Campfires & Corpses: A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery

Maine Campground Cozy Mystery #1

by Nikki Weber

When the campground becomes the scene of the crime, will Noelle's peaceful summer go up in flames?

Down on her luck event planner Noelle Cooper is returning to rural Maine to do the one thing she swore she would never run her family’s campground. But it’s only for the summer, and the timing couldn’t be better–she’s lost her job and has nowhere to live. She hopes that a change of scenery will be the thing she needs to regroup and reinvent herself.

But Noelle’s plans go up in smoke on her first morning back when she stumbles upon the body of her high school rival. She barely has time to process this before she comes face-to-face with her ex-boyfriend, meets the handsome county sheriff, and is questioned by an intimidating state trooper who gives her the creeps.

While she’s busy dealing with a group of pushy campers who insist that the murder means she must cancel the annual bonfire, Noelle becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation. She’s convinced that someone is feeding false information to the police and is determined to clear her name.

With the help of her podcast-obsessed cousin, her anxious rescue beagle, and a few eccentric campers, Noelle compiles a list of other suspects and pokes around to uncover the real killer.

Can Noelle prove her innocence before getting tossed in jail? Or is she playing with fire? Read Campfires & Corpses now to find out.

*** This clean, contemporary cozy mystery is set in a small town with quirky characters and lovable dogs. Cozy mystery fans will enjoy dissecting the suspects’ alibis and following the clues along with Noelle and her gang. ***

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Summer

282 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2025

About the author

Hi, I'm Nicole (aka Nikki). I grew up reading in unconventional spots: the backseat of a car, the top of the monkey bars on my backyard play set, the corners of the quietest hallways in my elementary school.

I don't read a lot of horror or poetry, and (after years of DNF'ing) I have a hard rule never to read books that have witches as characters. I read in pretty much any other genre, and I've even helped to edit a translated book in the military science fiction genre.

I'm originally from Maine in the USA, but I live in Madrid, Spain these days. Madrid is a city of readers, with bookstores and libraries on practically every block, and one of the biggest book fairs I have ever seen that takes place every May. As a cozy mystery author, I find it fun to spot cozies, both translated from English or written in Spanish, around the city.

I love dogs, nachos, coffee, and ice cream, and so far, I have worked three of those four things into the books in my Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series. I'm supposed to be working on the next book right now, so maybe I'll go write a scene in which the characters are eating nachos!

You can learn more about me, buy my books, or read my blog posts at: NikkiWeberBooks.com

Reviews

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

You may not know this about me… but I am NOT a camper. My one camping-adjacent experience was as a tween when my family stayed on a houseboat on Lake Cumberland for what felt like a year but was really only a few days. I was not a fan of the bathroom situation… or the bugs… or the heat… or the, well, anything really lol. That said, I enjoy reading about fictional characters camping – live vicariously, right? – and I especially find the idea of a campground with a variety of trailers and seasonal campers and returnees to be the perfect setting for a mystery or suspense novel. Enter Campfires & Corpses, a delightful cozy mystery from debut author Nikki Weber!

When Noelle Cooper returns to rural Maine after losing her job as an event planner in Nashville, she plans to help her parents out by running their campground for the summer while she figures out what to do next. Except she wasn’t planning on running into her ex (who still harbors a bit of a grudge for how they ended things), finding a body, or becoming the prime suspect in the eyes of the gruff state trooper with tunnel vision. If you think this sounds like the perfect read to kick off summer, you’d be right. Especially because Noelle is so likable, with relatable flaws and strengths, and so is her rescued beagle, Corny. His story brings awareness to something that’s not talked about a lot – in fiction or otherwise – and his cute personality will win your heart right away. (Side note: I love the nicknames Noelle gave him.) And when you add in the eclectic cast of supporting characters – those who live in the town as well as those staying at the campground – you’ve got not only a ready-mix of suspects but a handful of people you’ll want to follow through the series as well. Namely, Noelle’s ex Emmett (who may still have feelings for her… it’s hard to tell just yet), her podcast-loving cousin Mandy, and another romantic possibility for Noelle who shall remain nameless to avoid any spoilers.

