Easter Egg Murder

Lucy Stone #31.6 - Easter Egg Murder

by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, Peggy Ehrhart

Light pink, robin’s egg blue, daffodil yellow, mint green—Easter eggs hiding sweet treats come in every pastel color. But in a few small towns this year, cracking them could be more fatal than fun…


EASTER EGG MURDER by LESLIE MEIER


In Provence to visit her daughter, part-time reporter Lucy Stone is soaking up the atmosphere, even if it includes one Carole Capobianco, the empty-nester she encountered on the flight over. Not exactly two peas in a pod, they’re both amused by the tale of a neighbor’s chickens refusing to lay eggs. The decoy eggs he’s set out to encourage the egg-centric hens are not only gorgeously Faberge-style, they’re being stolen! That’s confusing enough, but what’s happened to the cook is deadly serious.


DEATH BY ANOTHER EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS


When an ambitious young reporter dies mid-meal at Hayley Powell’s Bar Harbor restaurant, Hayley is horrified. Determined to save her eatery’s reputation, Hayley scrambles to crack the case wide open like an egg, discovering that the victim was about to break a juicy story—one that a number of people (er, suspects) did not order off the menu. Which makes finding the killer more than devilishly hard . . .


AN EGGY WAY TO DIE by PEGGY EHRHART


Cleaning up after the Easter egg hunt in the Arborville park, friends Pamela and Bettina are startled to find something else hidden—the dead body of a local cookbook author, surrounded by broken shells and slippery yolks. The pair are far from hard-boiled detectives, but as they search for clues, they find that the whole case smells distinctly like rotten eggs . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 24, 2026

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]

Three cozy mysteries focused on Easter. I read 2 of the 3, and I only skipped the last one because I haven't started that series yet, so I didn't want to read ahead. I'm a fan of Lee Hollis and Leslie Meier, so I devoured those stories. Can't believe how much Lucy's kids have grown, and the trip to France was perfect, not to mention the crossover with the new Capobianco family from the author's latest debut in a new series. Add in the chocolate maker with a darker past, and the Lee Hollis series continues to shine.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. These stories work well together, and I thoroughly enjoyed all three slightly shorter visits to much loved characters.

Leslie Meier takes Lucy and her husband off to Paris for a visit with their daughter, which enables Lucy to meet the author's newest main protagonist, Carol Capobianco, and her stress inducing family! They are just brilliant together. Both women become caught up in a murder investigation where their different styles of information gathering in a different language make for an enjoyable read, and I hope they will work together again in the future.

Lee Hollis plunges her main protagonist, Hayley Powell, into a murder mystery, which starts with a fatality in her restaurant before moving through Bar Harbor, risking residents' lives, reputations, and businesses with impunity. There are also recipes for cocktails and Easter treats.

Finally Peggy Ehrhart has Pamela and Bettina discovering the body of an egg influencer (who knew, but this is an Easter book!) The mystery was entertaining and as fun as always but, for me, the mystery was secondary to the everyday lives of the main protagonists as there is plenty happening which will influence all new books in this excellent series. A knitting pattern and recipe are both included at the conclusion of this story.

All three stories are worthy of 5 stars, and this is a brilliant addition to Kensington Publishing's multi author series of books. Highly recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Peggy Ehrhart is a great trio of holiday themed cozy mystery novellas that I really enjoyed.

This book contains three Easter-themed novellas:

EASTER EGG MURDER by LESLIE MEIER

is part of the long-standing Lucy Stonr Mystery series. I have read every book and novella in this series over the decades and I still love it. (31 books and 11 other novellas) This time Lucy and Bill are in France visiting Elizabeth and are unfortunately wrapped up into a murder mystery. This one is joined with the new family and cast of characters that Ms Meier introduces us to in her new series: A Carol and Poopsie Mystery. So Lucy and Carol join forces to get the murder of the Mathilde, new housekeeper to Carol’s mother, Poppy, solved so everyone can make it back home. I liked the alternating chapters with the voices of Lucy and Carol…however no one can top my Lucy Stone.

Looking forward to more Lucy Stone books.

5/5

DEATH BY ANOTHER EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS is the 18th book and 8th novella in my other favorite cozy mystery series: A Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series. This time Hayley is searching for the killer of a fellow reporter that just happened to die while eating at her restaurant. She knows it wasn’t her food that poisoned the young woman…but now she just has to prove it.

5/5 stars

AN EGGY WAY TO DIE by PEGGY EHRHART is part of the Knit and Nibble mystery series. This one was new to me and since I have not read any other books in this series, I had a fairly challenging time following along. Still a solid read.

4/5 stars

Overall: 4.5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 2/24/26.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

In short, all three short stories were too short for the mystery aspects to be flushed out well.

Leslie Meyer's story was nice that it bridged her new series with her long running series. That's about it. Bill was extra grumpy man stuck in an old way of thinking and Lucy doing her usual men are men reactions to him. Carole is a bit extra judgmental but doesn't get enough POV time either. The mystery was solved and a heightened catch scene was rushed through. The cause in this one was the public workers strike in Paris.

Lee Hollis had a potentially good story. It just was rushed. The culprit was obvious by how much focus Hayley had on them. There were plenty of other suspects that if there had been just the final (only related to the story because it was Easter themed) food article that Hayley rights, it could have flushed out the red herrings better. Honestly, I hate when a book inserts barely related articles/blogs the character writes because they disrupt the flow of the main story. They're also just filler trying to make you forget you're not getting a book the length other authors give you. Finally, because it was rushed, it really felt like Hayley got into too-stupid-to-live territory a few times. I am for sure done with this series.

Peggy Ehrhart's story I didn't even finish. I got one-third into it and it was so overly descriptive, especially of food, that I knew that I couldn't do a short story of this series. This series is typically overly descriptive of everything. Especially food and tableware, it's drinking game levels of overly descriptive. However, in a full book it's barely below tolerable and this short story was starting off with the same amount as a regular length story, not a proportional amount. So, I noped out.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easter Egg Murder with stories by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Peggy Ehrhart, is a holiday release from three top cozy authors, featuring their usual heroines. And they do it well. Bill and Lucy Stone have gone to France to visit their oldest daughter, who is pregnant. Since Paris is in the middle of a strike, they are sent to Provence, where at dinner with friends, a friend’s cook is murdered. Hayley Powell, restaurant owner, is hoping for a quiet Easter when a young reporter drops dead in her restaurant. It wasn’t her food, but the rumors had started. Lots of action here. An Eggy Way to die is another classic.

This is a great way to get some cozy mysteries in, celebrate a holiday, and not have to spend hours on each book. Good characters, good plots, lots of fun.

I was invited to read EasterEgg Murder by Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishing #LeslieMeier #LeeHollis #PeggyEhrhart #EasterEggMurder

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

#EasterEggMurder #NetGalley is a fun, fast paced cozy mystery featuring three of my favorite authors.
We begin with Lucy Stone, wife, mother, and reporter from Tinkers Cove, Maine.
Lucy and her husband Bill are traveling to Paris to see their daughter Elizabeth. While traveling Lucy meets up with Carole, a colorful character who made this story so much fun.
Next we meet up with Hayley Powell, and amazing chef and wife. When a customer dies while eating a meal in her restaurant, Hayley is horrified and will do anything to get the real answers.
Last, but not least, we end with Pamela and Bettina, friends and neighbors who seem to always find themselves involved in a murder investigation.
I enjoyed this story very much, and the ending had me smiling from ear to ear.
I cannot wait to read more about this colorful, quirky duo.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley. I read only the Leslie Meier novella. As a long-time fan of the Lucy Stone series, I was excited to return to Tinker’s Cove, but I did not enjoy the crossover with Meier’s newer character, Carole Capobianco. I found Carole to be brash, unlikable, and more annoying than engaging, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. While the mystery itself was somewhat fun and had its moments, the plot stretched the realm of believability. Unfortunately, this installment did not live up to what I typically expect from a Lucy Stone mystery.

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

There is something deeply comforting about opening Easter Egg Murder and immediately feeling like you’ve been invited back into a familiar kitchen where someone is absolutely about to get murdered between bites of something festive. Easter colors everywhere, eggs doing the most, and chaos politely knocking instead of kicking the door down. Honestly, that’s my brand.

Any excuse to check back in with Lucy Stone is a good excuse. Lucy could be trapped in an airport bathroom with a suspicious croissant and I’d still be seated. Seeing her out of Tinker’s Cove and wandering around France is fun in that “oh no, the mom detective is international now” way. The scenery is charming, the food descriptions are doing their job, and Lucy remains reliably curious, kind, and accidentally surrounded by crime. Love that journey for her.

