What do you think?
Rate this book
Lucy Stone #14
St. Patrick's Day Murder
Not many people in Tinker's Cove, Maine, knew Old Dan Malone. The grizzled barkeep's social circle was limited to the rough-hewn lobstermen and other assorted toughs that frequented his bar, a derelict main street dive called, appropriately, the Bilge. But when his body is found bobbing in the town's icy harbor, Lucy Stone, ace reporter for the Pennysaver newspaper, makes getting to know more about Old Dan a priority. And apparently, there's lots to learn.
Like the fact that local musician Dave Reilly insists Old Dan conned a winning lottery ticket worth five grand from him. And that handyman Brian Donohue claims that Old Dan stiffed him for repair work he'd done at the bar. There are even whispers about some connection to the Irish Republican Army. The confusion surrounding the death is only compounded by the arrival of actor Dylan Malone, Old Dan's brother and a prominent, if fading, attraction of the Dublin stage. Dylan has come to direct the production of "Finian's Rainbow," the featured event at Our Lady of Hope's annual St. Patrick's Day extravaganza. He's also come to help his brother renovate the Bilge, turning the dingy tavern into an authentic--if decidedly upscale--Irish pub.
Was Old Dan killed by someone he'd cheated, someone he'd loved, or someone who just couldn't stand the idea of losing their favorite watering hole? While Lucy can't be sure, one thing is abundantly clear--the stage is set for a murder mystery with a killer ending!
Like the fact that local musician Dave Reilly insists Old Dan conned a winning lottery ticket worth five grand from him. And that handyman Brian Donohue claims that Old Dan stiffed him for repair work he'd done at the bar. There are even whispers about some connection to the Irish Republican Army. The confusion surrounding the death is only compounded by the arrival of actor Dylan Malone, Old Dan's brother and a prominent, if fading, attraction of the Dublin stage. Dylan has come to direct the production of "Finian's Rainbow," the featured event at Our Lady of Hope's annual St. Patrick's Day extravaganza. He's also come to help his brother renovate the Bilge, turning the dingy tavern into an authentic--if decidedly upscale--Irish pub.
Was Old Dan killed by someone he'd cheated, someone he'd loved, or someone who just couldn't stand the idea of losing their favorite watering hole? While Lucy can't be sure, one thing is abundantly clear--the stage is set for a murder mystery with a killer ending!
228 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
212 people are currently reading
1750 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Meier
66 books2,062 followersLeslie Meier lives in Braintree and Harwich (Cape Cod), Massachusetts. She is the creator of 'Lucy Stone', a reporter and amateur sleuth in the fictional seaside village of Tinker's Cove, Maine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
January 27, 2024
ST. PATRICK'S DAY MURDER had my recipe for a great holiday-themed cozy: a mystery that’s not too easy to solve. Check! Small-town characters that have you snorting and smiling the entire time. Check! I just love Tinker’s Cove, Maine and its lobstermen. Lots of zany holiday-themed occurrences so you can’t forget what day is approaching. Yay, this had that in spades, from a murder in an Irish bar, to the brother and mysterious red-haired wife coming back to Tinker’s cove to claim the property, a cool look at an Irish funeral, complete with keening, traditional Irish food and fiddle playing, a daughter obsessed with faeries, a town play about leprechauns, and lots of Blarney… this went all out on the St. Patrick’s Day references!
Part of the fun of this series is following the familiar characters of Tinker’s Cove from book to book. Lucy Stone’s children are a hoot, whether they’re being typical teens, or endearingly sweet. And the way the mystery twisted and turned in this one was fun!
Part of the fun of this series is following the familiar characters of Tinker’s Cove from book to book. Lucy Stone’s children are a hoot, whether they’re being typical teens, or endearingly sweet. And the way the mystery twisted and turned in this one was fun!
February 6, 2023
St. Patrick's Day Murder is the 14th book in the Lucy Stone Mysteries written by Leslie Meier, a cozy amateur sleuth author whose books are set in seaside Maine. A visitor from Ireland prevails in this installment, and readers are treated to the history on old Dan Malone, a barkeep we've heard about in the past. When his estranged family visits for a theater production, Lucy's life is turned upside down. Lots of fun components but the story came from nowhere. So... I was middle of the road on my review.. on to the next one.
May 21, 2018
Making dinner, doing laundry, taking her kids to school, and writing stories about dead bodies for The Penny Saver - it’s just another day in the life of Lucy Stone. But this dead body is a bit different from most: it’s headless. Though this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, the real pleasure of the series lies in the character growth and development from story to story. There are some scary moments for Lucy in this installment, and yes, the murder and solution were a bit far-fetched, it was still a good, entertaining read.
March 22, 2019
A quick, easy read with a compelling mystery. Needed a bit of editing (such as cleaning up repetitions), but otherwise fine. I will admit that I was rather taken aback by the mc at the end of the
book. Her reaction to a big event, one that had had them on pins and needles no less, was pretty underwhelming.
I've been reading this series out of order but hope to fix that sometime!
book. Her reaction to a big event, one that had had them on pins and needles no less, was pretty underwhelming.
I've been reading this series out of order but hope to fix that sometime!
March 21, 2021
Reporter Lucy Stone investigates the death of a barkeeper.
Complex plot, quirky characters, and several suspects. Lots of references to Irish traditions made this a good St. Pat's Day read.
An entertaining read for March.
Complex plot, quirky characters, and several suspects. Lots of references to Irish traditions made this a good St. Pat's Day read.
An entertaining read for March.
January 6, 2018
Very nice mystery to keep me company on a cold day.. The plot was not too complex but just enough to keep me guessing as to how it would end. Comforting to know that in 2018, when so many series are "three and out" that the library will have more of Lucy's mysteries for me.
November 18, 2024
☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ This is by far my most favorite of this series. A very different plot and interesting
characters. Not at all cut and paste as most of the recent ones are.
An actual Drama Queen was the star of the show this time. Happy holiday story from fairies to leprechauns with a pot of gold at the end - Baby Patrick!!
characters. Not at all cut and paste as most of the recent ones are.
An actual Drama Queen was the star of the show this time. Happy holiday story from fairies to leprechauns with a pot of gold at the end - Baby Patrick!!
March 21, 2017
I skipped over several in this series in order to read this one in March. There were lots of references to Irish folklore so it was fun to read it during this time of year. Now I need to go back and read the ones that I skipped. I think I'm going to really enjoy this series.
March 21, 2019
Lucy Stone is at it again. His name was Old Dan Malone. In Tinker's Cove, Maine, when the barkeep's body was found in the harbor, Lucy made it her aim to discover what happened. But, as usual when it comes to Lucy, a wife, mother, reporter and affable amateur sleuth, she discovers that more than a murder has taken place.
What else is going on? For starters, the town's local musician Dave Reilly claims that he was conned by Old Dan and thus lost a winning lottery ticket. Then another man said that the victim stiffed him while doing a handyman job. Others have similar complaints. Then there is a visitor in town from Ireland, in the person of Dylan Malone, none other than the brother of Old Dan.
The ever-busy Lucy is attending town's meetings, writing articles, is about to be a first-time grandmother, and has just joined a chorus. One of the newest chorus members is Moira, Dylan Malone's wife. Lucy also meets Moira's daughter Deidre, a fanciful little girl who adores fantasy, and becomes a new friend to Lucy and husband Bill's youngest daughter, Zoe.
Having read all of the previous stories in the series to-date, I looked forward to reading St. Patrick's Day Murder. As always, there was a multi-layered murder mystery, along with the strong sense of family when it came to Lucy.
This case is particularly gruesome, as the body was missing something critical. As Lucy dug deeper, the sense of danger rose. There was even some involvement with the children in this story. There was also a bit of lore in this book, as the story centered around St. Patrick's Day, which actually made it a timely read at this time. This was an engaging read that I was able to complete in one sitting. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, Mother's Day Murder.
What else is going on? For starters, the town's local musician Dave Reilly claims that he was conned by Old Dan and thus lost a winning lottery ticket. Then another man said that the victim stiffed him while doing a handyman job. Others have similar complaints. Then there is a visitor in town from Ireland, in the person of Dylan Malone, none other than the brother of Old Dan.
The ever-busy Lucy is attending town's meetings, writing articles, is about to be a first-time grandmother, and has just joined a chorus. One of the newest chorus members is Moira, Dylan Malone's wife. Lucy also meets Moira's daughter Deidre, a fanciful little girl who adores fantasy, and becomes a new friend to Lucy and husband Bill's youngest daughter, Zoe.
Having read all of the previous stories in the series to-date, I looked forward to reading St. Patrick's Day Murder. As always, there was a multi-layered murder mystery, along with the strong sense of family when it came to Lucy.
This case is particularly gruesome, as the body was missing something critical. As Lucy dug deeper, the sense of danger rose. There was even some involvement with the children in this story. There was also a bit of lore in this book, as the story centered around St. Patrick's Day, which actually made it a timely read at this time. This was an engaging read that I was able to complete in one sitting. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series, Mother's Day Murder.
