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Steve Demaree
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52 Steps to Murder (Book 1 Dekker Cozy Mystery Series) Kindle Edition

by Steve Demaree (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 4,254 ratings
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An elderly woman is found poisoned in the upstairs bedroom of her home whose front door stands 52 steps above the street in an old-fashioned whodunit that blends clues, red herrings, suspects, and humor.
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 23
    Dekker Cozy Mystery Series
  2. Print length
    298 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    April 25, 2013
  6. File size
    3944 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steve Demaree has always loved mysteries from the time he was a child. While he did not become an author until his early fifties, he has made up for lost time and has written twenty-six books so far, most of them mysteries with humor, but no profanity, sex, or gore. He continues to write a couple of books a year.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00CJK8LIW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (April 25, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 25, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3944 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 4,254 ratings

About the author

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Steve Demaree

Steve Demaree

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Steve Demaree's third grade teacher wired him in his desk. In his sophomore year of high school, he climbed out the window to escape detention. Today, he sits in front of his computer murdering people, while his wife of forty-three years tries to raise him without much success. His daughter repeated her mother's mistake and is currently trying to raise another mother's son and two dogs.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
4,254 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Jennifer Ann Saccani
5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect 5-Star Introduction to My (Newest/Current/All-Time) Absolute FAVORITE Author & Series!
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2016
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What a perfect introduction to both my (newest/current) absolutely FAVORITE author and this delightfully entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile series! From its gripping opening line---which told me right from the start that Lt. Cy Dekker and Sgt. Lou Murdock are characters I would enjoy solving crimes with for the duration of not only this first book but also the entire series to follow---right up to the solving of the murder, this is absolutely by far one of the BEST mystery novels I have ever read. (I say "one of" because the same could be said for Steve Demaree's other amazing titles.) With a natural God-given gift for storytelling and a "voice" and style of writing that both touches readers' hearts and keeps you guessing right up to the end of the book, it's obvious from reading any of this phenomenal author's work that he clearly loves what he does as a writer, which only adds to the amazing appeal of his novels. With compelling settings, gripping and engrossing plotlines, endearing and uniquely interesting characters (I feel as though Cy and Lou are friends with whom I thoroughly enjoy spending my time, book after amazing book), crisp narration and delightfully humorous "personality", this book was the perfect introduction to this wonderful series and this amazingly talented author; I became immediately hooked right from the first opening line...and I don't see this changing anytime soon. In short, the more I read of Steve Demaree's work, the more and more of his work I keep wanting to keep right on reading. I also deeply appreciate how "family-friendly" his writing is, where readers of any age, from the youngest to the oldest, can delve into these books without fear of inappropriate content. these books are "clean" and faith-based while simultaneously being genuinely gripping mysteries. I applaud Steve Demaree for incorporating his very real and genuine Christian values into these awesome novels and into the lives of detectives Cy Dekker and Lou Murdock without ever being "preachy" abou it. If I did not already embrace a Christian-based lifestyle of my own, this element of Steve Demaree's novels would definitely pique my interest therein. How refreshing it is to have discovered such awesome books from an author I genuinely both respect and admire. Keep up the amazing job you are doing, Steve Demaree, as this world needs more authors of your top-notch quality and character; you are truly a God-sent blessing to the literary world and to humankind overall.
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Papa Trox
4.0 out of 5 stars Cozy mystery
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024
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Two homicide detectives in a small town lead us through adventures in aging as they solve crimes. The cast of characters are entertaining and the mystery keeps us guessing in this clean, cozy mystery.
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ChunkiePandas
3.0 out of 5 stars This was an okay read, but certainly didn't reach out and grab me.
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2015
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I love murder mysteries, I truly do, so I was very much looking forward to reading 52 Steps to Murder. The premise was very good, following two middle-aged, overweight, seen-a-lot-in-their-careers detectives, as they attempt to solve the mysterious murder of an elderly woman in her home. The '52 Steps' in the title relates to the fact that every house in the suburban street where the murder takes place, is high on a hillside, requiring the two detectives to do a mini workout every time they want to visit the murder scene, or interview suspects in the street.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the book as much as I would have liked. The execution of the premise by the author wasn't as good as I had hoped. More than once, I considered closing the book and giving up on reading it, but I was invested enough to want to know who did the murder. Even the outcome was disappointing and left me with a feeling of it being finished up a little too neatly, without the benefit of the reader being able to go back and say 'ah hah!' - I can see how that all fits together. The outcome could quite honestly have been anyone and I didn't think there were enough clues throughout the story to give even the slightest suspicion that the guilty party was 'the one'
The writing itself was quite good, the author has a good grasp of character creation and the dialogue was quite smooth, the repartee between the two main characters quite good.
Where the story was let down, was the amount of waffling which went on, with the lead detective continually going back over his thoughts and suspects, and who he thought might have done it, and who he thought couldn't have done it. There was a repetitive nature to the writing which I found frustrating, to say the least. And far too much detail, which made for a great deal of rambling description that found me flicking through pages and skimming to get to something new and more informative. I also found the sheer number of suspects difficult to get a handle on, and didn't feel there was enough differences between them to allow myself to emotionally invest in the characters. All round, the book was good, but not great. I'm undecided at this stage whether I will attempt another of Mr. Demaree's books in the series, or call it a day.
3 people found this helpful
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Dorothy
5.0 out of 5 stars Another good Dekker Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2014
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This is the 2nd of this series I have read and I love them both. Apparently reading them out of sequence has no effect on the pleasure of the book.

This is a lighter mystery with a different kind of detectives. Some of the reviews do not like this set of detectives because they are obsessed with food. Yes they are, but if you really think on it, their food is a replacement for a deceased wife on one side and not having a wife or family on the other. Better food than booze or drugs folks. Lighten up. Their food obsession makes them more human.

Another review said when she got to the part where these 2 detectives read a devotional everyday, give me a break. So because these guys took daily time to connect with their creator you will stop reading? Strange.

This is a story of the murder of an elderly woman in her home. Her front door is 52 steps above the street. For these 2 detectives the 52 steps is a difficult climb. I can understand this completely. This is an old fashioned who done it that is packed with humor, clues to who did it, and detectives who keep on trying to find the murderer. The story is well written, flows smoothly, and you can get right into the story.

The characters are well written and you can relate to them. The detectives are written as having heart and humanity.

There is no sex in this book so it is suited for ages 16 on up. . I recommend this book highly.

Enjoy your read.
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Top reviews from other countries

Christian Celind
2.0 out of 5 stars 52 Steps to Murder
Reviewed in Germany on March 28, 2020
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A classic attempt at a whodunit murder mystery. Unfortunately with emphasis on classic. As in, maybe this story would have worked a long time ago, but today it falls very flat.
Throughout the majority of the book, the main characters, two senior detectives, don't really strike the reader as capable of doing police work, let alone solve a murder case. There is heavy emphasis on their physical fitness, or rather lack thereof. The banter between the two characters is semi-amusing, at best, but annoying at times. In the majority of the book, the two are portrayed as more or less equals, but in the last chapters, one of them (Mr. Murdock) is reduced to a sidekick, if even, having added no real value to the story in the end.
The majority of the book also focuses on going over the clues. The whereabouts of the witnesses, the chain of events, and the evidence is mulled over and over. From every possible angle. Seemingly in an endless loop. When the mystery is finally resolved, the reader realizes that most of this information could have been cut by half.
The ending is, well, unsatisfactory. Had it ended just before the final chapter, it would have been, if not great, at least acceptable. Now the story continues with another twist. The way it was done was very amateurish. Characters, who have just committed capital crimes mind you, behave like the villains from a Disney cartoon. No. The author should probably have spent a bit more time on a plausible ending.
The writing is alright, although the author mixes tenses somewhat arbitrarily. It doesn't detract massively from the story, but one can't help thinking that these inconsistencies would have been caught in an edit.
The most entertaining parts of the book were the conversations between the main character (Mr. Dekker) and his neighbor. The author could have added more of that dialogue, and less of the uninteresting descriptions of how unfit and beat the two detectives were.
Maybe the writing and the stories improve in subsequent books, but I'm afraid I might have to give those a miss.
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nomadshepherdess
4.0 out of 5 stars Clean, relaxing read
Reviewed in Spain on February 20, 2020
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I thought it was fun. It just needed a little closure about the suspicious disappearance of 2 or 3 of the suspects.
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Sara E
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant cosy mystery
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2016
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I have decided that my next few kindle books will be the complete (to date) cosy mystery series written by Steve Demaree and starring Cy Dekker and Lou Murdoch as the 2 main detectives. There are 1o books in the series, and I had read 4 in the past, not always in order, so now I will read all 10 in the correct order. If I haven't already reviewed them, I will write a review as I finish them.

52 Steps to Murder is the 1st book in the series. I initially read it a couple of years ago and could remember enjoying it. My memory did not prove me false; it is an excellent story. As previously mentioned, it is a cosy mystery - so you can expect no sex, no swearing and very little violence. This series also has the added ingredient of being very funny. Cy and Lou are good main characters, who are aware of their shortcomings but are always prepared to do their best - whatever faces them. The two detectives are Christians, but the book avoids being preachy and the author knows how to tell a good story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a cosy mystery.
2 people found this helpful
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Skyrider
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, light read, and a mystery, too!
Reviewed in Canada on September 7, 2014
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Okay, it's totally irreverant. In every way. Well written, well edited. I love the style of writing, but its not for everyone. You get into Lt. Dekkers head and stay there. As long as you realize you are in his head, and just go with it, it's a fun read. I needed some light and funny reading with a good plot at the time, and this is what this is. Yes, there is a lot about food, and remarks as to his unfitness and weight, but remember, you are inside Cy's head. I thoroughly enjoyed the romp, and there's a mystery, too! Very wholesome also.
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Michi
4.0 out of 5 stars 52 Steps
Reviewed in Canada on February 28, 2017
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I liked the devotional side of the novel. The comedy of the these two detectives was very good. I gave this rating because I enjoyed the storyline.
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