Review: Dead as a Doornail by Tonya Kappes

Dead as a Doornail
By Tonya Kappes
A Kenni Lowry Mystery #5
Henery Press, 2018


Summary

Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone. And doesn’t our Sheriff Kenni Lowry know that? Well, she knows a lot of things.

Lucy Lowell takes great pride in writing negative reviews in the local newspaper for anything that does not go her way. When Lucy is found dead, it appears to be from natural causes.

But Sheriff Kenni Lowry knows there is more to it because the ghost of her grandfather, the ex-sheriff, is standing over the body.

His presence can only mean one thing: Murder!

Since Kenni’s relationship with Deputy Finn Vincent has heated up, Kenni is having trouble conducting the investigation without Finn questioning her every move.

Can Kenni unravel the mystery on her own or will she have to tell Finn the real reason she knows it was murder—the ghost of her poppa?

It’s blowin’ up a storm and only Kenni knows how it’ll end.

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My thoughts

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 …

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. 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 “bridezilla” 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.

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For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been publishing numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plot lines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans.

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