Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Sometimes a woman on the move…
Stumbles into murder.
Tulia Blake loves to travel, so when her relationship goes down the tubes and she wins the lottery all in the same day, she is determined to start living her dream.

Her first order of business is buying an RV with all the bells and whistles, and after hugging her mother goodbye, Tulia hooks her car to the back of the RV, packs up her African Grey parrot, Cicero, and hits the road.

Born and raised in Michigan, she decides to drive through the Upper Peninsula on her way to Wisconsin.
Everything goes according to plan until she reaches Marquette.

When she stops at a diner for pastries, someone steals her RV — along with her wallet, phone, and essentially everything that she owns.

While searching for clues, Tulia and one of the waitresses who works at the diner find the body of a well-known and largely disliked local in the dumpster.

No one is sure whether the two crimes are related, but it’s the only lead Tulia has to go on. She and the waitress work together to track down the killer in hopes that they can recover Tulia’s RV.

Can Tulia catch a killer and save her brand new RV? Or will her new fortune put her in the path of a killer?

Find out in this exciting Travel Cozy Mystery!

116 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 2022

235 people are currently reading
346 people want to read

About the author

Patti Benning

350 books218 followers
https://www.facebook.com/Patti-Bennin...

When Cozy Mystery author, Patti Benning, isn’t busy plotting the deaths of multiple fictitious characters, she loves to spend time hiking with her rescue dog, Max, who is her bestest writing buddy.

​Patti loves to cook and the food in her books has been tried and tested in her very own kitchen. She’s technologically shy, and stays away from social media a great deal, because it makes her feel more awkward and introverted than meeting someone face to face.

​Writing is the perfect job for her because in her books, she gets to explore all the topics she loves, food, animals, crafts and reading. She loves her readers dearly, and is thankful for the opportunity to share with them through her work.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
350 (43%)
4 stars
264 (33%)
3 stars
147 (18%)
2 stars
33 (4%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Laura.
421 reviews83 followers
May 1, 2025
That actually was quite good, but I bought it sight unseen. I did not realize that it was a novella and I was left hanging at the end ! I will read one more, just to see ,if I can find them.
Profile Image for Linda Langford.
1,600 reviews14 followers
October 23, 2024
I enjoy learning about the U.S. when traveling with the author’s protagonist in these RV Camper cozy mysteries. While parts of this first in a series were predictable, the parrot pet sets it aside as different! Can you imagine stealing an RV with a parrot flying around inside it? Funny! 😂
6,726 reviews5 followers
December 19, 2022
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Another will written travel adventure thriller short story by Patti Benning (Rambling RV Cozy Mysteries book 1). Tulia buys a lottery ticket and wins. She buys an RV and starts on a trip. In the upper peninsula of Michigan she finds a dead body and the RV is stolen. She makes friends with the young 👦woman at the restaurant where she had stopped. The two of them discover the killer and Tulia is on the road again. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading or listening to books 📚. 2022 👒😤😇
Profile Image for Maria.
2,994 reviews97 followers
June 24, 2025
Good start for a new series. I enjoyed getting to know Tulia and the people she met on her first adventure, though some rookie mistakes, while necessary for the plot, made no sense for an adult to make. Hoping more character development will come as the series continues and that there is more investigation but the length of the story may also be a factor in that. Overall, a fun read and I look forward to more in the series.

Profile Image for Kelli Krystne.
111 reviews
September 22, 2024
This book was amazing!! I sometimes think some cozy’s can be a little cheesy but this one was perfect. The main character is so likable and the authors writing flows so perfectly. Tulia, the main character, catches her boyfriend cheating on her. The next day she wins the lottery and decides to buy an RV and go on a road trip. From there, a series of unfortunate events unfold. I was hooked from the beginning.
Profile Image for Emilee Campisi.
10 reviews
February 1, 2025
Took a stab at cozy reads. Was disappointed with the lack of detail, as I’m used much weightier tomes. Tulia seems ignorant for a 30 year old woman, but who am I to judge? Anyway, if you want to kill 2 hours with this 82 pager, be my guest
Profile Image for Tari.
3,639 reviews103 followers
November 23, 2022
I was excited to see one of my fave cozy authors had a new series out. I've loved any of the series I've already read by her, and I've even got some older stuff I still mean to get to, but I couldn't resist borrowing this on KU when I saw it in the Summer Prescott newsletter.