That said, this particular Lucy adventure felt a little like a side quest that accidentally went on too long. The Fabergé style decoy eggs are genuinely delightful, the chicken subplot is peak cozy nonsense, but the murder itself stretches plausibility just enough that I squinted at the page a few times. The crossover energy with Carole Capobianco is very much a mileage may vary situation. Sometimes she’s amusing, sometimes she’s loud in a way that made me want Lucy to politely fake a headache and leave the café. I survived, but barely.

The middle novella, written by Lee Hollis, honestly might be the MVP for me. A reporter dropping dead mid meal at Hayley Powell’s restaurant is the kind of public nightmare scenario that makes my skin crawl, and Hayley’s frantic need to save her reputation is extremely relatable. The food descriptions are mouthwatering, the suspect list is messy, and the whole thing hums along with that classic cozy urgency where everyone is stressed but still somehow stopping for dessert.

Then we slide into Peggy Ehrhart’s contribution, which opens with an Easter egg hunt and immediately escalates to a body surrounded by broken shells. As one does. The concept of an egg influencer remains hilarious to me, but the mystery itself is solid, and Pamela and Bettina are a charmingly determined duo. This one feels gentler, more community focused, and very “you accidentally learned a lot about food and hobbies while someone was murdered,” which is a genre specialty.

As a collection, this book is doing exactly what it promises. Three Easter themed mysteries, familiar characters, low blood pressure vibes, and enough red herrings to make you side eye everyone holding a basket. Not every story hit the same emotional or mystery high for me, but none of them were a slog, and at least one of them made me mutter “okay, that was fun” out loud like a delighted gremlin.

This is very much a comfort read with sprinkles of danger. If you’re here primarily for Lucy Stone nostalgia, you’ll be mostly satisfied with a few mild grumbles. If you like bouncing between series worlds and treating novellas like cozy mystery tapas, you’ll probably have a great time. For me, it landed comfortably at a casual 3.5 stars, enjoyed with a cup of something warm and zero expectations of realism.

Whodunity Award: For Making Decorative Eggs Feel Vaguely Threatening and Teaching Me to Never Trust Poultry Adjacent Drama

Huge thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, which let me enjoy pastel murder, international Lucy Stone chaos, and egg based menace ahead of schedule.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easter Egg Murder consists of three cozy mysteries. The first is part of the Lucy Stone mystery series by Leslie Meier. When Lucy and Bill travel to Paris to visit their oldest daughter for Easter it’s supposed to be a relaxing trip, but when most of Paris is on strike they end up in Provence. In Provence they run into Carole Capobianco, a fellow amateur sleuth they met in the plane, and her family. When they have dinner together it ends in murder and both Lucy and Carole are determined to get to the bottom of it.

Overall this was a fast paced mystery that was quick to get through. I’ve read both the Lucy Stone series and the one with Carole and I did like the collaboration in this mystery, but I’m bothered by all of the chauvinism in these books. Why do the woman always kowtow to demanding husbands who are stuck in a different century? I’ve had this problem with most of the recent Lucy Stone books and it keeps continuing. If you can look past this, this isn’t a bad mystery, but a lot of the outside elements rub me the wrong way.

Death by Another Easter Egg is by Lee Hollis and part of the Hayley Powell Good and Cocktails Mystery series. In this mystery a woman eating at Hayley’s restaurant ends up poisoned. In order to keep suspicion off of herself and those she loves she must put together the clues to find the true killer before it’s too late.

I have only read the short cozy mysteries in this series that are parts of these holiday collections, but I’ve enjoyed them all. This was a quick mystery that held my attention the whole time and took me on a few twists. I really like Hayley as the sleuth and think she does wonders for this mystery. This was an enjoyable and quick mystery that kept me intrigued until the end.

An Eggy Way to Die is part of the Knit & Nibbles mystery series by Peggy Ehrhart. When a woman turns up dead after an Easter Egg hunt, Pamela and Bettina take it upon themselves to figure out the truth.

