Okay, so… most people know I love cozies about witches, animals, and South Dakota. Strangely enough, a town called Spirit Canyon has no witches, but that’s okay; it has everything else. Tourist towns in the Black Hills are abundant, and there are surprisingly a fair amount of cozies set in this delightful state. Naturally, when a new amateur sleuth series set in the hills comes across my desk, I jump on it with both feet. Open For Murder is a good start for a new series with some fun and quirky characters.

Zo isn’t your average business owner or amateur sleuth, but her shop would be interesting to look through. Her personality has some issues; mainly, she appears to be defensive and immature at times. I think her mother and father should definitely be featured more in future books. The rest of the cast is still being developed, and we should see quite a bit of growth in the next book. The setting couldn’t be better. I love that the author brought Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, South Dakota into the story. Many of my relatives worked in the mine, and a few friends died there as well, so it holds a special place in my heart. It was nice to revisit Lead and Deadwood and see it through another writer’s eyes.

The mystery was a bit too light, the evidence shaky and the suspect’s motives average. There is no real reason why the Chief of Police would suspect Zo’s friend Beth, other than she is new to town. But even that doesn’t hold water as Beth spent much of her childhood in the town. I felt that the killer and the unveiling were well done, but the motive was never in doubt. Overall, this is a nice amateur sleuth/business based cozy that is easy to read, detailed enough to be interesting, and not overly dramatic. I encourage people to pay a visit to this area of South Dakota, it is filled with history and real-live characters you can’t find anywhere else. I look forward to the next installment.

Princess Fuzzypants here: When we first meet Zo, owner of the Happy Camper store, she is searching for her cat George, who may be a Maine Coon. George is an independent feline much like his human who, after being abandoned at a police station as a baby and growing up in foster care, may have some troubles connecting to a lot of people. But one friend is Beth who has returned home to reopen a resort that had once been owned by her aunt, Lilly. Beth has thought of everything as she planned her grand opening- except the arrival of the nasty woman who owns the only other competition in the valley.

The woman’s mean streak does not win her friends but when she is found dead in her room, the local cop thinks Beth is the most likely suspect. Zo is determined to prove him wrong and enlists the help of Max, the local Forest Ranger. She has always dismissed him but as they work together, the reader can see sparks are starting to ignite. They make a good team.

There is not only the murder that must be resolved but also a theft of a lot of money. It only makes the local cop more convinced Beth is the killer. But as Zo and Max dig deeper, it is possible there were two distinct crimes. It is just enough to muddy the waters and keep Zo and the reader guessing as to whom the real villain is.

It’s an enjoyable read in a different cozy setting than most. I liked it. Four purrs and two paws up.

Although not a book I would purchase in my professional role, it is one that I will be recommending in my personal life! Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc!

I really loved this first book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

Zo Jones runs the local Happy Campers Gift shop. She is excited when Memorial Day Weekend comes since that is the start of the tourist season in Spirit Canyon. With the return on her best friend Beth, the grand opening of the Inn is sure to be the highlight of the weekend. However, when a guest comes up dead and Beth becomes the prime suspect, Zo must dust off her sleuthing/journalism skills in order to clear her name.
I love how these characters are so well developed. This seems like a fun series that will make the reader want to keep turning the pages. I look forward to revisiting Spirit Canyon in the future. I received a copy through Netgalley and the publisher. A review was not required.

A good start for a new cozy series. It's engrossing and entertaining.
The characters are likable and well thought, the plot is tightly knitted and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. This book is well written and the characters are described well. I adored Beth and Zo's characters in this book. This story is set in a small town in South Dakota. It is a relaxing book but it will keep you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out who did it. This is the first book in this series and I absolutely can't wait for book two. I can't wait to read more books by this author in the future. I highly highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone.  This book is in stores now for $15.95 (USD) paperback and ebook for $7.19 (USD).

Memorial Day weekend in Spirit Canyon, deep in the heart of South Dakota. Zo Jones owns a small touristy gift shop she named the Happy Camper and, being one very smart cookie, sells everything a tourist might want from souvenirs to memorabilia. She also rents out mountain bikes and hosts an occasional hike.

This year, her childhood friend Beth is returning and Jo will help her celebrate the grand opening of Spirit Canyon Lodge. Unfortunately, the old crone who owns a spa and another lodge isn’t happy to see any competition. It’s Beth who will eventually be numero uno suspect when she is found murdered in the morning.

I really enjoyed the atmospheric aura the author sets up for the area—so much history—so much beauty—small town, limited year-round residents. You can smell the pine, see the beauty and OMG, I WANT that deck!

Knowing her old friend could NOT have killed the old viper, she enlists some help from a local forest ranger who feels the same way. Zo is a very subtle investigator and in the meantime, she describes her gift shop and her adjacent residence to a tee.

I enjoyed the characters. Zo has the beginning of being a well developed personality, the support characters will need to be filled in. It was well-plotted and paced. The romance angle is introduced and I liked this guy. Zo has a Kawi (Kawasaki motorcycle) “…the motorcycle ride made her long for a road trip.”

AND, lastly, I loved the way Ms. Angela slips in bits of information unique to the state (besides the monument) like Black Hills Gold (totally unique and gorgeous) and that the “most complete T-rex ever found” was found within the state and later named Sue.

I received this fun and distinctive book as part of a book tour. It’s a great start for a new series and I’m looking forward to seeing where the author will take us next.

I really enjoyed this book. It is the first book in the Happy Camper series. I really enjoyed the characters and can't wait to read more of them in future books. The mystery was well written and had several twists and turns. I really enjoyed the setting of South Dakota. The author was very descriptive and had me immersed the whole time. This was a fun, easy read. I highly recommend this book, especially for cozy mystery lovers.



I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books in return for my honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

The culprit in this cozy mystery was as elusive as George the cat. Set in the heart of Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota, home of the Homestake Mine. Homestake was a gold mine converted at the beginning of the 21st century into a major physics research center. It was also home to Spirit Canyon Lodge, recently inherited by Beth Everett and now reopened as an inn located on the edge of Spirit Canyon.

The inn was mostly rented out this weekend for a small sorority’s 10-year reunion. However, Enid Barrett, the only real competitor to Beth’s lodge, also stopped in for a one night visit. Her goal was to put Spirit Canyon Lodge out of business. It did not go well - she was found dead the next morning.

The suspects included the guests and employees of the lodge, but the local sheriff decided Beth Barrett was guilty early in the process. Beth certainly could have pulled it off - she had means, motive, and opportunity. It now fell to Beth’s friends to stumble (literally) onto the killer.

The book included enough historic, geographic, and biographic details to warrant several Google searches for this reader - a trait that improves the quality of a cozy mystery very quickly. This reader’s only real concern was the small hint of a paranormal presence - though not a major part of the story, it was an unnecessary distraction from the rest of the book. I will give the book 4-½ stars out of a possible five.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

3 stars = Good/solid/fine
I struggled to get into the swing of this one. That might be the fault of 2020 moreso than the book. This series opener is solid with a good core cast, great setting, and a solid mystery. I didn't really click with any of the characters in this one, so I'm not sure I would stick with the series. The setting - both South Dakota and Zo's shop - would be the thing that could get me to give this another go. Both were great! Some new age elements in the story - dream interpretation, references to seance and tarot.

Open for Murder by Mary Angela is book one in the new A Happy Camper Mystery series.
This quick, easy to read cozy has plot twists, likeable characters, a great setting, humor and a hint of a romance. You will be guessing to the end.
I was given an ARC by NetGAlley for an honest review.

