Open for Murder

A Happy Camper Mystery #1

by Mary Angela

Deep in the heart of touristy small-town Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, former journalist Zo Jones runs the Happy Camper gift shop, where she sells everything from locally made souvenirs to memorabilia. She even rents out mountain bikes, and dabbles in the adventure industry—and sleuthing . . .

It’s Memorial Day weekend in Spirit Canyon, and for Zo that means the return of summer shoppers. It also means the return of her good friend Beth, who’s moved back to the area to reopen her family’s premier hotel, Spirit Canyon Lodge. Beth and Zo spent many childhood summers there and Zo can’t wait to reconnect and celebrate the Grand Opening. But the festivities go from bad to worse when a power outage knocks out the lights—and morning reveals a competitor’s dead body found on the premises . . .

Soon enough, Beth is the prime suspect in the suspicious death. Fortunately, Zo isn’t afraid to put her investigative skills to work and prove her friend’s innocence. To start digging for information, she appeals to Max Harrington, a local Forest Ranger and unlikely ally. Though they’ve argued about Happy Camper’s tours, in this case they agree on one thing: Beth isn’t a murderer. Stranger things have happened than their collaboration. After all, this is Spirit Canyon. But as the list of suspects grows, Zo will have to keep her guard up if she doesn’t want to be the next lodge guest to check out . . .

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Crime, Humor, Fiction, Holiday

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2020

About the author

Mary Angela is the author of the Professor Prather academic mystery series, the bestselling Happy Camper cozy mystery series, and several short stories. She also writes the Lady of Letters historical mystery series under the name Mary Winters. When Mary isn’t penning heartwarming whodunits, she’s teaching, reading, traveling, or spending time with her family. She lives in South Dakota with her husband, daughters, and spoiled pets. You can find out more about her loves, including her writing, at MaryAngelaBooks.com.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery, and this is the first book in A Happy Camper Mystery series. At first I was enjoying this book then I found myself not caring what I was reading. I was reading and then I stop reading, but I could not remember anything I read. I thought maybe it was me, so I started over. The same thing happen. I think this book was just not for me. Sometimes a book cannot pull you in and keep you, and that is what happen for me in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Lyrical Press) or author (Mary Angela) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

OPEN FOR MURDER by Mary Angela is the first book in the Happy Camper cozy mystery series and is set in fictional tourist small town of Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. Former journalist Zo Jones runs the Happy Camper gift shop where she sells locally made souvenirs as well as antiques and does assorted rentals and even some hiking tours. It is Memorial Day weekend and Jo’s best friend from childhood has returned to town with her family to reopen the Spirit Canyon Lodge. When the power goes out and a dead body is found the next morning. Naturally, Zo’s instincts are to investigate.

Zo is a well-rounded main character that felt real and her motivations seemed believable. The secondary characters are not as well-developed, but they enhanced the story and will likely be developed more in future books in the series. The relationships between the characters seemed believable and not contrived. The plot was well done and had plenty of twists and turns along the way. I also enjoyed Zo’s interactions with her adopted cat, George. My biggest complaint is the portrayal of the local Chief of Police. Themes include friendship, family drama, death, secrets, new relationships and much more.

Overall, I enjoyed this fun, appealing, and entertaining story. I definitely am looking forward to the next book in the series as well as checking out the author’s Professor Prather series. I recommend this book to those that enjoy cozy mysteries.

Kensington Books and Mary Angela provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
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Great start to a new cozy mystery series. Full review will be posted about Oct. 24, 2020; one month prior to publication.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open for Murder is the 1st book in the Happy Campy Mysteries written by Mary Angela. I've previously read the first book in another series written by the author, and I have chatted with her a few times over social media given we both write academic mysteries. She's a wonderful person and well known in the cozy mystery world. For some reason, I hadn't jumped on this book when it was released last year, possibly because I'd thought it was about RVs and camping in different parts of the country -- two things I'm unfamiliar with. But... it was time to give it a go this month, and I was pleasantly surprised by the setting. The series takes place in South Dakota, and the gift store that the protagonist, Zo Jones, runs is called Happy Camper. Typical for the sub-genre (usually what I like them), it's still about a small town and the people who visit the local park to explore nature and camp. That made it a whole lot more interesting for me!

