Bridal Shower Murder

Lucy Stone #31

by Leslie Meier

When her daughter gets engaged in Tinker’s Cove, Maine, reporter Lucy Stone finds herself feeling like a steamed lobster while dealing with her future son-in-law’s family—and a summer bridal shower that leads to murder . . .

Lucy Stone is thrilled about her youngest daughter Zoe's engagement to Chad, a rising minor league baseball player with dreamy eyes and plenty of Southern charm. Yet there’s no denying the whirlwind romance has turned Lucy’s life upside down in more ways than one—especially when she learns about Chad’s complicated background and close ties to Tinker’s Cove. The secrets and rumors are enough to send her investigative reporting instincts into overdrive . . .
 
Trouble really crashes in the moment Lucy meets her in-laws-to-be, Penny and Nate Nettleton. Persuasive Penny proves to be intent on taking over wedding preparations, even arranging a Tuscan-themed bridal shower before Zoe publicly announces her engagement. It’s a shock when the event goes off without a hitch. But the real shock comes when prominent guest Hetty Furness, the head of the Tinker’s Cove Historical Society, goes missing—only to be found dead, the victim of a brutal murder . . .
 
Lucy is determined to reveal who committed the vicious crime as she navigates her new reality with the Nettletons. Racing to determine if Hetty’s extensive knowledge of local history—and hidden scandals—led to her demise, Lucy soon realizes she’ll need to put her sleuthing talents to work like never before to guarantee wedding bells to ring for Zoe and Chad . . . and that she survives to see her daughter walk down the aisle!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Ebooks, Family

320 pages, Hardcover

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

Leslie 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.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has been a bit all over the map throughout its 31 books, but this one was quite strong. Great murder caper. Loved the family dynamics with Lucy's two youngest daughters and embracing of modern times. Found myself thoroughly enjoying the series again...

[Regina the Constant Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Audiobook 🎧

Lucy finds herself in the middle of a family’s drama when her daughter Zoe announces she’s getting married and her fiancée is related to one of Tinker’s Cove richest residents.
The story was good, with more than one murder, and I enjoyed the history aspect. My only complaint is Ms. Meiers is trying too hard to show how woke she is now.


Side Note: I’m not crazy about the new narrator.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this entire series and this was a good mystery. I still continue to be annoyed by how taken advantage of Lucy is by everybody , including her boss, her husband and her kids. The topics in this mystery are a bit heavier than normal.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery was good. I just do not like heavy social issues in a cozy mystery. Seems like with each book the author is more about stating her political stance. I just prefer my cozies to be more lighthearted, humorous.

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bridal Shower Murder is a cozy mystery filled with some actual tragedy, but also a nice happy ending.

I felt that Bridal Shower Murder was a little slow to start, but once the murder took place, the book really got going. The murder itself was pretty brutal, nobody would have expected poor Hetty of getting murdered! Lucy Stone puts on her sleuthing hat and starts researching a local family that has been around for hundreds of years, and starts to uncover some very dirty secrets that have been hidden from the town. When a man is arrested for Hetty's murder, Lucy makes her it mission to prove his innocence, and find the true killer.

I have to say, I really disliked the mother in law to be, Penny (which I know was the point, so she was written well!), she really got on my nerves, and I really felt the pain that Lucy was dealing with, because I know exactly how hard it can be to have to try and keep the peace with family when you really, really want to say something! If that was my wedding, that my mother in law to be just decided to hijack and do as she pleased, I would have been extremely mad! I was a little surprised how Zoe even allowed it at first, granted the bridal shower itself did sound very nice. I enjoyed Lucy's sleuthing, and reading about all the town secrets she was able to uncover. I don't agree with some of Lucy's "wifely" duties that she feels are the norm or expected, but I think her and her husband just have a more old school relationship.

Overall, I recommend Bridal Shower Murder, especially to anyone who enjoys uncovering dirty secrets that have been covered up for many years!

Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington, and the author for an advance copy of this book!

[Shella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t enjoy this series as much as I used to. Two main reasons- Karen White no longer narrates- never have heard why. She did all the secondary voices perfectly. I really dislike how the new narrator does these voices- esp. Sue and Barney. The author now writes with a heavy hand in regard to social issues. Even if you agree with her political leanings- she just does not present these topics well- too preachy. She does not draw the reader in- I think the cozy mystery genre just does not fit this agenda. This has been going on for a while. For example, William Kent Krueger did a much better job exposing the topic that was focused on in this book. This book just glossed over it with preachy segments- it was cringy. I only gave three stars because the other mystery was really good. Just stick with the cozy mystery- start another series in a different genre to explore topics that you think are worthy. Don’t water them down sticking them in your cozy series.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#BridalShowerMurder #NetGalley is another addition to this series by one of my favorite authors, Leslie Meier.
Lucy Stone is a wife, mother, grandmother, and investigative reporter.
With the news of Lucy's youngest daughter's engagement comes celebrations and fun, but also a a sad occasion, when a local resident is murdered.
I will always be a fan of this series and I look forward to reading each new book as it releases.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery that follows part-time reporter Lucy Stone as she navigates a bridal shower turned deadly. When a murder disrupts the wedding festivities, Lucy’s investigative instincts kick in as she uncovers family secrets, jealousies, and betrayals that lurk beneath the surface. With engaging characters and small-town charm, this mystery keeps readers guessing until the end, making it a delightful read for fans of lighthearted whodunits. Would recommend

Thank you Leslie Meier, NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for the arc of this book

[Liz V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

p. 232 line 3 : “Chad” not “Chris”

[Kara Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridal Shower Murder (Lucy Stone, #31) by Leslie Meier opens with Lucy Stone rushing home to clean house for Zoe who is bringing home her boyfriend Chad. While there, Zoe and Chad announce their engagement but want to keep it a secret for a bit.  When a nosy busybody named Janice gets the best of Lucy, the mother of the bride blurts out Zoe's secret. Chaos ensues with a murder and an overdose.


NetGalley, thank you for approving me to receive an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Bridal Shower Murder.  I've come to love Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone cozy mystery series and know that I will automatically read any book in this series without reading the synopsis.


I have to say that this was one of the best stories in the series for multiple reasons. The first reason is that Lucy's husband isn't quite so sexist, which is refreshing for a change. I dislike it when he acts like a caveman who expects Lucy to be a housewife and wait on him hand and foot. What really surprised me was how he reacted to Sara's news. I didn't expect him to be so accepting based on his attitude in previous books. On the other hand, I didn't expect Lucy to be so blindsided by the news and have trouble accepting it. I suspected this about Sara for a few books now and don't understand how a mother can be so oblivious to this, especially when the rest of the town and her other children knew.


Additionally, I couldn't stand Chad's parents. His mother is a despicable, overbearing woman who is super fake and spoiled on top of it all. I wouldn't have let her take over the way she did. Chad's father is a piece of work to put it mildly, and I wanted to tell him off.  I wouldn't have put up with his comments or attitude.


With this series, it's a given that there will be a murder to solve, but what I didn't expect was another death to happen. For most of the book, I suspected one character to be the killer and was surprised when that character was ruled out. However, I quickly figured out who the killer was after that.


I loved all the different controversies and drama because it actually gave the story more depth and realism. It also really brought to life that there are still injustices in the world that need to be righted and that there are still bigots everywhere, no matter where you live.


Five out of five stars is what I gave Bridal Shower Murder (Lucy Stone, #31) by Leslie Meier. I can't wait for the next installment!

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[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this book series from the very beginning. Hard to believe my kids were close in age to Lucy’s kids. It’s been an adventure over the years for me keeping up with the Lucy Stone mysteries. It’s been fun to be able to relate to some of the parenting challenges presented along with the mysteries. And a working mom like Lucy, I was too!

I was not sure how the plot in this book was going to work out, but it worked out beautifully. I also like the theme with the original Native Americans with a bit of a history lesson there that I’m sure many areas of our country share.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy and fast paced murder tale set with Lucy Stone and her daughter’s announced engagement to
Chad a minor league baseball player. The setting is Tinker Gove,Maine. The in-laws are rich and Penny
Wants to run the show until Hetty Furness of the Cove’s Historical Society is found murdered. Lucy
is on the case. There are twists and turns, murder and suspicions, but all ends well and the wedding takes
Place. This book is one of a series set In a small town. The characters are small town folk and well
Developed to the story. Recommended

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #47 read in 2025

In this installment os the series, Lucy's youngest daughter Zoe gets engaged to a minor league baseball player, and wedding plans are in motion. Unfortunately, the groom's parents bring not only meddling but drama and a past in the town that leads to murder. I'm glad this book took place in Tinker's Cover because that setting and the townspeople are part of the charm of the series. This was another good one!

[MD · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usually, I read a book in one day. This was a struggle. Boring, slow, and easy to identify who the murderer was. And why does the main character Lucy have to do all the cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping when she works as an investigative reporter? It’s out of place with the modern views on acceptance of racial inequality and same-sex relationships. Sunday breakfast is not an equal split of domestic responsibilities.

[Lisa M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute cozy, mystery, set on the coast of Maine. What’s not to love? My first by this author, I think, but not my last. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Jen James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my jam.

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a fantastic cozy mystery murder when author Leslie Meier writes it! Bridal Shower Murder has excitement, surprises, wonderful characters, and of course a murder to be solved!! Very good!!!

[Taylor Rose Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy said she had never been held hostage before but that’s wrong, she was at the lobster co op in an earlier book

[Carmen Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25. The mystery element is very well done. I've been reading this series for years and love Lucy and her family. I enjoy the topical issues and find it refreshing to read a cozy that still has most of the cozy elements, but reflects more of real life. If that is something you don't like, this series may not be for you.

[LaurenB · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 31%. “So you’re one of them queers?” is what got me. The Southern characters (who don’t even originate from the south) are complete stereotypes. I understand she was trying to throw in a bunch of social justice tropes, but it borders on insulting.

I had read some of the first books in the series, and I remember thinking the writing is bad. This cover caught my eye and I thought surely it had improved if there was enough interest for 31 books. Sadly, it’s absolutely awful. There is no plot development. Things just happen. People do complete 180s in their thinking without explanation. A big deal was made about setting the scene of a protest, but it resolved when someone spoke for 30 seconds. Things like that bother me, but that may be a personal issues. I feel like the author should’ve spent less time writing in misplaced social issues and actually developed the story and the characters. It’s also just all over the place and there are too many side characters.

And the characters…oh brother. Everyone is unlikable, but it baffles me that a main character who is always snapping and complaining and has a weird combination of both completely dated and woke ideologies has been featured in 31 books.

I had fully planned to push through and finish because I hate to DNF, but this is just awful. Needless to say, I won’t be reading anything else from this series.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bridal Shower Murder is the thirty-first cozy mystery in the Lucy Stone series. When Lucy’s daughter, Zoe, gets engaged the planning the wedding is on everyone’s mind, but when a bridal shower guest turns up dead Lucy is on the case. What happened to the guest and how does it connect back to the family? Lucy will stop at nothing to learn the truth.

The mystery in this book was good and it kept me guessing, but the political views and issues raised in this book distracted from the story. I’ve had this complaint about many of the later books in this series and it only seems to get worse. I don’t want to be force fed political views or social issues in my cozy mysteries. I want to enjoy the mystery and escape reality. This book brings everything in the world into focus and distracts from the actual mystery. This very well could have been a five star read if it was just the mystery, but the rants about political and social issues are too much for me. I’m willing to give the next book, if there is one, a try, but I have a feeling I’m going to be cutting ties with this series before long.

[Elle Reads a Book a Day · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have never been more glad to be done with a series.

Seriously, I started hating these books around the halfway point but was already too invested to turn back. Should have DNFed the whole thing.

God these were all the bad things: racist, sexist, homophobic. Towards the end the author started to try to make them more inclusive, but somehow managed to just make them MORE racist, sexist and homophobic. So much internalized misogyny here.

Like all this nonsense with the youngest daughter. Why the hell would you still get married?! That family is nuts! And Lucy is barely better, telling her 23 or so year old daughter who just got the absolute job of a lifetime (let’s not get into believability rn) that her practically new relationship was more important? For a guy who wouldn’t even stand up to his own mother?

It’s gonna be a no from me.

[Nancy Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. The title is very deceiving. I felt like she started one book and switched the subject as she went on. 🤷

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’all. This one left me blinking at the page like, “Ma’am, are we okay??” I picked up Bridal Shower Murder fully expecting what this series usually serves: Lucy Stone doing her classic juggling act — part mom, part nosy local reporter, part murder-solving MVP — all while dealing with family chaos and small-town weirdos. But this time? I got way more than I signed up for.

Here’s the setup: Lucy’s youngest daughter, Zoe, just got engaged to Chad — a minor league baseball player with Southern charm dialed up to eleven and just enough shady family backstory to make Lucy’s investigative reporter radar start beeping. Enter Chad’s parents, Penny and Nate Nettleton. Penny is the kind of in-law who will “graciously help” and actually bulldoze everything. She hijacks the wedding plans, throws a surprise bridal shower before Zoe even publicly announces the engagement (rude!), and honestly, I wanted to throw a canapé at her.

Shockingly, the bridal shower doesn’t implode. But then, plot twist: Hetty Furness — the head of the Tinker’s Cove Historical Society, known for knowing everyone’s skeletons and where they’re buried — goes missing. And of course, turns up dead. Brutally murdered. And suddenly, Lucy’s not just balancing wedding chaos and murder; she’s knee-deep in long-buried secrets about the town’s treatment of Indigenous people, racial tensions politely dusted under Tinker’s Cove’s antique rug, and the kind of historical cover-ups that make you side-eye every plaque in the local museum.

And while Lucy’s out here connecting dots like a pro, back at home? She’s missing something big — and not because the clues were obvious (they weren’t), but because she never quite created the space for that truth to land safely. There’s a moment where one of her daughters questions whether Lucy would’ve been supportive, and that hurt. I wasn’t shocked by the revelation; I was sad her daughter ever had to wonder. For someone so intuitive and community-minded, it felt like a blind spot. I wanted to hug her and say, “You could have made this easier.”

The supporting cast — bless them — shows up more than they have in recent installments, but mostly to shuttle plot points around. The dialogue sometimes sparkles, sometimes clunks. And the pacing? Some chapters drag like a never-ending wedding toast, while others sprint by so fast I had to flip back and check if I’d missed a paragraph.

I do love that Leslie Meier is swinging for the fences here, tackling bigger conversations about family, community, and who gets to decide what stories we tell — even if the execution occasionally feels like trying to frost three cakes while the kitchen’s on fire. It’s messy. It’s bold. It’s well-intentioned. And it left me both intrigued and a little anxious about where Lucy’s headed next.

Three and a half stars. If you’re here for small-town murder, complicated families, and a plot that swings between cozy comfort and “Oh wow, we’re really going there,” buckle up. Lucy Stone’s world is changing — and she might be the last one to realize it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder aside, the word that comes to mind first for the Lucy Stone series is family. We've watched Lucy grow, as did her family, from the time she was a young mother to now, the upcoming marriage of her youngest, Zoe. Of course, this being Tinker's Cove, you know things won't go smoothly. There's a murderer for Lucy to track down while trying to finalize Zoe and Chad's wedding day. Hetty Furness, head of the Tinker's Cove Historical Society, is missing, then found dead. She's been murdered.

Why? No one is quite sure initially, but Lucy doesn't let that detour her. Never mind that she's a bit busy dealing with Zoe's sudden announcement, trying to gather the family from across the globe, dealing with Ted, the annoying publisher of the Courier newspaper, formerly Pennysaver, while supporting Chad as he deals with his own family issues. Oh, boy, wait till you meet his mother. He's such a sweet, charming young man, a first-baseman for the minor league team he plays for, but, oh, my, his mother is a piece of work. I won't detail the plot further other than to say it definitely deals heavily with not just family but family secrets, history, and long-standing prejudices. Do we really know who the people about us really are? Through it all, Lucy is quite aware of the clock ticking as the wedding approaches, wondering how to pull everything together. The side-stories, maybe not all side-stories, are intriguing and we learn a bit about history in the process. Lucy even manages to maintain her sense of humor through it all, not easy when husband Bill decides to play the tough father upon Zoe's arrival with Chad in tow. Let's just say, it's fortunate Bill's a baseball fan.

Bottom line, this was a fun, intriguing read. The themes range not just with family but with young love, siblings being there for each other (you'll learn exactly how far the drive from Alaska to Tinker's Cove is), and how one sibling marvel of organization pulls a lovely setting and reception together practically overnight. Lucy has an amazing family, let's face it. Of course, that one lives in Alaska makes this Alaskan enjoy it all the more. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for answering my plea and sharing an early virtual invite to the wedding. It's going to be interesting seeing how Lucy deals with the newly extended family.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overwhelmed with surprise, Lucy Stone receives a phone call from her daughter Zoe, informing her that Zoe will be bringing a friend named Chad home. However, Zoe fails to provide Lucy with any details about this young man. As a reporter, Lucy finds it relatively straightforward to conduct some research on Chad. The revelation that Chad is a minor league baseball player does not provide Lucy with sufficient information to form an opinion about him. Additionally, as Zoe is Lucy’s youngest daughter, her husband Bill also harbors significant reservations.

What else is Lucy to do? Think about planning the wedding and bridal shower of course. However, her pushy friend Janice, best friend Sue and the to-be groom’s mother are all vying to throw the bridal shower. This definitely creates tension. This situation is further complicated by Zoe and Chad’s desire to maintain the secrecy of their engagement.

As Lucy Stone’s mind drifted from wedding shower thoughts, a chilling murder shook the town. Overwhelmed by grief and empathy for the victim, Lucy’s unwavering determination to uncover Hettie’s killer remains unshaken. Amidst the pursuit of justice, Lucy is acutely aware that the wedding day promises to be fraught with challenges, particularly due to the impending arrival of in-laws.

I have loved this series from the very start, having read all the previous books as well as the novellas. It has been enjoyable watching Lucy go from being a young mother who now has four adult children, as well as a grandson. Having been a reporter for years, looking for that next byline sometimes came with its own problems. And, don’t think that Tinker’s Cove is a sleepy little town. Murder after murder has taken place over the years, as this is usually the case with cozy mysteries. Factor in the deeper issues touched on in this latest entry, Bridal Shower Murder was an excellent read.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridal Shower Murder by Leslie Meier is one of her more complicated stories. Of course, how many murders can there be in a small Maine town before things get out of hand? Lucy Stone is a reporter for the Courier. It used to be the Pennysaver until her boss bought the newspaper in Gilead, a nearby community. It also used to be entirely print but now had an online edition that he expected to be updated the moment something of note happened. The big news in Tinker’s Cove right now was Lucy’s daughter, Zoe’s, engagement. Lucy had inadvertently spilled the beans to the town’s biggest gossip and now things were getting out of hand. Zoe was stressed because of her new job and this was one more thing she didn’t need. Her future mother-in-law had even chosen the wedding date for her. It was out of control. Lucy didn’t know how to help so she turned to her other daughter, Sara, to talk with her sister. Lucy had only recently found out that Sara was gay, a fact that apparently everyone in town had known except her.

The murder was a grisly one and the police were trying to hang it on a young Native American man, saying it was race-based. It got complicated fast and Lucy, as always, was in the thick of it. This is a fun series and this book was a terrific read. There was a lot of backstory involved, which I always find intriguing. Lucy had plenty going on outside of Zoe’s problems. The mystery was a good one and there were plenty of red herrings and misdirection to satisfy any avid reader, plus a lot of history. Lucy is a lovable and ordinary woman, living an ordinary life in an ordinary town. That’s what makes her so appealing. Meier managed to weave in some issues that are very contemporary but do it in an inoffensive way. Good book.

I was invited to read Bridal Shower Murder by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #LeslieMeier #BridalShowerMurder

[Luis Nuñez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brava, Ms. Meier! I have been a fan of the Lucy Stone mystery series from the beginning, but had decided I would not continue reading them. The reason was because in the last books and novellas, the murders were rushed and not well developed, or they were a very minor part of the books, so I skipped the previous book, "Patchwork Quilt Murder".

When I saw that her latest mystery was available for me to read on Net Galley, I requested it just to see if the pattern continued or not...

I was ever so pleasantly surprised! Lucy Stone is back with a vengeance!! I found this book to be just as gripping and cozy or even more so than the earlier books that kept me avidly reading and wanting more.

Most of the familiar characters and their quirkiness are there for the reader to enjoy interacting with, and the subplots are just as mesmerizing and fun. I was again transported to Tinkers Cove, Maine to ride along Lucy as she tries to solve a terrible murder or two...

Ms. Meier must have done so much research to embellish the stories that accompany the murder. I love to learn new facts in books, and this one had plenty of interesting topics.

I was very satisfied when the murderer was revealed and the reasons why. I have only one negative thing to say...I was sad that the book ended. I have now bought PATCHWORK QUILT MURDER and will read it soon.

Again, I am so glad that this book is a quality mystery by a beloved author.

Thank you to Net Galley, to Kensington Cozies for offering me an advance copy for me to read and post a personal review. I also thank Ms. Meier for writing it! I highly recommend it!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bridal Shower Murder by Leslie Meier has Lucy Stone’s youngest daughter, Zoe getting engaged to a baseball player. While Lucy is happy for her daughter, she is less thrilled with the groom’s domineering mother. Lucy is going to need patience if she is going to make it through this wedding. Bridal Shower Murder is the thirty-first A Lucy Stone Mystery. I have read every book (and novella) in this series, but this story can be read as a standalone. The series, though, has changed since the beginning. Over the last few years, the author features a hot button topic (i.e. she gets on her soapbox) which overshadows the mystery. I like the main characters in this series (Lucy and her family, Sue, Pam, Ted, etc.). I like that the author has continued to age the characters as the series progresses. I could not stand Penny, Zoe’s mother-in-law to be (which is the point). I felt for Lucy for having to deal with this overbearing woman. I would not have been okay with this woman trying to take over every aspect of the wedding (reminded me of a steamroller). The story is easy to read, but the pacing was a little slow in places. The whodunit was simple, but it was interesting. Lucy uncovered town secrets during her sleuthing. I wish it were more difficult to identify the responsible party (I identified the guilty party before the murder took place). I did enjoy catching up with Lucy, Bill, and the rest of the Stone family. Bridal Shower Murder is bridal brouhaha with a joyful family declaration, wedding shower woes, historic society protest, an alarming murder, exposing surprising secrets, and navigating family dynamics for a cheerful resolution.

[Melodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bridal Shower Murder, Leslie Meier’s newest mystery, is another entertaining novel in her Lucy Stone series. One thing that I particularly love about this series is that neither the characters nor their lives are static; all the characters have aged and evolved throughout the series. Lucy has gone from a mother with a young family to a middle aged wife and mother with a career in journalism. The books typically are centered around a holiday, trip or event, in this case the marriage of her youngest daughter Zoe to a nice young man with overbearing parents. Another thing I appreciate about Ms. Stone’s writing is that she is able to share her personal thoughts and opinions without being too heavy handed. Often women’s fiction can be overbearing and I feel Ms. Stone does a good job of making her points about any number of subjects. In this book she addresses the challenges that face the LGBTQ community and those faced by Native Americans now and in the past. Along the way, Lucy also solves a murder mystery. Lucy is an endearing character. She works very hard and does much to please everyone else, but I find her unfiltered inner thoughts to be especially entertaining.

This is a solid four and a half star read. I recommend it highly to those who enjoy cosy mysteries, small town stories and might like to take a trip to Maine.

Thanks, NetGalley, for an ARC copy of this book. The opinions stated are solely my own and I was not required to write a positive review.