February 3, 2016
Another great cozy from Ms. Meier. This one involves a local pub owner, Old Dan, whose headless body is found floating in the harbor. His brother, Dylan,along with his brother's wife (Moira) and daughter (Deirdra), arrive in Tinker's Cove just about the time the body is found because the brothers were planning to revamp the pub into a fancy restaurant. Dylan has also been asked to help with the annual St. Patrick's day play that is being performed in town. Between trying to solve the murder, keeping Moira's dramatic personality under control, worrying about her first grandchild being born prematurely and trying to make her daughter Zoe realize that all the fairies and other supernatural creatures that Deirdra talks about all the time are unreal, Lucy is having quite a time. If you enjoy this series (or any cozy mysteries) and/or this author, don't miss this one.
March 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this book with an Irish theme throughout. I normally don't dislike characters intensely but there was one in this book that I gladly would have liked to be the murderer but that didn't happen. This story took place over a span of a couple of months but it didn't seem like it. Always nice to visit Tinker's Cove.
October 6, 2017
A captivating, light cozy mystery with a colorful array of characters, suspense, guffaws-galore and eerie entertainment!
“The dead don’t give up anything, but the living do.”
St. Patrick’s Day Murder by Leslie Meier is another intriguing installment in the author’s Lucy Stone cozy mystery series set in a small coastal town in Maine. Lucy is a reporter for the Pennysaver, the town’s newspaper. As the story opens, there’s a spooky murder…
“And what do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, feeling a large hollowness growing inside him.
“You know quite well, don’t you?” replied the crow, hopping up onto the bar with a neat flap of his wings. The bird cocked his head and looked him in the eye. “Don’t tell me an Irishman like you, born and bred in the old country, has forgotten the tale of Cú Chulainn?”
“’Tisn’t the sort of thing you can forget,” he told the crow. “Especially that statue in the Dublin General Post Office. A handsome piece of work that is, illustrating how Cú Chulainn knew death was near and tied himself to a post so he could die standing upright, like the hero he was.”
“Cú Chulainn was a hero indeed,” admitted the crow. “And his enemies couldn’t kill him until the Morrighan lit on his shoulder, stealing his strength, weakening him…”
“Right you are. The Morrighan,” he said. The very thought of that fearsome warrior goddess, with her crimson cloak and chariot, set his heart to pounding in his bony old chest.
“And what form did the Morrighan take, might I ask?” inquired the bird.
“A crow,” he said, feeling a great trembling overtake him. “So is that it? Are you the Morrighan come for me?”
“What do you think Daniel Malone?”
When the body is found days later, it’s headless… This story is set against a backdrop of an out-of-control church play with the Irish director and his wife, both claiming to be related to Old Dan, providing a myriad of theatrical moments. Will Lucy be able to solve the mystery of who murdered Old Dan before the murderer claims another victim?
The books in this series can be fully enjoyed as stand alone reads if that is your preference. St. Patrick’s Day Murder is only the second book I’ve listened to in this series. The first was Father’s Day Murder which I have previously reviewed. Father’s Day Murder was such a solid read that I didn’t hesitate to pick up this one when I saw it available. I’d like to catch up with the series at some point. The series already consists of over twenty episodes so it will take me a bit.
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from St. Patrick’s Day Murder:
“You know what I think? I think you need some chocolate,” said Lucy. “I know I could sure use some. “It’s not every day that a headless body turns up and I have to cover it.”
---
“I’ve never been to a real Irish wake,” said Lucy. “Just visiting hours at the funeral home.”
“You think this’ll be different?”
“I’m no expert, but from what I’ve heard, they’re pretty lively affairs. Sometimes they even sit the dead person’s body up and put a drink in its hand.”
“That’d be a problem for Old Dan,” said Brian, thoughtfully. “I mean, he could hold the drink, but you sort of need a head to complete the image. Not that he could actually drink it, of course, being dead and all, but you know what I mean.”
Lucy did. How could you have a wake with a body that had no head?
---
“I’m a mother. You name it, I’ve seen it and probably had to mop it up,” said Lucy.
LOL! One of the interesting dialogues herein which I’ve continued to think about involved a conversation regarding beheadings and what those who behead do with the heads. It was obviously a well-researched piece. Not that I see very many, but I’ll never look at another body-less head the same.
Karen White returns as the narrator of St. Patrick’s Day Murder and nails it. As with every title I’ve listened to that she’s narrated, each character is performed uniquely and distinctly, allowing listeners to easily distinguish who is speaking at any one time. Her voice is pleasant, clear and easy-to-follow. Her pace and timing are en pointe. The end product is polished and professional. When I listen to one of Karen’s performances, I don’t think about her narration; her delivery is so natural that it never fails to let me just escape into the story. Karen White is one of my favorite narrators for all the reasons above.
St. Patrick’s Day Murder is a pure cozy mystery. There’s no romantic element so, if you are looking for a romance, look elsewhere. I like the way that the author always tastefully addresses various social issues working them into the story. If you enjoy captivating, light cozy mysteries with a colorful array of characters, suspense, guffaws-galore and eerie entertainment, you should add St. Patrick’s Day Murder to your to-be- enjoyed-soon list!
My full review is posted at Reading between the Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
“The dead don’t give up anything, but the living do.”
St. Patrick’s Day Murder by Leslie Meier is another intriguing installment in the author’s Lucy Stone cozy mystery series set in a small coastal town in Maine. Lucy is a reporter for the Pennysaver, the town’s newspaper. As the story opens, there’s a spooky murder…
“And what do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, feeling a large hollowness growing inside him.
“You know quite well, don’t you?” replied the crow, hopping up onto the bar with a neat flap of his wings. The bird cocked his head and looked him in the eye. “Don’t tell me an Irishman like you, born and bred in the old country, has forgotten the tale of Cú Chulainn?”
“’Tisn’t the sort of thing you can forget,” he told the crow. “Especially that statue in the Dublin General Post Office. A handsome piece of work that is, illustrating how Cú Chulainn knew death was near and tied himself to a post so he could die standing upright, like the hero he was.”
“Cú Chulainn was a hero indeed,” admitted the crow. “And his enemies couldn’t kill him until the Morrighan lit on his shoulder, stealing his strength, weakening him…”
“Right you are. The Morrighan,” he said. The very thought of that fearsome warrior goddess, with her crimson cloak and chariot, set his heart to pounding in his bony old chest.
“And what form did the Morrighan take, might I ask?” inquired the bird.
“A crow,” he said, feeling a great trembling overtake him. “So is that it? Are you the Morrighan come for me?”
“What do you think Daniel Malone?”
When the body is found days later, it’s headless… This story is set against a backdrop of an out-of-control church play with the Irish director and his wife, both claiming to be related to Old Dan, providing a myriad of theatrical moments. Will Lucy be able to solve the mystery of who murdered Old Dan before the murderer claims another victim?
The books in this series can be fully enjoyed as stand alone reads if that is your preference. St. Patrick’s Day Murder is only the second book I’ve listened to in this series. The first was Father’s Day Murder which I have previously reviewed. Father’s Day Murder was such a solid read that I didn’t hesitate to pick up this one when I saw it available. I’d like to catch up with the series at some point. The series already consists of over twenty episodes so it will take me a bit.
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from St. Patrick’s Day Murder:
“You know what I think? I think you need some chocolate,” said Lucy. “I know I could sure use some. “It’s not every day that a headless body turns up and I have to cover it.”
---
“I’ve never been to a real Irish wake,” said Lucy. “Just visiting hours at the funeral home.”
“You think this’ll be different?”
“I’m no expert, but from what I’ve heard, they’re pretty lively affairs. Sometimes they even sit the dead person’s body up and put a drink in its hand.”
“That’d be a problem for Old Dan,” said Brian, thoughtfully. “I mean, he could hold the drink, but you sort of need a head to complete the image. Not that he could actually drink it, of course, being dead and all, but you know what I mean.”
Lucy did. How could you have a wake with a body that had no head?
---
“I’m a mother. You name it, I’ve seen it and probably had to mop it up,” said Lucy.
LOL! One of the interesting dialogues herein which I’ve continued to think about involved a conversation regarding beheadings and what those who behead do with the heads. It was obviously a well-researched piece. Not that I see very many, but I’ll never look at another body-less head the same.
Karen White returns as the narrator of St. Patrick’s Day Murder and nails it. As with every title I’ve listened to that she’s narrated, each character is performed uniquely and distinctly, allowing listeners to easily distinguish who is speaking at any one time. Her voice is pleasant, clear and easy-to-follow. Her pace and timing are en pointe. The end product is polished and professional. When I listen to one of Karen’s performances, I don’t think about her narration; her delivery is so natural that it never fails to let me just escape into the story. Karen White is one of my favorite narrators for all the reasons above.
St. Patrick’s Day Murder is a pure cozy mystery. There’s no romantic element so, if you are looking for a romance, look elsewhere. I like the way that the author always tastefully addresses various social issues working them into the story. If you enjoy captivating, light cozy mysteries with a colorful array of characters, suspense, guffaws-galore and eerie entertainment, you should add St. Patrick’s Day Murder to your to-be- enjoyed-soon list!
My full review is posted at Reading between the Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
March 21, 2019
I enjoyed this one more than I enjoyed the last one I read! I liked that it got straight to the action, but I feel like it kind of fell flat toward the middle of the book, it just seemed like the middle was a little slow. That being said, once the killer was revealed, I didn't feel like it made a lot of sense, the motives felt weak and weren't explained well enough throughout the story. But the plot twist was great! I did guess the killer, but not the added twist, which definitely added some suspense to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2018
Another great Lucy Stone cozy mystery - loved it!
March 24, 2017
I enjoyed the 14th book in the Lucy Stone Series even though the motivation for this particular murder is more than a little far-fetched. A visit to Tinker Cove and it's residents is always fun. A quick read.
December 8, 2024
I have been enjoying reading the books of this series in order. The characters are so much fun! I look forward to reading about what will develop at The Bilge, which is a bar for the seafaring locals. Of course, the mystery story was a good one, too.
July 15, 2014
Waiting for an excellent Lucy Stone book is like trying to remember that bad boomerang joke. It'll get back to you. Quite a true return to form indeed. Very satisfactory reading. This book shared the unique characteristics that defines every Leslie Meier book plus it had the successful traits that help make a more than good cozy mystery. I enjoyed reading this particular book very much. Can't say that enough. I got the kind of joy and fulfillment that can't be quantified.
If only the villain was half as good as any member of the Malone family. The new addition, the eccentric Irish household was very entertaining. Moira was the best new character in this book. Her theatrics were fun to read. It helped that I do know people who are like her. Her daughter Deidre had her moments. The head (no pun intended) of the Malone family didn't lag far behind as well. But like I said, the villain was weak.
Without giving much away, I'd say that between the teething problems of the rehearsing for the 'Finian's Rainbow' play, and the dramatic upheavals of the Stone family, there was still enough changes in Tinker's Cove to remind us that time is ticking by in the Lucy Stone series. Lucy Stone is a delightful person to meet. She is less wimpish than usual, and she took an unshakable stance with her daughter Zoe when needed. The Zoe arc didn't have the conclusion I was hoping for. On the other end, my least favorite character didn't have much to do. In fact the Grim Reaper might help her in kicking the bucket in the next book or so. My only wish is for the next book to be about as good as this one. I don't understand people who don't enjoy this series but I'm glad that I'm one of the affiliated ones.
If only the villain was half as good as any member of the Malone family. The new addition, the eccentric Irish household was very entertaining. Moira was the best new character in this book. Her theatrics were fun to read. It helped that I do know people who are like her. Her daughter Deidre had her moments. The head (no pun intended) of the Malone family didn't lag far behind as well. But like I said, the villain was weak.
Without giving much away, I'd say that between the teething problems of the rehearsing for the 'Finian's Rainbow' play, and the dramatic upheavals of the Stone family, there was still enough changes in Tinker's Cove to remind us that time is ticking by in the Lucy Stone series. Lucy Stone is a delightful person to meet. She is less wimpish than usual, and she took an unshakable stance with her daughter Zoe when needed. The Zoe arc didn't have the conclusion I was hoping for. On the other end, my least favorite character didn't have much to do. In fact the Grim Reaper might help her in kicking the bucket in the next book or so. My only wish is for the next book to be about as good as this one. I don't understand people who don't enjoy this series but I'm glad that I'm one of the affiliated ones.
March 17, 2017
I love the audiobook version as it is perfect for multi-tasking. This is perhaps my favorite Lucy Stone book.
October 8, 2016
Rating: 3.5
I love the tiny village of Tinker Cove Maine along with its citizens. Old Dan has been around forever and is the gumpy, elderly owner of the local tavern, the Bilge. On a cold wintry day in early February, Lucy Stone (the main character and sleuth), sees something unusual floating in the waters off their coast. The grizzly discovery of Old Dan's body begins a set of weird events that cascade from one to another as the town prepares for the annual St. Patrick's Day festival that this year includes the performance of Finian's Rainbow. When Dan's much younger brother, Dylan, shows up with his wife and daughter from Ireland, things really start to get interesting.
This is a good cozy series, and this is definitely one of my favorites. Meier obviously did her research on Celt and Irish culture and traditions which are sprinkled throughout the storyline. Dylan and Moira were both the characters you loved to hate and managed to drop enough red herrings that kept you guessing at the murderer until near the conclusion. Their young daughter, Deirdre, is obsessed with all things faerie, leprechaun and other Irish myths and refuses to believe they are only make-believe. I did have one problem with the ending as Moira had been so despicable to everyone in Tinker's Cove that I really wanted Rachel to have the lead in the musical. This is not a deep book, but rather a quick, easy, enjoyable read to curl up with on a cold day in front of the fireplace.
I love the tiny village of Tinker Cove Maine along with its citizens. Old Dan has been around forever and is the gumpy, elderly owner of the local tavern, the Bilge. On a cold wintry day in early February, Lucy Stone (the main character and sleuth), sees something unusual floating in the waters off their coast. The grizzly discovery of Old Dan's body begins a set of weird events that cascade from one to another as the town prepares for the annual St. Patrick's Day festival that this year includes the performance of Finian's Rainbow. When Dan's much younger brother, Dylan, shows up with his wife and daughter from Ireland, things really start to get interesting.
This is a good cozy series, and this is definitely one of my favorites. Meier obviously did her research on Celt and Irish culture and traditions which are sprinkled throughout the storyline. Dylan and Moira were both the characters you loved to hate and managed to drop enough red herrings that kept you guessing at the murderer until near the conclusion. Their young daughter, Deirdre, is obsessed with all things faerie, leprechaun and other Irish myths and refuses to believe they are only make-believe. I did have one problem with the ending as Moira had been so despicable to everyone in Tinker's Cove that I really wanted Rachel to have the lead in the musical. This is not a deep book, but rather a quick, easy, enjoyable read to curl up with on a cold day in front of the fireplace.
October 6, 2017
“The dead don’t give up anything, but the living do.”
St. Patrick’s Day Murder by Leslie Meier is another intriguing installment in the author’s Lucy Stone cozy mystery series set in a small coastal town in Maine. Lucy is a reporter for the Pennysaver, the town’s newspaper. As the story opens, there’s a spooky murder…
“And what do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, feeling a large hollowness growing inside him.
“You know quite well, don’t you?” replied the crow, hopping up onto the bar with a neat flap of his wings. The bird cocked his head and looked him in the eye. “Don’t tell me an Irishman like you, born and bred in the old country, has forgotten the tale of Cú Chulainn?”
“’Tisn’t the sort of thing you can forget,” he told the crow. “Especially that statue in the Dublin General Post Office. A handsome piece of work that is, illustrating how Cú Chulainn knew death was near and tied himself to a post so he could die standing upright, like the hero he was.”
“Cú Chulainn was a hero indeed,” admitted the crow. “And his enemies couldn’t kill him until the Morrighan lit on his shoulder, stealing his strength, weakening him…”
“Right you are. The Morrighan,” he said. The very thought of that fearsome warrior goddess, with her crimson cloak and chariot, set his heart to pounding in his bony old chest.
“And what form did the Morrighan take, might I ask?” inquired the bird.
“A crow,” he said, feeling a great trembling overtake him. “So is that it? Are you the Morrighan come for me?”
“What do you think Daniel Malone?”
When the body is found days later, it’s headless… This story is set against a backdrop of an out-of-control church play with the Irish director and his wife, both claiming to be related to Old Dan, providing a myriad of theatrical moments. Will Lucy be able to solve the mystery of who murdered Old Dan before the murderer claims another victim?
The books in this series can be fully enjoyed as stand alone reads if that is your preference. St. Patrick’s Day Murder is only the second book I’ve listened to in this series. The first was Father’s Day Murder which I have previously reviewed. Father’s Day Murder was such a solid read that I didn’t hesitate to pick up this one when I saw it available. I’d like to catch up with the series at some point. The series already consists of over twenty episodes so it will take me a bit.
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from St. Patrick’s Day Murder:
“You know what I think? I think you need some chocolate,” said Lucy. “I know I could sure use some. “It’s not every day that a headless body turns up and I have to cover it.”
---
“I’ve never been to a real Irish wake,” said Lucy. “Just visiting hours at the funeral home.”
“You think this’ll be different?”
“I’m no expert, but from what I’ve heard, they’re pretty lively affairs. Sometimes they even sit the dead person’s body up and put a drink in its hand.”
“That’d be a problem for Old Dan,” said Brian, thoughtfully. “I mean, he could hold the drink, but you sort of need a head to complete the image. Not that he could actually drink it, of course, being dead and all, but you know what I mean.”
Lucy did. How could you have a wake with a body that had no head?
---
“I’m a mother. You name it, I’ve seen it and probably had to mop it up,” said Lucy.
LOL! One of the interesting dialogues herein which I’ve continued to think about involved a conversation regarding beheadings and what those who behead do with the heads. It was obviously a well-researched piece. Not that I see very many, but I’ll never look at another body-less head the same.
Karen White returns as the narrator of St. Patrick’s Day Murder and nails it. As with every title I’ve listened to that she’s narrated, each character is performed uniquely and distinctly, allowing listeners to easily distinguish who is speaking at any one time. Her voice is pleasant, clear and easy-to-follow. Her pace and timing are en pointe. The end product is polished and professional. When I listen to one of Karen’s performances, I don’t think about her narration; her delivery is so natural that it never fails to let me just escape into the story. Karen White is one of my favorite narrators for all the reasons above.
St. Patrick’s Day Murder is a pure cozy mystery. There’s no romantic element so, if you are looking for a romance, look elsewhere. I like the way that the author always tastefully addresses various social issues working them into the story. If you enjoy captivating, light cozy mysteries with a colorful array of characters, suspense, guffaws-galore and eerie entertainment, you should add St. Patrick’s Day Murder to your to-be- enjoyed-soon list!
My full review is posted at Reading between the Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
St. Patrick’s Day Murder by Leslie Meier is another intriguing installment in the author’s Lucy Stone cozy mystery series set in a small coastal town in Maine. Lucy is a reporter for the Pennysaver, the town’s newspaper. As the story opens, there’s a spooky murder…
“And what do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, feeling a large hollowness growing inside him.
“You know quite well, don’t you?” replied the crow, hopping up onto the bar with a neat flap of his wings. The bird cocked his head and looked him in the eye. “Don’t tell me an Irishman like you, born and bred in the old country, has forgotten the tale of Cú Chulainn?”
“’Tisn’t the sort of thing you can forget,” he told the crow. “Especially that statue in the Dublin General Post Office. A handsome piece of work that is, illustrating how Cú Chulainn knew death was near and tied himself to a post so he could die standing upright, like the hero he was.”
“Cú Chulainn was a hero indeed,” admitted the crow. “And his enemies couldn’t kill him until the Morrighan lit on his shoulder, stealing his strength, weakening him…”
“Right you are. The Morrighan,” he said. The very thought of that fearsome warrior goddess, with her crimson cloak and chariot, set his heart to pounding in his bony old chest.
“And what form did the Morrighan take, might I ask?” inquired the bird.
“A crow,” he said, feeling a great trembling overtake him. “So is that it? Are you the Morrighan come for me?”
“What do you think Daniel Malone?”
When the body is found days later, it’s headless… This story is set against a backdrop of an out-of-control church play with the Irish director and his wife, both claiming to be related to Old Dan, providing a myriad of theatrical moments. Will Lucy be able to solve the mystery of who murdered Old Dan before the murderer claims another victim?
The books in this series can be fully enjoyed as stand alone reads if that is your preference. St. Patrick’s Day Murder is only the second book I’ve listened to in this series. The first was Father’s Day Murder which I have previously reviewed. Father’s Day Murder was such a solid read that I didn’t hesitate to pick up this one when I saw it available. I’d like to catch up with the series at some point. The series already consists of over twenty episodes so it will take me a bit.
Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from St. Patrick’s Day Murder:
“You know what I think? I think you need some chocolate,” said Lucy. “I know I could sure use some. “It’s not every day that a headless body turns up and I have to cover it.”
---
“I’ve never been to a real Irish wake,” said Lucy. “Just visiting hours at the funeral home.”
“You think this’ll be different?”
“I’m no expert, but from what I’ve heard, they’re pretty lively affairs. Sometimes they even sit the dead person’s body up and put a drink in its hand.”
“That’d be a problem for Old Dan,” said Brian, thoughtfully. “I mean, he could hold the drink, but you sort of need a head to complete the image. Not that he could actually drink it, of course, being dead and all, but you know what I mean.”
Lucy did. How could you have a wake with a body that had no head?
---
“I’m a mother. You name it, I’ve seen it and probably had to mop it up,” said Lucy.
LOL! One of the interesting dialogues herein which I’ve continued to think about involved a conversation regarding beheadings and what those who behead do with the heads. It was obviously a well-researched piece. Not that I see very many, but I’ll never look at another body-less head the same.
Karen White returns as the narrator of St. Patrick’s Day Murder and nails it. As with every title I’ve listened to that she’s narrated, each character is performed uniquely and distinctly, allowing listeners to easily distinguish who is speaking at any one time. Her voice is pleasant, clear and easy-to-follow. Her pace and timing are en pointe. The end product is polished and professional. When I listen to one of Karen’s performances, I don’t think about her narration; her delivery is so natural that it never fails to let me just escape into the story. Karen White is one of my favorite narrators for all the reasons above.
St. Patrick’s Day Murder is a pure cozy mystery. There’s no romantic element so, if you are looking for a romance, look elsewhere. I like the way that the author always tastefully addresses various social issues working them into the story. If you enjoy captivating, light cozy mysteries with a colorful array of characters, suspense, guffaws-galore and eerie entertainment, you should add St. Patrick’s Day Murder to your to-be- enjoyed-soon list!
My full review is posted at Reading between the Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...
March 18, 2019
Since it was coming up on St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to read a book along that theme on the day of the 17th. I thought it would be fun. I normally don’t pick theme books to read on that specific holiday (except Christmas or Halloween) and I wanted a change of pace. It was still a cozy mystery, so it wasn’t completely out of my wheelhouse.
Lucy Stone was out doing what Lucy Stone does… finding dead bodies. She didn’t actually find this one herself, mind you but coming upon the scene where the owner of a local bar washes up dead on the shore of Tinker’s Cove on the Maine coast is close enough. Her reporter instincts click into gear immediately.
The body can’t be identified immediately due to the fact the corpse was missing its head. But they all assumed it was Old Dave, the owner of the Bilge, since the bar had been unexpectedly closed for the prior three days, much to the patron’s dismay.
Strangely enough, on the day Old Dan’s body is discovered, his brother, Dylan showed up with his family to direct a theatre production for the local church. There are more suspects around each corner: disgruntled patrons and a man who claims Dave stole his winning lottery ticket.
It was an interesting ride. Sometimes Meier’s stories can be hit or miss but I thought this offering was a particularly good one. Great plot that kept you guessing, characters you sometimes wanted to throttle and a great writing flow.
I look forward to reading more of Meier’s work and i do have quite a few tucked away in my Kindle for a rainy day.
Definitely check this one out.
I bought this book with my own money.
Lucy Stone was out doing what Lucy Stone does… finding dead bodies. She didn’t actually find this one herself, mind you but coming upon the scene where the owner of a local bar washes up dead on the shore of Tinker’s Cove on the Maine coast is close enough. Her reporter instincts click into gear immediately.
The body can’t be identified immediately due to the fact the corpse was missing its head. But they all assumed it was Old Dave, the owner of the Bilge, since the bar had been unexpectedly closed for the prior three days, much to the patron’s dismay.
Strangely enough, on the day Old Dan’s body is discovered, his brother, Dylan showed up with his family to direct a theatre production for the local church. There are more suspects around each corner: disgruntled patrons and a man who claims Dave stole his winning lottery ticket.
It was an interesting ride. Sometimes Meier’s stories can be hit or miss but I thought this offering was a particularly good one. Great plot that kept you guessing, characters you sometimes wanted to throttle and a great writing flow.
I look forward to reading more of Meier’s work and i do have quite a few tucked away in my Kindle for a rainy day.
Definitely check this one out.
I bought this book with my own money.
April 28, 2019
Nice to pick up an old Lucy Stone cozy and see what her life was like in 2008.
Spoiler: Lucy becomes a Grandmother on St. Patrick's Day.
Old Dan Malone's brother Dylan arrives from Ireland the same day that Dan floats up headless leaving his home and bar, the Bilge, to his brother. Dylan with wife Moira and young daughter Deirdre have come to direct and star in Tinker Cove's Catholic church musical. Lucy & Bill get involved in solving the crime while their youngest daughter gets caught up in tales of fairies and leprechauns much to their dismay.
Not one of the better stories because of some of the unpleasant characters.
Spoiler: Lucy becomes a Grandmother on St. Patrick's Day.
Old Dan Malone's brother Dylan arrives from Ireland the same day that Dan floats up headless leaving his home and bar, the Bilge, to his brother. Dylan with wife Moira and young daughter Deirdre have come to direct and star in Tinker Cove's Catholic church musical. Lucy & Bill get involved in solving the crime while their youngest daughter gets caught up in tales of fairies and leprechauns much to their dismay.
Not one of the better stories because of some of the unpleasant characters.
May 6, 2019
Lucy Stone is a journalist and whenever a murder happens in her town she always seems to be in the middle of it. This time a body is found in the water and is the bar owner, Dan, of a dive called The Bilge. According to Dave, Dan had conned Dave out of a lottery ticket. Brian, the handyman says Dan stiffed him for repair work. Then Dan's brother, SIL and niece come into town. Dylan and his wife are actors and are putting on a play in town. The SIL and niece tell all these Irish stories that make Lucy's daughter scared. Not to mention that the 2 girls end up missing but they were really taken by the SIl. The SIL was a piece of work and I never liked her. I also did not trust her husband.
June 10, 2019
I like the Lucy Stone series, and this one did not disappoint. Wild Irish tempers, fairies, and murder take center stage. Molly and Toby have some medical concerns, Zoe acts up, and there's a murder to be solved.
I thought the ending a little unrealistic, but it worked. Will continue the series.
I thought the ending a little unrealistic, but it worked. Will continue the series.
March 17, 2017
One of the things I really enjoy about the Lucy Stone books is that there are so many centered around holidays, so I had to read this one for St. Patrick's Day and I was not disappointed.
July 13, 2018
This is a really fun, rather intense mystery, though it still sticks to the edges of the cozies. I was really excited about reading the book ... but just a bit disappointed with the end, as it didn't seem to really resolve for me. But it is lots of fun ... and Irish, so how can you go wrong.
March 6, 2019
Fun cozy mystery for March! I enjoy visiting Lucy Stone and her family & friends.
July 20, 2021
Love this series!
March 14, 2019
loved the mystery element. love all of the Lucy stone murder mysteries . perfect read for March
March 20, 2021
I really enjoy the Lucy Stone series. I never read them in order, and I am never confused by what is going on in Lucy's world. This is just a good series to read between things. The pacing is always on point, the characters are interesting and I like the plotlines.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews