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Will Travel for Trouble #15

Trouble in Diablo Canyon

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Minnie and Ben are back for more murder and mayhem!

Minnie Crockwell, recreational vehicle enthusiast and traveler, and her ghost companion, Ben, are heading north toward Colorado with a side trip to the Diablo Canyon Guest Ranch in northwest New Mexico.

Beautiful scenery, private cabins, picnics and cookouts, guided horseback trail rides...what’s not to like?

One victim will tell you...if they were still speaking. Minnie wanted a vacation, but murder and mayhem take no vacations.

Each story in the series can stand alone, but to avoid extensive repetition of the backstory, the books would be best read in order.

Book 1 - Trouble at Happy Trails
Book 2 - Trouble at Sunny Lake
Book 3 - Trouble at Glacier
Book 4 - Trouble at Hungry Lake
Book 5 – Trouble at Snake and Clearwater
Book 6 – Trouble in Florence
Book 7 – Trouble in Tombstone Town
Book 8 – Trouble in Cochise Stronghold
Book 9 – Trouble in Orange Beach
Book 10 – Trouble at Pelican Penthouse
Book 11 – Trouble at Island Castle
Book 12 – Trouble at Yellowstone
Book 13 – Trouble at Devils Tower
Book 14 – Trouble in El Paso
Book 15 – Trouble in Diablo Canyon

Audible Audio

Published October 29, 2020

17 people are currently reading
11 people want to read

About the author

Minnie Crockwell

30 books39 followers
Minnie Crockwell is the author of the "Will Travel for Trouble" series of short cozy mysteries featuring Minnie, recreational vehicle (RV) enthusiast and traveler, and her companion, Peregrine Ebenezer (Ben) Alvord, a 19th century cartographer with the Lewis and Clark expedition who just happens to be a ghost! The short cozy mysteries feature Ben and Minnie's adventures on the road as they discover that no one knows what goes on behind the closed doors of those happy campers. Join them for a bumpy ride!

Minnie lives, travels and writes full time in a Class A recreational vehicle. Although she owns a house in Washington State, she enjoys living in other towns and states which the RV allows her to do. She enjoys hearing from readers. You can contact her at minniecrockwell@gmail.com. Minnie also writes time travel romances as Bess McBride.

Book 1: Trouble at Happy Trails
Book 2: Trouble at Sunny Lake
Book 3: Trouble at Glacier
Book 4: Trouble at Hungry Horse
Book 5: Trouble at Snake and Clearwater
Book 6: Trouble in Florence
Book 7: Trouble in Tombstone Town
Book 8: Trouble in Cochise Stronghold

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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Kim.
1,163 reviews16 followers
November 18, 2020
This is another fun book in the Will Travel for Trouble Series. Minnie and her traveling companion, Ben, which just so happens to be a ghost, are entertaining characters. I loved the changes that are happening with Ben. The setting changes with each book and I enjoy learning about the different tourist attractions in the locations Minnie is visiting. Having the victim die before Minnie arrive was a nice change of pace. Although Minnie's need to know what happened gets the better of her, and she just has to investigate the death even though she never met the man. There was no shortage of suspects and plenty of red-herrings to keep the reader guessing.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and narrator Michelle Babb gives another extraordinary performance. Mrs. Babb can convey different emotions easily through her different accents and tone of voice. Her narration really brings to story to life.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
Profile Image for Terri.
2,369 reviews52 followers
November 9, 2020
I listened to the audio version of this book.
This was another delightful installment of the traveling adventures of Minnie and her traveling buddy, the ghostly Ben. Although Ben's shape was becoming more solid in the last few books, the author decided to retreat the other way again. Ben is once again totally invisible and can communicate silently with Minnie. Although this creates sadness for Minnie and Ben, it again makes it easier for Ben to eavesdrop on suspects and evade detection.
It seemed like there were a lot of characters in this story that has Minnie camping in a tent on a horse ranch. Of course there is a murder to be solved and lots of mayhem and secrets to be discovered.
I love narration by Michelle Babb because she manages to express all sorts of emotions without yelling and making constant adjustments in volume necessary.
I was given a complimentary copy of this audio book. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Lis Carey.
2,213 reviews138 followers
November 5, 2020
Minnie and Ben have just arrived at the Diablo Canyon Ranch, planning a relaxing stay and, for Minnie, her first experience of tent camping.

This time, Minnie won't have to explain how she happened to discover a dead body, because the victim has already died, on the morning's trail ride. Tammy, the daughter of the dude ranch's owners, has ridden back with the news, just as Minnie is checking in. Herman Schmitt was a regular visit to the ranch, and this time he'd brought his much younger wife of just six months, Betsy. The staff and other guests on the ride think he likely had a heart attack, but of course police come, as well as an ambulance, when Cass and Bill Landry, the owners, call 911. Nothing for Minnie to investigate this time, right?

But the police can't say it's a natural death until the medical examiner has done his job.

Meanwhile, Minnie and Ben are having their own disturbing problem. Since they arrived at Diablo Canyon, ghostly Ben has lost his slowly gained substantiality. He and Minnie can no longer touch; he can walk through things again; he and Minnie can communicate silently again, and only silently. He can hear her thoughts again.

Developments of the last few months had had them hoping that Ben might become completely substantial. Now, they're back to square one.

But while they worry about that problem, and everyone waits on the verdict of the medical examiner on Herman Schmitt's death, Minnie can't help learning quite a bit about their fellow guests. And it turns out that there are a lot of connections among them that aren't obvious and mostly aren't being mentioned, except under the influence of Minnie's rather effective and non-judgmental conversation.

Betsy signed a prenuptial agreement, and if she divorced her elderly husband, she would have gotten nothing. Hector and Juanita Guerrero's son Ramon, who works at the ranch as a wrangler, is involved with Tammy, and Juanita strongly disapproves for reasons that aren't at all obvious. The other wrangler, Wyatt, has his own secret history that ties him to Herman Schmitt.

That's a small sample, and it all becomes much more interesting when the medical examiner determines that Herman Schmitt died from the delayed effects of a blow to the head, perhaps as much as a day earlier.

And Minnie keeps learning more about her fellow guests. Betsy isn't the only one with a possible motive for murder. With the best of intentions, she can't seem to make herself leave and let the police solve this murder, despite her original intention for a really relaxing week of tent camping.

It's a lot of fun, and the characters are interesting, even if an impressive percentage are not all that likable. An enjoyable, light mystery, with Minnie and Ben's relationship continuing to unfold.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the narrator, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
Profile Image for Elena Alvarez Dosil.
872 reviews14 followers
November 23, 2020
Review originally published at: https://lomeraniel.com/book-review-tr...

Minnie was looking forward to a peaceful stay at the Diablo Canyon Guest Ranch, sleeping in a tent, and enjoy a horse ride. Ben, who was becoming more solid in previous books, has gotten back to his previous invisible ghost form. Minnie’s relaxing plans are quickly interrupted by the sudden death of one of the ranch’s guests.

I absolutely love this series, but I have to say that this is one of the books I like the most. It was fun from beginning to end, with everybody knowing everybody, and they all keeping secrets from the rest. Again, Minnie seemed to be the one having the most pieces of the puzzle.

The death takes place quite at the beginning of the story, so we quickly get into the middle of things, which I found satisfying.

I think the rhythm in previous books was a bit hampered by the fact that Minnie and Ben could not have silent conversations due to his changing nature. At the beginning of this book, Ben returns to his old self, which is distressing for both characters, but offers more options for the author to transmit information, and it is also more dynamic and pleasant to the reader. I am not sure whether the author made the change because of this, but while it was exciting to see Ben becoming more tangible, his ghostly form suits the stories better in my opinion.

I had a great time and often laughed at the ludicrous situations they are thrown into, Minnie always ready with a snarky comment that I wish I had the courage to speak up myself sometimes. It was a hoot!

Michelle Bab delivered, as always, a wonderful narration, not only not disturbing the story, but adding lightness to it thanks to great character interpretations and the exact amount of sass on Minnie’s comments. I can’t recommend this series in audio format enough!

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Julie Howard.
Author 2 books31 followers
October 31, 2020
I enjoyed this book. This is such a fun and unique series and each book it very different from the last, well except they all have a murder to solve and at book fifteen I think it is just as much fun as the very first book. The characters are interesting but the only continuity is Minnie and Ben which keeps the story fresh and evolving, especially as Ben the ghost has a few problems in this book. I love the changing setting and some of the locations sound like place you would like to visit (as long as Minnie wasn't there). The mystery was interesting and with plenty of suspects it kept me hooked until the end trying to work out who the killer was. Keep the adventures coming.
Minnie wants to try something different and sleep out doors in a tent under the stars, trek in the mountains on horse back and find out what it is like to live in a working ranch. The problem is one of the other guests dies suddenly before she has even out on her cowboy boots. The guests are all meant to be strangers but as Minnie asks questions and Ben the ghost eavesdrop they on conversation they begin to suspect that there is only six degrees of separation and the world isn't so small. But which one of them had the biggest motive to killer the propriety developer and everybody hated him even he own wife.
I like the narrator and think she is very talented at what she does. It is always a pleasure to listen to a story read by her.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
278 reviews3 followers
November 5, 2020
Trouble in Diablo Canyon by Minnie Crockwell is a fun and very enjoyable entry in the Will Travel for Trouble Series. Minnie Crockwell decides to park her trailer and tent camp at a dude ranch in the middle of nowhere, and for a place in the middle of nowhere, it sure has a lot going on. Immediately after Minnie checks in, someone dies and the action and twists don’t stop until the end of the book. The links between the various campers defy belief but, no worries, the book is entertaining and that’s what’s important. 
Readers familiar with the series will know that Minnie travels with a ghostly companion. In recent entries “Ben,” has become increasingly corporeal. For some unknown reason, when they arrive in Diablo Canyon, he reverts back to his entirely ghostly form, much to Minnie’s and his dismay. I’m unsure why the author decided to cease with his transformation but since it is addressed in the book, I have no problem with it. This is a fantasy/mystery, after all.
Michelle Babb continues to do an outstanding job narrating this series. Minnie and Bean have unique voices, as do other characters. 
I was given a Audible copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions stated are solely my own. 
Profile Image for April.
2,201 reviews58 followers
October 30, 2020
Trouble in Diablo Canyon
(Will Travel for Trouble #15)
by Minnie Crockwell

The next adventure of Minnie and Ben take them to Diablo Canyon. It seems

Ben has reverted back to his ghostly form. It is more adventurous that

Ben and Minnie are better suited in this context, but I liked the

romantic leanings that were in the earlier books. I'm not saying but I

have a guess at what way this series may go.

The longer stories seem to add a lot of extra characters. That gives the

listener more villains to choose from. Everybody has a secret. Who's

secret

killed the developer? How many victims will there be?


The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed.Michelle

Babb brings everything to life.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have

voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Anne Rightler.
1,972 reviews35 followers
November 2, 2020
Minnie and her ghost companion, Ben, continue their RV travels and once again are involved in a murder. In Trouble in Diablo Canyon, Minnie has decided to take a break from the RV and do some tent camping. And much to her dismay (or perhaps her pleasure in uncovering clues!) another body is discovered--accident or homicide? Minnie's on the case. Even though 15th in the Will Travel for Trouble series, the story is fresh and fun to read. Ben is having some difficulties in this one, making me wonder where Crockwell is going with his character. Looking forward to book 16. Michelle Babb continues to do a great job narrating the stories, which makes for an enjoyable listening experience. I was given a complimentary copy of the audiobook and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.
14 reviews
May 21, 2021
Wow. By far my favourite book so far.
I was disappointed at the beginning purely because I stumbled across a spoiler and thought it had ruined the story for me. But no, not in the slightest.

So many twists and turns. What a web we weave. I couldn’t keep up, I didn’t guess it. Unbelievably deep and convincing . Just wow.

It starts in Diablo canyon. A campsite in the middle of nowhere. Minnie and Ben up to their old antics. One being a stick in the mud and the other a snoop. They compliment each other perfectly.
Within the first few minutes the first mystery begins.
I was absolutely hooked.

Profile Image for Jocelyne.
4,922 reviews22 followers
April 17, 2021
This is book 15 in the Will Travel for Trouble. I love this cozy mysteries series. Minnie and Ben's adventures continue in this installment. The story is entertaining, fun, and intriguing. Michelle Babb did an excellent job with the narration. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to listen to Trouble in Santa Fe, the next book in the Series.
Profile Image for Deedra.
3,932 reviews40 followers
April 18, 2021
In this 15th book in the series we find Minnie losing touch with her ghost,it is sad,what is going on?Of course there is a dead body and people that want to have her keep her mouth shut.I loved it! Michelle Babb was a terrific narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 
Profile Image for Jennifer.
345 reviews17 followers
November 16, 2020
Minnie and Ben are on another adventure and as usual they get themselves involved in a mysterious murder that Minnie is set on trying to solve because she has to be nosy for all of us. Minnie has a very unhealthy relationship with her ghost friend but once you get past that part of the story the murder mystery is pretty good.
Minnie Crockwell wined up at a dude ranch for some good times with real ranch hands and cowboys but things quickly change when shortly after arriving someone has died during a trail ride under odd circumstances. Somehow everyone is connected in an odd way.

I listened to the audio version of this book and I did enjoy, “the who done it, “.

Michelle Babb as always is an awesome story teller/narrator. She has a gift of bringing the characters to life along with their own personality.

I received this book for my honest review
Profile Image for Brooke.
1,394 reviews6 followers
February 26, 2021
Poor Minnie and Ben find themselves in the middle on a murder mystery again and this one is so twisted around you won’t know which way is up! Such an entertaining mystery that kept me interested until the end. On to the next!
Profile Image for Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs'.
2,788 reviews43 followers
April 26, 2021
This was a different take on the travels - this time Minnie is in a tent - the relationship with Ben was not as prominent and I missed that.

The very familiar voice of Michelle Babb made the story though and it so suits the story.

I was given a free copy but the review is entirely my own.
Profile Image for AMANDA.
194 reviews
April 20, 2021
Not my favorite store out of the series. A bit slower and not much excitement. I personally would have shared ALL info with the police and the ranch owners.
Profile Image for EvilAntie Jan.
1,591 reviews13 followers
August 16, 2019
I miss Mini- not giving up yet

It was so hard to write this review. I love this series and Ben is my Ben. What made it makes this a great series is the tight writing and sharp plotlines. As all authors will stretch their skills it takes time to find a tempo that works. Full length novels are now in store for this series- for me it is a dilemma . The word convoluted is used in this story and that describes this full-length book- too much detail. What made this an amazing series is it packed a punch. Unnecessary detail about what a character does distracts. It is not just this book - the fairytale series suffers the same way. There has got to a happy medium between short and full length. I'm I dropping this series? no - I still need to see the next chapter. That said all series run their Spider-Man great ones go out on a high knee-jerk Ben and Mini certainly deserve just the best. Hopefully this will happen - not giving up yet.
Profile Image for JOAN Stout.
208 reviews16 followers
January 14, 2021
I Iistened to this book at 1.50x

These are stories of a female camper and her ghostly friend, and trouble seems to find them at different campsites.

Fun, cute, and very Nancy Drew like.

The vocal artist did a great job at 1.50x.
44 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2020
I couldn't stop reading these books so I didn't write a review after the first couple but I did rate them. I loved these stories and I really can't get enough of them. I just found out there is a number 17 so I will cut this review short. Get that new RV.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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