# Beaches, Bungalows, & Burglaries

By Tonya Kappes · Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery, book 1

Profile: https://hahafiction.com/books/beaches-bungalows-burglaries-50bb78e0/

Mae West loses her New York life when her husband’s Ponzi scheme collapses. She still owns an RV and Happy Trails, a neglected campground in Normal, Kentucky, where the residents have reasons to distrust her family. Then her ex-husband turns up dead in the lake, and Mae has to clear her name.

## What makes it funny?

Mae learns that an RV is her new home and starts by objecting to its color. Her old expectations keep getting in the way of practical tasks: a reviewer singles out her need for help with a Keurig and her failure to recognize a bulldozer. Readers in mystery groups recommend the Camper & Criminals series for its humor.

### The comedy at work

A woman accustomed to having things done for her has to run a failing business. Her complaints reveal how poorly her former habits prepare her for campground life, while the local women know how to get things done.

### Try this if…

Campground repairs and local friendships share the stage with the murder investigation. Mae’s inexperience offers a way into the community for readers who enjoy an amateur sleuth learning as she goes.

### Good to know

The Cozy Mystery Reads review enjoys the setting and cast but finds Mae’s naivete frustrating at times. It also flags typos and missing words.

## What to expect

- Genre: Mystery
- On the shelf: Amateur sleuth · Cozy mystery
- Kind of humor: Situational comedy
- The atmosphere: Cozy
- Format: Novel
- Published: 2018

## A few distinguishing details

- A luxury lifestyle replaced by a neglected campground
- A murder suspect whose ex swindled her new neighbors

## Sources & further reading

- Author commentary: [Author description and excerpt](https://tonyakappes.com/books/beaches-bungalows-burglaries)
- Reader discussion: [Reader discussion](https://facebook.com/groups/TwoGirlsMustReads/permalink/2276078689857943)
- Review: [Cozy Mystery Reads review](https://cozymysteryreads.wordpress.com/2023/03/14/beaches-bungalows-and-burglaries)