Speaking of spoilers… you’re still not getting any lol … but wow! The murder investigation has several unexpected twists, including a real doozy toward the end. At one point, I’m pretty sure I suspected everyone except Noelle and Corny. I loved that Noelle was mostly responsible in her investigation. She stuck with Emmitt and Mandy… mostly. She didn’t take too many unnecessary risks or make really dumb decisions. Mostly lol. Because this is a cozy mystery after all, so you know she’s going to run off her own to pursue a lead at some point, and she does. Her cousin Mandy’s makeshift ‘murder board’ and enthusiasm for podcasts (including the true crime variety) made me smile and made her the perfect sleuthing sidekick. So did Emmitt’s protective presence and more calm & steady approach to the investigation.

Bottom Line: Author Nikki Weber advertises that Campfires & Corpses has a page-turner of an ending, and boy she wasn’t kidding! I loved the twists. Plus, this debut novel reads smoothly, drawing me in right away with Noelle’s relatable personality and her adorable dog Corny (who is a rescue, which meant he immediately took up residence in my heart). Whoever ‘they’ are who say you can’t go home again might have had Noelle’s summer stint at her family’s campground in mind, but she proves resilient in spite of the unexpected living situation, the misadventures, the ex, and… you know… the MURDER she encounters – and I admired her all the more for it. She’s definitely a character I would want to be friends with in real life so I am really looking forward to following this series and seeing what else Maine has in store for Noelle and Corny.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Mary]

Too distracted by the unnecessary Gen-X coded skinny talk and constant verbal body checking to give a flying fig about who killed who. DNF.

[Susan Reads Cozies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the campground map- visuals are always a plus! I am cat person, but I fell in love with Noelle’s rescue beagle, Corny. I loved the little nicknames for him. My heart went out to the little guy. The references to the songs was a great addition. I kept hearing the song playing in my head as if I was listening right along! The ending is where the story holds its strength. I did not see that coming at all. I was looking at everyone but the one we all should have been looking at. I look forward to seeing what happens next with the campground.

I think this will be a great read for anyone wanting a summer campground cozy.

Thank you to the author for my e-copy in exchange for a review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Campfires & Campers is the first cozy mystery in the new A Main Campground Cozy Mystery series. Noelle has come back to her family’s campground to do the one thing she swore she’d never do: run it. Her return to town doesn’t go as smoothly as she hoped. When she stumbles upon a dead body and she quickly becomes the main suspect. I O’der to save herself Noelle must sleuth into the case, hoping to find the true culprit before the murder is pinned on her.

I am a huge cozy mystery fan so when I saw this one come out I knew I needed to read it. The cover is so cute and did a great job of pulling me in before I even started the book. It took a minute for me to get into the story, but that’s to be expected with a new series. As soon as I became familiar with the town and characters I was hooked on this mystery. I like Noelle as a lead and know she will find her footing in town and as an amateur sleigh as this series gets going. The mystery was fun and had some great twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. This was a great start to a new cozy mystery series and I’m definitely interested in reading more in this series!

[Cozy Champagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Campfires and Corpses is the first book in the Maine Campground Cozy Mystery Series by Nikki Weber. The amateur sleuth is Noelle Cooper, a down-on-her-luck event planner who has reluctantly agreed to temporarily run the family campground for the summer.

The cover of this book drew me in. I liked the vintage camper, the colors, and the cute pup on the cover. I have always wanted to visit Maine, and this cozy mystery was a really fun way to do it.

I enjoyed the characters in the story, from amateur sleuth Noelle to her podcast-loving cousin. Corny, Noelle's rescue beagle, is probably my favorite.

The Babbling Brook Campground was a great setting for a mystery. There are enough quirky campers to keep the suspect list interesting.

Author Nikki Weber's writing is a delightful to read. She did a nice job of crafting a great new cozy with likable characters, a great setting, and a cute doggo.

I would definitely read more of this series.

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy to read and review!

[LuAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new cozy mystery series to me. After reading the first book, I found it a fun and entertaining series.
In Book #1 (Campfires & Corpses), the main character Noelle returns home to take care of the family campground while her mother is undergoing treatment for arthritis. Things start going wrong from the get-go as a woman is found murdered on the beach. It gets more and more complicated and the police begin to suspect Noelle. That leads her to start her own investigation to uncover the truth.
It's a great book and I was ready to read the second in the series right away.

