Trick or Treat Murder

Reporter Roland Bean #3

by Rachel Woods

Trick or Treat? Palmchat Gazette reporter Roland “Beanie” Bean is excited to take his kids, Ethan and Evan, trick-or-treating, but his excitement turns to concern when he discovers a human finger among the candy the boys collected! Days later, Beanie learns that the finger belongs to someone he knows—Joshua Howard, a missing student who was interning at the Palmchat Gazette before he disappeared. Beanie plans to find the intern, but soon he’s assigned to a shocking murder--a dead body in the jungle. Beanie heads to the crime scene and realizes he recognizes the victim as his new neighbor, Ivan Volkov. As Beanie looks into the death of Volkov, he uncovers a strange connection between his neighbor and the missing intern. Racing to discover the truth, Beanie is stunned when he learns the missing intern and his dead neighbor are linked to a heinous serial killer known as The Fury. But when he comes face to face with the murderer, Beanie must outwit a deranged maniac determined to make sure that secrets buried long ago stay hidden. Trick or Treat Murder is a contemporary whodunit murder mystery novel in the Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery Series, but can be read as a standalone. With lots of clues and red herrings, it features plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! Get your copy today!

Genres: Mystery, Halloween, Cozy Mystery

204 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2020

Reviews

[Samantha Henthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roland 'Beanie' Bean (great name) is a journalist at the Palmchat Gazette. (I'm not sure if Palmchat is fictional or not). The opening of the story is adorable. Roland and Noelle work as a team to get their two sons ready on Halloween to go trick or treating. This is the cosy part of the story I suppose because imagine the horror of finding a human finger in your son's trick or treat bucket! Beanie then spends the next few days trying to find out whodunnit. This involves the intern he works with - and his needy girlfriend.
Solid characters, and as for the setting - great. Wherever this place is, I can imagine a jungle, sleepy retirement bungalows, oh! Did I mention one of the neighbours has extra sharp teeth?

[Kymm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roland Bean rocks! He's a journalist who finds the truth behind every story he writes and will do whatever it takes, even risking his own personal safety to do so. I really enjoyed "Trick or Treat Murder" by Rachel Woods which is part of the "Reporter Roland Bean Cozy series, but I have no idea what book number it is. I know it's not the first, since there are references to other cases and people throughout. Each book in the series centers around a particular holiday or event. I usually never begin a series in the middle but being this is centered around the Halloween holiday it seemed like the perfect read right now. Even with not having read the previous books in the series it was still easily understandable and worked great as a standalone. Happy Reading!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky and a bit weird, but a good who-done-it for Halloween. The author does a great job of taking an average neighborhood with a fairly normal at first glance bunch of residents and turning it into cast of suspects. This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different mystery book for me. Definitely intriguing and can be read as a stand a lone. I have not read book 1 and 2. I believe they would enhance everything, but is not required. I was pleased with the twists, the turns and surprises along the way. You found out what was transpiring as did Beanie and that is a plus in my book. There is so much to relate too , Beanie and his wife, the kids, the feelings that transpire at work. The carrot for me is what I also learned, and wanted to go find out if that was a true illness. Then you have the creepiness' of the murder, the rumors and just what is going on in their neighborhood! I don't have kids, but I would certainly be checking their halloween haul if I did. Thank you StoryOrigin, Rachel Woods and BonzaiMoon Books for the opportunity to read this arc. My thoughts and opinions were unsolicited, and I freely volunteer.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me in the dark or should I say it kept me guessing and sad to say I always guess wrong. I faithfully followed every red herring that I could find. The answers to some of my questions where never asked by anyone so I was still left clueless. There where enough crazy individuals and happenings to keep me interested. By time I reached the end of the book I was so re- leaved to discover that the ones that appeared to be the bad guys where really nice and the really bad guy got his just desserts. I would venture to say this was a book full of masterful misdirection, Now I have to find the other book she wrote, lets see, something about Easter eggs, yes I think I have it.
This book was a freebie all I had to do was read it and write a review, Thank you Rachel I enjoyed the book.

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable and exciting story following the exploits of a newspaper reporter, Roland Bean (Beanie), this is the third book in the series and I like that Roland and the other characters are really developing.
The story is original, exciting and quite emotional especially as Beanie finds a finger in his children's trick or treat bucket, which turns out to belong to a student who was being mentored at the newspaper by Beanie, but has disappeared. There is also suspicion that one of Beanie's neighbours is a follower of a serial killer known as 'The Fury'.
I really liked the way that the story had lots of twists and turns and red herrings, it made for a very satisfying read.
This series keeps getting better and better.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trick or Treat Murder (A Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery) was a great read by Rachel Woods. Roland "Beanie" Bean is a Palmchat Gazette reporter. He's excited to take his two children trick-or-treating. Until they discover a human finger among their Halloween candy. They found out days later that the finger belongs to a missing intern at the Gazette. He wants to find the intern but he's assigned to a shocking murder in the jungle. When he gets to the crime scene, he knows that it is his new neighbor. While investigating the death of his neighbor, he finds a strange connection between the two mysteries. I enjoyed reading Beanie looking for the heinous serial killer, The Fury. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

[Anne G. Kasaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of this series. This book was not exception. It is filled with interesting characters that don't always color between the lines. The storyline was interesting and I was guessing who the killer was until the very end.

Beanie an intrepid reporter for the Island newspaper has some really quirky neighbors. So quirky in fact that some think a wolf is terrorizing the neighborhood while some believe a young Russian woman can shape shift into a huge husky she and her husband own. But when Beanies intern goes missing and the husband is killed Beanie is determined to find the killer and his intern.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively short book. I wouldn’t call this a cozy mystery - which is how it’s marketed. It’s very dark, the story line alludes to a fantasy element that turns out to be a mental illness. The writing is good, the story flows well, but it’s a little too dark for my cozy mystery taste - more what I would expect in a thriller or suspense.
This is the 3rd book on the series, but the first I read due to the seasonal timing - it really had very little to do with Halloween except a trick or treating scene. It can be read as a standalone. I have the other two books but I’m unsure if I’ll read them.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didnt interest me much but I finished it all. Dont like to not read a whole book good or bad.
People believed that there was a wolf coming out and biting neighbors at night. Trick or treat time in the town that night. One kids parents were checking their candy out and ended up finding part of a finger - a human finger. Everyone also said dont go to so and so's house their weird people. But the kids begging just one more house. The people sounded like Russians and the woman was strange when she got angry. She growled and went after the kids. People got bit , a few others died. What was going on and who were the Fury . Was one of his co-workers one of them too.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

While trick or treating with his boys investigative journalist Beanie discovers a real human finger in the treat bag. Eventually, they find out it belongs to the missing intern from the newspaper. Beanie is also investigating another murder of is neighbor and realizes there is a connection to a serial killer. This is an entertaining who done it story and from the first page until the last this mystery had me trying to figure out what would happen next. Trick or Treat murder is a great addition to the series and I can't wait to read the next book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful MUST for your TBR list! Fast-paced! Riveting! Exciting! Addictive! Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds. It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense that kept me guessing the whole way!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Roger]

Trick or Treat Murder (A Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery Book 3), my third read from author Rachel Woods. I was given a Kindle copy of Trick or Treat Murder (A Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery Book 3) and am voluntarily reviewing it. Another excellent & captivating read which I read in one sitting. I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ended up being a really good little cozy mystery (which started at Halloween, hence the title). It definitely had some strange twists and turns, but I can absolutely say that I didn't expect the outcome. It was paced well enough that every time I started to get a little bored, something new happened to snatch me back into the story.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trick or Treat Murder is a cute cozy paranormal mystery which is always fun to read near Hallowe’en. Unfortunately, a few things were left unresolved. I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read that centers around Halloween. Perfect holiday for a page turning whodunit. Lots of twists and turns that will keep you reading until the last page. Good whodunit

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the perfect time of year to read the third book in the Roland Bean Cozy Mystery. It is intriguing from the start and will keep you guessing with twists and turns throughout. This book did not disappoint!

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reporter Beanie takes his kids trick or treating. When they get home they find a human finger in one of the bags. An intern at the paper goes missing and a murder. This one will keep you guessing. There are many twists and turns to keep you interested.

[BBAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book read by this author, and i am going to have to look up more Bean books!! Liked the style of writing and was a quick read. There were a couple times i had to go back and recheck what i read, but it was good.

[Sharon Skellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A human finger among the candy the boys collected! As Beanie tries to discover who the finger belongs to, he uncovers a horrifying connection to a heinous serial killer known as The Fury.
Easy fast reading and enjoyed the story.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful, intriguing mystery!

Many suspects, surprises, twists and turns abound in this book. Rachel Woods takes you on a journey of exploring the suspects and keeping your attention to see what happens next. I enjoyed this book, and I think you will also. Happy reading! 😊

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky mystery that is a bit different than my usual reading. If you like things that are outside of the norm, this book is for you. Enjoyed

[T L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice cozy mystery

The writing was a bit annoying and the storyline a little predictable. Overall, a nice light read. I would read another in this series or another by this author.

[Danni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird

[Nadine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I really liked this book better than the Easter Egg one. This was a dark mystery. Kept me guessing till the end!! Very exciting !!!! Happy Reading :)