Discover the southern life of Bernadette Butler, along with the eccentric and lovable citizens, along with all the fur babies, who live in Sugar Creek Gap in this NEW southern cozy mystery series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author Tonya Kappes. Don’t miss out on the good RECIPES at the end of the book!Everyone in Sugar Creek Gap has tried to fix up widow and beloved mail carrier, Bernadette Davis on … Bernadette Davis on several dates. They say she has to be lonely.
What they don’t know is how Bernadette’s life is filled…filled with everyone’s hidden secrets and obsessions. After all, she does deliver their mail and hears all the dirty laundry southern folks love to sweep secrets under the rug.
While on her route, Bernadette finds out the beloved Sugar Creek Gap Country Club is being sold and turned into condos. The developer is Bernadette’s best friend, Mac Tabor and right now he’s not very popular.
The entire town is against the development and eager to vote it down, vowing they will do whatever needs to be done to stop the sell of the country club to Mac Tabor.
Chuck Shilling, majority owner of the country club, and Mac have a public fight because Chuck is rethinking of selling the club to Mac. When Chuck is found dead, Mac Tabor is the number one suspect.
Bernadette discovers she’s got a penchant for discovering clues that just might help STAMP OUT a killer who is on the loose while trying to save Mac Tabor from going to prison for a murder he didn’t commit.
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I wasn’t a big cozy mystery fan before I discovered Tonya Kappes, but she’s converted me to cozies and I adore her books, and so I was so excited to read STAMPED OUT, the first of her new series featuring the intrepid US mail carrier, Bernadette. Bernadette is my kind of heroine sleuth, too–she’s smart, interesting, and endearing. I loved everything about the small town of Sugar Creek Gap, KY, and all the twists and turns kept me turning pages until Bernadette solves the crime. Another winner from Tonya Kappes!
Stamped Out by Tonya Kappes is the debut novel in A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series. Bernadette Butler is an older protagonist which I appreciate. I like that we are seeing main characters that are in their 40s and 50s. Bernadette is a widow who is a local mail carrier and lives with a cat. Bernadette’s son, Grady is an English teacher at the local high school as well as the football coach. His wife, Julia works as Mac Tabor’s secretary. Bernadette’s parents own The Wallflower Diner in downtown Sugar Creek Gap. Sugar Creek Gap is a charming small town with quaint shops and variety of residents. The Front Porch Ladies (Henriette, Ruby, Millie and Gertrude) are a group of older women on Bernadette’s route that are curious by nature bunch. They see and hear everything that happens on the street where they live which comes in handy when Bernadette needs some helpful gossip. The whodunit involves the death of Chuck Shilling after he agreed to sell his shares of the Sugar Creek Gab Country Club to Mac Tabor. Mac mistakenly mentioned that he plans to erect condos. Many people object to Mac’s development idea. There are protests, signs, picketing and a murder. Chuck is shot and the killer has framed Mac for the crime. Bernadette intends to prove Mac is innocent and deliver the proof to the police chief. Bernadette is good at picking up pieces of helpful information and searching for clues. I did feel the story needed a little fine tuning. There was a repetition of information, lack of key details (what state is Sugar Creek Gap in for instance) and there is mild foul language. There is a potential love interest for Bernadette. Bernadette is not sure how she feels about these new feelings. I enjoyed reading Stamped Out and I look forward to the next book in A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series. Stamped Out is an engaging new cozy mystery with rioting residents, country club conundrum, spray paint scribbling, gleeful gossips, a framed friend and delayed deliveries.
“Stamped Out” by Tonya Kappes is the first book in her all new “A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery” series starring Bernadette Butler and her cat Rowena.
Once again Tonya has woven a picture of small town Kentucky with its southern charm, quirky characters and a dash of humour. Welcome to Sugar Creek Gap, Kentucky y’all!
Everyone in Sugar Creek Gap has tried to fix up widow and beloved mail carrier, Bernadette Davis on several dates. They say she has to be lonely.
What they don’t know is how Bernadette’s life is filled … with everyone’s hidden secrets and obsessions. After all, she does deliver their mail and hears all the dirty laundry southern folks love to sweep secrets under the rug.
While on her route, Bernadette finds one of her clients dead and suspects foul play even though the local police aren’t convinced.
Bernadette discovers she’s got a penchant for discovering clues that just might help STAMP OUT a killer who is on the loose.
The story moved at a steady pace with a few red herrings and a few twists to keep you guessing. I was completely surprised by the ending, totally not what I expected. I am super excited to read book two “Addressed For Murder” out on December 31, 2019.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Great start to a new series. It was so good I read it all in one sitting. Fun new characters and a twist that I didn’t see coming. I look forward to more.
Tonya Kappes has done it again. Another book in a new series that I couldn’t put down. And WOW, an ending I sure didn’t see coming. Wonderful setting with amazing characters. Great mystery with so many twists and so many suspects. Bernie is a great lead characters and has such wonderful supportive family and friends. Lots of humor from the front porch ladies. And a terrific surprising character from the senior home. I can’t wait for the next book.
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 4
Really cute story, great audio performance.
I’ve been enjoying listening to the books in Tonya Kappes Camper and Criminals series but thought I’d take a break from that and give her Mail Carrier Mystery series a try.
I really enjoyed listening to Stamped Out. The main character, Bernadette is a bit older, instead of a twenty something like so many books seem to have. She’s a mail carrier who is maybe just a bit too curious for her own good.
There was a nice twist near the end of this book that I didn’t see coming. I actually listened to the last couple of chapters a second time so that I could make sure I caught all of what was happening.
I loved Tiffany Morgan’s performance of the audiobook. Her southern accent and the easily distinguishable, different voices she used for each character really enhanced my enjoyment of this story. I will definitely be listening to more books in this series.
This book reached me on various levels. The plot was good and the story was easy to follow. The narrator did a wonderful job making it easy to tell the characters apart. The characters were real to life, to the point they did things they really shouldn’t and had all the shortcomings you would find in any small time.
The ending was a complete surprise. I knew there was something shady going on, but not what was exposed. However, I wish we weren’t told what happened but shown. It made things a bit anti-climatic.
Pet peeve that drove me a bit nuts:
Why was Mac arrested for killing the guy who was going to sell him the country club? It’s not like the dude could sell it to him if he was dead. Just saying…
Overall it was an enjoyable cozy mystery when I wasn’t shaking my head at some of the characters and their actions.
Nice start to another series by Tonya Kappes. Good characters, nice setting, and well-structured plot. Love that Tonya’s own cat is in the book. Another good whodunit by Kappes.
This is book #1 in the A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery. It is written by Tonya Kappes.
Bernadette lives in Sugar Creek Gap. She is a widow and beloved mail carrier.
Several have tried to get her fixed up on a date because they think she is lonely. What they don’t realize is that her life is very filled- filled with all the hidden secrets and obsessions of all the townspeople. Bernadette delivers their mail but she also pays attention to the southern folks dirty laundry- The stuff most people try to sweep under the rug.
Bernadette is on her regular route one day, and finds one of her clients dead… Foul play is suspected even though local police aren’t convinced who would have done such a thing.
Bernadette figures out she has a knack for discovering clues that just might help with solving the crime. She has to be careful, though, cause there is a killer on the loose.
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. It is the first in a series, and I will be looking forward to reading more.
Lots of shady things going on. Will Bernie be able to solve the mysteries? I’m sure the front porch ladies will put their two cents in.
Witty dialogue and an entertaining mystery, Stamped Out is the beginning of a fantastic new series. Our sleuth is a mail carrier and since she’s delivering letters and parcels, Bernadette Davis hears the town gossip too. The charming small town and fascinating characters bring Stamped Out to life. A new favorite series of mine!
This is the first in a new series, A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery, written by Tonya Kappes. Bernadette Butler, a mail carrier, from Sugar Creek Gap investigates the murder of Chuck Shilling after she finds his body. Her close friend, Mac Tabor, is accused of it and she’s bound to prove he didn’t do it. This story introduces you to several very colorful people who live in the town, like the Front Porch Ladies. It’s surprising what mail carriers hear as they go about their daily route. She thinks she’s got it all figured out, but what a twist at the end. It was a quick read that had me chuckling to myself. A great story to immerse yourself in these days. I’ll have to keep reading the next in the series.
I absolutely LOVED this first book in this series. Bernie (Bernadette) is a mail carrier who has a knack for finding bodies and then solving the murders. The characters in this series are so wonderful that you will think of them as your own friends. The “Front Porch Ladies” are hysterical and remind me of some of the older ladies from my tiny hometown that used to congregate on the front stoop and gossip!
This is a wonderful series and I recommend all of the books very highly.
I was actually shocked by how much I liked this book. If it wasn’t by one of my favorite authors I might have passed it by. I wasn’t sure how I would like the main character being a mail carrier or a little older than I’m used to. It was a great chance and I can’t wait to read more of this series. It held my attention and made me want to read. I’ve been having a hard time focusing lately. Tonya Kappes always pulls through!
Enjoyable start to a new series. Bernadette, Iris, Mac, Grady, Julia and a slew of wonderful characters living in the town of Sugar Creek Gap. Cannot wait to read more
Okay so I figured out the secret but the killer eluded me. 1 out of 2 ain’t bad. The ending was the BEST and it really makes me want to see what’s next. A GREAT book!
I enjoyed this first in the series by Ms. Kappes.
Bernadette finds a body on her mail route, someone who has caused quite the uproar around town. When she finds her good friend who has helped her and her son since the death of her husband is the main suspect, Bernadette decides that she must help him as he had helped her.
The characters are likable, I loved the “front porch ladies”, they quickly became a favorite of mine. The mystery kept me guessing, my only drawback was the reactions at the end didn’t seem quite real to me, but that’s just my opinion. I will continue on with this series.
There is the added bonus of some great sounding recipes in the back.
Stamped Out is the first book in the Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series and I can’t wait to read book two! Bernadette Davis is the mail carrier in the small southern town of Sugar Creek Gap. As such she knows quite a bit about her neighbors and when she finds one of her clients dead she takes it upon herself to find clues that could lead to the person responsible. I really enjoyed this book and all the characters in it. Well written mystery. As a bonus there are several delicious recipes included. I highly recommend this book!
Bernadette Butler has been a widow for the last 10 years and her son, now grown, is the football coach at the local high school. Bernadette spends her days as a mail carrier in Sugar Creek Gap, Kentucky. While delivering mail, Bernadette overhears some men discussing the sale of the local country club. Bernadette’s friend, Mac Tabor, was rumored to be buying Chuck Shilling’s interest in the club to build condos. It seems that the country club is on the verge of bankruptcy and that is the reason for Mac’s offer.
A lot of people in town are very upset about the potential sale and vow to do anything to prevent it. While crossing the bridge that connects Little Creek Road to Main Street, Bernadette stops to feed a biscuit to a duck and discovers a body below the bridge. The body turns out to be that of Chuck Shilling and he had been shot. Unfortunately, Mac was seen and heard arguing with Chuck at Mac’s house the previous day. Later that same night, he was again seen arguing at a dive bar named Madame’s with Chuck and a woman.
Who killed Chuck Shilling? Was he killed to prevent the sale of the country club? Is Mac guilty or is he being framed for the murder? Can Bernadette unravel the mystery? What will happen to the country club?
This is the first book in a fun new series. Meet Bernadette Butler a mail carrier for the town and the keeper of many secrets. You see as Bernadette attends to her route people are always talking to her and secrets have a way of coming out. Like knowing that the Sugar Creek Gap Country Club is being sold and will be turned into condos. The developer of said condos is her best friend Mac Tabor and he is quite unpopular at the moment. No one wants the change especially majority owner Chuck Shilling, he wants things to remain the same. When Chuck is found dead and it looks like Mac is the police’s main suspect Bernadette knows that she must dig into things. She wants to clear Macs name and show the town he is not a killer. Follow along as Bernadette discovers just how good she is at this investigating, will she be able to clear her friends name or is he really a killer?