!Frannie Shoemaker and her husband Larry enjoy camping and spending time with Larry's sister Jane Ann and her husband Mickey Ferraro. Sometimes they are joined by other friends, usually also retirees. But occasionally they have to turn their intellectual efforts from planning supper and building fires to solving crimes.
No. 1: bats and bones
Camping can be murder. Oh, sure, on the one hand there's the stunning scenery, socializing with old friends and new acquaintances, amazing food cooked outside, and so on. But what if a dead body turns up on one of your hikes-for-fun-and-fitness?
Frannie and Larry Shoemaker, retired baby boomers, are looking forward to a relaxing Fourth of July weekend with friends in beautiful Bat Cave State Park. They begin the weekend with a wonderful meal and some laughs over the antics of nearby novice campers. But when someone kills the campground host and Frannie's group discovers the body, their favorite getaway becomes a quasi-prison, and the eccentricities often seen in a campground are viewed as suspicious behavior. A severe weather threat and the possibility that the murderer could be either a campground resident or an intruder from the outside compounds the danger. Frannie, while naturally curious, is warned off by her retired-cop husband, but still stumbles on information making her a target of the killer. At the same time, Frannie is working through the recent loss of her mother and an uncomfortable relationship with one of her own camping group.
Bats and Bones is an IndieBRAG Medallion honoree and is based on Maquoketa Caves State Park in Iowa.
Frannie and Larry Shoemaker, retired baby boomers, are looking forward to a relaxing Fourth of July weekend with friends in beautiful Bat Cave State Park. They begin the weekend with a wonderful meal and some laughs over the antics of nearby novice campers. But when someone kills the campground host and Frannie's group discovers the body, their favorite getaway becomes a quasi-prison, and the eccentricities often seen in a campground are viewed as suspicious behavior. A severe weather threat and the possibility that the murderer could be either a campground resident or an intruder from the outside compounds the danger. Frannie, while naturally curious, is warned off by her retired-cop husband, but still stumbles on information making her a target of the killer. At the same time, Frannie is working through the recent loss of her mother and an uncomfortable relationship with one of her own camping group.
Bats and Bones is an IndieBRAG Medallion honoree and is based on Maquoketa Caves State Park in Iowa.
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"This is such fun to read--funny and suspenseful. The clever camping hints at the ends of the chapters add to the true-to-life sense of place. Reading this brought back many happy memories of camping with family--spiced up with a compelling mystery. It's a great story!" Lizzie Wizard, Amazon |
No. 2: the blue coyote
Frannie and Larry Shoemaker love taking their grandchildren, Sabet and Joe, camping with them. But at Bluffs State Park, Frannie finds herself worrying more than usual about their safety, and when another young girl disappears from the campground in broad daylight, her fears increase. The fun of a bike ride, a flea market, marshmallow guns, and a storyteller is quickly overshadowed. Accusations against Larry and her add to the cloud over their heads. Frannie begins to puzzle out the mystery: Are the itinerant road workers as much of a threat as Frannie thinks? What about the lone woman camper who also disappears? Or is the girl's deadbeat dad behind it all?
The Blue Coyote is an IndieBRAG Medallion honoree and was a finalist in the Chanticleer 2013 CLUE awards. Bluffs State Park is loosely based on Ledges State Park in Iowa.
The Blue Coyote is an IndieBRAG Medallion honoree and was a finalist in the Chanticleer 2013 CLUE awards. Bluffs State Park is loosely based on Ledges State Park in Iowa.
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Frannie and Larry gassed up the truck, packed the camper and headed out with a couple grandkids for a quiet weekend with friends. Will their trip be uneventful? Oh, you hope not. A little girl riding a squeaky bike with training wheels up and down the state park trails that tweaks Larry's nerves starts this mystery into motion (you too will want to ship Larry a can of DW40 for his next camping trip). Accusations, an abduction and a chase through a dark field spark a great story." Mythbuster, Amazon |
No. 3: peete and repeat
A biking and camping trip to southeastern Minnesota turns into double trouble for Frannie Shoemaker and her friends as she deals with a canoeing mishap and a couple of bodies. Strange happenings in the campground, the nearby nature learning center, and an old power plant complicate the suspect pool and Frannie tries to stay out of it--really--but what can she do? After all, she is only curious, but sometimes it isn't just cats who have trouble with that!
Peete and Repeat is an IndieBRAG Medallion honoree and was a finalist in the Chanticleer Book Review CLUE Awards for 2013 and the Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards for 2014. It is based on the Root River Valley in southern Minnesota.
Peete and Repeat is an IndieBRAG Medallion honoree and was a finalist in the Chanticleer Book Review CLUE Awards for 2013 and the Chanticleer Mystery and Mayhem Awards for 2014. It is based on the Root River Valley in southern Minnesota.
