by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of Blossoms, Barbeques, & Blackmail, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

Southern Karma
Mae West has had quite a contrasting life: from the heights of limitless spending to the depths of a 9 to 5 budget, from the superficial cocktail crowd to true bourbon buddies, from a New York City penthouse to a Kentucky campground. After forfeiting everything to the Feds due to her now late-husband’s financial crimes, she leaves the Big Apple with only two items: a camper and ownership of Happy Trails Campground nestled in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Not far from the town in which she grew up, escaped at the strike of eighteen, and swore she’d never return, she has come to an important realization: “There’s no place like home.” She’s never been happier with the campground a popular destination, close friends with whom to gossip, a renewed connection with her adoptive mother and foster brother, and finally her and her beau Hank Sharp on the same page. However, she’s been entangled in too many murder mysteries and has gained a reputation with the locals, but she can always rely on the overanxious assistance from the Laundry Club ladies to get into and out of any perilous predicaments. But, will they be able to untangle the newest mystery, especially since it’s Hank who’s wanted in connection to a murder?

Jackets, Jack o’ Lantern, & Justice Earns 5/5 Snowy Mochas…Engaging Treat!
Hank Sharp was an FBI agent as well as a park ranger when Mae first met him; later he worked as the local detective and even served as interim sheriff. Unfortunately, Mae and Hank found themselves at a crossroads in their relationship, resulting in Hank talking a job and moving across the state. He’s back, though, without his camper and sporting a beard, and working as a private investigator with his friend and former sheriff Jerry Truman. Trouble arrives in the figure of Ranger John Buxley actively looking for Hank in connection with the murder of Walter Adams; Mae is furious how this mess may put her, the campground, her friends, and guests in jeopardy, but it’s Hank. The truth is more complex and worrisome for Mae, and she is very reticent about getting involved, but it’s Hank. Someone will not like them looking closely into the murder, but it’s Hank!

Definitely a Treat! Tonya Kappes has made sure each visit to Normal, Kentucky, is fresh and engaging, and in this twenty-second book of her Camper & Criminals Cozy mystery, readers can’t help but be absorbed in a thrilling drama, vivid description, entertaining banter, well-developed characters, and southernisms to love, like “Turnip tops don’t tell you the size of a turnip.” The timeline is an immediate continuation from the previous book, and Mae has run into a snag that will test her available patience: family, Hank’s family! Mae rebuilt a supportive adoptive family dynamic, but she has no practical experience with a real sibling since her parents and sister were killed in a house fire when she was young. Hank’s family, however, was quite dysfunctional putting all their energies into their daughter. Hank sets his feelings of abandonment aside, risking his career and freedom, to protect his only sister Ellis from being a scape goat. Many are skeptical of Ellis’s recall of the events, let alone her innocence, and it’s understandable that the characters are conflicted (me, too) about how much they want to help. But for Hank, Mae and the Laundry Club put animosity aside and hit the road to visit the crime scene, talk to witness, such as they are, don costumes for a big Halloween party, and try to come up with alternative suspects on which law enforcement can focus. The investigation was cleverly accomplished with Dottie, Abby, Queenie, and Betts providing the right amount of support as confidants, sounding boards, and extra pairs of eyes and ears. With shocking revelations, a dead body, and life-threatening tricks, Kappes’s has penned an excellent page-turning experience.

Bonus! Adding to the delightful experience with this series is the unique Recipes and Camping Hacks from Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies. Whether camping in the woods or in your backyard enjoy these easy-to-follow recipes: Magical Pumpkin Cake, Apple and Caramel Bark, and Orange Blueberry Muffins. Included are Camping Hacks to make life less complicated: (1) uses for styrofoam, (2) decorating with crib sheets, and (3) uses for shower caps.

Facebook – Author Tonya Kappes
Join the “Cozy Krew”
Become a Member at the Website – Tonya Kappes
YouTube — Tonya Kappes

Be a Big Tonya Kappes Fan!
USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes pens a variety of series. along with this eighteen-book Camper & Criminals Cozy series, she also has a six-book Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery along with exciting ghostly-, magical-, and caffeinated-themed series. For ghosts, she has an eight-book Ghostly Southern Mystery and seven-book Kenni Lowry series. Add some magic with a twelve-book Magical Cures Mystery and three-book Spies and Spells series. And finally, get a little caffeinated with her eight-book Killer Coffee Mystery. She also has an enjoyable online presence and various events enticing fans to gather to talk, share, and partake in the fun!

To enter to win an ebook of Jackets, Jack o’ Lantern, & Justice, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “jackets,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 23, 2021. US only, and must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out the first chapter of Tonya’s book Dead to the Last Drop which was featured in a past podcast episode. You can listen here, or in the player below:

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters read by local actors.

You can use this link to purchase this book from Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying year 2 of retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband of 26+ years.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.