Paddlers, Poison and Promises: a murder investigations with political intrigue.

Paddlers, Poison and Promises by Tonya Kappes is the sixteenth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mysteries series. Realtor Chelsea O’Connell is not a popular person in Normal. She is helping bring more development to the Daniel Boone National Park when the residents don’t want it and aren’t happy. So when she is found dead, there is no shortage of suspects. Rumors swirl of affairs, feuds and backdoor deals only adds to the suspect list. On top of a murder investigation, Detective Hank Sharp has concerns about the department cuts and possibly outsourcing his job. As Mae and her Laundry Club Ladies begin their investigations, Mae is unsure if they should get involved or let Hank solve it on his own in order to prove his worth to the department? 

This series has been fun, enjoyable reads. However, Paddlers, Poison and Promises fell a little flat. It was hard to get into this mystery and the rest of the story. First, character information changed from previous books to this one. Second, a character’s name changes from one name to another by the end. Third, the issue with the department and Hank’s job wasn’t really flushed out and the story ended on a cliffhanger, leaving the resolution for a future book. Overall, the story was a good addition to the series but didn’t have the same feel as the previous books. I hope this isn’t the standard for future books. If you have enjoyed the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mysteries series, you may enjoy Paddlers, Poison and Promises. 

Paddles, Poison and Promises is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook