“A Southern-fried mystery with a twist that’ll leave you positively breathless.” – Susan M. Boyer, USA Today Bestselling Author of Lowcountry Book ClubKenni Lowry likes to think the zero crime rate in Cottonwood, Kentucky is due to her being sheriff, but she quickly discovers the ghost of her grandfather, the town’s previous sheriff, has been scaring off any would-be criminals since she was … she was elected. When the town’s most beloved doctor is found murdered on the very same day as a jewelry store robbery, and a mysterious symbol ties the crime scenes together, Kenni must satisfy her hankerin’ for justice by nabbing the culprits.
With the help of her poppa, a lone deputy, and an annoyingly cute, too-big-for-his-britches State Reserve officer, Kenni must solve both cases and prove to the whole town, and herself, that she’s worth her salt before time runs out.
“This story offers up a small touch of paranormal activity that makes for a fun read…A definite “5-star,” this is a great mystery that doesn’t give up the culprit until the last few pages.” – Suspense Magazine
“Packed with clever plot twists, entertaining characters, and plenty of red herrings! Fixin’ To Die is a rollicking, delightful, down-home mystery.” – Ann Charles, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Deadwood Mystery Series
“Kappes captures the charm and quirky characters of small-town Kentucky in her new mystery…a charming, funny story with exaggerated characters. The dialect-filled quirky sayings and comments bring those characters to life. Best of all, for a mystery reader, the culprit was an unlikely suspect, but the solution made sense.” – Lesa’s Book Critiques
“Southern and side-splitting funny! Fixin’ To Die has captivating characters, nosy neighbors, and is served up with a ghost and a side of murder.” – Duffy Brown, Author of the Consignment Shop Mysteries
“This first book in a new series promises to be fun for both cozy mystery buffs and ghost aficionados.” – For The Love of Books
“The who and why may surprise you, but you’ll probably laugh your way through the book. If you’ve never read a Tonya Kappes book, this is a perfect starting place. I highly recommend.” – Book Review Crew
Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), humorous murder mysteries, book club recommendations, amateur sleuth books, Southern humor, small town, paranormal mysteries.
Books in the Kenni Lowry Mystery Series:
FIXIN’ TO DIE (#1)
SOUTHERN FRIED (#2)
Part of the Henery Press Mystery Series Collection, if you like one, you’ll probably like them all…
more
Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres and I’m always excited to start a new series.
Having read Tonya’s Ghostly Southern Mystery series and started on her Laurel London series, I knew I’d be reading more of her books. She has so many different ones too. Check them out. I bet you’ll find some you want to read.
Kenni Lowry follows in her grandfather’s footsteps and gets elected as sheriff in the small town of Cottonwood, Kentucky. Crime has been nearly non-existent, until the local doctor is found murdered.
With re-election coming up fast, Kenni has got to prove to her voters that she can do her job, and do it quickly and to their satisfaction.
And that’s Just one part of this story.
Everywhere Kenni goes, it seems someone is urging her to go see her mother. Not something Kenni is looking forward to. They used to have an easy, close relationship. That is, until Kenni took the job of Sherriff. Her mother thinks it’s no fitting job for an eligible single woman and makes her point every chance she gets. Kenni doesn’t want to deal with the aggravation and you can see where that is going.
Kenni’s also hearing things. A voice no one else hears. It has a familiar ring to it. And when she’s doubting herself and her capabilities to handle a murder investigation, that voice supports her with simple advice. I kept waiting for Kenni to accept that the voice was her long dead Poppa. That he’d come back from beyond to help her. Once she finally did, the story got even more fun.
Kenni is easy to like. She’s funny and outgoing, with just enough tough stuff to make you want to vote for her. I could see her navigating the town in her old jeep, her dog’s head hanging out the window, ears and jowls flapping in the breeze, cruising for trouble and dodging her mother.
Kenni has even more reason to avoid her mother now that there’s a possibility of romance. Boyfriend material is slim to none in the small town until help in the investigation arrives in the guise of the handsome, tall, drink of water, Officer Finn Vincent. He’s on loan to Kenni until she gets a new deputy, and I think he’s a perfect fit for her, as does her mother. Lots of fun with that. The scene with the towel full of holes in all the wrong places was too funny.
I also loved how genuine the small town felt. Like how Luke shows movies in his basement, using a sheet for a screen. I live in a small town and we sometimes have movies projected onto a large screen in the park. Everyone brings blankets or chairs and settles in. Doesn’t matter what the movie was, though I liked some that Luke was showing.
I hope you get a chance to read Fixin’ To Die. You’ll get in on a brand new series from the beginning and probably snort and giggle here and there as you get to know these characters up close personal like.
This is a quirky, funny, full of surprises,book with great unexpected plots that all add up to a wonderful mystery with a surprising ending. If you love a great mystery, with many viable suspects, a surprise ending and you love a little romance thrown in with the paranormal you will want to read this book. Remember to give yourself the time to read because once you start you will have a hard time putting it down.
For the past two years, the town of Cottonwood, Kentucky, has been relatively crime-free, and Sheriff Kendrick “Kenni” Lowry would like to think that she is somewhat responsible. And, she is, but not for the reason she thinks. When the peaceful streak is broken by the murder of the beloved hometown doctor and the jewelry store is burglarized on the same day, she discovers that the ghost of the former sheriff, her own grandfather, has been scaring off any would-be criminals from his side of “the veil.”
