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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Another delightful addition to Tonya Kappes’ Camper & Criminals series!
Things are hopping in Normal. Folks are in town to go looking for the stash of silver that legend says was hidden in the areas by John Swift. Mae, Queenie, Mary Elizabeth, Abby, and Hank’s granny Agnes set off with some more experienced treasure hunters just to see what they might find. Little do they know that they’ll encounter not one, but two bodies, and that Mae’s adoptive mother Mary Elizabeth will be the prime suspect for the murders.
This story has laughs and twists aplenty, just like I’ve come to expect from Ms. Kappes’ books. The Laundry Ladies are a hoot, and things in Normal are never normal. Agnes is an absolute jewel. I hope we see more of her in future books! And just when you think you’ve got the mystery figured out, it takes a left turn and goes somewhere you didn’t expect. This is a fun, quick read, perfect for a little dose of southern charm and whodunnit.
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
Assailants, Asphalt, & Alibis is another exciting installment in Kappes’ Camper and Criminals cozy mystery series. I always find myself looking forward to reading Mae and the Laundry Club’s next adventure, and this latest book definitely didn’t disappoint. Mae and her friends decide to go on a treasure hunt which is fun at first despite the no electricity (sorry Mary Elizabeth) until they come across another dead body. It isn’t until Mary Elizabeth becomes the prime suspect that Mae becomes determined to prove her mother innocent of the crime.
Kappes does a great job at setting up a compelling read and really making this case hit close to home for Mae when her mom becomes the prime suspect. I also loved that Hank’s granny, Agnes, becomes one of the girls by going on this trip and taking part in the action. I love how Kappes combines drama, humor, and mystery into such a great series, and each book feels like revisiting old friends with such memorable main and secondary characters. Assailants, Asphalt, & Alibis captures the reader’s attention from the very beginning and never lets go. I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy humor and fun mixed in with your mystery, and I look forward to reading Mae’s next adventure.
Received a copy of Assailants, Asphalt, & Alibis from the author in exchange for my honest review.
I just love this series to pieces! Whenever I am in need of a lighthearted cozy with a cast of fantastic characters I know I can count on a Tonya Kappes book. Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis is the 8th book in the series (which is a top favorite of mine) and I recommend reading them in order. You will better understanding the characters and the town of Normal if you do so. In this one, Mae and her sleuthing friends are on the search for Silver that was left behind within the national park over 400 years ago. Unfortunately, a curse has stuck one of the storytellers (or so we think) and he ends up dead! Will Mae and her gang find the real killer before it’s too late? Find out by reading the latest book in this amazing series! I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Very good cozy to keep you entertained until the last page! I loved to read more about Mae and the gang but in this one we sure get more of Agnes, Hank’s grandmother who is a fabulous character i wouldn’t mind to keep seeing more of her.
While on a hunt trip together, the gang witness some feud between a well known hunter ( and story teller ) Mason with his ex-wife and others…so it becomes suspicious when said man fall from the top of a rock dead….
Mae can’t let her adoptive mother be a suspect, nor can she stays of trouble so with the rest of the laudromat club the treasure hunt become the murderer’s hunt.
As always with this series we get a good dosis of humour, a touch of romance and a great investigation in a perfectly balanced space. A excellent cozy that could be read as a stand alone
A Must read!
Mae West and the laundry club ladies, Queenie and Abby joined by Agnes (Hank’s grandmother) and Mary Elizabeth (Mae’s adopted mother) decide to join a treasure hunt in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Despite the warnings from Hank and Dottie that the ladies shouldn’t go, they head off in Mae’s camper van to the campsites. Once they arrive at the primitive campsites, the ladies understand their friends’ concerns…there is no cell service, the roads are easily washed out during storms, and they are in a remote area with no one close by for emergencies. Despite the primitive conditions, the ladies decided they are going to have a good time and find a little treasure. On the first night there something is stolen from Mae’s camper, Mary Elizabeth believes she knows which treasure hunter is the culprit and words are exchanged. The next morning while treasure hunting they find the body of the treasure hunter and Mary Elizabeth becomes a suspect. Since the police can’t be reached Agnes deputizes herself to solve the mystery of whether this is an accident or a murder. Can the ladies make it out of the situation by themselves without anyone else getting hurt?
I love this series! I know I’m in for a fun adventure every time there is a new book. The books can be enjoyed as stand-alone mysteries or part of the series. The characters are fun, quirky, and independent with southern charm. The setting of Normal, Kentucky is anything but normal. Although Normal is a little abnormal you still get that small hometown feeling. I wish I could go camping at Happy Trails Campgrounds. Although the mystery is a quick read with the fast pace there are several twists and turns and red herrings along the way to keep the reader engaged until the end. Author Tonya Kappes is a gifted storyteller. If you looking for a humorous cozy Mystery look no further. Recipes and camping hacks are included in the book.
I voluntarily agreed to read an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. All thoughts an opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
Eighth in the Campers and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series, this is way too much fun to not talk about! The characters – like modern-day Lucy and Ethels – are funny and appealing, well defined through actions and delightful Southern-speak. The mystery is woven real into Kentucky folklore in the Daniel Boone National Park and is a real bear to figure out. Hopefully this camping trip doesn’t bring our heroines face to face with a real bear…
Mae’s Happy Trails campground in Normal is one of the best places on earth to be, especially at the evening campfire where tales are told. This week, guests and long-time hikers/ treasure hunters Mason and Dirk tell about the annual John Swift Excursion and legend. Mason has treasure maps developed over the years from his exploration and Swift’s journal and maps from 400 years ago. Swift had hidden stashes of silver in the forest and caves.
Mae’s adoptive mother Mary Elizabeth wants to go on the hike, along with their friends Queenie and Abby. It is not Mae’s cup of coffee, but she agrees to motor them out in her camper van. Hank, her sweetie, insists that his Granny Agnes, in her 80’s, go with them. He said she knows all kinds of helpful stuff in case of trouble since there isn’t electricity or cell phone service. And when the Laundry Club ladies get together, they almost find trouble!
There is a special guest at the campground Mason and Dirk go to – an ex-girlfriend of Mason. When they broke up, she stole some of his maps. The person in charge at the campsite sent the special guest packing, but not before Mason called her names and she socked him in the jaw. Mason took an unusual interest in Mary Elizabeth’s pearls, handed down in her family, that she rarely took off. The ladies go for a short hike after hiding the pearls. When they returned, the pearls were missing, and Mason denies taking them. Mason has disagreements with others, too, but the ladies won’t let it wreck their fun.
The ladies went treasure hunting on their own. They thought they reached the Furnace, a treasure hot spot, when they saw someone fall from a hanging rock above them. It was one of the long-term hiking/ treasure hunting experts who landed in the nearby creek. Not only do they not have cell phone service, but the road is washed out from the previous night’s heavy rains, and somewhere nearby is a killer on the loose and a dead body in the camp.
Mae, who found too many dead bodies since moving to Normal, is determined to stay out of this case and get back to Normal. After all, if the very experienced trail hiker/ treasure hunter fell from up above – and there is no evidence to the contrary – why would they feel safe on the trails? It could be the John Swift curse and, if so, it’s time to get while the gettin’s good.
Whether one is a campsite camper or an armchair camper, this cozy mystery is pure fun. This challenging mystery can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys laugh-out-loud funny intertwined with campgrounds, Southern women, and murders that just seem to show up to torment Mae.
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From a thankful heart: I received an Advance Reader Copy of this ebook, and voluntarily share this review.
Tanya Kappes does it again. Assailants, Asphalt, and Alibis has everything we love about this series. Quirky characters? Check. A little romance? Check. Descriptions of the national Park and RV park that make you feel like you are there? Check. A twist ending that you didn’t see coming? Check and check again!
My only complaint? It was over too soon! It’s a quick and easy read, perfect for your next camping trip.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Mae and her Laundry Club women decide to go silver hunting after a night of story telling around the campfire. Legend tells that John Swift left silver and counterfeit crowns buried in the area. The hunt is on. But what are all the treasure hunters hunting?
This is a fun group of characters and an enjoyable story. You do not need to read this series in order.
Oh, the intrigue of a treasure hunt for legendary silver! You know Mae and the Laundry Club girls can’t resist this adventure – road trip!! But of course they encounter trouble in the form of two murders while out on the trail- is the motive greed from the partner? Revenge from the ex? There were so few suspects in this one that I feared the author would run out of someone to pin it on before the story was over! And a character named Sue Ann Jaffarian (snort, laugh!) Would like to hear the story behind the author using her name in the book! I really like the author’s descriptive writing style – in this one, Dottie kept appearing in my mind’s eye. I think I have encountered her at a campground or two in my time – curlers, cigarette and all. I was originally drawn to read this series by the cute, kitschy cover art, but I keep coming back for more of Mae’s wild adventures! A good series that I would highly recommend.
A wonderful and funny cozy mystery by Tonya Kappes. Once again Tonya hit it out of the park with this book. This series is awesome. I never laughed so hard and loud my husband thought I was losing it. I really enjoyed how the legend of John Swift and the harvesting of Ginseng were written into the story. I had never heard of either so I learned something new today. This is one of those books that when you open the cover you don’t put the book down until you have read it all. There are many twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end. Even though this is the 8th book in the series it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend reading all the previous books so you can enjoy all the fun.
Mae and the gang have decided to go treasure hunting. Not only are they searching for a treasure people have been searching for for decades, but they are doing in it a remote location without the means to seek help if an emergency arises… and lets face it, we all know it will happen when we get these ladies involved. Trouble seems to follow them around. When a body falls from the sky, all signs point to Mae’s mother being the culprit. So of course, Mae decided there was nothing else to do but get to the bottom of things. There’s still some humor, mostly due to the sassy and snarky personalities. The mystery is somewhat straight forward and simple. (Suspects were limited.) The story/book reads quite quickly. Despite the murder, it’s still a fun little diddy. Easy to read. Clean and safe for teens and up. In addition to the mystery itself, we get a little history lesson… what was real and what was folklore. 😉
Mae West, Agnes, and the rest of the Laundry Club have done it again! Once again they have unwittingly stumbled into a murder and come out winners. Happy Trails Campground sounds like a place I would want to visit! One minute they have you biting your nails and the next they have you laughing! You won’t regret this fun read!
