‘Brides, Bribes, & Binoculars’ by Tonya Kappes
Series: A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery
Published: October 12, 2023
Publisher: Tonya Kappes Books
Genre: Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Format: Book
Spice Level: None
Stars: 
Synopsis
Mae West has been kidnapped…BY THE LAUNDRY CLUB LADIES for a spa retreat bachelorette party like no other.
Dottie’s screaming at the stripper to put it back on instead of keep taking off, fun bride games, and spa activities don’t keep these sleuthing friends off the tracks of a killer when one of the other brides ends up dead!
Put a group of nervous brides and slew of prissy bridesmaids together, meddling along with jealousy brings out a bridezilla who will do anything to make her day more special than anyone, even Mae!
My Thoughts
What happens when the Laundry Club Ladies kidnap Mae West for a bachelorette party weekend? Well, another murder that needs to be solved of course, with ‘Brides, Bribes, & Binoculars’ getting to the murder and solving it doesn’t take long as this is a novella leading up to the next book, ‘Witness, Woods, & Wedding’. I really enjoyed how quick this book was. It was a wonderful way to escape the real world for a few moments and then also have my mind try and figure out who did it.
I’m sure you are asking yourself what makes the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series one I keep returning to. Well, I have to say the characters from Normal, Kentucky always keep me coming back. It’s hard to say I have a favorite because each one really makes the story but when I see that Dottie is going to be on the page or in a scene, I know I will for sure have a smile on my face and there will be a very good chance that I will chuckle or even just full on laugh. A good example of this is when the Laundry Club Ladies meet up with Mae after she finds a dead body.
“Doggonit!” Dottie Stomped around the beach area behind the police tape. The smoke from her cigarette rolled out of her mouth. “We can’t go nowhere without you finding a dead body.”
And Dottie wasn’t the only one who mentioned Mae always finding a dead body. Mae’s fiancé, Hank, comes up with a good name for her.
I jumped when my phone rang. “Hank.” I was so happy to see his name pop up. “You aren’t going to believe this.” “How you found another dead body?” He half snorted on the other end of the phone. “You make it sound like…” I searched for the right word. “You’re a murder magnet?” He finished the sentence for me. “You are. Granny told me about Sloan, and I did a bit of digging around.”
I think when Tonya first mentions Mae she should say Mae ‘Murder Magnet’ West. I feel like that has a good ring to it. With a good mystery of trying to figure out who did it and the same excellent group of characters coming back ‘Brides, Bribes, & Binoculars’ is a great five-star novella. And just like most cozy mysteries the sizzle level is none but that is something I like when it comes to a cozy mystery, and this is a good way to cleanse your reading palate between books.
You can get ‘Brides, Bribes, & Binoculars’ on Amazon and if you’re a Kindle Unlimited member this book is included in your membership.
**I would like to thank Tonya Kappes for the ARC copy of this book. Getting the ARC Copy did not influence my thoughts on the book as they are all my own.**
