Diggin' Up the Dirt by Tonya Kappes Narrator: Hillary Huber
Series: Kenni Lowry #7
Published by Dreamscape Media on October 15, 2019
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 7 hours, 7 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm
Everyone in Cottonwood loves the new bakery, Sweet Shop. Until a Cottonwood resident is found dead with a half-eaten donut in her hand.
Sheriff Kenni Lowry has her hands full. With a new murder in town and a new deputy to train, she’s not sure if she’s ever gonna get this booger solved.
Sheriff Elmer Sims comes to the rescue, stepping up as Kenni’s ghost deputy. As the ex-dead-now-ghost deputy and Kenni’s Poppa, there’s clues beyond the sprinkles in the donut that only he can see.
Add to Kenni’s stress, Finn Vincent’s, Kenni’s hunky boyfriend and new sheriff of Clay’s Ferry, parents have come to town to meet Kenni and her parents. And Kenni’s mama ain’t too happy. As they say in the South, nobody’s happy if mama ain’t happy.
Following the aborted trip to visit Fin’s parents for the holidays, things had settled back into routine for southern small town Cottonwood. But, then a funeral is disrupted by a theft followed by a murder. What might top all that is when Fin’s parents arrive for a visit and religious war of the parents ensues. Never a dull moment in this series and I was eager to listen in as the talented Hillary Huber gave voice to the latest installment.
Diggin’ Up the Dirt is the seventh in the Kenni Lowry paranormal cozy mystery series. Each book has a standalone mystery, but they are connected by the ongoing build of circumstances in Kenni’s life.
For the first third of the book, I enjoyed business as usual with an eccentric small town’s doings and new mysteries to poke into. The shock of Fin’s parents and him being Catholic on the sensibilities of Kenni’s mama Vivien who was Baptist to the core was amusing.
But, I have to say the sudden downturn of Kenni’s thoughts put me off the story. I don’t mean her worry about any deep relationship struggles from the religious differences and getting along with parents. No, it was the way she suddenly decided that Fin was stabbing her in the back and angling for her sheriff’s position in the next election even faking a relationship with her to step over her into the job. What?!? Repeatedly she made several moments about her and needing to close the case all on her own. Then in the homestretch, she suddenly snaps out of it and all is well. Not that I wanted things between her and Fin to stay unfixed, but after all her stewing and behavior, her turn around gave me whiplash.
As to the murder mystery, I enjoyed the set up and how there were a few possible motives and suspects. This was one I latched onto the culprit soon after things got rolling and I had the how and why, too. But, I still enjoyed seeing Kenni put it together and get there in the end. Her mama Vivian was a hoot and stole the show so many times.
So, this won’t be a favorite in the series and I really want the needless drama gone, but I liked where it left things and I still love the overall story and series. Hilary Huber was lights out great with the southern accents and drawling storytelling style. Those who like a light paranormal cozy mystery should give this a go.
Narration:
Hilary Huber gets that slow southern drawl for Kenni and voices the other colorful characters well. I enjoy the way she captured the essence of these light and fun mysteries and consider her the voice of the series.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Hillary Huber
Hillary has recorded over 500 audiobooks spanning many genres. She is a multiple Audie Award finalist – including Best Female Narrator, multiple Earphone Award winner, Voice Arts Awards winner and one of Audiofile Magazine’s best voices. Hillary has a BA in English Literature and is a voracious reader and listener. Raised in conservative Connecticut and hippy Hawaii, she has unique perspective. She splits her time between Santa Monica and New York. Most of that time is in a 4×4 padded room. Er…booth.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I read the first book as an ebook. I liked it and may read on in this series. I like Hilary Huber so I might try audio at some point.
I jumped in on the series around book four, I think so I need to go back for those early ones. Yes, getting Hilary’s audio work makes it even better. 🙂
I think I have read a book or two of Tonya’s. Sorry this wasn’t a fave. Better luck with the next one. I find sometimes a book misses the mark for me, but because I love the author it doesn’t stop me from grabbing more from them.
Yes, exactly, Sherry! I know that not every book in the series is a hit out of the park so I’ll definitely be reaching for the next one with eagerness. 🙂
Needless drama makes me cringe. Sorry this wasn’t your fav of the series.
Yeah, me, too. I was bummed about that part, but I love the series so I’ll be excited to see the next book.
Unnecessary drama can be a drag.
Yeah, I think so, too, Nadene!
Yeah, I’m not a fan of unnecessary drama either. Nice to hear she did snap out of it by the end. I love Hillary Huber as a narrator!
Yes, I’m hoping that was the end of it and things will be on a more even keel for the next book. Love Hilary Huber doing this series. 🙂
I’ve been very curious about this series. This sounds good but I am not a fan of needless drama either.
I think you’d enjoy it overall with her poppa’s ghost helping her solve the mysteries and the quirky small town antics going on. I only noticed the drama stuff in this one so hopefully its just a quick thing and no more.
That donut is adorable lol
LOL, oh yes! It was a clue to solving the case. And, you’d be drooling even harder if you got the descriptions of all the offerings from the town donut shop that were dropped multiple times in this book. 🙂
It’s pretty cool that you saw it coming and even figured out the whys and hows, and still, the author managed to make it enjoyable till the end! Great review, Sophia! 😀
Sometimes knowing the solution to the mystery can make the story go flat, but not with this one. 🙂
I listened several of her books in another series and at about the 7th or so book, I felt things got too dramatic and erratic, so I stopped. I hope this one doesn’t follow suit. She is such a prolific writer – I love the premises of her cozies.
I had that happen in her ghost hunter series. I was fine through several books and then I wasn’t. Then again, that happened in the most recent Danielle Garrett series, too. I’m hoping this one was an aberration and all will be focused on the paranormal mystery side in the next book. 🙂
Love the cover. But I’m like you and don’t care for unnecessary drama. Hopefully there will be more in the series that are better for you though!
Yes, that’s what I’m hoping, Lisa. 🙂