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! When the principal of Normal High School asks Mae West to teach a semester on small town economics, … economics, since she helped bring the thriving economy in Normal, Kentucky when she used her brilliant ideas to bring the Happy Trails Campground back to life, Mae is thrilled and happy to teach the young people.
But when a fellow teacher and archery Coach Roger Carlson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in one of Happy Trails Campground campers with an arrow sticking out of his back, it puts a damper on the thriving campground when tourists cancel their reservations and Mae’s excitement to teach.
Mae’s hankering to snoop into the coach’s private life and find out exactly why he was renting a camper in Happy Trails and not living at home with his young wife. Her efforts don’t leave her short on suspects. Especially, since Mae uncovered many unhappy parents who had relied on an archery scholarship and perfect ACT scores as their child’s ticket to get out of Normal and go to college.
Mae has to be careful or she just might find an arrow with her name written on it.
more
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
I just love this series!! Each new installment is even better then the last which always seems impossible when I love each one so much yet Kappes manages to do it none the less. This time Mae is being honored by being given the key to the city. The celebration party is going great until she manages to stumble across yet another dead body in one of her campers. This makes business terrible so she along with her friends start looking into things asking questions until things start to spiral out of control. Fantastically written in such a way that really brings the Southern charm to life. Perfect for fans of cozies. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
I can’t get enough of this series! Ms Kappes has done a wonderful job creating a small town that mainly relies on tourist to keep it thriving. She formed a tight group of unique ladies who call themselves The Laundry Club. In the first book we met the main character and narrator, Mae West. She inherited Happy Trails, a run down campground in Normal, Kentucky located in the Daniel Boone National Park. People in Normal weren’t too happy to have her but she turned the campground around and won the hearts of the town’s people along with the Key to the City. There are lots of things going on, a number of murders and a lot of character driven world building in this series. You don’t have to read each book in order but for full enjoyment, I recommend that you do. The books are fast paced so you will catch up before you know it.
In this book, along with the key to the city, (an honor she shares with a certain pushy reporter), Mae is given the opportunity to conduct a six week class on economics and how she turned around the campground. She is excited and honored with this opportunity, but can she make an impact on the students? She grew up in Kentucky, a Commonwealth that hasn’t had much to offer since farming has been cut down and mines are shutting down. She knows what it is like to be in high school facing slim opportunities for the future unless you leave. Which is exactly what she had done only to return, where she became a success story. She knows she can do this but then she finds the dead body of a teacher/coach in one of her rental trailers. Now the body count is rising and the lead investigator is agreeing she can be “eyes and ears” at the school for him, not to mention there seems to be a possibility of some love competition!
The story is intriguing and fast paced. It is easy to get lost in the book and want to finish it in one sitting. It is possible to do this as time flies when you’re having fun. The mystery gets wrapped up in each book. There are background storylines that continue book to book. They aren’t so big, though, that you can’t follow the story if you haven’t read them all. Each book is written in a way that allows you to join in reading it regardless of the number of previous books and whether or not you read them all. My preference is to read them in order.
There are also camping hacks, tips and recipes at the end of each book. I normally try one or two before I write the review. This time I didn’t have ingredients on hand to whip one up and enjoy while reading. I do plan to make the cookies this week and possibly the chili. The pizza recipe is intriguing as I would love to make pizza outdoors!
I received an electronic ARC of the book. I voluntarily reviewed it because I love sharing book news and talking about books. Because it was an ARC some changes may be made with the official release of the book. I enjoyed this book and plan to purchase a copy of it to add to my series collection. I do recommend the book as well as the series.
This story had a more serious side as a camper/teacher is murderd. Mae gets a key to the city. Hank gets more serious and she meets his parents and sister. And she nearly gets killed! Of course the laundry ladies are involved. An enjoyable listen.
I have been devouring this series as fast as I can get my hands on a new release! The setting is “Normal Kentucky” a small town that mainly relies on tourism to keep it going, and the series starts with Mae arriving in Normal to find she owns a rundown campground. She starts revitalizing the Happy Trails campground with the help of the “Laundry Club” plus the towns people thus improving the economy of Normal by bringing hikers and nature enthusiasts to the area.
In this installment Mae is receiving the key to Normal for her help in improving the economy along with a pesky reporter and Mae is given the opportunity to conduct a six week class on economics and how she turned around the campground at the local High School but after the ceremony Mae finds a guest murdered in one of the rental trailers. With everyone canceling their reservations at her campground, she needs to find the killer and fast. With the body count rising the lead Detective Hank Sharp agrees she can be the “eyes and ears” at the school for him. Will Mae and the Laundry Club figure it out in time to stop someone else getting hurt or worse…
The story is well written, intriguing and fast paced. It is easy to get lost in Tonya’s books and I almost always want to finish them in one sitting. The nice thing is you don’t have to read each book in order but for full enjoyment, I recommend that you do.
There are also camping hacks, tips and recipes at the end of each book which I pass onto my friends that RV.
I really enjoyed this latest installment and highly recommend to all my cozy mystery loving friends.
I received an electronic ARC of the book and plan on ordering a paperback version. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Another fun book by Tonya Kappes. School personnel are being murdered by arrows in this book. Fun and intriguing as Mae and her friends investigate. Love this little town and the group of friends. It would be so fun to visit with them! Looking forward to the next book and what’s next for Mae and her friends as well as her relationship with Hank!
Mae is doing very well until someone dies in a camper at her campground. As she tries to keep her boyfriend, Hank happy she and her friends put their snooping skills together to help Hank solve the case. Great characters, cozy friendships, and karaoke can be found in this story where Normal, Kentucky is anything but normal.
Canyons, Caravans, & Cadavers” earns 5/5 Southern Delights…Clever and Entertaining!
I am a member of Tonya “Kappes Krew,” a long-time fan of her magical, caffeinated, and ghost whispering books, and a new fan of her Camper & Criminals Mystery series. After having just finished an excellent, but nail-biting and draining crime thriller, it was a nice change of pace to read a true cozy. The covers of these six books are so delightful and creative and definitely the precursor to a delightful and creative series.
Tonya Kappes goes beyond the traditional cozy formula by adding her own southern flair that brings humor, quirky characters, small town life, and always a clever mystery to solve. Mae West (cute name fits her fun personality) is pleased receiving recognition for her success with her campground and it’s impact on the small town Normal, Kentucky, and very excited to be asked to bring her expertise and experience into the high school classroom. Her eagerness to impart her knowledge to the next generation is overshadowed by the discovery of teacher/archery coach in one of the campers at her campground, of course, with an arrow in his back! This find is effecting her successful business, so using her amateur detective skills to find the killer is now imperative, but not without the support of her boyfriend/sheriff and, my favorite, the Laundry Club ladies. Hooked! Using an engaging first-person narrative from Mae’s perspective, Tonya always has a few twists that challenge your own detective abilities, which it did mine, vivid descriptions, and entertaining banter. The victim isn’t so innocent as the many suspects from his wife to students to their parents will attest, and along with more victims, Mae deals with drama at the campground and her boyfriend and his family. Quite the entertaining page-turner!
Tonya also provides some fun extras: “Recipes and Cleaning Hacks From Mae West and Other Women From Normal, Kentucky, and Happy Trails. Campground.” I enjoyed the three clever RV Hacks (Grippy Rubber Mats, Badge Holder Clips, and Get Lots of Vinegar cleaners) and especially the easy-to-follow recipes (Spring Lemon Drops, Coach’s Campfire Chili, and Coach’s Campfire Pizza).
Canyons, Caravans & Cadavers
A Camper & Criminals Cozy, Book #6
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!
When the principal of Normal High School asks Mae West to teach a semester on small town economics, since she helped bring the thriving economy in Normal, Kentucky when she used her brilliant ideas to bring the Happy Trails Campground back to life, Mae is thrilled and happy to teach the young people.
But when a fellow teacher and archery Coach Roger Carlson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in one of Happy Trails Campground campers with an arrow sticking out of his back, it puts a damper on the thriving campground when tourists cancel their reservations and Mae’s excitement to teach.
Mae’s hankering to snoop into the coach’s private life and find out exactly why he was renting a camper in Happy Trails and not living at home with his young wife. Her efforts don’t leave her short on suspects. Especially, since Mae uncovered many unhappy parents who had relied on an archery scholarship as their child’s ticket to get out of Normal and go to college.
Mae has to be careful or she just might find an arrow with her name written on it. (Goodreads)
Review:
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The style allowed me to get a better insight into the characters and their actions. With the author’s descriptive writing, I was pulled right into the story and I was taken on a grand adventure. I felt like I was right there listening in on conversations and watching all of the action taking place at the campgrounds.
The characters are well developed and well rounded. I find Mae and her friends to be very funny and quirky and I really enjoy getting to spend time with them. They all appear to be Southern sweet and genteel, but do not cross them, you will be sorry if you do! I enjoyed getting to learn a little more about Hank’s family, who is Mae’s boyfriend.
The mystery is well plotted and moves along at a nice pace. With more than one murder to solve, it is not easy to figure out the culprit. There were plenty of suspects to consider and clues to sift through.
I really enjoy this series and this book did not disappoint. I would recommend that you check out the whole series, you will be glad that you did.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book and provided my honest review.
It is always a delight to visit Normal, Kentucky with its charming shops and quirky residents. Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers is the sixth book in A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series. I suggest that you read the series in order. It will give you a better understanding of Mae, her friends, the campground and the town. Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers contains good writing and a snappy pace. Mae West is quite a character (starting with her name). She loves her trailer, her friends, boyfriend and her dog, Fifi. Mae is happy that she has been able to turn Happy Trails into a thriving enterprise and it has helped improve the town’s economy. The last thing she expected is a key to the city and an opportunity to teach economics at the high school. The murder of Scott Goodman is threatening her livelihood and that of her friends. Mae and her close group of friends (called the Laundry Club) are quick to gather together and form a plan. Mae and her friends never fail to entertain. I like that they have such a close friendship. There are three murders in the book which is not good for tourism and Violet, of course, is reporting all the details in the Normal Gazette. There is active investigating with Hank repeatedly telling Mae to quit (she is not going to listen, but he wants to keep her safe). The mystery is clever, and I believe some readers will be surprised when the solution is revealed. I enjoy the descriptions of the picturesque Normal. The Laundry Club sounds like a cozy establishment. I would love to work on a puzzle there and catch up with friends while doing my laundry. I had to laugh when the ladies discussed getting detective licenses (Hank would have a fit). The beauty shop, Cute-icles sounded unique (poor Mae ended up with an unfortunate nail polish color). Tonya Kappes conversational writing style along with her friendly characters and attractive town will keep you riveted until the very last word. Do not miss out on Mae’s latest adventure in Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers.
I love Mae West and the rest of the Laundry Club ladies! It seems like there is never a dull moment in Normal, Kentucky and Mae always finds herself in the middle of whatever is going on. I love her sense of duty to the people of Normal and her Happy Trails Campground. This time Mae is teaching a class at Normal High School about local business and how she has helped improve the economy in the town since she has moved there. And she is also helping to investigate a murder along with the help of the Laundry Club ladies. I love how they all come together to help each other using their talents to help solve the crime. This is a fun series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Kappes Review Krew. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Canyons, Caravans & Cadavers by Tonya Kappes was another fun visit to Normal, KY. Mae West and The Laundry Club must once again hunt for a killer that seems to be hunting at the local high school. Ms. Kappes’ descriptive writing always draws me into the story. I love the close friendships among the ladies of The Laundry Club and each one of the ladies, Betts, Queenie, Abby and Dottie, are likable and just a little quirky which makes me love each one of them. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Mae’s boyfriend, Hank Sharp, and his family.
The plot was quickly paced with three murders that must be solved as Normal’s thriving tourist revenue is drying up with these unsolved murders. There were plenty of twists, several suspects and a reveal that had me on the edge of my seat. I always look forward to the next book in this clean, cozy series and was not disappointed.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
Canyons, Caravans, and Cadavers is the 6th book in this series by Tonya Kappes. I love catching up with Mae, Hank and the Laundry Girls. In this book Mae is honored by the city, given a golden key to the city and given a chance to teach at the High School for 6 weeks in the economics class. A murder happens at the campground right after the ceremony and Mae starts loosing customers almost immediately. To keep from loosing her business she feels she must help Hank and the police determine who the killer is. Before too much headway in the case is made another murder takes place!
Mae and the Girls must hurry before another murder takes place.
As always this is an entertaining read with lots of interesting characters and drool worthy recipes.
I received an ARC for my honest review.
Mae gets the key to the ‘city’ of Normal Kentucky for all the economic growth she has done for the city. She is also asked to mentor a six week class in economics at the high school. Of course her least favorite person, Violet Rhinhammer also gets a key and asked to mentor a six week class at the high school also, in journalism. Everyone goes out to Happy Trails Campground for the celebration dinner. Scoot Goodman, the economics teacher at the high school is renting out a camper from Mae. He is also the coach of the archery and rifle club. There is some upset parents and students upset with him on possible scholarships and grades. Later that evening Mae and Fifi go to his camper and find him laying on the floor with an arrow in his back! It is a Genesis Bow, the only one approved by the National Archery in Schools Program. Could one of the students be a killer? Mae also meets Hank’s family, which other than his grandmother, Agnes, things did not go well at all! Especially with Hank’s sister, Ellis! When the high school janitor is also found killed by an arrow like Goodman, there is another clue that others don’t know about. Mae found them both, and even Hank asks her to ‘be a detective’ at the school and see what she can find out. She enlists the Laundry Club ladies and things really get rocking and a rolling! Can they find the real killer and why? You will have to read the story to find out the who and the why.This story was so good I read it in only two days, would have been one, but I had to go to sleep at night. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
That Mae West sure gets into her share of trouble! Just as she’s acknowledged for her part in bolstering the economy of the town of Normal and basking in a little glory, she finds a dead body in one of the vintage camper rentals in her campground. Quickly following are two more murders, bringing cancellations in the campground and tourism in town to an all time low. Does it have to do with the school in town where all three victims were employed? Can Mae get away with investigating without making her detective boyfriend angry? You’ll have to read to find out! A consistently good series and I look forward to each new release!
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries then you can’t go wrong with books written by Tonya Kappes. When the story takes place at Happy Trails Campground in Normal, Kentucky then you will never be disappointed.
Mae West is her name and she, along with her friends the laundry club ladies, are solving mysteries. Fun series filled with southern charm and sass…highly recommend.
Welcome back to Normal, Kentucky. How I love it here. This is one of my favorite series and this latest installment is fantastic! Mae received the key to the city of Normal, and she “gets” to teach Economics to the local high school students for six weeks. While teaching, Mae stumbles across the body of the Economics teacher in one of her campers. OH NO! This results in people cancelling their reservations at the campground. Mae and her friends at the Laundry Club are on the case!
This fast moving cozy, has incredible twists and turns. I love the laundry club and how much they love and support each other. I love reading about wonderful friendships , especially in this fun small town.
Highly recommend this book and this series.
I voluntarily agreed to read an ARC of this book.
I have fun reading Tonya Kappes and this book was no exception. Enjoyable.
Mae and friends are on the job again hunting down clues to give the police. They do a great job. I love how close these ladies are. Their friendship really makes this series extra special. Nice addition with Violet helping this time. I love the campground setting and there is nothing normal about the town of Normal. Very fast paced. It was over so quick. Nice insight into Hank’s family and the ending leads us to believe there will be lots of interesting things ahead for Mae. Can’t wait. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Mae West received the key to the city of Normal, Kentucky, as part of her awards she gets to teach Economics to the local high school students for six weeks. When Mae finds the body of the Economics teacher in one of her campers, people start to cancel their reservations for the campgrounds. Mae decides the only way to prove her campground is safe and bring business to Normal is that she and the Launrdy Club Girls find out who the killer is.
This is one of my favorite series by far and with each book I have a new favorite. The book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery but character backstories are better understood if you have read the other books in the series. This is a fast-paced cozy mystery with several twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. The setting of a small southern town gives you a home town feeling especially if you are from a small town. The characters are quirky and fun with loads of southern charm. You like cozies with humor you’re going to love this book. For the camping enthusiast, there are camping hacks and recipes included.’
I voluntarily agreed to read an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
Another thrill ride with Mae and her friends. The plot twists and turns kept me engrossed, and I love the flow and fast pace of this book. Tonya Kappes knows how to write great books that have a little bit of everything. I didn’t know who the killer was until it was revealed. There are tips and recipes at the end of the book that are wonderful. I received an ARC of this book.