I have loved this series since the beginning and it’s always been one of my favorites. This mystery was another good one and was fast paced and easy to fall into. I love the characters in this series and think Pamela and Bettina compliment each other nicely. This was a fun Easter themed mystery that kept me engrossed. The epilogue in the mystery wrapped things up nicely but it also has me wondering if this is the end and I finally need to say goodbye to these beloved characters. I hope there’s more, but if there isn’t I’m satisfied with the way this mystery wrapped things up.

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy this compilations by various authors, in this case three of my regular reads. The stories are novella style, with characters long-time readers will be familiar with. In this case, Meier uses "Easter Egg Murder" to introduce us to another set of series characters of hers that I was not familiar with, A Carole and Poopsie Mystery. I quickly fell into the story, however, helped along by the presence of long time favorite character Lucy Stone and thoroughly enjoying my introduction to Carole Capobianco. It was interesting to see the way the two quite different families meshed and I'll definitely be checking out the new series. As it is, we get a free trip to France this go round which, murder aside, was fun. Who knew falling into conversation with strangers on a flight would lead them to solve the murder of a cook, not to mention an old robbery?

"Death By Another Easter Egg" by Lee Hollis sees another favorite character scrambling to save her restaurant's reputation after a young reporter died while eating a meal Hayley Powell had prepared herself. Definitely not good for business. And, yikes, Hayley's husband is even a suspect. As she delves into the reporter's past things get dangerous. Nothing new for Hayley but definitely not the way one hopes to spend Easter.

Peggy Ehrhart's "An Eggy Way to Die" introduced me to the concept of an "egg influencer". Is there really such a thing? In any case, the victim is not only well known for her egg expertise but the body is found surrounded by broken eggs. As usual, it's great fun to watch Pamela get carried along by the power of Bettina's personality and quest for the truth. In the process, however, we get to have lots of great food, much courtesy of Bettina's husband, and learn a bit about fiber arts via Pamela's job of proofing and editing possible stories for a fiber arts magazine. I always find these stories, many based in historical research, fascinating. In the meantime, there's a murderer on the loose and they are determined not to let Pamela reveal their crime. Can Pamela and Bettina zero in on the culprit before they are dispose of like rotten eggs?

Bottom line, I enjoyed all three mysteries and was smiling as I finished "An Eggy Way to Die". What an epilogue. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing for this early peek at these twisty tales. It's way early but I am looking forward to checking out some decorated Easter Eggs when publication time draws nearer.

[Shelly Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. It's number 30-something in a series but you can read it by itself. You would get more background on the characters if you read the others first but you really don't need to in order to enjoy these stories.
The first story is called Easter Egg Murder and it is by Leslie Meier. Two families, completely unrelated, are heading to Paris for different reasons. Lucy Stone is a part-time reporter and is there to see her daughter who lives there. Carole Capobianco is an empty-nester who's husband became mega rich after developing a toilet of some sort (I'm sorry, I forget the exact thing he did with a toilet). When Lucy and her husband get lucky and moved to first class the two families meet. They find common grounds even though they are very different and when they meet up for a family dinner things get really murderous.
The second story is called Death by Another Easter Egg by Lee Hollis. The story is revolves around the death of a young reporter. She dies right in the middle of her meal at Hayley Powell's Bar Harbor restaurant. Immediately the gossips set in and start the rumor mill going claiming it had to have been something she ate at the restaurant. Hayley becomes determined to save her reputation and find out what really happened. She learns that the deceased was going to expose some very juicy life ruining news in a new story. The list of suspects is long and Hayley sure does have her work cut out for her.
The third and final story is called An Eggy Way to Die by Peggy Ehrhart. Pamela and Bettina are cleaning up after an Easter egg hunt in the Arborville park. However, when they go to clean up the mess they run right into a dead body. The body is of a local cookbook author and is surrounded by broken eggs and egg yolks are everywhere. These two aren't what you would call detectives by any means but they still decide to search for clues on their own. They are sure in for a surprise as their investigation progresses. This was my least favorite of the stories. It was still well written it was just that it talked a whole lot about what dishes were being used. It was a little weird how repetitive that was. Otherwise it wasn't a bad story.
This is a good fun book if you like cozy holiday type mystery stories. These are pretty popular authors so if you've read anything by any of them you know their styles so you'll very likely want to get your hands on this book!

[Art the Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these cozy mystery novella collections that Kensington has been putting together over the years. This collection has 2 authors that I really enjoy, and then one that is new to me. Overall, the collection would make a nice read over the Easter season.

EASTER EGG MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
This story finds Meier's heroine and her grumpy husband on the way to France to visit her daughter. As you would expect in a mystery, she gets tangled up in a mysterious death. One unique thing about this story is that another character also gets her own POV chapter. (Carole Capobianco). I only learned afterwards that this is a new character that Leslie Meier has started writing in a new series. Anyway, the story was fun, the mystery was just ok, but I liked having alternating pov's in the book. After 30+ novels in a series, it's remarkable how Meier is able to keep things fresh.

DEATH BY ANOTHER EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS
I really enjoy the Hayley Powell series, so I was excited to get to this one. This was the best story of the collection - great characters, interesting mystery, and really fun humor. The strength of this series is definitely in the characterization. The only real problem I had with this one and the previous story is that the husbands seemed too grouchy, and not in a fun way. The chief of police (Hayley's brother in law) is always a delight to read. He's Brazilian and still is mangling English after all these years. I like that he is capable in his role as a police officer, but still needs Hayley to help out on cases.

AN EGGY WAY TO DIE by PEGGY EHRHART
I loved the title of this story! Anyway, this is a new to me series even though there have been over ten books in the series. I was able to read it and understand what was happening even though I had not read the other books in the series. However, I think I was missing some needed context for several of the characters and plot developments, especially the romantic sub plot. Again the mystery in this one was just ok, and it was confusing because the mystery was wrapped up with 2 or 3 chapters left. I kept expecting a twist, but those chapters were used to wrap up some of the subplots of the story. As a new reader to the series that was a bit odd, but I expect long time fans of the series will appreciate it more.

My over all thoughts on the collection as a whole - not bad, not stellar, but just right. It provided me with a few hours of cozy entertainment and that's what I love best about this genre. You can't go wrong with fun characters, the occasional murder, and plenty of intrigue.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Kensington and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I enjoy the holiday-themed cozy mystery novella collections from @kensingtonbooks so much, and I appreciate receiving an advance copy of the ebook Easter Egg Murd3r which will be available February 24. This book consists of three Easter-themed stories having something to do with eggs. I have read full-length novels in each of the three series, but if you haven't, the novellas are a great introduction to these authors.

The titular story was written by Leslie Meier and features small-town reporter Lucy Stone and her husband, Bill. The couple travels from Maine to France to visit their daughter and end up in the middle of an investigation into a suspicious death. Another American, Carole Capobianco, is also involved and I liked the way Carole and Lucy worked together. (Carole is the main character in a new series by Meier.) Lucy and Bill can be a bit much sometimes, but overall the story is suspenseful and has several fun moments.

The second story, Death by Another Easter Egg, by Lee Hollis is the latest Hayley Powell mystery. Hayley has to prove her boyfriend's innocence after someone dies suddenly in her restaurant. Hayley's blog and recipes (which aren't related to the case) make up much of the story. These fun extras work better in the full-length books in the series than in this shorter novella. I enjoyed this one, but was able to guess the killer in this light mystery.

The third story, An Eggy Way to Die, by Peggy Ehrhart is my favorite. Best friends, knitters, and amateur sleuths Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser are on the case when someone dies during an Easter Egg hunt. These women and the rest of their knitting group are so fun. I enjoyed the investigation, but most of all, this story is a must read for readers following this series.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from Kensington Books and NetGalley, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great trio of cozy mysteries! I always love getting to read another Lucy Stone mystery and one of my favorite things is getting to see what is happening with Lucy’s kids. After a recent book, I was very interested to see where daughter Elizabeth’s storyline would pick up next, and this book did not disappoint!! Lucy and Bill are on their way to Paris to meet with Elizabeth to celebrate some major new happenings in her life, and of course, Lucy is excited to be going to Europe once again. (Bill is always happy as long as he gets a beer and a Red Sox game somewhere along the way.) This had all my favorite things about a good Lucy Stone mystery, with grumbly Bill and Lucy delighted to be in France. The setting was a delight, with charming descriptions of the food, and the apartments and the different cities. Lucy runs into the characters from Meier’s newest series, Carole and Frank, while at the airport, and they wind up seeing France together. Of course, someone winds up dead along the way, and if Lucy ever wants to get those passports back, she’s going to have to figure out who the killer is…

I also really enjoyed the Hayley Powell addition to this collection. When someone dies while eating in Hayley’s restaurant, an investigation is opened, but it quickly becomes apparent there is more going on. I found this one to be lots of fun, liked all the different food in it, and found Hayley to be such a hoot. I was cackling at a scene near the end regarding a certain easter basket and a mad car ride, and that is all I will say, but this author writing team is comedic gold. I really enjoyed the final mystery by Peggy Erhart as well! This had a great mystery, wonderful food descriptions and adorable cats. What more can a cozy lover ask for? 5/5 stars.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Kensington and NetGalley for review purposes.

