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Camper & Criminals book cover 1
Camper & Criminals book cover 2
Camper & Criminals book cover 3
Camper & Criminals
Series · 42
books · 2018-2024

Books in series

Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries book cover
#1

Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries

2018

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars. Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn't lost. . .the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn't seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky and an RV to live in. One problem, Mae's idea of camping has room service. By the look of the brochure, Happy Trails has plush Kentucky Bluegrass, a crystal clear lake, a beach chair with her name on it and thoughts of how much money it could bring her after she sells it. Mae figures she'll take a couple weeks vacation with her toes dipped in the lake. Things aren't always as they appear. The Kentucky Bluegrass is nothing but dirt and the crystal clue lake is murky with green slime on top. Mae quickly find out that Happy Trails and the citizens of Normal were also victims of Paul's schemes, making her lower than tha lake scum in the residents' eyes. Mae doesn't think things could get much worse, but as luck would have it, Paul West has escaped from prison and is found dead, murdered, floating in the Happy Trails mucky green lake. Mae is the number one suspect on Detective Hank Sharp's short list. After all, Mae has the perfect motive as a kept wife who has been scorned to ashes, embarrassed to death, and seeking revenge. Time is running out for Mae to prove that she's innocent and nothing like her husband. If only she could get someone to believe her and talk Detective Sharp into looking at other residents who've lost all their savings to Paul's Ponzie scheme before the curtain is closed on this Hollywood namesake.
Deserts, Driving, & Derelicts book cover
#2

Deserts, Driving, & Derelicts

2018

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where nothin' is normal! Mae West is just getting settled into the RV lifestyle as owner of the local camp ground in Normal, Kentucky. The Happy Trails Camp Ground, located in the Daniel Boone National Park, has started to bring in tourists for the late summer vacationing family that love to hike, swim, fish, and enjoy the outdoor life. The Laundry Club ladies are still holding court ( better known as gossip sessions) in the local laundromat. They're spinning more tales than the washing machine spin cycle after there's a string of burglaries happening in their small, southern town. Suddenly everyone in Normal is on alert after one of their own is found dead. Even though Mae West tries her best to stay out of it, she can't. After all, it's not good for business when a murderer is on the loose. Plus, Betts Hager, one of the Laundry Club ladies and Mae's good friend, is the number one suspect and now it's personal to Mae. Mae has grown to love her RV community and now that she's found a place to belong, she's not going to let anyone ruin it, throwing her deep into using her amateur sleuthing skills to bring the real killer to justice.
Forests, Fishing & Forgery book cover
#3

Forests, Fishing & Forgery

2018

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. It's Labor Day weekend in Normal, and if you know anything about camping and RVing, you know it's one of the busiest times of the year. Unfortunately, Daniel Boone National Park is in danger of being closed due to a drought and local businesses are scrambling for ideas to survive a possible shutdown. Happy Trails Campground is at the center of a murder in which campers as well locals are suspects. It looks likely that a local resident is responsible for the dastardly deed since the victim is the one person who had the power to shut down the national park, which would be devastating to Normal’s small businesses. Follow Mae West as she searches for clues to get to the bottom of this Labor Day campground caper!
Christmas, Criminals, and Campers book cover
#4

Christmas, Criminals, and Campers

2018

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where NOTHING is normal. Librarian Abby Fawn is star struck when her favorite romance author, Nadine White, has rented a cozy camper at the Happy Trails Campground for the winter months. Abby is devastated to find out Nadine White is nothing like the person she portrays in interviews or on social media. In fact, Nadine White is not nice at all and Abby lets her feelings known that she thinks Nadine is a fraud. . .after she finds out Nadine has a ghost writer. When Nadine White is found dead in the Normal Library, Abby Fawn is Detective Hank Sharp's number one suspect. It's time for Mae West to put up her camping gear for the winter months and put on her sleuthing gear to figure out who is framing Abby Fawn before Abby is the ending in Nadine White's final chapter.
Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder book cover
#5

Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder

2019

You 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 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.
Canyons, Caravans, & Cadavers book cover
#6

Canyons, Caravans, & Cadavers

2019

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where nothing is normal. When the principal of Normal High School asks Mae West to teach a semester on small town economics, since she helped bring the thriving economy in Normal, Kentucky when she used her brilliant ideas to bring the Happy Trails Campground back to life, Mae is thrilled and happy to teach the young people. But when a fellow teacher and archery Coach Roger Carlson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in one of Happy Trails Campground campers with an arrow sticking out of his back, it puts a damper on the thriving campground when tourists cancel their reservations and Mae's excitement to teach. Mae's hankering to snoop into the coach's private life and find out exactly why he was renting a camper in Happy Trails and not living at home with his young wife. Her efforts don't leave her short on suspects. Especially, since Mae uncovered many unhappy parents who had relied on an archery scholarship as their child's ticket to get out of Normal and go to college. Mae has to be careful or she just might find an arrow with her name written on it.
Hitches, Hideouts, & Homicides book cover
#7

Hitches, Hideouts, & Homicides

2019

Everyone in Normal is excited for the Hoe Down to celebrate the opening of the new Old Train Station motel grand opening. The evening comes to an abrupt end when a lightning storm knocks out all the power. At least, that's what appears to have knocked out the electricity. But things aren't always as they appear. Mae West has a way of sticking her nose where it doesn't belong and finds herself in a dangerous situation when she finds a treasure map that leads to more than just treasure... a dead body!
Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis book cover
#8

Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis

2019

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. Telling stories around a campfire at Happy Trails Campground is very entertaining to The Laundry Club women until one of the story teller's tall tale about murder and alibis comes true, leaving the story teller MURDERED! Once again, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies find themselves doing things they never thought they'd do while trying to get clues to who or why someone murdered the tourist. Mae discovers an unheeded warning that will bring the tall tale to life if she can't end the story for good before the killer strikes again.
Valleys, Vehicles & Victims book cover
#9

Valleys, Vehicles & Victims

2019

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where nothing is normal! The Daniel Boone National Forest is gorgeous in the fall. The leaves have painted the sides of the mountains with yellow, oranges, reds and browns you won't see anywhere else. That's why it's such a popular destination for weddings! When a wedding party show up at Happy Trails Campground, Mae West is thrilled. She's all things girly and excited to assist the bride in all things southern, which is what the bride is hankering for. Mae recognizes the parents of the bride when they arrive. They are from her past. The past she's been desperately trying to escape...especially since it was the time she was married to Paul West. This just isn't any couple, it's the owners of the famous Moonbucks Coffee Company. Determined to get the happy couple married off and on their way, hoping to see some of her past drive off forever, Mae volunteers herself and the Laundry Club ladies to become the wedding coordinators. The wedding is set to take place in the beautiful wedding barn at the Old Train Station Motel, only Gert Hobson, the owner of Trails Coffee Shop and providing the coffee for the happy couple, has decided there's no way she's going to help out with Tom Moon's daughter's wedding since she claims how years ago Tom Moon STOLE her coffee blend recipe known today as the special Moonbucks blend. A public fight between Gert and Tom leaves Gert a prime suspect after a member of the wedding party is found dead at the wedding venue. There might not be a happily ever after for the bride to be or Gert Hobson if Mae West and the Laundry Club ladies don't solve the murder before the wedding party's RV rolls out of town.
Sunsets, Sabbatical & Scandal book cover
#10

Sunsets, Sabbatical & Scandal

2020

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. Who served up the murder at Normal Diner? A beloved resident of Normal, Kentucky is found dead on the floor of the Normal Diner, leaving the entire town on high alert. Faster than the short order cook can say order up... the laundry ladies are in the scene. News spreads fast about the murder and Detective Hank Sharp is hungry for answers. Mae West along with the Laundry Club ladies come up with a list of suspects and the evidence is piling up faster than a juicy double cheeseburger. Who murdered the beloved citizen? Was it a hit to score some extra lunch money?
Tents, Trails & Turmoil book cover
#11

Tents, Trails & Turmoil

2020

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. Mae West knows tourism and nothing stops tourists like a dead body found in the Daniel Boone National Park. Unfortunately, Yaley Woodard, a local tour guide, is found dead at Happy Trails Campground. Mae is determined to put her amateur sleuth skills to investigate along with the help of the Laundry Club gals. But when Yaley's past ends up being tied to forest trails and local Joel Grassel, Mae realizes Yaley's death has caused much more turmoil than she'd originally thought - and the killer might want to close the tourism in the Daniel Boone National Park for good.
Kickbacks, Kayaks, & Kidnapping book cover
#12

Kickbacks, Kayaks, & Kidnapping

2020

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! Deep in the heart of the Daniel Boone National Forest, Mae West has spent the last few years bringing the rundown Happy Trails Campground and the small southern and cozy town of Normal, Kentucky back to a thriving economic community. Mae's efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Not only is Happy Trails Campground in the running to be named Campground Hospitality of the Daniel Boone National Park, but she landed the coveted Paddle Fest kayak competition that secures the winner a spot on the Olympic team. When champion and Olympian kayaker Bryce Anderson turns over in his kayak dead...there's more than paddling going on and his death has been ruled a homicide. News of Bryce's death spreads fast and Happy Trails becomes the center of bad publicity. Come camping with Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies as they put their sleuthing, well nosy, caps on and put their skills to the test so they can figure out who killed the Olympian and save Happy Trails from financial ruin.
Gear, Grills, & Guns book cover
#13

Gear, Grills, & Guns

2020

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal. Mae West is bound to prove she deserves the seat she was appointed to on the National Park Committee when she brings a big car show to Normal during the slower fall month. But, when Wendell Holliday's body is found dead in one of Happy Trails Campground bungalows and one of the rentable campers is burning to the ground, Mae along with the help of the Laundry Club Ladies once again put on their sleuthing caps to figure out who is trying to sabotage Mae and her new position on the committee.
Eggnog, Extortion, & Evergreens book cover
#14

Eggnog, Extortion, & Evergreens

2020

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! Mae West is busy this Christmas season. She's running around Normal getting the town ready for the first Winter Festival, which she hopes will become an annual event for the tourist town. The freshly fallen snow sure does make the Daniel Boone National Park beautiful and ready for Santa's arrival, but it also makes the curvy roads through the forest very slick. Unfortunately, Mae finds out just how slick the roads are after her car slides off the road and hits a tree, putting Mae into a deep coma. Mae is one of the lucky patients who does wake up and happy to celebrate Christmas with family and friends. One of the patients in the emergency room with Mae didn't die that night of natural causes, and Hank Sharp has himself a new homicide case on his hands. Mae starts having memories about the fire that took her family and a memory of a murder plot that she thinks happened when she was in her coma. Only, she's having a hard time distinguishing between the two memories and the clues seem to have blurred lines. There's one thing she does know for sure, both incidents come with clues that neither were accidents. Once again, Mae West with the help of the Laundry Club Ladies put on their ameatur sleuth cap to help solve the mystery of the murders before the killer sends her Christmas gift she can't return.
Ropes, Riddles, & Robberies book cover
#15

Ropes, Riddles, & Robberies

2020

Solving murders come easy for Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies. Trying to solve a cold case is proving a bit challenging. Mae has been having memories about the house fire that killed her family, leaving her orphaned. As a child she couldn't do much to prove the fire wasn't an accident, but as an adult and with a group of friends to help, Mae is on the case to put the clues of the past together to bring out the truth. Their investigation heats up making this cold case come to a rolling boil!
Paddlers, Promises & Poison book cover
#16

Paddlers, Promises & Poison

2021

Realtor Chelsea O’Connell is found dead in a model home of the new development in Normal. She was not popular in the small tourist town located in the Daniel Boone National Park because the last thing this town wants is for more development to come in to take away anymore of the forest. Detective Hank Sharp has his own hands full instead of worrying about his girlfriend Mae West and her nosey set of friend, The Laundry Club Ladies, now that he found out cuts are coming the Normal Sheriff’s department. Rumors are swirling around about the Sheriff’s department doing some outsourcing and Hank’s job is one of them. Mae finds herself at a crossroads, does she put on her sleuthing cap to help out a friend who is the number one suspect on Hank’s list, or does she let Hank solve the murder by himself so he can prove how valuable his position is to the department?
Insects, Ivy, & Investigations book cover
#17

Insects, Ivy, & Investigations

2021

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where NOTHING is normal. Alicia Becker shows up at the screen door of The Milkery beaten, bruised, and claims to be one of Mary Elizabeth Moberly's foster children. Mae West's suspicion of why Alicia is there turns to an investigation after Alicia is found on a nearby hiking trail standing over the lifeless body of Craig Sutton. Who is Craig Sutton? Craig Sutton is Alicia Becker's con-ex-boyfriend. Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies can't help but wonder if Craig's death was self-defense, though Alicia swears she didn't kill him. Or was Alicia set up? Grab your bug spray and camping equipment. Mae West and Laundry Club Ladies are 'bout to put their sleuthing skills back to the test.
Outdoors, Oars, & Oaths book cover
#18

Outdoors, Oars, & Oaths

2021

She talks so much, she should have two sets of teeth. I haven't seen Stanley Shelton since the flamingo keychain with the campervan key dangled from his fingertips as he ripped the Maserati keys out of my grip after my ex-now-dead husband left me broke and penniless, until now. Stanley claims the Diamond Swamp Mob is after him and he needs my help. Something about my past, but I didn't take him too seriously until someone was murdered in Stanley's rented room at the Milkery. The person just so happened to have a tattoo I've seen before. One problem, the tattoo is a brand from a mob in New York City. Sheriff Hank Sharp has hauled Stanley down to the Normal sheriff's department for the murder, leaving it up to me and the Laundry Club Ladies to clear Stanley's name. Looks like I'm driving my campervan back to New York City and make it a girls trip. I sure hope I can get to the mob boss before he sends anyone else to Happy Trails Campground to finish the job and get revenge on who actually killed the mobster. Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, where nothing is normal!
Wildlife, Warrants, & Weapons book cover
#19

Wildlife, Warrants, & Weapons

2021

Southern Hospitality with a Smidgen of Homicide I'm a handyman in the Daniel Boone National Park. My main employer is Mae West at the Happy Trails Campground. When I got a phone call to take down some trees on this guy's property for a side hustle, I jumped at the chance. That's one of the biggest money making jobs around these parts. Unfortunately I got hauled off to jail after I was accused of being part of an illegal logging crew. Simple enough, I gave Sheriff Hank Sharp the name of the man who hired me, only he was found murdered by one of my tools. Not only am I accused of illegal logging, now I'm the number one suspect in this man's murder. It just creams my corn to be accused of murder. There's only one person I trust to get me out of this mess and that's Maybelline West. I'm sure she, along with her nosy friends, the Laundry Club Ladies, will snoop around to help clear my name.
Blossoms, Barbeque, & Blackmail book cover
#20

