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Liz Adams Mystery #5
A Camping Conundrum
A heart-pounding cozy mystery filled with twists, turns, and canine charm. Perfect for fans of page-turning whodunits and outdoor adventures!
Private Investigator Liz Adams isn’t thrilled when her husband, Brad, suggests a camping getaway to South Carolina’s picturesque Poinsett Park. The mention of camping brings back a haunting memory of a childhood Girl Scout trip that went terribly wrong. But for Brad, the park is a refuge—a chance to relive happy moments from his past.
The long weekend escape takes a dark turn when Brad discovers a woman’s lifeless body in the park’s peaceful lake. The victim, the landlady of a strip center in the neighboring town of Sumter, was notorious for making enemies among her tenants. With no shortage of motives but no clear suspects, Liz and her truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke, embark on a quest to identify the culprit.
As Liz races to uncover the truth and put the killer in jail, the couple experiences one camping disaster after another. Will justice be served? Or will an unexpected twist of karma change everything?
Private Investigator Liz Adams isn’t thrilled when her husband, Brad, suggests a camping getaway to South Carolina’s picturesque Poinsett Park. The mention of camping brings back a haunting memory of a childhood Girl Scout trip that went terribly wrong. But for Brad, the park is a refuge—a chance to relive happy moments from his past.
The long weekend escape takes a dark turn when Brad discovers a woman’s lifeless body in the park’s peaceful lake. The victim, the landlady of a strip center in the neighboring town of Sumter, was notorious for making enemies among her tenants. With no shortage of motives but no clear suspects, Liz and her truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke, embark on a quest to identify the culprit.
As Liz races to uncover the truth and put the killer in jail, the couple experiences one camping disaster after another. Will justice be served? Or will an unexpected twist of karma change everything?
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2025
About the author
Stacy Wilder
5 books640 followersStacy writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry.
Stacy’s mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from Charleston Conundrum to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). For Carmel Conundrum, she is donating to causes that help homeless pets.
She and her husband live in Houston, Texas, with a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/stacy.w...
Facebook: https://ww.facebook.com/wilderstacy/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/authorstacy...
Stacy’s mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from Charleston Conundrum to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). For Carmel Conundrum, she is donating to causes that help homeless pets.
She and her husband live in Houston, Texas, with a totally spoiled Labrador retriever, Eve.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/stacy.w...
Facebook: https://ww.facebook.com/wilderstacy/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/authorstacy...
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 1, 2025
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Camping Conundrum by Stacy Wilder is a mystery filled with karma.
Will Liz and Brad figure out what happened to Madeleine?
Trying to relive some old memories, Brad talks Liz into going camping. While camping in Poinsett Park, they encounter a rash of robberies, and as Liz investigates the robberies, a local is murdered. The victim isn't a nice person. Madeleine is quite a bully and seems to like being in charge and bossing people around. She leaves a wake of upset people in her wake. Now, Liz is also investigating the murder.
Liz and Brad
The two of them are doing well. Marriage seems to suit them both. However, this camping trip also helps both of them deal with other traumatic things that they have lived with in the past. Brad's backstory is somewhat sad but compelling. I enjoyed getting to know him better.
Liz is much the same. I love her fashion sense. At first, I thought she had changed from the previous installments, but no, she is still a strong character. She worked through her past experiences and was able to focus on the investigation, even if she did miss a couple of items. However, Liz is determined to find the truth.
Duke is still the wonderful Labrador that assists Liz in her investigations.
Four Stars
My rating for A Camping Conundrum by Stacy Wilder is four stars. I enjoyed the story, but wished it were a bit longer. Although Ms. Wilder accomplished everything that was needed and included some extras, like a playlist and a few recipes.
The recipes included are Maria's Asian Chicken Salad, Ken's Macaroni Salad, Tipsy Bites, and S'mores Bars.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Camping Conundrum by Stacy Wilder.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
A Camping Conundrum by Stacy Wilder is a mystery filled with karma.
Will Liz and Brad figure out what happened to Madeleine?
Trying to relive some old memories, Brad talks Liz into going camping. While camping in Poinsett Park, they encounter a rash of robberies, and as Liz investigates the robberies, a local is murdered. The victim isn't a nice person. Madeleine is quite a bully and seems to like being in charge and bossing people around. She leaves a wake of upset people in her wake. Now, Liz is also investigating the murder.
Liz and Brad
The two of them are doing well. Marriage seems to suit them both. However, this camping trip also helps both of them deal with other traumatic things that they have lived with in the past. Brad's backstory is somewhat sad but compelling. I enjoyed getting to know him better.
