Motorhomes, Maps, & MurderBook FiveA Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery SeriesYou don’t want to miss out on book 5 of this hilarious and very popular cozy mystery series from USA Today Bestselling Author Tonya Kappes. Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, where nothing is . . . NORMAL!Mae West, owner of Happy Trails Campground, never thought she would become an actress like her namesake. Calling … actress like her namesake. Calling herself an actress might be far stretch as she plays a minor role in the local Civil War reenactment BATTLE AT CAMP WILDCAT.
When the reenactment doesn’t go as planned, not one but two of the town’s folks aren’t playing dead. . .they were MURDERED!
Come to find out there was a prison break and the serial killer is believed to be in Normal and someone has stolen a motorhome from Happy Trails Campground.
Are these connected?
Mae lets boyfriend and hunky detective, Hank Sharp, follow all the leads about the murders and on the trail of the serial killer because she’s got bigger s’mores in the fire.
The motorhome owners have filed a lawsuit and suing her for the deed to Happy Trails Campground. Mae has embraced Normal and there’s nothing or no one going to take her campground. She’s determined to find the motorhome and return it to the owners before she hands over any deed to anyone.
Mae just might find out that tapping into her namesake just might come in handy when coming face to face with a serial killer.
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*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Just when I think this series cannot get any better Kappes writes another one just to prove me wrong. Mae has become quite comfortable at the campground by this point and is even dating Hank for a short time. The town is getting ready for a big battle reenactment that they do every year when they get the news of an escaped convict from the local prison that puts them all on edge. Events end up snow-balling from there with one thing after another until we hit the surprising ending. Wonderfully written full of Southern charm, humor, and enough mystery to keep you hooked. A must read for cozy mystery fans. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Another hit by Tonya Kappes. Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder. This is a great mystery story it has a lot of twists and turns. I love the laundry club these ladies are amazing. It has a civil war reanactmet, murder and mayhem. I loved the line about the mini Gatlinburg. I enjoyed the RV hacks and receipes I would highly recommend.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
This was a lot of fun to read with the battle reenactment and an escaped killer. This book kept you on your toes with lots of twists and a completely surprising ending. I always enjoy books by Tonya Kappes and I highly recommend this one! Looking forward to more of this fun series and Mae and Hank’s relationship!
Tonya Kappes has done it again! She wrote such an awesome book that I stayed up to finish the book in one night. Can’t wait for the next one!!
I will admit – these books have come out at such a fast pace, I’ve had trouble keeping up with the series. I read books one and two and devoured them. Book five was no exception. There were a few items that I missed (Mae’s love triangle seems to have come to a resolution for now, so I am anxious to catch up on exactly what happened there). But I felt right at home jumping into the series with this book.
I really enjoyed the book and read the entire thing in one day. Mae is a fun, but exasperating, main character. You just want to yell at her through the pages of the book because, although she has good intentions, you just know her actions are going to get her into trouble. The plot had twists and turns and an ending I didn’t seem coming. The author does a good job of weaving real emotion into the story – mixing humor and heartache with a happy ending.
A fun story and I’m excited to see where Mae’s adventures take her next!
A civil war re-enactment complete with dead bodies, a prison escape, and stolen RV’s, so basically just another day in the life of Mae West. Normal Kentucky is a wonderful place to live and visit, but it sure ain’t normal. I want friends like Mae has with the Laundry Club and the tenants of her campground. The characters-most of them anyway-are what my grandmother would have called the salt of the earth. The location can’t get much better than the Daniel Boone National Park. If you like cozy mysteries, with lots of twists and turns, a little bit of clean romance, then this series will fulfill all your needs.
I was generously provided a copy of this novel with the author. This does not affect my views or rating of the novel.
Motorhomes, Maps & Murder by Tonya Kappes is the fifth A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery. Mae West owns Happy Trails Campground in Normal, Kentucky. The town is preparing for the reenactment of the Battle of Camp Wildcat from the Civil War and Mae will have a minor role thanks to organizer, Queenie French. Detective Hank Sharp is picking up his uniform and bayonet when he is called away. Convicted murderer, Greaser Gadie has escaped from the local jail while visiting with Preacher Lester Hager. He has threatened to seek revenge on the jurors from his trial which has Darnell Grassel and Alvin Deets nervous. Hank is hot on Greaser’s trail with help of a hound with a keen sense of smell. After the reenactment, Dottie runs up to Mae to notify her that one of their guest’s RV has been stolen. If Mae does not recover the motorhome, she could lose her beloved campground. Hank would love to help but he has bigger fish to fry. Four people fail to get up after the battle and it turns out that it is not fake blood on their clothing. Did Greaser make good on his threat? Mae leaves the hunt for Greaser to Hank while she sets out to recover the missing motorhome. What happens, though, when Mae stumbles into the killer’s path?
Motorhomes, Maps and Murder can be read as a standalone if you have not had time to indulge in the other novels in A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series. Mae West has settled into her new home in Normal, Kentucky where she is making a success of Happy Trails Campground. She has good friends, a loyal dog, and a loving boyfriend. When someone steals a camper’s motorhome, Mae is determined to recover it. Otherwise, Mae could lose her beloved Happy Trails. The town is gearing up for tourists to descend on the town for the reenactment of the Battle of Camp Wildcat and Mae is hosting a party afterward at Happy Trails. It is a bad time for a killer to escape custody after harming the guard and knocking over Preacher Hager. Hank must hunt for Greaser Gadie while protecting the jurors he threatened and keep watch over a town filled with vacationers. All our favorite characters are back in Motorhomes, Maps and Murder. The quirky residents of Normal will have you laughing frequently as you read this Southern cozy mystery. Mary Elizabeth, Mae’s adopted mother, means well, but her talkative nature can be a curse. As you can see, there is plenty of action in Motorhomes, Maps and Murder. I enjoy Tonya Kappes conversational writing style. Readers are easily drawn into the book and the attention held until the end. I like the steady pacing, the setting and the off-beat characters. I enjoyed the addition of Chester, the dog with the good sniffer. I am happy to see Mae’s character mature and her relationship with Hank is progressing nicely. I believe readers will be surprised at how this mystery turns out. There are recipes and cleaning hacks at the end of the book (clever ideas). I look forward to returning to Normal in Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers.
This is the 5th in Tonya Kappes A Camper & Criminals Cozy and she is a great writer. Mae West is the main character with her love interest, Detective Hank Sharp the law in the town of Normal, Kentucky. With the reenactment The Battle of Camp Wildcat, after party at Happy Trail Campground, killer on the lose and to top it off…one of her guests RV was stolen! What else can happen?? You will have read to find out! Can’t wait for the next one!!! I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this e-book.
I am so in love with this series. My husband and I own a RV and love to travel to different places. We have found some wonderful campgrounds with friendly people and return to them when we can. I would love to visit Normal, Kentucky and visit the quaint little town that is featured in the story. Mae is a hoot and I loved everything about her. Her southern charm is endearing and the sayings she blurts out at times made me roll on the floor laughing. . The author has a great knack for giving readers characters that are funny, quirky and just plain friendly. Well I better say not everyone in this story is so charming.
Happy Trails Campground is the blood, sweat and tears of hard work for Mae. She has made it a place where people feel welcome and comfortable. I would park my RV there if I could. There is a big celebration coming up in town that has everyone scrambling to make the event perfect. When an escaped serial killer is spotted the town and campground are on edge. Should they go ahead with the festivities planned? The rumors start that the serial killer could be close and chaos ensues in the campground. Is it a coincidence that a motor home was stolen just as the escaped killer is perhaps nearby?
Mae turns to her handsome boyfriend for answers since he is a detective and on the case. It’s funny how Mae can get answers from Hank about the investigation. He knows he shouldn’t tell her, but he can’t stop himself. There is a big mystery of where the serial killer is hiding and who stole the motor home. Are the campers safe at Happy Trails Campground?
The story is well written and will keep readers guessing as a mysterious map and wig are discovered. Was someone else involved in what happened to several members of the town? I wonder if revenge played a part in the aftermath of a serial killer on the loose ? I love how the author keeps readers guessing until the very end. I thought for sure I knew what would happen; but the author with her technique of putting twists in the story fooled me completely. I eagerly await the next book in this funny and thrilling series.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy. The review is my own opinion.
Tonya Kappes is one of my favorite authors and I’ve enjoyed eight of her series. Now I have to update that to nine. This is the first of the Campground mystery series I’ve read – it worked fine as a standalone- and now I have the previous four waiting in my TBR stack.
In this series, Mae West (yes, she married a man name West who turned out to be a swindler) owns the Happy Trails Campground in the town of Normal, Kentucky. It’s having a hard time living up to its name. The campground is all the Mae has left from her marriage, only because her crooked husband put it in her name. She lost every bit of her posh life and now has found a welcome in Normal. Will she still have anything left when the book ends? After the bodies pile up, including an escaped killer, a trailer is stolen and she gets sued, the local Civil War re-enactment turns out to be just one of the many challenges Mae is up against. It makes it hard to get her new romance with the hunky sheriff off and running.
By the time the sixth book in the series is published I should be all caught up with the previous ones and I’ll be chomping at the bite to see what is in store for Mae and her friends in Normal, Kentucky.
Mae West and her friends from the Laundry Club are taking part in a Civil War Reenactment and the after party celebration. However, nothing seems to go as planned, just before the reenactment a serial killer escapes from prison. He has promised the jurors who found him guilty, he would have his revenge. When a few of the dead bodies on the battlefield are found to be real dead bodies Mae can’t help but get pulled into the investigation. While roadblocks are set up and everyone is looking for the serial killer, one of the Happy Trails guests has their RV stolen. This is only one more crime that Mae feels she has to solve and fast.
This is definitely one of my favorite cozy series. As soon as I know another book is about to be released I can’t help but get excited. Tonya Kappes is a gifted storyteller. Her books are full of humor, southern charm, and suspense. I love almost all the characters in this book. When there is a character I don’t like, it seems they always to get what is coming to them in the end or they surprise you by doing the right thing. Either way, you enjoy the book even more for their part in the storyline. I love how this group of friends will do almost anything for one another and when something goes wrong they are there for one another. The imagery Tonya uses paints a wonderful picture of each scene, I almost feel like I am there with Mae at Happy Trails or in the town of Normal. The book was a quick read for me as I was drawn if from the first page. The plot is fast paced but this does not take away from the suspense or mystery of whodunit. There are always several well placed red herrings to keep the reader engaged and guessing until the big reveal. I am looking forward to the next book!
A bonus for the camping fans: the book includes recipes and camping hacks. I recommend this books to fans of the series, fans of Tonya Kappes, and mystery lovers. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone mystery but the whole series is worth READING.
I received an ARC of this book in hopes I would give a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
“Motorhomes, Maps & Murder” earns 5/5 Southern Sleuths…Clever and Engaging!!
I have been a fan of Tonya Kappes’s Cozy work through her “ghostly,” “magical,” “caffeinated,” and “ghost whispering” so I knew to expect her clever plot lines, engaging narrative, wonderful characters, and an entertaining southern twist. I was not disappointed. I am a bit late to the party with her newest series, but grandma always said, “better late, than later.”
Wow! Tonya has me hooked…again! I started with the fifth book, and for this newbie, there were plenty of references to keep me engaged: Mae’s past, husband’s crimes, her atonement. After ten months, Mae West has been accepted into the community, continued renovations of her campground, and made friends. She learns Civil War reenactments are very serious business, especially in the South, but as a first-time participant, she didn’t realize how serious. Maps? Check! Scripts? Check! Costumes? Check! Well, almost everyone has picked up their “real, true to life uniforms.” Preacher Hager is a no-show and Mae’s boyfriend Sheriff Hank Sharp rushed off leaving his behind. Their absence becomes clear when Mae learns convicted killer Greaser Gadie has escaped from prison greatly worrying several residents since he had threatened the jury that he’d “come back…and kill [them]…” So, it’s no surprise when two reenactment actors end up murdered, a fugitive hunt goes active, and Normal, Kentucky, is less than normal. The murder mystery is well-developed including more victims, suspects, intriguing motives, and an “I didn’t see that coming” ending. She penned an engaging first-person narrative with Mae’s “I” perspective sharing her inner thoughts, vivid descriptions, and engaging banter. I really enjoy how Tonya always sprinkles her “southerness” into her work with tone, ideas, and manners. Then the extras Tonya does well to include. “Recipes and Cleaning Hacks From Mae West and Other Women From Normal, Kentucky, and Happy Trails. Campground.” I enjoyed the three clever RV Hacks and especially easy-to-follow recipes for No-Mess Campfire Omelets, Mary Elizabeth Doyle’s Easy Cinnamon Rolls (Milkery B&B), and Campfire Banana Boats.
I love Mae and the gang. This one had something I did not see coming for one of her friends. A re-enactment with an act of murder, a stolen motor home, missing money and maps makes for a great story. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.
This is a wonderful, adventure filled, fast paced story, that had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Mae, Hank and the cast of characters are fully developed, and I loved this book. I want to go camping! The plot twists and turns kept my attention from beginning to end. There were so many things that I didn’t see coming, and I had no idea who had done the deed until it was revealed. I highly recommend Motorhomes, Maps & Murder! I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Motorhomes, Maps and Murder is the 5th book in the Tonya Kappes series, “A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery.” It is not necessary to read the books in order as each has its own completed mystery. It is my recommendation that you do. The world building is ongoing with characters changing slightly with the books, (mostly adding a character or two). You will understand the relationships easier when read in order. Ms. Kappes does include a quick update that is woven so well into the story those familiar with the series will enjoy it as much as newcomers.
This series is one of my favorites. Perhaps it is because I spent so much time as a child in Southeast Kentucky where the story is set. My family were big campers, too. I can vividly picture the fictional town and campground. Ms. Kappes does a wonderful job painting the town and campground within the very real and beautiful Daniel Boone National Park. The characters are well written, each with their own personality that are very relatable. You quickly become friends with owner and narrator, Mae West, the Laundry Club gals and others from the town. There is a romance blossoming as an ongoing secondary story. If you enjoy romance mixed in your cozy, you will definitely want to read the series in order. This book is set during the spring time when a Civil War re-enactment and an after party are set to go. The citizens of Normal are ready to participate and Happy Trails campground is filling up with spectators. The only thing not planned are a prison break, murder and a major theft that threatens not only the re-enactment and the good people of Normal but also Mae and Happy Trails! Hunky Detective Hank Sharp is on it and wants Mae to stay out of it but sometimes fate just decides differently.
At the end of the book there are some camping hacks and a couple of recipes. I’m planning on making those gooey cinnamon buns in the morning. I’m also thinking of trying, in home, the hack for the omelet recipe just because it sounds interesting.
I highly recommend this fun book and the series to cozy mystery lovers.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced, unpolished, electronic copy of this book. I am purchasing a finished copy because I enjoyed it so much, (and because I want a completed set of this series. It is one I know I will read again).
This is the first book I’ve read in this series and I absolutely loved it! It is skillfully written with a tight plot and great characters. There are multiple story lines within this cozy mystery and they are all neatly tied up with a bow. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder is the 5th addition to the Camper & Criminals cozy mystery series. I recommend reading all these books in order. If you are a kindle unlimited subscriber you can read this series for FREE (and I highly recommend it). That being said, this is another fantastic novel in the series. I read it in one sitting as it isn’t a long novel but it sure packs a punch. In this installment, Mae and her team of friends are laying low because a serial killer is on the loose! Hopefully because she is dating the sheriff she won’t get tossed in the cross hairs of the killer…
Friends, this is one of my top 3 favorite cozy mystery series and every time a new book gets announced I get super excited. Tonya Kappes writes the best cozies and brings her characters to life. I love the feel of friendship that the characters exude and I love feeling like I am living within the setting because Tonya makes it feel so real. I can almost smell the flowers! If you love cozy mysteries, this is one of those series you don’t wan to miss. I can’t wait for the next installment.
Tonya Kappes
Motorhomes, Maps, and Murder is the 5th book in the Camper and Criminals Cozy Series by Tonya Kappes. I feel the books in this series just keep getting better with each one! You get more invested with the characters in each story.
In this installment Mae West and the Laundry Club gals are worried about a civil war reenactment going off without a hitch and an escaped convict that had threatened to kill the members of the jury when he got out of jail and a stolen RV from her campground.
This was another wonderful book by Tonya Kappas and I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope you will too!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Motorhomes, Maps & Murder by Tonya Kappes was another fun filled visit to Normal, KY with Mae West.
It’s springtime in Kentucky and there is a Civil War reenactment nearby that has the whole town involved. Unfortunately, there is also a serial killer that just escaped from prison, a stolen motorhome from Happy Trails Campground and two murders that will keep Mae busy. Ms. Kappes’ writes great quirky characters that you want to get to know while delivering a fast paced plot with twists and turns that always keep me guessing. This was a great way to spend an afternoon and I’m already looking forward to Mae’s next adventure.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
Mae West is doing her best to keep the campground in Normal thriving. Only the escape of a serial killer amidst a civil war reenactment and residents not too thrilled with Greaser having stayed there… Then a motorhome is stolen – a first to be sure. The map and wig add to the story.
The characters are what make this series and this story come alive. Mae is not always the most logical and there are some comic moments as well as good vibes with Hank. Mae does what she has to do and has to think quickly as only Mae West might. The story moves along at a steady pace with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. This can be read as a stand alone mystery. If you like cozy mysteries or others in this series, you won’t be disappointed.