New "Camper & Criminals" Weekly Series Coming to Hallmark!
- Roma
- Mar 13
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 18
The Camper & Criminals cozy mystery series by Tonya Kappes is being turned into a weekly series through a recent deal between the author and Hallmark Media.
While we might assume that the series will air on Hallmark Mystery Channel, the specifics haven't been divulged by the network.
Author Tonya Kappes Announces Camper & Criminals Series to Air on Hallmark
Kappes was bursting to share the exciting news on her website and social media platforms. Here's her announcement:
I’ve been keeping this secret for so long, but now I can finally share… Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series has been in development, and now I can officially say—it’s with Hallmark Media!
This journey has been surreal, and I’m beyond grateful for every single one of you who has fallen in love with Mae West, Normal, Kentucky, and all the cozy mysteries along the way. Your support, enthusiasm, and love for these stories have made this moment possible.
Seeing Camper & Criminals take this incredible next step is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to bring you along for the ride. Stay tuned for more updates—because this adventure is just getting started!
Who’s ready to see Normal, Kentucky come to life on screen?!
What Is the Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series About?
There are 40 books in the series, so Hallmark should have PLENTY of material to keep the series alive for a long time, assuming fans tune in and show enthusiasm for program.
Kappes shares a synopsis of the Camper & Criminals mysteries on her website, so if you're not familiar with the series, here's what it's about:
Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, where nothing is quite… normal. Meet Mae West, a former NYC socialite whose glamorous life comes to a screeching halt when her husband’s Ponzi scheme lands him in prison—and Mae without a dime to her name. Now, she’s inherited a campground in the middle of nowhere, complete with quirky campers, a rundown RV, and a town full of eccentric characters.
From scheming criminals to small-town secrets, Mae’s adventure in Normal is anything but a vacation. But with her new band of unlikely friends, including the no-nonsense property manager, Dottie, and a nosy (but lovable) group of locals known as the Laundry Club Ladies, Mae might just turn this little campground, and her life around. That is, if she can avoid the dead bodies that seem to be hidden in the Daniel Boone National Forest.
A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series is full of laughter, lovable characters, and plenty of mystery that will keep you guessing, and coming back for more. Who knew life in Normal could be so delightfully strange?
Check Out the Camper & Criminals Series by Tonya Kappes on Amazon
It's always fun to read the books ahead of time so you can compare the stories to the TV adaptation. Since there are 40 books in the series so far, you need to get started!
The books can be purchase individually, and many of them are available in sets. Many are FREE if you have Kindle Unlimited.
Pictured below are also the set deals that are available. Just click on the images to view on Amazon.
The boxed sets currently end at book 30, so the remainder of the volumes must be purchased individually.
Have You Read Any of Tonya Kappes' Books?
Camper & Criminals isn't the only cozy mystery series from Tonya Kappes--she's written several--over 180, in fact! Have you read any of them? If so, share your thoughts on them in the comment section.
I have only read the first book in her Killer Coffee series, and I thought it was awful. Maybe I just don't appreciate the cozy mystery genre as much as I should. The storyline was solid, but the text itself was poorly written, contained errors, was overly wordy, and the editing was deplorable. If you view her website and see the high volume of novels she's cranked out in record-timing, it makes sense that they are sloppy. She seems to be an author who prefers quantity over quality, so that's something she has in common with Hallmark! According to Amazon, her novels often score 4.5-star ratings or higher, so someone appreciates her writing, it's just not me.
If the cozy mystery plots in her Camper & Criminals books are engaging, then they should translate into reasonably entertaining TV episodes. Hallmark fans have been begging the network for more mysteries, so we will take what we can get!
For more information on Tonya Kappes, her books, her social media handles or to subscribe to her newsletter, visit her website.
Wow. Your review is quite disappointing. Trashing a series you haven't even read seems a bit excessive. Not to mention, you pretty much lump Hallmark movies in general in with it. I don't really understand how you run a supposed fan page for Hallmark, if you don't even like the genre. Cozy mysteries are supposed to be easy reads that let us escape our realities and transport us to the world our heroine lives in. As a camper myself, this series hits the mark for me! The characters are quirky and fun and the friendships they create as the series grows are ones I can only aspire to. I, for one, give Tonya's camper series an enthusiastic 5 stars!
Thank you, RomCom Reviewer, for spreading the word about the Hallmark adaptation! This series has been such a labor of love, and I couldn’t be more thrilled for Mae West, Normal, Kentucky, and all its quirky characters to come to life on screen.