Monday, September 21, 2020

First Class Killer by Tonya Kappes

First Class Killer (A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery #5)
Book Summary

First Class Killer by Tonya Kappes has Bernie Butler a happy grandma.  She loves spending time with her six-month old granddaughter, Clara.  Sugar Creek Gap, Kentucky residents are excited when they hear the old mill has been turned into a bookstore, and Piddy Linn Satterly is the manager.  Bernie is delivering mail at Sugar Creek Gap Nursing Home when she hears that Stella Jane Clark has written a book titled “Beyond Boundaries” and she dedicated it to Bernie’s son, Grady who encouraged her.   The grand opening of the new bookstore is packed as people grab copies of Stella Jane’s book.  Iris Peabody, Bernie’s best friend, is stunned when she finds the affair between her husband and Piddy are in the book.  Grady encouraged Stella Jane to write what she knows which apparently is the secrets of the townspeople.   When Piddy ends up dead, Iris is at the type of the suspect list.  Bernie works with Iris and newly returned Revonda Gail to unravel the crime. 
My Thoughts

First Class Killer by Tonya Kappes is the 5th A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone as all the background information a new reader needs to know is included.  This lively tale has Tonya Kappes’ trademark writing style.  It reminds me of talking with an old friend.  I was quickly drawn into this engaging cozy mystery.  Sugar Creek Gap, Kentucky is a cozy Southern town with friendly residents and charming shops.  Bernie Butler just loves her grandbaby.  She talks about her to anyone who will listen and shares pictures that she has taken with her 35 mm camera.  Gertrude, one of the Front Porch ladies, gets news that her daughter, Revonda Gail is coming to town.  She ends up renting Mac’s rental next door to Bernie and the pair become friends.  Revonda Gail has a colorful past much to Bernie’s surprise.  Stella Jane Clark has written “Beyond Boundaries” and thanks Grady Butler, her high school English teacher, for encouraging her to write.  His advice to Stella Jane was to write what she knew, and she certainly did much to many residents’ dismay.  The book has people up in arms including Bernie’s best friend, Iris Peabody.  
When a murder occurs, Iris is at the top of Angela Hafley’s suspect list.  Bernie, of course, must investigate.  They use the big write-on/wipe-off board at Iris’s bakery to keep track of clues and suspects.  Revonda Gail gets in on the act.  She is a great addition to the book and the investigation.  I hope the author continues to have her help Bernie.  The Front Porch ladies take a back seat in this book, but we do learn more about Gertrude.  First Class Killer is my favorite book in this series.  The time flew by as I read First Class Killer.  I just love the humor in the story that had me chuckling.  I like that Bernie is an older protagonist.  She is going through menopause and I agree with Bernie when she said that “menopause is awful on the body”.   First Class Killer is a delightful cozy mystery with bawdy book, a bounty of baked good, gossip galore, a grinning grandma, a busy bookstore, a profusion of photographs, and a mystifying murder.
Female mail carrier. This illustration that I created depicts a woman delivering #Sponsored , #Paid, #AD, #mail, #illustration, #woman, #carrier

First Class Killer releases on September 26.  It can be pre-ordered from Amazon*.  You can find the other four novels in A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series here.  All the book in the series are available on Kindle Unlimited.  You can find Tonya Kappes' other novels here.  Tonya's next release is Gears, Grills, and Guns which releases October 27.  It is the 13th A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review.  Next time I am featuring Truth of the Matter by Jamie Beck.  It is the 2nd book in Potomac Point series.  I hope you have a magical day.  Take care, be king, and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader


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