For Lucy Stone, Halloween in Tinker’s Cove, Maine, the treats aren’t just sweet and delicious. Sometimes they’re also deadly . . . Trick or Treat MurderWhile 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 … 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 the things that go bump in the night . . .
“Reading a new Leslie Meier mystery is like catching up with a dear old friend.”
—Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author
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This is a 3 star review because while the stories are good I did not like thinking I was going to read a New Lucy Stone Holiday Cozy only to find this book contains two older cozies. I was really hoping to read a new Halloween story so I was disappointed. The cover should really have the two titles written on it. Trick or Treat Murder is an early Lucy Stone book and is better than Wicked Witch Murder. While Wicked Witch Murder ends during Halloween it does not really have much of a Halloween theme and the mystery is pretty weak. I was hoping for a new visit to Tinker’s Cove not a return visit.
In this new book we are gifted with two Halloween shorts from the author. In the first, Trick or Treat Murder, we are taken back to a few months after Lucy has had her last child Zoe. Someone is setting fires to older historic buildings in the town of Tinker Cove. When a summer owner comes during the off season and is burned to death in her home the town becomes truly worried. What they thought might be kids being bad has turned into something much more serious. The woman killed was a friend to the Stone family and Lucy feels like she must try and figure out who is setting the fires and why. Follow along as Lucy takes care of baby Zoe, bakes a ton of Halloween Cupcakes for an upcoming party, and asks questions every chance she gets. Will she find the answers she is looking for or will she get burned. In the second short, Wicked Witch Murder, a local is up in arms about having a witch in the community and has no qualms about letting everyone know his feelings. While out for a walk with her dog, Lucy comes across a dead body that has not only been tied to tree but also burned. When it comes to light that the dead man was the head of a local coven everyone starts looking at those who had a problem with witches being in the town. Could it have been the new comer who has been speaking his mind about witches and how evil they are? Lucy is determined to find out, especially since her daughter has become interested in the craft. Follow along as Lucy looks into the mans death hoping that she’ll be able to find out the truth before another witch is murdered. I’ve enjoyed the Lucy Stone series from the beginning and love these shorts that keep you appraised of what the characters are doing while waiting for a longer mystery. I look forward to seeing what Lucy gets into next.
I totally skipped that this was 2 books in 1 at first and I’ve no idea how, but there ya go. I love getting those bundles. This one was a bit unique as Lucy’s kids were young in the first book (one still in an infant carrier) and all grown up in the second. Huge leap in time.
In the first book, Lucy and her friends are putting on the annual Halloween party for the kids to allow them a safe place to have fun. Sadly, while preparations are underway, a serial arsonist has decided to start Trick-or-Treating early, leaving buildings burned all over town. One dead body has already been found in the burned remains. Will Lucy be next?
In the second book, Lucy is a grandma and a hard working reporter. When a Wiccan moves to town and opens up a store, Lucy’s open-mindedness is challenged. When that Wiccan becomes a house guest after her home and store become unsafe due to prejudice and a mob mentality, Lucy has to address her preconceptions of the faith verses the practitioner of the faith. She isn’t the only one having a hard time with the changes in town which becomes pretty obvious when she stumbles over a dead body while walking her dog. Caught between two extreme mentalities in town, people’s safety and well-being are definitely in question as the town prepares for Halloween festivities in the midst of some of the worst storms seen in some time.
Both of these books were excellent and dealt with actual thought-provoking issues. I love that as Lucy processes things, the reader is led to question their own thoughts on various issues. With relationships that are easy to relate to and people written as though you could find them on any street, it was easy to lose yourself in these stories. I think the biggest issue I had was adjusting to the time gap between books.
If you are looking for an excellent value and a great holiday read, I highly recommend this.
Thank you to Leslie Meier, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book and share my thoughts and opinions with others.
I had read Trick or Treat Murder, the first mystery in this book, about 12 years ago. Of course, this takes you back to a different time in Lucy’s life with younger children, and then the second mystery, Wicked Witch Murder, takes place after Lucy’s children are older.
The mystery was still entertaining and had me guessing until the very end. There were the typical disagreements among the people in Tinker’s Cove, but for the most part there is a sense of community in the end.
I though the author did a great job of showing how people make judgments about individuals and get others drawn into their drama, but there is hope, because some people are not influenced by preconceived notions and can make their own judgments.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Loved it
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.
Love all of her books
Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier is a compilation of two previously released books in the Lucy Stone Mystery Series. – Trick or Treat Murder (#3 in the series) and Wicked Witch Murder (#16 in the series).
In Trick or Treat Murder, it’s Halloween in Tinker’s Cove, Maine and there’s a serial arsonist on the loose. The most recent fire results in the death of a dear friend to the Stone family, and the arsonist is now a murderer. Lucy must work to discover the culprit (and bake 12 dozen cupcakes in time for the big Halloween party) while keeping her family out of harm’s way.
In Wicked Witch Murder, Diana Ravenscroft has come to Tinker’s Cove, and some of the town’s citizens are convinced she’s a witch – she does claim to be one, but of the good variety. When a body is found murdered in the woods behind Lucy’s house, questions are raised, and Lucy is once again on the hunt for a killer, all the while trying to prevent a witch hunt. It’s an excellent and very cozy addition to the Lucy Stone books, and especially spooky as it deals with witches and magic.
I would like to note that even though the Lucy Stone series follows our heroine throughout the years as she raises her children, one of the best things about these books is that they can all be read as standalones. You can never go wrong with one of these cozy mystery gems, and it’s great to have these two combined in one!
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.
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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 and 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.