Stamped Out: a Cozy Mystery in a small town

Stamped Out by Tonya Kappes is the first book in the Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series. Bernadette Butler is the local mail carrier for the small town of Sugar Creek Gap. Along her route, she hears the rumors and whispers of hidden secrets and obsessions. One day, she learns that the beloved Sugar Creek Gap Country Club is being sold and turned into condos. The developer is her good friend, Mac Tabor, and he’s public enemy number 1! The entire town is against the development and is doing all they can to stop it. Chuck Shilling, the majority owner of the country club, and Mac have a very public fight. When Chuck is found dead, Mac becomes the only suspect. However, Bernadette knows that Mac didn’t do it and she is determined to prove his innocence and find the real killer. 

Cozy mysteries are a new genre for me. For those who don’t know, cozy mysteries or “cozies” are a crime fiction in which the main character is an amateur detective and most of the sex and violence occurs off stage. For example, Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and TV’s Jessica Fletcher from Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996). Stamped Out is my first book by Tonya Kappes and it was an enjoyable read with fun characters. I enjoyed Bernadette from the very beginning and I loved how she sprung into action to prove Mac’s innocence. Of course, the first suspect isn’t always the real killer but the reveal of the killer was surprising!  Stamped Out is a perfect choice for a laid back weekend or beach read. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Kappes’ cozy mysteries. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you will enjoy Stamped Out. 

Stamped Out is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.