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! Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in … lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars.
Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn’t lost. . .the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn’t seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky and an RV to live in. One problem, Mae’s idea of camping has room service.
By the look of the brochure, Happy Trails has plush Kentucky Bluegrass, a crystal clear lake, a beach chair with her name on it and thoughts of how much money it could bring her after she sells it. Mae figures she’ll take a couple weeks vacation with her toes dipped in the lake. Things aren’t always as they appear. The Kentucky Bluegrass is nothing but dirt and the crystal clue lake is murky with green slime on top.
Mae quickly find out that Happy Trails and the citizens of Normal were also victims of Paul’s schemes, making her lower than tha lake scum in the residents’ eyes. Mae doesn’t think things could get much worse, but as luck would have it, Paul West has escaped from prison and is found dead, murdered, floating in the Happy Trails mucky green lake.
Mae is the number one suspect on Detective Hank Sharp’s short list. After all, Mae has the perfect motive as a kept wife who has been scorned to ashes, embarrassed to death, and seeking revenge.
Time is running out for Mae to prove that she’s innocent and nothing like her husband. If only she could get someone to believe her and talk Detective Sharp into looking at other residents who’ve lost all their savings to Paul’s Ponzie scheme before the curtain is closed on this Hollywood namesake.
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I really enjoyed listening to this on an audio book the story was good and the narrator did a very good job. This is a well told, fun story, with characters that not only make you laugh out loud but you also want to be their friends! This book, set in Normal, Kentucky in a trailer park/campground (which belongs to Mae West. a young woman who married a very older man who dies and the only thing she has now is trailer park and she doesn’t know what to do with it. Her husband was a scheming, cheater (Ponzi scheme) of an (ex) husband, and a dead body found floating in a lake. You get your fix of twists and turns to keep you guessing and a completely surprise ending, which Tonya does so well, along with some snarky humor and a pinch of romance. I am looking forward to reading or listening to an audio book in this series and other series.
Mae West thought she married the love of her life who would take care of her with lavish gifts, a ten thousand square foot mansion, designer clothes the works—-until the FBI shows up at her door! Paul West was running a ponzi scheme and all of Mae’s luxury items are now gone! The only thing left is an old pop up trailer for her to live in and a campground in Kentucky that is in her name only as the owner. The brochure shows a great place for tourists and it is beautiful. When she gets there, things couldn’t be more different. Everything is in disary and run down. She thinks she has a plan to fix everything up and sell the camp ground and move on with her life. Good plan, until Paul’s body is found in the murcky lake. The FBI thinks she had something to do with Paul’s escape from prison, and killed him. Another set back! Can Mae figure out who killed her ex? Will she get the campground back in shape? Better yet, how will she explain the dead body in her storage unit on the campground? Mae West is finding out that the small town of Normal Kentucky is anything but.
I haven’t read many cozy mysteries and was not really looking forward to this one (it is part of a reading challenge.) I am glad it was on my list. I really liked it and plan to continue with the series. The characters, both main and supporting, are quirky and fun. The small town setting is very interesting. Romance is my happy place and it is missing from this book for the most part but there are some possibilities on that front for future books. I recommend this book for anyone who likes cozy mysteries or is interested in checking out the genre.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Mae West has had her life turned inside out. You see her husband was scum, scamming hard-working people and senior citizens out of their hard-earned cash and the FBI has finally caught up with him. Sadly Mae had no clue what he was up to and is now broke and homeless and without a motor vehicle. Then she meets with her lawyer where she finds herself the new owner of a used RV and a campground in Normal, Kentucky that was somehow in her name only. Seeing the brochure she immediately sees dollar signs, thinking how much can she sell it for. In the meantime, a little beach vacay sounds pretty good.
When she arrives at the Happy Trails Campground she thinks there must be some kind of mistake. The place looks nothing like the brochure. The sights are rundown, the lake is full of green slime and algae, and the beach is far from blissful. She learns her husband has struck here as well. Not taking care of upkeep and maintenance, not paying his manager, and worst of all he scammed the people here as well. She is not totally surprised to find his body in the slimy lake following his escape from prison. As the scorned wife she becomes the prime suspect. Sadly she needs to build a little trust with the people of Normal while she proves she did not murder anyone and had nothing to do with his schemes. Maybe then she will be able to get her life back on track.
I really enjoyed my first visit to Normal, Kentucky. The residents are some really quirky characters but most of them have huge hearts and are full of Southern hospitality. Mae is just 30 years old, Paul was 61, she thought she had a good life and never imagined things would turn out this way. I did come to admire the way she handled herself after her little pity party. She makes a real transformation over the course of these pages. I enjoyed the development of all the characters although I did have a few issues with the behavior of a certain FBI agent. It just felt off for that position. He seemed more a folksy small-town sheriff instead of a serious Special Agent for the FBI.
