In August, 2018, I began reading the cozy mystery Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier. The first book was Mistletoe Murder. I did get a few of these books for review, but the majority were obtained from my library. This blog post includes individual reviews of the latest five books, with Invitation Murder being published November, 2019. I am really eager to see what is next in this series. Ms. Meier has also done several omnibuses, some with other authors.
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Publisher: Kensington
Format: Audiobook
No. of Pages: 304
Date of Publication: August 25, 2015
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
But not everything goes quite as planned…Lucy’s getting very annoyed that her husband Bill and his friend Evan have been working seemingly nonstop on their potentially prize-winning pumpkin catapult. But when the day of the big contest arrives, Evan is nowhere to be found…until a catapulted pumpkin busts open the trunk of the Dodge. Amid the pumpkin gore is a very deceased Evan, bashed in the head and placed in the trunk by someone long before the contest started.
Bill is on the hook for the Halloween homicide—he was the last one to see Evan—so Lucy knows she’s got some serious sleuthing to do. The crime’s trail seems to always circle back to Country Cousins, the town’s once-quaint general store that’s now become a big Internet player. Though the store’s founder, Old Sam Miller, is long gone, his son Tom and grandson Trey now run the hugely successful company. But whispered rumors say things aren’t going well, and Lucy finds that this case may have something to do with an unsolved, decades-old Miller family mystery…
With each new lead pointing her in a different direction, Lucy sees that time is quickly running out. If she wants to spook the real killer, she’ll have to step into an old ghost story…
MY THOUGHTS:
In the 22nd book of the series, Bill Stone is the main suspect when a man who was working with him was found dead. His name was Evan and he and bill were building a catapult for the town of Tinker's Cove Halloween contest.
While everyone in town was excited about the contest, there were things going on that indicated problems were going on behind the scenes. For one thing, Lucy, Bill's wife hated the fact that Bill and Evan were working together. Meanwhile, there was a lot of sabotage happening to some of the early preparation going in.
The big day comes, and Evan is nowhere in sight, and before long, his body is found in the trunk of a car. Will Lucy, part-time reporter, wife and mother, and also the town's resident amateur detective, find out what happened to Evan so that Bill doesn't end up in jail? The deeper Lucy digs to prove Bill's innocence, the more she finds out that something deeper was going on related to the town's past.
After being rather disappointed in the previous book in the series, I am pleased that this book led me down a different path. Candy Corn Murder was intriguing and busy enough that I was kept interested throughout the book and satisfied with the conclusion.
In the 22nd book of the series, Bill Stone is the main suspect when a man who was working with him was found dead. His name was Evan and he and bill were building a catapult for the town of Tinker's Cove Halloween contest.
While everyone in town was excited about the contest, there were things going on that indicated problems were going on behind the scenes. For one thing, Lucy, Bill's wife hated the fact that Bill and Evan were working together. Meanwhile, there was a lot of sabotage happening to some of the early preparation going in.
The big day comes, and Evan is nowhere in sight, and before long, his body is found in the trunk of a car. Will Lucy, part-time reporter, wife and mother, and also the town's resident amateur detective, find out what happened to Evan so that Bill doesn't end up in jail? The deeper Lucy digs to prove Bill's innocence, the more she finds out that something deeper was going on related to the town's past.
After being rather disappointed in the previous book in the series, I am pleased that this book led me down a different path. Candy Corn Murder was intriguing and busy enough that I was kept interested throughout the book and satisfied with the conclusion.
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Title: British Manor Murder
Publisher: Kensington
Format: Audiobook
No. of Pages: 304
Date of Publication: September 27, 2016
My Rating: 3 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Although Perry, the earl of the house, and his sister, Poppy, are surprisingly accommodating to their jetlagged guests, Lucy feels uneasy after a fallen portrait sparks talk of a deadly family omen. The bad vibes come in quickly—snobby Aunt Millicent and her handmaiden Harrison unexpectedly drop by for the exhibition, and meals with the family are consistently tense. But real trouble begins when a body, bludgeoned by the chapel’s gold-plated reliquary, is found in a hidden, sealed off room. Stranger still, the corpse is identified as Harrison’s son, Cyril.
Considering the weapon and the clandestine location, Lucy wouldn’t be shocked if the murder was an inside job. Cyril wasn’t exactly a gentleman, and it’s unclear what business he had on the property. Was the victim trying to make off with the family riches before meeting his end? Or was a scorned country squire looking to settle an ancient indiscretion for good? One thing’s for sure—the criminal is privy to Moreton Manor secrets . . .
To end the reign of terror, Lucy must keep her ear to the ground and mind time-honored traditions—no matter how unusual. Because Lucy has a hunch that the killer has been in her company all along, just waiting for a chance to make blueblood run red . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
Every now and again, Lucy Stone manages to get trips out of the country. That is the case in the next book in Leslie Meier's series. She will be joining best friend Sue and is heading to England. This is not her first time in the UK, but this time her objective is different. She is to attend a hat exhibition at an exclusive manor. Unfortunately for Lucy, wherever she is, there is always a body found. That is indeed the case at this time.
Our intrepid amateur sleuth cannot simply plow and and solve this as she has done countless times before. She is in rather an exclusive manor and they are honoring traditions from times of the past. So Lucy really has to be on her Ps and Qs this time around.
British Manor Murder was a light read, and not one of my favorites in the series. I am always glad to read these books, however, because as a whole, this is a great series. Having read all the books in order has made Lucy, husband Bill and their four children (now adults) very dear to me. I think I like Lucy better in her town of Tinker's Grove, Maine. When she heads out of the country and tries to solve murders, I rather lose interest.
Every now and again, Lucy Stone manages to get trips out of the country. That is the case in the next book in Leslie Meier's series. She will be joining best friend Sue and is heading to England. This is not her first time in the UK, but this time her objective is different. She is to attend a hat exhibition at an exclusive manor. Unfortunately for Lucy, wherever she is, there is always a body found. That is indeed the case at this time.
Our intrepid amateur sleuth cannot simply plow and and solve this as she has done countless times before. She is in rather an exclusive manor and they are honoring traditions from times of the past. So Lucy really has to be on her Ps and Qs this time around.
British Manor Murder was a light read, and not one of my favorites in the series. I am always glad to read these books, however, because as a whole, this is a great series. Having read all the books in order has made Lucy, husband Bill and their four children (now adults) very dear to me. I think I like Lucy better in her town of Tinker's Grove, Maine. When she heads out of the country and tries to solve murders, I rather lose interest.
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Publisher: Kensington
Format: Audiobook
No. of Pages: 304
Date of Publication: September 26, 2017
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Besides the annual Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day, Lucy expects the approaching holiday to be a relatively uneventful one—until she finds beautiful Alison Franklin dead and frozen in Blueberry Pond. No one knows much about Alison, except that she was the daughter of wealthy investor Ed Franklin and struggled quietly with drug addiction. Police blame her death on an accidental overdose, but Lucy can’t understand what terrible forces could lead a privileged woman to watery ruin . . .
Alison’s funeral service is just as puzzling. Many believe Ed’s young—and very pregnant—new wife, Mireille, divided the family, leaving Alison to wither on the vine. Did Mireille truly adore her stepchild as Ed claims, or did she pit father against daughter for personal gain?
As a state of unrest descends on Tinker’s Cove, Lucy is thrown into a full-scale investigation. Now, in a race against time, Lucy must beat the killer to the finish line—or she can forget about stuffing and cranberry sauce . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
Lucy Stone had quite a few busy Thanksgiving day's over the years. Cooking for her family of six, and any other family and friends kept her busy. With her children all being adult and living their own lives, Lucy has a chance to do something else to keep herself busy. She will be participating in Tinker Cove's 5K run. So she begins training vigorously. On a run she finds a woman named Alison Franklin dead and frozen in a pond.
Who was Alison and was her death an accident? Actually, it was learned that Alison struggled with a drug addiction. So, could an overdose have been the root cause behind Alison's death? Leave it to our amateur sleuth, Lucy, to get to the bottom of things. After attending Alison's funeral, Lucy beings asking a lot of questions. There was serious family dysfunction going on, and so there might actually be suspects involved in Alison's death.
So, the holiday, the run and the murder all play a hand when it comes to keeping Lucy busy. Then the fact that Alison had been involved with drugs exposes a growing problem in Tinker's Cove, one of the serious issues addressed in this entry in the Lucy Stone series. It also deals with immigration. Despite the seriousness of this book, it was just average for me when it comes to looking at the series as a whole. However, because of the deeper issues presented in this book, I will say that it shows better growth for the long-running series.
Who was Alison and was her death an accident? Actually, it was learned that Alison struggled with a drug addiction. So, could an overdose have been the root cause behind Alison's death? Leave it to our amateur sleuth, Lucy, to get to the bottom of things. After attending Alison's funeral, Lucy beings asking a lot of questions. There was serious family dysfunction going on, and so there might actually be suspects involved in Alison's death.
So, the holiday, the run and the murder all play a hand when it comes to keeping Lucy busy. Then the fact that Alison had been involved with drugs exposes a growing problem in Tinker's Cove, one of the serious issues addressed in this entry in the Lucy Stone series. It also deals with immigration. Despite the seriousness of this book, it was just average for me when it comes to looking at the series as a whole. However, because of the deeper issues presented in this book, I will say that it shows better growth for the long-running series.
Publisher: Kensington
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 304
Date of Publication: September 25, 2018
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
As Tinker's Cove, Maine, buzzes over a town-wide silver wedding anniversary bash, Lucy is reminded of her nuptials and ponders the whereabouts of Beth Gerard, her strong-willed maid of honor. Lucy never would have made it down the aisle without Beth's help, and although the two friends lost touch over the years, she decides to reach out. It only takes one phone call for Lucy to realize that a reunion will happen sooner than later--at Beth's funeral. Beth, who was in the process of finalizing her fourth divorce, had a reputation for living on the edge--but no one can believe she would jump off a penthouse terrace in New York City.
The more Lucy learns about Beth's former husbands, the more she suspects one of them committed murder. Summoning her friend's impulsive spirit, Lucy vows to scour New York from the Bronx to the Brooklyn Bridge in search of the killer. With each ex dodgier than the last, it's not long before Lucy's investigation leads her to a desperate criminal who will do anything to get away--even if it means silencing another victim . . .
MY THOUGHTS:
Tinker's Cove is looking couples who have been married over twenty-five years. There is going to be a wedding anniversary for all of the townsfolk who have achieved that milestones. Lucy Stone and husband Bill are one of those couples, and so preparations are in order.
Problems come into play rather soon, especially when Beth Gerard, Lucy's maid of honor all those years ago, turns up missing. Lucy wants her involved in the celebration. However, instead of having a great reunion, Lucy learns that Beth is dead. Beth has been to the altar several times, and in fact, is in the process of divorce for the fourth time. Her death has been ruled a suicide, but no one actually believes it, especially Lucy.
So Lucy heads to New York to do what she does best: ask questions and find answers. Lucy starts with Beth's ex husbands. Could one of them actually pushed Beth off the balcony she supposedly jumped off of? This busy story had a few surprises and a
Meanwhile, the flavor of this series is changing. Now that all of Lucy's children are grown they aren't always in the stories as much as before. Bill is in every book, cranky as ever. He has always shown a lack of support for Lucy's endeavors. There is just one more title in this series. Even though I don't always love every book, I am dedicated to staying with it as long as it is running.
Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Problems come into play rather soon, especially when Beth Gerard, Lucy's maid of honor all those years ago, turns up missing. Lucy wants her involved in the celebration. However, instead of having a great reunion, Lucy learns that Beth is dead. Beth has been to the altar several times, and in fact, is in the process of divorce for the fourth time. Her death has been ruled a suicide, but no one actually believes it, especially Lucy.
So Lucy heads to New York to do what she does best: ask questions and find answers. Lucy starts with Beth's ex husbands. Could one of them actually pushed Beth off the balcony she supposedly jumped off of? This busy story had a few surprises and a
Meanwhile, the flavor of this series is changing. Now that all of Lucy's children are grown they aren't always in the stories as much as before. Bill is in every book, cranky as ever. He has always shown a lack of support for Lucy's endeavors. There is just one more title in this series. Even though I don't always love every book, I am dedicated to staying with it as long as it is running.
Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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Publisher: Kensington
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 240
Date of Publication: November 26, 2010
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Lucy doesn’t know what to expect as she arrives on a private Maine island owned by eccentric billionaire Scott Newman, only that the exclusive experience should make for a very intriguing feature story. An avid environmentalist, Scott has stripped the isolated property of modern conveniences in favor of an extreme eco-friendly lifestyle. A trip to Holiday Island is like traveling back to the nineteenth Century, and it turns out other residents aren’t exactly enthusiastic about living without cell service and electricity . . .
Before Lucy can get the full scoop on Scott, she is horrified to find one of his daughters dead at the bottom of a seaside cliff. The young woman’s tragic end gets pinned as an accident, but a sinister plot unfolds when there’s a sudden disappearance . . .
Stuck on a clammy island with murder suspects aplenty, the simple life isn’t so idyllic after all. Now, Lucy must tap into the limited resources around her to outwit a cold-blooded killer—before it’s lights out for her next!
MY THOUGHTS:
Lucy Stone accepts an invitation for a celebration on Holiday Island. The Island and is residents are far from usual. For starters, the owner, a billionaire named Scott Newman. He is an environmentalist who has created his own little world, one with its own rules. There are mostly those who work for Scott there, and Lucy feels out of place almost immediately.
As is common for Lucy, there is a dead body before she could even get acquainted with things. The body is that of the daughter of Scott. The island runs independent of the mainland, and only when a ferry comes to pick Lucy up, can the authorities be notified of the murder. What are they going to do with the body? Since the island is isolated, one of the people there has to be the killer.
Scared, but determined, Lucy tries to get to the bottom of things. Then, there is the disappearance of at least one more person. Panic sets in and time is short. Lucy cannot imagine that even though the little island is actually very close to Tinker's Cove, how far away safety actually is. That certainly raises the element of danger.
As this is the latest book in the series, I am struggling to write this review. I have read it from the very beginning and I really do love Lucy as an amateur sleuth. She has limited resources this time around, so I applaud her when it comes to trying to find the killer. Leslie Meier has faithfully written this series for years (the first book, Mistletoe Murder, was released in 1991), and this book, Invitation to Murder, is number 26. I applaud Ms. Meier for her dedication to this series and I do hope to see Lucy again real soon.
As is common for Lucy, there is a dead body before she could even get acquainted with things. The body is that of the daughter of Scott. The island runs independent of the mainland, and only when a ferry comes to pick Lucy up, can the authorities be notified of the murder. What are they going to do with the body? Since the island is isolated, one of the people there has to be the killer.
Scared, but determined, Lucy tries to get to the bottom of things. Then, there is the disappearance of at least one more person. Panic sets in and time is short. Lucy cannot imagine that even though the little island is actually very close to Tinker's Cove, how far away safety actually is. That certainly raises the element of danger.
As this is the latest book in the series, I am struggling to write this review. I have read it from the very beginning and I really do love Lucy as an amateur sleuth. She has limited resources this time around, so I applaud her when it comes to trying to find the killer. Leslie Meier has faithfully written this series for years (the first book, Mistletoe Murder, was released in 1991), and this book, Invitation to Murder, is number 26. I applaud Ms. Meier for her dedication to this series and I do hope to see Lucy again real soon.
Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
*Book 27 is entitled British Murder, and is an omnibus that includes British Manor Murder (review above) and English Tea Murder (link embedded).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
My books draw heavily on my experience as a mother of three and my work as a reporter for various weekly newspapers on Cape . My heroine, Lucy Stone, is a reporter in the fictional town of Tinker’s Cove, Maine, where she lives in an old farmhouse (quite similar to mine on Cape Cod!) with her restoration carpenter husband Bill and four children. As the series has progressed the kids have grown older, roughly paralleling my own family. We seem to have reached a point beyond which Lucy cannot age–my editor seems to want her to remain forty-something forever, though I have to admit I personally am dying to write “Menopause is Murder!”
I usually write one Lucy Stone mystery every year and as you can tell, my editor likes me to feature the holidays in my books. Of course Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year and my newest mystery “Eggnog Murder,” is included in an anthology with two other Christmas novellas by Barbara Ross and Lee Hollis. I’ve long been a fan of the classic English country house mystery, and was a faithful watcher of “Downton Abbey,” so I couldn’t resist trying to write one. I think I succeeded rather well, if I do say so myself, with “British Manor Murder,” which came out in October, 2016.
My books are classified as “cozies” but a good friend insists they are really “comedies of manners” and I do enjoy expressing my view of contemporary American life.
Now that the kids are grown — we have five fabulous grandchildren — my husband and I are enjoying dividing our time between Braintree and Cape Cod, along with our cat, Sylvester.
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