Dead as a Doornail: A Kenni Lowry Mystery

Welcome!  I am featuring Tonya Kappes today.  Ms. Kappes novels include A Killer Coffee Mystery series, A Magical Cures Mystery series, A Ghostly Southern Mystery series, and her latest A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series (first book out on May 25).  For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been publishing numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plot lines and quirky characters but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans (I am one of them).  Readers can follow Tonya Kappes on Facebook, her Facebook Cozy Krew, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest. You can sign up for her newsletter here.

Dead as a Doornail by Tonya Kappes is the fifth novel in A Kenni Lowry Mystery series.  Kenni Lowry is the sheriff in Cottonwood, Kentucky.  She is enjoying a spa day at Tiny Tina’s courtesy of her boyfriend, Finn Vincent with her best friend, Jolee.  Then Lucy Ellen Lowell barges in demanding an appointment so her nails and hair will be beautiful for upcoming nuptials of  Polly Parker and Mayor Chance Ryaland.  After a lively disagreement, an unhappy Lucy Ellen leaves and comments that Tina will regret not accomodating her.  Lucy Ellen is well-known for her disparaging articles on businesses posted in the Cottonwood Chronicle when she is unable to bully the owner to get her way.   Kenni is looking forward to a quiet evening after the gossip of the salon when her mother barges in with Polly Parker and her mother, Paula.  It seems that Kenni is Polly’s new maid-of-honor  and gets the privledge to wear a large hunter green dress that is reminiscent of Scarlet’s curtain dress in Gone with the Wind (good grief).  Kenni is awakened at 4 a.m. with a phone call from Darnell Lowell.  He has arrived home and found his wife, Lucy Ellen dead.  When Kenni arrives at the crime scene and sees Poppa, she knows that Lucy Ellen was murdered.  Chance Ryland and Polly would prefer Kenni to put off her investigation until after their wedding (it is taking attention away from Polly).  Kenni will need to work quickly to find Lucy Ellen’s killer before the wedding while handling her maid of honor duties.  It is going to be a long week for Kenni Lowry. 

Dead as a Doornail is the fifth book in the series, and I suggest reading the books in order.  That way you will understand the background on Kenni, her family history, her romance with Finn, and Poppa.   Dead as a Doornail contains good writing and has a nice quick pace which makes for an enjoyable read.  I appreciate Tonya Kappes conversational writing style.  Cottonwood is the quintessential small town where gossip runs rampant, doors are not locked, favors are a way of life and everyone has advice to give on your love life.  As sheriff, Kenni finds herself in an unusual position.  It will soon be time for re-election and she cannot alienate the voters which is how Kenni finds herself in awkward (and unwelcome) position of being Polly’s maid of honor.  Kenni’s mother will having you laughing with her antics and how she manipulates Kenni.  Cottonwood has several quirky characters that use charming Southern colloquialisms.  The mystery is a nail biter. Dead as a Doornail is a lighthearted cozy mystery that will have readers chuckling frequently and puzzled by the killer’s identity.  You can purchase Dead as a Doornail on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Bookbub.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you will take the time to check out the other stops on the tour.  There are spotlights, author interviews, character interview, character guest posts, and book reviews.  I will be reviewing Better Off Read by Nora Page on May 17.  May you have a day filled with joy.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

May 9 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

May 10 – Mysteries with Character - REVIEW

May 10 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf - GUEST POST

May 11 – The Power of Words - REVIEW

May 12 – cherylbbookblog - SPOTLIGHT

May 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

May 14 – Laura’s Interests - REVIEW

May 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - REVIEW

May 15 – Readeropolis - AUTHOR INTERVIEW

May 16 – Reading Is My SuperPower - REVIEW

May 16 – The Avid Reader - REVIEW

May 17 – T's Stuff - SPOTLIGHT

May 17 – Ruff Drafts - SPOTLIGHT

May 18 – FUONLYKNEW - REVIEW

May 19 – MJB Reviewers - REVIEW

May 20 – Brooke Blogs - CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 21 – My Reading Journeys - CHARACTER GUEST POST

May 21 – Varietats – REVIEW

May 22 – The Book Diva's Reads - SPOTLIGHT