Tulia was a really different type main character than what I've ever read at least. I mean who hasn't dreamed of winning it big in the lottery, right? She was pretty smart about how she handled it too, although the part about leaving the RV open to get taken wasn't one of her best moments, lol. But that ended okay too after she helped a new waitress friend solve a local murder before really taking off on her adventure.

I'm not fan of birds in general, but in books they're fine. Chico the parrot was one of the good ones since he'd been the one to clue her in that her ex was cheating to begin with. I'd still love to see Tulia adopt a cat or dog somewhere in her journey. Heck it'd give the bird someone else to talk to lol. I'm really eager now to read more and see where Tulia's next adventure takes her.
Profile Image for Kris.
165 reviews5 followers
October 29, 2023
I wasn’t expecting a detailed, hard to solve mystery but I was hoping for more creative writing. Being from the Midwest myself I thought reading this RV cozy mystery series would be nostalgic. It was lackluster and unimaginative. It was a free read on Kindle and a very fast little story which will give me enough initiative to read Warned in Wisconsin. But if that one doesn’t entertain me I’m going to stop the series. I think it could be interesting enough to have in a lodge library in a midwestern resort for young adults to grab on a rainy day.
Profile Image for Anne G. Kasaba.
1,920 reviews9 followers
November 27, 2022
What a great start to a new series. Not that I’m surprised. I haven’t yet read a book by this author that wasn’t great. The characters were typical of small town America, friendly and welcoming but of course with their share of secrets. The storyline was creative and the mystery well plotted. This was definitely another winner for this author and I can’t wait for the next book.
9 reviews
September 30, 2024
interesting Read.

This book holds your interest as you follow along with story characters. The ending was not what I expected so that was intriguing.

Also being a former Michigander, I was curious about what places could be in the book and I was not disappointed.
Albeit a quick read it was worth it.
Profile Image for Joni.
659 reviews
November 21, 2022
super short read

Another good book from Patti Benning. A lottery ticket bought on a whim. A cheating ex boyfriend. A new rv with a long road trip planned-oh wait there’s a dead body in the dumpster . I hope there are more
Profile Image for Tambi Smith.
198 reviews12 followers
January 14, 2025
In "Murder in Michigan," the first book in the Rambling RV Cozy Mysteries series by Patti Benning, readers are introduced to Tulia Blake, a waitress whose life takes unexpected turns after a series of dramatic events. Following a kitchen fire at her workplace, Tulia decides to head home early, making an impulsive stop to purchase snacks and a lottery ticket. Little does she know, this ticket holds the power to transform her life. Upon arriving home, she is greeted by her talkative African Grey parrot, Cicero, who cryptically repeats the name "Lucy." The mystery deepens when Tulia discovers “Lucy” in her own bedroom with her boyfriend, leading to a heart-wrenching confrontation. In the aftermath of this betrayal, Tulia’s spirits are lifted when she learns she has won a staggering eighty-six million dollars in the lottery. Armed with newfound wealth, she sets out to travel the countryside in a lavish RV, hoping to leave her troubles behind.
Tulia's journey soon takes a dark turn when she makes a stop at a diner in Wisconsin. What should have been a simple meal becomes a pivotal moment in her adventure when she stumbles upon a dead body in the dumpster behind the diner. As if this shocking discovery isn't enough, Tulia's RV is stolen, throwing her travel plans into chaos. Throughout the unfolding investigation, she keeps encountering two mysterious strangers in a black SUV, adding layers of suspense and intrigue to the narrative. As Tulia becomes embroiled in the mystery, she must navigate the challenges of solving a murder while trying to recover her prized RV. The story keeps readers on the edge of their seats, as they are left to wonder: can Tulia piece together the clues to catch the killer, or will her newfound fortune place her squarely in harm's way?
"Murder in Michigan" is a captivating introduction to the Rambling RV Cozy Mysteries series, offering a delightful mix of suspense, mild humor, and unexpected twists. Patti Benning crafts a fast-paced and engaging storyline that is both easy to digest and thoroughly entertaining. The well-developed characters, particularly Tulia, provide depth and relatability, drawing readers into her world of mystery and adventure. The narrative is skillfully woven, with plot twists that keep the pages turning and an ending that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment, "Warned in Wisconsin." This book is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries seeking a new series to dive into.
Book Rating Opinion:
Cover Design: 4.0/5.0
Originality: 4.25/5.0
Structure: 4.75/5.0
Pacing: 4.75/5.0
Personal Enjoyment: 4.5/5.0
Overall Rating: 4.45/5.0 (Rating will be rounded up due to platforms not allowing partial ratings.)
Profile Image for Rachel.
618 reviews3 followers
December 16, 2024
Cute. Short story.
Tulia feels stuck in a rut. Just a waitress job. Same old boyfriend. That she kicks out because he's been having another girl over, for months, while she's at work.