Want to go camping without all of the hassles of packing up and being bug free? Pick up this next book in the series of A Camper & Criminals Cozy-you’ll be wanting to sit next to the fire or joining Mae and her friends on their adventures!
The fun begins next to the campfire at the Happy Trails Campground in Normal, Kentucky where stories of John Swift’s treasure is buried somewhere throughout the hills of the Daniel Boone National Forest-and they are in the prime spot for hunting! Too bad when they were hunting, they didn’t realize they were hunting for murder. Or was it?
There is a fun twist to the end-just remember that everything is not as always what it should be and you are always innocent until proven guilty.
I gave this story 4 stars because the ending just came out of nowhere. It felt like the story was building and building and building and then POOF, hey guys we are at the end hope you liked it! It as an interesting ending, but seemed kind of rushed and thrown together. But the story building up to it was fun and a lot of interesting information to help it be built.
I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Tonya Kappes so far, but this series is my favorite. All of the books work well on their own as standalones, but the richness of the series is best appreciated by reading all of the books in order. This book was different in that a lot of the action took place away from Mae’s campground. The search for treasure was fun, and especially since it was based on a real myth that’s been passed down in Kentucky. The characters and dialogue are always such a treat in these books, and the mystery is just the cherry on top of the yummy, gooey sundae. This was one of the best in the series and I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book, but my opinions are my own.
It is the annual John Swift treasure hunt. Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies decide to participate and see what they can find. Unfortunately, what they find is not the treasure they were looking for…instead they find a body. Full of sassy southern ladies this is a great addition to the camper and criminals series. I really want to visit Normal, Kentucky and stay at the Happy Trails Campground!
I recommend you read the authors note before reading the book. It is full of fascinating information about the John Swift legend and the highly regulated harvesting of Kentucky ginseng, which plays a role in this story.
This fictional book is based on the real “John Swift Legend” that has existed in Kentucky for generations.
Happy Trails Campground is completely filled up for the annual “Legend of John Swift Excursion.“ Mae, Abby, Queenie, Mary Elizabeth and Agnes decide at the last minute to search for the treasure themselves. With the help of one of the professional treasure hunters, Mason Cavanaugh, they are led to the area where the trail begins and set up camp. Mary Elizabeth is totally stunned to find that this camping trip is very primitive-no hookups to Mae’s camper, phones , internet, etc. Agnes brings treasure maps that she saved from her late husband’s searches. Abby brings copies of maps from the library. Wanting to get a head start the ladies head out on their own to get an idea of the lay of the land. Upon returning back to the primitive camp site Mary Elizabeth discovers her precious pearl necklace, that has been in her family for generations, has been stolen!
Mason’s ex girlfriend, Sue Ann, who is also a treasure hunter shows up at the camp and is promptly sent to another campsite after slugging Mason in the jaw.
As you can imagine everyone wants to be the first to find some of the long lost treasure which causes tempers to flare and lively action.
Mae is amazed when she finds out about another treasure hidden in the Daniel Boone National Forest-but you have to read the book to find out what it is!
Unfortunately Mary Elizabeth’s stolen pearl necklace is not the only mystery that takes place among the treasure hunters when one of the treasure hunters is murdered. To make matters worse heavy rains have closed the road back to civilization.
This book far exceeds any expectation with its mix of comedy, escalating jaw dropping suspense, and drama. It is a captivating read that will definitely keep you intrigued to the very end.
Treasure hunters come to Happy Trails, telling tall tales around the campfire. The girls decide they could use a bit of adventure and go on the hunt for silver. As expected of this author, this book is skillfully written with a tight plot and great characters. There are multiple story lines and plot twists within this cozy mystery and a surprise at the end. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
Mae and her crew are going treasure hunting. There is a treasure out there in the national forest, but there is also a curse. When two men are dead, they are sure it is the curse. That’s what someone wants everyone to think. When Mae and Hank’s grandmother are in danger, Hank will have to ride to the rescue. Will he get there in time?
This is another wonderful book in this series. Mae and her friends are once again in the thick of things, and hilarity and mayhem ensues. Mae gets herself in some precarious situations, and I am always glued to the book to find out if, and how, she gets herself out of them. I love the banter between the characters, and their camaraderie. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Mae West and the gang are back for another adventure. Happy Trails Campground is packed with everyone listening to the legend of John Swift’s silver mine.
Mary Elizabeth, Queenie, Abby, Mae and Agnes..Bank’s grandmother take Mae’s camper and head out on an expedition to look and hopefully find the silver. What could go wrong on a fun girls trip??
Well, more than they expected!
I really love this series and the characters are like friends that I enjoy keeping up with. Another fun adventure that had me laughing out loud in Normal, Kentucky.
I received an ARC prior to publication and decided to voluntarily review it. Opinions expressed are my own.