Ding, dong, the witch is dead! Which old witch? Odious Enid, I said.

Enid is the owner of a resort and spa in beautiful Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. But Enid is anything but nice. She offers new hotel owner, Beth, $20,000 in cash to close up on the new hotel’s opening day. Enid calls her son’s new fiancée a snake. She’d even previously tangled with our heroine, Zo, the owner of the local gift shop and part-time reporter.

When Enid turns up dead at the new hotel, the Police Chief and the handsome Forest Ranger, Max, immediately assume Beth is the culprit. Since Beth was Zo’s childhood best friend, Zo must find the real killer. There are certainly plenty of suspects as Enid was almost universally hated. Or the motive could have been the now-missing $20,000. One hotel guest needs money for her sick toddler. Another clearly has a gambling problem.

Open for Murder checks every cozy mystery box. Heroine with an interesting backstory? Check. Hunky male town resident, whom she disagrees strongly with? Check. Cute cat? Check (and points for originality that said cat doesn’t like the heroine much). Recipe in the back of the book? Check. Heroine’s friend accused, or at least suspected, of murder? Check.

Adding a raging pandemic on top of the already stressful holiday season makes this time of year best for calm and comforting cozy mysteries. Open for Murder makes me feel like I’m taking a read-cation from my life. It is the perfect serene and soothing cozy read. Join Zo on her quest for truth and justice in a state, South Dakota, not having the best time right now in real life. 3 stars!

Thanks to Kensington Books, Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Title: Open for Murder
Author: Mary Angela
Genre: Cozy mystery
Genre Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Open for Murder releases tomorrow and it’s a wonderful start to a new series. Based on the fictional town of Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, Zo is the owner of the Happy Camper store. It’s Memorial Day weekend, aka start of tourist season, and Zo couldn’t be happier that her good friend Beth is back in town to reopen her family’s lodge. During the Grand Opening a storm rolls through, the power goes out and as everyone emerges from their room they discover someone has been killed and Beth is a prime suspect. So does everything in her power to help clear her friends name and catch the real killer.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the setting! I spent many years working in hotels in a tourist destination and living in the nearby town so this setting was very familiar. The character were well developed. I love the friendship between Zo and Beth and the secondary characters like Cunningham and Max enhanced the story. I hope we get more of them as the series develops. I also love when a book has twists and turns with many suspects that keeps me guessing until the end who did it.

One of my favourite genres is cosy mystery, even if I never rate them 5 stars. Usually, these books are not perfect, the crimes are not very difficult but in the meantime, they are cosy, humorous and atmospheric, I enjoy reading these books. So I couldn’t resist not requesting this book on NetGalley.
Zo lives in Spirit Canyon and has a gift shop. Her friend, Beth, opens a resort in the town, and on the opening night, one of the guests dies. Of course, police suspects Beth for the murder, so Zo starts investigating. Let’s start the review with my favourite part. I loved the atmosphere of the whole city, the forest and the hiking spots, Zo’s shop. This was the strength of the book.
The story was not so strong. I found out about the killer halfway through the book, and there were a couple of idles when I was bored. But usually, in this genre, it’s not the story that matters.
The characters were lovable, but I felt superficial them. I also saw Zo as pretty insincere, who kind with the man in eye-to-eye and then immediately suspects him of murder. But I liked her relationship with Max. The book's atmosphere completely enchanted me. I will definitely continue the story. I would recommend it to anyone who loves this genre, but who expects a twisted and exciting mystery, will be disappointed.

Well written and entertaining cozy mystery. Great plot, character development and setting. I highly recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

The book centers around a former journalist, Zo Jones, who is now the owner of the Happy Camper gift shop. It’s Memorial Day weekend in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, Zo is excited because her good friend, Beth, who is moving back to spirit canyon to reopen her family’s lodge. Who can’t wait to reconnect and celebrate the opening Grand Opening, but soon everything goes wrong! After a storm rolls by with a power outage, waking the lodge guests up with a dead body found on the premises. Beth is the prime suspect of the suspicious death. Zo does everything in her will power to prove to the police that Beth is not the murder, she isn’t afraid to put her investigative skills to use to clear her friend’s name.

Angela has put done her slept with this wonderful read. I couldn’t put it down, I had to find out who the kill was and boy, did I not see that coming!
There were so many twist and turns that you start questioning yourself about who the killing really is!

Zo is such a well-developed character, that I wanted even more out of the character. The secondary character were just as well-developed, some where more developed as other, but still is spectacularly good to read about them and their background story, well done to that!

10 out of 10 for the plot. It was unbelievably good, my gosh. The plot was so make believe combined with Zo’s believable motives to clear her friend’s name. Outstanding!

I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the A Happy Camper Mystery series. Can’t wait for the new characters(if there will be new ones) and seriously can’t wait to see what happens to Max in the next installment as well!

A great start to a new cozy mystery series and it takes place in South Dakota! I have great memories of road tripping to the Black Hills and visiting Mt. Rushmore with my parents. We also went to Crazy Horse and Bear Country so I was excited when those got a mention in the story. This area was a wonderful backdrop that seems rarely used in a lot of books. I loved the scenes that took place at the gift shop as well as the reopened lodge.

Zo is a great lead. She’s snarky, strong and has definitely overcome some hardships. It was good seeing a character who has extensive experience with foster care. It added more depth to her personal story and left room for questions regarding her past. I really liked the quirky residents that made up the side characters in Spirit Canyon. Her neighbor, Cunningham, was a hoot. Park Ranger Max quickly grew on me. He’s clearly a possible love interest and just so darn sweet. Although his bad boy roommate caught Zoe’s eye for a brief moment.

The star of the story was obviously George. A temperamental cat who comes and goes as he pleases just offered some good humorous scenes.

The mystery kept me stumped for quite awhile. There were numerous suspects to work through and several had very plausible motives. It was also a great way to introduce Zo’s lifelong friend, Beth, and use that to learn more about her past.

I’ll definitely keep my eye out for a sequel.

Zo Jones, a former journalist in the small town of Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. After being laid off of her job she opened a gift shop called the Happy Camper. In addition to selling memorabilia she rents out bikes and kayaks and occasionally leads tours of the area.

Zo’s best friend Beth has moved back home after inheriting a local lodge from her aunt. Memorial Day means the beginning of summer and the reopening of the redecorated hotel. Zo has been invited to join the festivities and look forward to spending time with Beth and her family. When a storm suddenly hits and knocks out the power it seems like the weekend couldn’t get worse. But when a guest of the lodge is found dead, worse becomes a real possibility.

Beth quickly becomes the sheriff’s main suspect and it seems none of the evidence can sway him from that thought. Zo puts her reporter skills into action and begins investigating the death on her own. She also convinces Max Harrington, forest ranger and archenemy to help her prove Beth’s innocence.

This is the first book in the Happy Camper Mystery Series. I was interested in the book because of its setting. This is the first cozy mystery I have come across that takes place in South Dakota. The first chapter moved a little slow for me but it picked up from there. The character develop is a bit slow, but by the end of the book you feel like you know Zo well and you are coming to know her friends at a natural pace. The setting is great. For those familiar with the Black Hills you can easily picture the area. It makes me want to go back even though I’ve been there at least a half dozen times in my life. The action moves at a steady pace and never seems rushed. It also never drags. I recommend this book and I will definitely be waiting for the next book’s release.

Zo Jones lives in the haunted town of Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, where she runs Happy Camper, the camping supply store (she also offers tours much to the chagrin of Forest Ranger, Max Harrington). After years of living in Chicago and raising a family, Zo's childhood best friend Beth is coming back to town to take over the Spirit Canyon Lodge. Although Beth and her family are doing everything they can to make the opening weekend a success, rival hotel owner, Enid, and her son have booked rooms and are intent on bringing Beth down. When Enid is found dead Beth is suspect number one, after all, Enid was doing everything she could to get rid of Beth. Maybe, just maybe, Beth wanted to get rid of her too.

I had really high hopes for this book, but it let me down just a little bit. For me, it seemed to take a long time to get to the actual mystery. The first 4-5 chapters were mostly a discussion of the community and the characters, but a lot more discussion than I actually needed. After the mystery began the book really took off, but then again hit a bit of a low point for me. When Zo started trying to dissect dreams I had a bit of an internal cringe. This might be for some people but it really, really was not for me. Overall, it was a really fun story that just didn't hit the perfect mark for me.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the debut book in the new cozy series "Happy Camper Mystery Series" by author Mary Angela. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

We are introduced to our protagnist Zo Jones in a picturesque town called Spirit Canyon South Dakota. Zo runs a gift shop called the Happy Camper that is popular with the tourists. A local hotel in town is run by her best friend that is reopening the hotel and Zo is looking forward to the grand opening and visiting with her friend. When a power outage occurs at the hotel and a body is found her best friend is prime suspect one. Zo does not hesitate to step up with the local ranger and prove her friend innocent.

I like the charcters and the depiction of the small town. The sleuth was well crafted to conclusion. Zo is a savvy protagnist who I look forward to reading more about as her charcter grows. This is a winning first in series that will appeal to all cozy mystery fans.

A nice start to a new series. I look forward to reading more. An interesting murder and theft. Two crimes or one? A hint of romance. An independent cat or is that redundant? Lots of potential for future adventures. I would be happier without the woo woo. So far, not so much that it would keep me from finishing the book.

Don't you love being in at the start of a new cozy series? I do. Zo runs a gift shop and tour business in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota. Her friend Beth is, happily, back in town to reopen her aunt's hotel, very much against the wishes of Enid, who owns a competing business. When Enid is found murdered, Beth is the logical first suspect given that, well, she's found at Beth's hotel and that they had argued. Well, we all know that Enid was not the nicest person and that Beth didn't do it. Zo decides she's going to find out who did. Pressing Max Harrington into helping her adds a little romantic interest to the tale. This is in many ways standard cozy stuff but I liked the setting and Zo has the potential to be rounded up nicely. It would help, however, if there was an extra edit on the way to the printer as there's occasionally clumsy wording. That said, it's a fun read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.

There is so much mystery surrounding the main protagonist and her ability to ferret out clues among the suspects and their likelihood of committing this crime. The author kept up the play-by-play interaction making us believe that each suspect had the opportunity. It was the visually descriptive narrative and the engaging dialogue that created a solid storyline that held from the first page to its conclusion. The pacing was on par with how well the story was being told and as it progressed, I could not stop turning the pages as the heightened awareness of the killer’s motive and identity was revealed. Overall, this was an enjoyable read and look forward to reading the next book in this terrific new series.

Open for Murder by Mary Angela is an excellent start to A Happy Campery Mystery series! Angela’s descriptions of the natural beauty, as well as South Dakota’s history is a huge reason why I enjoyed Open for Murder so much. I love when I find a cozy from a place I’ve never been to and the author does such a wonderful job making me feel as if I visited the place through the writing in their book.

The characters were very well developed for the first book in a series. Zo was a strong and competent protagonist and I’m looking forward to seeing her relationship with Beth grow again, since they haven’t seen each other in so many years. As far as the probable romance with Max, a Forest Ranger, it seems believable so far, and I like that it’s not the local detective/lawyer/journalist that is the love interest, since all of those have been used so many times in the cozy mystery genre. Even the secondary characters like Zo’s neighbor, Cunningham were fleshed out well, and I can see Cunningham and Beth’s husband being essential to future books.

This is not that important, but I’m still going to mention it. Zo, every time I read her name, I changed it to Zoe. Zo was found as a baby and the only thing she had was a necklace with Zo on it. So I’m interested to find out the story behind her being given up and the necklace.

And the mystery itself was very good. I liked how Angela made it a bit different, and I didn’t put all the pieces together, which I always enjoy.

With so many cozy series out there, I find that while I may like the first book in the series, I don’t take the time to seek out future books. A Happy Camper Mystery is one that I will be keeping an eye out for more to come!

Synopsis:

Deep in the heart of touristy small-town Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, former journalist Zo Jones runs the Happy Camper gift shop, where she sells everything from locally made souvenirs to memorabilia. She even rents out mountain bikes, and dabbles in the adventure industry—and sleuthing . . .

It’s Memorial Day weekend in Spirit Canyon, and for Zo that means the return of summer shoppers. It also means the return of her good friend Beth, who’s moved back to the area to reopen her family’s premier hotel, Spirit Canyon Lodge. Beth and Zo spent many childhood summers there and Zo can’t wait to reconnect and celebrate the Grand Opening. But the festivities go from bad to worse when a power outage knocks out the lights—and morning reveals a competitor’s dead body found on the premises . . .

