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Merle Temple
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Deputy: Once Upon A Time In Mississippi (Prequel, The Michael Parker Series Book 1): Under contract with X-G Productions for TV Series Kindle Edition

by Merle Temple (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 106 ratings
"Deputy is Southern Gothic literature--a complex tale of flawed but fascinating characters, mystery, and the supernatural. Paints images that burrow into your soul, captures the grand stage and social order of 1970, explores race relations and narrows divides. Twists and turns keep you guessing and gasping. Graveyards, mobsters, murder, seduction, and irony...a story that won't let you go."--Jim Clemente, Criminal Minds
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Book 1 of 6
    The Michael Parker Series
  3. Print length
    284 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Publication date
    January 11, 2017
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 6 books in this series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A great read...Today is not much different. Itis my faith in Jesus that keeps me in step each day. I hope you enjoy the talesin the book, but most of all, I pray that your walk with Christ isstrengthened."--Sheriff Jim H Johnson, Sheriff Lee County MS

"Tupelo author Merle Temple has captured hismojo. The characters come off the pages fully alive, flesh and bone...Using thebackdrop of Tupelo and Lee County we travel back in time..."--Jim Clark,publisher, Lee County Courier.

"A brilliant writer...masterful use ofwords allows the reader to "see" the terrain, villains, heroes andaction..."--Brenda Daher, Baldwyn News

"A roller coaster ride...a thought-provoking,nail biting, intriguing masterpiece that...stirs your soul."--Tammie Tubbs,Christian Television Network

"A masterful storyteller...a master craftsman ofwords...The reader is swept back into time and will not want to return from...theLee County of old..."--Leigh Anne Newton, Chief Academic Officer, Lee CountySchools

"Corruption fueled by moonshine, money, andmalevolence...Merle Temple has created a following with his (books)."--ErrolCastens, Tupelo Daily Journal

"Welcome to the very Heart of Dixie...where welearn that every saint has a past ... every sinner a future."--Pat Sabiston,The Write Place

"This book will draw you in like the smell offried chicken and pecan pie on a sultry afternoon." -Richie L., Host ofChristian Talk That Rocks

"Southern Gothic writing at its raw anduncompromised best. What a ride! What characters! What a story!"--KBSchaller, Indian Life Newspaper

"Rock, roll, and remember...mischief, music,memories, and mourning. Old Tupelo lives again as Merle Temple revives oldfriends for one last sweet lap around the track."--Elizabeth Hill,President of the Mississippi Elvis Fan Club.

"Merle Temple is to writing what Rembrandt was toart. He creates written masterpieces."--Southern Reader Magazine

About the Author

Merle Temple is the author of the Michael Parker trilogy: A Ghostly Shade of Pale, A Rented World, and The Redeemed. Deputy is the prequel to the trilogy. All of the books are written as fiction but drawn from Temple's life as a deputy sheriff, narcotics agent in the 70's, a corporate manager, a political operative and campaign manager, and an inmate in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His books are Christian themed books. He lives in Tupelo, Mississippi, and travels around the country speaking about his experiences and signing books. He has been to Hollywood to sign books for the cast of Criminal Minds, and his books are used in many college and high school English classes. His novels are now available in Israel.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N4N8OMB
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 11, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 662 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1794301623
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 106 ratings

About the author

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Merle Temple

Merle Temple

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Merle Temple was a deputy sheriff, an agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics in the first "War on Drugs," a corporate security manager, and campaign manager who warred with what he calls the unholy trilogy of politics, crime, and business.

Temple wrote six books in the Michael Parker series. The novels are written as fiction but drawn from his life. His signature book, A Ghostly Shade of Pale, is based on his experiences in the MBN where he was held hostage by heroin dealers, targeted by organized crime for assassination, and ambushed with his team by a sniper in a terrible gun battle.

A Ghostly Shade of Pale caught the eye of Criminal Minds in Hollywood, and Merle signed books for the cast of CM and Major Crimes in Hollywood, met with producers, and interviewed on radio and TV outlets in Los Angeles. X-G Productions has taken an option on Merle's books for a proposed TV series.

Ghostly is the all time bestselling novel for Barnes and Noble in North Mississippi. It was selected as the contemporary novel for ICC Community College and required reading for all English students. Deputy: Once Upon A Time in Mississippi was used by Mississippi State University and a college in Ohio.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
106 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging, with one describing it as a wonderfully written hard-to-put-down book of twists and turns. Moreover, the story receives positive feedback, with one customer noting its poetic eloquence at the end of each chapter. Additionally, customers appreciate the writing style, with one highlighting the author's lyrical prose.

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11 customers mention "Readability"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, with one describing it as a wonderfully written hard-to-put-down book of twists and turns, while another notes it's refreshing to read a book without swearing.

"...There was never a dull moment in the book, and a very surprise ending that I did not see coming. I highly recommend it." Read more

"...This is a wonderfully written hard-to-put-down book of twists and turns, oops, and whew. I highly recommend it!" Read more

"Absolutely loved this book. Can't put it down. Mr Temple writes a wonderful mystery, action, gritty novel...." Read more

"Great book, effortless read. I heard Merle Temple give an interview and I knew the books would contain some great stories...." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story intriguing, with one customer describing it as a hard-to-put-down book of twists and turns, while another appreciates its poetic eloquence at the end of each chapter.

"...Each chapter ended with poetic eloquence which will leave you admiring the talent of the writer...." Read more

"...Mr. Temple is a master storyteller that has made a point that he was not going to write a book full of sex and profanity, and he pulled it off with..." Read more

"...It's different and refreshing. The story is intriguing, the story keeps you riveted. You must read all of his books." Read more

"I loved the book, it's a page turner with fascinating detail and eloquently written...." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's writing style, with one noting their gift for lyrical prose.

"...Merle Temple is a talented and obviously an anointed writer who painted a picture that proves that the lowest of the low can be redeemed and..." Read more

"...Lol I really enjoyed the way he writes. It's different and refreshing. The story is intriguing, the story keeps you riveted...." Read more

"...His gift for lyrical prose made me feel, smell, & see what the characters experienced, & the story he wove kept me mesmerized as I devoured page..." Read more

"A wonderfully written book. The characters seem to jump off the page and it's like I knew them personally...." Read more

3 customers mention "Page readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's readability, with one mentioning how the characters literally jumped off the pages.

"...I couldn't put Deputy down once I started the characters literally iumped off the pages and I could vividly picture them...." Read more

"...His gift for lyrical prose made me feel, smell, & see what the characters experienced, & the story he wove kept me mesmerized as I devoured page..." Read more

"A wonderfully written book. The characters seem to jump off the page and it's like I knew them personally...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Nancy L Turner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Go Lock the Door !!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Deputy is a book I had to put down several times bc I have trouble separating truth from fiction and the story followed a dangerous path soon after I started reading. The pace rarely slowed so I could catch my breath and often times after reading a passage I would look away with an astonished gaze trying to imagine the events that had just unfolded and afraid of the impending doom. Word phrases and soliloquy ran rampant throughout the book. Each chapter ended with poetic eloquence which will leave you admiring the talent of the writer. Had I known all this was happening outside my bedroom window I would have hidden under my bed every night!!
    Merle Temple is a talented and obviously an anointed writer who painted a picture that proves that the lowest of the low can be redeemed and pardoned by the blood of Jesus. The story isn't going to end like you think it will and you will take a deep sigh of relief after you get through it.
    I'm ready for the next Merle Temple white knuckle ride!
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  • Pamela B. Walker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Corruption in the 70's
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    When I first got a chance to meet Merle Temple and hear him talk about his books, I knew that I wanted to read them. In a time in Mississippi when corruption, drugs and moonshine was the norm, Michael Parker steps in as a deputy intern. He learns quickly from his mentors, especially Sarge and the Sheriff who was one of the few not corrupt and taking payments from the club owners to look the other way. Throughout the books runs the thread of people who know Christ and try to live right. Mr. Temple is a master storyteller that has made a point that he was not going to write a book full of sex and profanity, and he pulled it off with skill. His main character is based on his life as a Lee County deputy and later an officer in the new formed Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. When I met and talked to him a second time recently, he said that Sarge was based on a real person as was Dixie Lee, but some characters were a mixture of several characters he met. There was never a dull moment in the book, and a very surprise ending that I did not see coming. I highly recommend it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • MomofNine
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Mysterious Underground World...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The mysterious underground world of crime, politics and law enforcement in Mississippi during the late 60s, 70s and 80s was turbulent, wild and unpredictable. Much of it seemed as a dark novel...but for those who lived through it, the memories still linger and haunt. Merle Temple lived it. His riveting tales draw us in, and truthfully, sometimes makes us shudder that we unknowingly lived so close to such a world. Yet throughout there is a hope offered. To Merle, and others like him that saddled up and rode forth to slay the snarling wolves, Thank you.

    As a personal note, I grew up in this era and in the vicinity of many of the areas described. Some of them I remember firsthand. And there is, I'm sure, much much more he could write. It was an unbelievable period of time.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Trey Stone
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent stuff. I was a bit annoyed at the ...
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2018
    A raw and brutal Southern crime novel! Excellent stuff. I was a bit annoyed at the pacing sometimes, I thought maybe there should've been a thicker more announced main plot, but when you take a step back and look at the story as a whole. Great read. This isn't even a genre I read particularly much of, or is especially fond of, but this book was good!
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  • Donna Sachse
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hard-to-put-down book of twists and turns, oops, and whew!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    A young plucky protagonist, a hero deputy with a heart of gold but unfamiliar with the seedy side of life is confronted by evil incarnate within Mississippi riffraff, floozies, and sociopaths. Protected by God and His angels, Michael Parker experientially gains the wisdom and expertise needed to exact law and order and along the way witness to lost souls. This is a wonderfully written hard-to-put-down book of twists and turns, oops, and whew. I highly recommend it!
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Captivated me from the 1st page.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I received the entire series for Christmas. Got to briefly meet with the author wished I could have spent more time talking with him about his books. I couldn't put Deputy down once I started the characters literally iumped off the pages and I could vividly picture them. Being from Mississippi some of the towns and locations that were mentioned were very familiar to me.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting new writer. A must read!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely loved this book. Can't put it down. Mr Temple writes a wonderful mystery, action, gritty novel. All without using curse words, this is a rare find in today's book market. This is a book you could give to your grandmother without embarrassing yourself. Lol
    I really enjoyed the way he writes. It's different and refreshing. The story is intriguing, the story keeps you riveted.
    You must read all of his books.
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  • Laurel P
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for fans of great Southern authors
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    After reading Temple's other 3 novels, I had very high expectations & Temple delivered. His gift for lyrical prose made me feel, smell, & see what the characters experienced, & the story he wove kept me mesmerized as I devoured page after page. I haven't been this sad to finish the last page since Faulkner, Conroy, & Harper Lee.
    One person found this helpful
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