Zo is in her early 30s. She was orphaned at birth and lived in various homes. A good friend, Beth, returns back to town after her relative passes away, and she now runs her family's hotel. During the opening event, a rival hotel owner passes away in the middle of the night. Secrets begin to come out about cash that she offered to someone on the property (which has suddenly gone missing) and family history no one was meant to know. How does it all tie together with a potentially on-the-take cop and a park ranger who has a hot/cold relationship with Zo? So many new characters, so much history to explore.

I very much enjoyed this book. As always, the first in series offers a lot to readers so they can decide if it's right for them. Getting to know the characters is as important in the debut as the mystery itself. Both hit a lovely groove, and I found myself intrigued to find out who Zo's parents are, what secrets are hidden in the park, and the rumor that the town is haunted. Beth is a great bestie, and the romance option with the park ranger shows promise. Mary Angela's writing style is inviting and easy-to-read, and there's a nice balance of description and dialog to keep the flow entertaining. I will be reading book two in the next few weeks, as the 3rd is coming out this spring. I want to be ready for it!

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Open for Murder by Mary Angela is the first book in the new cozy A Happy Camper Mystery series while Midnight Spells Murder is the second. Each of these books in the series could be read as a standalone as they each contain their own mystery that was fully solved inside. There is however character development that is and will carry over from book to book of the series for those that follow from the beginning.

The A Happy Camper Mystery series introduced readers to Zo Jones who had studied to be a journalist but decided that wasn’t where she wanted to go with her life. Zo chose to return to Spirit Canyon, South Dakota where she opened up her shop, Happy Camper. The Happy Camper is a gift shop where Zo sells a little bit of everything and even rents out bikes to the tourists.

Open for Murder takes place over Memorial Day weekend in Spirit Canyon and it’s busy season for Zo in her shop. Zo’s best friend, Beth, has returned to the tiny town to reopen her family’s hotel, Spirit Canyon Lodge. Unfortunately for Zo and Beth the festivities of the opening don’t go as planned when a dead body is found and Beth is a suspect in the murder.

Midnight Spells Murder brings Halloween to Spirit Canyon and Zo is excited to host an author in her gift shop, the Happy Camper, who claims to be a witch. Marianne Morgan isn’t about spooky spells but more female empowerment and Zo is excited to have her. However, after Marianne gives her talk Zo stumbles upon her body outside of her shop obviously murdered and posed in a witch hat so Zo vows to find the killer before she becomes suspect number one.

Being someone that is always drawn into many different cozy series by their cute covers I found myself immediately attracted to the A Happy Camper Mystery series. When reading this series though I found it hard to find anything that I really connected to that would make it stand out from the many that I read. Zo was an alright character and those that surrounded her were too but I’m always looking for that spark that makes me fall in love with the characters and setting, usually something quirky and fun and this one didn’t have that wow factor to me. The second book did pick up a slight bit to three and a half stars with getting to know the characters a bit better but I still wasn’t finding anything unique that I loved. There were still solid mysteries involved in both however with so many out there to read I’m unsure I’ll continue on with the series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uh, I like Cozy mystery books now I guess?

TLDR Tropes:

- Cozy mystery
-Healthy friendship
- No romance
- non triggering murder mystery

So i've heard about cozy mystery series for a long time. My friend used to read that "cat" mystery series and chatted me up about it constantly. I received this digital arc from Goodreads and figured now was my chance to see what this sub genre was all about- and I was not disappointed.

Open for Murder follows Zo, a small town gift shop/tourism guide owner in a sleepy South Dakota town. Her friend Beth recently inherited a lodge she has opened as a hotel- but when someone dies at the hotel..a rival hotel owner at that, Beth is immediately the suspect, and Zo must clear her name!

What excited me right away about this book was the atmospheric quality of it, something that only feels possible on vision boards about fall. Zos world is filled with small quaint coffee shops, crisp air, warm neighbors who look after you, and the dream of slow, small town living. Woven into the text always is another hint at this warm blanket wish fulfillment experience that allows you to paint by numbers, the small town fantasy you always dreamed of.

The mystery isn't terribly dark or dramatic, but instead, plays out a bit like clue. Zo isn't a cop or detective, so she must work within her means to discover the truth about the murder.

No character is particularly evil or heartless- you have your bullies of course, but everything about this book is carefully designed never to put you as the reader in a dark or uncomfortable state.

Open for Murder is a PERFECT fall book, especially for a reader like me who reads a lot of dark text and wants to feel good every now and again. If you love Agatha Christie/ Knives Out but want something a little lighter, pick this one up, get your hot cocoa, and enjoy the ride!

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open for Murder by Mary Angela was an intriguing read from start to finish. Ms. Angela is a "new to me" author and I was impressed by her descriptive writing throughout the story. Spirit Canyon and South Dakota came alive for me while I was reading and I was totally immersed in the story.

The plot was well-crafted and moved in and out of the twists and turns that kept me engaged while Zo searched for clues to clear her friend of murder charges. The secondary characters, Cunningham, Hattie and Max, not only supported Zo but added dimension to Zo's character as I got to know her. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

[Lynn Cahoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun SD setting for a camping murder mystery.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zo Jones is thrilled to have her best friend Beth Everett back in her life. The two were inseparable every summer when Beth would visit her aunt in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. Beth has inherited the lodge her aunt owned, and, after renovating, she is ready to reopen just in time for summer tourists. However, the first night the lodge is opened, one of the guests is murdered. The victim was a local competitor, and the police begin to look at Beth as their prime suspect. Zo doesn’t believe her friend would do something like this, but can she find the proof?

Zo owns a souvenir shop, and between that and the setting, I had to give this series a try. I loved the setting. The book took a couple of chapters before it introduced us to the victim and suspects, but it picked up from there. I did find some of the motives weak early on, but they got stronger the further into the book we got. Likewise, it takes a bit for the characters to be developed. There is still room for the main characters to grow as the series progresses. We get a recipe for a delicious sounding S’more brownie at the end of the book. If you are open to a new series, this is one to check out.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Dylan · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 52%

I hate to DNF two books in the same day but again I'm having to force myself to read it and I just don't want to do that.

Synposis: Zo lives in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, a small town in the mountains that is quite the tourist hotspot. Zo's best friend from childhood, Beth, has recently moved back to the area to re-open her aunt's hotel. On opening night, another local hotel/resort owner, Enid, shows up and offers Beth $20k to shut down permanently, Beth refuses. Later that night, Enid is found dead with the $20k gone. As suspicion falls on Beth, Zo tries to find the real killer to exonerate her friend.

Thoughts: This one was pretty un-enjoyable all around for me unfortunately. I was looking forward to dipping my toes into the cozy mystery genre and I liked the sound of the premise and a book set in the mountains sounded like a nice Fall read (even though the book is set in Spring/Summer). Unfortunately I found almost every aspect of this book to be pretty weak, the protagonist Zo was really the only positive element for me.

My biggest issue was with the writing. Quite frankly it's just not good. Here are some examples:

"The young professor was passionate about the subject. Zo could tell by the way she raised her voice."

"He was losing his patience. She could tell by the way he crossed his arms."

"A.J. and Allison took up a position near the edge of the dance floor. They could have been in gym class; their form was the same one students used. It was sort of endearing, really, thought Zo."

Now, I'm not expecting beautiful prose or anything from a mystery or thriller, that's not what I look for in said genres, but to me this writing seems very basic and clunky. I had other issues with it too. Angela's writing is often quite repetitive, there's one page in the book where the weather is mentioned three or four times in slightly different ways which seemed quite unecessary. There were also weird info dumps at some points. For example, at one point a mine is mentioned and then there's just a paragraph or two talking about mining in South Dakota, with little relevance to the plot.

One last writing issue I'll mention relates to a specific character interaction. About 45% of the way through, Zo is heading over to her neighbor's house to listen to him read some poetry for Memorial Day. This is mentioned a fair few times before Zo finally ends up there, and when we finally get to this even that's been made a big deal by the way Angela has written about it, the protagonist just zones out and the poem becomes completely irrelevant. It just seemed odd to me to spend so much time talking about this thing and then not even writing it. And just before this part the professor is telling Zo a story but instead of Angela writing the prof telling the story, the story is just described. Again this just seemed like an odd choice to me, why have a character tell a story if you're not going to write the character telling the story?

"But as he began reciting the poem, she decided it wasn't short, and when he forgot a line and had to pull the creased paper from his pocket, her attention turned elsewhere."

I also had an issue with the overall plot. I got over halfway through and really nothing that interesting had happened. By this point Zo has really only investigated one clue and it didn't really lead anywhere. And of course this little excursion was with the forest ranger (who's for some reason investigating the murder with the chief of police) that Zo has zero time for at the start of the novel but now she's starting to catch feelings for him. I get that love interests are a part of the genre, but Max (the ranger) didn't seem like a good choice. Maybe my expectations are just skewed because I haven't read anything from this subgenre before, but up to this point it hasn't been very mystery-y, and maybe it does get more mystery-y, but over halfway through I feel like it should be pretty mystery-y.

My last issue was with the characters. Like I said Zo is a pretty good protagonist, she has a well-defined personality and clear motivations, but the rest of the characters are pretty uninteresting and kind of 2 dimensional. By itself this wouldn't be a huge issue, but the three issues combined kind of sealed the deal for me.

So why give this 2 stars instead of 1? Perhaps I'm just being generous, but I did think Zo was a decent protag and I did like the setting. The stuff with Zo's attempts to wrangle her cat were pretty entertaining too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy.

[Sabine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon after starting to read I realized that I wasn't reading a camping mystery like I had anticipated...my bad! I should have paid a little more attention to the book description.
I lost a bit of interest after the first couple of chapters and put the book away. A while later I picked it back up and and made my way slowly through the next pages.
When Max and Zo started to collaborate on solving the murder I became more interested in the story and I finished it in no time. I am not sure what caused my disinterest in the story for a while but after I made it through that part I had a great time with it.
Overall I really liked the mystery and will read the next one when it is published.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open for Murder by Mary Angela is an excellent start to A Happy Campery Mystery series! Angela’s descriptions of the natural beauty, as well as South Dakota’s history is a huge reason why I enjoyed Open for Murder so much. I love when I find a cozy from a place I’ve never been to and the author does such a wonderful job making me feel as if I visited the place through the writing in their book.

The characters were very well developed for the first book in a series. Zo was a strong and competent protagonist and I’m looking forward to seeing her relationship with Beth grow again, since they haven’t seen each other in so many years. As far as the probable romance with Max, a Forest Ranger, it seems believable so far, and I like that it’s not the local detective/lawyer/journalist that is the love interest, since all of those have been used so many times in the cozy mystery genre. Even the secondary characters like Zo’s neighbor, Cunningham were fleshed out well, and I can see Cunningham and Beth’s husband being essential to future books.

This is not that important, but I’m still going to mention it. Zo, every time I read her name, I changed it to Zoe. Zo was found as a baby and the only thing she had was a necklace with Zo on it. So I’m interested to find out the story behind her being given up and the necklace.

And the mystery itself was very good. I liked how Angela made it a bit different, and I didn’t put all the pieces together, which I always enjoy.

With so many cozy series out there, I find that while I may like the first book in the series, I don’t take the time to seek out future books. A Happy Camper Mystery is one that I will be keeping an eye out for more to come!

[Mary Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis:

Deep in the heart of touristy small-town Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, former journalist Zo Jones runs the Happy Camper gift shop, where she sells everything from locally made souvenirs to memorabilia. She even rents out mountain bikes, and dabbles in the adventure industry—and sleuthing . . .

It’s Memorial Day weekend in Spirit Canyon, and for Zo that means the return of summer shoppers. It also means the return of her good friend Beth, who’s moved back to the area to reopen her family’s premier hotel, Spirit Canyon Lodge. Beth and Zo spent many childhood summers there and Zo can’t wait to reconnect and celebrate the Grand Opening. But the festivities go from bad to worse when a power outage knocks out the lights—and morning reveals a competitor’s dead body found on the premises . . .

Soon enough, Beth is the prime suspect in the suspicious death. Fortunately, Zo isn’t afraid to put her investigative skills to work and prove her friend’s innocence. To start digging for information, she appeals to Max Harrington, a local Forest Ranger and unlikely ally. Though they’ve argued about Happy Camper’s tours, in this case they agree on one thing: Beth isn’t a murderer. Stranger things have happened than their collaboration. After all, this is Spirit Canyon. But as the list of suspects grows, Zo will have to keep her guard up if she doesn’t want to be the next lodge guest to check out . . (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Zo is so excited that her childhood friend, Beth, has returned to Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, to reopen her family’s hotel, Spirit Canyon Lodge. Bot before they can get too excited, someone is murder and Beth is the main suspect. With the help of Beth, and Forest Ranger, Max, Zo has to figure out the murderer before Beth is put away for a long time.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions helped the story come alive in my mind’s eye. The mystery had enough clues to sift through and enough suspects to consider. I had an idea of who the killer was but I was not completely sure until the reveal at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see the next adventure awaiting Zo and her friends.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Summer means tourists in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. For Zo Jones and her friend Beth it means business. Zo is excited about Beth reopening the family’s hotel and can’t wait to attend the grand opening. But there is one person who wants Beth to fail and the person is found dead in her room at the hotel the morning after the grand opening event. The deceased is Beth’s competition so she is pegged as the prime suspect in the suspicious death. Zo is not a Happy Camper, she knows Beth is innocent and she is going to prove it unless the killer ends Zo’s summer early.

After a somewhat slow start Open for Murder takes off as we meet several characters including the victim. With her crotchety disposition, you just knew she was not going to be around long so her death wasn’t a surprise. What was a surprise was the number of suspects. I enjoyed the way Zo delved into the investigation and that she enlisted Forest Ranger Max Harrington to help her. I found the chief of police very offputting and lackadaisical about the entire situation. While some suspect’s motives were minor there were some that definitely should have been higher on the list than Beth. I loved that Beth kept going with her plans even with the murder being held over her head. The core characters of Beth, Zo, and Max were very likable but I want to know them better. The author has left plenty of room for them to grow and develop. I did find that Zo’s cat just tolerated her made me laugh. It is above and beyond the usual independence of a cat.

The mystery was very well-plotted. I had my own shortlist and was pleased that I followed the clues correctly and solved the mystery just before the characters. The reveal was great!

As with the author’s previous series, this series is set in South Dakota and she does a fantastic job bringing the area to life. It has been several years since I have traveled to the state and her descriptions invoked some nice memories and make me want to plan a return trip soon.

Open for Murder has set this series off to a grand start. As I said these characters have so much room to grow. I can’t wait to see where the author takes them in the future. I am excited about the continuation of this series.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the new Happy Camper Mystery series and the first book I've read by this author. I enjoyed the setting for the book, which was the Black Hills of South Dakota. It's a great place for a new series and not one that I've seen used a lot in the genre. I liked Zo. She is a solid main character with many likable attributes. The supporting cast of characters is likable, including Max, a forest ranger and potential love interest down the road for Zo. There were a few of the supporting cast that I didn't care for, particularly the Chief of Police. He came off as a jerk and with no rhyme or reason for his attitude. I liked Zo's friend Beth, who inherited her aunt's Inn, but I thought that she was a bit too naive.

Where I struggled with this book was the mystery. I thought it was particularly light and the fact that Beth was the main suspect just made me think the Chief of Police was lazy and didn't do his job. Toward the end, as Zo was trying to get her friend off the hook, the mystery started to develop a bit more. However, not enough to really engaged me. I think the series has potential with a bit of tweaking to some of the characters and stronger mysteries.

I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Kensington, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so… most people know I love cozies about witches, animals, and South Dakota. Strangely enough, a town called Spirit Canyon has no witches, but that’s okay; it has everything else. Tourist towns in the Black Hills are abundant, and there are surprisingly a fair amount of cozies set in this delightful state. Naturally, when a new amateur sleuth series set in the hills comes across my desk, I jump on it with both feet. Open For Murder is a good start for a new series with some fun and quirky characters.

Zo isn’t your average business owner or amateur sleuth, but her shop would be interesting to look through. Her personality has some issues; mainly, she appears to be defensive and immature at times. I think her mother and father should definitely be featured more in future books. The rest of the cast is still being developed, and we should see quite a bit of growth in the next book. The setting couldn’t be better. I love that the author brought Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, South Dakota into the story. Many of my relatives worked in the mine, and a few friends died there as well, so it holds a special place in my heart. It was nice to revisit Lead and Deadwood and see it through another writer’s eyes.

The mystery was a bit too light, the evidence shaky and the suspect’s motives average. There is no real reason why the Chief of Police would suspect Zo’s friend Beth, other than she is new to town. But even that doesn’t hold water as Beth spent much of her childhood in the town. I felt that the killer and the unveiling were well done, but the motive was never in doubt. Overall, this is a nice amateur sleuth/business based cozy that is easy to read, detailed enough to be interesting, and not overly dramatic. I encourage people to pay a visit to this area of South Dakota, it is filled with history and real-live characters you can’t find anywhere else. I look forward to the next installment.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zo Jones, a former journalist in the small town of Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. After being laid off of her job she opened a gift shop called the Happy Camper. In addition to selling memorabilia she rents out bikes and kayaks and occasionally leads tours of the area.

Zo’s best friend Beth has moved back home after inheriting a local lodge from her aunt. Memorial Day means the beginning of summer and the reopening of the redecorated hotel. Zo has been invited to join the festivities and look forward to spending time with Beth and her family. When a storm suddenly hits and knocks out the power it seems like the weekend couldn’t get worse. But when a guest of the lodge is found dead, worse becomes a real possibility.

Beth quickly becomes the sheriff’s main suspect and it seems none of the evidence can sway him from that thought. Zo puts her reporter skills into action and begins investigating the death on her own. She also convinces Max Harrington, forest ranger and archenemy to help her prove Beth’s innocence.

This is the first book in the Happy Camper Mystery Series. I was interested in the book because of its setting. This is the first cozy mystery I have come across that takes place in South Dakota. The first chapter moved a little slow for me but it picked up from there. The character develop is a bit slow, but by the end of the book you feel like you know Zo well and you are coming to know her friends at a natural pace. The setting is great. For those familiar with the Black Hills you can easily picture the area. It makes me want to go back even though I’ve been there at least a half dozen times in my life. The action moves at a steady pace and never seems rushed. It also never drags. I recommend this book and I will definitely be waiting for the next book’s release.

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am delighted with this new series set in one of my favorite states, South Dakota. I love the Black Hills area where this cozy is set. Spirit Canyon is a thriving town especially for summer tourists. Zo Jones runs a shop where she sells happiness to her customers. A former journalist, she can't help but get involved when her friend is accused of murder. I liked Zo. I liked her philosophy and her take no guff attitude. I read the author's website and the mystery of Zo's parents will be fleshed out in the series. I liked Max, the local ranger. I see lots of potential for this series and can't wait for,the next one. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the advance copy. This is my honest review.

[Rachaelbookhunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for letting me read.

This cozy mystery is set in South Dakota. A murder happens at the newly opened/reopened lodge that is owned by Zo's childhood friend, Beth, who has moved back after years living in Chicago. Zo is determined to find out what happened because it looks like Beth is the number one suspect.

There were quite a few things that I liked. First, Zo has an adopted cat named George. He's not a cozy, curl up on your lap cat and I enjoyed reading about him. I also liked a lot of the side characters like her Professor neighbor and Beth's Mom, Vi. Max, the forest ranger, is also a good character. There is a lot of potential for these characters in future books, including a mystery surrounding Zo's parents.

The mystery part wasn't completely satisfying. It made sense for Zo to have a personal interest in it and yet things never felt that dire. There wasn't a whole lot for the police to focus on Beth besides the officer in charge being a jerk. I felt a little detached from the murder. The reader doesn't see much of the murder scene. Everyone stands outside the door looking at the body. And while Zo had some good ideas I didn't see that much of her investigating led her closer to the truth. Some points concerning the evidence should have been discussed more thoroughly. I would read another book in the series.

[Little_wing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zo Jones, owner of Happy Camper is excited that her childhood friend has returned to manage the lodge in town, but the excitement is short lived when her friend is accused of murder and Zo must work fast to clear her name.

First off, I solved the case in the first 20 pages. We were introduced to a lot of characters and there was very little physical description or backstory involved for many of these characters which left me with a very detached feeling as I continued to read. There was quite a bit of repetition, even the same sentences were repeated verbatim that I had to wonder if I had accidentally dropped my book and picked it back up in a place that I had already read. I was extremely disconnected and bored throughout and quite honestly could not wait to finish the book, have Zo solve the murder I had solved 150 pages ago, and move on.

This is the first book in the series though, and I will definitely give the second book a try and see if the writing keeps my interest a little better than this one did.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always good to start a cozy mystery series from the very beginning and this one, Open for Murder written by Mary Angela was definitely worth its salt!

The reader soon meets the star of the show, Zo Jones, a former journalist now running the Happy Camper gift shop, selling locally made souvenirs and memorabilia. Set in touristy small-town Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, the summer shoppers are returning for Memorial Day weekend. Her BFF Beth, who’s moved back to the area to reopen her family’s premier hotel, Spirit Canyon Lodge, is also in town. Beth and Zo go way back and Zo can't wait to see her friend again and celebrate the Grand Opening, until a power cut occurs. When the lights come back on the next morning, a dead body is found on the premises. When Beth becomes the number one suspect Zo sets out to help her friend.

I loved the relationship between Zo and Beth and Zo came across as a caring and genuine person. There was plenty of fun in the story with twists that held my attention and kept me guessing. The mystery was involved and the killer was someone I didn't expect. I also very much enjoyed Zo’s interplay with her adopted cat, George. There is plenty of room for the characters to grow as the series progresses.

Would I read more in this series from Mary Angela? An emphatic... yes! 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Sarah Woodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good start to a new series. I like how the relationships are starting to form. I think the town is really great and I think the Happy Camper gift shop is adorable!!

Great world building, fun characters, and a lot of potential for a really wonderful series. I definitely recommend.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zo Jones runs the local Happy Campers Gift shop. She is excited when Memorial Day Weekend comes since that is the start of the tourist season in Spirit Canyon. With the return on her best friend Beth, the grand opening of the Inn is sure to be the highlight of the weekend. However, when a guest comes up dead and Beth becomes the prime suspect, Zo must dust off her sleuthing/journalism skills in order to clear her name.
I love how these characters are so well developed. This seems like a fun series that will make the reader want to keep turning the pages. I look forward to revisiting Spirit Canyon in the future. I received a copy through Netgalley and the publisher. A review was not required.

[Mary Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fictional town of Spirit Canyon and the Happy Camper gift shop have captured my imagination, and I hope they capture yours as well. My sleuth, Zo Jones, is a bit of a mystery herself. Abandoned at birth, she’s searching for her story’s beginning—and the murderer tormenting her friend. I hope you enjoy finding the answers to both in this book and new series!

[Quintin Honerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes! Did I say Yes! Another Mary Angela cozy is in my library! The incredibly clever way Mary spins a mystery is not only comforting but page turning as well. She is by far my favorite author for painting a scene--I feel I am in the book when I read her novels. Truly! If you are searching for a cozy that is not the same old-same old mystery I recommend you purchase Open for Murder. Note: It's based in the Black Hills of South Dakota. So cool.

[Kala Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a fun read with an interesting cast of characters (I look forward to reading more about them in Happy Camper #2), and a murder I couldn't easily armchair solve; however, it wasn't so outlandish that it wasn't plausible. By reading backwards I can see the clues and red herrings more clearly. Zo has an interesting perspective and I am intrigued enough to read #2!

[Elena Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zo Jones is the perfect amateur sleuth. She’s fearless and funny and loyal, which gets her into a series of scrapes as she tries to solve a murder before her childhood friend gets arrested for a crime she didn’t commit.

Owner of the Happy Camper gift shop, ex-journalist Zo Jones thinks she’s going to a celebration to support her friend Beth at the re-opening of her family’s premier resort. Instead she finds herself embroiled in the murder of a local woman with a lot of enemies—each one with a reason to want her dead.

The Spirit Canyon Lodge holds a special place in Zo’s heart, as she spent summers there with her friend as a child. Zo is invested in the success of the lodge as well as keeping Beth out of jail.

The deeper we get into the mystery, the deeper we get into Zo’s background as well. She’s a complex character with a history that makes her keep people at arm’s length, including the cute Forest Ranger Max Harrington.

But even Zo needs a little help from her friends, and finds herself reaching out. Could a little romance be in Zo’s future . . . anything is possible, but first she has to solve the crime.

Set in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, Spirit Canyon makes a terrific backdrop for Zo’s investigations. Wild and dangerous, but mixed with a fun, touristy small town vibe, Open for Murder will make the reader crave a visit in person.

Angela effortlessly weaves real and fictional geography together to place the reader smack in the middle of stunning scenery and an engaging community—perfect for armchair traveling during a long year of staying home.

Filled with dynamic characters and plenty of plot twists to keep the reader guessing, Open For Murder is a fantastic start to a new series.

To read the complete blog post, click the link here: https://www.elenataylorauthor.com/202...

[Janet Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am So delighted with Open FOR Murder!
This is an excellent cozy mystery.
Mary Angela takes the reader to a small tourist town in South Dakota’s Black Hills.
You can almost smell the pine trees.
Spirit Canyon is home to Zo Jones who
owns the Happy Camper Gift Shop. She is looking forward to an old friend returning to reopen a once popular lodge.
When Zo promised to help with the grand opening, she never dreamed she would become involved in a murder mystery!
Open For Murder is a great read and you
Will discover that Zo herself is a mystery!
I highly recommend this book.

[Shreyas · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Open For Murder' (A Happy Camper Mystery #1) by Mary Angela.



Rating: 3.0/5.

“Thinking with your heart isn’t a bad thing,” said Zo with a smile. She silently repeated a line she remembered from one of her books on the power of positive thinking: Try to open up the channels of communication again.

“If that’s what you believe, you won’t be in business long either,” Enid declared.

Channel officially closed.

Review:
'Open for Murder' is the first book in the 'A Happy Camper Mystery' series, and it is the first book that I read from this author. It is a short book, advertised in the cozy mystery genre, and that's what persuaded me to read this book as a palate cleanser before my next big read.

As the first book of a series, I expected it to be a tad bit slow and imperfect. The setting of the book, the Black Hills of South Dakota, was unique in the sense that I haven't read many books set in that area. There are several characters introduced, but none of them are as fleshed out as they should be. I couldn't connect with or care about any of the characters, apart from Zo and Max Harrington to some extent.

I came for the mystery, and stayed for the budding romance. Sad to say that the former was disappointing and the latter didn't lead anywhere in the book. There was a lot of random info-dump about things that had no relevance to the plot. Repetitions were aplenty to an extent that you could skim a couple of pages and not miss anything important. The last third of the book finally succeeded in grabbing my attention towards the mystery, but unfortunately, the whole mystery plot felt too undercooked.

While I must agree that there were subtle clues hidden in plain sight throughout the latter half of the book about the identity of the perpetrator, the ending felt too rushed and far too inconvenient. The video evidence that confirmed the crime wasn't too incriminating enough; it simply showed that the perp was at the dinner party (and the perp had a damn good non-criminal reason to be present there). The police were shown to be too stubborn and too incompetent enough to consider any other suspect than Zo's best friend Beth. Also, what the hell was it with the dreams and spirits leaving clues in a non-fantasy setting? The dream spirit clue conveniently dropped in and helped to solve the case.

Final thoughts: 'Open For Murder' was a short and quick read, and while the central mystery and the overall plot showed promise, it failed in its execution. But despite it all, the story feels cozy as advertised. I would however not give up on the series so soon. I might give the second book a try hoping for an overall improvement as there's a lot of potential brewing in the characters and the setting.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo libro mi attraeva per la trama e l'ambientazione: effettivamente la descrizione del luogo dove la storia si svolge è ben fatta. Devo dire che non avevo capito chi fosse l'assassino fino a pochi istanti prima che venisse svelato. Ho avuto qualche problema con la protagonista: ogni tanto non ero proprio "in sintonia" con lei, per così dire. Tutto sommato, però, il libro mi è piaciuto.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Open For Murder is the first in a new series by Mary Angela. This was my first book by this author but will definitely not be my last. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set in South Dakota. The book was well written and loved all the characters.