September Book Club: Fixin’ to Die by Tonya Kappes
Fixin’ to Die (Kenni Lowry Mysteries Book 1)) by Tonya Kappes
Our online book club has read Beaches, Bungalows & Burglaries from Tonya Kappes camper & criminals series. Today we’re checking out a more hard boiled mystery series about Kendrick Lowery, sheriff of Cottonwood.
If you’ve ever lived in a small town or visited one long enough to have someone’s great-aunt judge your life choices, Fixin’ to Die will feel right at home. This cozy mystery kicks off Tonya Kappes’ Kenni Lowry series with all the Southern charm, family meddling, and suspicious neighbors you could ask for… plus a ghost. But like, a low-key ghost. The kind that doesn’t knock over lamps or rattle chains, just shows up to offer crime-solving advice and the occasional raised eyebrow.
Kenni Lowry is the newly elected sheriff of Cottonwood, Kentucky, and she’d like to think the town’s low crime rate is because of her law enforcement skills. But whoops. Her Poppa (the former sheriff and now ghost sidekick) has been scaring off criminals from beyond the grave. Which is actually kind of sweet and on-brand for this town.
When someone finally does turn up dead, it’s the town doctor. And suddenly Kenni has a murder, a robbery, and a suspicious symbol to deal with, all while navigating nosy neighbors, a disapproving mama who thinks women should be baking pies, not arresting suspects, and a handsome state officer who keeps showing up with helpful advice and distracting cheekbones.
If you’ve read Tonya Kappes books before, you know she’s basically the Queen of Quirky Southern Towns with Murder Problems. But this series has a little extra… (Tonya calls them “hard-boiled cozy.”) Think: fast-paced mystery with just enough humor and heart to balance out the body count. There’s some actual police procedure mixed in with the sass, and Kenni’s determined to be taken seriously. I liked watching her try to step out of her Poppa’s shadow and become the sheriff she wants to be.
Poppa might technically be dead, but he’s easily one of my favorite characters. He’s part guide, part comic relief, and part “is this real or just Kenni’s way of working through things?” Which makes the ghost element feel more thoughtful than woo-woo.
If the idea of a cozy mystery with a paranormal twist makes you leery, don’t worry because the ghost doesn’t hijack the story. He’s more of a subtle wingman with great timing. The real heart of the series is Kenni trying to prove she’s capable, even if she’s doing it with people from high school still calling her the “sheriff’s granddaughter.”
There are currently 12 books in the Kenni Lowry series, which is way less intimidating than trying to jump into a 40+ book saga (I see you, camping criminals). So if you’re looking for a newer series that’s funny, fast-paced, and full of Southern charm with a whisper of ghostly wisdom, give this one a go.
Just don’t blame me when you start talking to your own invisible sidekick.
Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 17 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.
In 2025, two of her children’s books were selected for the CBC Favorites Award Lists, honored by teachers and librarians nationwide for excellence in children’s literature. Parents, kids, and educators love the Duke the Deaf Dog books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through engaging stories.
And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project thrown 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.