As Kenni, with the help of Kentucky Reserve Officer Finn Vincent, and local characters, jailer Wyatt Granger and Sterling Stinnett, investigates the two major crimes, she tries to come to terms with the ghostly presence of her “Poppa” as well as prove to herself, her doubting parents, and her town that she can handle the position to which she’s been elected. Long-hidden secrets are uncovered and Kenni finds out that even in a town where everyone knows everyone else’s business not everything is as it appears.
“Fixin’ to Die” is the first book in Tonya Kappes’ “Kenni Lowry Mystery” series. Kenni is so very likeable and human – the girl next door – dealing with a job, family, friends, and a single life. I liked that she starts with some self-doubt and gains confidence as the investigation goes on. She follows her leads which send her in the wrong direction at times. This was a fun story and a good series debut. I recommend this book to cozy mystery readers that don’t mind a touch of the paranormal in the story.
Kenni is the sheriff of Cottonwood Kentucky. There is zero crime, but weird townspeople. Then, out of the blue the small town’s doctor is killed in a cruel way. Kenni’s dead grandfather’s ghost, the old sheriff, comes back to help her solve the case. She starts to suspect that the perfect suspect might actually be getting set up. Townspeople have secrets and want to keep them hidden. This is a sweet Southern mystery.
I loved this book. Kenni Lowry has been the sheriff of Cottonwood, Ky. for two years and hasn’t had any crimes committed. Suddenly she finds herself with a murder and a robbery all in the same day.
This book has plenty of action and is filled with quirky characters. I found that I could not put it down. I can’t wait to read more!
Tonya Kappes’s new series will delight readers with its small Southern KY town setting. The murder-robbery mystery is masterful, while the eccentric characters satisfy romance fans. I read a NetGalley review copy. I recommend this to both romance and mystery fans.
love this witty mystery with a little romance
Great characters. I loved it. Looking forward to the rest of her books.
I enjoyed this start to a new series very much. Kenni is the sheriff of town and has had no crime until the murder of the doctor and then a jewelry store theft happen and seem to tie together. Kenni has her hands full and a detective from the state is sent in to help. As an added bonus her grandfather steps in to help, however since he is dead this is a bit of a surprise.
The characters are likable Kenni is strong and intelligent with insecurities that she battles. The mystery was excellent it kept me guessing. I will definitely continue on with this series.
This was such an enjoyable southern mystery. The characters and the town are charming. It had me chuckling through it all. But it was also a well written mystery with plenty of possibilities as to whodunit that take you right up to the very end. I’m looking forward to reading more about Kenni, Poppa and seeing what happens with Finn.
I really enjoyed Fixin To Die the first book in the Kenni Lowry Mystery Series by Tonya Kappes. This book is full of small town southern charm. Tonya keeps you guessing with just enough red-herrings and plot twist. Kenni is a female Sheriff in a small town were crime has been next to nothing for the two years she has been sheriff. All of a sudden she has a murder and a jewelry store robbery to solve simultaneously and without a deputy. She enlist her jailer-Wyatt and the States Reserve Office-Finn in helping her solve these crimes. When she starts hearing voices she thinks she is going crazy only to find out it the ghost of her Poppa the former Sheriff. Kenni has to deal with nosy neighbors, town gossips, her parents, and little to now experience to solve these crimes. Being from a small town in the south I really found the country saying to be hilarious. I would definitely recommend this book.
“Fixin’ To Die” earns 5/5 Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwiches of Oozy Goodness!
This is the premier story in Tonya’s Kenni Lowry series, and although I have the eBook, I choose to enjoy this story with the audio version. The characters and the mystery were very entertaining loaded with Tonya’s signature southern humor, and Hillary Huber, the narrator, greatly enhanced my experience with her marvelous voice talent. Her skill puts you right in the middle of Cottonwood portraying Kenni’s strong spirit to Poppa’s deep tenor. Her ability to create a wide range of southern drawls from strength to annoying, Hillary’s skill is perfect to bring Tonya’s characters alive…even Poppa!
God cozy mystery. I’d read this author again,
Enjoyed this book. Great summer read.
Very enjoyable.
Kendrick ( Kenni ) Lowry is the Sheriff in the small,
quaint town of Cottonwood, Kentucky much to her
parents distress. Kenni was elected two years ago
after her grandfather died. The crime rate has been
nil until a murder and robbery occur on the same
day.
As Kenni begins to investigate, she starts to hear
the voice of her grandfather, Poppa talking to her.
Is she going crazy??
No way!!! Turns out Poppa is a ghost that only
Kenni and her ninety pound hound dog, Duke can
hear. Up until today, Poppa has been heading off
any crime in the area. Now he talks and appears to
her to encourage her investigative skills. Along with
Poppa and Duke, Kenni is being assisted by Finn
Vincent, a State Reserve officer on loan to the department.
The characters are well developed, very realistic,
some quirky but all very interesting. The supporting
characters have many secrets to uncover. The tension
was thick with plenty of suspense great chills, thrills
with unexpected twists. The murder was uniquely
committed.
The story contains mystery, intrigue, action with plenty
of humor, a hint of romance and a lot of charm Southern
style.
Y’all need to read this paranormal, Southern flavored
visit to Cottonwood and meet Sheriff Kenni Lowry!!!
I volunteered to read this eBook. Thanks to the author
for the opportunity. My opinion is my own.