Book Review and Giveaway - A Camping Conundrum: A Liz Adams Mystery by Stacy Wilder

My Review

Liz Adams agrees to go camping with her husband Brad against her better judgement.  The private investigator becomes involved in solving a crime (theft) at the campground in South Carolina and then stumbles upon a murder - which she works to solve with her husband.

I wanted to read A Camping Conundrum because I enjoyed a recent book in this series.  I love mysteries and found the camping theme appealing.

This is short (140 pages) mystery ideal to read over the course of a couple of evenings or a weekend.  It is amazing how much the author packs into this short book!  There are actually two mystery cases.  The murder of an unlikeable woman from the local town has several twists and turns all the way up through the trial and it definitely kept me guessing!

I enjoyed Liz's detecting skills, her relationship with Brad, and of course her lovable Labrador Retriever, Duke.

I recommend A Camping Conundrum for other cozy mystery fans.  I look forward to reading future books in this series.

Book Synopsis

A heart-pounding cozy mystery filled with twists, turns, and canine charm. Perfect for fans of page-turning whodunits and outdoor adventures!

Private Investigator Liz Adams isn’t thrilled when her husband, Brad, suggests a camping getaway to South Carolina’s picturesque Poinsett Park. The mention of camping brings back a haunting memory of a childhood Girl Scout trip that went terribly wrong. But for Brad, the park is a refuge—a chance to relive happy moments from his past.

The long weekend escape takes a dark turn when Brad discovers a woman’s lifeless body in the park’s peaceful lake. The victim, the landlady of a strip center in the neighboring town of Sumter, was notorious for making enemies among her tenants. With no shortage of motives but no clear suspects, Liz and her truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke, embark on a quest to identify the culprit.

As Liz races to uncover the truth and put the killer in jail, the couple experiences one camping disaster after another. Will justice be served? Or will an unexpected twist of karma change everything?

Author Bio

Stacy Wilder writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that help the homeless, both people and pets.

Beyond writing, Stacy is deeply devoted to her faith, family, and her beloved Labradors. She is also enthusiastic about the causes she supports, the beauty of art, the serenity of the beach, the adventure of travel, and the joy of reading.

She and her husband live in Houston, TX, with a totally spoiled Labrador named Eve.

Author Links

• Website storystacy.com
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wilderstacy
• Amazon https://www.amazon.com/author/stacy.wilder
• Instagram https://instagram.com/authorstacywilder/
• BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/stacy-wilder
• YouTube https://youtu.be/9YYjXBUsX1Y?si=4Vz91UbbZ5D4J9_Y

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – 

Giveaway

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Book Review and Giveaway - A Whale of a Crime (A Yorkshire Coast Cozy Mystery) by Mona Marple

My Review

Ten years after his husband, a pop star, died under mysterious circumstances, Ryan Kennedy returns home to Flamborough in Yorkshire.  He spends time with his beloved grandmother, Iris, at her bookstore.  When there is a murder at a community gathering on the beach, Ryan and Iris set out to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read this book because I love cozy mysteries.  I enjoy British mysteries with village settings.  The dog on the cover also appealed to me!

This is a unique mystery.  It is told in alternating chapters by Ryan and by his grandmother Iris.  There are also a few chapters that read like a message board for Siren Call, the band Ryan's husband led.  I found the alternating viewpoints intriguing but it also made the book read a bit more slowly to me.

The author does a wonderful job with descriptions and I could really visualize Flamborough and the residents.  The mystery aspect of the book is compelling and there were several twists in the story that added intrigue!

I really liked Ryan and Iris and enjoyed their detecting.  Ryan works as a dog walker and I liked the dog details in the book - including his Bernese Mountain Dog, Bracken.

I recommend A Whale of a Crime for other fans of cozy mysteries and especially for readers who enjoy a British village setting.

Book Synopsis

After ten years away, Ryan Kennedy never planned on returning to Flamborough—the tiny Yorkshire village he once called home. But when his fiercely independent gran, Iris, needs him, he finds himself back behind the counter at her chaotic seaside bookshop, wrestling with jammed tills, nosy villagers, and the memories he’s spent years trying to forget.

What Ryan doesn’t expect is to be swept straight into the heart of a murder investigation.

When a mysterious boat appears on the beach and a body turns up at the exclusive Whale Watch Weekend picnic, all eyes turn to the cliffs—and to the secrets the village has been keeping. As Ryan and Iris dig into the tangled history of the victim, long-buried truths begin to surface, not just about the case… but about the night Ryan’s own husband died.

With the tide cutting them off, a killer on the loose, and a very observant dog named Bracken by their side, Ryan and Iris must work fast—because in Flamborough, the past doesn’t stay buried, and the sea has a habit of washing everything to shore.

For fans of twisty village whodunits, seaside charm, and heartfelt mysteries with a slow-burning emotional pull, A Whale of a Crime is the unforgettable first instalment in a brand-new series.

Author Bio

Mona Marple writes charming cozy mysteries filled with quirky characters, twisty whodunits, and settings you’ll wish you could visit—especially if you love a bit of seasonal sparkle. Best known for her beloved Candy Cane Hollow series, Mona creates worlds where murder meets mistletoe and sleuthing pairs perfectly with a cup of tea. When she’s not writing, Mona can be found walking her Labradoodle, Coco, plotting her next murder (on the page, of course), or hosting reader parties in her cozy online community.

Author Links

WEBSITE: WWW.MONAMARPLE.COM

FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MONAMARPLEAUTHOR

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/332562544209625

INSTAGRAM: WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/MONAMARPLE

Purchase Link – Amazon

Giveaway 
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