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Marilyn Meredith’s Kindred Spirits tells the story of Tempe Crabtree, a Bear Creek, California Deputy who stumbles upon a murder mystery amid a raging town wildfire. Due to her Native American heritage and that of the victim, Crabtree soon becomes relied upon to gather leads in the mysterious death of the town’s artist, an acquaintance of Deputy Crabtree’s.

When Vanessa Ainsworth, an affluent Native American painter is found in what initially appeared to be a sad fatality of the fire. But when a murder mystery results, Deputy Crabtree comes up against departmental prejudice and is forced to examine her responsibility not only to solving the case but to her ancestry as she agrees to assist the non-Native American detectives ferret out the potential link between the victim’s past and her murder by exploiting their assumed belief in the common ground among Native Americans regardless of tribal origin.

Meredith skillfully intertwines the heritage of the Tolowa and Yanduchi Indian Tribes with Crabtree’s discovery that Vanessa’s death isn’t as it appears. With a host of mysterious strangers tracking her every move both at home and on her travels into Vanessa’s life, Crabtree must gain a better understanding of the Native American culture she’s only dabbled in when late night spirit visits from the victim begins. Crabtree quickly realizes only she can bring the case to a close but as danger increases can she accomplish her task before those mysterious figures watching her make themselves known in the most treacherous way?

While Kindred Spirits was light mystery, it had a great level of suspense that kept you reading till the end. I read this book in one sitting. Deputy Crabtree is really easy to like and you look forward to witnessing her do right by Vanessa and her family. While not explicitly expressed, we also get a nice glimpse into the relationship of Tempe’s interracial and inter-religious marriage, which is s sharp contrast to the victim Vanessa Ainsworth.

Kindred Spirits was a pleasant and enjoyable read, thus earning 4/5 stars.

Format: Paperback

Price: $12.95

Publisher: Mundania Press LLC

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