Insects, Ivy and Investigations: personal turmoil and murder

Insects, Ivy and Investigations by Tonya Kappes is the seventeenth book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. More turmoil for Mae as Alicia Becker shows up at The Milkery door. Beaten, bruised and openly hostile toward Mae, Alicia was one of Mary Elizabeth’s foster children after Mae left town. Mae is immediately suspicious of Alicia and when she is found over the dead body of Craig Sutton, her suspicions rise even more. Craig Sutton is the ex-boyfriend of Alicia. Why was he in Normal? Did Alicia kill him or is Alicia being set up? Despite her misgivings, Mae and the Laundry Ladies set out to solve this case. 

Wow! Mae is dealing with a lot in this story. First, the open hostility from Alicia and her questionable motives for being in Normal. And second, her relationship with Hank is at a crossroads. She is unsure where they’ll end up. Then add a murder investigations which will affect them all. At the beginning, I was irritated with Mae’s attitude but by the end of the book, my heart was breaking for her. I’m looking forward to seeing how her relationship with Hank plays out and their future in Normal. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend Insects, Ivy and Investigations and the rest of the Camper and Criminals series. 

Insects, Ivy and Investigations is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Assailants, Asphalt, and Alibis: a tall tale, a treasure hunt and murder

Assailants, Asphalt, and Alibis is the eighth book in the Campers and Criminals series by Tonya Kappes. During a night of telling stories around the campfire, one storyteller tells the tall tales of John Swift and his hidden treasure. Every year groups of people follow maps in the hopes of finding the long lost treasures. Mae and some of the ladies from the Laundry Club join the annual John Swift Excursion. Hank thinks the legend is gibberish and mentions the treasure hunts are cursed. Not deterred, the ladies set out and are enjoying themselves until not one but two bodies are discovered! Is there a murderer among them or has the curse struck again? 

I love tall tales, local legends and the people who get behind them whether they believe it or just like the fun of it. That’s the two groups in this story. One group wholeheartedly believes in the legend and search every year and others enjoy the hoopla around it. This year, one who wholeheartedly believes in the legend is found dead and there is no shortage of suspects. When another body is found, fear follows as Mae wonders is it a murderer or the curse? The twist revealed at the end was a complete surprise, one I thoroughly enjoyed! This series is a fun read, easy for an afternoon or two of reading. I highly recommend Assailants, Asphalts and Alibis. 

Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Motorhomes, Maps and Murder: another crazy adventure in Normal, Kentucky!

Motorhomes, Maps and Murder by Tonya Kappes is the fifth book in the Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery series. Welcome back to Normal, Kentucky, where nothing is normal! As the town prepares for the local Civil War reenactment of the Battle of Camp Wildcat, Greaser Gadie, a notorious killer escapes from prison! The whole town is on high alert as Greaser vowed to get his revenge on the jurors who convicted him. After the reenactment, two of the actors are discovered to be not acting at all. They were murdered! And a motorhome was discovered to be stolen from the Happy Trails Campground. Are they connected? Is Greaser truly in town to take his revenge? Mae follows the leads to recover the stolen motorhome as her hunky detective boyfriend, Hank Sharp, investigates the murders. Will their investigations merge into one? 

Wow! This series just keeps getting better and better. As Mae has truly embraced the small town of Normal, she is not about to let anything or anyone destroy her new home, especially a motorhome thief! I love Mae’s tenacity and her unique and quirky group of friends. This story has such twists that I didn’t see coming! Even though I knew Mae would figure it out, the story definitely kept me on my toes as I could not put it down! I also enjoyed seeing Mae and Hank’s relationship develop more and become more public. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series and more of Mae’s adventures in Normal. If you enjoy cozy mysteries and a quirky small town, I highly recommend Motorhomes, Maps and Murder as well as the previous books in the series. 

Motorhomes. Maps and Murder is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Forest, Fishing and Forgery: more hijinks in Normal, Kentucky

Forest, Fishing and Forgery is the third book in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery series by Tonya Kappes. It’s Labor Day weekend in Normal and the Happy Trails Campground is busier than ever. Unfortunately, a rumor circulates that the Daniel Boone National Park is in danger of being closed due to a drought. The park closure would devastate the campground as well as Normal. The residents are scrambling for business ideas in order to survive the possible shutdown. When a local resident with the power to shut down the park is found dead, there is no shortage of suspects. Added to the drama a hiker is missing and another local is found dead. Are they connected? It’s up to Mae to find out! 

I like the alliteration in the titles of this series; however, I failed to see how forests, fishing and forgery fit into this story. Granted some of the story takes place in the forests of the national park. However, most of the action takes place in the campground and in town. And there was little fishing or forgery occurring. The mystery was nice but given the title, I was expecting a crime other than murder. How many murders can occur in one small town? Overall, I enjoyed Forests, Fishing, and Forgery. It was a quick read for a cold, bundle up kind of morning. And I look forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you may enjoy Forests, Fishing and Forgery. 

Forests, Fishing, and Forgery is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook