Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, where nothin’ is normal! Mae West is getting settled into the RV lifestyle as the owner of a campground in Normal, Kentucky. Happy Trails Campground, located in Daniel Boone National Park, has started to attract late summer vacationing families who love to hike, swim, fish, and enjoy being outdoors.Betts Hager, owner of several small businesses, is swamped with work … swamped with work and desperate for help with her cleaning business. Mae offers her services, happy about the prospect of a little extra cash. Heiress Tammy Jo Bentley’s mansion is the first one on her schedule.
Mae makes sure Tammy Jo’s house is spotless because the Kentucky Kennel Association’s annual meeting is going to be held at the mansion. Fifi, Tammy Jo’s high pedigree, insured poodle, is going to be on display and Tammy Jo will be evaluating potential suitors to sire Fifi’s offspring.
Before the annual meeting, Camille Braun, Fifi’s nanny, is stabbed to death. Everyone knows that Camille would put her life on the line or lay down her life for Fifi and, apparently, she did.
Mae tries her best to stay out of it. Tammy Jo begs Mae to help her; after all, she did find the last killer in Normal. Plus, it’s not good for business – or Normal’s revived economy – when a murderer is on the loose.
Mae has grown to love her RV community and now that she’s found a place to call him, she’s not going to let anybody ruin it. Mae throws all of her heart and amateur sleuthing skills into bringing the real killer to justice.
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I listened to this book and it was funny! The narrator was great. Southern women have a lot of charm and Mae West knows how to use it to solve murder mysteries in Normal, Kentucky. The story around the Kentucky Kennel Association, spunky Fifi and her wild side love affair with George, and all the secondary characters was a hot. I’m quite partial to Dotty and enjoy her interactions with her friends and the townspeople. I did not guess the murderer and had an ‘oh’ moment. Looking forward to more from Mae and friends.
Oh how I enjoyed returning to the world of Mae West. We jump right back into the quirky little world of Happy Trails Campground and Normal, KY. We meet more interesting characters and then *gasp* one of them is found murdered! Of course, Mae West is an amateur sleuth who notices all of the things and ends up in the middle of it all just like she is in the middle of two men who may be suffering some dejavu on a crazy level! I enjoyed this more than the first and want more.
There really isn’t anything normal in Normal. There wasn’t anything normal about how that woman treated that dog. no, no, no. Poor Mae, it finally seems like things are going good and then a blast not only from her past but Ty’s too. I don’t know what to think about Hank showing up at the end but I don’t think it’s anything more than friendship on Maes end. (I really hope).
This is the second book in the “A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series” and I loved listening to the audiobook about Mae West, owner of the Happy Trails Camp Ground in Daniel Boone National Park and the Laundry Club Ladies (known as gossip sessions). The all get involved in a murder of a local person in Normal, Kentucky and there is comedy, suspense and a little romance.
Did Bobby Ray kill the dog nanny?
Deserts Driving and Derelicts by Tonya Kappes takes place during an Indian summer in Kentucky. Mae has a lot to deal with in this book. Not only with her foster brother coming to town but now she has to take care of a poodle and run her campground.
What I like:
• Written in the first-person with Mae West, our sleuth, being the narrator. I enjoy getting inside Mae’s head and seeing how she figures things out, especially when it comes to the mystery. Even with both of us throwing around theories to figure it out. Yep, I talk to her like she is telling me everything.
• I still like that the main character runs her own campground and is in the process of fixing it up. Everything that Mae is doing to the camp is something that I love and can’t wait to see how she does it.
• Mae is trying to get her first date with Ty in this installment, and it’s interesting to see the rivalry between him and Hank.
• She is trying her hardest to keep the campgrounds going strong and now that she has a dog to take care of this will be fun to see how that works in the upcoming books.
What I don’t like:
The one thing that I didn’t like was that I didn’t figure out who the killer was, but I did get the thief correct. I totally missed the clues for the killer, and there are lots of red herrings.
Five Star
Deserts Driving and Derelicts by Tonya Kappes is the second book in this marvelous southern cozy mystery series. I can’t wait to go on my next adventure with Mae. I love this series because Mae is like a friend that makes sure you aren’t bored while hanging out. I am giving it a five-star rating and recommending it to anyone that likes cozy mysteries.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Deserts Driving and Derelicts by Tonya Kappes.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
Happy Reading!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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This is the second book of a wonderful series. They should be read in order, since the second book adds more detailed background on friends in Mae’s life.
Mae West is settling into her new home Normal, Kentucky, and her campground is thriving. After giving an interview that will be printed in a magazine, Mae gets a surprise visit from an old friend, Bobby Ray Bond, who helped her out years back. Despite Dottie’s protesting, Mae sets Bobby up with a place to stay. Bobby feels he’s the guy to take care of Mae, while Mae is wondering how long Bobby will stay!
