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S'more Murder
A clean, funny cozy mystery that will have listeners laughing as they guess who the murderer is!
When Ivy Thurman remembers visiting her grandmother’s campground, she thinks of idyllic childhood summer vacations. Now that she’s inherited the Happy Camper Resort, Ivy sees a money pit. Leaky roofs, whiny golf carts, and a swampy pool are just the beginning of what needs to be fixed. It seems she’s also inherited her grandmother’s tenants, a crew of retirees who live at the aging campground on a full-time basis.
It should have been easy to sell the place, but on Ivy’s second day as the new owner, she falls off the slippery moss covered dock to come face to face with a body! Now a murder has taken place at the campground, and Ivy is the prime suspect according to the Oaks Crossing Police Detective. After all, the deceased, Ethel Murlay, changed her will to include Ivy as a beneficiary the same day she died.
The citizens of the Happy Camper Resort are going to do everything they can to help Ivy clear her name. From interviewing suspects and a break and enter gone wrong, Ivy is caught up in the enthusiasm of her grandmother’s friends which just might land her in jail!
Two murders, a missing cat, and a hot detective breathing down her neck....
When Ivy Thurman remembers visiting her grandmother’s campground, she thinks of idyllic childhood summer vacations. Now that she’s inherited the Happy Camper Resort, Ivy sees a money pit. Leaky roofs, whiny golf carts, and a swampy pool are just the beginning of what needs to be fixed. It seems she’s also inherited her grandmother’s tenants, a crew of retirees who live at the aging campground on a full-time basis.
It should have been easy to sell the place, but on Ivy’s second day as the new owner, she falls off the slippery moss covered dock to come face to face with a body! Now a murder has taken place at the campground, and Ivy is the prime suspect according to the Oaks Crossing Police Detective. After all, the deceased, Ethel Murlay, changed her will to include Ivy as a beneficiary the same day she died.
The citizens of the Happy Camper Resort are going to do everything they can to help Ivy clear her name. From interviewing suspects and a break and enter gone wrong, Ivy is caught up in the enthusiasm of her grandmother’s friends which just might land her in jail!
Two murders, a missing cat, and a hot detective breathing down her neck....
6 pages, Audible Audio
Published June 2, 2023
410 people are currently reading
510 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
September 26, 2020
Good story,
Problem is the story has already been told before.
Sleuth inherits a run down campground, falls off a mossy dock into a mucky lake, and comes face to face with a dead body.
This is outright plagiarism!
May as well address the second book also. It's also from the first book of the plagiarized book. This one takes over the subplot from the first in Tonya Kappes Campers and Criminals series. Both of the plot lines come from Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries.
Problem is the story has already been told before.
Sleuth inherits a run down campground, falls off a mossy dock into a mucky lake, and comes face to face with a dead body.
This is outright plagiarism!
May as well address the second book also. It's also from the first book of the plagiarized book. This one takes over the subplot from the first in Tonya Kappes Campers and Criminals series. Both of the plot lines come from Beaches, Bungalows, and Burglaries.
September 26, 2020
This book has been plagiarized! The true author of this story is Tonya Kappes. Shame on this author for stealing Tonya’s work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2025
I enjoyed this small town cozy mystery. Ivy and the other campers work on solving several murders. Some suspense at the end of the book. Easy to read. I received this from a stuff your kindle event.
October 9, 2020
This was a really fun book, and I loved how all the senior citizens in Grandma Jeannie's campground took Ivy under their wing when she inherited the campground after Jeannie's death. When another member of the campground died, it was just too suspicious for these folks, so they pulled Ivy into an investigation with them. From worrying about the tons of repairs that needed done to fielding people who were making offers to buy the campground, Ivy had her plate full and didn't know when or if she'd ever get to start her dream bakery. I think she made the right decision though.
There was a good twist, and I was glad that Ivy was enough of an eavesdropper that she was warned about it. The showdown was good, and I loved how another little older woman was able to help out. I'll be definitely borrowing the next book on KU too.
There was a good twist, and I was glad that Ivy was enough of an eavesdropper that she was warned about it. The showdown was good, and I loved how another little older woman was able to help out. I'll be definitely borrowing the next book on KU too.
August 9, 2024
I enjoyed S'more Murder, the first book in the Camping Girl cozy mystery series by Josephine Beintema. It tells the story of Ivy Thurman (wanna be baker) who just inherited the Happy Camper Resort in the small town of Oaks Crossing from her grandmother. The campground has been neglected, is run down, and is in desperate need of repairs. Despite this, there are several friendly elderly people who live and socialize there. On her second day in Oak Crossing as she is checking things out, Ivy discovers a dead woman in the water near a dock. It turns out to be Ethel Murlay one of grandma's friends. Now Detective Armand is on the trail of a killer. Unfortunately for him, Ivy can't resist doing some sleuthing of her own. I liked the setting and the quirky group of characters in this series as well as Ivy's grandmother's dogs--Cookie and Cupcake. Now I want to know how Ivy manages the mess she's been saddled with. Future installments should be a lot of fun!
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July 25, 2020I would love to visit
The author writes with great details that allow your mind to visualize the exactly what the setting looks like, feels like and even smells like. If your a camper and have ever visited those dusty old resorts that have seen better days but are still filled with love you will be able to walk along with the characters and have a mutual understanding of what life is like. The strong personalities of the characters make it feel like a group of old friends that are in everyone’s business. There is no doubt you will find someone in the story to love and will be waiting for book two to discover what they’ve been up to. Book two can not come fast enough, I am sure there is great gossip happening at that campground and I am stuck waiting to find it out!
The author writes with great details that allow your mind to visualize the exactly what the setting looks like, feels like and even smells like. If your a camper and have ever visited those dusty old resorts that have seen better days but are still filled with love you will be able to walk along with the characters and have a mutual understanding of what life is like. The strong personalities of the characters make it feel like a group of old friends that are in everyone’s business. There is no doubt you will find someone in the story to love and will be waiting for book two to discover what they’ve been up to. Book two can not come fast enough, I am sure there is great gossip happening at that campground and I am stuck waiting to find it out!
May 24, 2024
Murder and anElder’s camping resort!
This was a sad,funny story about a run down camp ground that had mostly elderly residents. Ivy inherited her grandmother’s camp ground, a place she had fond memories of when she was a kid. A falling out between her mother and her grandmother kept her away from the camp ground and her grandmother for many years. Her grandmother died and Ivy inherited the run down camp ground. What happened when she got to the campground was one calamity after another. I don’t want to give anything away so you just have to read it and find out who got murdered. Lots of conniving and surprises in store for Ivy and the residents of Happy Camper Campground !
This was a sad,funny story about a run down camp ground that had mostly elderly residents. Ivy inherited her grandmother’s camp ground, a place she had fond memories of when she was a kid. A falling out between her mother and her grandmother kept her away from the camp ground and her grandmother for many years. Her grandmother died and Ivy inherited the run down camp ground. What happened when she got to the campground was one calamity after another. I don’t want to give anything away so you just have to read it and find out who got murdered. Lots of conniving and surprises in store for Ivy and the residents of Happy Camper Campground !
April 24, 2025
All the feel goods
At the passing of her grandmother, Ivy returns to the campground she's just inherited, hoping to relive the happy memories of her childhood before selling it. What she doesn't expect is how run down everything is, the elderly residents who have nowhere to go if she sells, a couple of dogs, and a body in the lake. When the lead detective suspects her of murdering the woman, well, things really get interesting as Ivy and her senior friends decide to find the killer and clear her name.
Poor thing is smart, but it all is a bit overwhelming. Lots to think about, over her head citizen's sleuthing, and a bit dangerous, but a girls gotta do whatever it takes.
I enjoyed getting to know the gang.
At the passing of her grandmother, Ivy returns to the campground she's just inherited, hoping to relive the happy memories of her childhood before selling it. What she doesn't expect is how run down everything is, the elderly residents who have nowhere to go if she sells, a couple of dogs, and a body in the lake. When the lead detective suspects her of murdering the woman, well, things really get interesting as Ivy and her senior friends decide to find the killer and clear her name.
Poor thing is smart, but it all is a bit overwhelming. Lots to think about, over her head citizen's sleuthing, and a bit dangerous, but a girls gotta do whatever it takes.
I enjoyed getting to know the gang.
July 15, 2025
This was a very good book. Ivy inherits her grandmother's campground which she remembers visiting as a child. When she gets there things aren't quite as she remembers and the place is in rough shape. People are are trying to buy the campground from her but she has a bunch of senior, seasonal campers that were very good friends of her grandmother who would be displaced. There is a murder and was her grandma's death really an accident? I enjoyed the shenanigans Ivy gets into with the campers. I'm looking forward to the next book set at Happy Camper resort because I definitely want to see what happens next.
October 31, 2024
My first problem with this book is all of the stereotypes of elderly people. Women today in their 70s and 80s don't have names like Thelma, Ethel, Loretta, etc. That would be their mothers' generation. They have names like Linda, Dianne, Carol, and Sharon. Look it up. They wear jeans, T-shirts, sweatshirts and don't serve fancy teas. Many of them are very active and don't totter around.
I also felt the writing was rather amateurish and there were disconnects in the plot and timelines that made events rather hard to follow.
I also felt the writing was rather amateurish and there were disconnects in the plot and timelines that made events rather hard to follow.
September 28, 2020
A great start to this cozy mystery series. As typical in a first book, there’s multiple characters introduced and it can be challenging to keep up wi5 who is who. The author did a wonderful job of bringing the setting to life and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to now the characters. I’m looking forward to getting to know them even more in the coming books. The mystery was good, with a wide array of suspects. A great read.
June 18, 2024
*I read this book via kindle unlimited.
This is a cute, cozy mystery. Ivy inherts a campground from her grandmother who dies under suspicious circumstances. Of course the campground is loaded with many full-time senior citizen residents.
Then there is another murder and Ivy is the most likely suspect. Ivy along with her gang of seniors helps the local PD solve the murder, all while being underfoot.
Cute, easy read.
This is a cute, cozy mystery. Ivy inherts a campground from her grandmother who dies under suspicious circumstances. Of course the campground is loaded with many full-time senior citizen residents.
Then there is another murder and Ivy is the most likely suspect. Ivy along with her gang of seniors helps the local PD solve the murder, all while being underfoot.
Cute, easy read.
February 3, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. It was a fast read but it was engaging and interesting.
I recently saw a review that someone gave accusing the author of plagiarism. They stated she copied Tonya Kappes. This greatly upset me because the stories are completely different. It was like saying that every author that wrote about characters that owned bakeries and solved crimes were plagiarized - it made no sense.
I really like this author’s sense of style and hope she writes a lot more.
I recently saw a review that someone gave accusing the author of plagiarism. They stated she copied Tonya Kappes. This greatly upset me because the stories are completely different. It was like saying that every author that wrote about characters that owned bakeries and solved crimes were plagiarized - it made no sense.
I really like this author’s sense of style and hope she writes a lot more.
July 23, 2020
Pleasantly Surprised!
Loved the characters in this story. I can just imagine the campground, the way it was described left nothing to the imagination! I imagined it to be a woodsy paradise! A few twists were a surprise and I didn't know who the murderer was until almost the very end!
Loved the characters in this story. I can just imagine the campground, the way it was described left nothing to the imagination! I imagined it to be a woodsy paradise! A few twists were a surprise and I didn't know who the murderer was until almost the very end!
May 25, 2024
fun read!
This was such a fun and sometimes funny read. I loved the characters, the warmth of them reminded me of my grandma❤️. The campground setting is interesting, refreshing almost. So much seems to be happening but it’s all moving at a great pace. I really did enjoy this book and am excited to continue on with the series.
This was such a fun and sometimes funny read. I loved the characters, the warmth of them reminded me of my grandma❤️. The campground setting is interesting, refreshing almost. So much seems to be happening but it’s all moving at a great pace. I really did enjoy this book and am excited to continue on with the series.
June 11, 2024
S’more Murder
I received this book as an Arc from the author and I’m leaving a voluntary review. This a good leisurely read. A woman inherits a camping ground from her grandmother. It’s in very bad shape. A murder of one of the residents sets the tone. There’s something wrong. When a series of mishaps occurs, there’s obviously something to investigate. Highly recommended!
I received this book as an Arc from the author and I’m leaving a voluntary review. This a good leisurely read. A woman inherits a camping ground from her grandmother. It’s in very bad shape. A murder of one of the residents sets the tone. There’s something wrong. When a series of mishaps occurs, there’s obviously something to investigate. Highly recommended!
October 11, 2024
I really like the main character. She is down on her luck in terms of money and wanting to start her own bakery. She loves her memories of her grandma and the campground. I think the characters are quirky and sweet. It's very descriptive on everything and maybe a love interest eventually. I think it's a sweet book and good mystery. Complex.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2025
I enjoyed reading Smore Murder Camping Girl by Josephine Beintema. Losing a beloved grandma and inheriting a camp ground is not what Ivy was expecting in her life; neither was murder.
Addictive read perfect for an afternoon escape.
I found this Cozy Mystery had more action and more people action..who knew Seniors were so resourceful!
Lot of plot twists and turns.
Perfect for bookworms.
Addictive read perfect for an afternoon escape.
I found this Cozy Mystery had more action and more people action..who knew Seniors were so resourceful!
Lot of plot twists and turns.
Perfect for bookworms.
January 17, 2026
Cute little 'quick read' mystery with just the right amount of twists and turns so the story is fun and quirky but not so much that it's confusing and chaotic. I can see how this first story in a new series offers enough loose ends to entice one to read the next book! The romance story line is a bit too predictable but if that's the worst I can say about the book, it's a great little story!!
August 14, 2020
Great read
This was a new author for me and I really enjoyed the crazy characters and their relationships. I'm curious to see where the relationship between our girl and the detective goes!😉
This was a new author for me and I really enjoyed the crazy characters and their relationships. I'm curious to see where the relationship between our girl and the detective goes!😉
October 1, 2020
Well done
The characters are interesting and fun. The story is well developed and unfolds in a nice rhythm with excitement. My only caution is the spoiler chapter titles. I’m off to find more by this author!
The characters are interesting and fun. The story is well developed and unfolds in a nice rhythm with excitement. My only caution is the spoiler chapter titles. I’m off to find more by this author!
February 18, 2021
Can you say lame!?!
First of all, grown women who call dog doggies every time =weirdly irritating. Second, time moved very oddly, in a matter of minutes of conversation, major plot elements happened elsewhere. Will not continue with thie series.
First of all, grown women who call dog doggies every time =weirdly irritating. Second, time moved very oddly, in a matter of minutes of conversation, major plot elements happened elsewhere. Will not continue with thie series.
April 21, 2024
A great first in series!
S'more Murder was a fun story, set in a run down campsite, inherited by the late owner's grand daughter. The senior citizens living there welcome her and end up by helping her to solve not one but two murders. A good beginning to this cozy mystery series.
S'more Murder was a fun story, set in a run down campsite, inherited by the late owner's grand daughter. The senior citizens living there welcome her and end up by helping her to solve not one but two murders. A good beginning to this cozy mystery series.
September 23, 2024
I Love Old Foxes
What a wonderful bunch of seniors. And just the sort you want watching your back, especially when you fall into a murder mystery! Not too keen on the thought of a cupcake or cookie in bed though.
What a wonderful bunch of seniors. And just the sort you want watching your back, especially when you fall into a murder mystery! Not too keen on the thought of a cupcake or cookie in bed though.
February 23, 2025
I thought this was a great start to a new series. I have already KU the next book. I liked the was her campers gathered around her and made her feel special. Also enjoyed the hint of romance with the Detective Armand. Recommend reading.
March 2, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book, it has an entertaining storyline and great interaction between the characters. I can't wait to read more from this author. I received this book as a Free ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.
April 11, 2025
Ivy inherits a campground from her grandmother and sees it a something to sell so that she can chase her dreams. The campground comes with strings and two murder victims which means that her dreams aren't as easy.
I liked the MC
I liked the MC
August 8, 2025
great book
I received this book free as a promotion and I’m glad I did. This was a fun book. Lots of engaging elderly characters who are fun, brave, and very inquisitive. I read this book in less than a day and the tinr just flew by. Very enjoyable book!
I received this book free as a promotion and I’m glad I did. This was a fun book. Lots of engaging elderly characters who are fun, brave, and very inquisitive. I read this book in less than a day and the tinr just flew by. Very enjoyable book!
September 27, 2025
Liz inherits a campgrounds from her grandmother. On the first day there she finds a dead body in the lake now she needs to find a murderer and figure out a way to fix up the campgrounds at the same time.
September 29, 2025
3.5 Cute cozy mystery. A little silly at times but a nice break from the heavier reading. Also, I do not agree with Thomas the 1 star reviewer and the plagiarism charges. I think all cozy mysteries follow the same plot-line at a high-level but this book does not go to the degree of his accusation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews