Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers by Tonya Kappes

Welcome!  The Memory House by Rachel Hauck will be published on April 2 with A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer.  Bat Wings, Rings and Apron Strings by Erin Johnson releases on April 6.  It is the final book in the Spells & Caramels series starring Imogen Banks, Hank and the bakers.

Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers by Tonya Kappes takes us back to Normal, Kentucky.  Mae West receives the key to the city for her work in transforming Happy Trails Campground which helped increase the town’s economy.  The shops in town are now thriving thanks to Mae and her creative ideas.  Principal Donald Bass invites Mae to teach a six weeks economics course at Normal High School, and she cannot wait to get started.  After the party, Mae decides to take some food over to Coach Scott Goodman, the high school’s economic teacher, to see what he thinks of her ideas.  She finds him on the floor of his trailer with an arrow in his back.  Scott was also the coach for the Archery and Rifle Club.  Immediately people start phoning the camp and canceling their reservations.  If tourism does not pick back up, Mae could lose her beloved campground.  Mae and the Laundry Club gather together to work up a plan to solve Scott’s murder.  Violet Rhinehammer, new editor-in-chief of Normal Gazette, wants them to join forces and Mae reluctantly agrees.  Mae soon has a list of suspects that include angry parents, disgruntled students, and the victim’s wife.  Her investigation takes a turn when the killer strikes again.  Mae needs to work quickly to find the executioner before she ends up his next target.

It is always a delight to visit Normal, Kentucky with its charming shops and quirky residents.  Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers is the sixth book in A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series.  I suggest that you read the series in order.  It will give you a better understanding of Mae, her friends, the campground and the town.   Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers contains good writing and a snappy pace.  Mae West is quite a character (starting with her name).  She loves her trailer, her friends, boyfriend and her dog, Fifi.  Mae is happy that she has been able to turn Happy Trails into a thriving enterprise and it has helped improve the town’s economy.  The last thing she expected is a key to the city and an opportunity to teach economics at the high school.  The murder of Scott Goodman is threatening her livelihood and that of her friends.  Mae and her close group of friends (called the Laundry Club) are quick to gather together and form a plan.  Mae and her friends never fail to entertain.  I like that they have such a close friendship.  There are three murders in the book which is not good for tourism and Violet, of course, is reporting all the details in the Normal Gazette.  There is active investigating with Hank repeatedly telling Mae to quit (she is not going to listen, but he wants to keep her safe).  The mystery is clever, and I believe some readers will be surprised when the solution is revealed.  I enjoy the descriptions of the picturesque Normal.  The Laundry Club sounds like a cozy establishment.  I would love to work on a puzzle there and catch up with friends while doing my laundry.  I had to laugh when the ladies discussed getting detective licenses (Hank would have a fit).  The beauty shop, Cute-icles sounded unique (poor Mae ended up with an unfortunate nail polish color).  Tonya Kappes conversational writing style along with her friendly characters and attractive town will keep you riveted until the very last word.  Do not miss out on Mae’s latest adventure in Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers. 

There are recipes and helpful RV tips (hacks) at the end.  Canyons, Caravans and Cadavers is available on Kindle Unlimited. The next A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery is Hitches, Hideouts and Homicide which comes out May 28. Thank you for visiting me today.  I hope you will consider following my blog (upper right--various methods) so you can know when I will have contests and feature different books.  I plan on reviewing Murder Lo Mein by Vivien Chien tomorrow.  It is the third book in A Noodle Shop Mystery series.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader