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!
Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal: A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 10
By Tonya Kappes
The Laundry Club ladies are on the hunt for who killed their friend Trudy Bull. The town’s most beloved waitress. Who could have done such a thing? A must read to see what happens when the ladies go on the hunt for a killer.
It’s been a little bit since I read the previous Campers book and I forgot how much I love Normal. Same great characters, different mystery to solve!
Sunsets, Sabbatical, and Scandal by Tonya Kappes is a different take on who the murderer could be.
Why would anyone kill Trudy?
What I like:
• Mae standing up for herself and what she believes in
• The Laundry Club Gals are helping out even more.
• Hank’s protective nature
• We are finding out more about Mae’s past with her blood family.
• Hank wanting to help Mae figure out somethings about her past.
• Mae’s relationships with Bobby Rae and Mary Elizabeth
The Mystery
Trudy is the beloved citizen of Normal that is murdered. Now it is up to Mae and the rest of the Laundry Club Gals to get it figured out. Well, at least to help out the police. This case leads Mae and Hank to Mae’s hometown, where Mae leaves with more than just clues. There are lots of red herrings, but I kind of had an idea about who did it. I don’t want to spoil it, so just read the book to see if you can guess who did it too.
Five Stars
Reading Sunsets, Sabbatical, and Scandal by Tonya Kappes is like returning to a family get-together every time. I especially enjoy trying to solve a murder mystery together. I am giving it five stars and recommending it to anyone that loves a good cozy mystery. I love the camping/RV Hacks and recipes in the back of the book. Each one is fantastic to read about after solving the crime.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Sunsets, Sabbatical, and Scandal by Tonya Kappes.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
I have been reading this series since the first book was issued. Easy to read and good entertainment.
Love Mae West and the gang. The laundry club is a total riot. They are the craziest women that have ever gathered to solve crimes. That makes the book total fun to read. You feel like you are there in the Daniel Boone National Park while reading the book. The world building is great. The characters are like old friends who know all your secrets and love you anyway. This series is a must read if you like good solid mysteries with lots of fun and humor.
This is the 10th book in a cozy mystery series that always gives you a few chuckles. The characters and the setting of Normal, Kentucky are anything but normal. This time a friend and resident is found dead in the Normal Diner after being at a wedding earlier. So Mae and the Laundry Club ladies spring into action building a list of suspects. Also Mae and several other business owners have had their accounts hacked and their money stolen from the bank. Are they connected or two separate crimes? Mae even goes back to her hometown to follow a lead. Not a place she planned on ever returning to. Her boyfriend Detective Hank Sharp gets upset at her snooping around per usual. But there definitely is love in the air and it looks like some vacation time for the two of them once the killer is caught. I enjoy immersing myself in this crazy world for a short time. Now back to reality until I open up the next one. You try them too!
Enjoyable read with likeable characters. Mae and her laundry club friends are involved in another murder. Sadly. this victim is one of their own. There is a side story into Mae’s past and how she ended up in foster care. Cannot wait to read more. I was given a free ARC by the author. My review is freely and honestly given
Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal earns 5/5 Hidden Clues…Engaging Fun!
A wedding. A dating app. A “don’t remember” classmate. A book club meeting. A call from the bank. A friend dead. “Nothing is normal in Normal.” Trudy Bull, everyone’s favorite waitress, is found dead at the diner. The diner was closed and she was suppose to be at the wedding, so it’s curious why she was even there so late. Robbery is dismissed since her wallet is in tact and the diner had little on site. Where’s her phone? It was like a third appendage, and it’s missing.
Mae’s detecting abilities have invaluable in the past, however the execution-style manner of death indicates the more professional than a crime of passion. That makes this mystery appear to be more dangerous, and he reminds her to stay out of it. But Ty, the owner of the diner, needs answers, so Mae and her “Laundry Club” girls are on the case charting suspects, listing questions, organizing facts, and creating theories on the whiteboard usually reserved for campground notices. Ok, start with…
Brilliant! This tenth book in Tonya Kappes’s Camper and Criminals Cozy is the best with a clever cozy murder, quirky characters (several of a certain mature age), realistic investigation journey, and an “I didn’t see that coming” ending. The murder takes center stage as a well-developed and steady paced, engaging and entertaining, twisty and turny drama with realistic reactions and responses. Tonya’s writing style is very enjoyable using a first-person narrative from Mae’s perspective (I love my vicarious role with the “I” references). She follows the traditional cozy formula I enjoy with the murder happening early, Mae cooperating most of the time with law enforcement, despite commandeering evidence and some covert snooping, and a reasonable motive, opportunity, and means explanation that unfolds nicely. I enjoy the “Laundry Club’s” input, Mae and Hank’s relationship, and the added insights into Mae’s childhood, especially revisiting the family tragedy Mae has long held herself to blame. Sprinkled with Tonya’s signature southern flair is delightfully entertaining. Great escape!
Bonus! This series always includes “Recipes and Cleaning Hack from Mae West and the Women in Normal, Kentucky, and Happy Trails Campground” with easy-to-follow recipes for some delicious treats and a few RV or camping tips that can often be translated to anyone, with or without a camper. Enjoy Campfire French Dip Sandwiches and Campfire Veggies! Try Campfire Fire Bombs and instructions for Tick Spray.
I have purchased all of Tonya’s Camper series up to book 10. Book 10, I was given an opportunity to review it before it was published. It was a push for me as I hadn’t read any of the first books yet since my TBR pile is so backed up (on Tonya’s coffee series). I was told I can read out of order as Tonya goes over somethings in the books. I like that as I usually do not read a series back to back because I have so many other others I love as well.
What did I like about this book? Well, I like it is set in Kentucky and on a campground (the business). I love the Mae West Laundry Club ladies and the connection between the characters.
You cannot go wrong with any of Tonya’s books. She is a dedicated writer that connects every day to her readers (coffee first memes) and really is so involved with us. I’m sure some of that is because she is doing her job, but really she enjoys it. She shares her family life, new house update (I hate to see the She Shed go) and really enjoys making us happy. She makes me excited to read her books.
Remember, they are cozy mysteries – no complicated plot, but easy reads that are very enjoyable. BUY THE BOOK!
Fun book to read! I love Mae and the Laundry Club girls of this series!! So much fun and a delightful town. Trudy, a waitress at the diner, is found shot to death. Mae and the girls investigate as usual. The investigation leads them back to Mae’s hometown, a difficult thing for Mae. I found this book intriguing and am looking forward to the next book! Hoping we get to find out what really happened the night Mae’s family died in a fire. Highly recommend this series!!
When one of Mae’s friends is murdered and two of the suspects are the mayor of her hometown and his wife, Mae reluctantly returns to the town she left at 18. Her family had perished there in a house fire when she was a child. Returning dredges up many unpleasant memories. Fortunately she has the support of Hank who is there on official business and her stepmother, Mary Elizabeth.
This is another excellent story in this fun cozy series from Tonya Kappes. The characters are endearing and the plot is well written. I guessed the murderer early on but it took to the end of the story to figure out the motive.
I look forward to the next installment in this series! I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book. My views are my own.
Thank you, Tonya Kappes, for another fun-packed trip to The Happy Trails Campground! Mae West once again is involved up to her neck in a murder investigation while Hank, her boyfriend, is steadily behind her telling her to stay out of it! There’s one thing for sure…there’s nothing normal in Normal, Kentucky!
Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal is book ten in the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series. I always look forward to the next book in a series, and this one did not disappoint. You feel like your at home as you read. I definitely enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
It’s a normal day in Normal, Kentucky when the Laundry Clhb gathers for a book club until they hear Abby scream. The Laundry Club race out to find that Trudy Bull is dead in the diner. Could Trudy have gotten carried away in a new romance that turned out to be deadly? We all know that Mae has a tendency to push her nose in all the gossip and shes bound and determined to help Hank with this one. Let’s be reaxll, Hank just needs to deputize her already.
It was a sweet whodunit with a good amount of twists. With a few different motives and victims to not only murder but money theft crimes in the community, Mae is trying to piece together what is connected. I figured out the killer pretty early on but what made this book even more special was the insight into Mae’s past. Her visit to Perrysburg and the opening of her past is extremely intriguing and continues to build as this series grows. Her backstory is most definitely a reason to keep coming back for more with the Campers & Criminals series.
Sunsets, Sabbatical & Scandal is another great addition to the Camper & Criminals series. Mae was really entertaining and some of her sleuthing methods cracked me up. I look forward to her second trip back to her hometown to see how that goes.
While I am new to this series, in the course of the story, the author included brief summations on the main characters and their interpersonal connections. This allowed me to feel comfortable starting this series at #10. Mae and her Laundry Club gals find themselves in the unthinkable position of investigating the murder of one of their own friends, much to the consternation of Mae’s boyfriend and homicide detective, Hank. Mae soon finds herself juggling running her trailer park, along with checking out motives and alibis, as well as dealing with problems at her bank. And then there’s the dreaded trip back to her old hometown. This trip helped provide much appreciated background for the main character. I also loved the Southern touches to this story, drawls and all. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, which hopefully will clear up a notable crime from Mae’s childhood. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book and all opinions are strictly my own.
Enjoy the series. Can’t wait for the next book. I love Hank and Mae together and the laundry club sounds like so much fun.
Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal is the 10th entry in Tonya Kappes’ Campers & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series. Each Campers & Criminals story is better than the last! Mae West is a lovable, likable character, and her adventures truly bring you into the story quickly and completely.
This time we have a beloved member of the community murdered, and Mae and her laundry club gals cant help but get involved.
A visit to her past, and some shocking revelations keep Mae on her toes as she and others in Normal, Kentucky are hacked. Are the crimes connected? 4.5 stars rounded to 5.
Welcome back to Normal, Kentucky, the home of Happy Trails Campground owner Mae West. It was fun becoming reacquainted with the town residents, especially the laundry ladies who once again join forces with Mae to help solve the murder of the well-liked owner of a popular local diner.
Tonya Kappes draws her readers into this small-town setting and at the same time allows us to get to know more about the people who live there. This time people from Mae’s past are brought in and introduced in such a way that makes them both an integral part of the story as well as allowing to know more about her background. She keeps us guessing as Mae tries to figure out not only the killer, but also who has been stealing money from the bank accounts of town residents.
The romance between Mae and Hank continues and we learn more about Mae’s foster mom, Mary Elizabeth.
Ms. Kappes has a talent for making her characters very real. The townspeople of Normal would be fun to sit and chat with while enjoying a light lunch. Before reaching the conclusion of her story, she cleverly leads her readers down what appear to be multiple very possible roads to find out who committed the crimes.
Reading the previous books will provide you a bit of extra background and insight into the characters, but is not essential to enjoying Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal.
When Mae goes to a book club meeting with the Laundry Club, it isn’t supposed to start with the discovery of a body! Sadly, when the ladies hear a piercing scream, they rush out to find that Abby has discovered the body of their good friend, Trudy.
Mae and the Laundry Club shift gears and are on the case immediately! With their connections and ability to sniff out clues, they more than keep up with Mae’s detective beau, Hank and the rest of the Normal, Kentucky, police department.
When the case takes Mae and Hank to Mae’s hometown, Perrysburg – Mae is forced to confront the past she has spent years running from.
The seriousness of losing a beloved citizen of Normal and the pain of Mae’s past are tempered with Tonya Kappes’s signature southern humor and charm. The story is fast-paced and exciting. The mystery is well written and kept me guessing.
Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal can be read alone, but why deny yourself the pleasure of the whole series?