Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. A Campers and Criminal Mystery Series is another brainchild of USA Today Bestselling Author Tonya Kappes. If you love her quirky southern characters and small town charm with a mystery to solve, you’re going to love her new cozy mystery series! The legend of John Swift Silver Mine has been a tale tell around the Daniel Boone National Park for … National Park for over 400 years. This year the treasure hunters have descended upon Normal and staying in Happy Trails Campground before they head out on their yearly expedition to find the treasure.
Once again, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies, along with Mary Elizabeth, find themselves doing things they never thought they’d never do. Go on a treasure hunt! They pile into Mae’s RV and join the treasure hunters so they too can try their luck at striking it rich.
Telling stories around a campfire about the curse of the John Swift Silver Mine is a fun story….until one of the treasure hunters is found dead…was it the curse or was it murder?
Mae discovers an unheeded warning that will bring the tall tale to life if she can’t end the story for good before the killer strikes again with or without finding the John Swift Silver mine.
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I love this series. This time we go treasure hunting. Of course poor Mae can never catch a break when it comes to finding bodies. This book you find out about some real history about Daniel Boone National Forest while enjoying a great mystery to solve. This time around all the Laundry Gals are with Mae when the body turns up and of course they try and help solve the mystery. The mystery is a greater one than anyone believes. The ending of this book was so cute.
*I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
Normal Kentucky and Happy Trails Campground are the place to stay when you want to explore the Daniel Boone National Forest. Mae West and a few of the Laundry Ladies plan to see if the can find the lost John Swift Silver Mine. Unfortunately their adventure doesn’t go as planned. First her stepmother’s pearls are stolen, two men are dead and Mary Elizabeth is a person of interest. Mae and her friends need to put their heads together to find the real culprit. Can they find the truth? Tonya Kappes has outdone herself writing book 8 in this Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery. I loved how she combined legend with nonstop action. I was amazed by the rules and regulations surrounding the harvesting of ginseng. It’s great to visit Mae and see what trouble she manages to get involved in. These characters and their dialogue makes me smile. It’s sharp and sassy. I’m glad that Hank and his grandma are around to have her back. This is such an enjoyable read that I couldn’t put it down. The ending was a shock. I never saw it coming.
Another wonderful and humorous cozy mystery in Normal, KY and the Daniel Boone National Forest. In this adventure Mae, Queenie and Abby are joined by Hank’s grandmother, Agnes, and Mae’s adopted mom, Mary Elizabeth as they decide to track down John Swift’s silver mine and his hidden treasure. I was fascinated by this piece of history as I had never heard this story before and I’m originally from the southern Indiana/Kentucky area. I also learned about ginseng agriculture in Kentucky which I had never heard before. I love that Ms. Kappes weaves this type of information into her cozy mysteries. The plot was quickly paced, the suspects were few and the characters are lovable and quirky. I read this book in one sitting because I couldn’t put the book down.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
Everyone is gathered at the Happy Trails Campground, to hear about the legend of John Swift’s silver mine, given by Mason Cavanaugh. Mason was a seasoned treasure hunter, also; looking for the silver mines.
Mary Elizabeth announced that it would be fun to go on the expedition to look for silver. Next thing Mae West knows, it’s not just Mary Elizabeth going, but Queenie, Abby and they talked Mae into going. Mae would take her camper and they’d all sleep in it. Then Hank, suggests his grandmother, Agnes, should tag along. Mary Elizabeth, a refined lady, is about to experience roughing it.
After an outing looking for treasure, Mary Elizabeth, returns to find her pearls missing and sees only one suspect. In a snit, Mary Elizabeth, parks herself in a chair to keep an eye on Mason, who swears he didn’t take her pearls. Even a storm, doesn’t drive Mary Elizabeth from her chair.
The storm is bad news, because the roads are washed out and there is no cell service to make a report to the cops. Being stuck, the ladies decide to make the best of it and go look for the treasure. When they find a landmark mentioned on the map, the ladies are caught in a rock slide and soon find the loud splash in the water wasn’t just from rocks, but also, a body!
What was supposed to be a fun girls trip, has gone terribly wrong!
Another wonderful read in the Camper & Criminals series! I, especially enjoyed Mary Elizabeth having to step out of her comfort zone, with laugh out loud scenes of her temper and stubbornness.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Tonya Kappes takes us back to Normal, KY where everything is anything but normal. Mae and a few of the Laundry Club ladies, along with Hank’s granny, Agnus, take off in Mae’s home, her campervan, in search of John Swift’s treasure. “Mom” Mary Elizabeth is along for the ride and it’s hilarious to see this dignified southern woman trying to adapt to primitive camping. And of course because Mae is involved, there are dead bodies showing up. Wonderful to see Agnus in action. She is such a fun character. Loved seeing Sue Ann Jaffarian’s name and was waiting for the ghost of Granny Apples to show up to help solve the crime. Great info on ginseng. I never knew any of that. This is such a fun series. So many wonderful quirky characters. I am anxiously awaiting the next adventure with Mae and company. I read an ARC and these are my own opinions.
This book! I have enjoyed many books by Tonya Kappes since I discovered her. But this book! I have not laughed so hard while reading in awhile. I laughed until my belly ached and I had tears falling. I knew I was going to love this mystery when I heard it involved the John Swift tale. I heard that story when I was growing up. I knew if that tale was a part of the mystery, the Laundry Ladies were going hunting. I did not expect all the hilarity though. I just love this book! There are a couple of bodies because where Mae West goes a body is sure to follow. The mystery was well done. I loved the tie to another happening in the Daniel Boone Forest. That’s another thing I had known about for years so I found that very interesting. If you’re looking for a rollicking camping mystery this is your book.
It is eighth in the Campers & Criminals Series. You don’t need to read them in order as each mystery wraps up. The most fun, though, comes from reading them all. I received an ARC of this book. I chose to write the review. The review is based on my feelings and thoughts about this book.