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Camper & Criminals #21

Lanterns, Lakes, & Larceny

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Let me be the first person to welcome you to Normal, Kentucky located in the heart of the Daniel Boone National Forest. I'm Mae West the owner of Happy Trails Campground. Over the past few months my love life has been on what you'd call a slippery slope. Just this past week I'd resigned to the fact that me and Hank Sharp was caput! Done with. No more! And when I got a phone call during Bobby Ray's meeting with his birth mother from Hank, I felt like I was wrapped up between a nightmare and a dream. Let me cut to the chase. Hank's best friend Jerry Truman is a local private investigator and he's got a huge case that includes a dead body. Of course I've not stuck my nose in it because honestly it has nothing to do with me. Those are the kinda murders I like, but now that Hank has told me he's back and helping Jerry, and get this . . . they need me to use my sleuthing skills to help them, it's now my business. One, because I love to snoop and two because by the sound of things, Hank misses me as much as I miss him. You see, this case will be a double win! At least that's what I thought until I'm the one staring into the barrel of a shot gun when I found out a little too much information.

Audiobook

First published September 16, 2021

313 people are currently reading
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About the author

Tonya Kappes

441 books3,673 followers
Beloved cozy mystery author Tonya Kappes is bringing her charming world to the screen!

The Hallmark Channel is thrilled to announce a television series in development based on Tonya’s wildly popular 40-book series, A Camper & Criminals Mystery.

A celebrated Amazon All-Star and USA Today bestselling author, Tonya has written over 180 southern cozy mysteries filled with heart, humor, and unforgettable small-town characters. Her novels, known for their southern charm and rich emotional storytelling, have been praised by readers and critics alike, earning her a coveted spot as a Woman's World Book Club Pick six times.

Writing full-time from her camper, Tonya crafts worlds where mystery, friendship, and a little mischief collide — and now, her stories will come to life for cozy mystery lovers everywhere.

Visit Tonya:
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tonyakappes.com

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For weekly updates and contests, sign up for Tonya's newsletter Kappes Krew Weekly via her website or Facebook.For years,

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5 stars
1,148 (42%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
Profile Image for Lee Brothers.
1,371 reviews14 followers
August 25, 2021
This has to be one of my favorite books in this series. It’s so well written and so exciting to read. Lots of twists and turns and twisted people and their reasonings. I just love the reconnections and the storylines. So exciting!! Can’t wait to read the next book!
Profile Image for Kim.
1,162 reviews16 followers
September 18, 2021
Hank is back in Normal and he seems to have changed his opinion about Mae's snooping. Now that he is no longer in law enforcement and working as P.I. he is actually encouraging Mae to help in his investigations. Should Mae accept this change and take Hank back? Should she get involved in his investigations?

Wow! This book moves at a fast-pace and there is a lot going on for Mae and her loved ones. I really love how these characters continue to evolve in their relationships and as individuals. Hank is back and seems to have missed Mae as much as she missed him. But why is he back? Did he really come back for Mae, he seems to be keeping a secret. Mae loves having Hank back and having him accept her need to snoop but can she really truly trust this change. Bobby Ray and Abby have barely started their new life together and his birth mom is causing problems.

The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises to keep me guessing. Every time I thought I had figured it out there was another twist and I was back to guessing who really did it. I like how the new ranger and Sheriff communicate with Mae. They don't talk down to her and listen to her theory but still work the case on their own. This helps keep the story interesting.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
Profile Image for Maria.
3,000 reviews96 followers
September 4, 2022
This series just got a little darker – that cliffhanger at the end blew me away! This particular story kept me invested the whole time though it seemed to pass all too quickly. I love Mae and her friends, the dogs, well, the whole town! The mystery kept me guessing the whole time and I really can’t wait to see what happens next.

Profile Image for Meg.
229 reviews1 follower
September 21, 2021
This installment brings Mae's ex-boyfriend Hank Sharp back into her life. He has already parked his camper, his NEW camper, in his previous space, left his job, changed his looks, and is working with his friend Jerry in the PI business. Jerry has asked Hank to assist him with a case he picked up regarding a wealthy client. Interestingly enough, they have asked Mae to help them. Once Mae is involved, murder is bound to happen! While Mae is looking for clues, there is someone else looking for Hank! Add Bobby Rae and Abby experiencing some challenges in their marriage with his birth mother on the scene, and you have one very interesting plot. 

Another exciting adventure in the Daniel Boone National Park with Mae, Dottie, and the Laundry Club ladies trying to help Mae with the murder, AND trying to figure out what is going on with Hank. What is going on with that man? I always enjoy this series and I'm looking forward to the next book. I received an advanced copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
Profile Image for Mary.
1,832 reviews9 followers
August 11, 2025
Enjoyed the twists and turns in this mystery .
Profile Image for Brandy Barber.
969 reviews23 followers
September 4, 2021
It always seems to be something new with Mae. This one starts off with a doozy of a story. Hank, he back and is acting shady. He wants Mae's help on a case he is working on with a friend. Where will this lead to I keep asking. I do not trust him right now. He is acting strange. I think Dottie is onto something.

This mystery was fast and easy to read. I keep thinking I knew who was the murder. I was wrong on so many levels. I don't know how I want Mae and Hank's relationship to go. I kind of want to see a new guy come in and wow Mae and see how it spices up everything.

Great book. I hope that people pick up this series. It is a very good read at anytime of the year.
Profile Image for ☆☆Hannah☆☆.
3,182 reviews46 followers
September 24, 2021
This is one of those books that I have mixed feelings about. I was glad that Hank came back. However, I didn't like how their relationship is getting messed up because of some things. At least this time Mae helps Hank with the case and they of course solve it. Sadly the ending was not what I had hoped. We will see how this plays out in the next book.
Profile Image for Jeanie.
1,323 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2021
Welcome to early fall in Normal, Kentucky! There are some wild surprises this time! Our favorite characters come to life in a new way this time. It has been a while since Mae’s ex-boyfriend, Hank, quit being the sheriff, packed up his camper and returned to being a national park ranger, this time far away at Mammoth Cave.

One surprise is Hank calling Mae to tell her that he is back in town, at her campground, Happy Trails. Can you believe he has a beard and a mustache? Mae is so thrilled to see him that she isn’t ready to push him to shave them off. Dottie, the manager at Happy Trails, think he looks hot with them!

Jerry, who had been the sheriff for years, had quit to open a PI firm had asked Hank to join him. Jerry is happy Hank is back and taking him up on his offer. Now that Hank is no longer sheriff or detective, he is willing to let Mae help with cases, which had caused some of their differences in the past.

Hank is quite a different man than when we last saw him, which sure sounds good to Mae. Mae is astute enough to pay attention to what she sees, hears, and feels, and won’t let love blind her completely. The Laundry Club Ladies are torn between doing an intervention or giving her their blessing. As Dottie says, “That boy’s got more moves than a slinky going down an escalator.”

Jerry has a case that turns into a real humdinger, one that Hank and Mae, are helping with. Judie holds an annual fundraiser/ foal auction for a group called Hope for Horses. Hope provides therapy with the use of horses for all kinds of health challenges and ages and sounds like a wonderful cause. Judie has been receiving death threats for quite some time, and the fundraiser is tonight. They need to be at the fundraiser that night, and Mae will do some chatting around town where Judie may have been over the past couple days to see what she can learn before the event. It’s amazing what some women tell their hair and nail salon people! The ladies at Cute-icles know more than most bartenders!

Mae is in the thick of things at the fundraiser to learn about the foals being auctioned and how the business and fundraiser work. The fundraiser doesn’t go as planned, and the stink hits the fan. If anyone can find answers, it will be Mae and her friends, the Laundry Club Ladies. I wonder how long she will be able to keep Hank’s secret, the one she pries out of him when finding out the truth about his return.

The pages flew when I read this! This fast-paced, intense Southern cozy accelerates all the things we love about Mae, her family, and friends! Oh, my, we see Mae at her finest, Dottie (one of my favorites!) at her snarkiest and most protective, and Hank is like a new man. I loved it and wasn’t sure what I wanted most – to finish it to see whodunit, or for it to last a few more chapters. I highly recommend this to fans of the Campers and Criminals series, Southern cozy mysteries, and camping.

From a thankful heart: I received an advance reader copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,209 reviews61 followers
September 18, 2021
Lanterns, Lakes, & Larceny Earns 5/5 Happy Horses…Engaging & Clever!

Hank Sharp is back, but turning the tables by asking for instead of criticizing and curtailing Mae’s help with a case. He left the job that sent him cross state, and is now working unofficially, officially with friend, former sheriff, and now local PI Jerry Truman who runs his own private investigation’s firm. Mae’s experience and coolness at gun point has always made her an asset that Hank and Jerry can feel free to use. Their current client has been receiving several death threats, and with an important fundraising event for her Hopes with Horses foundation coming up, she worries something deadly might happen. However, things get complicated with disgruntled breeders and more threats than horses…but there’s a dead body, then another, then...it gets personal, very personal.

Hook ‘Em Up! Tonya Kappes set this twenty-first book in her Camper & Criminals Cozy hours after the end of the previous book making for fun continuity. The murder mystery has all the same elements that has made Kappes’s work a personal favorite: rich, well-developed characters, multiple homicides, clever mystery with several theories to explore, surprises and shocks, love and romance, and lots of southern charm of which Tonya is very familiar. The relationship between Mae and Hank is renewed and is better suited as a partnership, then the previous dynamic as adversaries—cop vs civilian. Added to the peripheral drama is the mystery that someone is looking for Hank, and the cliffhanger at the end will roll right into the next book. Family and friends are always a key element with Mae’s foster brother dealing with his birth mother, her BFF/sister-in-law Abby dealing with her new married life, and Mae dealing with snoops, dogs, and campground headaches. Despite there being a plethora of books in the series, each book, including this one, maintains a fresh feeling showing realistic ups, downs, and growth of characters through the natural passing of time. Always entertaining with an additional bonus of easy-to-follow recipes (Southern Olive Nut Spread, Salsa and Corn Dumpling Soup, and Dutch Oven Stuffed Peppers), and Camping Hacks.

Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Profile Image for Emmalynn.
2,941 reviews29 followers
April 3, 2023
Hank is bank and looking to start things back up with Mae, in fact his whole attitude seems to have changed!! Both Hank and Jerry asks for Mae’s assistance with their case, finding out who is threatening a recent lottery winner. When a member of her circle is killed at a charity ball, the client wants them to remain on the case to protect her and find the murderer. Mae also has some suspicions on why Hank is back, why is he being so secretive and who is that Ranger asking around town for him?!
Profile Image for Amy Cobb.
383 reviews34 followers
October 6, 2023
Such a short, clean cozy mystery set in beautiful Kentucky. This felt like a taste of home, and I love that the author includes recipes and camping hacks. This was also a fun buddy read with one of my childhood KY friends. I look forward to more in this series. 💙
Profile Image for Kristina Anderson.
4,055 reviews83 followers
September 10, 2021
Lanterns, Lakes, and Larceny by Tonya Kappes has Mae West thrilled at Hank Sharp’s return. She has missed Hank and Chester (so has Fifi) since they departed. Hank is joining Jerry Truman at his new PI practice. Mae is surprised when Hank says he needs her help with their latest case. Mae loves to snoop plus this will give her a chance to be close to Hank—it’s a double win in her book. Of course, Mae cannot resist roping in The Laundry Club ladies. Things are going along swimmingly until a woman ends up dead at a charity event sponsored by Hank and Jerry’s client. There goes the simple non-murder case. Lanterns, Lakes, and Larceny is the 21st A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series because everything a reader needs to know is included. This was an entertaining tale. All our favorite characters are back for another adventure. This case is a doozy too. Mae thought it would be a simple case, but she should have known better. I liked all the action that kept things entertaining. There are two side storylines that keep things lively. Hank is back, but he is acting a little shady. Dottie is suspicious and raises her concerns with Mae. Mae has noticed some odd things as well. Bobby Ray is getting to know his birth mother, but something comes up that cause’s contention in his marriage. I am curious to see what will happen with Mae and Hank. I admit that I prefer the new man in town, Tucker. Mae has a certain spark when Tucker is around. I enjoy Tonya Kappes’ writing style. It is easy and light. The author has created such fun characters. Each book is like visiting old friends. I would love to live in Normal and join the Laundry Club Ladies. Lanterns, Lakes, and Larceny is a lively whodunit with a returning Romeo, delighted dogs, fun friends, written death threats, brother trouble, and a curious campground owner.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,561 reviews19 followers
September 12, 2021
After inhaling this latest entry in one of my all time favorites mystery series I'm counting down the days until October 21, 2021 when Jackets, Jack-O-Lantern and Justice is released. Lanterns, Lakes and Larceny left me with that "I want to know more" feeling. When Hank took a hike and left town and Mae, well I was ready to smack him. How dare he treat Mae like that? Well, guess what? Hank is back and while Mae is happy as a kitty in a patch of catnip, her heart going pitty patty and her toes curling the minute he moves in for a kiss Dottie plants herself between them and stops that. She isn't buying it, no way. She senses there is more to his return and she is worried that Mae is blinded to the possible shady reason he's back. First he is sporting a full mountain man beard, he has a new camper and there is some guy asking around town about him. Is Dottie seeing more than Mae? Dottie knows how to protect her friends and she is on alert.
Another surprise comes for Mae when Jerry and Hank ask for help with their new case as PI's. A newly wealthy (mega lottery winner) Judie Doughty is getting threatening letters and wants it stopped. Sounds simple and after all Mae is good at snooping. Add her friends the Laundry Ladies and it shouldn't take long. What waits around the corner? Yep, murders and, no surprise, Mae finds herself in danger. Just another day in Normal, KY and the world of Maybelline West. What's the connection between horse breeding, blackmail, lottery winnings and what's with Hank?
As in every book in this series family and friendships play a big part and this time there are some cracks brewing in some relationships. If you are new to the series, jump right in, it works as a stand alone but be ready to go back and catch up by reading them in order.
Profile Image for ThundaBunz.
109 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2024
Wowza! Another Mystery Solved by Mae West and the Laundry Club! This mystery, Hank is back, he's different looking and also joined Jerry's Detective Firm. They enlist Mae's help to find out about a recent Lottery Winner being threatened and stalked. Now Mae and the gang must find out who is this person and why are they sending veiled threats.

Mystery Wise: The mystery is quite good. It did get weird at some points but I felt that it provided some facts and good side stories. When you find out the who dont it it's shocking because even I didnt expect it at first. All signs posted at someone else. The detail that showed it was the person was not revealed until the end. But it was good.

Relationship wise: Mae is returning to some normalacy but very slow and steady with Hank, Something is off with him but you dont see it until the end. Abby and Bobby Ray have some problems with the return of his birth mother.

The book left off on a cliff hanger, cant wait to see what happens next!
Profile Image for Carol Lee.
689 reviews7 followers
September 29, 2021
I love Mae and the Laundry Ladies and their adventures in Normal, KY. Mae has found herself in another case with a dead body. Hank drags her into a case along with private eye Jerry. Mae feels like it is a win win because she gets to hang out again with Hank and solve a good mystery, what is there not to love. Well maybe the danger she finds herself in again could be less, but then it would not be a Mae West type of mystery.
Profile Image for Kira.
1,032 reviews32 followers
November 11, 2022
For a little book, this sure had some unseen twist and turns for which I am really grateful. I ended up enjoying the mystery quite a lot and the Mae was an engaging main character. I didn't like the whole ex bf aspect of the story but it might possibly be because I am unaware of their history but it was kind of off putting.

This series would definitely be more enjoyable when read in order.
Profile Image for Kandice.
1,652 reviews354 followers
June 5, 2023
I've never read one of these on the "page." nor even seen a copy, but the audiobooks have become my go-to for car drives and long waits. I love Johanna Parker's voice. I am tempted to find a copy at the library and see if I enjoy the Laundry Ladies and their shenanigans as much in print as I do hearing her tell me the story, but I'm afraid I won't!
Profile Image for Sue.
2,338 reviews36 followers
September 24, 2025
This is my mind candy series to listen to when I have a sewing project I'm focused on working. I listened to this in one setting & got my quilt top all put together, so win-win. Mae gets involved with helping the local PI firm & ends up in danger, then there's a cliff-hanger. Plus, the Laundry Club Ladies are a hoot.
Profile Image for Pam.
474 reviews14 followers
April 8, 2024
Mae West and the Laundry Club are amateur sleuths who seem to get into a pickle. This book has Hank returning to normal working as a PI on a case of a woman receiving death threats. Good story line with humor woven into the mystery.
Profile Image for Alyssa Helton.
Author 28 books22 followers
February 25, 2022
Another fun read

I love this series. I would be thrilled to have Mae as a best friend and happily live in a camper in Kentucky, helping her solve crimes.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
19 reviews
September 18, 2022
Love the cliff hanger ending!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for shannon✨.
1,736 reviews53 followers
May 17, 2025
2.5 stars

I wasn’t too interested in the main mystery of this story. I was more invested in finding out what is going on with Hank Sharp and now I need to know what will happen next.
Profile Image for Meryl Markowitz.
680 reviews12 followers
August 29, 2021
In this next installment, Mae is delighted that Hank Sharp has returned. Dottie, not so much. She tells Mae " Friends keep friends sane when hunky ex-boyfriends come around. That boys' got more moves than a slinky going down an escalator."

Hank claims that things will be different and he needs her help with a case. he tells her "I wanted so badly to protect you that I ended up smothering you." Now he wants to show with actions that he trusts her not to put herself in danger.

While working on a case that is simply a lot of threatening letters turns into a multiple murder case. Of course the not so sharp sheriff can't see a proper clue if it had an neon light arrow pointing to it, but the ranger in charge of the National Park is much smarter and knows what's what.

Speaking of rangers, there seems to be one looking for Hank, for some unknown reason. Mae is being distracted by Hank's swoony behavior to spend time figuring out what's going on with him. On top of that her life is being threatened again! has she gotten too close to why bodies are piling up?

This book is a fast paced ride that will leave you guessing until the end. Then when you think you have caught your breath...a heck of a cliff hanger that will take your breath away!

Thank you to Tonya Kappes for the advanced copy.
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