When Mae agrees to lend a hand to her friend Betts, she finds herself in a dilemma involving a murder, the owner in jail, and the caregiver to one pampered dog. Once again, Mae finds herself digging up clues to catch a killer and return the pampered dog back to its owner.
I laughed out loud over the name of the dog grooming business, Smelly Dog; the description where Mae has to use a plunger claiming she and the plunger were in the fight of their lives, and the description of Mae’s Medusa hair bouncing around. I loved the antics of the pampered dog.
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun, entertaining read. I’ve never visited a campground before, but this book kind of makes me want to. The story was interesting, and the characters were fun. I especially loved the dog. I look forward to visiting Normal, Kentucky again soon.
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 4
Performance – 5
Story – 4
Another cute story!
I’m really enjoying listening to this series. It’s fun and easy to listen to so I don’t have to concentrate on it real hard but can still keep track of what is going on. I’m really picky about female narrators and thoroughly enjoyed Johanna Parker’s performance of this story.
Mae West once again finds herself in the midst of a murder. She’s also been helping out a friend by taking on some cleaning chores – including the police station. She’s convinced that the woman in jail for the murder is innocent and she’s determined to help her out.
This is proving to be an entertaining series and I plan to keep listening to the books.
Loved it! See review on Amazon.
This is such a fun series! This book was quick and lighthearted. I am really enjoying Mae and the rest of Normal, Kentucky. I’m a little wary of the love triangle but it’s not bothering me too much. I’m excited to continue with the series!
Mae is just trying to help out Betts by cleaning a house while Betts is busy. When a dog nanny turns up dead and a valuable watch is missing, the homeowner is accused and Mae ends up babysitting a very spoiled dog. Mae’s foster brother also shows up to add some more spice to the mix. Mae tries to help the homeowner, but she isn’t telling everything and then her foster brother is caught with the watch. He isn’t a murderer, is he? She hasn’t seen him for years, but she knows he didn’t do this. Can she prove who really murdered the dog nanny and took the watch?
This second book in the series did not disappoint. It could be read as a stand alone or straight through without losing much to the story. In this book, Mae West is caught up in another murder and again follows the investigation while being a suspect in the case. The reader is introduced to a few new characters and becomes reaquainted with characters from Book 1.
Another fun book from Tonya Kappes. Mae West is settling into life in Normal, Kentucky, when a man from her past arrives at Happy Trails to visit her. Her friend and former foster brother, Bobby Ray, is a little worse for wear and Mae takes him in and wants to help him. Mae also decides to help our her friend Betts Hager by filling in for her with some of her cleaning clients. With a few new characters, this book was a great addition to this series. I love the quick escape to Normal, Kentucky and Happy Trails when I read these books.
Another fun book to read to hear more about Normal, KY and it’s quirky inhabitants!!!
Love reading Tonya Kappes books. The camper series in Normal, KY is especially fun. Her books take you away to a magical place. All of her books have been fantastic and I have enjoyed reading every one. Always looking forward to a new book written by Tonya. You will love her stories and her wit and her great southern charm. This book centers around the camp ground owned by Mae West, yes that is her real name. Mae has made friends with so many of the citizens in Normal, KY that it is a pleasure to see how she interacts with them. This story had humor and mystery and a touch of man mystery. You will be glad you read this book.
I really enjoyed the next book in the A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series.
Tonya’s humor shines through and keeps your guessing- excellent clues
One day Bobby Ray, an old down on his luck friend, shows up at the campsite owned by Mae. When he is accused of stealing an antique pocket watch from a crazy rich lady and killing her vet, Mae tries to figure out who actually did it in order to help her friend. So, Mae tries to run her camp, help her friend, dog sit a rich woman’s dog and try to find a murderer. This is a humorous mystery and fun to read
Another great read from Tonya. The things Mae West doesn’t get herself into! Who’s it gonna be, Mae, Ty or Hank?
I love this book! Everything about this book is wonderful. I love the characters, the campground setting and the mystery. The book is so fun to read. It is detailed and well written so that I can just picture the campground. I love this series and can’t wait to read the next book.
I loved the second in this series as much as the first. What is not to love? A unique setting, lovable characters and a plot that keeps you guessing.
Mae is helping clean houses for her friend who is taking care of the boys of a friend who is injured. Mae meets a poodle who’s owner is a bit eccentric, she has a nanny for her prized pooch and keeps the dog on a strict schedule. When the nanny ends up dead, Mae ends up being drawn into investigating to try and get her life back to normal. Add an old friend that she tries to help because he helped her years ago, a possible loved one coming back to town and this story keeps you turning the pages.
I will continue on with this series.