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Halloween Murder
Halloween Murder
Halloween Murder
Ebook536 pages8 hours

Halloween Murder

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

Treat yourself to two novels from the New York Times-bestselling author: “I like Lucy Stone a lot, and so will readers.”—Carolyn Hart, New York Times-bestselling author of the Bailey Ruth Mysteries
 
For Lucy Stone, Halloween in Tinker’s Cove, Maine, the treats aren’t just sweet and delicious. Sometimes they’re also deadly. Included in this volume are:
 
Trick or Treat Murder

While Lucy is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes for her town’s annual Halloween festival, an arsonist is on the loose in Tinker’s Cove. When the crimes escalate into murder, a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke…
 
Wicked Witch Murder

Not everyone in Tinker’s Cove is enchanted with newcomer Diana Ravenscroft and her quaint little shop offering everything from jewelry to psychic readings. But the gruesome murder of Diana’s friend has Lucy uncovering a deadly web of secrets—and a spine-chilling brush with the things that go bump in the night…
 
“A down-to-earth sleuth.”—Library Journal

“Reading a new Leslie Meier mystery is like catching up with a dear old friend.”—Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author
LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 28, 2018
ISBN9781496718358
Halloween Murder
Author

Leslie Meier

Leslie Meier is the acclaimed author of the Lucy Stone Mysteries and has also written for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. She lives in Harwich, Massachusetts, where she is currently at work on the next Lucy Stone mystery.

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Reviews for Halloween Murder

Rating: 3.7916666666666665 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier contains two previously published A Lucy Stone Halloween Mysteries. Trick or Treat Murder takes us back to Tinker’s Cove, Maine where Lucy Stone has recently given birth to Zoe. There have been a rash of fires around town where someone is setting fire to older homes. The latest victim is the Hopkins Homestead owned by Monica and Roland Mayes. This time fire officials find the deceased homeowner, Monica Mayes inside the home. The Hopkins home was Bill’s first big project after they moved to Tinker’s Cove. Lucy and Bill became friends with Monica as she oversaw the renovations. When not baking cupcakes for a Halloween party, working out at The Body Shop to lose the baby weight or taking care of her family, Lucy is looking for the elusive arsonist. Lucy needs to proceed with caution or she could get singed.Wicked Witch Murder has Lucy reluctantly visits Solstice with her friends Pam, Rachel and Sue. It is the purple shop owned by newcomer Diana Ravenscroft. Diana is a proclaimed witch who provides psychic readings at her shop. Lucy is out walking Libby when she finds a burned corpse in a clearing tied to a tree. Something sinister is at work and Ike Stoughton is not a fan of Diana or her shop. He makes his opinions known with a letter to the editor. Lucy is less than thrilled when she finds Sarah and Zoe along with Abby Stoughton practicing witchcraft at home. Lucy would prefer to avoid Diana, but it is unavoidable when Diana needs a safe haven. The victim is identified as Malcom Malebranche, the head of Diana’s coven. With Diana at the top of the suspect list, Lucy has no choice but to investigate (or the lady will never leave her home). Can Lucy find the killer in time?Trick or Treat Murder and Wicked Witch Murder are the two books included in Halloween Murder. They are not new stories to A Lucy Stone Mystery series. They are book three and book sixteen respectively. It has been a while since I have these two books and I enjoyed revisiting Lucy and Tinker’s Cove at a different time. The stories contain good writing with steady pacing. We get to see how Lucy and her family have changed over the years. The book contains friendly characters, a charming town and two good mysteries. I found the whodunit is Wicked Witch Murder to be more complex than that in Trick or Treat Murder. Halloween Murder can be read as a standalone. All the information a reader needs is provided. Halloween Murder contains two entertaining cozy mysteries that will enthrall you. My rating for Halloween Murder is 4 out of 5 stars. Join Lucy and her friends in Tinker’s Cove for a wicked good time.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Halloween Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery) by Leslie Meier actually contains two previously released books. In the first, Trick or Treat Murder, Tinker's Cove is being terrorized by an arsonist. When one of her friends is found dead in one of the burned houses, Lucy is determined to investigate despite dealing with her newborn daughter. In the second book, Wicked Witch Murder, a Wiccan named Diana Ravenscroft moves to Tinker's Cove and opens a new shop that has many of the locals upset. While out on a walk, Lucy stumbles upon a body. When it turns out to be murder and the victim is a member of Diana's Coven, Lucy and her daughters find themselves pulled into the investigation.I haven't read either of these stories before so, unlike many of the other reviewers who I read online, I didn't feel like it was a bit of a cheat making it seem like a new entry into the series. Overall, I enjoyed these two stories but I have to say I liked the first quite a bit better than the second. Cosies, by their very definition, are far-fetched which is why they make for such great escapism but Wicked Witch Murder stretched my willing suspension of disbelief just a tad too far. But that's just me - if you are a fan of cosies and Leslie Meier and you haven't read these two books, they would make a nice Halloween treat. Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    **I received an advance galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. **

