I enjoyed [b: The Lady of the Lake|776159|The Lady in the Lake|Raymond Chandler|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388450890s/776159.jpg|1939840] one of a series of "The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries." by [a: Karen Musser Nortman|6583869|Karen Musser Nortman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1442649815p2/6583869.jpg]

This was a well written mystery that 1. Made me want to hurry and retire, 2. Buy a cool Camper Trailer, 3. Hit the road.

Most of the characters in this story were over twenty years old, and as an person nearing Senior status, it made me feel good to know that life after sixty is dull and lifeless (unless you are a victim of murderous scamps.)

This is the first "Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mystery I read, the story stood alone, but I cannot wait to read more of these mysteries. ( )

The Shoemaker and their friends are off on another camping adventure, this time to a campground near one of Donna Nowak's many childhood homes. They're all set for an enjoyable trip down memory lane, and Donna is connecting with old friends, when she discovers to her horror that her abusive ex-foster father is the campground's handyman.

The next day, he turns up dead. And while there are a lot of people who might have had a score to settle with him, Donna is the one the local sheriff finds most convenient. Frannie is trying hard to follow Larry's advice about not interfering and not putting herself at risk, but even while she's following that advice, she can't help noticing things. And when she notices them, she asks questions.

Among their fellow campers are a writer of romantic mysteries and "goddess worshiper" who sells hand-carved wooden knives, and these ladies both have their own secrets they're protecting--and possible motives for murder.

We learn a lot about the often abrasive Donna's background and motivations in this story, and I love it that the other characters, especially Frannie, continue to grow and develop--and even learn from past mistakes!

A very enjoyable light mystery. ( )

cozy-mystery, camping, women-sleuths, amateur-sleuth-------
Pleasant cozy mystery involving a long standing group of camping friends. Although it is part of a series, that is certainly no deterrent to enjoyment of trying to solve the crime before the end of the book. The publisher's blurb and many other reviewers do a recap of the story, and there is no need for spoilers. I have found great enjoyment in reading this and several others by this author who simply tells a good tale without going overboard.
Another good reason to pick it up is the audio performance of Michelle Babb who always makes the characters so much more real! ( )