There is a killer at work in the sleepy village of Cedar Falls. The peaceful order of puppet-maker Polly Deacon’s back-to-nature rural life is violently interrupted when she finds her best friend Francy’s abusive husband lying dead in the dump with a hole in his chest. What’s worse, Francy can’t remember what happened the night of the murder. The cops soon get involved…and in more ways than one, as Polly finds herself falling for hunky officer Mark Becker. Afraid that the police will arrest Francy for the murder and exasperated with their ineptitude, Polly decides that only she can get to the bottom of the mysterious murder. The situation comes to a head as the outspoken and resourceful Polly begins receiving threats to her life. As she searches for answers, Polly discovers that the puzzle often points inward and she is forced to question her values and her friendships. But where there is death, there is also grief and passion, and passion in Cedar Falls is never simple, and sometimes, as Polly discovers, it can also be deadly.

Down in the Dumps: A Polly Deacon Mystery (A Polly Deacon Mystery, 1)

Literature & Fiction

Malton, H. Mel

Genre Fiction

Napoleon and Co

In the sequel to Down in the Dumps, Polly finds herself touring as set and puppet designer for a small rural theatre company. When the stage manager mysteriously fails to appear for the first rehearsal, Polly has to step in and do the job. The full-time employment is welcome, but the work is hell. Dealing with a cast of viciously feuding actors, a mysterious practical joker whose tricks are decidedly gruesome, and a deepening conviction that the stage manager has been murdered, Polly finds her new job more than a little stressful. Where’s the stage manager’s body? Is somebody really out to get the star of the show? Will the show open with all of the cast still breathing? The local police won’t show an interest, so the intrepid Polly investigates alone, unwittingly carrying out the murderer’s master plan, which almost ends in curtains for everybody.

Cue the Dead Guy: A Polly Deacon Mystery (A Polly Deacon Mystery, 2)

The third Polly Deacon novel finds our heroine in the unlikely (and uncomfortable) job of designing a mascot (Kountry Kow) for a new mega-grocery store, despite vitriolic opposition by local merchants, including her aunt. This is nasty enough, but when allegations of municipal corruption arise concerning the sale of the property on which the store will stand, Polly’s sleuthing instincts take over, to the usual chagrin of her sometimes boyfriend, surly Detective Mark Becker. But the scene starts to get really ugly when people start dying - not exactly the family environment that the developers desire!

Dead Cow in Aisle Three: A Polly Deacon Mystery (A Polly Deacon Mystery, 3)

There was something floating in the water ahead of the canoe. It looks dead, whatever it is, someone said. Thats where the mystery begins, and eleven-year-old Alan and his friends are determined to solve it on their own, without adult interference. They have all the tools they needZiggys canoe, Jose’s ability to impress parents, and Alans detective instinct. Mix in a gang of bullies on jet-skis, an eccentric hermit, and the theft of a priceless violin, and the stage is set for a fast-action summer adventure in cottage country. This is a new series for younger readers by Mel Malton, author of the Polly Deacon mysteries for adults under the name H. Mel Malton.

The Drowned Violin: An Alan Nearing Mystery (An Alan Nearing Mystery, 1)

Children's Books

Action & Adventure

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Malton, H. Mel. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Malton, H. Mel

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Malton, H. Mel. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Down in the Dumps: A Polly Deacon Mystery (A Polly Deacon Mystery, 1)

Cue the Dead Guy: A Polly Deacon Mystery (A Polly Deacon Mystery, 2)

Dead Cow in Aisle Three: A Polly Deacon Mystery (A Polly Deacon Mystery, 3)

The Drowned Violin: An Alan Nearing Mystery (An Alan Nearing Mystery, 1)