This and That with Karen : Deserts, Driving, and Derelicts

Jan 4, 2019

Deserts, Driving, and Derelicts - Nothing is normal in Normal!

Hello my cozy friends,

As I mentioned in an earlier post I am reading the "Campers & Criminals Cozy Series" by Tonya Kappes. Today I am discussing Deserts, Driving, and Derelicts Book 2 in the series.

Kindle Edition - 205 pages

Published - July 12th 2018

Genre - Cozy Mystery

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, where nothin' is normal!

Mae West is getting settled into the RV lifestyle as the owner of a campground in Normal, Kentucky. Happy Trails Campground, located in Daniel Boone National Park, has started to attract late summer vacationing families who love to hike, swim, fish, and enjoy being outdoors.

Betts Hager, owner of several small businesses, is swamped with work and desperate for help with her cleaning business. Mae offers her services, happy about the prospect of a little extra cash. Heiress Tammy Jo Bentley’s mansion is the first one on her schedule.

Mae makes sure Tammy Jo’s house is spotless because the Kentucky Kennel Association's annual meeting is going to be held at the mansion. Fifi, Tammy Jo’s high pedigree, insured poodle, is going to be on display and Tammy Jo will be evaluating potential suitors to sire Fifi's offspring.

Before the annual meeting, Camille Braun, Fifi’s nanny, is stabbed to death. Everyone knows that Camille would put her life on the line *or* lay down her life for Fifi and, apparently, she did.

Mae tries her best to stay out of it. Tammy Jo begs Mae to help her; after all, she did find the last killer in Normal. Plus, it's not good for business - or Normal's revived economy - when a murderer is on the loose.

Mae has grown to love her RV community and now that she's found a place to call home, she's not going to let anybody ruin it. Mae throws all of her heart and amateur sleuthing skills into bringing the real killer to justice.

This is an easy read, full personality, non-stop action, and plot twists. Deserts, Driving and Derelicts is the 2nd installment in the Camper & Criminals cozy mystery series and I LOVED it.

Mae West is now settled into life in Normal, Kentucky and is finished making improvements to her Happy Trails Campground. Her business is booming, economy in town is up due to visitors and she has made some really close friends.

One of those close friends, Betts Hager from the Laundry Club, asks Mae to help by filling in for her at a house cleaning job. The homeowner has a prized poodle named Fifi and even has its own Nanny! Yup you heard me right a nanny, crazy right. Mae steps into the investigation when she finds the nanny dead.

I thought I had identified the killer early in the book but as I read on there were some red herrings. When the murderer was finally revealed I was partially right.

I like the hint of romance in the series, and the introduction of some new characters, which slowly fills in the scene and life in Normal. I must say I have enjoyed getting to know the residents and about life in Normal, and the Laundry Book Club. I want to be part of the gang.

With that said I am very glad I purchased the next two books in this series.

My Rating

For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been publishing numerous mystery 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. Sign up for her newsletter on her website at Tonyakappes.com .