Beaches, Bungalows and Burglaries

eAudiobooks make my drive to work (and my occasional insomnia) a lot easier to take. I usually prefer lighter fare (with the occasional memoir thrown in) because my mind wanders so cozy mysteries and light romances are typically what I listen to. 

I found this book in my public library's digital library and it appealed to me because of its cute, bright and sassy cover. But as the story progressed, I thought it was an odd title choice since there is a brief mention of a small beach, there are no bungalows to speak of and one burglary. Hmm.

This first book in the Camper and Criminals Cozy series began with a good premise, but the mystery never got going and it honestly felt like an afterthought. Instead, we follow Mae West who is not strong and sassy like her namesake. She is unbelievably naïve and repeatedly explains how she's trying to make up for her ex-husband's failings while feigning poverty even though she has $100k in cash stashed away. But what really buttered my buns was how Mae's backstory didn't mesh with some of the things she did and said in current day. She was raised in Kentucky but doesn't understand basic southern idioms? I get that she was supposed to be a fish out of water, but I had a hard time believing that Mae, who was not raised with a silver spoon in her mouth, had to be shown how to do a load of laundry and despite being a flight attendant before meeting her husband, couldn't brew a cup of coffee? Say wha?!

This was an easy listen on my commute, but I was disappointed that it didn't live up to its potential. The narrator was okay, but the story was choppy, the mystery was weak and with its underdeveloped characters and a main character who was too ridiculous to get behind, needless to say, I won't be continuing with this cozy mystery series.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Tonya Kappes

Genre: Romance, Cozy Mystery

Series: 1st book in A Camper and Criminals Cozy series

Type and Source: eAudiobook from public library

Publisher: Tantor Audio

First Published: January 30, 2019

Run Time: 5 hours, 22 minutes

Narrator: Johanna Parker

Opening Lines: "I'm very aware that you had nothing to do with 

his Ponzi scheme, but I'm not so sure you didn't have 

anything to do with his escape."

Book Description from GoodReads: Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal.

Mae West, a far cry from the Hollywood actress, has been thrown for a loop. Her plush lifestyle in the big city of New York comes to a screeching halt after the FBI raids her mansion and arrests her husband, Paul West, for a Ponzi scheme that rips people out of millions of dollars.

Mae finds herself homeless, friendless, and penniless. All hope isn't lost. . .the only thing Mae got to keep that the government didn't seize is a tourist camp ground, Happy Trails, in Normal, Kentucky and an RV to live in. One problem, Mae's idea of camping has room service.

By the look of the brochure, Happy Trails has plush Kentucky Bluegrass, a crystal clear lake, a beach chair with her name on it and thoughts of how much money it could bring her after she sells it. Mae figures she'll take a couple weeks vacation with her toes dipped in the lake. Things aren't always as they appear. The Kentucky Bluegrass is nothing but dirt and the crystal clue lake is murky with green slime on top.

Mae quickly find out that Happy Trails and the citizens of Normal were also victims of Paul's schemes, making her lower than lake scum in the residents' eyes. Mae doesn't think things could get much worse, but as luck would have it, Paul West has escaped from prison and is found dead, murdered, floating in the Happy Trails mucky green lake.

Mae is the number one suspect on Detective Hank Sharp's short list. After all, Mae has the perfect motive as a kept wife who has been scorned to ashes, embarrassed to death, and seeking revenge.

Time is running out for Mae to prove that she's innocent and nothing like her husband. If only she could get someone to believe her and talk Detective Sharp into looking at other residents who've lost all their savings to Paul's Ponzie scheme before the curtain is closed on this Hollywood namesake.