Soon enough, Beth is the prime suspect in the suspicious death. Fortunately, Zo isn’t afraid to put her investigative skills to work and prove her friend’s innocence. To start digging for information, she appeals to Max Harrington, a local Forest Ranger and unlikely ally. Though they’ve argued about Happy Camper’s tours, in this case they agree on one thing: Beth isn’t a murderer. Stranger things have happened than their collaboration. After all, this is Spirit Canyon. But as the list of suspects grows, Zo will have to keep her guard up if she doesn’t want to be the next lodge guest to check out . . (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Zo is so excited that her childhood friend, Beth, has returned to Spirit Canyon, South Dakota, to reopen her family’s hotel, Spirit Canyon Lodge. Bot before they can get too excited, someone is murder and Beth is the main suspect. With the help of Beth, and Forest Ranger, Max, Zo has to figure out the murderer before Beth is put away for a long time.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions helped the story come alive in my mind’s eye. The mystery had enough clues to sift through and enough suspects to consider. I had an idea of who the killer was but I was not completely sure until the reveal at the end.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see the next adventure awaiting Zo and her friends.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This was just awful. I had to quit at 20% - It does get one star for the stellar location [one of the reasons I chose to read this book], but the rest..UGH. Apparently, in the first book of EVERY new series, either the MC or her best friend or her mom etc has to be accused of the murder and then the MC is determined to solve it to save them. And there are only two kinds of cops - the hot ones that either the MC is hot after or hates and then there is the fat, incompetent, cocky, swaggery cop that everyone despises and just indulges because they don't know how to get rid of him. It is old and annoying and I am over it. And add that this MC is disrespectful of the hot cop [even rolls her eyes at him when he tells her she needs to bring her stuff up to code] and it was just too much for me. The writing is just not good and it really shows. SO disappointing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great. I really enjoyed the main character. She has been through some stuff and is a nice balance of tough but kind. She has a positive outlook, which she instills in her shop. I did though struggle with the main character's name--Zo. For some reason it struck me as odd because it did not seem to fit the character's background. Initially, it made the book seem like it could be lower quality than it actually was. I wish her name was Zoe, and I feel terrible saying that because names are just names. Anyways, regardless of that, I liked the mystery a lot, especially because the author set the perfect trail that was not too obvious, but it allowed me to figure out the 'whodunnit.' I also liked all the secondary characters. I look forward to reading more from this series.

I’m used to my mysteries being psychological thrillers but for some reason this really worked for me. It’s much more character driven than I am used to and while the mystery aspect intrigued me it was definitely Zo as a protagonist that kept me interested.

I love the small town vibe and atmosphere the author managed to convey so excellently. And the side characters - Cunningham my favourite!

I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series.

This was a great beginning to what will be an awesome series. I felt like I was there with the characters, sitting in the lodge, observing al their shenanigans!

Zo, the main character, runs an eclectic small business, The Happy Camper in the small town of Spirit Canyon. She has lived in The Canyon her whole life, and that is where she met her best friend, Beth. Beth has returned to town to resurrect her aunts hotel, The Spirit Canyon Lodge. It’s opening weekend, and as it does, murder ensues and Zo is determined to help prove Beth’s innocence and find the real killer.

There’s a great cast of characters including Zo’s quirky literacy obsessed neighbor and her potential love interest- forest ranger, Max. I really like Max and his role as an investigating forest ranger!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Open for Murder had me at the first paragraph. Who doesn’t have a cat that doesn’t want to come home, and when they visit you at your command they take charge of your abode and claim it as their own by playing and destroying everything in their path, making us feel as if they own us. It was no different for Zo Jones. George the cat introduced me to Zo Jones and into the community of Spirit Canyon and my journey with this mystery began.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but it won’t be the last. The story sneakily pulls you in without a reader realizing it. As you are reading the descriptions of the land through the author’s eyes, her attention to detail, not only of the canyon but of the businesses and  establishments, gives you a perspective of the beauty and the uniqueness of both. Spirit Canyon could become home and the wonder of the area and happenings entice you to stay.
Open For Murder’s plot moves along quickly and skillfully and lays out the clues that challenge the best sleuths to figure out who masterminded this murder. Was it handsome Max, the forest ranger, Beth, Jo’s best friend from childhood and owner of Spirit Canyon Lodge, or one of the many tourists that frequent the area? Jo is always looking for fodder for her column, the Curious Camper, that runs once a week in the local paper, The Canyon View. Would a murder at her friend, Beth’s lodge qualify as fodder?
One of the highlights of this book was the strong friendships that linked these characters. The loyalty of  Zo, who wouldn’t consider the possibility that her best friend could be guilty of a crime, reminded me that this is the type of friendship we all crave. Add the other characters, Cunningham reminded me for some reason  of Tim Allen’s neighbor, Wilson, in Home Improvement, because of his easy manner and quiet presence next door. A little romance, a little snarkiness, a unique blend of personalities--and we can’t forget some of what South Dakota is famous for--makes this a five star book.

I love stories with a quirky twist. Unfortunately, this book was not up to my liking. The dialogs were repetitive and it felt like I was being told (explicitly) of the characters emotions. The writing was way too simple and clunky. Unrelated information (which were supposed to add a quirky touch but did not) spoiled the fun for me.

The characters were unlikable - including our protagonist Zo. I do not care much about character development as long as the writing and/or story development is impressive. Sadly, the story was slowly paced (too slow for a cozy).

Coming to the (only) best part of the story - definitely the ending. I did not see the twist coming. I wish the ending was a little dragged so that we could have an action-sequence of sorts. This would have made the read entertaining. The twist was there, all right, but it came a little too late.

There is definitely a lot of room for improvement. A little polishing and editing might make this a good read.