[Jordan Lash · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute and cozy mystery! If you are looking for a good palate cleanser or just something fun to read with a great Maine location this is it!

[KayCee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters, a mystery with interesting twists, and a rescue dog made for a delightful read that left me wanting more.

I received a review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dana Sterling baran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute cozy mystery with great summer vibes. The setting (a Maine campground by a lake) set the perfect tone and backdrop for this fun who-done-it.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Campfires & Corpses (A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery #1)" by Nikki Weber is a great summer cozy mystery read. Noelle Cooper is returning to her family's campground in Maine to run it for the summer while her parents are way. It worked out well since she just lost her job and apartment in Nashville. Right off the bat, Noelle gets pulled into some conflict resolution. Then she's pulled into a murder investigation after a tenant and old classmate is found dead on the campground beach.

Noelle starts investigating because she is getting singled out by the sheriff. However, there are lots of possible suspects. I honestly didn't start to suspect the actual culprit until the last chapter or so before the reveal. It was more of a slim possibility that I only could really see the motive over something not related directly with the murder investigation. I may have only caught onto it because I'm jaded by all my cozy mystery reading.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

CAMPFIRES & CORPSES by Nikki Weber
The First Maine Campground Cozy Mystery

Camping has never been Noelle's favorite thing, but after losing her job and apartment in Nashville and with her mother going into a clinical trial in Florida, the timing is right for her to return to her family's campground in rural Maine, if only to stay and run it for the summer. Her arrival isn't off to the best start. Instead of staying in the big house, Noelle learns she's spending the summer in a small camper. Then she breaks up a volatile argument on the beach between a metal detecting camper and an old high school rival, Delilah. Not only that, her ex-boyfriend happens to be the local game warden. Fortunately, her young cousin Mandy has the campground running like a well oiled machine. But as she takes her rescue dog for a walk the next morning, Corny pulls her towards the beach and the very dead body of Delilah. With a burn ban in place and a dead body on the beach Noelle still has to keep her campers happy. And when the state trooper in charge of the investigation sets his eyes on Noelle as the killer she and Mandy will have to discover the real guilty party.

I have never been one for camping, but I really like virtual camping and a campground makes the perfect setting. There are new characters coming and going and it's a small accessible site with people easily in each other's space and business. I also like the summertime vibe. I can hear the screen door slamming with kids coming in the tiny office to get ice cream and hear them shrieking with laughter. I like the fact that there are three different types of law enforcement featured: game warden, sheriff, and state trooper. Adding to that dynamic is the fact that the sheriff and trooper are half brothers. Noelle is an interesting protagonist. She's a bit prickly and often speaks before she thinks. I absolutely love the fact that she adopted a beagle formerly used in a research facility and kudos to the author for bringing attention to these poor souls. Corny is a sweet animal learning how to trust and simply be a dog.

I enjoyed the mystery; an unpopular victim, a variety of possible motives, lots of suspects, and suspicious behavior by most of them. People lie and not everyone can be trusted. There are lots of interesting personal dynamics as well. I had a feeling who the killer was before Noelle but enjoyed seeing all of the truths come out. An exciting confrontation will have your pulse racing as Noelle and the killer face off.

CAMPFIRES & CORPSES provides a good dose of summer fun and danger. You'll be hankering for a Popsicle or yearning for a campfire by the end of this delightful debut!

[Lisa Christensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spice Level: 🚫
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

This is the time of the year I really enjoy a good Cozy Mystery to read. They are perfect for those holiday seasons and when I pick up a Cozy Mystery they are usually placed in a small town and sometimes include being at a campground or something like that. Nikki Weber is out with a new Cozy Mystery series called A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery. The first book in this series Campfires & Corpses was hitting all the marks for the perfect cozy read.

The best way to describe Campfires & Corpses is if you are a fan of Tonya Kappes and her Camper & Criminals Cozy series this book is for you. We have Noelle coming back to help her parents by running the campground that has been in the family for generations. Little did she know there would be a huge twist, and she would be seeing a lot of her ex. I was also shocked by the twist and turns this case went and I think that is great.

I also love the fact that Noelle’s beagle is a rescue from a lab. Her having a dog makes her compare people to what type of dog breed she thinks they would be. As a follow dog owner, I have to say I have been known to do that myself a time of two and that really made me chuckle when I was reading the book.

It seems like Campfire & Corpses is Nikki’s first book. As you could tell from the writing it was and the rhythm felt a bit off at first, but she did find it quickly and the book was a great read. This book is getting a solid three and a half stars from me and as it’s a Cozy Mystery there is no spice. There is a second book that will be released in June, and I look forward to continuing this series and seeing what else is going to happen to Noelle and the gang.

This book is available wherever you get your books and great news for KOBO Plus members! This book is available in your membership.

[Barbara Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Great Mystery

"Campfires & Corpses" is Book 1 of A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery series by Nikki Weber. This is the first book I've read by this author. Weber has created several memorable characters, including Noelle and, our protagonist and her cute little rescue beagle Corny; Forest Ranger Emmitt and his Husky Summit; teenager Mandy who works in the campground's office, and Troy, a dude in his early twenties, who also works at the campground. Then we have Tom, Delilah, Edie, Aggie, Iris, Jimmy, JJ, Sheriff Owens, State Trooper Thompson, Ian, Mr. Dorsy, Rachel, Liz, and probably some others I probably left out. I will say that two of the above characters are murdered within a week of each other, and one of them is the killer. The only thing I didn't like was Noelle calling her dog every form of corn, instead of just calling him Corny throughout. She claimed his actual name is Cornflake, because he ate a bunch of cornflakes. However, she hardly ever called him a name more than one: Corny, Corn Chip, Corndog, Corn Maze, Corn Muffin, just to mention a few. The poor little thing was a rescue dog from an experimentation laboratory and could really use a solid name. At least the narration part stuck with Corny. Anyhooo, I gave this book 5 stars. I received an ARC, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noelle Cooper unexpectedly loses her job and moves home to Maine to manage her family's old fashioned campground. Just as she is settling in, a body is found on the beach and she finds herself a suspect ... so she works hard to solve the mystery and clear her name.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries. The cover drew me in with the camper and the cute beagle!

This is the first book in a new series, and it was very enjoyable! I loved the setting - an old fashioned campground, spending summer in a camper. I liked Noelle as a character. She's smart and resourceful, even when facing the difficult situation of being a suspect.

I loved Corny, the rescue beagle, and (as a longtime pet rescue advocate) also loved the rescue message the author conveys in this story.

The mystery aspect of the story is well done, with fast paced storytelling.

Also: woohoo for the campground map in the book! It was fun and helpful.

I enthusiastically recommend Campfires & Corpses to other cozy mystery fans. It is a fun summer read!

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Campfires & Corpses is the first book in Nikki Weber’s Maine Campground Cozy Mystery Series.mAfter losing her job as an event planner in Nashville, Noelle Cooper returns home to help run her family’s campground. She barely has time to park her car before she’s breaking up a heated argument between one of the campers and her high school rival. The next morning, she discovers the rival’s body and soon finds herself the prime suspect in the eyes of a determined state trooper.

The only way anyone could convince me to go camping is if they packed a magical Harry Potter–style tent! I’m not a fan of camping, but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book.

The true star of the story is Corny, Noelle’s rescue beagle. Unlike the confident Snoopy, Corny struggles with anxiety caused by his rough early years, and he completely stole my heart. On the other hand, I wasn’t a fan of Noelle’s high school boyfriend. As Elsa would say, let it go.

While the book leaves a few loose threads to carry into future installments, there doesn’t appear to be an overarching mystery tying the series together. It's a quick easy read. I recommend.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noelle and Corny the beagle meet and their new journey begins in the free prequel story 'Freedom & Fosters: A Beagle Rescue Short Story’. A good read of Noelle’s backstory in Nashville and how she happened to add Corny to her family and how her trip to Maine came to around. A lovely quick read and a good foundation for Book 1 “Campfires & Corpses”.

I was totally hooked when I started “Campfires & Corpses”. I had trouble putting it down. Wonderful characters in a great setting. I enjoyed learning about the town and all the unique people who live there. Fun story with a great mystery. Is there more than one killer? Plenty of suspects. Lots of twists and a definite surprise ending. Can’t wait for the next book.

[Sue Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an OK start to a series. Like so many new series, it starts with the main character being suspected of murder for no real reason. I wish authors could find a more realistic way to get their series going. I liked the characters I was supposed to like, especially the young girl and the dog. I didn't like the ending. I saw no good reason to literally burn down the house. I also didn't like that there seemed to be no consequences for the shady sheriff who was revealed to be railroading the main character because the real killer was threatening to reveal his past shady behavior towards her. From reading the previews, it appears this shady sheriff is going to continue his shady ways throughout the series, which makes me unsure whether I want to continu reading it or not.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noelle is helping run her parent's campground, while her mother is getting arthritis treatments. . At first Noelle seemed reluctant in her duties. The town wasn't the most welcoming either. Some people held a grudge because Noelle left town for greener pastures. I liked that Noelle and the town learned valuable life lessons. This little town had secrets buried and favors owed. When bodies are dropping Noelle becomes the prime suspect. Twists and secrets add depth and dimension to an intriguing storyline. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Noelle comes back home to the campground in Maine where she grew. She’s in charge this summer while her parents are out of state.
And since this is a cozy mystery, murder happens. Noelle is a suspect and decides to find the real killer, with the help of a couple friends.
This story was very well written with great character development. The story made sense. Sometimes cozies get a little off the wall but this one was believable.
Now I’m off to read book two, which I just bought. I want to see what happens next?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Campfires & Corpses is Book 1 in A Maine Campground Cozy Mystery by Nikki Weber. Noelle is down on her luck event planner. She is covering for her parents. I thought the author did a great job of laying the foundation for the series. I thought the characters were well written and I love the rescue beagle. I enjoyed the story and really liked the surprises; such as the Game Warden is Noelle's high school boyfriend. A murder solved left me wanting Book 2, Order Whipped Pies and Alibis. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Genesia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently read the first book in a series, and I really enjoyed it. After eighteen years away, Noelle returns to take care of her parents' campground. Upon arriving, she discovers a body on the beach. State Trooper Thompson is convinced that Noelle is the murderer. To prove her innocence, Noelle teams up with her friend Mandy to investigate the case. The book is entertaining, a bit scary at times, and features several twists. For me, it's a real page-turner and definitely worth reading.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great start to a new series. It had most of my favorite things in a book--a well written mystery, believable characters and just a touch of romance--maybe. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I will definitely be getting the next book in the series. Recommend reading.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 🙂/3.75
Source: Currently Reading podcast
Review: The right book at the right time for me. A cozy mystery with a great setting, good characters and old school music references. Liked the characters and will read the next one in the series. A great read for a time when my mind needed a fun low stakes escape.

[Jess B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clunky at best. As I was reading I felt like I hadn't connected with a single character. I felt uninterested. Skipped & skimmed several chapters just to get to the end. Felt somewhere between a 2.25 & a 2.5 star 🌟 - decided to be generous & go with the 2.5. I think I need a break from the genre. Maybe this would be better in a different format. Read as e-book & just couldn't connect.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good cozy mystery and the first book in a series. Noelle returns home to Maine to help tun the family campground while her parents are gone for the summer for some medical treatments. One her first day back a murder happens and she becomes the prime suspect. It was a twisty route to the final end. I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

killer campground

Good series starter about an event planner returning to her Maine hometown to run her family’s campground for the summer. She gets more than she bargained for when she finds 2 dead bodies. The setting added a lot to the story. I could picture the camp, and the spookiness of the camp at night.

[AMBER CLARK]

A great summer cozy mystery read. The story is set in Maine during a summer heatwave. There's a rescue beagle and it all takes place in a campground that's in a tiny town. There's a fast-paced, page-turning ending that will have you begging for book two.

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noelle returns home to help out her parents but she becomes a murder suspect after finding a body. This is a nice, cozy and entertaining story with likeable characters. I certainly want to read the next book in this series.
I received a review copy and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Julie Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story, interesting characters. A worthwhile read.

[Leslie Ferrari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute beginning to a new series. Entertaining and moves alone at a decent pace. A good beach (or campground) read.