Murder Comes by Mail

Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. In front of a busload of camera-wielding senior citizens, Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane saves a stranger's life. Unfortunately, he soon suspects he may have saved a murderer.

User reviews

LibraryThing member lamb521

Title: Murder Comes by Mail (A Hidden Springs Mystery #2)
Author: A.H. Gabhart
Pages: 352
Year: 2016
Publisher: Revell
My rating is 5 stars.
Michael Keane is a deputy sheriff in the small town of Hidden Springs. He likes the small town life and was happy to return home after a few years serving on a big

city police force. Not much happens in Hidden Springs and that is why the love of his life, Alexandria Sheridan, has moved on to bigger things like being a power attorney for a law firm in Washington, D.C. She can’t understand why Michael doesn’t push himself to climb the ladder of success. While Michael longs for a life with Alexandria or Alex, he is afraid to pursue a relationship with her because he can’t see either of them giving up their current lifestyles.
However, Michael’s life is changed the day he drives the church bus onto a bridge and sees a man about to jump to his death. Michael is driving his aunt’s Sunday School class to see a play in a nearby town. Michael saves the man and is proclaimed a hero. He doesn’t like all the hero worship. The man he rescues tells Michael he will wished he had pushed him to his death, which continues to bother Michael. There is something just not right about this man. Then, pictures and a note arrive at the police station addressed to Michael of a murdered girl. A killer begins a killing spree that Michael is desperate to stop.
I read the first book in the series, Murder at the Courthouse, and found it to be okay. I always try to give authors/series at least two books to engage me. I’m so glad I did as this second book in the series I found to be much better. I was in the thick of things from beginning to end. I got to know the characters better and felt an affinity for them. While I did figure out the culprit, I still liked the story and was sorry to see it end. I now am greatly looking forward to book three in the series and a chapter is included at the end of the book as a teaser to whet readers’ appetites. If you are a mystery lover, then you will want to read this story. I would recommend beginning with book one as it gives the background history on several of the characters that also appear in book two.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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LibraryThing member alekee

We are back in sleepy Hidden Springs, and back with old friends, and then you always have the evil ones.
Aunt Lindy, the town’s favorite schoolteacher, and her ferocious cat Grimalkin are here, along with her nephew Michael, and we are reunited with Alexander. You will come to the conclusion that

Michael and Alex still haven’t decided that they are meant for one another, or have they?
This book will keep you guessing as to who or whom is committing the heinous crime of murder. All clues point to the man who was going to commit suicide and jump off the local bridge, but does someone want you to think this or is this man doing these murders, he did say that Michael would regret saving him.
This is a story that will keep you page-turning as you have to keep reading to find out whom the perp is. Enjoyable mystery and quick read.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

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LibraryThing member JoyAnne

Love Ann Gabhart's books, love the charming town of Hidden Springs, KY and the out of the ordinary characters that leave you with a smile. A murder is committed and Michael is going to solve it. Though the townsfolk aren't exactly cooperative he goes about his investigation the best way he can. A

suicidal man may have the best cover he's seen. Appealing and humorous at times, this is a really good read.

I received a copy of this book free from Revell Books in exchange for an honest review.

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LibraryThing member eccl

Murder Comes by Mail is book 2 in The Hidden Mystery series written by A. H. Gabhart. Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane is taking a group of ladies to watch a play when he sees a man trying to jump off a bridge. He stops the bus and saves the man from jumping. The man tells him “ You’ll wish you

pushed me”. Shortly after this incident young ladies start showing up dead. The murderer sends photos by mail. Michael feels he is being set up and the women close to him are in danger.

I like this book. It is fun to read. The setting is in a small town with characters that are sometimes funny, but very strong people. They are caring people who do what they have to do to protect their loved ones. I especially like the strength Aunt Lindy shows. Once the story is developed, it moves very quickly with a lot of action and suspense. Even though this is labeled as a Christian mystery, the Christian aspect is minimal.

I was given a copy of this book from Revell for an honest review.

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LibraryThing member Becky_L

Trailing Murder, Ask Most Important Question...

Michael Keane is the deputy in the sleepy little town of Hidden Springs. He gains unwanted notoriety as a hero when he saves a stranger from jumping off the local bridge. "You'll wish you pushed me," grits out the ungrateful fellow.

AH Gabhart's book,

Murder Comes by Mail, is book two of the Hidden Springs Mysteries. The story churns laboriously at first, seemingly moving at the pace of the old, quiet, back-woods town itself.

Finally, about half-way through, the dam breaks and all you-know what starts to break lose. Unfortunately, it centers around the deputy. First, people close to him are unsafe, then the hot-shot detective from the next town over decides that where there's smoke, there's fire. The maelstrom, as he sees it, has Mike in the middle, so he must be guilty.

The last half of the book is so exciting, it almost makes up for the lackluster beginning. Hank Leland is a great quirky character that you'll love to hate, right along with the rest of the town.

Great quote:"...every man has his demons. The successful man is he who learns to control his." The burning question is, which character's demons are causing a rash of murders and fear in this town?

I gratefully received a copy of this book from the Revellreads program.

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LibraryThing member PDianeB

In Murder Comes By Mail, Michael Keane is a deputy sheriff in the small town of Hidden Springs who does a good deed that goes very bad.

After saving a suicidal man who is trying to jump from a bridge, Michael becomes the town hero (which is embarrassing) and the target of the murderer (which is

scary). Soon after the event, a woman is murdered and a package with photos arrives in the mail.

Michael begins to wonder if the man he saved from the bridge is somehow responsible. On the bridge, the man said, “You’ll wish you’d pushed me.” But now they can’t find him… As the body count increases, Michael must find the culprit and stop him.

