Leslie MeierRezensionen

A very light, enjoyable, cozy mystery. This is well written. What's not to enjoy about homemade quilts and solving murder mysteries?

4.5 Stars

It has been quite a while since I've read any of the Lucy Stone Mysteries. I don't know why she dropped off my radar, but after reading this book, I will have to do some heavy re-reading! I truly enjoyed this cozy mystery!

As I said, it has been a while, so I was amazed by how contemporary this book was and how twisty-turny the mystery was. The only reason I gave this book less than five stars was that I felt some of the minor issues didn't reach a full conclusion or were just swept under the carpet. It was nothing major and nothing that took me out of the story.

I believe that if you choose to start with this book, you will have no issues with not reading the preceding 29 books. I had no problems, and it's been years since I read my first Lucy book!

*ARC provided by the publisher Kensington Cozies/Kensington Books, the author Leslie Meier, and NetGalley.

#PatchworkQuiltMurder #NetGalley#KensingtonCozies#LeslieMeier½

The Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier is among my favorite cozy mystery series. I've read all the novels and short stories in this series and this one, Patchwork Quilt Murder, is among the very best in this long-running (30 books) series.

I love how Lucy Stone, a small town Maine reporter, uses her work in tracking down stories to help her track down the culprit. The author uses current social issues well in her books. There's also a focus on quilting and antiques in this book.

As much as I enjoyed the plot, in a Lucy Stone mystery, it's the characters that make the book. As a reader, I care about these characters. I'm attached to these characters.

Though it's a long-running series, it still feels fresh to me and I'm hoping there are many more Lucy Stone mysteries to come.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.)½

Easter Basket Murder contains three cozy mystery novellas by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross. Easter Basket Murder by Leslie Meier was easy to read. It is nice to check in with Lucy Stone and her husband as well as her friends. Lucy and Bill are adjusting to life as empty nesters. The mystery does not happen until later in the novella and the resolution was rushed. The story lacked development. It is not my favorite installment in A Lucy Stone Mysteries. Death by Easter Egg by Lee Hollis has Hayley Powell dealing with her rambunctious grandson and a murder. I liked the flashbacks into Hayley’s life when she was raising her kids. I cringed while reading about the grandson’s tantrums and his destructive behavior. I understand how Hayley felt (my daughter went through the terrible two’s for over three years), and I like how Hayley resolved the problem by the end of the story. I enjoyed the fun mystery. Hopped Along by Barbara Ross is the 11.5 A Maine Clambake Mystery. Julia is a developed character as well as friendly and relatable. I like that we get to see how Julia’s new romance with a certain detective is progressing. We also get to catch up with the rest of the Snowden clan and their friends. This was a unique mystery. It was a little farfetched and complex for a novella, but I did enjoy it. It was a cute addition to this anthology and to the series. Easter Basket Murder has me thinking about Easter decorations and spring despite the chilly January temperatures.

Once again, another outstanding trio of holiday-themed cozy novellas from some superb cozy mystery authors, all set in Maine.

Leslie Meier, one of my favorite cozy authors, contributed Easter Basket Murder, a clever story featuring a missing golden egg, a prize in an Easter basket raffle. It's always fun to encounter the characters in this long-running cozy series.

Death by Easter Egg, by Lee Hollis, offers a fun look at the town's annual Easter egg hunt and the lead character's energetic two year old grandson, but, of course, there's a murder.

Hopped Along, by Barbara Ross, presents a delightful, clever novella where, early on, the sleuth's six-year old nephew announces to her that the Easter Bunny was dead in the vegetable patch.

It's always interesting to see how these authors write for the holiday theme and, once again, they hit a home run with their stories.

Highly recommended to cozy fans!!½

I liked all three short stories. The Hannah Swensen story was my favorite, only because I knew all of the characters already. I would gladly read more of the books in Leslie Meier and Laura Levine's mystery series.

Mystery

Lucy travels to a remote island owned by a billionaire. She is planning to write a feature story about his life style. No electricity, no phones of any kind, no electronic devices, and no connection to the mainland except by scheduled ferry runs or the couple of boats kept by the owner. Living on the island is the billionaire, his wife, two sets of twins - the older set are girls by his first wife and the second set are much younger boys by his current wife - and a few assorted household staff and workers. It’s not long before Lucy discovers the body of one of girls, dead from a fall from a seaside cliff. And then, things really get bad. Lucy is caught up in a deadly game, and she will have to use all her wits with a large dose of luck to stay alive. It’s an exciting tale, and much darker than the usual problems Lucy deals with. Quite well written, it was thrilling to see Lucy in action to save herself while she convinced others where the real danger lay.

