"Wildlife, Warrants, & Weapons" By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

Review by Kathleen Costa

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it.

Southern Karma

Mae West is living her best life, but it didn’t start out like that. She lost her parents and younger sibling in a house fire and went into care. Her foster mother adopted her and tried to provide a stable life, but at the stroke of her eighteenth birthday, Mae left. She met a wealthy older man, married him, and thought there was nothing better than a pampered life in the Big Apple…until it all collapsed when her ex, now late, husband went to jail for fraud. How could she survive with only a camper and a “much need of repairs” campground just down the road from the place she swore she never wanted to see again? But, with new friends, hard work, and a bit of imagination the Happy Trails Campground in Normal, Kentucky, became a full-service destination popular with outdoor enthusiasts which greatly contributed to a boon in the local economy. Mae renewed relationships with her adopted mother and foster brother, gained some valued friendships, and although her romantic life has hit a roadblock, she wouldn’t go back to her old life on a dare. Home, family and friends, and a few pesky mysteries keep life interesting.

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Wildlife, Warrants, & Weapons Earns 5/5 Tree Huggers…Engaging Fun!

Mae is excited about tomorrow’s nuptials between her foster brother Bobby Ray Bond and her best friend Abby Fawn. But, during the bridesmaid’gathering, they spot Sheriff Hank Sharpe’s cruiser enter the campground. It’s not totally unusual, but he had moved out finding some land for better ownership and he and Mae had essentially called their relationship…dead (Ok, poor choice of words for a sheriff and an amateur snoop). But, tongues were wagging when Hank’s car leaves with Henry Bryant, Mae’s handyman, sitting in the backseat. Mae calls her good friend Agnes Swift to get the scoop since she is the police dispatcher as well as Hank’s “granny,” and learns Henry is on tape illegally cutting down protected trees in the National Park. That’s a big “no no,” but his actions are suspicious, and so is Mae! Henry would never be involved in illegal logging, so Mae is on the case...to Hank’s annoyance. However, things get complicated when the man implicated in setting up Henry is found dead, and the murder weapon is one of Henry’s tools...it doesn’t look good!

Timber! Tonya Kappas quickly put out the nineteenth book in her A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery series, but it is still fresh, engaging, and well worth reading. Incorporating the age-old conflict between park management and environmentalists is a fascinating element that fueled the drama. Conflicts arise, of course, but none so problematic as Mae losing her connection to law enforcement. Sheriff Hank is now an “ex” which means casual information and some joint investigating are out of the question, but she gets creative with her efforts to help her friend making this a fun page-turner experience. Kappes’s writing style is descriptive and informative, and Mae’s inner thoughts through the first-person narrative and banter between characters illustrates well the emotions and varied personalities. She also adds some tech behaviors like using computers and texting to add realism to the story. Tonya’s series and this newest book are filled with delightful southernisms, reminders of proper manners, references to regional foods (Kentucky Bourbon Pie seems the perfect treat!), and a nice flair for the dramatic when the Laundry Club Ladies get involved. I loved this new book and the series is one of my top favorites, and I have hopes one day Dottie will become be a former smoker.

Bonus! Adding to the delightful experience with this series is the unique Camper Hacks and Recipes from Happy Trails Campground. Whether camping in the woods or in your backyard start with easy-to-follow recipes to get your day going right: Cowboy Coffee along with some Ho-Ho Eggs and Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion, and Potato Hash lunch-style. Included are Camping Hacks to make life less complicated: (1) protect your drinks from bugs, (2) suggestion for dealing with Rust, and (3) a clever light trick for those who are afraid of the dark.

Alert! A Camper and Criminals Cozy books have several books set for release now thru December. In this book, there is a sneak peek of book twenty Blossoms, Barbeques, & Blackmail that is up on Amazon HERE. But keep an eye out, since books twenty-one thru twenty-three are set for releases in the Fall. Check out the series on Amazon HERE to review other dates.

Be a Big Tonya Kappes Fan!

USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes pens a variety of series. along with this nineteen-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! 

Facebook – Author Tonya Kappes

Join the “Cozy Krew”

Become a Member at the Website – Tonya Kappes

YouTube — Tonya Kappes

To enter to win an ebook copy of Wildlife, Warrants, & Weapons, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "wildlife,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 7, 2021. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via comment be sure to include you email address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.   

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode went up this week.

You can use this link to purchase the book. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon 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 a 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 her retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband.

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.