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
Welcome back to Normal, Kentucky, a small town situated in the Daniel Boone National Forrest. Mae West and the gals of the Laundry Club will always give you a warm welcome. Just like most small towns, everyone knows everyone, and what everyone is up to. As soon as a murder is discovered the whole town knows about it Especially when the victim is a beloved member of their community, a popular waitress at the Normal Diner. Speculation is a burglary gone wrong, or perhaps one of the guys she met through a dating app. Either way, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies feel the need to investigate, bringing a killer to justice for their friend. Add in some cyber criminal activities and Mae has her hands full. Not only is she on the search for the killer, she needs to get her money back into her hacked account. Were the two crimes tied together? Mae as a hunch they are.
I love visiting Normal, Kentucky. The characters have so much warmth and pride in their small little town. The Laundry Club ladies are a hoot, with their input and southern sayings. There are many laugh-out-loud moments. As new characters come into play, we find out more about Mae before she arrived in Normal. The ending had me rapidly turning the pages to see how it all turned out! Tonya Kappes once again gives us a delightful cozy mystery, with wonderful descriptions of location and characters. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, allowing me to visit Normal, Kentucky, the surrounding areas and the characters I love. I have received an advanced copy from the author and I am voluntarily choosing to leave my review.
Wow, what fabulous new offering in this series! I enjoy the fast pace set by Mae, her friends, and adoptive mother Mary Elizabeth! Each is defined well according to their role, especially through their actions and snappy, even snarky, Southern speak. While it is the most fun to read these in order, one can easily pick up at any point in the series as the author seamlessly weaves in just enough background so every reader can enjoy this Southern cozy mystery.
Springtime in Normal is as charming as can be; when Mae almost weeps at the sunrise at the Old Train Station, you can bet that it is a real beauty. The young woman who finds a silver lining in every cloud is a hero in Normal!
A grand wedding is being prepared for Mayor Courtney MaKenzie’s cousin, who saw Normal’s unique venue with gorgeous sunsets and fell in love with it. Trudy, waitress and baker at the Normal Diner has been invited to be a plus-one. Since the match she had sought on a dating app didn’t work out, she is excited to have met someone at the diner who is taking her to the event of the season.
After a long day helping Betts clean the mayor’s home, and running errands, Mae stopped by Happy Trails campground, the best (and only) thing she ever received from her ex-husband Paul. Mae and the Laundry Club ladies will be meeting that night for their monthly book club. At least until Abby, one of the club ladies, screamed outside the laundromat for help. Trudy, friends to most of them, was lying dead in the diner, apparently murdered.
Hank, Mae’s sweetheart and Normal’s detective, asks that she not snoop into this mystery. He remembers all too clearly how her life was on the line before and, even though she is good at getting information from people and putting clues together, he would rather take care of the bad guys himself and have the love of his life alive. But he has his hands full! Not only is he investigating Trudy’s murder, but several people’s bank accounts were hacked, taking their life savings – including Mae’s. And now the local TV news anchor wants to work together with Mae to help find the whodunit, despite their former adversarial roles, and Mae is willing to work out a deal with her! Nope, there is nothing normal about Normal!!
This are two very challenging mysteries this time, critical enough that Mae, her adoptive mother, and Hank take a trip to her hometown to find a clue – or a killer. It is Mae’s first time back since she turned 18 because the memories are so painful – and it sounds like there is another trip there in Mae and Hank’s future. I actually had an idea who at least one of the culprits was but was still surprised by the full outcome! The end was satisfactory, with the loose ends tied up – for now. I highly recommend this to those who love Southern cozy mysteries with great characters, a gorgeous setting, romance, and lots of laughs.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary ARC of this novel, and this is my honest review.
While the culprit was evident for me since the beginning is till got immersed into the story and i was definitively more interested by Mae’s past. We learned a bit about her past in precedent book but this time we get a real sight of part of it and it only brings more question which mean i can’t wait to read next book..
This is really a great cozy mystery with a good read to keep you entertained until the last page and just leave you wanting for more. The characters are funny, the feeling is good , the romance is cute really it ‘s a good instalment.
In fact this one could even be read as stand alone without trouble.
If you need a good cozy mystery during these difficult time, this is one you could binge on without hesitation or regret.
This is the tenth in the series. I enjoy the books covers, the characters, the investigating, the setting, and the banter. I believe I’m learning how to nicely say B.S. through this series. I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Abby discovers Trudy Bull is dead in the diner. This becomes the main focal point of the book.
Mae finds that her banking account has been hacked and all of her money has been taken. I learned what juice-jacking was. I then researched how to prevent it.
Mae returns to her hometown of Perrysburg. We learn why she is not fond of the place.
I found the book over did the phone dying with no cause or resolution, possibly the battery is going. Get another and move on.
I would recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.
I was given an advanced copy of the book.
This is my first time reading this series and I loved how the author provided enough backstory to educate me about the characters, but not too much information to bog down the story. I really like Kappes writing style. Her stories move quickly and they are filled with humor, quirky characters, logical sleuthing, and really good plotting. The mystery weaved into this story was well done with details that created a very interesting and thought-provoking crime.
When a waitress at the Normal Diner is found dead, everyone feels the loss in Normal, Kentucky. Mae West with her group of amateur sleuths called the Laundry Ladies start their quest to find the real killer. Mae’s love interest, Hank Sharp, is a detective and he is the perfect character to try and stop or thwart Mae’s sleuthing out of fear she’ll get hurt. This sets them up for opposition and ramps up the relationship tension while still providing a sense of genuine affection.
You’ll enjoy how the mystery evolves and you’ll learn more about Mae’s tragic childhood, making her an interesting and complex character. The final scene where Mae faces a killer plays out perfectly. A definite thumbs up!
Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, a close knit community where life is never dull.
Mae is not having the best day, her phone won’t hold a charge, her bank account has been hacked, and later that night her friend is murdered. While trying to figure out who could have committed murder, Mae has to go back to the town where she grew up and lost her entire family.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this series. If you haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, don’t let that keep you from picking up a copy of this book. There is plenty of background given and it’s easy to get to know the characters and their relationships.
While several members of the community are attending a wedding taking place just outside of the town of Normal, KY, Mae West and the Laundry Club Girls are preparing for their book club meeting. When Mae arrives outside the Laundry Club she sees the lights still on at the diner but doesn’t really think much about it. Just minutes later a scream breaks the night’s silence. The ladies rush out to see what has happened only to find out that one of the town’s beloved residents is dead inside the diner. Why was she at the diner when she was supposed to be at the wedding? With one town member dead Mae needs to get to the bottom of what is going on before something else happens.
This is a fast-paced humorous cozy mystery with several twists and turns. The book is well-written and engaging, although I figured out the culprit before the big reveal, the book was still very entertaining. The characters are fun and relatable. I enjoyed learning about Mae’s past. I am looking forward to the next book.
I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.
This edition is another great addition to the series! When a friend is found dead, the ladies are on the case. Woven through the mystery are threads of friendship, community and family ties. The book is well-written with a nice twisty plot and delightful characters. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.
When Mae heads over to see the gals at the laundry club, Abby Fawn’s screams have everyone running to find one of their own dead in the diner. Everyone is puzzled, why their friend was at the diner, when she was supposed to be someone’s plus one for a wedding. When Ty shows up thinking his diner was robbed, he tells Hank about an argument between Trudy and a man from a dating app.
Of course, Mae and The Laundry Club Ladies are going to get involved and snoop around to help solve who killed their friend. The notebook comes out and the suspects are added. To find out information from one suspect, Mae will need to return to her hometown, Perrysburg. Mae receives some bad news that she’s been hacked, she gets some help from Alvin Deters. Although, Mae asks her mother, Mary Elizabeth, to go along with her to Perrysburg; Hank inserts himself to tag along, after he is tipped off by Alvin, who has some necessary items to give to Mae for her trip.
I enjoyed learning some of Mae’s background and visiting her hometown. We get a glimpse of why Mae wanted to leave. Hank, who is rather very serious, came across quite comical. I had to laugh when, after learning of Mae’s trip, Hank states: “And me too. Isn’t that right, suga’?” When Mae gets called suga’ and was never called that before, she knows she’s been had!
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
I received an ARC and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.
I really enjoyed Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal. The characters are fantastic. This book is interesting and fun. I could not put the book down. The book keeps you engaged and entertained. The book is well written and has a great pace. The mystery has so many twists to keep you guessing until the end. This book explores more of Mae’s past that is interesting and I am excited to see where that goes in future books. I love this series and can’t wait for the next book.
Book club meetings, new Jazzercise moves, hacked bank accounts, and a dead body in the diner – just another normal day in Normal, Kentucky.
Tonya Kappes delivers another enchanting and fun read with her newest book in the Campers & Criminal series. Sunsets, Sabattical, and Scandal takes us back to the Happy Trails Campground and Normal, Kentucky, where we meetup with old friends Mae West, the Laundry Club Ladies, and Detective Hank.
When Trudy Bull is found murdered in the Normal Diner, Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies take it upon themselves to help Detective Hank solve the crime. There are a number of suspects. Is the murderer the politician that took Trudy to a wedding or his jealous estranged wife? Could it be the man Trudy met through a dating app or did his wife kill her to keep their home together? Or is it someone else? The trail of clues takes Mae and friends to Mae’s old home town of Perrysburg, Kentucky. The trip to Perrysburg gives you insight into Mae’s past and why she left at 18 and never came back. It gives you a glimpse into the mystery surrounding the deaths of Mae’s family and the possibility of what is to come next in the series. But does this trip lead to the murderer and the reason for Trudy’s death? Read Sunsets, Sabbatical, and Scandal and see if you can find the murderer before Mae and friends. You won’t regret it.
I read an advanced reading copy of Sunsets, Sabbatical, and Scandal, and have given an honest review of the book.
I read an advanced copy for an honest review.
Welcome back to Normal Kentucky, where things are not.
Mae West’s phone keeps dying, her bank account has been hacked and her good friend, at the diner has been murdered!
The clues cause Mae to head back to the hometown where she originally came from. It was very interesting and sad to learn more about her childhood and how things were for her growing up. There is a lot more understanding to why she left as soon as she turned 18.
The Laundry club gets together , as usual to help Mae figure out who killed one of “their own”.
This book had some humor injected in it, but it was easy to figure out who the culprit was of not only the hacking, but the murder pretty early on.
As entertaining as this story was, it was not one of the author’s best. I know she can do bettern
I couldn’t put this book down. Another fun adventure in Normal, KY with Mae and the Laundry Club ladies. This time Hank sticks to Mae while she says she’s not sleuthing. He is hilarious in this one. Great sense of humor by Tonya Kappes throughout the story. We get to find out about Mae’s childhood and the hometown she came from and hopefully there will be more in the next story. Good mysteries involving the murder of Trudy the diner waitress and also who is hacking and stealing money from many citizens. The next book can’t come out soon enough for me.
Normal, Kentucky – Where nothing is normal.
In this book, we get a glimpse into Mae’s hometown and learn more about her childhood and why she has a hard time re-living the past. There could be a book in the future dedicated to solving a cold case from her childhood hometown.
I love this series and each new book gets better than the last one. The author wrote the book in an easy to follow flow with unique characters. They come to life and are like family when I’m reading this book. This one kept me on the edge of my chair until the end where the villain showed their hand.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy and this review reflects my honest opinion. This book did not disappoint! I highly recommend this series.