Murder Grins and Bears It

Gertie Johnson: Yooper Mysteries #2

by Deb Baker

This second book in the Yooper Mystery series features the unpredictable, unflappable, and unstoppable amateur sleuth Gertie Johnson.

On opening day of bear hunting season in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a game warden is murdered right under Little Donny's tree stand. Little Donny disappears into the backwoods, forcing sixty-six year old gertie to use her "unique" investigative techniques to find her favorite grandson. Gertie's search is hampered by her pin-curled bodyguard Kitty, her man-hungry friend Cora Mae who's hot for the guy Gertie secretly admires, and Grandma Johnson–who should be mushing peas between her new false teeth in the Escanaba Nursing Home instead of setting up camp at Gertie's place. What really gets Gertie's goat is her son Blaze, the local sheriff, who's more interested in arresting his mom for driving without a license than finding Little Donny or catching the killer.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Humor, Cozy, Murder Mystery

Paperback

First published May 8, 2007

About the author

Bestselling and award-winning author Deb Baker writes the hilarious Gertie Johnson mysteries, set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A native Yooper, she brings humor, heart, and a touch of sass to everything she writes.

Her work also includes the Gretchen Birch mystery series, Wisconsin beekeeping mysteries, and the Scottish Highlands mysteries written as Hannah Reed.

Now living in sunny Florida, Deb enjoys gardening, storytelling, and the company of her cat, Bo.

Reviews

[Paige]

Gertie Johnson is a 66 year widow, mother ,grandmother and PI. When she and her friend/partner Cora Mae start working on a case it is like Lucy and Ethel aged and moved to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In this book it is bear hunting season and more people than bears are killed. Gertie along with Cora Mae and another cohort Kitty set out to figure this out. Deb Baker writes Gertie so well I can almost hear and see her. The result is so delightful and funny that when reading in bed last night I woke my husband. He was not upset at all in fact now he wants to read this cozy.

[Gail]

This is the second book in the Gertie Johnson cozy mystery series.

Gertie is at it again trying to solve a murder and prove her grandson's innocence. Wherever Gertie goes trouble is sure to follow. It is opening day of bear hunting season in Michigan's UP. A game warden is found murdered under Little Donny's tree stand and with his gun. Little Donny goes missing. Gertie knows her grandson wouldn't kill anyone. So with the help of her two friends Cora Mae and Kitty her body guard she is out to find the real murderer. A humorous read and very enjoyable!

[Meg]

Our intrepid mc, Gertie Johnson, has done it again. Funny, tough and loyal, nothing will get her down or keep her from sticking her nose in. No PI license? No problem! No driver's license? No problem! All she needs are her fun sidekicks, a used yellow spray-painted truck, a trusty stun gun, and dogged determination. I've had this in the TBR for quite awhile; here's hoping the next one doesn't sit as long.

[LORI CASWELL]

It’s Bear Season is Yooper Country!! That is Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the bears aren’t the only thing being hunted. A game warden is murdered right under Little Donny’s tree stand and Little Donny is no where to be found. Gertie is upset, her son, the sheriff, is wasting time trying to catch her driving without a license when he should be trying to catch a killer and find Little Donny. Does she have to do everything herself?!

Dollycas’s Thoughts
This story will leave your sides aching from laughter!!

Gertie is an absolute gem!! Driving all over God’s creation without a license, tramping through the woods, questioning suspects who answer the door with sawed off shotguns, she does it all. She is quite a woman and you don’t want to mess with her. You never knows what she is going to pull out of that handbag. The woman is fearless!!!

In addition to Gertie there is man-hungry Cora Mae, Carl who is willing to coat himself in chicken grease to bag a bear, Grandma Johnson who just loves to cook and good ole’ Blaze, who is just trying to his job. Add in a few more wacky friends and relatives, a dead body or two, and you are in for a wild ride courtesy of Deb Baker’s vast imagination.

I have loved everything I have read by this awesome author! A master storyteller!! KUDOS DEB!!!

[Karol]

I really enjoyed this book. The author has captured the essence of the unique culture of Michigan's upper peninsula as the backdrop for the story. She has also given us some quirky characters who are all the more believable because of their idiosyncrasies. The mystery was fun to read and I flew through it in 2 days, using every spare minute I could find to keep reading. I'm looking forward to reading the other two "Yooper" mysteries (and hope that there will be even more in the future). Gertie may stumble onto things by accident, but her pure spunk wins the day.

By the way, the author includes some traditional U.P. fare in recipes at the end of the novel. I'm hoping that "Gertie" does publish a cookbook some day - I'd love to see it.

[Linda]

I'm really liking this series. Unfortunately there are only 3 books in it. I have just put a hold on another of her books from a different series. I enjoy the comedy, characters and story lines. It makes me feel like my family is wonderful and that we don't have any problems.
Gertie is again driving without a license and her son the sheriff is on her about it. Of course she is trying to solve 2 murders that her grandson is wanted for. She is busy constantly and always getting in to trouble. She's been a widow for 2 years now and it looks like she might be ready for romance now. I hope we see something in the next and last book. I think anyone living around WI or MI would adore these books.

[Kim]

I don't normally read mysteries from a series out of order, but this was the only book by this author at the library. Because it's written by a Michigan Author, I wanted to give it a try. I'm looking forward to reading the rest!

[Mahree Moyle]

I'm a Deb Baker fan. Love her humor. I can relate to her writing as I too am a Yooper. I love all the characters and their shortcomings. Her books are easy reads, light and comical. I only have a few more and then I can say I read them all. Hope she is still writing.

[Lorna Barrett]

Fun read--I love all Deb's books. Have you read Buzz off under her Hannah Reed name?

[Cindy]

Fun cozy mystery. Feisty grandma fighting with her son, the sheriff, for old time country justice.

[William]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Another will written murder mystery family and friends relationships adventure thriller novel by Deb Baker (A Gertie Johnson Murder Mystery Series book 2). Gertie Johnson's grandson is accused of two murders while he is best hunting. Gertie Johnson sets out too prove his innocence. After several days of investigation she is there too witness the guilty parties arrest. I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to books 📚. 2022 👒😤

[Jennie Ersari]

Another fun mystery.

Gertie and her friends have started their own detective group and are out to prove Littlr Donny is not the killer. Lots of intrigue as well as laugh out loud scenes!

[Penny Post]

A good laugh

Second one of these books I have read when thing were too tense. This series with Gertie and her pals trying to solve crimes is a hoot. Only thing that bothers me is the author portraying a Gertie like she is 80 … at least in Blaze’s mind.

[dollie ledford]

Very Entertaining

This was a very fun read. Gertie and her partners were too funny. This is a great book for a good laugh. She made the U.P. come alive.

[Barbara Finley]

Granny is a hot mess. She is very active. Hope to be active at that age.

[Deborah Kesner]

Lol

This cosy is so funny, it's got murder down to a tee. This books has it all. Deb Baker is a blast. It has 3 unlikely friends who want to be private Investigators.

[Sandra]

Gertie makes me laugh

[Patrice R. Davis]

Funny

It was a fast paced engaging read. There were a lot of twists and turns; they kept me wanting to get to the end.

[Grandma Mush]

Enjoyed it. Wacky old lady with some wacky relatives. To quote at the level of Evanovitch’s books but good enough for a fun read.

[Vickie]

Fun read. I enjoyed reading about places I have been.

[Elaine]

Book 2 in the Yooper Mysteries

Little Donny is missing while dead bodies are being discovered. All arrows point to him.

Gertie's up to her old antics again in this parody of law enforcement. Getting dumped from a sled that's being speed-pulled by dogs after she mistakenly unties the rope tying it to a tree. Driving on the back of a motorcycle wondering if she'll fall over when leaning because the helmet feels too heavy.

My favorite part is when she goes to the DMV for her license and expects to just be handed one. When told she needs a vision test, she tells Kitty to stay close by because she might need her help.

[Chi Dubinski]

Gertie is a sixty-something grandma who lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. On the opening day of bear hunting season, a game warden is killed, and Gertie’s hulking teenage grandson, Little Donny, goes missing. Local law enforcement suspects that Little Donny may be the killer—problem is that Blaze, the sheriff, is his uncle. Gertie rounds up her posse to investigate the crime and find the real killer.

[David]

I liked this book. Very different from her other series, but the humor and common-sense wisdom is there. Also an appealing setting that comes alive throughout. Henry Kisor also has a good series set in the UP of Michigan

[Shirl]

It may be hunting season, but there isn't a bear in the story. Gertie wants to be an investigator, but her son, the sherif won't give her a badge. She drives without a drivers license and has adopted a retired police dog named Fred. This story is quite mad.

[Sara]

FUN! I love this series! Especially the UP setting, and the jams that the main character finds herself in , and seriously when is she going to realize that George is not interested in her slutty friend and likes her instead?

[Mariann Lawrence]

Another good read!!

I absolutely LOVE this series by Deb Baker, the characters are great and keep me laughing throughout the whole book! I'm excited for the next Gertie Johnson mystery

[Cherie Zamel]

Met the author at Printers Row book fair

[Sue]

Funny, cozy mystery

[Jack]

Granny sleuth Gertie Johnson solves the murder mystery. An entertaining light read.

[Coleen Murphy]

Loved it!