This is the second book in Tonya Kappes new mail carrier series. I like Bernie a lot. She is 50, a single parent to an adult son and works as a mail carrier in a small town. Her husband is deceased. He cheated on her throughout the marriage. I think that alone complicates things for Bernie. She has a male friend but it has been hard for her to move on. If your thinking this is a cozy, right? Yes, it is. But it does have a romance storyline that has been as strong, in my opinion, as the mysteries. For me, it works well. Bernie is like a lot of women who find themselves single at 50 after being a couple for many years. You are dealing with a variety of feelings while navigating your new role in life. You’re still a mom, you still feel married but neither child nor husband is in the home and well meaning friends are ready for you to date. I enjoy this part of the ongoing storyline and it is this storyline that makes me recommend starting with the first book and going in order. The mystery is interesting with several obvious suspects. The trouble is, none of them seem to be the right one. I kept changing my mind! There were also some surprises. I’m not going further with that as then you wouldn’t need to read the book.
You can read it as a stand-alone if you insist. I recommend in order with Tonya Kappes books. She tends to build worlds with interesting characters, fun pets and quaint towns. You are easily invested from the start and you don’t want to miss anything. Once you open a book, you will find yourself transported, a member of her small towns. Get comfortable and enjoy the people, gossip and mystery. There is ice tea, coffee and plenty of good food. Pet the dogs and mind the cats. Life is going to be good for a few hours. ( )

Though Bernie is dealing with her feelings for Mac, her deceased husband’s best friend, she has a job to do. She is a dedicated mail carrier, adding a personal touch by little acts of kindness for the people on her route. When she notices one of regular’s dog is loose, she returns him, only to discover the man is dead. And that won’t be the biggest surprise for Bernie in this tale. There is much to enjoy in this series. The people are kind and care for each other’s needs. Mostly that is true - of course, there has to be a villain! The Front Porch Ladies add some delightful humor with their nosy and gossipy ways. The retired FBI agent gives legal acuity and still has some connections that help solve the crimes. Bernie’s parents provide the homey diner atmosphere and are always there to give comfort food to whomever needs it. The mystery is a good one, but the real enjoyment of these novels comes from the warm and wondrous feelings the people in this small community exhibit. This is the kind of hometown people wish they lived in. The experience is enhanced by the great performance of narrator Tiffany Morgan. I wish I could share a cup of coffee with her and the Front Porch Ladies. But no dead bodies, please! ( )

Welcome back to Sugar Creek Gap, where small town mail carrier Bernadette Butler once again finds herself investigating a murder. This time the victim is Lee Macum, an older gentleman who refuses to clean up and decorate his property for the Make Kentucky Colorful contest.

Ms. Kappes reintroduces us to many of the delightful characters we met in Stamped Out, the first book in this series. Once again, the Front Porch Ladies step in to try and help Bernadette find the killer. In addition to the mystery, we have some wonderful family relationships and a bit of romance. And let’s not forget Mr. Macum’s dog, Buster, who finds a new home with Bernadette and her cat, Rowena.

There are multiple suspects who have a possible motive for murder, and we get to travel various dead-end paths until the killer is revealed.

Pick up your copy of this fun story. You will enjoy spending time with the residents of Sugar Creek Gap and following the twists and turns of the case. ( )

I am so glad to be back with Bernie and her friends. One of the things I love about this series is the sassy characters. Everyone knows each other and it makes for a fun and intriguing story. The author has really developed the characters more in this book and they start to grow on you.

I love how Bernie always finds time to visit while delivering the mail. In this adventure we have Carla who is obsessed with beautifying the community. It was easy to visualize her carrying around weed killer and spraying it around town .

When one of the townspeople turn up dead, Bernie is on the job figuring out who the killer is. It may seem obvious who is guilty, but with the excellent writing skills of the author, she keeps us guessing till the end. The book is filled with laughs, twists and and intrigue. Get ready for a roller coaster ride with Bernie on the job as amateur detective.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion. ( )

Make sure to read the first book in this series so you know all the main characters that are in this great small town. Both books so far in this series are fantastic. I love that the main characters are all over 40 years old. The story that leads to the murder is great and how it is solved is fun. I love that this is based around a female postal worker. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )