Bats and Bones

The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries

De: Karen Musser Nortman

Narrado por: Rebecca Roberts

Bats and Bones is a B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree. Frannie and Larry Shoemaker are retirees who enjoy weekend camping with their friends in state parks in this new cozy mystery series. They anticipate the usual hiking, campfires, good food, and interesting side trips among the bluffs of beautiful Bat Cave State Park for the long Fourth of July weekend - until a dead body turns up. Confined in the campground and surrounded by strangers, Frannie is drawn into the investigation. Frannie's persistence and curiosity helps authorities sort through the possible suspects and motives, but almost ends her new sleuth career - and her life.

©2012 Karen Musser Nortman (P)2016 Karen Musser Nortman

A wonderful cozy mystery.

What made the experience of listening to Bats and Bones the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed the book very much. I have read the book and the Audible reading just enhanced the way I am able to enjoy the story. I found the performance very good.

Campground adventure

I honestly thought this book was going to be about old bony people being loony as bats. Frannie is a great crime solving person. And that recipe about smashed potatoes and sausage gravy one more recipe to add my own camping adventure this year.

Twists and turns!

What made the experience of listening to Bats and Bones the most enjoyable?

It flowed along quickly and smoothly. Kept my attention throughout.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Frannie was spunky, curious, caring and brave.

What does Rebecca Roberts bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great diction. Knows the characters well. Good cadence.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Watch for wild things in the wilderness.

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Fun, cozy mystery

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'll certainly be looking forward to hearing more about Frannie and friends in upcoming stories. The narrator did a great job telling the story and modulating her voice to fit all the characters. We all know someone who is a busybody like Frannie. I'm surprised the police didn't lock her up! I received this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable cozy mystery

This book was a quick, enjoyable cozy mystery. I found the characters interesting and would read more by Karen Nortman. This series promises to be a good light mystery, perfect for breaks between heavier reads. Rebecca Roberts does a fantastic job narrating. I enjoyed listening to her bring the characters and story to life.

Bats and Bones

This was a really good first book in the series.Of course I am reading them out of order.lol Frannie and Larry have a big camper and go to State parks with Frannies briother and wife.On this first adventure they find a body and live through a tornado! Larry being an ex cop lends a hand with the investigation.The characters are likable and fleshed out nicely.Rebecca Roberts does a fine job narrating.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

great book

very enjoyable, just a sit back and relax kind of book, not too many details to get lost in. just a fun entertaining and enjoyable book. narration was fabulous!

First in Series

Where does Bats and Bones rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Bats and Bones is the first book in the Frannie Shoemaker Mystery series. Frannie and her husband, Larry, along with two other couples go camping for the 4th of July weekend at Bat Cave State Park. Also staying at the campground is a group of 6 men (1st time campers), a woman and her young son, and another married couple that arrived on motorcycles as well as a very strict campground host and her husband. When the group decides to go hiking, Larry finds a body in a small cave off the trail. With the murder being investigated the police close the park and no one is allowed in or out. Frannie, who is grieving the recent death of her mother, is having a hard time handling them finding a dead body so with nothing else to do she starts to people watch and observes some suspicious behaviors. She and Larry who is a retired police officer, gets pulled into the investigation. Can Frannie and her friends solve the murder before someone else dies?

I really enjoyed this book. This is the 2nd book I have read by author Karen Musser Nortman, I actually read book 4 first. I really enjoyed this book, and having read a later book in the series first, I got to how the characters have grown over the series. Bats and Bones shows a realistic view of the group of friends being confined in hot temperatures with much togetherness and boredom, sometimes there is friction but things seem to work out in the end. This is a well written, steady paced book, with enough twist and turns to keep you guessing right along with Frannie on who is the murderer until the very end. No bad language, sex or graphic violence.

I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator Rebecca Roberts is clearly spoken and does good job with the storytelling, this book however is the only book in the series she narrates. I prefer the narrator of the later books. I am not sure if it is because I heard someone else’s vision of how the characters should sound first but to me something about Mrs. Roberts’s accents for some of the charters do not really seem to fit the character or maybe it doesn’t fit the dialect of the region the characters are from.

I voluntarily reviewed this book provided by the author for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Enjoyable Cozy Mystery!

I've been thoroughly enjoying the few cozy mysteries I've read lately, and think that I may have just found a new genre to read!! This is no different, I ended up devouring this in a day.

The book centers on Frannie and Larry, whom are retirees enjoying a "relaxing" camping weekend with family and friends. That is until they stumble on the body of the grumpy woman who runs the campsite where they stay. This woman had multiple run ins with campers and wasn't very liked. With them being confined to the campsite till the police gather evidence, can Frannie find out the culprit from the multiple suspects?

This was such a fun "who done it" type of mystery and I really enjoyed trying to figure out who the culprit was along with Frannie and the gang. It did keep me guessing till the very end, which is always a good thing! I also loved the setting and descriptions the author gives. It truly sounds like a beautiful place. Frannie, is also another plus. She is such an easily likable character. I can't wait to read more with these characters.

In all, such a great and entertaining mystery and one I recommend to everyone.

Rebecca Roberts has really cemented herself as one of my go to narrators. Her voice and manner is so easy to listen to and she always gives a top rate performance. I always recommend her if I'm asked about good narrators.

Great story for anyone who camps.

What did you love best about Bats and Bones?

I love that as people will do all try to be amateur sleuths.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Donna. There is one in every campground.

Which character – as performed by Rebecca Roberts – was your favorite?

I like how Rebecca Roberts does all of the men. Along with this authors dialogue she does them all so well.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the Frannie and Donna are in the cellar, I was on the edge of my seat.

Any additional comments?

This book should have had a different title. I passed it up and was one of the books I kept passing up because of the title. I am so glad I read it because it was delightful. The narrator was enjoyable and the book was good.