    Leslie Meier’s “Halloween Murder” is a delightfully suspenseful two-books-in-one compilation. They each, of course, center around Halloweenin Maine’s Tinker’s Cove and the town’s amateur sleuth and reporter Lucy Stone.

    In “Trick or Treat Murder,” the annual kids Halloween Festival planning is underway. Among all her other duties of raising children and reporting for the paper, she’s up to her elbows and, soon enough, murder. A series of arson hits the town and when Lucy’s friend is found dead in one of the houses Lucy goes into investigation road. The story has some good twists and turns and a surprise ending. Meier builds up the suspense to the end well, though the resolution is a bit convenient. A satisfying read for Lucy Stone fans.

    “Wicked Witch Murder” takes place years later beginning in the summertime when new shopkeeper Diana Ravenscroft appears on the scene offering Wiccan products and psychic readers. Meier weaves a unique and believable story centering around the town’s reaction to the shop and its owner. Lucy is skeptical about magic but finds Diana basically harmless. When Diana’s friend is brutally murdered, the sentiment of the town begins to turn against Diana and Lucy must unravel a web of clues. As always, Meier ratchets up the suspense to the very end. I’ve read many of her books and found this one to be the most twisty and suspenseful with a surprising ending. Fans will love the interpersonal relationships and the natural way Lucy comes into the clues. The stretch between the murder and when the action pumps up again about halfway through the book drags a little bit still an enjoyable read. Not for people who have difficulty with witchcraft and Wiccan storylines.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Trick or Treat Murder
    While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes for her town’s annual Halloween festival, an arsonist is on the loose in Tinker’s Cove. When arson turns into murder, a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke.

    Wicked Witch Murder
    Not everyone in Tinker’s Cover is enchanted with newcomer Diana Ravenscroft and her quaint little shop offering everything from jewelry to psychic readings. But a gruesome murder of Diana’s friend has Lucy Stone uncovering a deadly web of secrets, and a spine-chilling brush with things that go bump in the night.

    --

    Series: A Lucy Stone Mystery
    Author: Leslie Meier
    Genre: Cozy Mystery/compilation
    Publisher: Kensington Books

    Halloween Murder is a compilation of two previously published books in the Lucy Stone Mystery Series. Both stories are enjoyable and easy to read. Both stories focus on Lucy Stone and her amateur sleuthing in two different murder cases.

    Story one, Trick or Treat Murder takes place right after the birth of Lucy’s 4th child. She is a new mom again and having difficulty dealing with everything. Someone is burning down old historic homes and building in in Tinker’s Cove, and Lucy fears her home will be next. Unfortunately, one of the homes was not empty when the fire destroyed it.

    Sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong tends to get it scorched, and Lucy soon finds herself going up in smoke as the killer decides that she knows too much.

    In story two, Wicked Witch Murder takes place in the future after Lucy’s kids are all grown up, or most of them. A new business in town is ruffling feathers and causing some residents to harken back to a time when witches were burned. Lucy isn’t a fan of Diana Ravenscroft’s new store, and she isn’t sure what to make of witchcraft, but she knows that several people truly dislike it enough to want to run Diana out of town on a rail.

    When someone is murdered, fingers point to Diana and her coven. Lucy ends up smack in the middle of the investigation and becomes a target of an overzealous bible thumper who is trying to scare the residents of Tinker’s Cove into reinstating the witch hunt, possibly with a witch burned at the stake.

    Both stories are very interesting and filled with plenty of action. The writing is flawless, creative and entertaining. There is a bit of confusion when moving to the second story as most readers will anticipate a linear passage between stories. However, the span between them is large and can be frustrating for some.

    In general, these are very good stories and worth the time to read. I highly recommend this series and this compilation. I do recommend that readers familiarize themselves with the series to get a good understanding of who the characters are, as well as a bit of background as there is little to none within this particular book.

Book preview

Halloween Murder - Leslie Meier

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