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Mabel Gets The Ax (Mysteries of Medicine Spring) Paperback – June 22, 2021

by Susan Kimmel Wright (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 108 ratings
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Mabel plans to bring the thrills of volunteering to the masses—if she doesn’t get the ax first.

After losing her job of twenty-three years, Mabel decides to launch what will surely be a glamorous new career as an author. Having recently inherited her late grandmother’s house, she has the freedom to spend time volunteering and writing about her experiences.

Unfortunately, Mabel’s plans soon go off the rails. Her inheritance comes with decades of clutter, an overgrown lot, a dog named Barnacle, and a neighbor with an ax to grind. And her first assignment as a Medicine Spring Historical Society volunteer is to lead a tour of the Sauer Mansion, locally known as the “Ax Murder House,” site of a notorious 1930’s double homicide.

As Mabel shepherds her tour group through the house, it appears history’s repeating itself when she stumbles across a body in the parlor. Finding herself on the suspect list, Mabel scrambles to figure out who swung the fatal ax. In the process, she can’t help being drawn into investigating the unsolved historic murders, teamed up with PI John Bigelow, a man she isn’t sure she can trust. With an ax murderer on the loose, will Mabel be next?

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Mysteries of Medicine Spring
  2. Print length
    312 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    June 22, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.71 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1943959935
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1943959938
  8. See all details
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Mabel & the Cat's Meow: Prequel to Mabel Gets the Ax, Book One in the Mysteries of Medicine Spring cozy mystery series.
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mountain Brook Ink (June 22, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1943959935
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1943959938
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.71 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 108 ratings

About the author

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Susan Kimmel Wright

Susan Kimmel Wright

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Susan Kimmel Wright began her life of mystery as a child, with reading. That led to writing kids’ mysteries and eventually to Medicine Spring with Mabel. A longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Susan’s also a prolific writer of personal experience stories, many for Chicken Soup for the Soul. She shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.

MABEL GETS THE AX, book one of Susan’s latest cozy mystery series, Mysteries of Medicine Spring, is available in paperback and e-book!

Susan Kimmel Wright is represented by Jim Hart, Hartline Literary Agency.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
108 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Uma Iyer Van Roosenbeek
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and entertaining!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2023
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A wonderful book with everything that is admirable! Murder mysteries with an element of horror, the challenges of changing jobs - new jobs, even volunteering ones are tough - , petty feelings and behavior of people, affection of true friends, scary situations, and a sweet whiff of romance go to make this book an enthralling one!

Characterization is exemplary! Each person stands out in the mind of the reader and Mabel along with Barnacle , Koi and John are truly endearing!

Thanks for this astounding book, Susan!
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Sara Pranskunas
4.0 out of 5 stars This Story Makes the Cut
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2023
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The Australian Cattle Dog on the cover made this book a must read. I found the mystery quite thrilling with a great surprise ending. Mabel is a likable character with determination and flaws. Mabel tries to adjust her new life while solving a murder. Koi the cat and Barnacle the cattle dog were great additions to the story. Definitely want to read the next in the series.
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Angela J. Maynard
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting ending
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024
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This is a good, page turner that didn't give away the current day murderer until the end. I suspected who it was but didn't know his/her motive. As for the old murder, that was a bit of a surprise too. Good writing keeps the reader engaged and the main character is unique.
One person found this helpful
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Amary Chapman
5.0 out of 5 stars Murder Museum
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2023
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Eclectic characters and a new murder muddy the waters in seeking the answers in a cold case that Mabel is trying to use to kick off her new career. Nicely done
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MDmusic
3.0 out of 5 stars Great plot, weak characters
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2022
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Like another reviewer, it was hard to rate this book. I wavered between a 3 and 4 also and so chose a 3 because the other reviewer chose a 4. Between us we have our 3 1/2.
I did not like Mabel nor most of the other characters, of which there were too many to follow easily. They also were not believable. I did like the private investigator and longtime friend Lisa but did not understand why they liked Mabel. Maybe Wright will explain that in a future book?
However, Mabel Gets the Axe is well written. The setting is nicely unusual, and the plot works well. Wright appropriately handles the details of the murders. The solution to the murders is clever and believable. Hopefully, the character problems will be fixed in future books.
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NLH w SI
5.0 out of 5 stars Axed Mabel
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2023
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Clever twists and a blossoming romance. Enjoyed Mabel learning her strengths as she finds a second career and loves her furry family
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Phyllis - Among the Reads
4.0 out of 5 stars A well executed mystery
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2021
My review is 3 1/2 stars

It was hard to decide on a number for the star rating for Mabel Gets the Ax. The story is well-written without any obvious plot holes. And there is some cute humor and clever lines. The author cleverly told the story only from Mabel's perspective which provided doubt over whether John, the PI who appears to like Mabel and is trying to solve the case, is just using her. And the mysteries are executed well (sorry for the gallows humor here!)

I wasn't a huge fan of Mabel, however. It could be that the author over-emphasized Mabel's insecurities and her ""humanness"". She was overweight and the house she lived in was a mess from her grandmother's hoarding. This gave an overall picture of someone who was a bit of a slob. Mabel's self-deprecation was strong enough that I had a hard time picturing why John would have been attracted to her. I would have loved to have had his take on what she was like…

Overall, Mabel Gets the Ax is a good story that I can recommend to those who enjoy cozy mysteries.

I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
2 people found this helpful
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Louis Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars From Lawyer to Writer
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2023
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I really enjoy reading a cozy mystery by a new author for me and finding I don't want to but the book down. She reading knows how to tell a story
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Top reviews from other countries

ACOB
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended - Read it Now
Reviewed in Canada on July 10, 2021
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I enjoy not being able to know “whodunnit”, and this book delivered. I was captivated by Mabel from the opening paragraph and that carried on throughout the book. I’m looking forward to other books in the series, which to me, is one of the highest compliments that can be paid to an author. To summarize, well done Ms. Kimmel Wright. 5 Stars.
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Julie
3.0 out of 5 stars Gets the axe
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2023
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To be honest I struggled to finish this book but can't really put my finger on why. I think it was the main character, I just couldn't get a picture of her. She seemed old but young at the same time? To old to find another job but her best friend needed to watch over her, she was a lawyer but had no drive to do anything and would put it off for the next day. She just seemed hopeless. The mystery also got bogged down with history and I know the two, well three murders were meant to be copycats but it got confusing with who was related to who and who married who and then she had to read all about as well to write the history. I had guessed who the killer was but couldn't tell you why. Don't get me wrong there was something about it that kept me reading, maybe to find out who the killer was but I don't think I normally take soo long to read a book. It started off good with a good idea for a plot line but lost it in the middle. I liked John as a character, even if Mabel did suspect him and of course the loveable pets.
After losing her job and her grandmother leaves her her house, Mabel decides to write a book about volunteering but first she had better get some experience. She decides to start close to home and work at the historical house where a father and son were axed to death and the killer was never found. The problem is her grandmother's neighbour and nemesis Helen is the chairwoman and things get off to a rocky start. Then when Helen doesn't turn up for her shift showing a true crime group around the the house , Mabel is dragged on where she promptly finds her dead. What are the kids that the great granddaughter should die the same way. Mabel becomes the prime suspect having argued with her and being on scene at the time. Can Mabel find Helen's killer? Maybe if she can solve the first murder that happened at the house and how the two cases seems connected.
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