Elizabeth’s wedding day is fast approaching, and the whole Stone family has traveled to France to witness this momentous occasion. Her son and his family were reluctant to make the trip, but Lucy convinced him that it would not be the same without the whole family there, and that it would be a great experience for his son. Unfortunately, things go awry. A body of a young woman is found in a moat on the groom’s family’s property, and then things go from bad to worse. This is an interesting departure from the normal novels in the series. Lucy cannot investigate the crime like she could at home, but she still manages to nose around. This story is more about the lives of the characters and less about the crimes and murder, and for me, it is really more interesting. I enjoy reading about Lucy and her family. It was nice to see the sisters being a bit snarky with each other, and to see Toby’s son some acting out like a normal kid. He was not going to eat snails! They seemed like real people having a not-so-great time being forced to be together when they would rather just be home. There are some tense moments in this cozy, but all’s well that ends well, and this one does.

These three novellas will certainly put readers in a mood for Irish coffee! In the first tale, Lucy gets a look behind the scenes at what goes on in Irish step dancing competitions. It’s not a pretty sight, and it culminates in a murder. In the second novella, a local comedian on the rise to the big time comes home for a performance. His show is a hit, but it doesn’t end well for him. In the last tale, a power outage leads the habitants of the neighborhood to gather together for food and drink. Soon, some of the old timers are regaling the gathering with their versions of a ghost story and a murder. Yes, it will take some sleuthing to finally lay that ghost to rest. These stories are all well written and quite intriguing. Regular readers of these series will especially like seeing the characters they have come to enjoy and will appreciate this fine addition to the series.

All three of these novellas are well written, and each one is equally chilling but in different ways. In Lucy Stone’s tale, she is watching her grandson Patrick for a couple of months. He joins the soccer team, and is settling in his new surroundings. Lucy has a very hard time saying “no” when people ask her for favors, and this leads to a nearly heart-stopping problem for Lucy. In Hayley Powell’s story, she is swayed by her husband’s wild theories about the new people next door. She could be in a peck of trouble, especially if they press charges. In Julia Snowden’s story, she is pressed into service on a haunted house tour. A reenactment of a gangster’s murder goes awry with a real murder. There is nothing like a lost kid, a maybe murderer, and a real murderer to spice up your Hallowe’en fun. Enjoy these three novellas with the lights turned down low . . . but keep the doors locked and ignore the knocking at your window. You really are safer alone!

Get ready for Easter with these delightful novellas, spiced with a bit murder. In “Easter Basket Murder,” an expensive work of art is stolen. But other crimes soon come to light, including murder. In “Death by Easter Egg,” a rambunctious toddler steals the show and may unwittingly be involved in a suspicious death. In “Hopped Along,” an apparently dead body wasn’t, because he disappeared! All three of these delightful cozies will keep readers turning those pages. All are equally well written and intriguing. If you like your holidays with a serving of murder on the side, then this is the collection for you.

Lucy is in training for the annual Turkey Trot race, and while running with her dog, she spies something on the nearly frozen pond. The thing turns out to be the body of a young woman, drowned in the pond. When the beautiful daughter of a wealthy businessman who has everything to live for dies, speculation of the cause of death runs rampant, but most lean towards a drug overdose. Some blame the young and very pregnant second wife for coming between the daughter and father. Thrown into the opioid dilemma is the reaction that some of the townsfolk have with a new pub. A Latino restaurateur, wanting to open a restaurant featuring Mexican cuisine, is targeted by some very vocal folks who believe that a certain race is responsible for the drug influx in their town. Tempers run high, and before much time passes, a man is shot and killed while sitting in his car. Lucy, ever the investigative reporter, is determined to find out who is behind the hate crimes and the murder. This is a pretty intense tale for cozy. It deals with some current social issues, and even offers an interesting way to help. The end of the story does seem a bit abrupt, and it leaves a few questions unanswered. Still, it was quite an intriguing tale, and leaves the reader with some interesting points to ponder.

Lucy has some new neighbors, and it’s a bit of struggle trying to get along with some of the bossier, take-charge moms. They are trying to raise money for school supplies for some less fortunate kids with a bake sale. But instead of the relaxed, make what you want atmosphere of past bake sales, these new people decide to steamline the process, holding a test session to determine who will make what. Yes, specific cookies will be assigned. And, of course, these new women are health conscious, too. Sue, Lucy’s best friend, is dismayed when her very tasty but quite rich brownies get the boot from the new powers that be. Lucy is tasked with making dog biscuits, which even the dog doesn’t like. She secretly switches from the recipe she was given to one that her dog approves of, but that turns out to be the least of her worries. Sue is put out with Lucy making nice with the bossy mom. Lucy’s daughter, a new cheerleader, gets caught up in the middle of high school hazing incidents by the football team. And Lucy, sent to pick up cookies from one of the bakers who didn’t show up at the sale, finds burning cookies and a dead cook. Yes, it’s just another day in the life of Lucy Stone. Be sure to grab a cookie or two and spend some time with Lucy as she investigates another murder. This one has ties to the past, and Lucy will need more than a little luck to find the killer before she ends up like the other baker. Well written, this cozy is quite intriguing with its intricate mystery and delightfully different characters.

Instead of a relaxing summer, Lucy is skittering from one problem to another. Her misbehaving dog breaks out his kennel regularly, killing the neighbor’s chickens. A formal hearing on the dog’s future has the whole family on pins and needles. When the family treks to the nighborhood pond to cool off in the summer heat, they find it has been taken over by “naturalists” from out of town, i. e., nudists. Lucy and her family, along with the townsfolk are not happy about this development, but it gets worse when one of Lucy’s daughters decides to join the naturalists, au naturel. And because of an endangered lichen, first the annual Fourth of July fireworks display is canceled, and then the parade follows suit. It appears that lobsters are being poached, and to round up the the summer’s highlights, Toby gets is a fight and is arrested. Oh, and Lucy finds another murder victim. It’s just your typical summer in Tinker’s Cove. Well, not really, but it makes for a lot of entertaining reading. It’s always fun to spend time with Lucy and her family, even in the heat of summer when a killer is on the loose.

Lucy gets the chance to attend newspaper conference in Boston. She is excited to be in the city with colleagues, though she is a bit anxious about leaving her family for a week. It’s not long before rumors circulate about the financial state of newspapers in general and their future, and about a particular newspaper which is being honored at the conference. When the head of this newspaper dynasty drops dead, all wonder, was it a natural death or murder. Because the paper was in financial difficulties, the question is who will benefit from his death? Lucy can’t help getting involved in the investigation, but she has few resources in Boston to aid her research. And by the time she puzzles it all out, after some delaying false leads, it is almost too late. It’s always fun to watch Lucy go through her paces. This installment is a bit out of the ordinary, taking place away from her family and every day life. But Lucy remains the same: inquisitive, loyal, friendly, and hard-working. This cozy is intriguing and entertaining, just like the rest of the series.

Lucy’s daughter Elizabeth has won mother/daughter makeovers in Manhattan. Even though it’s an all-expense paid trip, Lucy knows there are bound to be hidden costs. One thing she wasn’t expecting is the hospital cost when Elizabeth is stricken with a strange illness. Their desire to win the cash prize in the makeover contest is forgotten in Lucy’s worry about her daughter. When one of the fashion experts running the show also falls ills, and dies, Lucy’s reporter instincts go into overdrive as she endeavors to find out the cause of these illnesses. She knows something is drastically wrong, and she is not about to let a killer escape. This exciting cozy is quite interesting from the beginning, and the excitement just ratchets up with each chapter. In the world of high fashion, there are few friends who can be trusted, something Lucy finds out in short order. This well written cozy is another great installment in this delightful series.

No matter how busy Lucy is, she is always willing to take on more responsibility, especially if it’s for a friend. It doesn’t matter that this favor is one that has a high level of built-in stress, Lucy is more than happy to let her best friend Sue use Lucy’s gazebo for her daughter’s wedding. Sidra is marrying a millionaire, but neither of her parents is thrilled with the union. The locals don’t care much for him, either, nor his high-handed ways. And when his body is found floating in the water, foul play is suspected almost immediately. This installment in the Lucy Stone series is quite well written. It’s suspenseful and thrilling, especially for a cozy, and yet keeps its small town flavor. And it offers a moral: all that glitters is not gold. Well done, Ms. Meier!

Lucy is cast as an extra in a movie. Thrilled to be part of the show, it nevertheless makes more demands on her during the busy Christmas season. A surprise visit by her son and his family adds to to her stress, not to mention the death of one of the members working on the movie set. When a friend of Lucy’s is arrested, she goes into sleuthing mode. This is a quick read, with all the characters regular readers have come to love. Perfect for Christmas time, just watch out for sharp knives when cutting the yule log!

read the one joanne fluke.. might read the other ones near the holiday later this year!

read the one joanne fluke.. might read the other ones near the holiday later this year!

Lucy is running every which way in this exciting mystery. She is planning a birthday party for her 14-year-old daughter who wants a co-ed sleepover, working at the Penny Saver newspaper, helping with a 90th party for Miss Tilly, and doing her normal family things. She also gets caught up in investigating a murder staged to look like a suicide, a car accident, is ticketed twice by the police, finds her husband unconscious on the ground after he fell through a window, is caught sneaking into a house to see Miss Tilly, discovers a murdered man, and more! Wow! She is also worried about looking older. There is plenty of action and some tense moments since Lucy can’t help putting herself in danger to help her friends. Well written with all the characters regular readers have come to love, this mystery is a great addition to this wonderful series.

Chocolate Covered Murder by Leslie Meier is the 18th book in the Lucy Stone Mystery series.

I've been picking up the books in this series whenever I can, and reading a Valentine's Day one close to Valentine's Day felt natural (okay, it was a little late... but it was still fun and felt in the spirit).

In this small town of Tinkers Cove, a new chocolateer (totally a real word) popped up. They sell super expensive chocolates and compete against the small town's original shoppe. This brings initial stress, but then when a local, kind man is found murdered... and then a woman who was flirting it up with her... Things get rough real fast. Throw in the tease of small-town drug use, potential infidelity with a new town flirt, and Lucy's sudden obsession with her own weight... a lot is going on.

I'll be honest, I HATED that Lucy mentions her weight almost every other page. Seriously, why did this have to be a major plot point? It felt so concerning because it didn't really have any affect on the plot. It just felt kind of fatphobic. It didn't really need to be in there at all.

The murder mystery itself was a fun read though! There's a lot of suspicion around who could do it, and the book sets itself up to keep you thinking.

Overall, the book was okay... But I have to give it two stars because of the horrible weight watching plot line.

Two out of five stars.

Wedding Day Murder by Leslie Meier is a fun, cozy mystery to add to your TBR!

This book is short, sweet and to the point. There isn't much fluff yet it's super fluffy and contemporary at the same time.

The plot is quite simple: Lucy's friend's daughter is getting married to a rich billionaire. This wedding is going to happen in Lucy's backyard because she got a new gazebo (ooooh...).Suddenly, the groom is killed and Lucy (a journalist for the local, seemingly small town newspaper) is trying to solve the case!

This series is easy to jump into. I had no problem sneaking my way into this story and not having any idea of what the rest of the books presented. I do wish I would have, mostly out of pure curiousity's sake, but I didn't need to. If you're planning to pick up one of these books, just do it! There's no need for a chronological order if you don't care about that sort of thing. This book also finishes itself up and doesn't leave cliffhangers, so it could easily be a standalone if you decide to not continue on with this series. I'll be hunting more books of this series down for a rainy day, that's for sure!

There's not many twists and turns in this book. I found it to be super straight forward. It's quite literally a "curl up with a blanket and cup of tea during a thunderstorm" kind of read (at least for me).

I can say, without ruining the entire book, I found the ending quite sweet. That's the only part of this book that had me wondering about the rest of this series. Would I have felt more for the ending if I read the previous 7 books? It doesn't make a difference though, because it was lovely.

Overall, this book was sweet, simple and cute! I had been craving something I could just binge easily and not overwhelm my brain with and this was it!

Three out of five stars.

2.5***

Three short novels make up this anthology. Candy Cane Murder (Fluke), The Dangers of Candy Canes (Levine) and Candy Canes of Christmas Past (Meier).

The first is a typical Hannah Swenson cozy. Her sisters and mother help her investigate the murder while her two boyfriends, dentist Norman and policeman Mike either help or warn her to stay out of the investigation. I have to wonder how this woman makes any money when she’s always giving cookies away. The story comes with some tasty recipes, though.

Levine’s entry comes next, and it was the weakest of the trio. Freelance writer Jaine Austen is asked to check into an “accidental” death; seems a suburban neighborhood’s holiday decorating contest has turned deadly. I didn’t like the heroine, I didn’t like the plot.

Candy Canes of Christmas Past revolves around Lucy Stone, her husband and son, who have left the high-stakes world of New York City finance to move to Tinker’s Cove, Maine. But things aren’t going well with the renovations of their farmhouse, and money’s tight. When she spots a sign for a yard sale, Lucy takes a chance and finds a unique artifact – a glass cane. Trying to find out more about it, she heads to the library and uncovers a family mystery. The story was pretty light on the mystery, but was a sweet and charming holiday tale.½