May Online Book Club: Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries by Tonya Kappes
Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries
by Tonya Kappes
Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries pushes the traditional cozy mystery way over to the comedy side of the meter. Based in Normal, Kentucky- “where nothing is normal,” the Happy Trails campground looks completely different than the shiny tourist brochure.
Picking up the pieces of her posh New York City lifestyle after the FBI raids her home, Mae West is stuck with her scofflaw ex-husband’s bad reputation. The only thing left to her name is a beat up RV and her ex’s algae-infested lake and campground populated by down on their luck misfits.
Of course, murder derails Mae’s plans to turn the campground into a money making operation. I did guess whodunnit before the ending, but still enjoyed how it played out. With plenty of suspects, a smart, hunky small town detective, and quirky neighbors, this series has fodder for many more episodes of entertaining reading.
I’ve loved camping since my Girl Scout days and have spent many nights huddled in a tent with friends and family. My parents had a little pop up camper when I was a kid, but our family has always slept in tents. It’s rare that we’ve gone anywhere for a weekend campout when it hasn’t rained. Some of our favorite family stories begin with a camping trip, and end with tornado warnings, torrential downpours, and wet gear. I think many people fantasize about buying an RV and driving around for months seeing the country. If I won the lottery, I’d buy one of these little teardrop campers, hook it up to my Mini Cooper, and take it into the Colorado or Wyoming backcountry to go hiking up some of the peaks on my bucket list. Mr. B would probably not be up for that adventure unless he could sleep in a comfy hotel bed, but I’m not letting practicalities get in the way of my dreams.
Tonya Kappes is a prolific, well-known writer. I’ve wanted to read from this series for a long time, and finally took the plunge on the first book knowing there are 26 more. I’ll probably read one or two a month for a while in between my regular book club books and other favorite series. I look forward to revisiting Normal to keep me entertained for many crazy nights. They are also available in audiobook.
Check them out!
Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
Parents, kids, and teachers love the children’s books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through fun, engaging stories. And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have ever lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project coming together the night before it’s due.
A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.
I dislike reminding people to leave reviews on my books because we are all busy. And honestly, I’m just thankful that you have read the books and hopefully enjoyed them. However, new books especially need reviews to get off the ground, and My Dawg Koa could use some love. So if you have read My Dawg Koa or any of the Duke the Deaf Dog books, I’d appreciate it if you took a minute to leave a quick, honest review. Thanks in advance!!