Kristin's Bookshelf

Campers & Criminals (Books 10–12) by Tonya Kappes

Book 10: Sunsets, Sabbatical, & Scandal
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My favorite part of this one was finally learning more about Mae’s past. Seeing how the fire that killed her family shaped her personality and her need to leave town behind added so much depth to her character. And honestly, the people in her hometown were awful. Calling someone “Firestarter” after losing their parents in a fire is just cruel.

The murder almost felt secondary here, but Mae’s backstory and emotional growth kept me fully invested.

Book 11: Tents, Trails, & Turmoil
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really liked this one. Mae getting herself into real danger may have finally been the wake-up call she needed about investigating murders quite so aggressively. Also, Chester deserves MVP status because that dog absolutely saved Mae’s life… twice.

I also think the distillery and Mae joining the board open up a lot of possibilities for the series’ future beyond just campground mysteries.

Book 12: Kickbacks, Kayaks, & Kidnapping
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one was definitely a slower burn by cozy mystery standards. It felt like we were nearly halfway through before the murder even happened, which made it feel different from earlier books.

I do hope Normal doesn’t lose its small-town charm as Mae continues to grow tourism and expand the campground. I love seeing Happy Trails succeed, and the addition of water sports is a fun direction for the series, but the cozy atmosphere is part of what makes these books work so well.

I also feel like we got a few subtle hints that Hank may be planning a proposal soon, and honestly, it feels earned at this point.