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Karen Musser Nortman
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The Blue Coyote (The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Karen Musser Nortman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 621 ratings
The Blue Coyote is an IndieBRAG Medallion honoree and a finalist in the 2013 CLUE Awards. 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 are 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?
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  1. Book 2 of 11
    The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries
  2. Print length
    236 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    March 28, 2013
  5. File size
    2.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Visit her website at www.karenmussernortman.com Karen Musser Nortman, after previous incarnations as a secondary social studies teacher (22 years) and a test developer (18 years), returned to her childhood dream of writing a novel. The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries came out of numerous 'round the campfire' discussions, making up answers to questions raised by the peephole glimpses one gets into the lives of fellow campers. Where did those people disappear to for the last two days? What kinds of bones are in this fire pit? Why is that woman wearing heels to the shower house? Karen and her husband Butch originally tent camped when their children were young and switched to a travel trailer when sleeping on the ground lost its romantic adventure. They take frequent weekend jaunts with friends to parks in Iowa and surrounding states, plus occasional longer trips. Entertainment on these trips has ranged from geocaching and hiking/biking to barbecue contests, balloon fests, and buck skinners' rendezvous. Frannie and Larry will no doubt check out some of these options on their future adventures. Karen has three children and eight grandchildren. She also loves reading, gardening, and knitting, and can recite the 99 counties of Iowa in alphabetical order.

Product details

  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 621 ratings

About the author

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Karen Musser Nortman

Karen Musser Nortman

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Visit her website at www.karenmussernortman.com

Karen Musser Nortman, after previous incarnations as a secondary social studies teacher (22 years) and a test developer (18 years), returned to her childhood dream of writing mysteries. Her first series, The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries, sprouted from numerous camping trips in Iowa and through at least 24 other states. The Frannie Shoemaker Mysteries center around a group of retirees who camp together and sometimes stumble over dead bodies. Six of the books have been designated IndieBRAG medallion honorees and three have been finalists in Chanticleer CLUE and Mystery and Mayhem contests. Most of the books are based on actual campgrounds.

Karen has two other series. The Time Travel Trailer series follows the adventures of Lynne McBriar who buys a vintage camper that turns out to be a time portal. The first in the series, by the same name, was the 2015 category winner in the Chanticleer Paranormal contest. The Mystery Sisters is a new series involving two seventy-something sisters who travel the country in a 1950 Studebaker, argue, annoy their relatives, and solve mysteries.

Karen has three children and eight grandchildren. She also loves reading, gardening, and knitting, and can recite the 99 counties of Iowa in alphabetical order.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
621 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this cozy mystery series, particularly appreciating its unexpected twists and turns while camping. The book is well-written and easy to read, with one customer noting how it conveys campground life realistically. Customers praise the characters and find the story engaging, with one review mentioning how they can feel the heat of the campfire.

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70 customers mention "Enjoyment"70 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, particularly noting it's fun to read about camping.

"...Both books' endings were intriguing; real page turners!..." Read more

"...audio version is the narrator; Michelle Babb has a voice that's both pleasant and strong, capable of cutting through road noise effectively for..." Read more

"...Choose this as a respite. It is a good simple story. Easy to read and enjoy. Love stool the camping tips at the end...." Read more

"...You’ll have to read to find out —it will be an enjoyable assignment. Good story." Read more

49 customers mention "Plot"49 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, describing it as a great series of cozy mysteries with unexpected twists and turns.

"...Both books' endings were intriguing; real page turners!..." Read more

"...Regardless, though, it's still an excellent story...." Read more

"Been reading political books. Choose this as a respite. It is a good simple story. Easy to read and enjoy. Love stool the camping tips at the end...." Read more

"...The plot is fairly simple but ok. Lots of information about the world of RVing so if you have any interest in the hobby, give them a try...." Read more

31 customers mention "Readability"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, describing it as a quick read.

"...This second book in the series was much better written than the first (although I did enjoy the first!)...." Read more

"...Choose this as a respite. It is a good simple story. Easy to read and enjoy. Love stool the camping tips at the end...." Read more

"...They are easy, quick reads with likeable characters and no graphic violence or sex. The plot is fairly simple but ok...." Read more

"...The main characters are likeable and well-written. The plot intrigued me and kept me guessing. It is fast-paced...." Read more

23 customers mention "Camping tips"23 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the camping tips in the book, with one mentioning that good recipes are included in every few chapters.

"...Otherwise a nice camping get together. Enjoyable, as you sit by the fire of what all is going on around you, and hopefully not about you." Read more

"...The description of the campground was excellent and I could picture myself sitting around the campfire with all the characters...." Read more

"...Good camping recipes are added in every few chapters as well as very good hint about building campfires and staying on the designated trails!..." Read more

"...It was absolutely true to the experience of camping and the plot was reasonable. The fear for the grand children's safety was very well written...." Read more

20 customers mention "Character development"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book.

"...Characters were well-developed and one could tell that the author spent lots of time with her children and grandchildren to bring out the most..." Read more

"...Overall, this is a good, strong mystery, with nicely developed characters who are likable and engaging...." Read more

"...They are easy, quick reads with likeable characters and no graphic violence or sex. The plot is fairly simple but ok...." Read more

"...I love the characters; the regulars and the ones unique to each mystery...." Read more

7 customers mention "Warmth"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the warmth of the book, describing it as a great cozy read, with one customer noting they can feel the heat of the campfire.

"...A great cozy, I really liked the fact that time had passed between the solving of the first mystery and the second...." Read more

"...I can feel the heat of the campfire , the smell of the dinner and camaraderie of the campers. It is a fun read, hard to put down...." Read more

"Pleasant realistic cozy" Read more

"A warm, family oriented book that intrigues and satisfies...." Read more

4 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with individual reviews noting its well-developed narrative and strong character development.

"...is the narrator; Michelle Babb has a voice that's both pleasant and strong, capable of cutting through road noise effectively for those of us who..." Read more

"...This book is very well written and truly believable." Read more

"...I couldn't put it down. It is well written, well edited, and has well developed and likable characters...." Read more

"...writer has a knack for staying right on the trail, has skill with the technical aspects providing a pleasurable reading experience." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of reading"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one mentioning it's hard to put down.

"...They are easy, quick reads with likeable characters and no graphic violence or sex. The plot is fairly simple but ok...." Read more

"...It is a fun read, hard to put down. On to Peete and Repeat!" Read more

"...An easy, but interesting read. Great mystery series." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • KBWriter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Premise!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I was especially taken with this camping mystery series and it doesn't disappoint! This second book in the series was much better written than the first (although I did enjoy the first!). Characters were well-developed and one could tell that the author spent lots of time with her children and grandchildren to bring out the most minute nuances of child characters. A great cozy, I really liked the fact that time had passed between the solving of the first mystery and the second. Often times cozies can be over the top in the characters solving mystery upon mystery in the same town or time frame. In this series, I felt I was in the campground with the characters. Both books' endings were intriguing; real page turners! I look forward to reading more camping adventures of Frannie and Larry Shoemaker!

    Karlajean Becvar-author of The Firestorm Chronicles: The Seeing Stone and Secrets of the Stone
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  • Elisabeth Carey
    4.0 out of 5 stars Don't mess with Frannie's family
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Larry and Frannie Shoemaker are off on another of their camping adventures with friends, and their two grandchildren, Sabet and Joe, are with them. All seems well except for a little girl who rides her bicycle with very noisy training wheels that drive Larry crazy--until that very girl disappears, right after complaining to another camper that Larry frightened her.

    Suddenly Larry, a grandfather and retired police officer, is in the minds of many of their fellow campers the prime suspect in a child's disappearance.

    Frannie just can't leave the investigation to the police, and soon she has their friends, Mickey and Jane-Ann, involved in the search as well. With clues pointing in several directions, and the missing girl's frightened mother having latched onto Larry as, at least, her prime suspect, it's only a partial comfort when a familiar face from a previous adventure turns up to lead the official investigation.

    Overall, this is a good, strong mystery, with nicely developed characters who are likable and engaging. There's some reference to past events, but that acts to give the characters more depth without making it necessary to read the previous book first. It is unfortunate that, early on, a critical event depends on one character acting decidedly out of character. It's commented on at the time, and never really accounted for. Regardless, though, it's still an excellent story. The icing on the cake for this audio version is the narrator; Michelle Babb has a voice that's both pleasant and strong, capable of cutting through road noise effectively for those of us who listen to books in our cars!

    Recommended.

    I received a free copy of this audiobook and am reviewing it voluntarily.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Sue Telsrow
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good story
    Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Been reading political books. Choose this as a respite. It is a good simple story. Easy to read and enjoy. Love stool the camping tips at the end. Chopped a couple of the recipes to try even though we don't go camping anymore.
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  • Mary S
    3.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant, easy read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is book three (I'm counting the prequel novella as book one) in the series. They are easy, quick reads with likeable characters and no graphic violence or sex. The plot is fairly simple but ok. Lots of information about the world of RVing so if you have any interest in the hobby, give them a try. Worth the money. I'll be reading more from this author.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Traveler46
    5.0 out of 5 stars close to home?
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This story tells a story that seems all too familiar these days with kidnapped children and the bad things that can happen to them. This is a story of a family/friends group determined to find out who potential culprits are and to prevent them from hurting anyone.

    Who is a “blue coyote”? You’ll have to read to find out —it will be an enjoyable assignment. Good story.
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  • Ellen Oceanside
    4.0 out of 5 stars CAMPING ANNOYANCES
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The joys of going camping, trying to read a map, making u turns when you are pulling a trailer, before you get to the campground. No wonder a person just wants to sit by the camp fire. Taylor was kidnapped,and returned to her mother safely. Frankie and Larry get involved, and there is more than just annoyances. Otherwise a nice camping get together. Enjoyable, as you sit by the fire of what all is going on around you, and hopefully not about you.
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  • ChrisK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic cozy mystery series
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I somehow started in the middle if this series with book 3 so they can each be read as a stand alone. I am now going back and reading catching the ones I missed in a more orderly fashion. I love the characters; the regulars and the ones unique to each mystery. Being a camper, I certainly can relate to many of the issues the Shoemakers and their friends encounter in relation to campground and campers. They make the books seem so real even though it is fiction. The stories also include plots that are relevant to our modern world and this book deals with issues of trust, child abuse and abduction. Camper or not I think you will love this series if you love a great cozy mystery.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Socrates Book Reviews
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is the second book in the Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mystery series. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m already hooked.

    The main characters are likeable and well-written. The plot intrigued me and kept me guessing. It is fast-paced.

    I listened to the audio version. The narrator, Michelle Babb, always draws me into the stories she narrates. Her voice is perfect for story telling. She does a great job with it.

    I’m adding this series to my list of cozies I want to read.

    FTC Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kate
    4.0 out of 5 stars Poor start,great finish.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I nearly have up on this one after endless,pointless waffle of a journey to a campsite. The waffle took up 23%,but I persevered and then the story picked up and became quite gripping, with a unexpected twist at the end. I would recommend that you start at 23%.
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