Welcome to Spirit Canyon, South Dakota! I’m Zo Jones, and I own the Happy Camper giftshop, located in the heart of Black Hills National Forest. We get a lot of tourists in the area, which is great for my small business. I have a lot of local shoppers, too, since my Happy Camper merchandise has positive messages that are useful for anyone in need of a pick-me-up. “Flower Sniffer” and “Daydreamer” are a couple of the fun sayings you’ll see around the store. After this summer’s debacle, I might add “Treasure Seeker” to the line!

You see, I think I’ve found the key to a real hidden treasure. One of my friends bought a book about Spirit Canyon at an estate sale, and I’m convinced it holds a clue to Ezra Kind’s stash of gold. Who is Ezra Kind? According to the legend, he and six of his friends came to Western South Dakota forty years before General George Custer struck gold here. They were killed before they were able to enjoy their spoils, and rumor has it, the gold is stashed somewhere deep in the Hills.

And there’s another reason I’m looking for the book. It may be the missing clue I need to solve my friend’s murder. The book disappeared after his death. If that isn’t reason enough, the book might mention my mother’s maiden name. If you don’t know, I was left as a baby at the police station with only a necklace with my unique name on it. Strike gold, expose a murderer, and find my birth parents? It’s a tall order, but like my T-shirt says, “Climbing the mountain is half the fun.”

After all, I have forest ranger Max to help me, and let’s face it: there’s no mountain he can’t hike, bike, or save. I love having him by my side—and his German shepherd, Scout. Just don’t tell my Maine Coon cat, George. He’d never forgive me.

Mining for Murder, A Happy Camper Mystery #3
Genre: Cozy
Release: April 2022
Purchase Link

Zo Jones is enjoying the sunny season at her Happy Camper gift shop in Spirit Canyon, South Dakota—when a murder reminds her all that glitters isn’t gold . . .

The South Dakota Gold Rush might be long over, but Zo Jones feels like she’s hit the mother lode when she and her friends browse an estate sale, where a rare old book about the history of Spirit Canyon is causing quite a commotion. In addition to local stories and secrets, the book may even contain the location of a famous stash of gold—a treasure worth killing for.

Zo’s friend Maynard Cline wins the bid on the book, to the chagrin of many interested parties, including the historical society and college history department. But when Zo and Hattie head to Maynard’s mansion to borrow the book for a library event, the only thing they find is Maynard—at the bottom of the mountain. The valuable book is gone. Zo knows this must be murder because there’s no way a germophobe like Maynard would have voluntarily dived into a pile of dirt. Now she’ll have to dig into a new case, and go prospecting for a perpetrator . . .

About the author
Mary Angela is the author of the Happy Camper cozy mystery series and the Professor Prather academic mystery series. She also writes the Lady Agony historical mystery series under the name Mary Winters. When Mary isn’t penning heartwarming whodunits, she’s teaching, reading, traveling, or spending time with her family. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, daughters, and spoiled pets. You can find out more about her loves, including her writing, at maryangelabooks.com and marywintersauthor.com.

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Mary has generously offered to give away one digital copy (Kindle or Nook) of Mining for Murder. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person. Giveaway ends April 9, 2022. Good luck everyone!

All comments are welcomed.