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Lacy Steele Mysteries #8
Ladies' Circle of Murder
With the birth of her sister’s baby looming and the men in her life suddenly called away, Lacy Steele feels out of whack. When her boyfriend asks her to play a contact sport with him and her mother has a shady connection to a dead man, things take a turn for the worse. As her family waits for a baby that refuses to arrive, Lacy stays busy by trying to solve a murder. At least she believes it’s a murder, even if the detective in charge of the case does not. With no one on her side and time running out, Lacy might find herself under arrest. Or worse—six feet under the ground.
- GenresCozy MysteryMystery
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2015
54 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Gray Bartal
170 books136 followersVanessa Gray Bartal is primarily a foodie who began writing when she was unable to find people willing to pay her to eat. She believes everyone deserves a happily ever after and works hard to make it happen, even in a murder mystery.
She would love to hear from you. Check out her Facebook author page for upcoming new releases, and drop her a line while you're there!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 11, 2015
Hilarious! (& Yet Touching!)
I love Lacey! She is so very bright & very competent, yet insecure (due to her hypercritical mother), & extremely clutzy! I dare you not to laugh out loud at her attempts to learn to knit & don't even get me stated at those desperate attempts to play dodgeball! Then there is her sister Riley, with the never ending pregnancy, who states, that she is "having a lawyer deliver it an eviction notice....because that's all I can think of to get it out at this point." While handling all this Lacey is trying to prove that not only was a man murdered, but who murdered him. I can't wait for the next book! Make sure you read all the books in this series!
I love Lacey! She is so very bright & very competent, yet insecure (due to her hypercritical mother), & extremely clutzy! I dare you not to laugh out loud at her attempts to learn to knit & don't even get me stated at those desperate attempts to play dodgeball! Then there is her sister Riley, with the never ending pregnancy, who states, that she is "having a lawyer deliver it an eviction notice....because that's all I can think of to get it out at this point." While handling all this Lacey is trying to prove that not only was a man murdered, but who murdered him. I can't wait for the next book! Make sure you read all the books in this series!
January 24, 2025
Some of these Lacy Steele books are better than others (or it just might be me at the time I was reading the one or two that didn't hit a home run with me) but this one was excellent and held me turning pages right to the end.
With the birth of her sister’s baby looming and the men in her life suddenly called away, Lacy Steele feels out of whack. When her boyfriend asks her to play a contact sport with him and her mother has a shady connection to a dead man, things take a turn for the worse. As her family waits for a baby that refuses to arrive, Lacy stays busy by trying to solve a murder. At least she believes it’s a murder, even if the detective in charge of the case does not. With no one on her side and time running out, Lacy might find herself under arrest. Or worse—six feet under the ground.
With the birth of her sister’s baby looming and the men in her life suddenly called away, Lacy Steele feels out of whack. When her boyfriend asks her to play a contact sport with him and her mother has a shady connection to a dead man, things take a turn for the worse. As her family waits for a baby that refuses to arrive, Lacy stays busy by trying to solve a murder. At least she believes it’s a murder, even if the detective in charge of the case does not. With no one on her side and time running out, Lacy might find herself under arrest. Or worse—six feet under the ground.
November 14, 2019
Just couldn’t finish this book. Really got tired of the heroine being put down by her mom and other characters. Seems to me a person who has brains enough to buy a building, refurbish it successfully with new businesses certainly has enough going for her not to put up with such nonsense. Won’t be reading any more of this series. Had enough.
August 22, 2017
Good read
Book 8 is as entertaining as all the previous books. Mildly disturbing that there are typos and mistakes in syntax. Looking forward to next one, will be sad if it's the last, but there other books by this author, perhaps their as good.
Book 8 is as entertaining as all the previous books. Mildly disturbing that there are typos and mistakes in syntax. Looking forward to next one, will be sad if it's the last, but there other books by this author, perhaps their as good.
May 31, 2018
Lacy steele
Absolutely love lacy she makes me laugh and who doesn't need that? It's nice to get lost in lacy's world for a while and just enjoy thank you vanessa battalion; I so look forward to the next book and next adventure.
Absolutely love lacy she makes me laugh and who doesn't need that? It's nice to get lost in lacy's world for a while and just enjoy thank you vanessa battalion; I so look forward to the next book and next adventure.
June 2, 2017
Good book
I enjoyed reading this story. It was very entertaining and surprising. I can't wait to see what the next storyline will be.
I enjoyed reading this story. It was very entertaining and surprising. I can't wait to see what the next storyline will be.
May 13, 2019
Non stop laughs
I couldn’t put the book down. Laughing out loud at 1:00 am. Lacy is just to funny. I wish I had friends like her and her friends.
I couldn’t put the book down. Laughing out loud at 1:00 am. Lacy is just to funny. I wish I had friends like her and her friends.
June 27, 2015
I cannot begin to say enough about this series. I have loved it from the start of the series and each book has yet to fail me. Lacy is a lovable klutzy woman, who is intelligent. I love her relationship with Jason, they are totally accepting of each others hang ups, although we don't see many of Jason's in this book. The humor of their conversations always has me laughing, at one point I was in tears from laughing. Her relationship with her sister is getting better, and Riley is hysterical with all her pregnancy comments. The mystery keeps you guessing when Lacy finds a body that has a relationship tie in with her mother and the dodge ball team she has joined. I didn't put it together until Lacy did. I will definitely continue on with this series, my only regret is that I have to wait for the next one.
July 11, 2015
This was excellent! The latest in the Lacy Steele series, in this one, Lacy's sister Riley is past due for the delivery of her baby, Mom is still in town and driving everyone up the wall, there is a murder, and Lacy discovers the body - after seeing mom leave the building... Jason is out of town, and so Lacy has to keep it all together, find the murderer, keep mom from more mayhem, and Riley from going postal from wanting to be done with being pregnant. Hilarious and quite enjoyable. Read it.
June 10, 2015
While Jason is out of town, Lacy is on her own dealing with dodge ball, a murdered mechanic, her pregnant sister and her mother. Not the usually funny stumbling along story. It was actually disappointing and you wanted to grab Lacy and shake her, while hoping the story got back on track.. but it never does
June 12, 2015
I was waiting so long for this new Lacy Steele book; it felt like years. (I'm not sure how long it actually was, but it felt long.)
Totally worth the wait! I was laughing out loud about three pages in, and continued laughing throughout the entire book. Funniest one yet! Lacy has to be one of my favourite protagonists of any book series I've ever read!
So...how long now until the next one? ;)
Totally worth the wait! I was laughing out loud about three pages in, and continued laughing throughout the entire book. Funniest one yet! Lacy has to be one of my favourite protagonists of any book series I've ever read!
So...how long now until the next one? ;)
November 4, 2018
Funniest One Yet
I love Lacy Steele because she is not perfect in fact she is a klutz. It is nice to read about someone who trips and falls but picks herself up and keeps on trucking. The mysteries are well written but I liked this one the best. I was looking for something light hearted and fun to read and this filled the bill perfectly.
I love Lacy Steele because she is not perfect in fact she is a klutz. It is nice to read about someone who trips and falls but picks herself up and keeps on trucking. The mysteries are well written but I liked this one the best. I was looking for something light hearted and fun to read and this filled the bill perfectly.
January 30, 2016
My favorite Lacy Steel book!
I really enjoyed , _Ladies' Circle of Murder.
The characters were more fleshed out than in some of her other books, but this time I actually found myself liking the sister and sympathing with the mom, (a little).
It was a fast read with a nice mystery.
I really enjoyed , _Ladies' Circle of Murder.
The characters were more fleshed out than in some of her other books, but this time I actually found myself liking the sister and sympathing with the mom, (a little).
It was a fast read with a nice mystery.
July 12, 2015
Another adventure with Lacy
I enjoy reading Bartal's books. They are lighthearted, yet full of antics. The interaction among the characters unfolds naturally. Can't wait til the next book!
I enjoy reading Bartal's books. They are lighthearted, yet full of antics. The interaction among the characters unfolds naturally. Can't wait til the next book!
July 20, 2015
#8 in the Lacy Steele mysteries.
Riley is pregnant.
Lacy finds a dead body at the mechanic where her mothers car is getting worked on.
She sees her mom come out of shop before she finds the body.
But was he murdered or was it an accident that the car lift fell on him????
Riley is pregnant.
Lacy finds a dead body at the mechanic where her mothers car is getting worked on.
She sees her mom come out of shop before she finds the body.
But was he murdered or was it an accident that the car lift fell on him????
August 16, 2015
Tears of Laughter...
were nonstop. The Lacy Steele stories just keep getting better and better. The wait now commences for the next installment of what Lacy can get into unexpectedly.
were nonstop. The Lacy Steele stories just keep getting better and better. The wait now commences for the next installment of what Lacy can get into unexpectedly.
November 19, 2016
Babies and Murder
Lacey knows there was a murder but Jason is not home to investigate. When the real murderer shows up it may cause Lacey and her sister more then the bargained for.
Lacey knows there was a murder but Jason is not home to investigate. When the real murderer shows up it may cause Lacey and her sister more then the bargained for.
July 1, 2015
Love this series. Lots of laugh out loud moments...really, you will find yourself laughing out loud.
June 21, 2015
Lacy Steele Series
I really enjoyed this latest installment of this series. The characters feel like family. As always it interesting without any smut. Can't wait to the next one
I really enjoyed this latest installment of this series. The characters feel like family. As always it interesting without any smut. Can't wait to the next one
June 28, 2015
A Family Mystery
Lacy Steele is a character whose every day life is something hard to believe. There is humor but there are. Also serious moments.
Lacy Steele is a character whose every day life is something hard to believe. There is humor but there are. Also serious moments.
August 12, 2015
Good read, no dirty language and the author tells the story with a great sense of humor. I plan to read more of her books.
September 1, 2016
another good mystery...
May 8, 2024
Another Lacy Steele mystery. Very enjoyable with its revolving cast of characters.
September 3, 2015
loved it
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews