooping around. The dog-poisonings quickly fade to the background, when, during a ride up a steep trail leading a passel of guests, Jemma’s horse reacts to a peculiar stench. Jemma, eager to be the detective and solve a mystery, immediately ties her horse and goes into the bushes to investigate. A recently deceased body lay partially hidden by a rhododendron bush. As a fan of TV's CSI, she knows just what to do...take a lot of pictures and don't disturb the evidence. Now Tucker is a part of Jemma’s daily life, and Jemma finds herself enthusiastically (and somewhat to Tucker’s dismay) finding a CSI side to her makeup. As they combine their assets to investigate, Tucker (whose first name appears to be Detective) and Jemma find that their styles are not so incompatible after all. Against his better judgement, Detective Tucker uses Jemma’s findings and uncontrollable curiosity to help find the killer. Take the horse ride along with Jemma, see if you can solve a mystery, be the amateur detective yourself, and enjoy this fiction book. “Murder at Blue Falls” is the first mystery book in the Appalachian Adventures Mystery series.

Print length

190 pages
Language

English
Publication date

August 15, 2012
Dimensions

5 x 0.48 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

1479119806
ISBN-13

978-1479119806
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Maggie Bishop is the author of a mystery series, Appalachian Adventure Mysteries, and two romance novels set in the Mountains of North Carolina in the Boone area. "I started with romance and have turned to murder." The Start: In MURDER AT BLUE FALLS, when her horse finds a body, CSI wannabe Jemma starts to investigate, Detective Tucker comes in and it twists and turns from there. And Then: Since pay is low in the mountains, Jemma has more than one job and is also a carpenter. In PERFECT FOR FRAMING, trouble's a-brewing in the Property Owners Association where greed and a lust for power lead to murder in a clash of personal versus public needs. Now: The photography group meets at Blue Falls Guest Ranch and soon there is ONE SHOT TOO MANY which features Detective Tucker with yesterday's regret haunts, leading to today's deadly fix. If you like whodunit mysteries full of clues and suspense in a vacation paradise, you'll enjoy reading these novels. Maggie Bishop hikes, skis, climbs, swims, explores and writes in the mountains of North Carolina where she settled in 1993 with her husband and cat. Every time they travel, they seek out other mountains but none are as exciting as the ancient Appalachians. When asked, "What do you do?" her answer is, "Entertain with word pictures." She was awarded the honor of being one of "One Hundred Incredible East Carolina University Women" for literature and leadership. She's an Air Force brat who put herself through East Carolina University and received a MBA degree, a former manufacturing executive, founder and past president of High Country Writers, past Secretary of Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers, and is a member of Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 15, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 190 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1479119806
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1479119806
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.48 x 8 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.1 73 ratings

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Maggie Bishop

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Writing is an exciting journey and I love to hear from readers. You inspire me to return to the creative part of my mind and keep keyboarding stories. Thank you for reading.

I am the author of a mystery series, Appalachian Adventure Mysteries, and two romance novels set in the Mountains of North Carolina in the Boone area. "I started with romance and have turned to murder."

The Start: In MURDER AT BLUE FALLS, when her horse finds a body, CSI wannabe Jemma starts to investigate, Detective Tucker comes in and it twists and turns from there. (Also available in audio, narrated by Norma Guerra-Steuber.)

And Then: Since pay is low in the mountains, Jemma has more than one job and is also a carpenter. In PERFECT FOR FRAMING, trouble's a-brewing in the Property Owners Association where greed and a lust for power lead to murder in a clash of personal versus public needs.

Now: The photography group meets at Blue Falls Guest Ranch and soon there is ONE SHOT TOO MANY which features Detective Tucker with yesterday's regret haunts, leading to today's deadly fix.

In the Appalachian Adventure Romance series, Award winning APPALACHIAN PARADISE takes place on a five-day backpacking trip in the spring amongst the bears, boars and girl scouts. With this book, you can take the hike without physically taking the hike. EMERALDS IN THE SNOW involves downhill skiing at Sugar Mountain, an emerald mine, and a cold case mystery.

The fun book, Meow Means Me! Now! is a rhyming feline allegory with poetry and photos. This gift book is a departure from novels but sprang from a love of cats . Think Dr. Suess meets Marley & Me.

I like to hike, ski, climb, swim, explore and write in the mountains of North Carolina where I settled in 1993 with my husband and cat. Every time we travel, we seek out other mountains but none are as exciting as the ancient Appalachians. When asked, "What do you do?" my answer is, "Entertain with word pictures."

I was awarded the honor of being one of "One Hundred Incredible East Carolina University Women" for literature and leadership. I'm an Air Force brat who put myself through East Carolina University and received a MBA degree, a former manufacturing executive, founder and past president of High Country Writers, past Secretary of Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers, and am a member of Romance Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

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4.1 out of 5

73 global ratings

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Laurel-Rain Snow

MYSTERIOUS EVENTS IN HIGH COUNTRY

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2012

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The mountains of North Carolina are the setting for Murder at Blue Falls, the Horse Found the Body (Appalachian Adventure Mysteries) .

Jemma Chase, a trail guide at her parents' guest ranch, finds herself at the center of mysterious goings-on, beginning with some poisoned dogs. And when a body is discovered on the trail one day, Jemma is also front and center in this mystery, and snaps photos of the crime scene. The detective who first showed up to question her about the dog poisoning is not too keen on her interests, however, and, in many ways, seems antagonistic.

Jemma is an intriguing character with a number of unconventional talents, like carpentry, photography, and now a thirst for Crime Scene Investigating. But will her eagerness to help solve the crimes in the area put her at risk?

Will the conflicts between Detective Tucker and Jemma lead to trouble? What will turn things around for Jemma in her quest for answers? And, amongst all the possible suspects, who will turn out to be the perpetrator?

From the beginning I enjoyed the characters, the settings, as well as the red herrings that kept me from fully guessing the perpetrator. I liked the homey Southern dialogue that made me feel as if I were a guest at the ranch. I'm eager to read more about these characters. Five stars.

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Brenda Telford

Entertaining and recommended!

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2017

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Jemma Chase was helping at her parent’s Blue Falls Dude Ranch – she was the trail leader and each week-long holiday for guests involved horse riding to many and varied places throughout the hilly ranch, with competitions and entertainment at the end of their week.

Midway through the week, Jemma was riding her favourite mare, Brandy at the front, with her off sider, Bo at the rear of the group, when Brandy spooked. The sight of the body in their path was a shock, but Jemma managed to send the rest of the group away from the area before taking photos of the body and surrounds. She was a fan of CSI so imagined she was able to search for clues and evidence.

But Detective Tucker wasn’t impressed with Jemma’s interference. He was determined to find the killer before he did more damage – but there were other crimes happening in the vicinity. Would he discover the culprit, or would Jemma find herself in a whole lot of trouble?

Murder at Blue Falls is the first in the Appalachian Adventure Mystery series by Maggie Bishop, and I enjoyed the entertainment, intrigue and mystery. The horses set the scene and the activities on the ranch sounded like loads of fun. A light cosy mystery, Murder at Blue Falls is my first by this author, and I recommend it – and will definitely read the next in the series.

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Nash Black

Trail Riding Isn't for Cowards

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2012

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The perfect season to read Maggie Bishop's MURDER AT BLUE FALLS: The horse found the body.
Jemma Chase returned home to escape from the backlash of guilt-by-association. She does carpentry and helps her parents with Blue Falls Ranch. The hills and craigs of Appalachia are the perfect setting for a trail-riding adventure, though the current guests didn't expect murder as their vacation experience.
Detective Tucker gets under Gemma's skin when he hauls her in for questions about local dogs being poisoned while the ones at BFR are left unharmed. She sets out to discover who killed the man Brandy (her mare) found off the trail. Someone does not want Jenna poking around in affairs that do not concern her and she makes an easy mark with her patterned behavior.
Sparks fly between Jenna and Tucker to see who is be best man/woman detective. I know a librarian who loves trail riding and mysteries that I'll allert to a fun read.

One person found this helpful

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Janece Rob

A Good Read

Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2012

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Murder At Blue Falls is a good, easy read. I loved the story. I especially enjoyed the discription of the scenery, the care of the horses, and the tips given to inexperienced riders. It is a light suspense with a little clean romance - just the type of book I needed to relax with at the end of a busy day. I found myself wanting to go horse back riding along the trails of the ranch with the other guests.

One person found this helpful

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emom_meems

Emom's Mountain News

Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2012

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OK, so I live in the Appalachian Mountains. Books, to me, are like money in the bank. I am self taught in most everything I do. I AM a reader. I haven't had a chance to read this book yet 'cause it is busy season here in the mountains. The subtitle to the book, 'Appalachian Adventure Mysteries' caught my attention right away.

My Kindle books are my 'money in the bank' saved for this winter's weather and the possibility of being snowed in for weeks at a time. Ditto for the rainy, stuck indoors weather the rest of the year.

However, I will send a review as soon as I read the book. And I also want to say bless you Amazon for the Kindle in all its forms.

Keep an eye out for the soon to be read and critiqued "Murder at Blue Falls" Stay tuned for more info from my much love mountain.

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2021

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I love this in the same way I love By movies. They're fun a d take you away from reality. Jenna is funny and I love her obsession with CSI, even if she does think a tv show gives her an accurate idea of how to do the job. Tucker was fun and together they make a great couple.

Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2012

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Maybe this is another book in which he author creates reviews or gives the book to her friends to review. I don't need a play-by-play of how the local fireman put out a fire because I'm not an idiot. What idiot detective decides someone is lying because they don't get upset about dogs dying? He claims she is not showing any lying signals from her body language, but since her story is too down pat she must be lying. WTH? He decides that all women will cry because an animal was murdered. Anyhow...I got bored and quit reading it. I doubt I will ever be that bored that I decide to pick up the book again.

7 people found this helpful

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Bea

Riding a trail in the Appalachian mountains

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2011

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Courtesy of Maggie Bishop I have just had a cantor alongside Trail Leader Jemma Chase in the Appalachian mountains. Of course I don't ride and I have never been to that part of the United States (yet), but it was fun and I felt that I was really there. When someone starts poisoning dogs in this small community Detectives Tucker and Graves interview Jemma. Her one 'DUI' charge rubs an old wound with Tucker and he makes Jemma feel she really is a 'suspect'. She decides to start her own investigation CSI style and turns out to be pretty good at it! Looking for someone with the ability to poison dogs is one thing, but when Jemma is out riding on Brandy and finds a dead body things take a much more serious turn. From Bo, the Head Rangler at the Blue Falls Ranch, to cook Alma and her 'alien lights in the mountains' - I began to feel I knew them all and was a part of their community for a little while. I know I will be back there again in the not too distant future!

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