Open for Murder by Mary Angela is the 1st book in A Happy Camper Mystery series, and my first book by this author. This book was pretty good for the 1st book in the series, and I love the setting Spirt Canyon, South Dakota. Zo Jones runs the Happy Camper gift shop, and is excited her friend Beth is moving back to run her family's hotel. When someone gets killed, and Beth is the prime suspect, Zo is determined to find the real killer. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

OPEN FOR MURDER by Mary Angela
The First Happy Camper Mystery

Zo Jones, owner of The Happy Camper, is happy. She has a wonderful store, she takes time to be thankful, and her childhood friend is moving back to Spirit Canyon. Beth has inherited Spirit Canyon Lodge and is having a grand reopening of the rustic, yet chic accommodation. Zo is impressed with her friend's new venture and with press in attendance the opening looks to be a great success, until Enid Barrett comes on scene. Owner of a nearby resort, Enid spoils the mood by picking a fight with just about everyone. Why would a wealthy woman with her own resort and mansion be staying at the lodge? As reasons for this unpleasant woman's presence become known, more than one person has good reason to be upset. It's bound to be a long night when a major thunderstorm knocks the power out and traps everyone inside. Will everyone survive the night?

Tough, resilient, and independent are the hallmarks of Zo Jones. Growing up in the foster system has instilled these traits in her, yet she's also grateful and happy. Zo can also be opinionated and prickly with a chip on her shoulder. She's been able to face adversity and survive. I don't care for her behavior and attitude towards Max at the start of the book. But she's loyal and when her good friend is threatened with a murder charge Zo rushes to her defense.

The majority of the secondary characters got short shrift in the first Happy Camper Mystery. They each have such interesting backgrounds I hope we get to learn more about them soon. I especially want to learn more about Jules and Hattie seems a hoot.

With a crisply plotted mystery, a unique shop, strong characters, and a beautiful setting OPEN FOR MURDER is a solid start to a new series.

This new series is off to a great start. Set in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, it features Zo Jones who runs a gift shop called The Happy Camper. There she sells local souvenirs and also rents mountain bikes to the tourists. Her best friend since childhood summers is Beth, now the owner of the newly renovated upscale Spirit Canyon Lodge. She inherited it from her aunt and is the reason she has come back to stay. Things are looking good - until the grand opening of the Lodge. Homicide makes an unexpected addition to the festivities. If that wasn't bad enough, the dead man was in competition with Beth and that puts her at the top of the list of suspects as far as the police are concerned. Knowing that Beth couldn't possibly has done the deed, Zo starts her own investigation. Beth may be #1 on the suspect list but it turns out that the dead man had a long list of people who are now happy that he's dead.
Because this is the first book in a new series, it takes time to set the stage, introduce the actors and commit the crime. It's worth the wait. The mystery kept me engaged and guessing with a satisfying array of twists, turns and red herrings. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series, Midnight Spells Murder due out July 13, 2021.
My thanks to the publisher, Lyrical Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

It's always good to start a cozy mystery series from the very beginning and this one, Open for Murder written by Mary Angela was definitely worth its salt!

The reader soon meets the star of the show, Zo Jones, a former journalist now running the Happy Camper gift shop, selling locally made souvenirs and memorabilia. Set in touristy small-town Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, the summer shoppers are returning for Memorial Day weekend. Her BFF Beth, who’s moved back to the area to reopen her family’s premier hotel, Spirit Canyon Lodge, is also in town. Beth and Zo go way back and Zo can't wait to see her friend again and celebrate the Grand Opening, until a power cut occurs. When the lights come back on the next morning, a dead body is found on the premises. When Beth becomes the number one suspect Zo sets out to help her friend.

I loved the relationship between Zo and Beth and Zo came across as a caring and genuine person. There was plenty of fun in the story with twists that held my attention and kept me guessing. The mystery was involved and the killer was someone I didn't expect. I also very much enjoyed Zo’s interplay with her adopted cat, George. There is plenty of room for the characters to grow as the series progresses.

Would I read more in this series from Mary Angela? An emphatic... yes! 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

3 stars

This is the first book in the A Happy Camper series by Mary Angela.

I thought this book was okay. I had a hard time getting into it, honestly. I even restarted it twice trying to get the gist of the story into my brain. I guess this theme is just not the right one for me.

The police didn’t seem interested in solving the crime and took great pleasure at making Zo feel like crap on quite a few occasions. I liked the main character a lot but could feel her pain as she tried to solve the mystery that no one wanted to look at despite solve. I think they should have did a bit more brainstorming on this book. It could have been great with the right character motivations and plot points. It has good bones, for sure! I look forward to seeing where this series goes from here.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I really enjoyed this book. As a first in the series, I am not shocked that it was a little slow to begin. But I feel like the story really picked up pace after chapter six. I really like the interactions between Zo and Max. The ending was a bit shocking. I look forward to reading more with these characters.

Zo Jones is thrilled to have her best friend Beth Everett back in her life. The two were inseparable every summer when Beth would visit her aunt in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. Beth has inherited the lodge her aunt owned, and, after renovating, she is ready to reopen just in time for summer tourists. However, the first night the lodge is opened, one of the guests is murdered. The victim was a local competitor, and the police begin to look at Beth as their prime suspect. Zo doesn’t believe her friend would do something like this, but can she find the proof?

Zo owns a souvenir shop, and between that and the setting, I had to give this series a try. I loved the setting. The book took a couple of chapters before it introduced us to the victim and suspects, but it picked up from there. I did find some of the motives weak early on, but they got stronger the further into the book we got. Likewise, it takes a bit for the characters to be developed. There is still room for the main characters to grow as the series progresses. We get a recipe for a delicious sounding S’more brownie at the end of the book. If you are open to a new series, this is one to check out.

Open for Murder is the first in Mary Angela’s A Happy Camper Mystery series. It was released yesterday (the 24th) from Kensington Books. As usual, I must thank the publisher and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s get on with it!

Open for Murder follows Zo Jones, a former journalist turned gift shop owner, as she gets reacquainted with her old friend Beth, who has just moved back to Spirit Canyon in order to open the lodge her late aunt left her. Unfortunately, there’s a murder during Beth’s grand opening on Memorial day weekend. Zo must find the real murderer before all the suspects return to their normal lives, so her childhood bestie doesn’t go down for a crime she didn’t commit. Or did she?

The plot is fairly standard on this one. There’s a sexy forest ranger in place of a lead detective for the budding romance aspect, but he does his fair share of the police work. The supportive bestie happens to be the main suspect, which is fun. And there’s some ghostly weirdness with the late aunt popping up in Beth’s mom’s dreams. But otherwise, if you’ve read a few cozies, it’s not hard to see where everything is going pretty early on, even if you’re not quite sure why until later.

I admit the characters are enjoyable. The background on Zo makes her a likeable and fleshed out person. She’s a free spirit and open to all sorts of things without being naive. While she indulges in stuff like dream reading and ghost stories, she takes those things with a grain of salt. She’s a realist, but doesn’t let that squash out all the fun in her life. Beth is definitely a planner, but she rolls with the punches. A storm interrupts the outdoor festivities? She has a backup plan. She doesn’t let anything get her down. Max likes rules and structure, but he’s the first to point out when something isn’t fair even if it goes against those rules. They make the story worth reading.

The writing itself is fine, but the pacing is slow. Things happen in every chapter to push things along, but the story just drags for me. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I guessed so much early on. It wasn’t bad, though. I was simply a little bored towards the end.

Ultimately, I was kind of meh about Open for Murder. I liked the characters enough that I’ll give it a second chance if another one comes out, but if things don’t pick up, I won’t go looking for more.

Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. It wasn’t a bad story and I loved the characters, but it didn’t strike my fancy the way I was hoping it would. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with interesting people, check it out. If you’re in it for the plot, there are better stories out there.