Tonya Kappes

Mar 2023 25

Chocolate Bunny Betrayal By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2023 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Violet’s Mama has really taken to Holiday Junction participating in the various women’s groups, planning committees, and holiday festivities. With the Hip Hop Hurray Easter Festival near, many, including Mama, are honing their baking skills for the Bake-Off. Frances Green, who won the competition last year, was Mama’s toughest competitor, but still she didn’t waver from her plan to win the top prize: the Golden Egg Trophy.

Feb 2023 11

New Year Nuisance By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2023 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Violet Rhinehammer’s original plan was to nail the interview for her dream journalism job, move to California, and become famous on the national stage, but circumstances, that can only be described as karma, derailed her plans: a murder and rerouting of her flight to Holiday Junction. She has previous experience reporting on homicides as the lone reporter in Normal, Kentucky, and associated with Mae West and her various investigations, but even with a nose for news, California was a bust.

Nov 2022 19

Trappings, Turkeys, & Thanksgiving By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2022 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Mae West has turned diamonds into dungarees, a penthouse into a parking spot, and New York to Normal, Kentucky; she couldn’t be happier. She renovated Happy Trails Campground, the only thing that truly belonged to her after the government confiscated all of her husband’s assets, and turned it into a popular, full-service vacation destination.

Aug 2022 20

Red Letter Slay By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2022 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Vince Campbell, retired FBI agent and one of Bernie’s close friends and occasional back-up in her covert investigations, is lucky to be alive after a terrible fall oddly impaling his skull with a letter opener. Just an unfortunate accident it seems, but Vince isn’t convinced. He doesn’t own a letter opener, and being adamant someone intended to kill him, he asks Bernie to help him find out who.

Aug 2022 6

Mother’s Day Murder By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2022 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Violet Rhinehammer’s bubble burst with a “Bang!” when her trip to California had a murderous detour. She’d left Normal, Kentucky, for greener “national” pastures confident the job interview was only a formality. Unfortunately, a dead body in the airplane bathroom caused an emergency landing in Holiday Junction. Quick thinking exposed a silver lining giving Violet a real life opportunity to showcase her talents for her prospective employer to consider.

Jul 2022 16

Rangers, RVs & Revenge By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2022 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Mae West doesn’t even think of the pampered New York lifestyle she was forced to give up, when her, now late, ex-husband veered down easy street and was arrested for fraud. Mae was left with a small yellow camper and a much need of repairs campground in Normal, Kentucky, near where she grew up. She set to work turning Happy Trails Campground into a popular vacation spot finding herself with dear friends, a loving family, loyal fur friends, and finally on the same romantic page with local private investigator Hank Sharp.

Jun 2022 11

Blowin’ Up a Murder By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2022 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Kenni Lowry is very good at her job as Cottonwood’s sheriff investigating a variety of crimes and misdemeanors, but no wonder, it’s in her blood. Her grandfather, Poppa, had been the sheriff for a long time until his unexpected passing, and his unexpected reappearance when murders occur is just a fascinating, if not awkward, perk to the job. She has a more corporeal deputy in Scott Lee along with her boyfriend Finn Vincent and a plethora of older ladies to offer support, but it’s her Poppa, only seen by her and her bloodhound Duke, who is extremely helpful in solving crimes and making perps nervous with some of his antics. If he would just be more careful about striking up conversations when people are around, “Kenni bug” wouldn’t be worried.

May 2022 14

Four-Leaf Felony By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2022 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Violet Rhinehammer never made a secret of her desire to escape the small town confines of Normal, Kentucky, and hit the big time. Her work as the local reporter for Channel Two news included her own television newscast, “Good Day in the Park,” referring to the fact Normal was surrounded by Daniel Boone National Forest, and writing for the local newspaper, but she’d rather not be reporting on new park trails, local re-enactments, or safety tips during hunting season.

Apr 2022 2

Barista Bump-Off By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

2022 Articles, Food Fun, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

Roxy Bloom, now Mrs. Roxy Cane, is enjoying the success of her coffeehouse, The Bean Hive, situated on the boardwalk with a lovely vista of Lake Honey Springs. Her shop is a go-to stop for tourists and locals alike to pick up a sweet treat, a cup of her personally crafted blends, and some delicious gossip. She’s an integral member of the community partnering with Pet Palace to have on hand a few adoptable shelter animals, like Polly, a “be careful what you say” talking bird, joining in various community events, and currently allowing her young employee Birdie Bebe a place for her home economics study group to meet.

Dec 2021 11

Christmas, Tonya Kappes-Style

2021 Articles, Kathleen Costa, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Kathleen Costa

These two series by Tonya Kappes are all-time personal favorites: A Camper & Criminals Cozy introduced in 2018 and Killer Coffee Mystery in 2017. I am quite invested in the diverse characters along with their love lives, friends and family, and methods used to solve a murder. Both series are set in tourist-friendly small towns in Kentucky, but one revolves around running a campground while the other a coffeehouse. Both have strong females who have suffered personal set backs, but have successfully reimagined their personal and professional lives, made great friends, and found true love…oh, picked up a few fur buddies, too.