This is a good story. It fits into the category of a cozy mystery, even though there are a few murders. There is also an element of faith as Michael struggles to trust God. Oh, yeah, and a little romance, too.

The author, Ann H. Gabhart (writing as A.H. Gabhart), has a nice and easy-to-read style. The characters are interesting and some a little quirky. I figured out who the murderer about halfway through the book but I couldn’t wait to see how they were going to catch him.

I received a free book from Revell Publishing (a division of Baker Publishing Group) in exchange for an unbiased review.

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LibraryThing member Virginia51

Wonderful again! Love deputy sheriff Michael Keane. He is so much fun. Love seeing how life is in Hidden Springs. Can Michael get passed being a hero? He saves a man from committing suicide and then isn't sure if he should have saved him. No one is sure if he isn't a serial killer. Did Michael do

the right thing? There are many twists and turns in this small town tale. I received this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion.

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LibraryThing member lanehillhouse

Monday, May 30, 2016
Murder Comes by Mail ~ a cozy mystery by A. H. Gabhart, © 2016
A Hidden Springs Mystery, Book 2

Main Street, U.S.A.; a town much like Hidden Springs?

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane
How could anything happen on the way over to Eagleton with the blue-haired ladies? Always seems to be

an adventure when I volunteer to drive them.... Volunteer? Coerced is a better word. On a beautiful day at the turn of the bridge, a man is not so sure of his grip until two of the ladies flash their cameras at him. Exhilarating for the townspeople to have pictures being in the newspaper the next day. Not much happens in Hidden Springs. Could be why I am trying to settle down here away from the cluster of activity in the big city.

Hank Leland
I'm the press guy for the Hidden Springs Gazette, best local newspaper coming out on Wednesdays, in our area anyway. When the nearby towns get a whiff of my front page photos, all the other editors will be clamoring for a piece, at a price, of course. Dusting off my camera, I finally have some trading to do. Some guy deciding whether to jump off that Eagle River bridge, famous for previous attempts in the past. Well, one guy made it to tell about it. Those others just washed down. Morbid, I know. Alert Deputy Keane took care of his plan. A rescuing hero for my paper, I'd say!

Betty Jean
As if I don't have enough to do here at Sheriff Potter's office when they are out galavanting around town! Now the phone is ringing constantly and I have used up almost all of a pink pad of While You Were Out slips. Finally writing "ditto" on most of them, our handsome Deputy Keane has made a ruckus instead of just driving those chatty ladies to the play. Here's another excuse for that pesky Hank to show up here at the courthouse again. Always snooping around for "what I might know," he says.

Just as things start to settle down, that "head" doctor calls the office to say the jumper-elect has jumped restriction and left the evaluation floor. Who knows him, anyway? Probably on his way to pick up his beat-up car at T.R.'s towing.
~*~
As this quiet little Kentucky town becomes anything but, the department has a lot on its hands, especially Deputy Keane ~ The Rescuer. Why couldn't he have taken the main road that day instead of going by Eagle River?

Silence isn't always golden. The mail delivery is getting more active. Join this cozy mystery and see if you can figure out the perpetrator. Hopefully, it is not a hometown set-up. Watch for clues along the way.

***Thank you to Revell Reads for inviting me to come along on this May book tour for A. H. Gabhart's Murder Comes by Mail and sending me a review copy. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***

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LibraryThing member ecataldi

For such a light hearted inspirational read there was certainly some dark subject matter contained in these pages. Deputy Michael Keane's good deed has backfired, and in an awful twisted way. After rescuing a man who was about to jump to his death, the suicidal man whispers "You'll wish you pushed

me." The next day an envelope filled with pictures of a dead girl arrive and word is that the jumper has escaped from the psychiatric ward. What has the deputy done? How will he live with himself? As the bodies start piling up, the rumors go flying, his loved ones feel threatened. The Deputy must turn to God to get help in order to catch the madman that is threatening the sleepy little town of Hidden Springs. Filled with quaint larger than life small town figures, cute scenery, and unrequited romance, this mystery will attract inspirational romance readers who don't mind when things get a little dark. A charming little read.

I received this book for free from Revell Reads in return for my honest, unbiased opinion.

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LibraryThing member polarmath

I love cozy mysteries and this one was great. It is book two in the Hidden Springs Mysteries, but it is ok to read first. When photos of a dead girl begin arriving in the mail, the sheriff find himself concerned about just who the killer is and fears it is someone that he has had contact with

before. He finds himself racing the clock so that someone he knows does not become the next victim.
This was a great page turner and it was hard to not turn to the end of the book to see how it would all turn out.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher to read and review.

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LibraryThing member Anne_Rightler

Having read the first book in the Hidden Springs Mystery series by A. H. Gabhart, I was looking forward to Murder Comes by Mail. I was not disappointed by this charming cozy mystery. The Deputy Sheriff is quite the humble hero who, in doing a good turn, has found himself in the middle of several

murder mysteries. I enjoy a small town setting where everyone knows everyone else's business and rumors abound. The scenes were quite realistic and sent a few shivers up my spine at times! With some quirky characters, several dead bodies, and a bit of a romance, readers who enjoy cozy mysteries can't ask for much more. It took me quite a bit to figure out the murderer and there were a few twists to the plot that kept my interest. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. It's always fun to see how the characters develop and how they get themselves out of mishaps. The audiobook is read by the author and I enjoyed that...an author knows just how to speak the essence of her characters. I listened to a complimentary copy of the audiobook and was not required to write a positive review.

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