She just happened to buy a lottery ticket, on her way home. In the morning, she checks the winning numbers. After taxes, she's left with $60 million.

She buys a 45 ft long RV and hits the road with her African Gray parrot.
Her first stop is to check out a local eatery in the U.P. She pulls into a diner that has a big enough lot for her big rig .

She tries pasties for the first time. While the owner, Angela, is closing up shop, Tulia helps her take out the trash. They see a dead body in the dumpster. Then someone drives off with her RV !!

The dead guy is an ex boyfriend of Angela's. He was selling drugs right outside her diner. Her brother Benny happened to see it, and threw a punch at the guy, who hit his head against the dumpster, and bled out.

Tulia sticks around to talk to police, and Angela takes her in for the night. The police find her RV about 20 miles away.

She also meets two well dressed"tourists" while she helps wait tables in Angela's diner. Samuel and Marc look more like FBI than fishermen. They have a big shiny RV, too.

So when Tulia leaves, to head I to Wisconsin, she is upset to see them possibly following her .

Onto #2. Warned in Wisconsin!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,338 reviews266 followers
January 12, 2025
It’s looking bleak for Tulia Blake after a messy breakup with her boyfriend, but things start to look up when she wins the lottery and is suddenly a millionaire. She is quick to make all her dreams come true. She leaves her waitressing job, buys a state-of-the-art RV and goes on the trip of a lifetime with her best buddy, an African Grey parrot named Cicero.

Tulia is from Michigan so that’s where she starts out with plans to end up in Wisconsin. Her first stop is at a diner, but things take a horrible turn when her RV and everything in it is stolen including her ID and money. A friendly waitress lends her a helping hand.

Tulia and her new friend are stunned to find a dead body in the dumpster near the diner. Tulia wonders if this has anything to do with her stolen RV. The investigation begins!

I really enjoyed this novella and my trip through Michigan. I had my suspicions on who the culprit was, but it fun going through the journey with Tulia and finding out how and why things happened. It’s the perfect short adventure. I loved Tulia and Cicero. A great sleuthing team.










Disclosure: I borrowed this one from the Kindle Unlimited library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Genevieve.
1,355 reviews11 followers
May 18, 2023
I have loved Patti Benning since I picked up the first book in her pizza and deli series. This new series is just as great. When waitress Tulia wins the lottery she decides to travel the country in a brand new RV. She hasn't made it out of her home state of Michigan before stumbling over a dead body.

Tulia is a very likable main character. She is a little unsure of herself but is determined to stick out what ever this journey brings her. The story was quick paced and very well written with a few great descriptions of the people and places.
My only complaint really is that there was no real police investigation. There is a murder of a local person and besides a few questions there is no investigation. It is not really believable. Tulia is never told not to leave town and there seems to be more interest in her stolen RV than the fact a guy had been murdered.

All in all a great start to a new series am I know I am going to love travelling with Tulia around the country.
Profile Image for Pam.
351 reviews4 followers
March 31, 2023
This is the first book in a new series by Patti Bennett. I loved it. It was a quick, fun read. Tulia bought a lottery ticket on her way home. Once home she found her boyfriend in bed with another woman so she kicked him out. She discovered the next day that her ticket was the winning one. After hiring a financial advisor, she purchased a new RV and set off on the road. At her first stop, she discovered a dead body and her RV was stolen. Luckily her parrot was not in the RV at the time. The owner of the diner where she stopped to eat took her in for a few days. She got her RV back undamaged and helped to solve the murder and set off again in her travels.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for VICTORIA STEWART.
152 reviews1 follower
April 25, 2023
Exciting new read!!!

This was an exciting new read! Fast paced but leaving nothing out,this is a series I am going to continue on with. Tulia, our main character, is relatable and likeable. I felt her desire for adventure while still being a bit nervous was the perfect story. Some books forget to make their characters real people. That's not the case with this book. Tulia is an interesting character who seems to be cautiously adventuring herself into a new life chapter. Cicero her pet bird is a surprising but interesting addition. Most authors write in a dog (My personal favorite) or even a cat....but a parrot?! Wonderful surprise! I'm excited for the next adventure/ book!
Profile Image for Marissa.
3,574 reviews47 followers
November 21, 2022
Kindle Copy for Review.

