Return to Sender

Return to Sender is the fourth in Tonya Kappes' Mail Carrier mystery series. It's one of my favorites, because Bernadette Butler, our protagonist, is a middle-aged woman like me. It's always fun to read about characters I relate to!

This book finds Bernie trying to learn yoga. I laughed at the yoga scenes, because Bernie sounds like she handles it about as well as I would. She's also having to deal with some strong feelings toward Lucy Drake, host of a popular radio show, now that Lucy has taken up with Bernie's former sweetie, Mac Tabor. (Can I just say, I do not like Lucy and Mac together. Nope nope nope. That's just not right.) But even if she doesn't really care for the “maw-maw” label Lucy has branded her with, Bernie is just in love with her new granddaughter, Clara.

On her route one day, Bernie finds a certified letter addressed to Simon, down at the gas station. When she can't deliver it to him, she keeps it to give to him the next day. That night, the post office is broken into, and the next morning, Simon is found dead. Is the break-in connected to the letter? Did Simon kill himself, or was it murder?

As always, Bernie and the Front Porch ladies put their minds to the problem. I love that Bernie has a mature girl gang behind her, and I want to be a Front Porch lady when I'm older. In this case, the killer was someone I DID NOT see coming. I love it when a book manages to completely surprise me like that!

It helps to read the series in order, as there is backstory in each book that's helpful to know. But if you just want a fun mystery, Return to Sender can stand alone. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a good mystery with a little romance, good friendships, and Southern charm.

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.