[Hillary Gurrola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to read the Kensington cozy mystery holiday anthology books! I stop whatever I am reading to read these when they come out. Cozy mystery is my favorite genre and I am constantly working to stay caught up with all my favorite characters and series.

The Kensington cozy mystery holiday anthology will include 3 authors of Kensington cozies that have a current, ongoing series. Each author is given a holiday prompt and must write a short story set in their series and following the prompt. The latest book has the prompt of Easter Egg Murder. There is a short story set in the Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier, the Hayley Powell Kitchen Diva series by Lee Hollis, and the Knit and Nibble series by Peggy Ehrhart.

I am a faithful reader of the Lucy Stone and Hayley Powell series and love any chance to be in those worlds! These stories did not disappoint. I especially enjoyed that the Lucy Stone story included a meet up with another sleuth, Carol Capobianco from A Matter of Pedigree. I did not know that Leslie Meier started a new series! Book 2 of the Carol and Poopsie series comes out later this year. I will be starting this series soon! I have not read the Knit and Nibble series yet, but I have read several short stories from the other holiday anthologies. I absolutely plan to get caught up on the world of Pamela and Bettina and the knitting group.

I thought that each of the Easter Egg Murders was clever and interesting and I absolutely did not guess who the culprits were. I love that! I like to be surprised. Seriously, I can’t recommend the anthologies more. If you are new to cozies, they are a great way to get started in the genre.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington publishing for the advanced reader copy! This book will be published on February 24, 2026!

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEATH BY ANOTHER EASTER EGG BY LEE HOLLIS
It's Easter in Bar Harbor! The local chocolate shop is swamped with customers but Hayley manages to finagle a chocolate bunny for Bruce. Meanwhile Emma, a customer at Hayley's restaurant, dies right at the table on a busy night when there were dozens of diners there to observe her final moments. Was Hayley's food the culprit? Or did one of the stories Emma was investigating lead her hopping down the wrong path?

I love Lee Hollis's books and Hayley's series is my favorite. Unfortunately we are about to see the end of Hayley. And Liddy and Mona. And Randy and Sergio. And don't forget Bruce and Leroy! This story was particularly poignant knowing that it may be the last.

I did not read Leslie Meier's story. I'm not sure how she still gets top billing on these compilations when her stories are so half-hearted, not really even mysteries anymore but worn out essays on the evils of everyone not being rich. I tried to read her short story in the last compilation and couldn't get through it so I didn't try this one.

I also didn't read the Peggy Ehrhart story because I haven't started the series yet and don't want spoilers. This series is definitely on my list though and I look forward to reading it.

Thank you to the authors, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three mysteries, all Easter themed.

Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meir

Lucy Stone and her husband are visiting their daughter in Paris. Here she meets Carole Capobianco. Together they join forces to discover the mystery of the chickens and their eggs and the murder of Mathilde, their cook. I enjoyed watching Lucy and Carole work together. Each has their own unique style of problem solving. Although Carole seemed to be a bit too much at times, in the end they both worked well together.

Death By Another Easter Egg by Lee Hollis

Hayley Powell is devastated when a reporter dies at her restaurant. Hayley knows that her food didn't kill the reporter. She sets out to find out who did it while also putting herself in dangerous situations.

An Eggy Way To Die by Peggy Ehrhart

Pamela and Bettina discover a body while cleaning up after an Easter Egg hunt. The body belongs to an influencer who specializes in cooking eggs. Pamela and Bettina are great sleuths and will get to the bottom of this eggy mess.

Overall a great read. I enjoyed all the characters, some that I already knew and some new ones. I loved the Easter theme and the bits about food, recipes and cocktails. Perfect for mystery lovers and foodies.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this eArc. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Sami Kaye Reads]

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Easter Egg Murder, with three short stories by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis & Peggy Ehrhart. These stories work well together, and I enjoyed all three. 

I have read all of Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone books. In this short mystery,  Lucy and her husband go to Paris to visit their daughter. On the flight Lucy meets Carole Capobianco and her stressful family! Carole is a new character in another series by Leslie Meier. I can’t wait to check out the Carole and Poopsie series!!  
Both women become caught up in a murder investigation where their different styles of investigation make for a great  read. I hope they will be in another book again in the future.

I haven’t read many Lee Hollis books but I truly enjoyed this one! I plan on checking out more by this author. 
The mystery kept me intrigued and I couldn’t put the book down. 
Love Hayley Powell and love that there are also recipes for cocktails and Easter treats.

Peggy Ehrhart’s story was fun. 
The mystery and the characters are entertaining and likable. 

This was my first Peggy Earhart book and I look forward to checking out more. Big bonus for me -a knitting pattern and recipe are both included. Always a fun addition. 

I loved all three stories! I would rate them each 5 stars. 
Highly recommend you check out this book and these authors!!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy these themed novella/short stories that help the readers have a dose of their favorite characters until a full book is available.

I enjoyed the well-written stories. The first story gets us to Paris, temporarily. Lucy and Bill are shuffled off to the countryside due to a workers’ strike. At the countryside village, a housekeeper/cook is killed while dinner is being served. I enjoyed the descriptions and stereotypes of the French as that is part of my background. I did not find anything offensive in the stereotypes. I understand Carole Capobianco, the woman she meets on the airplane is a crossover character to Ms. Meyer’s new series.

The second book by Lee Hollis has Holly investigating the death of a reporter. I jumped a few times, when Bruce was in danger. I wasn’t sure how it would go. How can we not notice people?
It made me think of pre- baby boomers that have complained over the years of not being heard or of being ignored. These are vibrant people that shouldn’t be pushed aside by the younger generations.

I did not read story three as I haven’t read to the point where this takes place in the series.

I was given an advanced readers copy. These are my opinions and I am not required to leave a positive review.

[Kristin- Kristin's Bookstack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Easter cozy mysteries in one book!

Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meier- Lucy Stone Mystery Series

I love this series and have read most of the books! In this book, Lucy and her husband, Bill, head to France to visit their pregnant daughter and end up solving a murder mystery. This book is a fun read and has a great plot twist at the end!

Death by Another Easter Egg by Lee Hollis- Haley Powell

I really liked this cozy mystery story! It had a great plot that kept me guessing who killed the newest newspaper journalist in town. Little clues throughout the story lead to an exciting ending. This story also includes recipes to try this Easter season.

DNF-An Egg Way to Die by Peggy Earhart

I had a hard time getting into this story. There were too many characters to keep track of, the writing was a bit confusing at times (almost like the story was pieced together from a longer version), and it didn’t hold my interest enough to continue reading. Maybe you will enjoy it more than I did!?

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Brenda]

This is a compilation of 3 cozy mystery short stories.

The first one, The Easter Egg Murder, is by Leslie Meier featuring her beloved character Lucy Stone of Tinker's Cove, Maine. In October of 2025, Ms Meier began a new series featuring Carole Capobianco and her dog Poopsie of Providence Rhode Island. Lucy and Carole and families meet each other in this 20 chapter novella. Everyone is in Paris France, and the interactions start at the Boston airport - and continue throughout their stay in France.

Death by Another Easter Egg by Lee Hollis is the second book. It features Hayley Powell of Hayley's Kitchen Restaurant in Bar Harbor, Michigan. What happened to Mrs. Bittersweet's husband Dewey? Food and drink recipes along with a note from Hayley Powell round out this cozy mystery.

An Eggy Way to Die by Peggy Erhart is a short story that includes a pattern to knit an Easter Bunny hand puppet, and a recipe for nibble.

This is a new series to me and I found the characters quite enjoyable.

I volunteered to read an ARC through Net Galley

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were three fun Easter-themed murder mysteries from three of our fave cozy mystery authors who’ve been appearing together in these seasonal collections for several years now. Lucy Stone’s story kicked off the trio with a trip to France where she met up with an unlikely sleuth partner. It was kinda cool to see Lucy talking to someone besides Bill about a mystery.

Hayley Powell’s story as always was fun and funny—we even got a couple of my favorite things about the series, what I call Sergio-isms and his innocent stumbling over some words. He’s such an awesome character and brother-in-law to Hayley who again faced off with a killer proving something was definitely rotten in Bar Harbor.

Pamela and Bettina sleuthed together again and faced off with another killer after Pamela figured it all out. There was an extra awesome ending for this story too giving the Knit and Nibblers yet another reason for celebration.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always read these holiday anthologies. I would give the Lucy Stone story 2 stars. I usually like her stories, but this one didn’t hit with me. For one thing, I thought how they ended up in the countryside felt forced. If I went all that way to see my daughter, I wouldn’t willingly go somewhere else instead. Secondly, I didn’t like the other female character; she got on my nerves. The murder felt very contrived.
I liked the Lee Hollis story.. Lucy and friends were their usual selves. The plot made sense and was a typical storyline for his books. Finally, it included a couple of Hayley’s articles just like in a full-length story. Five stars for this one.
I have never read anything by the final author, so I have nothing to compare it to. The characters seemed pleasant. The storyline made sense. Finally, there was a surprise twist I wouldn’t expect to find in a short story version of a series. It gets a 31/2 stars.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love these books which bring authors together in common themes. Easter Egg Murder is no exception. I am a big fan of the Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier. It has been fun watching her kids grow up in the books. When she and her husband Bill travel to Paris to see their oldest daughter Elizabeth, they find themselves meeting up with the Capobiancos from Ms Meier's new series. While not a fan of the new family, it was fun to see them interact. In Lee Hollis's segment we find Hayley Powell must break open the case when a young reporter dies mid meal in her restaurant. Our third author was new to me. but her story pulled me in. When a cookbook author is found dead, will they find the killer or will things smell rotten? I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

[Barb Foerst · Rating 5 out of 5]

EASTER EGG MURDER - Leslie Meier has a new series and this novella combines the characters from her Lucy Stone books. Lucy is off to France to visit her granddaughter for Easter. At the airport, Lucy meets Carole Capobianco the main character in the new series. Although the two have little in common they are destined to spend their time in France together.

DEATH BY ANOTHER EASTER EGG - another Easter murder at Hayley’s restaurant. Hailey searches for the killer to save her restaurant and also her dad.

AN EGGY WAY TO DIE - A body is found after the Easter egg hunt. Fortunately the children had already left. The body was surrounded by yolky eggs. This mystery will give Pamela and Bettina a run for their money. The ending has lots of happy tears. #NetGalley

[BHK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easter Egg Murder is such a fun little holiday escape! It’s got all the cozy small town vibes I love with a sprinkle of mystery too. Lucy Stone is trying to enjoy a simple visit with her daughter, only to get pulled into the strangest situation involving missing Fabergé style decoy eggs and a suspiciously dead cook. I loved how Lucy’s curiosity kept pushing her deeper into the mystery, even when she wasn’t exactly looking for trouble. Between the chickens, the glittering eggs, and the small town drama, this story felt festive and clever without ever being too heavy of a mystery. If you’re in the mood for something charming and seasonal, this Easter themed mystery totally delivers!

[Katie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone series and was THRILLED when I was given a copy of the latest book to review. I just finished reading it and enjoyed every second. I love how she used the story to introduce the characters in her new series. I'm hooked and will be buying that book ASAP. I loved the other two stories as well. This was my first time reading a Hayley Powell mystery, and it was fantastic! Now, I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the books in the series. Highly recommend!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anytime I see the author Leslie Meier has a book out I know that I am going to grab it and devour it. Seeing the book Easter Egg Murder is three books in one I know is one for me.
Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meier, Death by Another Easter Egg by Lee Hollis and An Eggy Way to Die by Peggy Ehrhart are the three books in this cozy mystery.
They are all great in their own way and together I know you will enjoy your time reading them.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the copy of Easter Egg Murder. This is my personal review.

[Carol Deegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

These three cozy murders by different authors were fun to read and try to guess who is doing the killing. All of the main characters find themselves involved in finding murderers and the strange happenings going on. They are all well written and leave you amazed at the endings. If you’re a cozy mystery fan these stories will be enjoyable.I received a copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sandy Marczewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easter Egg Murder is a fun, cozy mystery that delivers small-town charm with a touch of suspense.
All three stories are set at Easter time. Follow along as each mystery is solved by likable characters at a satisfying pace!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.