In this new cozy series a waitress buys a lottery ticket and finds her boyfriend cheating on her in her apartment. She dumps him and wins the lottery as she buys herself a RV to travel around Michigan as a change her boring life.

Soon her luck runs out as someone steals her RV with her wallet stepping out to eat. She befriends the waitress as they seek clues to find a robber but end up finding a body in the dumpster.

A charming new cozy from Patti Benning who has a way with cozies.
Profile Image for Debbi.
854 reviews3 followers
May 13, 2023
This was a quick read. I enjoyed reading about Tulia Blake and her RV adventure. She’s starting out to see the country after buying an RV. Her travel buddy is a parrot named Cicero. It was supposed to be a nice, enjoyable trip up through the UP of Michigan and then over to Wisconsin. But it was anything but that. While stopping at a diner, she finds a body along with her RV being stolen. I enjoyed seeing what transpires and now that she’s back on the road, i want to follow along with the next book in the series.
222 reviews2 followers
March 14, 2025
First stop--Michigan's UP

Light reading but still kept my interest. A jilted young waitress wins the lottery. With no need to work she decides to follow a dream to see all 48 states by purchasing an RV, traveling from state to state towing her car so she can go where it's hard to drive an RV. The first day, in Michigan's UP, she stops for a pasty, discovers a body and then has her RV stolen.
Good description of northern Michigan driving over the Mackinac Bridge. Book reads quickly.
1,716 reviews8 followers
December 2, 2022
First book in what should be a good series

Tulia comes home early to find her boyfriend in bed with another woman and throws him out. The next day she finds out the lottery ticket she bought was the winning ticket in the multi million dollar jackpot. She takes time to try and figure out her plans and decides to buy an RV and travel the country. From there the drama picks up with a murder mystery and lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending. A fun read.
354 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2023
Traveling in RV style while solving murder mysteries...my happy place

I really didn't think I liked to read anything under 100 pages, but since I love RVs and mysteries, I thought I'd give this book a try. I loved it, and I look forward to reading the entire series. Unless I win the lottery, I will never be able to rent an RV, much less buy one, so this series allows me to travel in an extremely nice RV while trying to solve a mystery.
Profile Image for Jenny J.
118 reviews4 followers
September 29, 2025
3.75
Enjoyed learning about Michigan and I am living vicariously through the main character as I would also like to go travel the US in a RV. My only complaint is that the author multiple times referred to the new friend as “the other woman” which I find very odd. One time is peculiar but 3-5x? Just say “the character went to look for Angela” instead of saying “the character went looking for the other woman”. Just weird. But I will read the second book in the series.
345 reviews7 followers
October 2, 2024
Not bad

I understand this is the first entry in a new series, but boy did we have a major dangling bit. It's one thing when a cliffhanger is introduced near the end. This bit of the story was introduced early, never resolved and mentioned again at the end. And sprinkled throughout. Kind of annoying.
Profile Image for Melissa Basnight.
683 reviews19 followers
January 20, 2025
RV adventure

Tulia breaks up with her boyfriend, wins the lottery and buys an RV to go explore the states. She ends up at a restaurant, someone steals her RV that had her parrot in it and finds a dead body. What a way to start a new adventure. The waitress at the restaurant knows the victim and they work together to find the killer. The story held my interest and entertaining.
2,797 reviews14 followers
July 10, 2025
I found this book on the Goodreads website and as I just had finished reading another series, I thought this sounded like something I would enjoy. I did enjoy it. I thought it was a great start to a new series, and I would love to do something like this--just traveling around the country. Tulia seems like a smart character, and I am looking forward to her next book. Recommend reading.
1 review1 follower
July 14, 2025
I was hooked from the beginning and am working my way thru the series as I bask on the beach on vacation. I only have one question: knowing someone who has had larger birds in their home, why does she not talk about how messy they can be with their food and poop? Otherwise I am thoroughly enjoying reading about Tulia’s adventures across America.
21 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2023
Fun, light, quick read

Thou roughly enjoyed following Tulia on the first leg of her road trip. The story was well written and edited with well developed characters. I look forward to following Tulia on her next adventures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.