The newest release by Tonya Kappes, Dead as a Doornail, is an entertaining cozy mystery full of southern charm, humor, and a few quirky characters along the way. Law enforcement in the small town of Cottonwood, Kentucky consists of three sheriff's department employees, two of whom are Sheriff Kenni and Deputy Finn. And then there's the ghost of Kenni's dad, who appears whenever there's a murder to solve â¦
Dead as a Doornail has all the elements of a cozy mystery, but with a protagonist who has a logical reason for questioning suspects because she is the Sheriff. Good tension comes when Kenni often has to question personal friends. The story stands alone, but I would have probably gotten to know Kenni and the other characters better if I had read the four previous books.
I don't usually enjoy supernatural elements, but Kenni's dad adds a nice touch, reminding me of a TV show I once saw where the murder victim conversed with the detective. There's some great secondary characters, including a âbridezillaâ that Kenni is roped into being a bridesmaid for, Kenni's mom, and a mayor who doesn't want the investigation to overshadow his wedding. The murder plot is well crafted and the romance between Finn and Kenni continues to develop.
Dead as a Doornail is a fun, entertaining read and I look forward to more stories to come. Recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Dead as a Doornail has all the elements of a cozy mystery, but with a protagonist who has a logical reason for questioning suspects because she is the Sheriff. Good tension comes when Kenni often has to question personal friends. The story stands alone, but I would have probably gotten to know Kenni and the other characters better if I had read the four previous books.
I don't usually enjoy supernatural elements, but Kenni's dad adds a nice touch, reminding me of a TV show I once saw where the murder victim conversed with the detective. There's some great secondary characters, including a âbridezillaâ that Kenni is roped into being a bridesmaid for, Kenni's mom, and a mayor who doesn't want the investigation to overshadow his wedding. The murder plot is well crafted and the romance between Finn and Kenni continues to develop.
Dead as a Doornail is a fun, entertaining read and I look forward to more stories to come. Recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Dead as a Doornail is the fifth installment in the Kenni Lowry mystery series featuring Sheriff Kendrick "Kenni" Lowry set in the small town of Cottonwood, Kentucky. Kenni is not at all happy that her Mama is forcing her to be be the maid of honor in Polly Parker's wedding to Mayor Chance Ryland. Kenni isn't really a fan of Polly or the Mayor, and when she sees the Gone With The Wind dress and bonnet she's expected to wear, she completely understands why Polly's sorority sister backed out at the last minute.
The ladies in town are all visiting Tina Bower's Tiny Tina's salon and spa before the wedding to have their hair and nails done up with Tina's special nail polish. Tina makes her own special colors with a secret recipe, and her favorite color Perfectly Posh is in high demand by the ladies including Lucy Ellen Powell. When Tina tells Lucy Ellen that she doesn't have time in her schedule to fit her in for a beauty treatment, Lucy does what she's famous for - writing a negative review in the local paper.
When Lucy's found dead, and Kenni's ghostly sidekick Poppa appears, Kenni senses that Lucy's death isn't accidental. Knowing that half of the townsfolk including her friend Tina had a beef with Lucy Ellen over her nasty reviews and brash ways, Kenni sets out with the help of Poppa and her beau Deputy Vince Flynn to track down a killer.
Another fun and fast paced plot with the return of series main characters. There wasn't quite enough interaction with Poppa, but still plenty of quirky and laugh out loud moments to make this addition to the series another favorite.
The ladies in town are all visiting Tina Bower's Tiny Tina's salon and spa before the wedding to have their hair and nails done up with Tina's special nail polish. Tina makes her own special colors with a secret recipe, and her favorite color Perfectly Posh is in high demand by the ladies including Lucy Ellen Powell. When Tina tells Lucy Ellen that she doesn't have time in her schedule to fit her in for a beauty treatment, Lucy does what she's famous for - writing a negative review in the local paper.
When Lucy's found dead, and Kenni's ghostly sidekick Poppa appears, Kenni senses that Lucy's death isn't accidental. Knowing that half of the townsfolk including her friend Tina had a beef with Lucy Ellen over her nasty reviews and brash ways, Kenni sets out with the help of Poppa and her beau Deputy Vince Flynn to track down a killer.
Another fun and fast paced plot with the return of series main characters. There wasn't quite enough interaction with Poppa, but still plenty of quirky and laugh out loud moments to make this addition to the series another favorite.
Dead as a Doornail by Tonya Kappes is the fifth novel in A Kenni Lowry Mystery series. Kenni Lowry is the sheriff in Cottonwood, Kentucky. She is enjoying a spa day at Tiny Tina's courtesy of her boyfriend, Finn Vincent with her best friend, Jolee. Then Lucy Ellen Lowell barges in demanding an appointment so her nails and hair will be beautiful for upcoming nuptials of Polly Parker and Mayor Chance Ryaland. After a lively disagreement, an unhappy Lucy Ellen leaves and comments that Tina will regret not accomodating her. Lucy Ellen is well-known for her disparaging articles on businesses posted in the Cottonwood Chronicle when she is unable to bully the owner to get her way. Kenni is looking forward to a quiet evening after the gossip of the salon when her mother barges in with Polly Parker and her mother, Paula. It seems that Kenni is Polly's new maid-of-honor and gets the privledge to wear a large hunter green dress that is reminiscent of Scarlet's curtain dress in Gone with the Wind (good grief). Kenni is awakened at 4 a.m. with a phone call from Darnell Lowell. He has arrived home and found his wife, Lucy Ellen dead. When Kenni arrives at the crime scene and sees Poppa, she knows that Lucy Ellen was murdered. Chance Ryland and Polly would prefer Kenni to put off her investigation until after their wedding (it is taking attention away from Polly). Kenni will need to work quickly to find Lucy Ellen's killer before the wedding while handling her maid of honor duties. It is going to be a long week for Kenni Lowry.
Dead as a Doornail is the fifth book in the series, and I suggest reading the books in order. That way you will understand the background on Kenni, her family history, her romance with Finn, and Poppa. Dead as a Doornail contains good writing and has a nice quick pace which makes for an enjoyable read. I appreciate Tonya Kappes conversational writing style. Cottonwood is the quintessential small town where gossip runs rampant, doors are not locked, favors are a way of life and everyone has advice to give on your love life. As sheriff, Kenni finds herself in an unusual position. It will soon be time for re-election and she cannot alienate the voters which is how Kenni finds herself in awkward (and unwelcome) position of being Polly's maid of honor. Kenni's mother will having you laughing with her antics and how she manipulates Kenni. Cottonwood has several quirky characters that use charming Southern colloquialisms. The mystery is a nail biter. Dead as a Doornail is a lighthearted cozy mystery that will have readers chuckling frequently and puzzled by the killer's identity.
Dead as a Doornail is the fifth book in the series, and I suggest reading the books in order. That way you will understand the background on Kenni, her family history, her romance with Finn, and Poppa. Dead as a Doornail contains good writing and has a nice quick pace which makes for an enjoyable read. I appreciate Tonya Kappes conversational writing style. Cottonwood is the quintessential small town where gossip runs rampant, doors are not locked, favors are a way of life and everyone has advice to give on your love life. As sheriff, Kenni finds herself in an unusual position. It will soon be time for re-election and she cannot alienate the voters which is how Kenni finds herself in awkward (and unwelcome) position of being Polly's maid of honor. Kenni's mother will having you laughing with her antics and how she manipulates Kenni. Cottonwood has several quirky characters that use charming Southern colloquialisms. The mystery is a nail biter. Dead as a Doornail is a lighthearted cozy mystery that will have readers chuckling frequently and puzzled by the killer's identity.
