#2 in the RBPD series, Bad Tidings

 BAD TIDINGS
    Second in the Rocky Bluff P.D. Series

Lt. Tom Gilbreath, who is called “the old hound dog” behind his back, is the one who must often deliver bad news. He is soon to receive some of his own. His wife, Marlene, often knows as much about what is going on with the Rocky bluff P.D. as her husband–and she knows even more about the other officers’ wives.

Officer Joe Guzzo has a perfect wife and a wandering eye.

A knockout, Officer Georgia Lindquist captures the interest of all the single guys in the department and the notice of the married ones.

Two murders bring chaos to the beach community of Rocky Bluff and keep Lt. Gilbreath busy as he faces a crisis of his own.

Notes from the author:

Lt. Gilbreath's looks are based on the husband of a friend of mine--she always called him "the old hound dog." His description seemed to fit my concept of Lt. Gilbreath. In Bad Tidings Tom Gilbreath, in his job as a police detective, finds he's often the one who has to deliver bad tidings--and he also hears some of his own.

Because my cop son-in-law continually reminded me that unlike police movies and TV shows, the police never had the luxury of only investigating one crime at a time, I decided to show that in Bad Tidings.
 
A warning to readers of later RBPD crime novels: The first four books in this series are a bit grittier than later books.

 Reviews of

“From the disruptive ring of the telephone on a romantic evening at home, BAD TIDINGS takes us through the days and nights of a cop's life. Author F.M. Meredith drops plenty of clues and red herrings to keep us guessing, as officers of the Rocky Bluff PD work through family problems, plus a rash of crimes that include a suspicious traffic accident,
the murder of a cranky old lady, and a shocking death involving one of their own. I loved it!” –– Pat Browning, author of Full Circle.

“Bad Tidings by F.M. Meredith gives a realistic look on the life of policemen, not only on views on their harsh jobs, but at a personal part as well. The everyday practical issues are dealt and expressed between the pages of this thrilling book, one that does not only contain actions during work, but in the private lives of officers as well. It is a wonderful, cleverly crafted novel that depicts the entire spectrum of human nature and characteristics--love, loyalty, sorrow, dishonesty, doubt, and inward feeling of self-fulfillment--all in one book, with a happy ending.”

--Reviewed by Shirley Cheng, author of Daring Quests of Mystics

“It is just another typical night for Lieutenant Tom Gilbreath when he gets called out to a suspicious accident scene. He suspects the victim was already dead before car crashed into a tree and burst into flames. The case takes an even stranger twist when the medical examiner identifies the body as one of a young man who had recently been buried rather than the owner of the vehicle, Granville Wheatley, a well known real estate broker in the small community of Rocky Bluff.

Things get very tense in the police department when the wife of one of the cops is brutally murdered. The officer himself in out of town on an illicit rendezvous which only fans the rumors. Is he responsible or is there a bigger danger that may be connected to another murder of an older wealthy woman?
In this police procedural the reader gets a look behind the life of small town cops, warts and all. Their real life struggles are often more compelling than the cases they must handle. Although, the story has many bad tidings for those involved they are able to handle what life deals them with a mixture of humor and bravado.
Ms. Meredith has another winner on her hands with Bad Tidings. Her talent to create engaging characters and taut, dramatic plots is evident in this ‘must read’ novel.”

--Roberta Austin, reviewer for All About Murder and Murder and Mayhem

Pat Browning, author of FULL CIRCLE says, “From the disruptive ring of the telephone on a romantic evening at home, BAD TIDINGS takes us through the days and nights of a cop's life. Author F.M. Meredith drops plenty of clues and red herrings to keep us guessing, as officers of the Rocky Bluff P.D. work through family problems, plus a rash of crimes that include a suspicious traffic accident, the murder of a cranky old lady, and a shocking death involving one of their own. I loved it!”

To buy from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Tidings-F-M-Meredith/dp/1610091019/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353696036&sr=1-1&keywords=Bad+Tidings+by+F.+M.+Meredith