(A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 42)
Welcome to NORMAL… where nothing is normal!
It’s a not-so-merry Christmas in Normal, Kentucky! When bossy Gingerbread Gala chairwoman Harper Stewart is found strangled with holiday garland, campground owner Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies swap cocoa for clues. From feuding bakers to a fake fundraiser—and even Mae’s mother-in-law landing on the suspect list—Happy Trails Campground becomes ground zero for one festive whodunit.
Packed with small-town charm, Southern sass, and Christmas chaos, Gingerbread, Garlands, & Gunshots is the perfect cozy mystery for sleuths who like their holidays sweet…with a dash of murder.
Jeanie D
5 out of 5 stars
Just Another "Normal" Christmas?
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2025
Format: Paperback
Christmas is coming to Normal, Kentucky! Mae, Hank, and the Laundry Club Ladies are busy preparing for their gatherings, and there is enough snow to result in a beautiful snow globe effect with an occasional drift. It wouldn’t be Christmas, however, without a mystery! Come to Normal to get your sleuthing itch scratched, and enjoy being with Mae, Dottie, Betts, Queenie, and Abby!
Mae, the Laundry Club Ladies, and several other ladies were helping decorate The Barn venue for the Gingerbread Gala. Harper Stewart was, for the very first time, in charge of everything for the Winter Festival. She wanted everything done perfectly, her way, but was sadly lacking people skills. She even accused Christine, owner of the Cookie Crumble Bakery, of using a box kit for her gingerbread house! Harper’s words were harsh, insulting to everyone helping out. Rather than argue, the volunteers left.
Later that evening, Mae was concerned when Harper missed her big moment to light the tree, and didn’t seem to be anywhere at the festival kickoff! Mae and Dottie went back to the Barn to help Harper finish. The lights were on, and Harper’s car was in the parking lot. Inside, they found a couple chairs tumbled over, and other items broken on the floor. Just beyond that, Harper lay on the floor, dead. Strangled by garland used for the decorations.
On behalf of the sheriff, Mae and Hank went to tell Harper’s husband, Levi, what happened. The evening ended with Mae agreeing to complete the decorating according to Harper’s plans. Levi wanted it done in her honor. They also discussed an unusual event. There was an ongoing fundraiser to put a bench downtown in Harper’s honor. It was never requested for review at the National Park Committee, where Mae worked. When she saw the amount raised, Mae added it to her to-do list.
Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies had much to do, and so little time! Mae picked up all the plans Harper had made at their home. They were also trying to help solve the murder and the phony collection for Harper’s bench. The suspects were primarily everyone Harper insulted or argued with at The Barn venue. Bev, Hank’s mom, was one of the primary suspects, especially since she and Harper had a long, stormy history.
While Bev was not one of Mae’s favorite people, she didn’t want her to be a police suspect, especially when Sheriff Al questioned those decorating the Barn. The night they went to cut the Christmas tree for Normal, Bev and Mae actually had a few shared moments of fun – for the first time! Then, one innocent action resulted in an over-the-top reaction until Bev realized that Mae wanted to get her off of the suspect list, not accuse her.
Mae, Betts, Dottie, Queenie, and Abby did their best snooping to discern who the killer was. Harper was not popular with most folks in Normal, so, like the police, they focused on those who she insulted at the Barn. There were as many twists and turns regarding the murder and fake fundraiser as the roads in the nearby mountains, but they persevered – but would Mae survive the cost of the search? I highly recommend Gingerbread, Garlands, & Gunshots, and hope that you have as much fun reading it as I did!
Many thanks to the publisher, Tonya Kappes Books, who provided a pre-publication copy of this novel. This is my honest review.