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"I have read each of Nortman's campground mysteries and each is better than the last. In this one the author really hits her stride. The characters have always been comfortable with each other, and now their roles as characters are equally so. The humor is terrific, and the mystery and daily camping activities blend well. Do read this!" -Elaine, Amazon |
No. 4: the lady of the lake
A trip down memory lane is fine if you don’t stumble on a body. Frannie Shoemaker and her friends camp at Old Dam Trail State Park near one of Donna Nowak’s childhood homes. They take in the county fair, reminisce at a Fifties-Sixties dance, and check out old hangouts. But the present intrudes when a body surfaces. Donna becomes the focus of the investigation and Frannie wonders if the police shouldn’t be looking closer at the victim’s many enemies. A traveling goddess worshipper, a mystery writer, and the Sisters on the Fly add color to the campground.
The Lady of the Lake is an indieBRAG Medallion honoree and a 2014 Chanticleer CLUE finalist. It is based on Beed's Lake State Park in Northern Iowa.
Watch the book trailer: http://youtu.be/bmJ06foWlFA
The Lady of the Lake is an indieBRAG Medallion honoree and a 2014 Chanticleer CLUE finalist. It is based on Beed's Lake State Park in Northern Iowa.
Watch the book trailer: http://youtu.be/bmJ06foWlFA
Order the lady of the lake:
So, getting a RV is on my wish list now and these books are the main reason I want one. I love the fact that the author has created a great mystery while including the art of camping in a RV. The mystery aspect of the series has never failed to disappoint me and it keeps me interested throughout the book. The characters are so well done that I feel as if they are really alive!-Deb |
No. 5: to cache a killer
Geocaching isn't supposed to be about finding dead bodies. But when retiree, Frannie Shoemaker goes camping, standard definitions don't apply. A weekend in a beautiful state park in Iowa buzzes with fund-raising events, a search for Ninja turtles, a bevy of suspects, and lots of great food. But are the campers in the wrong place at the wrong time once too often?
To Cache a Killer is based on Backbone State Park in Iowa.
Geocaching isn't supposed to be about finding dead bodies. But when retiree, Frannie Shoemaker goes camping, standard definitions don't apply. A weekend in a beautiful state park in Iowa buzzes with fund-raising events, a search for Ninja turtles, a bevy of suspects, and lots of great food. But are the campers in the wrong place at the wrong time once too often?
To Cache a Killer is based on Backbone State Park in Iowa.
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Another Frannie Shoemaker camping experience with a campground murder. Very clever plot involving so many typical midwest campers. Especially appreciated are the camper tips and recipes after the murder is solved. These books should be sold at every camping/RV supply store! I pass mine on to all of my fellow RVers--alaska traveler
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No. 6: a campy christmas
A Holiday novella. When Frannie's plans for Christmas with her children fall apart, the Shoemakers and Ferraros decide to spend Christmas in Texas with Larry and Jane Ann’s brother and then take a camping trip through the Southwest. But those plans are stopped cold when they hit a rogue ice storm in Missouri and they end up snowbound in a campground alone. Not Frannie's dream for a wonderful Christmas, but events surprise her. Includes recipes and winter camping tips.
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Those of us who have grown children experience a time when we face an empty house during the holidays. Kids have their own lives and families! When Frannie gets the empty house blues, she agrees to travel with sister-in-law to spend Christmas in Texas. No problem, the trip is only a couple of days. When a sudden blizzard strands the couples in a campground alone, they rediscover the Christmas spirit by making do with what they have and sharing it with others.- Diane Rapp, author of the High Seas Mysteries
This is a fun, short Christmas novella. Two couples set off on holiday in their campers and get stranded in an ice storm at an empty campsite, or so they thought. Great read for a chilly, winter night, snuggled up by the fire.-Ms Loves to Read, Amazon |
No. 7: the space invader
A cozy/ thriller mystery! After Frannie and Larry and the Ferraros survive being snowbound and spend the rest of the holidays with family in Texas, they continue to New Mexico for some camping and sightseeing. But near Roswell, the journey jumps of the track when an escaped convict and a UFO cult cross their paths. How will they get out of this one?
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This book is a little different than the previous books in the series. In the book, the Shoemakers and Ferraros are more personally affected by this adventure than in the past books. Having said that, this is probably my favorite book in the series so far. The plot moves at a quick pace and I could not find out what happens next fast enough. I was on the edge of my seat and recommend this book as the series.
I was lucky enough to listen to the audio version of this book. Michelle Babb the narrator is wonderful. She brings this story to life, with her awesome accents and tone of voice. She gives every character their personality so you never have trouble knowing which character is speaking at a time. She adds the experience of reading this book. Kim Templeton |
No. 8: real actors, not people
Real Actors, Not People, Book 8 in the Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries, is now available for ereaders and in paperback. Join Frannie and her friends as they explore Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
They arrive at a beautiful state park, expecting to spend several days enjoying the wilderness, to find the pilot for a reality TV show, Celebrity Campout!, being filmed in the campground. And a dead body complicates things further. Includes camping hints and recipes, some from the UP!
They arrive at a beautiful state park, expecting to spend several days enjoying the wilderness, to find the pilot for a reality TV show, Celebrity Campout!, being filmed in the campground. And a dead body complicates things further. Includes camping hints and recipes, some from the UP!
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The Shoemakers and friends take a camping trip to get rid of the real world for a bit only to find they are shooting a reality TV show in the campground. But when the accidents start than a death it all gets very real.
I love these Frannie Shoemaker audios. Narrator Michelle Babb has become the voice of Frannie and she is wonderful. I love the action and suspense in these mysteries and how Frannie can stumble upon dead people. I also like the real life going ons in the campgrounds, people not prepared or even have a clue what they are doing, to the seasoned pros. These are just plain wonderful books or if you are like me audios, and I can't wait for more.--Mindjacked, Amazon Vine Voice |
No. 9: corpse of discovery
Over two hundred years ago, famed explorer Meriwether Lewis died on the Natchez Trace under mysterious circumstances. Historians still argue whether it was suicide or murder. That shouldn't affect a weekend campout in present day for Frannie Shoemaker and her friends, but it does. They meet interesting characters at a mountain man rendezvous and get mixed up as usual with the strange goings on. Because camping can be murder!
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Amazon Kindle Amazon Paperback Audible |
These campground mysteries are a lot of fun. The mix of history and mystery in Corpse of Discovery makes it an especially interesting read. The interactions of these hearty campers are a lot of fun, and the books always make me hungry! I would love it if a couple of the new characters in this book show up in future Frannie adventures. The Happy Camper tips at the end are really useful -- some even if you aren't an RVer. More Frannie and friends, please!-Elaine Orr, author of the Jolie Gentil, the Family History, and the Rivers Edge cozy mysteries,
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No. 10: the mask of death
The latest in the Frannie Shoemaker series, Mask of Death finds Larry and Frannie giving campground hosting a try. However, when they signed up in the fall of 2019 for a stint in May 2020, they had no idea of the upheaval coming due to COVID-19. They must enforce new rules, deal with quirky and possibly dangerous campers, plus the usual weather and other issues that can turn up. Meanwhile, they need to deal with the intrusion of COVID in their own family.
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We all lived through the two years of stress that Covid gave the world, but no one deals with the crisis better than Frannie and friends. This wonderful mystery deals with the subject in an innovative way--by letting us live out our frustrations as camp hosts during the crisis. I love the Frannie Shoemaker series and enjoy reading each adventure. I think of the characters as camping friends, having spent five years roaming the country in an RV. Luckily I never ran into a dead body or tracked down a murderer during our travels. Frannie can do that for all of us. If you've ever wondered how a camp host deals with disaster or crime while performing their duties, get this book. You'll get hooked on the series like me.--Diane Rapp, author of the High Seas and Sidekicks Mysteries.
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And how did it all begin? The Prequel:
we are NOT buying a camper!
Frannie and Larry Shoemaker have busy jobs, two teenagers, and plenty of other demands on their time and sanity. Larry's sister and brother-in-law pester them to try camping for relaxation--time to sit back, enjoy nature, and catch up on naps. After all, what could go wrong? Join Frannie as "RV there yet?" becomes "RV crazy?" and she learns that going back to nature doesn't necessarily mean a simpler life.
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I couldn't help myself, I remembered some of the trips my dad would take us on! Yes these things do happen but the memories are worth it! Love the camping tip too! This series is awesome-looking forward to more adventures from Frannie and the gang.
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The Boxed Sets for Kindle
New editions of the Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries are now available. The recipes and camping hints are included. An economical way to camp with Frannie!
Set 1 includes:
bats and bones
the blue coyote
peete and repeat
Set 1 includes:
bats and bones
the blue coyote
peete and repeat
The second three Frannie adventures are also available in a boxed set for Kindle at a third off. The camping hints and recipes are not included but each book is there in its entirety.
the lady of the lake
to cache a killer
a campy christmas
the lady of the lake
to cache a killer
a campy christmas
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More about my books on numerous sites:
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The Independent Author Network
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Book Goodies
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"This is a fun read with some quirky characters, some gorgeous settings, and a story line with enough twists and turns to keep you turning pages long after the campfire has died to embers."-J. Rump 
Maquoketa Caves State Park--the basis for 'Bat Cave.'
The Natural Bridge-Maquoketa caves
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The REAL Root River Power Plant
The Ledges: basis of Bluffs State Park
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