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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Whenever I need a pick me up, or a little escape from the daily grind of life, I love grabbing one of Tonyas books. Her books are always guaranteed to put a smile on my face.
Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis is the eighth instalment in the Camper & Criminals mystery series . I was super happy to return to “Normal, Kentucky” and Happy Trails campground. Every time I read one of these books it makes me want to visit Kentucky and the Daniel Boone National Park. Now we add in the true John Swift Legend and I knew we were in for a good time!
Telling stories around a campfire at Happy Trails Campground is very entertaining to The Laundry Club women until one of the story teller’s tall tale about murder and alibis comes true, leaving the story teller MURDERED!
Once again, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies find themselves doing things they never thought they’d do while trying to get clues to who or why someone murdered the tourist.
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.
Its full of personality, humour, non-stop action, and plot twists which keeps you interested till the very end. I thought I had identified the killer early in the book but as I read on there were some red herrings and just when thought I had it all figured out, I had a surprise!
I cant wait for the ninth installment in this series, I highly recommend this to cozy lovers.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Kappes has written another fantastic installment to this adorable cozy mystery series. Mae West is still running the campground hosting the monthly parties but this time treasure hunters abound as they do yearly. They lead Mae and her friends on a long tale of lost treasure that is supposedly in the forest. So the ladies get together and decide to go even driving Mae’s camper. Of course they can’t fully enjoy the trip due to an untimely murder that they all end getting wrapped up in. Full of fun, suspense, and quirky character’s that will keep you entertained from the very first page. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis is eighth A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery. It can easily be read on its own, but I have enjoyed following Mae’s journey from the beginning. It allows readers to watch her grow, find friends, and help develop the campground. Tonya Kappes has an engaging writing style that draws the reader into the book and holds their attention. Her writing reminds me of chatting with an old friend. A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series has quirky characters with small town charm. We also get to learn more about the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. Mae West, Abby Fawn, Queenie French, Agnes Swift and Mary Elizabeth Moberly head out in Mae’s camper for a weekend of treasure hunting. They have three different maps along with John Swift’s original journals to help them with the hunt. Mary Elizabeth provided several laugh-out-loud moments especially when she discovers the camping location has no electricity, no running water and no cell service. The proper Mary Elizabeth may get dirty this weekend and Mae is curious to see her without her pearls. The mystery fits with the theme and length of the book. There is clever misdirection and good clues. While I wish it had been more of a challenge to solve this whodunit, it was fun to follow the ladies as they dig into the case. When one of the characters keeps cursing upon learning that Mason is dead, Agnes makes him quit by threatening to tell his grandma. Only in a small town would this threat work. One of my favorite scenes is when Mae is wearing her sparkly shoes, she clicks the heels together and says, “There’s no place like home.” I got a kick out of this Wizard of Oz reference. The ending will leave you with a smile on your face. There are RV Hacks and recipes from the book at the end. Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis is a lighthearted, humorous tale with a treacherous treasure hunt, pavement protestors, dangerous desperados, pilfered pearls and one cozy camper.
Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis
A Camper And Criminals Cozy Mystery, Book #8
Tonya Kappes
5 Stars
Synopsis:
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!
Telling stories around a campfire at Happy Trails Campground is very entertaining to The Laundry Club women until one of the story teller’s tall tale about murder and alibis comes true, leaving the story teller MURDERED!
Once again, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies find themselves doing things they never thought they’d do while trying to get clues to who or why someone murdered the tourist.
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. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Mae and the Laundry Club gals are sweet as sugar, as long as you do not cross them If you do, you will get a glimpse of southern backbone and it may not be pretty. Time spent with Mae and her friends is time well spent.
The mystery was well plotted and had enough suspects to consider and clue to sift through to keep the reader engaged. I found it a little unusual that the murder did not take place until about half way through the book, bit that was fine with me. I enjoyed hanging out with Mae and the gang.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you like southern settings, then grab a copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and provided my honest review.
Mae and some of the girls from the Laundry Club Ladies are going to go on a treasure hunt. They are looking for the silver that was hidden over 400 years ago. Even Mae’s adoptive mother is going! Things, of course, don’t go as planned…do they ever? But not only does the storyteller that got them interested in the treasure hunt dies, so does his partner! Now they are out in the middle of nowhere, no cell phones, no electricity, no nothing, and 2 dead bodies! You will need to read how the ladies handle this. It is a ‘hoot and a half’! Great story! I voluntarily reviewed a free ARC of this book.
This book is awesome! I love this series! The book is so fun and interesting. The characters are wonderful. I love Mae and the Laundry Club ladies. And Agnus! They are so funny. Agnus played a larger role in this book and it was so fun to read.
In this book the group go treasure hunting for John Swift’s silver and adventure and murder follow. The book has many twists that keep you guessing. I really enjoyed how the legend of John Swift and Ginseng harvesting are incorporated into the book. Really interesting.
I love this book and look forward to more.
Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis is Book 8 in the Camper & Criminals Cozy Series.
I was so happy to be back in Normal, Kentucky and back at the Happy Trails Campground.
People are gathered around listening to Mason talk about the old legend of John Swift’s Silver Mine.
I about died laughing reading as Mary Elizabeth, Queenie, Abby ,Mae and Hank’s granny Agnes decide to go on an adventure looking for the SILVER in Mae’s camper along with Mason. I just could not picture Mary Elizabeth going out in a camper.
While out exploring, the Laundry Club ladies came back to find that Mary Elizabeth’s pearls had been stolen. Add to that, two bodies, and the ladies are looking to solve another mystery!
The author crafts a mystery that is multi-layered with complex fun characters that will leave you flipping the pages until the very end.
This is book 8 and can be read as a stand alone mystery but it is so much more fun if you read them all. You won’t be sorry!
Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis by Tonya Kappes
Campers & Criminals book 8. Cozy mystery.
Mae West and friends go on a hike to the silver miners in the Daniel Boone National Forest in search of hidden treasure. They discover more than expected when a body turns up. Mae chats with all her friends to form a timeline and help find the killer.
Lots of information to be found by chatting with small town residents. No one can hide.
I didn’t know ginseng is protected and can be found in Kentucky. Cool fact.
I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Johanna Parker who has done the full series to-date. She does voices really well included the southern drawl. Since that drawl makes the narrative too slow for me, I listened to this at 1.5 which is faster than my preferred but was comfortable for this book.
I enjoyed this 8th in the series, I loved being able to revisit with these characters. A story teller tells of a hidden treasure and Mae and friends decide to join the group for a fun getaway of treasure hunting. When the curse of the treasure seems to strike Mae and friends look for answers.
I love these characters, they are fun I especially love Hank’s granny, and the setting is a place where I would love to live. The mystery was good and kept me guessing with some twists and unexpected deaths.
As and added bonus there are some camping tips and recipes in the back.
I will continue on with this series, I can’t wait to revisit.
Another great story back in Normal, Kentucky from Tonya Kappes. Mae West and her Laundry Club find themselves in the middle of a mystery as they are trying to find hidden treasure. This cozy mystery series just draws me right in so I can continue to know Mae and all of the community members of Normal. Tonya Kappes writes characters with wit and great relationships. This camping cozy mystery series is fun!
I just don’t understand “treasure fever”. Whether it is money, jewels or in this case gingsing I don’t get why people will kill for it. I had three suspects but 1 died and 1 had a alibi so it was #3. I was also a bit wrong about Mae and Hank. So far
Such a great cozy mystery series that will also give you a few chuckles. As I’ve said before, the characters and the setting of Normal, Kentucky are anything but normal. I get caught up in the whole storyline in this 8th book of the series. As usual, Mae happens across another couple dead bodies. But we’re they murdered, or normal deaths? And her love life with her boyfriend, Hank, a detective on the Normal Sheriff’s Department is definitely progressing. I enjoy immersing myself in this crazy world for a short time. Now back to reality until I open up the next one. You try them too!
I love the characters in the series. This was a great, easy read! I can’t wait for the next adventure at Happy Trails.
The Laundry Club Girls are off to find a treasure.
Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis by Tonya Kappes is a fantastic book that is set in the summertime and over three days. Most of the Laundry Club Girls plus Hank’s grandma go off in search of some treasure.
Our Sleuth, Mae West
Mae West, our sleuth who is a doing a great job of running the Happy Trails Campground. She loves her job and being able to help all the local businesses in her way. At first, Mae doesn’t know what to think about the campfire story that she heard one night, but then some of the Laundry Club girls talked her into going with them. Not that this was neither a good idea or a bad one really. Mae ends up finding another body with her friends and doesn’t know what to think.
The Mystery
Mae West and the Laundry Club Girls are trying to solve the mysteries of where Mary Elizabeth’s pearls went and what happened to the two experienced hikers. The missing pearls are a bit of a mystery since it could have been any of the three people that stayed there. Then the last two happened not near each other but within the same day. What actually happened well, you will need to read the book.
Four Stars
Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis by Tonya Kappes is a four-star rating as it was pretty good. I enjoyed the treasure hunting with maps from different people. I liked the way that Hank’s grandma took over and helped Hank out. As for Mae, perhaps she needs to relax some. Don’t forget to check out her next book, Valleys, Vehicles and Victims it will be out later this month.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis by Tonya Kappes.
Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
In this next book of the series Mae and the ladies of the Laundry Club have decided to tackle the legend of John Swift. It is said that John Swift had buried treasure in Daniel Boone National Park over 400 years ago and a majority of it has never been found. With several maps to go by and other treasure hunters to follow the ladies set off on an exciting new adventure. The ladies are having a great time and are looking forward to being the first ones to actually find some loot until a dead body drops on top of them while they are searching an area on one of their maps. The dead man turns out to be the leader of the treasure hunters and it looks like his death wasn’t an accident. The ladies are up in arms and worried about being looked upon as suspects. Things go from bad to worse when the dead man’s helper also ends up dead. It goes from bad to worse when rain washes away the road and the police have no way of getting to the campsite where the ladies are. Mae and the Laundry Club decide to do what they do best and figure out this mystery all by themselves. Can they name a killer before something else terrible happens? Follow along and take on the adventure when these fun and hilarious characters that will have you wanting to take a trip down south. I love this series and it is always such a delight to read.
Life in Normal, Kentucky is never boring. Mae, Abby, Queenie, Mary Elizabeth, and Agnes all go on a treasure hunt for the John Swift silver with a couple of treasure hunter guides. Both guides end up dead and it seems like they died of natural causes. However, things can be deceiving and it appears a killer is on the loose. Love this group of characters and the setting. The description of Mae’s camper even makes me want to go there and I don’t really like camping! I’d love to visit here and hang out with the characters. Looking forward to Mae’s next adventure!!
Assailant, Asphalt & Alibis earns 5/5 Heirloom Pearl Necklaces…Fascinating Fun!
This eighth book in Tonya Kappes’s A Camper and Criminals Mystery series definitely is one of her best! Annually tourists and regular treasure hunters arrive in Normal, Kentucky, for the John Swift excursion with hopes that his journals and maps might hold the key to a trove of silver left undiscovered for centuries. Mae, owner of the campground, and the ladies of the Laundry Club have been adequately enticed by the legend and decide to join the expedition in search of riches, well, at least a bit of weekend fun. So, with no cell reception or electricity, rumors of a curse, competitive exes, a bit of mutiny among the ranks, a theft, and a whole lot of greed, who would guess murder would join in? Well, everyone!
Tonya’s writing style is always engaging with descriptive language and dialogue that illustrates well emotions, dialects, and personalities. Although her murder mystery follows the traditional cozy formula, she goes well beyond with well-developed characters, close relationships, interesting themes, an investigation with several suspects, and lots of southernisms. The murder occurs well into the story, much later than I like, but I was absorbed in the introductions, connections, banter between all the ladies, conflicts and threats, and the lead up that made me question who ultimately would be the victim. The first-person narrative from Mae’s perspective is a main draw for me. She is intelligent, clever, and realistic in her approach, and whether through blood or not, family is very important, and her connection with the ladies, labeled the Laundry Club, makes it fun. However, she missed an obvious clue to a family connection. Too much going on, I guess. But, this book is delightful, and with references to background, it can be easily read by newbies.
Enjoy the unique bonus with three recipes (Iron Skillet French Toast, Iron Skillet Hamburger Casserole, Skillet Chicken Enchiladas) and directions to make an Acorn Whistle and Zipline for a “Fur” Friend. Don’t skip the Author’s Notes offering some insights into one of Kentucky’s oldest legends about the John Swift Silver Mine and the ins and outs of the ginseng trade. Both topics add an engaging “based on” storyline.
Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis (Campers & Criminals Cozy Mystery Book 8) by Tonya Kappes is another wonderful story about Mae West (not THAT Mae West), the Laundry Club Girls, & Normal, Kentucky.
It was not hard, & didn’t take long, to fall in love with Mae and her adventures some 8 (8!!) books ago. Mae is any woman/every woman. The Girl next door that you don’t know what she’s experienced to get where she is now. Not all of Mae’s past is happy (this makes her so REAL, whose is?) but she is learning to build on the past, and forgive some things she thought were slights. She sees her childhood in new, grown up lights, and she makes peace with Mary Elizabeth.
Also, it’s great that Mae’s rocky beginnings with Hank (all beginnings tend to be rocky until you can pave your way) are fleshing out, & Mae is NOT a little mouse to tow the line that would make Hank happy (he really does just want her safe & happy).
Absolutely, PLEASE! read this series! Because I got a little behind, I had to read a few out of order, so I can attest they could stand alone, but you will get so much more out of them if you start at the beginning. And if Tonya Kappes is new to you, I’ve no doubt that once you’ve devoured The Camper & Criminals Cozy Mysteries, you’ll look for & love her other Southern Cozy Series.
I loved this book! I think this is my favorite book of the series. I loved that I got to learn more about Kentucky and the legends surrounding the forest. I looked getting to know Hank’s granny more and seeing the growing relationships between all of the women during the camping trip. I, for one, definitely do not want to camp without air conditioning in the dogs day of summer. I totally related with Mary Elizabeth on her stance. Can’t wait for the next books.
Assailants, Asphalt, and Alibis is the Camper and Criminal Cozy #8 by Tonya Kappes and I didn’t want it to end!! I was kept guessing throughout the whole story who and why the killings happened. I always enjoy visiting Mae and the Laundry Club Girls and this wasn’t a disappointment.