Blossoms, Barbeque, & Blackmail

2021

The last thing Normal needs is Dottie Swagger or Mary Elizabeth Moberly as the Ms. Blossom Festival Queen. I thought I had my hands full when Dottie Swaggert and Mary Elizabeth Moberly entered the Ms. Blossom Queen Beauty Pageant for seniors but when I witnessed a fight at the festival between Carrie Patillo and Jason Dresser, Carrie's daughter's accused killer, I knew Jason was wrongfully accused for the murder and set up. How was I going to prove it before the trial started? Easy. Gather the Laundry Club Ladies and use our unique sleuthing skills. Right? Wrong! After we uncovered some evidence of blackmail and head on over to tell Jason what we found out. . .we found out something alright. The true killer got to Jason first. If that wasn't enough to deal with, Bobby Ray Bond found his real mama. With her impending arrival, we Laundry Club Ladies have our hands full with Blossoms, BBQ, & Blackmail. Welcome to Normal where NOTHING is normal!
Lanterns, Lakes, & Larceny book cover
#21

Lanterns, Lakes, & Larceny

2021

Let me be the first person to welcome you to Normal, Kentucky located in the heart of the Daniel Boone National Forest. I'm Mae West the owner of Happy Trails Campground. Over the past few months my love life has been on what you'd call a slippery slope. Just this past week I'd resigned to the fact that me and Hank Sharp was caput! Done with. No more! And when I got a phone call during Bobby Ray's meeting with his birth mother from Hank, I felt like I was wrapped up between a nightmare and a dream. Let me cut to the chase. Hank's best friend Jerry Truman is a local private investigator and he's got a HUGE case that includes a dead body. Of course I've not stuck my nose in it because honestly it has nothing to do with me. Those are the kinda murders I like, but now that Hank has told me he's back and helping Jerry, and get this...they need me to use my sleuthing skills to help them, it's now my business. One, because I love to snoop and two because by the sound of things, Hank Sharp misses me as much as I miss him. You see, this case will be a double win! At least that's what I thought until I'm the one staring into the barrel of a shot gun when I found out a little too much information.
Jackets, Jack-O-Lantern, & Justice book cover
#22

Jackets, Jack-O-Lantern, & Justice

2021

Let me be the first person to welcome you to Normal, Kentucky located in the heart of the Daniel Boone National Forest. I'm Mae West the owner of Happy Trails Campground. Fall at the campground is my favorite time of the year. The bursts of orange, yellow, green, and red pop on the falling leaves, creating a colorful path along the trails for all of my guests at my campground is a real life picture that could never be captured by a camera. Days are warm and at night you need a light sweater to enjoy the campfire or snuggle up in a cozy blanket. The campground is full and the campers are excited to participate in Normal's annual Pumpkin Carving Carnival. It's a little spooky seeing the hundreds jack-o-lantern faces all light up with toothless or toothy smiles. It's the dead body among them that chills me to the bone.
Santa, Sunrises, & Suspicions book cover
#23

Santa, Sunrises, & Suspicions

2021

Let me be the first person to welcome you to Normal, Kentucky located in the heart of the Daniel Boone National Forest. I'm Mae West the owner of Happy Trails Campground. Around here we say BLESS HER HEART and sometimes it's just not in a good way. Take Neva Hudson for instance, bless her heart, she's the town gossip, not to mention someone who likes to toot her own horn. Two toots too many 'cause bless her heart, someone has strangled Neva and left her for dead in of all places...the church's Christmas play. Trust me when I say there's no shortage of suspects since her tongue lashed a few too many lies about people. More importantly, my dear friend Dottie Swaggert has been on the tall tale end of Neva's lies and she's got the most motive. Thank goodness me, Mae West, and our group of friends, the Laundry Club Ladies have traded our Christmas play elf hats into sleuthing caps because Santa's bringing Dottie a big ole present of FREEDOM when we find the real killer. ’Tis the season for murder in the small town of Normal, Kentucky. When the town gossip is found strangled to death in a church, there’s no shortage of suspects.
Vistas, Vices, & Valentines book cover
#24

Vistas, Vices, & Valentines

2022

Welcome to Normal where nothing is normal! Join Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies as they cha cha and twirl their way around Happy Trails Campground as they put on some sleuthing dance shoes to bring closure to this southern and fun cozy Valentine's mystery. When I begged Hank Sharp to take dance lessons to celebrate Valentine's Day, I knew I was getting more than I had bargained for. But when a dancer's dead body shows up at the height of the competition and Hank is hired to investigate the murder, I had no idea what we were in store for when he had Dottie Swaggert and Henry Bryant go undercover as a dance competition couple to get insider information. After a little snooping around, we discovered there were deep running feuds and passions behind those sequins and smiles that gave motive and opportunity to kill for the desires to win the most coveted dancing title. Time is running out and we fear Dottie's life is in danger. Let's face it, she has a hard time keeping her mouth shut. And NO ONE puts Dottie in the corner.
Adventure, Abduction, & Arrest book cover
#25

Adventure, Abduction, & Arrest

2022

Southern hospitality with a smidgen of homicide... Welcome to Normal, Kentucky where nothing is normal! When Hank Sharpe asked me in the laundry club ladies to join him in an undercover investigation to help find a missing person, me and ladies grabbed our sleuthing notebook without hesitation. As undercover Forest Bathing Therapist trainees we were bound and determined to find out with happened to Kyra Tenney. When we did find her body in what appeared to be an accidental forest fire, we thought we were finished with our undercover act. Only the coroner’s report came back that our missing person had been killed before the fire. Put on your sleuthing caps and join Mae West along with the Laundry Club Ladies as they take their investigation skills to a whole ‘nuther level! Especially after Mae finds herself in the fire!
Rangers, RVs, & Revenge book cover
#26

Rangers, RVs, & Revenge

2022

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns. Welcome to Normal where nothing is normal! As we say in the south beauty is only skin deep but ugly...now that runs straight to the bone. When Miss Daniel Boone Days is murdered and our good friend Helen Pyle, owner of Cute-icles beauty salon is standing over our beauty queen with a gun, lets just say Helen didn't giddy up on out of there. Nope. She was hauled down to the sheriff's department and booked for murder. Ranger Tucker Pyle is taken off the case because let's just say he knows his Aunt Helen didn't do it, but who better to snoop around to help him out? Yep! You guessed it! The Laundry Club Ladies and Mae West once again find themselves with their sleuthing notebook in hand and get all gussied up to find out just who is behind the murder. After all everyone has beauty but not everyone sees it.
Campfires, Courage, & Convicts book cover
#27

Campfires, Courage, & Convicts

2022

Southern hospitality with a smidgen of homicide. It is fall in Normal, KY, and the town is celebrating the season with a Bourbon Festival. Mae West is trying to enjoy the festival and a night out with Hank. While trying to dodge the one question every keep asking (When is the wedding?) Mae overhears an argument between the bourbon king’s son and another man and woman. So, when she stumbles over a body with ties to the Bourbon King, her hackles are raised. Mae, Dottie, and the rest of the Laundry Club Ladies start poking around into the Bourbon King’s complicated life and soon find out there's more than bourbon underneath the lid of a bourbon barrel.
Trapping, Turkeys, & Thanksgiving book cover
#28

Trapping, Turkeys, & Thanksgiving

2022

Amazon All Star author and USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns. Mae West is bound and determined to stay in shape for her wedding day and with all the delicious southern dessert Mary Elizabeth is serving for Thanksgiving Mae has joined the local running group to race in Thanksgiving’s annual Turkey Trot. She never figured murder would be on the menu and a couple of people she loves have a perfect motive. The list of suspects isn’t exactly brief especially when one of the governor’s recently pardoned prisoner is at the top of the list. Mae has a pretty full plate between trying to plan a wedding that will satisfy everyone, keeping Dottie in line as well as trying to get a long with her future mother in law. So what’s a little investigation to keep her mind off things? If Mae’s not careful, she may find herself served up as a last-minute course with all the trimmings.
Gifts, Glamping, & Glocks book cover
#29

Gifts, Glamping, & Glocks

2022

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, a small town in the Daniel Boone National Forest and Happy Trails Campground, where the annual Christmas activities are in full swing. But behind the twinkling lights and festive cheer lies a sinister secret. When a local delivery driver is found murdered in Seymore’s Candy Cane Factory, suspicion quickly falls on the eccentric cast of characters who call Normal home. From the grumpy old man who own’s the candy cane factory, to the bubbly town fiddle player, Otis Gullett, who is secretly in a rendezvous with the factory owner’s wife. No one is above suspicion. As the investigation heats up, the town's residents begin to turn on each other, and the killer's true identity becomes more and more elusive. As the body count rises, Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies must race against the clock to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again. ​​​​​​​ With a southern twist and plenty of red herrings, Gifts, Glamping, & Glocks is a holiday thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Brides, Bribes, & Binoculars book cover
#29.5

Brides, Bribes, & Binoculars

2022

This is a new short story/novella is the Campers & Criminals series that follows the latest book, Gifts, Glamping & Glocks #29.
Zoning, Zealots, & Ziplines book cover
#30

Zoning, Zealots, & Ziplines

2023

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE When the owner of the local zipline is found dead on the ride, the small town of Normal, Kentucky is in a state of shock. With the local ranger and sheriff at a loss for leads, it falls to the Laundry Club Ladies - a group of nosey sleuths led by Mae West - to crack the case. Mae is more than happy to put her nose to the grindstone and get to work, especially since it gives her a chance to escape her pesky new sister-in-law, Ellis. As Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies dig deeper into the mystery, they uncover a slew of suspects in the cozy town. But with the killer still on the loose, the investigation takes a dangerous turn. Can Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies catch the killer before it's too late? Join Mae and her team as they navigate the twists and turns of this intriguing murder case in this page-turning cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Hammocks, Handguns, & Hearsay book cover
#31

Hammocks, Handguns, & Hearsay

2023

Grab your hammock and your bug spray, and join Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies on a wild ride through Happy Trails Campground, where the only thing more dangerous than the handguns is the gossip. When famous bounty hunter Colt Lincoln is found dead in the Smelly Dog Groomer, clutching a sponge curler that belongs to Dottie Swaggert, Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies know they've got a real doozy of a case on their hands. Despite Colt's catfishing ways and the fact that he'd parked his fifth wheel camper in Happy Trails Campground, owned by Mae and run by Dottie, they know their friend couldn't have done it. As they start digging, they discover that Colt had been chasing a member of a notorious motorcycle gang member across the country. To complicate matters further, there's a motorcycle convention in town, and the Laundry Club Ladies have to go undercover to find out if any of the gang members are among the convention attendees. But that's not all - Mae's mama, Mary Elizabeth, is breathing down her neck about finalizing her wedding plans with her fiancé Hank. With a killer on the loose and the campground buzzing with rumors, Mae's got her hands full. As Mae and her pals weave their way through the hearsay and red herrings, they uncover a web of deceit that threatens to take down more than just Colt. With the killer still on the loose and time running out, Mae must use all her Southern charm and camping know-how to catch the culprit. Will they catch the killer before it's too late, or will this case be the one that got away?
QUESTIONS, QUARRELS, & QUANDARY book cover
#32

QUESTIONS, QUARRELS, & QUANDARY

2023

Welcome to Normal, where NOTHING is normal. "Questions, Quarrels, & A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 32" invites you back to the heart of Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest. The Cowgirl Campers, an all-women's vintage camping club, roll into the Happy Trails Campground with their quaint campers, ready to indulge in the annual 127 yard sale and antique treasure hunting. But amidst the cozy camaraderie, a chilling event shatters the tranquility. Local woman Etta Hardgrove, a consignor at the Tough Nickel thrift shop, catches the eye of a Cowgirl Camper with her distinctive jewelry. But when Etta is found dead, the Campers swiftly become suspects, mired in a town teeming with those who harbored ill-will against Etta. The mystery deepens, and no one can be trusted. Meanwhile, campground owner Mae and her partner Hank have their hands full. Hank is preoccupied with a missing teenager's case while Mae is entangled in wedding plans and premarital counseling that she's not particularly invested in, much to the dismay of her friend Mary Elizabeth. As whispers of suspicion turn towards the nomadic Cowgirl Campers, Mae, Dottie, and the intrepid Laundry Club Ladies embark on a mission to unravel the truth behind Etta's untimely death. They dig deep into Etta's past and scrutinize the traveling campers, all to ensure the safety of their beloved Normal, Kentucky. From yard sales to murder trails, "Questions, Quarrels, & Quandary" delivers a captivating blend of cozy camaraderie, nuptial nuances, and mystery that will keep you guessing till the last page.
Witness, Woods, & Wedding book cover
#33

Witness, Woods, & Wedding

2023

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns. In the heart of the charming town of Normal, Kentucky, Mae West has patiently awaited her wedding day to Hank Sharp. Friends and family gather, the crisp autumn air carries the scent of fallen leaves, and laughter dances through the warm Southern breeze. Everything is set for a picture-perfect day, a celebration of love in a town nestled by the serene Daniel Boone National Forest. But in the South, they say, "Mishaps at weddings are like the rain in April—unexpected but not unusual." Just as Mae is about to say her vows, a bolt of lightning struck. The news hit like a tornado—literally—a young girl had been murdered, and a tornado has torn through the town, turning everything upside down, including the carefully laid wedding plans. In a town where mysteries were as common as fireflies on an autumn night, Mae West and the Laundry Club ladies venture where others fear to tread, unearthing long-buried secrets and confronting a darkness that threatened to shatter the tranquility of their beloved Normal. Another question is on everyone minds, will Mae and Hank finally tie the knot?
Elves, Evergreens, & Evidence book cover
#34

Elves, Evergreens, & Evidence

2023

Snow's falling and sleigh bells are ringing in the town of Normal, but there's nothing "normal" about this festive season. Mae West's first Christmas as a married woman at Happy Trails Campground should've been merry and bright. But when a Winter Festival turns deadly and one of their own lands on the suspect list, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies know there's more to unwrap than just presents. With a mischievous reindeer, a friend in jeopardy, and the campground's reputation at stake, Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies are dashing through clues and untangling Christmas mysteries. Dive into a world of holiday in the campground, Southern charm, and yuletide twists, where tinsel, traditions, and murder collide. Grab a cup of cocoa and join the holiday hunt with Mae and the gang, as they jingle all the way to justice.
Moonlight, Marshmallows, & Manslaughter book cover
#35

Moonlight, Marshmallows, & Manslaughter

2024

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, where the only thing normal is the unexpected! Join Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies as they untangle a mystery as intriguing as the winding paths of Daniel Boone National Forest. During National Wildflower Week, Normal is abuzz with nature enthusiasts and botanists. But the festivities take a dark turn when a renowned botanist known for her groundbreaking research is found dead under the moonlit sky. The tranquil celebration is shattered, and the town is gripped with shock and disbelief. The trails may have gone cold, but Mae and her friends are hot on the case. From a land developer with a not-so-clear conservation plan to an assistant whose obsession takes a dangerous turn, the list of suspects is as diverse as the town's flora. Mae delves into a thicket of hidden motives and secrets, discovering that danger in Normal can sprout up unexpectedly. Navigating through a labyrinth of environmental politics and hidden agendas, the Laundry Club Ladies are determined to expose the truth and bring justice. But in Normal, where the extraordinary often lurks beneath the surface, can Mae piece together the puzzle before the killer strikes again? "Moonlight Marshmallows & Manslaughter" invites you on a captivating journey through the heart of Kentucky. It's a cozy mystery that intertwines the charm of small-town life with the thrill of the unknown. So, get ready to be immersed in a tale where uncovering the truth is as vital as preserving the beauty of nature itself.
Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls book cover
#36

Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls

2024

Get ready to pitch your tents and light the campfire for a wildly entertaining mystery with "Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls," the latest page-turner in the A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series. When the peaceful plunk of fishing lures at Happy Trails Campground is replaced by the startling bang of gunshots, Mae West and the Laundry Club ladies gear up for their most adventurous case yet in the heart of Daniel Boone National Forest. Imagine stumbling upon a body in the woods—only it's not hunting season, and this isn't a deer we're talking about. This twist sends Mae and her gang on a trek through a forest thick with secrets, where every turn in the trail could be the clue they need or a dead end. The victim, a real outdoorsman with a complex web of connections to the wilderness, has left behind a trail as puzzling as a switchback path. "Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls" isn't just any cozy caper; it's a romp through the great outdoors, complete with twists, turns, and Tonya Kappes' signature dose of humor. Prepare to be hooked from the first gunshot to the last guffaw as Mae digs into a case that proves even the most scenic spots can hide dark secrets and dastardly deeds. This book is the perfect campsite companion for mystery lovers looking for fun, frights, and friendship. With a backdrop as enchanting as Kentucky's own wilderness and a story brimming with intrigue, betrayal, and, of course, a hefty helping of laughter, you won't want to put it down. So, pack your sense of adventure (and maybe a flashlight) and join Mae and the gang as they navigate the wilds of human nature. "Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls" is more than a mystery; it's an expedition into excitement, proving once and for all that where there's smoke... there's laughter, lies, and a darn good read. Catch your copy today and become a happy camper in the world of cozy mysteries!
Fireworks, Freedom, & Felonies book cover
#37

Fireworks, Freedom, & Felonies

2024

Welcome to Normal where nothing is normal!!!
Autumns, Awnings, & Arson book cover
#38

Autumns, Awnings, & Arson

2024

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, where the only thing bigger than the Daniel Boone Festival is the mystery that's set the town ablaze! As autumn leaves fall and the smell of campfire drifts through the air, Mae West is ready to cozy up to the Daniel Boone Festival, the highlight of Normal, Kentucky. But when a fire at the Frontier Village turns into a blazing whodunit, Mae’s relaxing plans go up in smoke. Dr. Everett Hamilton, a celebrated historian, is found toastier than a s'more at the annual festival. Worse yet, the flames were no accident—Dr. Hamilton was as dead as a doornail before the fire even started. When another body drops hotter than a cast-iron skillet, Mae realizes there's more to this festival than meets the eye. With her trusty sidekicks—Dottie, Queenie, Betts, and Abby (the Laundry Club Ladies)—by her side, Mae trades in her festival fun for some down-home sleuthing. From suspicious historians to smoldering affairs, the suspects are as thick as campfire smoke, and it’s going to take more than Mae's Southern charm to put out this fire. Can Mae catch the culprit before the whole festival goes up in flames, or will this mystery be her final campground cookout? “Autumns, Awnings, & Arson” is a sizzling Southern mystery full of camping chaos, down-home humor, and a heroine who won’t quit until she’s put the lid on this case. Grab your tent and marshmallows—things are about to get heated in Normal, Kentucky!
Snowcaps, Skiing, & Sabotage book cover
#39

Snowcaps, Skiing, & Sabotage

2024

A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series is now in development for a television show! Welcome to Normal, where nothing is normal. SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE The small town is buzzing as Normal, Kentucky, hosts the Southeast Olympic ski trials for the first time, drawing elite athletes and sponsors to the usually peaceful Happy Trails Campground. But whispers of sabotage and broken equipment soon cast a dark shadow over the competition—and all clues seem to lead back to Mae’s campground, where one of the competitive skiers is found dead. With ruthless sponsors, jealous rivals, and old grudges coming to light, Mae finds herself on a slippery slope of secrets and lies. Alongside her trusty friends, the Laundry Club Ladies, Mae digs into the lives of the skiing elite, uncovering motives as sharp as the winter chill. As Mae races to uncover the truth, she’ll have to tread carefully through snowy trails and hidden dangers. Because in Normal, where everyone knows everyone, the killer might be closer than she thinks. Perfect for fans of small-town charm, sassy amateur sleuths, and mysteries that keep you guessing, Snowcaps, Skiing, & Sabotage will have cozy readers flipping pages well into the night. Grab a mug of hot cocoa and settle in for a thrilling ride through the heart of winter in Normal, Kentucky—where the temperature’s low, but the stakes have never been higher.
A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery book cover
#1-10

A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery

All Ten Books : Box Sets Book 1

2021

Amazon.com #1 in Cozy Mystery, Mystery Anthologies, and Private Investigator. ‘Reading this series is like coming home to a cozy town with all the southern fun, gossip and good friends to help scratch our meddlin' ways to solve a good whodunit crime.' When Mae West finds herself penniless and with a rundown campground in the heart of the Daniel Boone National Park in her name, she's on a mission to sell it... … finding herself as the number one suspect in her ex-now dead-husband's murder forces her and her new found friends to put on ameateur sleuthing caps to find the real killer. If you would've told me year ago that I was going to be broke and penniless after my husband took everyone to the cleaners after he pulled off one of the biggest Ponzi schemes, leaving me a run down campground, a set of camper keys, before he escaped prison and when the FBI came to the campground to see if I helped him escape, then the no good you know what floated up to the top of the lake in that campground making me the number one suspect, I'd said you were lying. Read this fast-paced cozy mystery and nine more full-length stories that will entertain you right to the very end. Over 2,000 pages of pure cozy fun! This boxed set of books contains the following titles: Beaches, Bungalows, & Burglaries Desserts, Driving, & Derelicts Forests, Fishing, & Forgery Christmas, Criminals, & Campers Motorhomes, Maps, & Murder Canyons, Caravans, & Cadavers Hitches, HIdeouts, & Homicide Assailants, Asphalts, & Alibis Valleys, Vehicles, & Victims Sunsets, Sabbatical, & Scandal
A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Box Set One book cover
#1-3

A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Box Set One

2020

BEACHES, BUNGALOWS, & BURGLARIES- book 1 DESERTS, DRIVING, & DERELICTS - book 2 FORESTS, FISHING, & FORGERY- book 3 BEACHES, BUNGALOWS, & BURGLARIES Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars. Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn't lost. . .the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn't seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky and an RV to live in. One problem, Mae's idea of camping has room service. By the look of the brochure, Happy Trails has plush Kentucky Bluegrass, a crystal clear lake, a beach chair with her name on it and thoughts of how much money it could bring her after she sells it. Mae figures she'll take a couple weeks vacation with her toes dipped in the lake. Things aren't always as they appear. The Kentucky Bluegrass is nothing but dirt and the crystal clue lake is murky with green slime on top. Mae quickly find out that Happy Trails and the citizens of Normal were also victims of Paul's schemes, making her lower than tha lake scum in the residents' eyes. Mae doesn't think things could get much worse, but as luck would have it, Paul West has escaped from prison and is found dead, murdered, floating in the Happy Trails mucky green lake. Mae is the number one suspect on Detective Hank Sharp's short list. After all, Mae has the perfect motive as a kept wife who has been scorned to ashes, embarrassed to death, and seeking revenge. Time is running out for Mae to prove that she's innocent and nothing like her husband. If only she could get someone to believe her and talk Detective Sharp into looking at other residents who've lost all their savings to Paul's Ponzie scheme before the curtain is closed on this Hollywood namesake. DESERTS, DRIVING, & DERELICTS Mae West is getting settled into the RV lifestyle as the owner of a campground in Normal, Kentucky. Happy Trails Campground, located in Daniel Boone National Park, has started to attract late summer vacationing families who love to hike, swim, fish, and enjoy being outdoors. Betts Hager, owner of several small businesses, is swamped with work and desperate for help with her cleaning business. Mae offers her services, happy about the prospect of a little extra cash. Heiress Tammy Jo Bentley’s mansion is the first one on her schedule. Mae makes sure Tammy Jo’s house is spotless because the Kentucky Kennel Association's annual meeting is going to be held at the mansion. Fifi, Tammy Jo’s high pedigree, insured poodle, is going to be on display and Tammy Jo will be evaluating potential suitors to sire Fifi's offspring. Before the annual meeting, Camille Braun, Fifi’s nanny, is stabbed to death. Everyone knows that Camille would put her life on the line \or\ lay down her life for Fifi and, apparently, she did. Mae tries her best to stay out of it. Tammy Jo begs Mae to help her; after all, she did find the last killer in Normal. Plus, it's not good for business - or Normal's revived economy - when a murderer is on the loose. Mae has grown to love her RV community and now that she's found a place to call him, she's not going to let anybody ruin it. Mae throws all of her heart and amateur sleuthing skills into bringing the real killer to justice. FORESTS, FISHING, & FORGERY Happy Trails Campground is at the center of a murder in which campers as well locals are suspects.

Author

Tonya Kappes
Tonya Kappes
Author · 142 books

Click the FOLLOW button to be notified of Tonya Kappes' new and upcoming book releases. Tonya Kappes has written more than 180 southern cozy mysteries, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today . Best known for stories charged with southern charm, emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband in northern Kentucky. Now that her four boys have flown out of the nest, Tonya writes full-time in her camper! You can find her all over social media and at Tonyakappes.com . Visit Tonya: Facebook at Author Tonya Kappes, https://www.facebook.com/authortonyak... Webpage tonyakappes.com Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... Twitter https://twitter.com/tonyakappes11 Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/tonyakappes/ For weekly updates and contests, sign up for Tonya's newsletter Kappes Krew Weekly via her website or Facebook.For years,

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