Liz is much the same. I love her fashion sense. At first, I thought she had changed from the previous installments, but no, she is still a strong character. She worked through her past experiences and was able to focus on the investigation, even if she did miss a couple of items. However, Liz is determined to find the truth.
Duke is still the wonderful Labrador that assists Liz in her investigations.
Four Stars
My rating for A Camping Conundrum by Stacy Wilder is four stars. I enjoyed the story, but wished it were a bit longer. Although Ms. Wilder accomplished everything that was needed and included some extras, like a playlist and a few recipes.
The recipes included are Maria's Asian Chicken Salad, Ken's Macaroni Salad, Tipsy Bites, and S'mores Bars.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Camping Conundrum by Stacy Wilder.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
July 2, 2025
A camping trip turns deadly!
A Camping Conundrum is the fifth book in author Stacy Wilder’s excellent Liz Adams Mystery series, which features the private investigator and her husband, Brad, attempting to enjoy a weekend camping trip to one of his much-loved childhood destinations. Brad, the last living member of his nuclear family, wanted to recapture some of the highlights of his childhood by visiting a campground that was the scene of many happy memories with his parents and younger sister, now all gone. But unbeknownst to Brad, Liz was traumatized as a child on her only camping experience, but she agrees to attend without divulging her past. While at the campground, they discover that guests have been plagued by thefts from their campsites, a factor that reminds Liz of her traumatic childhood trip, making her all the more anxious about their plans. But nature and the otherwise tranquil setting work their magic on Liz until Brad discovers the body of a local woman in the lake, and her death is no accident.
Liz and Brad are a lovely couple, and each is super responsive to the other’s emotional needs, as is their perceptive canine companion, Duke. Both husband and wife are willing to bend to accommodate the special circumstances they encounter during their trip, such as Brad’s need to re-live happier times versus Liz’s unfortunate memories from her one and only attempt at camping when she was a young Girl Scout. I enjoyed all of Liz’s shopping throughout the story, and even Brad gets some new gear; this inevitably led to her crossing paths with the unpleasant commercial landlord in Sumter.The plot is well-paced, with the discovery of the victim occurring early in the story and unfortunately mirroring the death of Brad’s younger sister, deeply affecting him in the process. The victim was a real piece of work, so it was easy to see the writing on the wall that she was not long for this world. Her nasty attitude and interactions with her business tenants during her life created a wide pool of suspects for her murderer. Liz searches for answers in a methodical and practical manner, and even with some surprising twists, the final resolution is quickly at hand.
I recommend A CAMPING CONUNDRUM to cozy mystery readers, especially those with an interest in camping and shopping while on vacation.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.
July 6, 2025
Liz Adams and camping are not compatible. But when she agrees to visit Poinsett Park, a place full of her husband’s childhood memories, she might just have to relive her childhood camping disaster and solve a murder mystery while she’s at it. What follows is a healing time of overcoming childhood traumas and finding justice in the most haunting case Liz has worked on yet.
Stacy Wilder offers readers a smorgasbord of fantastic features in Camping Conundrum, the fifth book featuring private investigator Liz Adams and her fabulous lie-detecting dog, Duke. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you’ll love this fast-paced read! The chemistry between the married couple creates a wholesome backdrop as they open up about their past traumas and support each other’s interests and hobbies. Brad is training for a triathlon during the investigation yet remains encouraging and supportive while Liz pursues leads and follows up on clues. I loved how they listened to each other and discussed their feelings naturally. They also have an adorable black Labrador who tags along and adds a delightful super-sense to Liz’s efforts to solve the case.
The small-town vibes and the vivid cast of characters also created an exciting list of suspects to question as Liz explored the local shops and restaurants. Readers who enjoy cooking and playlists will love the inclusion of several recipes to sample from the flavorful tourist stops along Brad and Liz’s vacation. The playlist features all the songs mentioned throughout the story as a fun companion to the novel.
While the author did a wonderful job creating clues and suspicious behaviors among the local suspects, I found it easy to pick out who was guilty. I latched onto a suspect early on and was delighted to find out my instincts were correct. I had mixed feelings about the final court ruling, and I agreed with the main character’s concerns. The situation could be argued and debated well beyond the story’s finale (this may have been the author’s intention and you'll have to read it to see what you think!). The conclusion will surely provide an interesting dilemma to consider and discuss with your book club!
Camping Conundrum is an excellent choice for adult readers who love easy-to-read cozy mysteries with mild swearing and closed-door romance. This book can be read as a standalone, but you’ll most likely enjoy reading the other books in the series wherever you start!
I received a copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.
Stacy Wilder offers readers a smorgasbord of fantastic features in Camping Conundrum, the fifth book featuring private investigator Liz Adams and her fabulous lie-detecting dog, Duke. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you’ll love this fast-paced read! The chemistry between the married couple creates a wholesome backdrop as they open up about their past traumas and support each other’s interests and hobbies. Brad is training for a triathlon during the investigation yet remains encouraging and supportive while Liz pursues leads and follows up on clues. I loved how they listened to each other and discussed their feelings naturally. They also have an adorable black Labrador who tags along and adds a delightful super-sense to Liz’s efforts to solve the case.
The small-town vibes and the vivid cast of characters also created an exciting list of suspects to question as Liz explored the local shops and restaurants. Readers who enjoy cooking and playlists will love the inclusion of several recipes to sample from the flavorful tourist stops along Brad and Liz’s vacation. The playlist features all the songs mentioned throughout the story as a fun companion to the novel.
While the author did a wonderful job creating clues and suspicious behaviors among the local suspects, I found it easy to pick out who was guilty. I latched onto a suspect early on and was delighted to find out my instincts were correct. I had mixed feelings about the final court ruling, and I agreed with the main character’s concerns. The situation could be argued and debated well beyond the story’s finale (this may have been the author’s intention and you'll have to read it to see what you think!). The conclusion will surely provide an interesting dilemma to consider and discuss with your book club!
Camping Conundrum is an excellent choice for adult readers who love easy-to-read cozy mysteries with mild swearing and closed-door romance. This book can be read as a standalone, but you’ll most likely enjoy reading the other books in the series wherever you start!
I received a copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.
July 15, 2025
Liz Adams O’Connor is going camping. Reluctantly. But her husband Brad wants to go to the park he and his family went to when he was growing up, a place he has fond memories of from before the time his sister died. So Liz is determined to grin and bear it for Brad’s sake, even though doing so means she keeps her own childhood camping-related trauma to herself.
After some teenage thieves are caught stealing from campsites, Liz hopes that’s the end of the mysteries they’ll face on this outing. But when Brad finds the body of a much-despised landlord for several local businesses while he’s out running, he finds himself reliving the trauma of his sister’s drowning. Liz turns her mind to solving a murder, and she and Duke, her truth-sniffing dog, get to checking out the multitude of suspects (because so many people have reason not to like the landlord).
This book was short but mighty! Stacy Wilder packs quite an adventure into 140 pages. She gives us plenty of red herrings to chase, with several people having good reason to dislike their now deceased landlady (or spouse, as the case may be). Liz and Brad each have their own baggage to unpack on this trip, but when it counts, they support each other. And Duke is, as always, a delightful addition to the story. It was a quick, enjoyable read and a great addition to the series.
After some teenage thieves are caught stealing from campsites, Liz hopes that’s the end of the mysteries they’ll face on this outing. But when Brad finds the body of a much-despised landlord for several local businesses while he’s out running, he finds himself reliving the trauma of his sister’s drowning. Liz turns her mind to solving a murder, and she and Duke, her truth-sniffing dog, get to checking out the multitude of suspects (because so many people have reason not to like the landlord).
This book was short but mighty! Stacy Wilder packs quite an adventure into 140 pages. She gives us plenty of red herrings to chase, with several people having good reason to dislike their now deceased landlady (or spouse, as the case may be). Liz and Brad each have their own baggage to unpack on this trip, but when it counts, they support each other. And Duke is, as always, a delightful addition to the story. It was a quick, enjoyable read and a great addition to the series.
June 19, 2025
Liz Adams agrees to go camping with her husband Brad against her better judgement. The private investigator becomes involved in solving a crime (theft) at the campground in South Carolina and then stumbles upon a murder - which she works to solve with her husband.
I wanted to read A Camping Conundrum because I enjoyed a recent book in this series. I love mysteries and found the camping theme appealing.
This is short (140 pages) mystery ideal to read over the course of a couple of evenings or a weekend. It is amazing how much the author packs into this short book! There are actually two mystery cases. The murder of an unlikeable woman from the local town has several twists and turns all the way up through the trial and it definitely kept me guessing!
I enjoyed Liz's detecting skills, her relationship with Brad, and of course her lovable Labrador Retriever, Duke.
I recommend A Camping Conundrum for other cozy mystery fans. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
I wanted to read A Camping Conundrum because I enjoyed a recent book in this series. I love mysteries and found the camping theme appealing.
This is short (140 pages) mystery ideal to read over the course of a couple of evenings or a weekend. It is amazing how much the author packs into this short book! There are actually two mystery cases. The murder of an unlikeable woman from the local town has several twists and turns all the way up through the trial and it definitely kept me guessing!
I enjoyed Liz's detecting skills, her relationship with Brad, and of course her lovable Labrador Retriever, Duke.
I recommend A Camping Conundrum for other cozy mystery fans. I look forward to reading future books in this series.
February 14, 2026
What could possibly go wrong at a camping trip…again? Liz was sure that this camping trip wouldn’t be like the one she had at Girl Scouts with that scary robbery. Who would’ve thought that there would’ve been a string of robberies where Liz and her husband were going to set up camp?
As a P.I, Liz thought she could look into the robberies. You easily fall into the quaint diary narrative as Liz relays her camping journey and her connection to the small town, where apparently every shop owner had a shared hatred for their landlady. Soon, the greedy landlady was found dead in the water. The death could’ve been accidental, but Liz’s instinct told her something else. Could any one of the residents have killed her? And what about that drunk husband who despised her? The case was on.
The narrative was simple and fair. Sometimes the pace lagged a bit and the conclusion wasn’t quite that exciting. I liked how Liz used her trusty dog as a lie detector. A quick and quirky mystery!
As a P.I, Liz thought she could look into the robberies. You easily fall into the quaint diary narrative as Liz relays her camping journey and her connection to the small town, where apparently every shop owner had a shared hatred for their landlady. Soon, the greedy landlady was found dead in the water. The death could’ve been accidental, but Liz’s instinct told her something else. Could any one of the residents have killed her? And what about that drunk husband who despised her? The case was on.
The narrative was simple and fair. Sometimes the pace lagged a bit and the conclusion wasn’t quite that exciting. I liked how Liz used her trusty dog as a lie detector. A quick and quirky mystery!
July 4, 2025
It was great getting reacquainted with Liz and Brad. Such a nice couple. Not much of a fan of camping, I found it easy to identify with Liz's misgivings about the trip. Liz is a likable character and it was good to see how she worked through her anxiety. With the discovery of a dead body in the lake, the story takes a turn as Liz and Brad do their best to identify the killer, with the assistance of a loveable, truth-sniffing Labrador. Given the victim was widely disliked, there is no shortage of suspects. The story moved along at a great pace, with several plot twists and an interesting resolution. I found it to be a light, entertaining read, sure to appeal to cozy mystery lovers.
FTC disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review.
FTC disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review.
May 25, 2025
Another great cozy from Stacy Wilder. At first, it seems Liz, the PI protagonist, will be looking for thieves who are burglarizing campsites. But that mystery is soon solved and another bigger mystery starts to unfold. When a notoriously nasty landlady is found dead in the Park's lake, Liz is on the case.
Wilder leads the reader down many paths while trying to find the killer, all dead ends. It's only at the very end that she's able to ID the killer, and even then, a new twist changes everything.
A short, but very worthwhile read. I highly recommend it.
Wilder leads the reader down many paths while trying to find the killer, all dead ends. It's only at the very end that she's able to ID the killer, and even then, a new twist changes everything.
A short, but very worthwhile read. I highly recommend it.
March 27, 2026
Liz Adams Mystery #5: A Camping Conundrum is a captivating cozy mystery that delivers suspense, humor, and clever plotting at every turn. Stacy Wilder expertly blends outdoor adventure, canine charm, and page-turning whodunit intrigue, creating a story that’s both engaging and entertaining. Fans of cozy mysteries, clever sleuthing, and lighthearted suspense will be enthralled by Liz Adams’ latest adventure. A must-read for anyone who loves mysteries with heart, wit, and canine assistance.
September 2, 2025
𝑰𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓!!!
𝑫𝒖𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒛 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒏 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒊 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑭𝒖𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌!!! 😍😍😍
𝑫𝒖𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒛 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒏 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝒊 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑭𝒖𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌!!! 😍😍😍
December 14, 2025
A Camping Conundrum
A clever, cozy mystery with fresh outdoor vibes. The campfire setting crackles, the suspects feel real, and the clues are scattered just right for a satisfying “aha!” finish. I loved the witty banter and the calm, confident sleuthing.
A clever, cozy mystery with fresh outdoor vibes. The campfire setting crackles, the suspects feel real, and the clues are scattered just right for a satisfying “aha!” finish. I loved the witty banter and the calm, confident sleuthing.
January 17, 2026
A Camping Conundrum is a charming cozy mystery that blends suspense, humor, and outdoor adventure. Its clever protagonist, loyal canine companion, and twist-filled plot make it a delightful read that keeps you turning pages until the very end.
May 22, 2025
I always enjoy reading Stacy Wilder's cozy mysteries. The characters are endearing with surprises that keep the reader invested. I look forward to what she comes out with next.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews