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

Ropes, Riddles and Robberies: one case brings the past front and center

Ropes, Riddles and Robberies is the fifteenth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mysteries series by Tonya Kappes. Solving crimes has become a major activity for Mae and Laundry Club ladies. Their next case will be more challenging. Mae has been thinking about the fire that took her family’s lives and more and more she has been having vivid memories about that night. She is more and more determined to discover what happened that night. With the help of her friends, Mae heads to her hometown to prove the fire wasn’t an accident. As their investigation heats up on this cold case, someone wants to make sure Mae and her friends never find out the truth. 

Ropes, Riddles and Robberies is more than just solving a cold case. It is going home, confronting one’s past and finding peace leaving it behind. The mystery had many twists and turns with the reveal who the killer was came as a complete surprise! I loved how Mae’s friends gathered together and helped her solve this case. It wasn’t just another case to them. Ropes, Riddles and Robberies is a great addition to the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mysteries series. If you have enjoyed this series, you will enjoy Ropes, Riddles and Robberies. If you haven’t started this series, I highly recommend it! The Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series is filled with great afternoon reads! 

Ropes, Riddles and Robberies is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Eggnog, Extortion and Evergreens: when a man dies in a the ER, is it a natural death or murder?

Eggnog, Extortion and Evergreens by Tonya Kappes is the fourteenth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. The Christmas season is a busy time for Mae as she fills her time with the first annual Winter Festival and the slow season at the campground. However, curvy roads and freshly fallen snow hides hidden dangers as Mae gets into a car accident and falls into a coma. Mae is lucky as she wakes up with a few bruises and a concussion but the patient next to her wasn’t so lucky. Randy Lenz, a local businessman, dies from what seems to be natural causes. As Mae recovers and struggles with swirling memories of her past, present and a nagging feeling that Mr Lenz was murdered. Can she fully remember what she heard that night? Can she convince anyone else that there’s a crime to be solved? 

This story opens with a scary scene as Mae is rushed from the accident site to the ER and she drifts into and out of consciousness. Of course, overhearing a suspicious conversation about the patient next to her brings her from her coma. This story definitely had a different feel as Mae’s friends and loved ones are seemingly keeping her in the dark. Why? Mae soon finds out and she springs into action as only Mae can. I thoroughly enjoyed Mae and her determination as she heals and shows how strong she truly is. I also enjoyed the more loving way Hank is treating Mae. I smiled as he seemed to reveal a more tender side. I look forward to reading more of the fun adventures in Normal. I highly recommend Eggnog, Extortion and Evergreens as well as the previous books in this series. 

Eggnog, Extortion and Evergreens is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Gear, Grills and Guns: another normal adventure in Normal, Kentucky

Gear, Grills and Guns is the thirteen book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series by Tonya Kappes. Mae West is the newest appointed member on the National Park Committee and she is taking the job seriously. She feels the need to prove she deserves to be there. She walks the new trails and she brings a big car show to Normal to fill in the slower fall month. But when Wendell Holliday, a car show participant, is found dead and a fire at a campground has Mae and the ladies of the Laundry Club back at work. The suspect list seems to be short. Is someone trying to cover up one crime with another? 

Gear, Grills and Guns was a fast read. While the suspect list was short and there was an obvious suspect number 1. However, after having read many mysteries before, I had a nagging feeling there was something more and, of course, there was! While I have been enjoying this series, this book seemed to be out of character for the series. The car show, the murder and the fire seemed to be more of a background story as Mae is dealing more with her past trauma. But I loved how tender Hank was with Mae as she dealt with the overwhelming emotions. Overall, I enjoyed Gear, Grills and Guns and I look forward to the rest of this series. 

Gear, Grills and Guns is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Kickbacks, Kayaks and Kidnapping: competition and jealousy ends in murder and kidnapping

 Kickbacks, Kayaks and Kidnapping is the twelfth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series by Tonya Kappes. Mae West has found a home in the small southern town of Normal, Kentucky. Despite her rocky start, she has become a beloved member of the town and her efforts to help the rundown Happy Trails Campground thrive have paid off. And her efforts are being noticed. The campground is in the running for the Campground Hospitality Award of the Daniel Boone National Park, but she has been offered a vacant seat on the park’s committee. To add to her efforts, she has organized Paddle Fests and a kayak competition which brings champion and Olympian kayaker Bryce Anderson to Normal. Everything comes crashing down when Bryce is discovered dead. When his death is ruled a homicide, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies once again put their sleuthing skills to use to find a killer. 

How many times can the reputation of the Happy Trails Campground and Normal be in jeopardy? A few times in fact. Once again, a murder linked to the campground throws a monkey wrench into the thriving plans. Mae immediately jumps into action and discovers a twisted trail of clues and a long list of suspects. This mystery kept me on my toes and I wasn’t sure who the killer was until the reveal. I enjoyed how Mae, despite her sleuthing reputation, stays humble and her motivation is simply to help Normal to continue to thrive. It’s not her fault that murders seem to happen in and around her campground. Overall, I enjoyed Kickbacks, Kayaks and Kidnapping. It was a nice addition to the series and I look forward to next adventure in Normal. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend Kickbacks, Kayaks and Kidnapping as well as the rest of the Campers and Criminals series. 

Kickbacks, Kayaks, and Kidnapping is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Sunsets, Sabbatical, and Scandal: a dating app, a hacker stealing money and murder

Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal by Tonya Kappes is the tenth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. Some of the local single gals are on a dating app and someone has hacked into several bank accounts and drained the funds. But the smalltown of Normal, Kentucky is shocked and shaken when one of their own is found dead on the floor of the diner. Mae and the Laundry Club ladies aren’t about to sit idly by as a murderer is on the loose. When a connection to Mae’s hometown pops up in the investigation, she must face a past she has tried to keep away. Who has murdered their beloved friend and citizen? And who is their hacker? Are they one and the same? 

Tonya Kappes has really found a rhythm with this cozy mystery series. When I first started the series, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy continuing. But I kept going and now I’m hooked. Learning more about Mae’s past was heartbreaking. The discovery of the victim was shocking; however the capture of the killer was oh so satisfying. I enjoyed seeing more of Hank and Mae’s relationship become closer and closer. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and I look forward to the many books in the future. These books are a great way to spend a lazy afternoon reading and so engaging that you will have a hard time putting them down. I recommend Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal.  

Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide: what does an old bank robbery and a new murder have in common?

Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide by Tonya Kappes is the seventh book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. To celebrate the opening of the new Old Train Station motel’s grand opening, everyone is excited for the Hoe Down. The fun evening comes to an abrupt end when a sudden storm brings lightning and knocks out the power. And it always seems that Mae West finds herself in familiar territory as she discovers the body of Jay Russel, a local trainer. As she follows the clues and rumors of an old bank robbery and shady business deals, she discovers the motive for motive is much, much more dangerous. Can she discover the link between the murder and the rumors before it’s too late? 

How can one small town have so much crime? It seems to be normal for Normal, Kentucky. Luckily, Mae West and her Laundry Club friends are on the case. Despite the disapproval of her boyfriend, Sheriff Hank Sharp, Mae can’t help herself as her curiosity pulls her in. Even after one of her dearest friends is implicated in the murder, Mae knows she cannot stop until she finds the truth. This series is filled with fun, exciting suspense as Mae follows the trail with twists and turns as she, and readers, are on the hunt for the killer. If you enjoy a fun small town setting with a bit of mystery, I highly recommend Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide as well as the rest of the series. 

Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Canyons, Caravans, and Cadavers: murder, rumors and conspiracy

Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers by Tonya Kappes is the sixth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. Mae West is asked to teach a semester on small town economics as she helped the economy in Normal thrive as she revamped the Happy Trails Campground. She is thrilled as it is a far cry from her image when she first arrived in town. But when a teacher and archery coach is found dead at the campground, it puts a damper on the campground and her excitement to teach. Of course, Mae begins to investigate and more bodies are piling up. She learns they are all tied to the school. Can she discover the killer’s identity and uncover a conspiracy? 

Tonya Kappes’ Campers and Criminals Cozy Mysteries are so fun to read. I thoroughly enjoy Mae as she gains more and more confidence, leaving her past behind her and finally finding a true home. Her eclectic group of friends, known as the Laundry Club, joins her in her sleuthing activities. The identity of the killer was a shocker as well as the motive. This book also introduces Hank’s sister, Ellis, and it will be interesting the role or drama she plays in future books. I highly recommend Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers as well as the rest of the series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you will enjoy the Campers and Criminals series and Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers. 

Canyons, Caravans, and Cadavers is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook