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Lucy Stone #3 & 16
Halloween Murder
For Lucy Stone, Halloween in Tinker’s Cove, Maine, the treats aren’t just sweet and delicious. Sometimes they’re also deadly . . .
Trick or Treat Murder
While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes for her town’s annual Halloween festival, an arsonist is on the loose in Tinker’s Cove. When arson turns into murder, a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke . . .
Wicked Witch Murder
Not everyone in Tinker’s Cover is enchanted with newcomer Diana Ravenscroft and her quaint little shop offering everything from jewelry to psychic readings. But a gruesome murder of Diana’s friend has Lucy Stone uncovering a deadly web of secrets—and a spine-chilling brush with the things that go bump in the night . . .
Trick or Treat Murder
While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes for her town’s annual Halloween festival, an arsonist is on the loose in Tinker’s Cove. When arson turns into murder, a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke . . .
Wicked Witch Murder
Not everyone in Tinker’s Cover is enchanted with newcomer Diana Ravenscroft and her quaint little shop offering everything from jewelry to psychic readings. But a gruesome murder of Diana’s friend has Lucy Stone uncovering a deadly web of secrets—and a spine-chilling brush with the things that go bump in the night . . .
491 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2018
204 people are currently reading
740 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Meier
66 books2,063 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 - 30 of 102 reviews
January 31, 2025
Yay! Finished all the short novellas and am finally almost current in the series. Need to catch up on reviews this week. Liked the spooky stuff this time.
August 18, 2018
This book was divided into two different mysteries. The first being TRICK OR TREAT MURDER and a second mystery that takes place many years later WICKED WITCH MURDER.
TRICK OR TREAT MURDER -- 2 STARS
This one started off well, but then it lost a lot of steam the longer it went on. It was just a bit too drawn out in my opinion. There was a lot of unnecessary page space given to new baby and family issues that would have probably been better spent on developing the actual mystery. I also didn't particularly care much for Lucy, and there were a few things the author wrote that rubbed me the wrong way. Especially implying that her husband would have jumped into bed with the attractive murder victim if she had given him any encouragement. Which made ZERO sense for her to say since her husband seemed to be a stand-up guy devoted to Lucy and his family? There were also comments about Yankees being stingy and a nurse being overweight and ugly, so ya, I was just a bit turned off by those things.
WICKED WITCH MURDER -- 2.5 STARS
This one takes place several years later. Lucy's kids who were young in the first book are all grown up now. Disappointedly, this one had ZERO to do with Halloween. Which, if I am honest, was the only reason I requested to review this book in the first place. That said, I did enjoy this one a smidge more than I did the first story. The plot seemed to move along at a better pace. Unfortunately, Lucy continued to be super annoying. She was a huge judgy b!tch and I just couldn't stand her for most of the book. So yea, it was a little better executed than TRICK OR TREAT MURDER, but still, nothing to write home about.
October 27, 2022
Two great books in an excellent series. I would argue that Wicked Witch Murder is not really a Halloween mystery but it's still a great story.
February 10, 2019
Two previously published Lucy Stone mysteries released under a new name. Although I like the stories, I'm giving it two stars for the fact it wasn't a new mystery but rehashed ones.
July 26, 2018
This book is divided into two parts. I had previously read the first one, Trick or Treat Murder about two years ago. Lucy Stone is investigating several arsons, one of which killed a doctor's wife unexpectedly visiting their vacation home in Tinkers Cove, Maine. I enjoyed re-visiting the early years of the Stone family with the baby and the young children. Her investigative spirit was inspiring as a new reader of cozy mysteries.
The second book was much later in the series, after their oldest son Toby had married and started his own family. He and his wife and son live close by and Elizabeth is away at college. This book, while having some elements of a Halloween, focused on Diana, the Wicca witch and the murder of someone in her coven. I had not read it before and did not care for this book at all. There were situations that the character I had come to know as Lucy Stone acted in a manner contrary to those values. I thought the book focused far too much on the witchcraft and too little on suspects, red herrings and a good mystery plot.
*** Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
The second book was much later in the series, after their oldest son Toby had married and started his own family. He and his wife and son live close by and Elizabeth is away at college. This book, while having some elements of a Halloween, focused on Diana, the Wicca witch and the murder of someone in her coven. I had not read it before and did not care for this book at all. There were situations that the character I had come to know as Lucy Stone acted in a manner contrary to those values. I thought the book focused far too much on the witchcraft and too little on suspects, red herrings and a good mystery plot.
*** Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
September 23, 2018
This was two of Leslie's old books reprinted and published for Halloween. The first book had main character Lucy just given birth, with an arsonist playing his mischief. Lucy starts her investigation to find this perpetrator.
The second story is set decades later, Lucy is the grandmother where she sets forth to solve another mystery where a body is burned down.
The books were a quick read with cozy twists and varied characters.
Overall fab fun reads
The second story is set decades later, Lucy is the grandmother where she sets forth to solve another mystery where a body is burned down.
The books were a quick read with cozy twists and varied characters.
Overall fab fun reads
Want to read
August 30, 2018Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier is the 3rd book, Trick or Treat Murder, and 16th book, Wicked Witch Murder, in the Lucy Stone mystery series. I have been reading Lucy Stone books for years, and the books are like visiting old friends, I love this series. Both books are Halloween tales, first one about an arson, second one about a witch who is new to town. I found these books to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. There are a lot of fun twists and turns. I enjoy the way Ms. Meier relates to everyday life and people. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, as always. If you love cozy mysteries, I recommend this book and the whole series.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 13, 2018
Halloween Murder includes two Lucy Stone mysteries . One revolves around a series of arsons, while the second one shows us that someone has started practicing some suspicion Wiccan traditions. In the small town of Tinker's Cove, mother of four Lucy Stone will find herself involved in both mysteries, and will try to solve them.
Both plots were quite interesting, with he characters being charming and sometimes strange. There was plenty of humorous dialogue, which was a plus. I felt that the story could have been a little shorter; in times it felt like zoning too much in Lucy's life instead of the mystery at hand. All in all it was a fun read, that most fans of cozy mystery books will enjoy.
Both plots were quite interesting, with he characters being charming and sometimes strange. There was plenty of humorous dialogue, which was a plus. I felt that the story could have been a little shorter; in times it felt like zoning too much in Lucy's life instead of the mystery at hand. All in all it was a fun read, that most fans of cozy mystery books will enjoy.
December 19, 2024
Read as two separate books
August 8, 2018
Trick or Treat Murder
While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes for her town’s annual Halloween festival, an arsonist is on the loose in Tinker’s Cove. When arson turns into murder, a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke.
Wicked Witch Murder
Not everyone in Tinker’s Cover is enchanted with newcomer Diana Ravenscroft and her quaint little shop offering everything from jewelry to psychic readings. But a gruesome murder of Diana’s friend has Lucy Stone uncovering a deadly web of secrets, and a spine-chilling brush with things that go bump in the night.
--
Series: A Lucy Stone Mystery
Author: Leslie Meier
Genre: Cozy Mystery/compilation
Publisher: Kensington Books
Halloween Murder is a compilation of two previously published books in the Lucy Stone Mystery Series. Both stories are enjoyable and easy to read. Both stories focus on Lucy Stone and her amateur sleuthing in two different murder cases.
Story one, Trick or Treat Murder takes place right after the birth of Lucy’s 4th child. She is a new mom again and having difficulty dealing with everything. Someone is burning down old historic homes and building in in Tinker’s Cove, and Lucy fears her home will be next. Unfortunately, one of the homes was not empty when the fire destroyed it.
Sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong tends to get it scorched, and Lucy soon finds herself going up in smoke as the killer decides that she knows too much.
In story two, Wicked Witch Murder takes place in the future after Lucy’s kids are all grown up, or most of them. A new business in town is ruffling feathers and causing some residents to harken back to a time when witches were burned. Lucy isn’t a fan of Diana Ravenscroft’s new store, and she isn’t sure what to make of witchcraft, but she knows that several people truly dislike it enough to want to run Diana out of town on a rail.
When someone is murdered, fingers point to Diana and her coven. Lucy ends up smack in the middle of the investigation and becomes a target of an overzealous bible thumper who is trying to scare the residents of Tinker’s Cove into reinstating the witch hunt, possibly with a witch burned at the stake.
Both stories are very interesting and filled with plenty of action. The writing is flawless, creative and entertaining. There is a bit of confusion when moving to the second story as most readers will anticipate a linear passage between stories. However, the span between them is large and can be frustrating for some.
In general, these are very good stories and worth the time to read. I highly recommend this series and this compilation. I do recommend that readers familiarize themselves with the series to get a good understanding of who the characters are, as well as a bit of background as there is little to none within this particular book.
While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes for her town’s annual Halloween festival, an arsonist is on the loose in Tinker’s Cove. When arson turns into murder, a little digging in all the wrong places puts Lucy too close to a shocking discovery that could send all her best-laid plans up in smoke.
Wicked Witch Murder
Not everyone in Tinker’s Cover is enchanted with newcomer Diana Ravenscroft and her quaint little shop offering everything from jewelry to psychic readings. But a gruesome murder of Diana’s friend has Lucy Stone uncovering a deadly web of secrets, and a spine-chilling brush with things that go bump in the night.
--
Series: A Lucy Stone Mystery
Author: Leslie Meier
Genre: Cozy Mystery/compilation
Publisher: Kensington Books
Halloween Murder is a compilation of two previously published books in the Lucy Stone Mystery Series. Both stories are enjoyable and easy to read. Both stories focus on Lucy Stone and her amateur sleuthing in two different murder cases.
Story one, Trick or Treat Murder takes place right after the birth of Lucy’s 4th child. She is a new mom again and having difficulty dealing with everything. Someone is burning down old historic homes and building in in Tinker’s Cove, and Lucy fears her home will be next. Unfortunately, one of the homes was not empty when the fire destroyed it.
Sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong tends to get it scorched, and Lucy soon finds herself going up in smoke as the killer decides that she knows too much.
In story two, Wicked Witch Murder takes place in the future after Lucy’s kids are all grown up, or most of them. A new business in town is ruffling feathers and causing some residents to harken back to a time when witches were burned. Lucy isn’t a fan of Diana Ravenscroft’s new store, and she isn’t sure what to make of witchcraft, but she knows that several people truly dislike it enough to want to run Diana out of town on a rail.
When someone is murdered, fingers point to Diana and her coven. Lucy ends up smack in the middle of the investigation and becomes a target of an overzealous bible thumper who is trying to scare the residents of Tinker’s Cove into reinstating the witch hunt, possibly with a witch burned at the stake.
Both stories are very interesting and filled with plenty of action. The writing is flawless, creative and entertaining. There is a bit of confusion when moving to the second story as most readers will anticipate a linear passage between stories. However, the span between them is large and can be frustrating for some.
In general, these are very good stories and worth the time to read. I highly recommend this series and this compilation. I do recommend that readers familiarize themselves with the series to get a good understanding of who the characters are, as well as a bit of background as there is little to none within this particular book.
August 26, 2018
This is a re-release of two previous books from Meier's Lucy Stone series. In book #3, Trick or Treat Murder, an arsonist in Tinker's Cove is bad enough. But when arson turns to murder, it hits Lucy a little too close to home. In book #16, Wicked Witch Murder, the town residents aren't quite sure what they think of a recent newcomer, and Lucy uncovers a web of secrets that might have been better left alone.
This is the second time I've been "tricked" into requesting what was promoted as a new book from this series, even though I checked the title on Goodreads before making the request. It wasn't until after I downloaded the book that the information on Goodreads was updated to show that it's a combined release of two previous books. Having read all of the books in the series to date, and being a reader who doesn't usually "waste" time re-reading, I find this a very annoying practice. That said, it was interesting to go back and spend time with Lucy and her family when they were all much younger. I did not remember who the villain was in either book, but would much rather have spent my time reading a new book or two rather than re-reading earlier editions from this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is the second time I've been "tricked" into requesting what was promoted as a new book from this series, even though I checked the title on Goodreads before making the request. It wasn't until after I downloaded the book that the information on Goodreads was updated to show that it's a combined release of two previous books. Having read all of the books in the series to date, and being a reader who doesn't usually "waste" time re-reading, I find this a very annoying practice. That said, it was interesting to go back and spend time with Lucy and her family when they were all much younger. I did not remember who the villain was in either book, but would much rather have spent my time reading a new book or two rather than re-reading earlier editions from this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 28, 2018
Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier is a compilation of two previously released books in the Lucy Stone Mystery Series. - Trick or Treat Murder (#3 in the series) and Wicked Witch Murder (#16 in the series).
In Trick or Treat Murder, it's Halloween in Tinker's Cove, Maine and there's a serial arsonist on the loose. The most recent fire results in the death of a dear friend to the Stone family, and the arsonist is now a murderer. Lucy must work to discover the culprit (and bake 12 dozen cupcakes in time for the big Halloween party) while keeping her family out of harm's way.
In Wicked Witch Murder, Diana Ravenscroft has come to Tinker's Cove, and some of the town's citizens are convinced she's a witch - she does claim to be one, but of the good variety. When a body is found murdered in the woods behind Lucy's house, questions are raised, and Lucy is once again on the hunt for a killer, all the while trying to prevent a witch hunt. It's an excellent and very cozy addition to the Lucy Stone books, and especially spooky as it deals with witches and magic.
I would like to note that even though the Lucy Stone series follows our heroine throughout the years as she raises her children, one of the best things about these books is that they can all be read as standalones. You can never go wrong with one of these cozy mystery gems, and it's great to have these two combined in one!
In Trick or Treat Murder, it's Halloween in Tinker's Cove, Maine and there's a serial arsonist on the loose. The most recent fire results in the death of a dear friend to the Stone family, and the arsonist is now a murderer. Lucy must work to discover the culprit (and bake 12 dozen cupcakes in time for the big Halloween party) while keeping her family out of harm's way.
In Wicked Witch Murder, Diana Ravenscroft has come to Tinker's Cove, and some of the town's citizens are convinced she's a witch - she does claim to be one, but of the good variety. When a body is found murdered in the woods behind Lucy's house, questions are raised, and Lucy is once again on the hunt for a killer, all the while trying to prevent a witch hunt. It's an excellent and very cozy addition to the Lucy Stone books, and especially spooky as it deals with witches and magic.
I would like to note that even though the Lucy Stone series follows our heroine throughout the years as she raises her children, one of the best things about these books is that they can all be read as standalones. You can never go wrong with one of these cozy mystery gems, and it's great to have these two combined in one!
September 14, 2025
Three fun Holiday reads for cozy mystery lovers. In Halloween Night Murder Lucy tries to figure out who hit and ran a trick-or-treater who came to her house late the same night. She turns up more than.she bargained for while investigating the case. In Death of a Halloween Night Stalker Hayley and her friends get stranded when they have a car accident and are welcomed into the home of an elderly lady who lives near by. The soon realize there is more going on than even they could have imagined. In Mrs. Claus and the Wily Witch a disgraced elf named Flake has returned to town from being exiled. When the local Snowman suffers a mysterious illness everyone is looking at Flake as the person that has brought upon the illness. When another elf is poisoned by a caramel Flake is the first suspect in everyone's eyes. Can Mrs. Claus figure out who the real culprit is.or will Flake be exiled again?
August 29, 2018
Halloween Murder is a reissue packaging two of the books in the long-running Lucy Stone Series. I have dipped into this series from time to time though the years for a cozy taking place in the Maine setting I enjoy so much. The first of the two books is Trick or Treat Murder, just after the birth of Lucy's fourth child, Zoe, and Lucy is still a stay-at-home mom. In Wicked Witch Murder, she is a new grandmother, and a reporter on the local paper, The Pennysaver. When I say long-running series, I'm not kidding. Over the course of the books, Lucy has never lost her insatiable curiosity, and her job has enabled that aspect of her character.
In Halloween Murder, Tinker's Cove is experiencing a spate of arson fires. Most have been minor, resulting in no injuries, until a summer resident who unexpectedly was in her showplace residence died in the fire that completely destroyed it. She was a close friend of Lucy and her husband, Bill, and the two are devastated. Lucy has her own ideas on who may be behind it, but there are plenty of suspects. Big-time development is encroaching on Tinker's Cove, and tensions are high between those pro and con.
The Wicked Witch Murder begins with a new resident in Tinker's Cove; Diana Ravenscroft, a self-proclaimed witch who has opened a Wiccan shop. Most of the townspeople laugh it off, but another new resident, Ike Stoughton, is very outspoken on the subject of witches, along the lines of "Thou shall not suffer a witch to live." Lucy is not happy that her own teenage daughter is attempting spells under Diana's influence as well. Lucy, too, is the unlucky person who discovers a burned body tied to a tree when she was out walking her dog. That body belongs to a so-called wizard who is a close associate of Diana.
Leslie Meier always provides a good puzzler, with much-loved characters to back it up. I enjoy the family dynamics of the Stone family. The Stone kids are not perfect but are turning out to be solid citizens like their parents. I think I may have read both of the books in the past, but that did not detract from my enjoyment this time around. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are voluntary and my own.
Rating 3.5 rounded up to 4
In Halloween Murder, Tinker's Cove is experiencing a spate of arson fires. Most have been minor, resulting in no injuries, until a summer resident who unexpectedly was in her showplace residence died in the fire that completely destroyed it. She was a close friend of Lucy and her husband, Bill, and the two are devastated. Lucy has her own ideas on who may be behind it, but there are plenty of suspects. Big-time development is encroaching on Tinker's Cove, and tensions are high between those pro and con.
The Wicked Witch Murder begins with a new resident in Tinker's Cove; Diana Ravenscroft, a self-proclaimed witch who has opened a Wiccan shop. Most of the townspeople laugh it off, but another new resident, Ike Stoughton, is very outspoken on the subject of witches, along the lines of "Thou shall not suffer a witch to live." Lucy is not happy that her own teenage daughter is attempting spells under Diana's influence as well. Lucy, too, is the unlucky person who discovers a burned body tied to a tree when she was out walking her dog. That body belongs to a so-called wizard who is a close associate of Diana.
Leslie Meier always provides a good puzzler, with much-loved characters to back it up. I enjoy the family dynamics of the Stone family. The Stone kids are not perfect but are turning out to be solid citizens like their parents. I think I may have read both of the books in the past, but that did not detract from my enjoyment this time around. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are voluntary and my own.
Rating 3.5 rounded up to 4
September 1, 2018
Halloween Murder contains two previously published Lucy Stone mysteries - Trick or Treat Murder (#3 in the series) and Wicked Witch Murder (#16 in the series) set in the small town of Tinker's Cove, Maine.
In the first mystery readers are taken back to the early days with Lucy recently giving birth to her youngest child. There is an arsonist running loose around town destroying many of the town's historic buildings. When the body of a close friend is discovered in the burned out rubble, Lucy sets out to find the killer in between baking dozens of cupcakes for the upcoming Halloween party.
In the second mystery readers are once again treated to a Halloween theme many years later, this one focusing on the Wiccans. When Lucy discovers a body tied to a burned tree, she fears that someone in town is not too happy about the newcomer claiming to be high priestess and is on a witch hunt.
Perhaps it was my fault for not paying closer attention when requesting the book, but I was looking forward to a new book in the series and was disappointed to realize that it was actually a compilation of previous released stories. Having already read both of these series installments I found myself skipping through the majority of the book. Feeling a little "tricked".
I received an advanced copy of Halloween Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
In the first mystery readers are taken back to the early days with Lucy recently giving birth to her youngest child. There is an arsonist running loose around town destroying many of the town's historic buildings. When the body of a close friend is discovered in the burned out rubble, Lucy sets out to find the killer in between baking dozens of cupcakes for the upcoming Halloween party.
In the second mystery readers are once again treated to a Halloween theme many years later, this one focusing on the Wiccans. When Lucy discovers a body tied to a burned tree, she fears that someone in town is not too happy about the newcomer claiming to be high priestess and is on a witch hunt.
Perhaps it was my fault for not paying closer attention when requesting the book, but I was looking forward to a new book in the series and was disappointed to realize that it was actually a compilation of previous released stories. Having already read both of these series installments I found myself skipping through the majority of the book. Feeling a little "tricked".
I received an advanced copy of Halloween Murder from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.
August 29, 2018
This book contains two previously published Lucy Stone stories: Trick or Treat Murder, and Wicked Witch Murder. In the first mystery, Lucy is investigating the murder of a friend whose body is found after her house is burned. The fire investigators and police believe it was arson, can Lucy find the culprit before another house is burned? In the latter mystery, Lucy befriends a newcomer who she thinks is a bit eccentric, but what if there’s something more sinister lurking behind her friendly façade? Can Lucy find the truth before it’s too late?
These mysteries are very well written with a plethora of suspects that will keep you guessing. Ms. Meier has always been a great writer of the cozy mystery genre. I liked Lucy’s strong-willed nature and tenacity in the Trick or Treat Murder. I didn’t like the theme of witchcraft in the Wicked Witch Murder. I felt that something was different and annoying in the protagonist’s character. Since I love the author’s writing, I can’t wait for the next installment. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.
These mysteries are very well written with a plethora of suspects that will keep you guessing. Ms. Meier has always been a great writer of the cozy mystery genre. I liked Lucy’s strong-willed nature and tenacity in the Trick or Treat Murder. I didn’t like the theme of witchcraft in the Wicked Witch Murder. I felt that something was different and annoying in the protagonist’s character. Since I love the author’s writing, I can’t wait for the next installment. I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.
August 28, 2018
Quite disappointed when I realized this is a repackaging of older books.
Trick or Treat Murder from 1996 was quite good. I enjoyed seeing Lucy Stone as a young mother again. The love between Lucy and her husband Bill is such a gentle reminder of simpler times prior to 9-11 2001. The cozy mystery was equally cozy though still has the great writing of Ms. Meier that keeps you reading 'just the next page'. Fires in the historic district of Tinker's Cove have Lucy & Bill worried about their family's safety when Bill joins the Historic District Commission.
Book 2, Wicked Witch Murder (2010) is quite detailed with Wicca. This is not a subject i want to read about and I had a tough time finding sections that did not contain training on clearing, casting spells and coven activities.
This is not a book I would recommend. I volunteered to read this book through Net Galley.
Trick or Treat Murder from 1996 was quite good. I enjoyed seeing Lucy Stone as a young mother again. The love between Lucy and her husband Bill is such a gentle reminder of simpler times prior to 9-11 2001. The cozy mystery was equally cozy though still has the great writing of Ms. Meier that keeps you reading 'just the next page'. Fires in the historic district of Tinker's Cove have Lucy & Bill worried about their family's safety when Bill joins the Historic District Commission.
Book 2, Wicked Witch Murder (2010) is quite detailed with Wicca. This is not a subject i want to read about and I had a tough time finding sections that did not contain training on clearing, casting spells and coven activities.
This is not a book I would recommend. I volunteered to read this book through Net Galley.
October 29, 2018
I really like new to me cozy mystery author Leslie Meier.
This book contains two Lucy Stone Halloween Mysteries. The first book is "Trick or Treat Murder" and the second is "Wicked Witch Murder."
I enjoyed both Halloween mysteries very much! In Trick or Treat, Lucy's children are young and the youngest is a baby. In the second mystery, her family has aged and her oldest child is married with a child of his own and her youngest is a teenager.
The second mystery was not only a good mystery but also very thought provoking about religious tolerance- have we progressed much from the Salem Witch Trials 300 plus years ago in our religious tolerance?
This book contains two Lucy Stone Halloween Mysteries. The first book is "Trick or Treat Murder" and the second is "Wicked Witch Murder."
I enjoyed both Halloween mysteries very much! In Trick or Treat, Lucy's children are young and the youngest is a baby. In the second mystery, her family has aged and her oldest child is married with a child of his own and her youngest is a teenager.
The second mystery was not only a good mystery but also very thought provoking about religious tolerance- have we progressed much from the Salem Witch Trials 300 plus years ago in our religious tolerance?
January 19, 2019
The one thing that is great with this book is that there are actually two stores and both deal with fire and also Halloween. With the first Lucy is busy with her 4 children and Halloween is coming up as well. She ends up agreeing on top of everything else agreeing to make 12 dozen cupcakes for the upcoming party. In the meantime fires are being started in many of the older buildings and in one case a busy dies. With the second there is a large fire in the woods and it appears that a newcomer might be involved this time. Also Lucy stumbles upon a burn body while just taking her dog to the nearby woods for a quick run.
December 17, 2021
A great introduction to Leslie Meier's cozy mysteries! Heroine Lucy Stone is a relatable everywoman dealing with children, husband, house, and job while puzzling out who-dun-its as she navigates everyday life. Rich in details without being overwhelming or getting bogged down in improbable homicides, both stories discuss those odd occurrences that sometimes disrupt lives such as a random fire, an odd neighbor. Though in these cases, they lead to murder and foul intent!
August 21, 2018
Halloween Murder, by Leslie Meijer, is a first-rate and enjoyable cozy mystery read. There's an arsonist afoot in Tinker's Cove, Maine and the latest fire has claimed a victim. Lucy Stone, full-time wife and mother and part-time sleuth is determined to find out who is burning down the most historical buildings in the town. She manages to investigate, all while nursing an infant and baking scores of cupcakes for the community Halloween party. Now that's multi-tasking. To be released August 28. Rated it 4 out of 5 stars.
October 11, 2018
This book has 2 Halloween stories. I found both stories to be very enjoyable, however, the first one was my favorite. I look forward to reading more books by this author. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 29, 2018
In this edition, we have featuring two Lucy Stone's mysteries for Halloween.
Cozy mystery that is easy to follow and intriguing, with a strong plot and unique characters.
Note: I received an ARC for review purpose and an honest and unbiased opinion.
Cozy mystery that is easy to follow and intriguing, with a strong plot and unique characters.
Note: I received an ARC for review purpose and an honest and unbiased opinion.
September 15, 2018
Two cute and entertaining Lucy Stone mysteries. They are not new stories (fair warning). They are two Halloween stories that were previously published separately. It has been quite some time since I have read them and I enjoyed reading them again. Great characters, cozy town and two good mysteries. The mystery in Wicked Witch Murder was more complex than Trick or Treat Murder. I will share my full review soon.
October 23, 2021
2.5 The second was better than the first. The equivalent of frozen dino chicken nuggets. edible and fun
October 31, 2022
Each mystery had its own twist and turns and the results were quite surprising!
January 20, 2021
Halloween cozies are my happy place and this two-in-one book did not disappoint!
December 18, 2020
This is a compilation of two of two Lucy Stone Mysteries: Trick or Treat Murder and Wicked Witch Murder. If you've read the Lucy Stone Mysteries, then these will fall right in line.
In the first mystery, Lucy is still a youngish mother with her four children; Zoe is a newborn baby, so the other children are still young. When there's a house fire at a home that Lucy's husband Bill restored that belonged to a client, Lucy is sad. But not as sad as when Lucy and Bill discover that someone they knew and cared about was in the home and died there. While it at first appears to be an accident because of the home's age, it soon becomes apparent that it was arson when other old buildings are being set aflame. And when Lucy starts getting closer to discovering who's doing the nasty deed, she unknowingly puts herself in danger and just might not survive...
In the second book Lucy goes to see a witch with her friends for a group reading. When what the woman tells her starts to come true, Lucy, a skeptic, still doesn't want to believe it. Not even when she comes across a burned body in the woods that leaves her shaken. She gets to the point that she forbids the woman from encouraging her sixteen-year-old daughter Elizabeth. Then a local woman dies, and the stakes are raised. If Lucy isn't careful, hers might be the next body to be found...
I read this dual mystery book because I love to "read the season," as it were, and these take place at Halloween. I have to say that I enjoyed the first mystery; the second, not so much. It seemed to me that in the first, the writing was crisp and had a flair to it; but in the second, it all seemed so tired, almost as if it had aged along with Lucy. Unfortunately, I found this to be so in another Halloween mystery she wrote later than these two.
But the storyline in the first was interesting to me and the characters involved kept me wondering which one of them was an arsonist. There were plenty of people to choose from, and several of them could have been the guilty party. When the murderer was discovered, it came as rather a surprise, which was indeed a good thing. I did like the ending immensely as everything came together nicely.
In the second book I was bored almost from the beginning. I found the character of Diana completely unlikable, and if you don't like a character that's quite a major one in the book, you probably won't enjoy it, and that was the problem for me. Because of her, I couldn't wait for the book to end and really didn't care 'whodunit.' So this book was a no-go for me, and the reason I only gave the entire thing three stars.
So, in the end, this two-book novel is worth reading if you're a Lucy Stone fan or if you've never read the series before; but you can draw your own conclusions to them both.
In the first mystery, Lucy is still a youngish mother with her four children; Zoe is a newborn baby, so the other children are still young. When there's a house fire at a home that Lucy's husband Bill restored that belonged to a client, Lucy is sad. But not as sad as when Lucy and Bill discover that someone they knew and cared about was in the home and died there. While it at first appears to be an accident because of the home's age, it soon becomes apparent that it was arson when other old buildings are being set aflame. And when Lucy starts getting closer to discovering who's doing the nasty deed, she unknowingly puts herself in danger and just might not survive...
In the second book Lucy goes to see a witch with her friends for a group reading. When what the woman tells her starts to come true, Lucy, a skeptic, still doesn't want to believe it. Not even when she comes across a burned body in the woods that leaves her shaken. She gets to the point that she forbids the woman from encouraging her sixteen-year-old daughter Elizabeth. Then a local woman dies, and the stakes are raised. If Lucy isn't careful, hers might be the next body to be found...
I read this dual mystery book because I love to "read the season," as it were, and these take place at Halloween. I have to say that I enjoyed the first mystery; the second, not so much. It seemed to me that in the first, the writing was crisp and had a flair to it; but in the second, it all seemed so tired, almost as if it had aged along with Lucy. Unfortunately, I found this to be so in another Halloween mystery she wrote later than these two.
But the storyline in the first was interesting to me and the characters involved kept me wondering which one of them was an arsonist. There were plenty of people to choose from, and several of them could have been the guilty party. When the murderer was discovered, it came as rather a surprise, which was indeed a good thing. I did like the ending immensely as everything came together nicely.
In the second book I was bored almost from the beginning. I found the character of Diana completely unlikable, and if you don't like a character that's quite a major one in the book, you probably won't enjoy it, and that was the problem for me. Because of her, I couldn't wait for the book to end and really didn't care 'whodunit.' So this book was a no-go for me, and the reason I only gave the entire thing three stars.
So, in the end, this two-book novel is worth reading if you're a Lucy Stone fan or if you've never read the series before; but you can draw your own conclusions to them both.
October 20, 2018
Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier is a collection of two previously published novels, Trick or Treat Murder (#3) and Wicked Witch Murder (#16). Both take place in Tinker's Cove, Maine with the protagonist Lucy Stone, but they are set about 15 or 16 years apart. In the first, Trick or Treat Murder, Lucy spends most of the time nursing her youngest baby, Zoe, and in the second, her son is now married and his wife has had a baby, and the two girls are teenagers interested in Wicca. For somebody who has not before read a Lucy Stone book, the jump is disorienting.
In Trick or Treat Murder an arsonist is burning down marvelous historic old mansions, and the Stones worry theirs might be next, especially since one of the mansions also was a murder (the body burned in the fire) of one of their friends. Lucy nurses her baby, prepares cupcakes for a village Halloween party in an old mansion, and sticks her nose into the investigation, coming up with innocent people as the culprit. Finally she goes back to the mansion where the party was, to retrieve her diaper bag, which she left under a chair, and gets locked in the house. Her son and a couple of his buddies see her, but then the house catches fire and she can't get out. Fortunately the kids call 911 and she is rescued in the nick of time. In the hospital she worries about nursing her baby, and leaves with a ride home from a man (one of the few she has not thought of as an arsonist) who takes her to the burnt out house and locks her in his car and sets it on fire. How could he have known she would escape the hospital and take a ride from him??? But again fortunately her husband sees her getting into his car and follows and rescues her. Her family seem to be deus ex machines, but not clever enough to rescue her before she nearly burns to death.
In Wicked Witch Murder a witch, Diana Ravenscroft, opens a store selling new age junk and one of the busybodies, Ike Stoughton, in the community starts a campaign to blame all natural problems (weather, crop failure, sickness) on her and the Wicca group. Lucy takes her part, but is dubious when her own two daughters are interested in the old religion. Lucy finds a body in the woods near her home tied to a tree and burned to death. It was Malcolm Malebranche, head of the Wiccas. Lucy of course blames those opposed to witchcraft but becomes involved in Halloween festivities (most of the book does not take place around Halloween, but Midsummer Night's Eve) and finds herself, along with Diana and Abbey Stoughton (Ike Stoughton's daughter whose fascination with Wicca has led to his extreme hostility to the coven), being tied to the same tree that Malebranche was tied to and some members of the coven planning to kill them in a new fire. This time she is saved in the nick of time by Ike Stoughton, who she had thought had killed Malebranche, and his two sons. He was half correct; some witches were doing evil, just not the one he targeted.
The second novel was a little more exciting than the first, but neither is top notch. Marvelous accidents save anything saved (lots of houses burn and people die--but not the main characters) and the stories are attempts at sensationalism. The cover of the book is delightful (it led me to buy the book), but the stories in it do not live up to expectations. While I read with some interest both stories, there will be no more Lucy Stone stories in my reading.
In Trick or Treat Murder an arsonist is burning down marvelous historic old mansions, and the Stones worry theirs might be next, especially since one of the mansions also was a murder (the body burned in the fire) of one of their friends. Lucy nurses her baby, prepares cupcakes for a village Halloween party in an old mansion, and sticks her nose into the investigation, coming up with innocent people as the culprit. Finally she goes back to the mansion where the party was, to retrieve her diaper bag, which she left under a chair, and gets locked in the house. Her son and a couple of his buddies see her, but then the house catches fire and she can't get out. Fortunately the kids call 911 and she is rescued in the nick of time. In the hospital she worries about nursing her baby, and leaves with a ride home from a man (one of the few she has not thought of as an arsonist) who takes her to the burnt out house and locks her in his car and sets it on fire. How could he have known she would escape the hospital and take a ride from him??? But again fortunately her husband sees her getting into his car and follows and rescues her. Her family seem to be deus ex machines, but not clever enough to rescue her before she nearly burns to death.
In Wicked Witch Murder a witch, Diana Ravenscroft, opens a store selling new age junk and one of the busybodies, Ike Stoughton, in the community starts a campaign to blame all natural problems (weather, crop failure, sickness) on her and the Wicca group. Lucy takes her part, but is dubious when her own two daughters are interested in the old religion. Lucy finds a body in the woods near her home tied to a tree and burned to death. It was Malcolm Malebranche, head of the Wiccas. Lucy of course blames those opposed to witchcraft but becomes involved in Halloween festivities (most of the book does not take place around Halloween, but Midsummer Night's Eve) and finds herself, along with Diana and Abbey Stoughton (Ike Stoughton's daughter whose fascination with Wicca has led to his extreme hostility to the coven), being tied to the same tree that Malebranche was tied to and some members of the coven planning to kill them in a new fire. This time she is saved in the nick of time by Ike Stoughton, who she had thought had killed Malebranche, and his two sons. He was half correct; some witches were doing evil, just not the one he targeted.
The second novel was a little more exciting than the first, but neither is top notch. Marvelous accidents save anything saved (lots of houses burn and people die--but not the main characters) and the stories are attempts at sensationalism. The cover of the book is delightful (it led me to buy the book), but the stories in it do not live up to expectations. While I read with some interest both stories, there will be no more Lucy Stone stories in my reading.
August 6, 2018
Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier includes two previously published Halloween mysteries set in Tinker’s Cove, Maine, Trick or Treat Murder (Lucy Stone, Book 3) and Wicked Witch Murder (Lucy Stone, Book 16). The storylines are well plotted and the characters well developed and relatable, but I was disappointed by the amount of adult language in these cozy mysteries, especially in Trick or Treat Murder.
In Trick or Treat Murder, Tinker’s Cove has been experiencing a rash of fires. At first, it was thought it might be kids fooling around or insurance fraud, but when the Hopkins Homestead is destroyed by fire and the body of Monica Mayes is discovered in the debris, arson and murder are suspected. When the authorities go back and look at the other fires, evidence of an accelerant is found in each one. Lucy Stone, who’s juggling a family and baking twelve dozen cupcakes for a huge Halloween party at the Hallett House, finds time to research arsonists and ask questions around town. When her car is vandalized, she receives a threatening phone call, and warning in her mailbox, she’s concerned and calls Detective Horowitz. He tells her not to worry, writing notes and making phone calls isn’t part of the modus operandi of the person they suspect is setting the fires; and he also tells her to leave the investigating to the experts.
In Wicked Witch Murder, Diana Ravenscroft, who claims to be a high priestess in the Wiccan religion, recently moved to Tinker’s Cove with her familiar, a cat named Piewocket, and opened Solstice, a shop offering candles, crystals, jewelry, and offering spells, charms, potions, and psychic readings. Pam Stillings, Lucy Stone’s friend, made appointments for readings Lucy, Sue Finch, Rachel Goodman, and herself. Lucy thinks it’s a bunch of hooey, but thinks there might be a story she could write for the Pennysaver. They decide to have a group reading rather than individual ones. Diane doesn’t like what her crystal ball shows for Lucy, and decides to pull out her tarot cards, but all she sees is fire and unavoidable trouble in her future, stressing that she needs to be very careful. While walking her family’s dog in the woods near her home later that afternoon, Lucy discovers a burned tree with human remains tied to it. The deceased is identified as Malcolm Malebranche, a magician who performed at children's birthday parties, but Lucy remembers Diane talking about Lord Malebranche and as it turns out, he was the high priest of Diane’s coven. Lucy is quite surprised and alarmed when she learns her daughter, Sara, has been attending witchcraft classes for teens given by Diane and that she’d been invited to join the coven. Ike Stoughton, Lucy’s new neighbor, thinks Diana has cursed his family and his home.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
In Trick or Treat Murder, Tinker’s Cove has been experiencing a rash of fires. At first, it was thought it might be kids fooling around or insurance fraud, but when the Hopkins Homestead is destroyed by fire and the body of Monica Mayes is discovered in the debris, arson and murder are suspected. When the authorities go back and look at the other fires, evidence of an accelerant is found in each one. Lucy Stone, who’s juggling a family and baking twelve dozen cupcakes for a huge Halloween party at the Hallett House, finds time to research arsonists and ask questions around town. When her car is vandalized, she receives a threatening phone call, and warning in her mailbox, she’s concerned and calls Detective Horowitz. He tells her not to worry, writing notes and making phone calls isn’t part of the modus operandi of the person they suspect is setting the fires; and he also tells her to leave the investigating to the experts.
In Wicked Witch Murder, Diana Ravenscroft, who claims to be a high priestess in the Wiccan religion, recently moved to Tinker’s Cove with her familiar, a cat named Piewocket, and opened Solstice, a shop offering candles, crystals, jewelry, and offering spells, charms, potions, and psychic readings. Pam Stillings, Lucy Stone’s friend, made appointments for readings Lucy, Sue Finch, Rachel Goodman, and herself. Lucy thinks it’s a bunch of hooey, but thinks there might be a story she could write for the Pennysaver. They decide to have a group reading rather than individual ones. Diane doesn’t like what her crystal ball shows for Lucy, and decides to pull out her tarot cards, but all she sees is fire and unavoidable trouble in her future, stressing that she needs to be very careful. While walking her family’s dog in the woods near her home later that afternoon, Lucy discovers a burned tree with human remains tied to it. The deceased is identified as Malcolm Malebranche, a magician who performed at children's birthday parties, but Lucy remembers Diane talking about Lord Malebranche and as it turns out, he was the high priest of Diane’s coven. Lucy is quite surprised and alarmed when she learns her daughter, Sara, has been attending witchcraft classes for teens given by Diane and that she’d been invited to join the coven. Ike Stoughton, Lucy’s new neighbor, thinks Diana has cursed his family and his home.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
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