Murder Grins and Bears It

It's bear hunting season in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Gertie Johnson's grandson, Little Donny (19 and already a mountain of a man with very little brain power) has gone hunting with one of Gertie's neighbors. But, when a game warden is found with his head blown off with Little Donny's gun and the boy is nowhere to be found, even Gertie's son and Little Donny's uncle, Sheriff Blaze Johnson, seems to suspect him of murder. Gertie, who is fresh off a successful crime solving attempt with her cohorts and best friends, man-crazy Cora Mae and pin-curled Kitty, decides to start her own sleuthing business called "Trouble Busters" and is hot on the case to find her grandson and prove his innocence if it's the last thing she ever does. And, after another body shows up in the woods, it just might be. This is the second outing with these eccentric ladies and it was a bigger hoot than the first book. Written with just the right touch, this book had me chuckling all the way through it. There's a couple of wild geese thrown in here for Gertie to chase, but she finally does get her man. I like the way this gal thinks and this series is quite fun to read. I'm looking forward to more

It was funny and clean. Reminds me of Minnesota hunting season. Would recommend it to any one.

The Stephanie Plum of the geriatric set is back in Deb Baker's sequel to Murder Passes the Buck. Having decided to create her own (unlicensed) investigative agency "The Trouble Busters," widow Gertie Johnson acquires the auctioned-off, vandalized sheriff's truck (that sheriff is Gertie's son and that she was the vandalizer is another story) and arms herself with a trusty bag of weapons that includes a taser, cattle prod, mace, and handcuffs. What she's not ready for is the body that is discovered near a hunting blind with the main suspect being her favorite - and missing - grandson. While her son is determined to keep her off the roads (Gertie never managed to learn how to drive or get a license), Gertie sets out to prove Little Donny's innocence with a posse that includes her single and predatory best friend Cora Rae, the police dog that Gertie unintentionally managed to get fired, and her self-proclaimed bodyguard Kitty. Once again Ms. Baker has created a hilarious mystery that whips along to a dramatic finish. Gertie is plagued with family members who hinder her as much as they help, yet her love for them always shines through. Moments of laugh-out-loud humor are balanced by Gertie's vulnerability as she battles to protect her grandson and ferret out a murderer by following the clues that her son ignores. This Yooper Mystery series continues to grow stronger and readers will be eager for Gertie's next appearance.

A game warden is murdered in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on opening day of bear season. Little Donny, Gertie's grandson, has gone missing. The warden was murdered at Little Donny's tree stand. Gertie's son, Blaze, is the sheriff, but he is after Little Donny as he thinks he is the murderer. Gertie believes in her heart that he's innocent. Gertie and her two friends, Kitty who also believes she is Gertie's bodyguard, and Cora Mae who is after all the men, set out to find Little Donny, prove his innocence, and find the real killer. Grandma Johnson, Gertie's mother-in-law who lives with her (against her wishes), doesn't make things easy. Then when Little Donny's mother descends on Gertie to await word on her son, Gertie kicks it up into high gear. Blaze keeps trying to get Gertie for driving without a license. She keeps working at dodging him. Gertie and her associates are a hoot. I love this series. You never know what Gertie will do next. I wish I knew Gertie. She sounds like she'd be a lot of fun! The setting of Michican'ts Upper Peninsula is great. It really adds to the story. I highly recommend this book and series!

Deb Baker's MURDER GRINS AND BEARS IT has hero Gertie back in top form. Against the wishes of her son the local sheriff, she gathers her associates, her fake badge, and her stun gun and sets out to solve the murder of a game warden. You don't have to be familiar with Michigan's Upper Peninsula to enjoy Gertie's antics, but if you have been there, it will be no surprise to meet this little old lady who drives without a license and investigates without a qualm. Gertie is hilarious, she's fearless, and she's priceless.