!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.
Bats and Bones, The Blue Coyote, Peete and Repeat and The Lady of the Lake, as well as The Time Travel Trailer and Trailer on the Fly have all been selected as B.R.A.G. Medallion honorees. Their website is BRAGMedallion.com and is owned and operated by indieBRAG, LLC, a privately held organization that has brought together a large group of readers, both individuals and members of book clubs, located throughout the United States, Canada, and the European Union.
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 go 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 go 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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I really enjoy the antics and misadventures of this small group of campers.This tale certainly continued the tradition of good reading, good laughs and watching the plot skew all over the place.
First, we have geocaching, then fun runs for charity (the park). We have murder and assault and yummy food. Great reading !-Kindle Customer |
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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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
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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 story grabs you from the very beginning and the scenes described so craftily that you feel like you are there.
I totally feel like I know all the characters since I have read all her books. It is like joining along in their camping adventures. Thanks Karen for another great read.-Mattie |
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.
Order we are NOT buying a camper! It's FREE!
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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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