The mystery was pretty straight forward and I ferreted out the guilty party quite quickly but I continued to read the story all in one sitting and was very entertained. I did enjoy how the killer was revealed, it had an exciting few moments.
For me, Beaches, Bungalows, & Burglaries was a fresh, light read and a great way to spend a couple of hours.
Tonya Kappes is a writing machine. I have wanted to read this story/series since it was released but got discouraged as more and more books came out and I kept getting further behind. It will probably take me forever to catch up but I was very excited when a mini reading challenge gave me the opportunity to read this book and get started. Now I want to keep reading them all but with my reading commitments that is going to take time. I really want to delve deeper into the craziness of Normal so I am going to squeeze them in when I can.
I can’t believe it took a round of book bingo to get me started on this series. It’s perfect for me as it takes place in a campground, set in Kentucky, and is a cozy mystery.
I laughed so much while reading. Mae West is a breeze of fresh air. She may be a little clueless but she definitely provides entertainment.
I was shocked by the murderer. I had it wrong all along. I’m trying to figure out what clues I missed.
Book two is definitely in my near future.
Great start to a new series! My family and love to go rv camping, so I knew I had to read this new series. I would love to pack up the RV and visit Happy Trails RV park.
This book is a great cozy mystery. The story is exciting and intriguing. The main character is a woman who has lost everything. Her husband has been caught cheating his family and friends out of their savings. The only thing Mae, his wife, is left with is a small RV and a rundown gampground in Normal Kentucky. Mae finds herself surrounded by women in Normal who believe Mae can find peace here. Then her Ex-husband turns up dead in the lake at the campground. Now what?? Read this sweet sassy story and see what happens.
I love Tonya’s characters and her true sense of what it’s like to live in the south. Plus, she can tell a great cozy mystery story!
This was an easy and fun read. I started it one night before bed and before I knew it, it was 1 am and I had read the whole thing. It is a story of a woman who has been through a rough ordeal starting a new life for herself. It is infused with humor, grace, and of course, the Southern charm one has come to expect from a Tonya Kappes novel. I’m looking forward to starting the second book in the series soon!
My first book by Tonya Kappes and a brand new series. I loved it. Camping and murder! – One of my most favourite combinations.
Mae West loses almost everything she has when her husband Paul is arrested for scamming people out of their savings. Her lawyer is able to prove that she is innocent but she has to leave her house in New York, give up her fancy sports car and all luxuries she has been used to in the past years. The only thing that is left is an old RV and a run down campground in Kentucky.
When her husband escapes prison and is found dead on the campground she becomes the main suspect. She is going to clear her name and rebuild the campground to its old glory.
The lovely inhabitants of Normal, Kentucky and the Happy Grounds campground make this a very cozy and lovely mystery that leaves me wanting more.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be released….so much fun!!
Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries by Tonya Kappes is the first tale in A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series. Mae West’s (not the actress) life has been turned upside down. Her husband, Paul duped people into investing in his Ponzi scheme and Mae did not know until the FBI showed up at their house. She has lost her home, car and possessions. Her attorney, after he takes her car keys, states that there are two items that she owns and one of them could help her earn a living. For some reason, Paul put an RV and the Happy Trails Campground in Normal, Kentucky in Mae’s name. With no other options, Mae hops into her new home on wheels and heads for Normal. The brochure shows a beautiful campground on a lake and Mae could use a vacation before making plans for her future. Mae arrives at Happy Trails and discovers that the brochure was printed twenty years ago. Mae is surprised to find out that the residents of Happy Trails and Normal were also victims of Paul’s nefarious schemes. Mae does not think life can get worse, but then she is approached by Detective Hank Sharp (local FBI agent and park ranger). Paul has escaped from prison and his body has been found floating in Happy Trails gunky lake (covered in green slime). Mae, of course, is at the top of the suspect list, but there is a town full of alternatives. She sets out to find the Paul’s killer as well as revitalize Happy Trails. She will need help and the ladies of The Laundry Club are happy to assist. Come along to Normal, Kentucky where life is happily never normal.
Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries was a delight to read. I found it well-written and entertaining. It has a nice steady pace throughout the whole book. Mae West is an interesting and likeable main character. She would rather wallow in her new home, but she is lacking in clean laundry. That is how Mae meets the Laundry Club ladies whose stories make Mae wants to help those taken advantage of by Paul. Mae, though, is lacking in the life skills department (laundry, cleaning, cooking, how to use a Keurig). It is a good thing she met Dottie and the other ladies of The Laundry Club are willing to help Mae. The ladies warm up to Mae and set out to help her fix up Happy Trails. The town has a group of diverse characters and shops. I loved Happy Trails and the residents. I like how they come together for dinner and I had not heard of iron skillet smores before this book. There is a hint of romance in the story (a little flirting or interest expressed). I am happy the author did not rush Mae into a relationship. The mystery was straightforward, and I thought the killer stood out like a dog sitting in the middle of a group of cats. My rating for Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries is 4 out of 5 stars. Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries is an amusing story and I am keen to read Deserts, Driving, and Derelicts.
Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries
A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery, Book #1
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!
Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars.
Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn’t lost. . .the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn’t seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky and an RV to live in. One problem, Mae’s idea of camping has room service.
By the look of the brochure, Happy Trails has plush Kentucky Bluegrass, a crystal clear lake, a beach chair with her name on it and thoughts of how much money it could bring her after she sells it. Mae figures she’ll take a couple weeks vacation with her toes dipped in the lake. Things aren’t always as they appear. The Kentucky Bluegrass is nothing but dirt and the crystal clue lake is murky with green slime on top.
Mae quickly find out that Happy Trails and the citizens of Normal were also victims of Paul’s schemes, making her lower than tha lake scum in the residents’ eyes. Mae doesn’t think things could get much worse, but as luck would have it, Paul West has escaped from prison and is found dead, murdered, floating in the Happy Trails mucky green lake.
Mae is the number one suspect on Detective Hank Sharp’s short list. After all, Mae has the perfect motive as a kept wife who has been scorned to ashes, embarrassed to death, and seeking revenge.
Time is running out for Mae to prove that she’s innocent and nothing like her husband. If only she could get someone to believe her and talk Detective Sharp into looking at other residents who’ve lost all their savings to Paul’s Ponzie scheme before the curtain is closed on this Hollywood namesake. (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. Although Mae led a pampered life before her husband’s crimes came to light, she is made of strong stuff. She may be down but she is not out. She is willing to do whatever it takes to make things right with the people that her husband scammed. I really enjoyed getting to know the Laundry Club girls, especially Queenie. They were all quirky characters and were very funny. And there is even a potential romantic interest for Mae.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and while I was reading I could picture in my mind the campground in all of it’s disrepair. Her descriptions and characters pulled me in right from the beginning and took me on a great ride.
The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a steady pace. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and I was surprised at who the culprit was. I like when that happens.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. In fact, all of the series that I have read by this author I have greatly enjoyed. I am looking forward to reading the next book when it is published.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
What a witty, fun new cozy mystery series! Mae West — not the ‘come up and see me sometime’ one, it’s a family name and married name; had the rug pulled out from under her. The posh luxury life she lived has become her past, and her current life is one of being broke and homeless. Her ex-husband, Paul, was arrested by the FBI for scamming millions of dollars from people. Mae’s lawyer, throws her a lifeline, keys to a yellow RV, which is her new home and car! Also, Mae is the new owner of a campground, Happy Trails, located in Normal, Kentucky.
Mae sets out for Kentucky, with a plan to sell the campground. But when she arrives at Happy Trails, it looks nothing like the brochure and the townspeople aren’t very happy to see her, since Paul schemed them out of their money. Mae befriends a few people, and is determined to fix the campground up and right the wrongs done to the good people of Normal. With a little help from her friends, Mae plans to organize a fundraiser. If Mae’s luck couldn’t get any worse, Paul escapes from prison, where his body is later found in the Happy Trails lake. He was murdered, and Mae is the prime suspect.
A wonderful start to a new series!
This book was a good solid read. I’d totally try another future book by this author!
You can check out my booktube video review at https://youtu.be/wkHUDBwAgmY
or read my review on my blog at https://lisasiefert.com/cozy-escape-book-club-chat-beaches-bungalows-and-burglaries-by-tonya-kappes-a-camper-criminals-cozy-mystery/
what a great start to what looks to be a wonderful series. I appreciate when there are recurring characters but still standalone stories. This is a town that I would love to visit and maybe even settle in as they sure do have fun, along with a few dead bodies and mysteries.
I listened to this on audio books. It was a cute story. A couple things though, there were no bungalows nor beaches. And the actual murder/s seemed to take a back seat to the rest of the story. It still was a fun listen though.
Who knew that camping could be so enjoyable and dangerous at the same time? This is definitely a case of new beginnings, making lemonade out of lemons, mixed with a healthy dose of mystery. I enjoyed trying to figure out who was/were the bad guy(s). This promises to be a good series. This book was a good brain teaser after some pretty heavy reading. A must read!
I love Southern storytelling and this cozy mystery was great! Many funny moments, fresh air and sunshine setting, compassionate characters, and a small town atmosphere with typical small town gossips. I had no clue who the killer was until the reveal. Great debut!
Just a great read. Highly recommend it!
What a fun book!!