Tricks and treats keep the Halloween spirit alive in coastal Maine. But this year the haunted house theme is getting carried a little too far . . . HAUNTED HOUSE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER Newcomers to Tinker’s Cove, Ty and Heather Moon have moved into a dilapidated house reputed to be a haven for ghosts. Now strange noises and flickering lights erupt from the house at all hours and neighborly … house at all hours and neighborly relations are on edge. And when a local boy goes missing near the house, it’s up to Lucy Stone to unravel the mystery of the eccentric couple and their increasingly frightful behavior.
DEATH BY HAUNTED HOUSE by LEE HOLLIS
For the past two years, the house next door to Hayley Powell has sat abandoned after the owner died under mysterious circumstances. The Salinger family has recently taken possession of the property, but the realtor behind the deal has vanished—after a very public and angry argument with Damien Salinger. If Bar Harbor’s newest neighbors are murderers, Hayley will haunt them until they confess.
HALLOWED OUT by BARBARA ROSS
With its history of hauntings and ghost sightings, Busman’s Harbor is the perfect setting for Halloween festivities. But when a reenactment of a Prohibition-era gangster’s murder ends with a literal bang and a dead actor from New Jersey, Julia Snowden must identify a killer before she ends up sleeping with the fishes.
There’s nothing like home sweet home in this trio of Halloween tales . . .
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The book is a collection of three novellas, written by three different authors. I’ve read one book each by two of them, and eventually, I will read their entire series. Today’s review will be solely focused on Hallowed Out by Barbara Ross, an in-between book in her Maine Clambake series. I have read most of the other books she’s written, and I needed to get fully caught up before the latest release, so I borrowed this from the library. Eventually I will get a copy and read the others when I hit that point in their series.
Julia’s hijacked to help with putting on a tour of haunted houses. She agrees to it, only to protect her mother from having to participate. But when the fake scene turns real, and the lead actor is actually shot, she needs to figure out which audience member shot him. As we learn about his past, the autumn scenery draws readers in to the beauty of Maine. This is a great way to experience the author’s style without committing more than an hour. Very fast-paced for a cozy too.
It was a fun one. It has just enough meat with a bit of fluff, and in the end, it’s the kind of tale that leaves you happy. Definitely read them in order because different character relationships are covered. It’s the end of clambake season, so you might get confused if you were just reading about a different time in the last book! LOL
Will add more to this review after I catch up with the other 2 series and can summarize my thoughts on these novellas too.
This collection of three novellas focuses on Halloween. The book opens with the title story featuring Leslie Meier’s protagonist Lucy Stone. A couple has moved into the old abandoned house in town, but they are rebuffing efforts from Lucy and others to welcome them to town. Then strange things start happening and rumors start flying. What is happening? Up next is “Death by Haunted House” by Lee Hollis which takes up back to 2009 and shows us what life was like for Hayley Powell while she was married. When the house next door, which is rumored to be haunted, gets a new family, Hayley’s husband Danny is certain that they are up to something. The discovery of a dead body in the nearby woods just confirms his theory – at least to himself. Is he right? Finally comes “Hallowed Out” from Barbara Ross. The local Haunted House tour is gearing up for Halloween, trying to bring some more people to town in the fall. However, when a reenactment of a crime leaves an actor dead, Julia Snowden must figure out what happened.
As you might expect in a collection of stories by various authors, some are stronger than others. Personally, I found the opening story to be the weakest – I think it might have worked as a short story, but even as a novella is was too long. The middle story was better, with some fun scenes and a good twist to the mystery. I adore Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake mysteries, so it was the reason I picked up the book. It also means I found the third story to be the best, with some good twists and a very fun sub-plot. While each story has plenty of fall atmosphere, these stories aren’t that spooky – they are by cozy mystery authors after all. Still, fans of these authors will enjoy picking up the book.
A fun trio of Halloween-themed mystery novellas, though as a big fan of the Maine Clambake series, Barbara Ross’s contribution was my favorite.
Another collection of themed novellas in which I read only one of the selections: “Hallowed Out” by Barbara Ross for her Maine Clambake Mysteries. I have given up on the other two series that have novellas in this collection, so I opted not to bother with those and thus will only be reviewing and rating the book based only on what I did read. I will also be deviating from my usual review format to simply talk about the novella.
“Hallowed Out” (Maine Clambake Mysteries):
I often find the novellas that comprise these holiday collections to be a bit hit-or-miss. It seems like they stand so far off to the side of the series–in an effort to introduce potential new readers to the series, I suppose?–that they almost feel as if they don’t belong as part of the overall story the series tells. Not so with the offerings Ms Ross submits. While each of her novellas certainly could stand alone, as even in their brevity, they are complete mysteries unto themselves with satisfying conclusions and enough character history to provide depth, the ties to the rest of the series are strong and I appreciate what they bring to the series as a whole. “Hallowed Out” was no exception. I was fully engaged in the story as it unfolded and couldn’t wait to untangle its pile of clues. I did manage to guess correctly whodunnit and why, though this did not take away from the fun to be had in the big reveal. I am now officially caught up with this series and will be anxiously awaiting the next installment. (Ah, the pros and cons of being current on a favorite series! The waiting feels interminable!)
A brief aside: For anyone reading this series who also watched the television show Gilmore Girls, the entire time I was reading about Clyde, for some reason, all I could picture was Taylor from Stars Hollow!
Haunted House Murder contains three entertaining Halloween themed cozy mysteries that are all set in Maine. They are well-written and engaging with developed characters. You can read one or all three. They can be read as standalone for those unfamiliar with the series. Death by Haunted House takes readers back to October 29, 2009 with Hayley Powell and her family. I do not know how Hayley put up with her husband, Danny. He is more of a child than her kids, but Danny was certainly entertaining. Lucy Stone is busy with work plus taking care of her house, hubby and daughter who is still at home. Then she agrees to watch Patrick. Lucy finds it challenging to keep up with a child under ten who goes to soccer and has homework. I could relate when she was trying to teach Patrick fractions (my father sat with me for hours trying to teach me). Julia gets roped into helping with a reenactment and finds herself in the middle of a real gunfire. When not looking for the killer, she is curious about the unusual problem at her mother’s house. She refuses to believe a ghost has suddenly appeared. I enjoyed all three cozy mysteries with the haunted house theme. They put me in the mood for Halloween which is such a fun time of year with the decorations and costumes. There are recipes included as well. Be prepared for a hauntingly good time with our three female sleuths in Haunted House Murder.
I like all of her books in this series
In the first tale we are taken to Tinker’s Cove where a new family has moved into what everyone looks at as a Haunted House. Lucy tries to meet the newcomers but soon learns that not only are they standoffish but also a tad weird. She soon becomes concerned that the husband is an abuser and tries her best to let his wife know that she is not alone. Things get crazier when strange noises can be heard coming from the house at all hours. Follow along as Lucy investigates and learns that looks can be deceiving.
In the second tale Hayley is excited to see that the abandoned house next door has a new family moving in. The house has many stories that have been told about it and the main one is that it is haunted. When the realtor that sold the house disappears, the strangeness of the family leads Hayley to believe that her new neighbors had something to do with her disappearance. Follow along as she soon realizes all isn’t what it seems and the most unlikely of people can be killers too.
In the third tale Busman’s Harbor is gearing up for some Halloween festivities. Julia has agreed to be a part of a ghostly reenactment but things turn sour when one of her fellow actors is really shot. Julia can’t just stand by and do nothing so she dives right into investigating. She soon finds herself in deeper than she expected, will she identify the killer before something bad happens to her? Follow along and find out!! These were three wonderful tales in one book and they were all worth the read!!!
DEATH BY HAUNTED HOUSE BY LEE HOLLIS
Not having read any books in this series or by this author I wasn’t sure what to expect. I liked the story even if some of the characters drove me NUTS ! I loved the newspaper articles that had the recipes, cute way of sharing them with the readers.
HALLOWED OUT BY BARBARA ROSS
Short but by no means simple. It took me until almost the reveal to figure out who the killer was and even then I only had it half right. Really enjoyed.
Another fun trilogy of stories, these with a halloween theme, from some of today’s favorite cozy mystery authors. It’s always fun to have a quick visit through a short story, featuring some of your favorite characters, when between main novels. These stories highlight the fun parts of Halloween and include some spooky happenings, keeping the reader entertained to the end. A great themed read you don’t want to miss!
I love everything this author writes. Not only do her books make me feel as if I’m on vacation in Maine, but I’ve come to love the characters. Wonderful, enjoyable writing!
Haunted House Murder is a entertaining fall read that is perfect for the Halloween season. Featuring three of my favorite cozy authors, this book brings three haunting tales of mystery for the reader to enjoy. Meier does a great job at creating an enjoyable story featuring Lucy Stone. I always love reading this series especially the holiday stories because I always enjoy reading about the characters in Tinker’s Cove. Meier does a great job at creating an entertaining story despite the short length. The story captures the reader’s interest from the beginning and never lets go. Hollis also does a great job at creating a haunting tale that fits in perfectly with the overall book theme of haunted houses. I really enjoyed the characters in the story although I have to admit I am not sure how Hayley can put up with her husband, Danny, and his antics. I can see why she is divorced later in the series. I did however like getting a glimpse of her earlier life though. “Hallowed Out” was my favorite story in the book though. I just love this series more and more each story I read. The story definitely fit in perfectly with the book’s theme and provided a enjoyable story. I always enjoy visiting these characters and Busman’s Harbor. Overall Haunted House Murder was a great fall read that I would most definitely recommend.
Received a copy of Haunted House Murder through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Haunted House Murder
When newcomers Ty and Heather Moon move into the dilapidated house across from the school. Everyone is interested in the couple and why they choose to move to Tinker Cove and the house that has a reputation for being a haven for ghosts. Since the couple’s arrival, the strange sounds and events involving the house have amped up. When a boy goes missing the mysterious couple becomes a major concern for Lucy.
Death By Haunted House
The House next door to Hayley Powell and her family has been empty for the past two years. So when the mysterious family moved in and the relator goes missing after an argument with the man of the house Hayley believes she knows what has happened. Can Hayley and her husband find out the truth about their neighbors? Or will this mystery haunt Hayley forever?
Hallowed Out
Busman’s Harbor is the perfect site for Halloween festivities with its history of hauntings and ghost sightings. However, when the reenactment of a gangster’s murder ends with history repeating it’s self Julia Snowden feels the need to help solve this mystery before she too ends up sleeping forever.
This is a wonderful collection of Halloween themed short novellas. I loved reading these stories and each one has a wonderfully fun themed mystery. The characters in each are great and you can really relate to each. I have always enjoyed the Lucy Stone Series and Haunted House Murder was no disappointment. Lucy always gives every mystery her all while still handling her job and family life. Death by Haunted House has wonderfully quirky characters that are great for Halloween season. Hallowed Out the storyline reminds me of ghost stories passed down for generations. I recommend all three to Halloween themed cozy lovers or just fans of a great Halloween story.
I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
Looking for a holiday themed cozy mystery? Then this is for you! This book is a trio of Halloween themed mysteries by authors Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross. The stories are light and easy reads with entertaining characters and stories! My favorite of the three was Hallowed Out.
I like all three authors included in this Halloween compilation but I did not care for all three stories. All the stories take place in small towns in Maine during Halloween. The first story featuring Lucy Stone did not have any mystery or scares. Lucy is taking care of her grandson during Halloween and is receiving no help. The second story features Hayley Powell and does include a murder. The third story was my favorite. Busman’s Harbor is having a ghost tour for the Holiday with a stop at Gus’s restaurant. Julia and Chris agree to help out. When there is a murder on the first night Julia sets out to solve it. The mystery was good and there were enough suspects to keep it interesting. Overall the book was a quick cozy read. Perfect for Halloween
Another great holiday cozy mystery collection of Maine cozy mysteries from authors Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross.
The first in the book is Leslie Meier’s Haunted House Murder, featuring Tinker Cove’s intrepid part-time reporter and full-time mom/grandmother, Lucy Stone. A scary house across from the school has new, and not very friendly, owners, and when strange noises and sounds start emanating from the home Lucy’s on the case to discover what’s going on behind closed doors!
The second story in the book is Lee Hollis’s Death by Haunted House. This was a very interesting read because it takes place prior to the beginning of the series, when Hayley and Danny are still married. When the house next door to the Powell’s in Bar Harbor gets new creepy residents – appropriately named Damian, Rosemary, Casper, and Carrie – Danny is convinced there’s something sinister going on, especially when their real estate agent is found buried in the woods behind their home!
The third story is Barbara Ross’s Hallowed Out, which takes place in Busman’s Harbor. Julia Snowden, along with boyfriend Chris, brother-in-law Sonny, and restaurant owner Gus, are helping with Harley Prendergast’s Haunted House Tours. When a participating actor is shot dead in front of the entire group, Julia investigates to discover who killed the man and why. One of the tour guests? One of their own? A member of his family???
Haunted House Murder is a very nice collection, and a perfect Halloween read!
Trio Of Haunted Maine Novellas
This is a set of Halloween stories all based in Maine. The stories are; Haunted House Murder by Leslie Meier, Death by Haunted House by Lee Hollis and Hallowed Out by Barbara Ross. In Haunted House Murder the writing is well done, but it is a B grade story. Our heroine is quite the ‘doormat’ for her family. I finished the story but was ‘talking’ to the author the entire time. This is the first Lucy Stone book that I have read. Those who enjoy the Lucy Stone series will love this story. Next is Death by Haunted House. This is another B grade story. It is similar to the 1981 movie, ‘Neighbors’ with Belushi and Ackroyd. Overall, a husband who is just a big kid talks his sane wife and young kids into believing the new neighbors are weird in a Halloween sense. The writing is good, but the plot is dumb. The last story is Hallowed Out. It is a wonderful Halloween based cozy murder mystery. This is part of the author’s Clambake Mysteries series. This is a very well done story with lots of interesting aspects. The final reveal is quite a surprise. I really enjoyed the last story, but the first two were not my cup of tea. This is good reading to help get into the Halloween spirit. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.