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Lucy Stone #32
Countdown to Christmas Murder
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26
Christmas may be 63 days away, but as the Tinker’s Cove Chamber of Commerce gears up for an elaborate Dickens-themed Christmas event, reporter Lucy Stone is already feeling a bit Grinchy—until a possible murder requires her sleuthing skills in the latest Lucy Stone Mystery from bestselling author Leslie Meier.
With all four kids out of the house, Lucy Stone’s suddenly empty nest has put a damper on her usual zest for Christmas. She’s got plenty of article ideas to keep her busy though, including reports of vicious social media posts targeting several town residents. Plus, there’s the self-proclaimed “reputation changer” who promises he can clean up any negative press. It all seems a bit too convenient to Lucy, who decides an investigation is in order.
On top of all that, after agreeing to play Mrs. Cratchit in “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Lucy also decides to plan a pre-Thanksgiving family weekend. Despite her juggling, it’s not a success—the kids and their partners come but the mood is tense, and Lucy is relieved to see them off. Then comes shocking bank manager Bert Cosgrove, one of the victims of the slanderous media posts, has been found dead. The police are calling it a suicide.
No one, including Lucy, believes sweet, mild Bert would take his own life. While holiday preparations reach a feverish pitch, she’s determined to find his killer. And as she burrows into a surprising history of motives, longstanding secrets and family connections begin to stink like rotten plum pudding. Now, as Lucy gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation that would definitely spoil Christmas—permanently.
With all four kids out of the house, Lucy Stone’s suddenly empty nest has put a damper on her usual zest for Christmas. She’s got plenty of article ideas to keep her busy though, including reports of vicious social media posts targeting several town residents. Plus, there’s the self-proclaimed “reputation changer” who promises he can clean up any negative press. It all seems a bit too convenient to Lucy, who decides an investigation is in order.
On top of all that, after agreeing to play Mrs. Cratchit in “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Lucy also decides to plan a pre-Thanksgiving family weekend. Despite her juggling, it’s not a success—the kids and their partners come but the mood is tense, and Lucy is relieved to see them off. Then comes shocking bank manager Bert Cosgrove, one of the victims of the slanderous media posts, has been found dead. The police are calling it a suicide.
No one, including Lucy, believes sweet, mild Bert would take his own life. While holiday preparations reach a feverish pitch, she’s determined to find his killer. And as she burrows into a surprising history of motives, longstanding secrets and family connections begin to stink like rotten plum pudding. Now, as Lucy gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation that would definitely spoil Christmas—permanently.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
Leslie Meier
65 books2,116 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.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 22, 2026
Countdown To Christmas Murder is the 32nd book in the Lucy Stone mysteries by Leslie Meyer, we learned the popular bank manager Burt Cosgrove was found and thought to have committed suicide but did he take his self out or did a decade old grudge rear it’s ugly head to take him out. while everyone in the tiny main town gets ready to celebrate Christmas with a Charles Dickens themed Christmas celebration Lucy is feeling down because she isn’t as close geographically as she would like to be with her children at the same time she tries to find out was Burt depressed or murdered? Things get even worse when a bad storm is predicted in a little boy goes missing. with the sheriff focusing on the storm and blowing off Tyler who he says must’ve just ran off it’s left up to Lucy to find out where is the boy and what happened to Bert? I love these cozy mysteries with Lucy Stone her husband her family her coworkers and all the towns people there’s always something new of yet to read one that was similar to another in the end always has my heart palpitating despite it being a cozy love these books and can’t recommend them enough there’s a reason there’s over 30 of them and that is because they’re so good. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #LucyStoneMysteries, #LeslieMeyer,#ChristmasMurder,
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Countdown to Christmas Murder by Leslie Meier is a wonderful cozy mystery that is the 32nd book in the truly amazing and long-running Lucy Stone Mystery series.
This is by far my favorite cozy mystery series ever. I have read every single book and novella that Ms Meier has written for Lucy. I truly feel that I have grown up with the Stone family and the community of Tinker’s Cove in Maine. Consistently this series has produced wonderful, entertaining, realistic, and at times heartwarming and harrowing stories throughout the years. I know one day Lucy’s story will wrap up. I just hope it isn’t any time soon.
This one is obviously a Christmas-themed book that centers around Lucy trying to not feel the pang of loneliness of an empty nester, while trying to gather together what kids she can for the holidays, all while juggling a murder/mystery, being an amateur Mrs. Cratchit in the village Dickens Christmas festival, and coming to terms with what she wants out of this new stage in her life and career.
A lot is packed into this little book, but the author makes this effortless, entertaining, and enjoyable. The murder and associated mysteries surrounding a very suspicious death of the beloved Bert Cosgrove, manager of the local bank and the instances of online bullying that is plaguing multiple members of the community, all while keeping her cool and her job, gives Lucy plenty to tackle this holiday season. It was pure joy following along as she saves the day and the season.
I will always look forward to reading the next book.
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 9/29/26.
This is by far my favorite cozy mystery series ever. I have read every single book and novella that Ms Meier has written for Lucy. I truly feel that I have grown up with the Stone family and the community of Tinker’s Cove in Maine. Consistently this series has produced wonderful, entertaining, realistic, and at times heartwarming and harrowing stories throughout the years. I know one day Lucy’s story will wrap up. I just hope it isn’t any time soon.
This one is obviously a Christmas-themed book that centers around Lucy trying to not feel the pang of loneliness of an empty nester, while trying to gather together what kids she can for the holidays, all while juggling a murder/mystery, being an amateur Mrs. Cratchit in the village Dickens Christmas festival, and coming to terms with what she wants out of this new stage in her life and career.
A lot is packed into this little book, but the author makes this effortless, entertaining, and enjoyable. The murder and associated mysteries surrounding a very suspicious death of the beloved Bert Cosgrove, manager of the local bank and the instances of online bullying that is plaguing multiple members of the community, all while keeping her cool and her job, gives Lucy plenty to tackle this holiday season. It was pure joy following along as she saves the day and the season.
I will always look forward to reading the next book.
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 9/29/26.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've been a fan of this series from the first book. I feel as I know all of her children, her husband Bill, and all her long time friends in Tinkers Cove, Maine.
I feel a connection with Lucy in this story, she's an empty nester and finds herself a bit lost after having such a full house for years.
Lucy enjoys her job at the paper, but I could sense that Lucy may be ready for an exciting adventure.
When a local friend and resident is found dead, Lucy knows she has to poke around and see what she can find.
Lucy also hears about people being scammed on social media, and Lucy gets involved, curious as to how to trace the person responsible.
I feel a connection with Lucy in this story, she's an empty nester and finds herself a bit lost after having such a full house for years.
Lucy enjoys her job at the paper, but I could sense that Lucy may be ready for an exciting adventure.
When a local friend and resident is found dead, Lucy knows she has to poke around and see what she can find.
Lucy also hears about people being scammed on social media, and Lucy gets involved, curious as to how to trace the person responsible.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Leslie Meier is a prominent name on my cozy mystery shelves. Each season brings a book guaranteed to keep Lucy Stone busy trying to figure out how her small town can be home to killers. Book #32 in the series has someone murdering reputations on social media. When Bert Cosgrove is found dead, the police rule it a suicide since Bert was a target of some vicious comments. But Bert's friends don't believe he would take his own life, so Lucy and company will spend the days leading up to Christmas following their suspicions.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews