Valleys, Vehicles, and Victims: wedding drama and old feuds

 Valleys, Vehicles and Victims is the ninth book in the Camper and Criminals series by Tonya Kappes. The gorgeous colors of fall have painted the Daniel Boone National Forest. The picturesque beauty is a popular choice for weddings. When a wedding party shows up at the Happy Trails Campground, Mae is thrilled. However, that feeling doesn’t last long as she recognizes the bride’s parents. They are her past. A past she has desperately tried to escape. But this family isn’t any old high society people. They are Tom and Misty Moon, the owners of the famous Moonbucks Coffee Company! Pushing aside their past association, Mae is determined to provide the couple with an amazing wedding of their dreams. There is someone else in town that has bad blood with the Moons, specifically Tom. Gert Hobson, the owner of Trails Coffee Shop, swears that Tom stole her recipe that became the special Moonbucks blend. A public fight and a very public threat makes Gert a prime suspect when one of the members of the wedding party is found murdered. It’s up to Mae  and the Laundry Club ladies to clear their friend’s name. 

This series has been so much fun and each book gets better and better. I loved the opening pages as Ms. Kappes paints the beautiful fall colors of Kentucky and I desperately wish I could be there to see it. Right off the bat, as the drama stirs around the wedding party, there isn’t a shortage of suspects when the victim is discovered. I love how Mae rallies behind Gert and is determined to prove her innocence even if it puts her in danger. I also love that it’s never the first suspect or even the one the characters suspect. The twist comes in complete surprise! I even had to turn back and find the subtle clue that I had read over. I also enjoyed reading the camping tips Ms Kappes included at the end. They will be handy if and when I’m ever camping. Also the recipes at the end sound so yummy! Overall, Valleys, Vehicles and Victims was so much fun to read that I could not put it down. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you will enjoy the Campers and Criminals series. I highly recommend Valleys, Vehicles and Victims! 

Valleys, Vehicles and Victims is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook