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Lucy Stone #28.5 - Irish Coffee Murder
Irish Coffee Murder
You don’t need to be Irish to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in Maine, where the chilly March weather offers the perfect excuse to curl up with an Irish coffee…But in these St. Patty’s-themed novellas by fan-favorite cozy mystery authors Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross, someone may have spiked this year’s brew with murder!
IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
Part-time reporter Lucy Stone is writing a piece for the Courier about four Irish step dancing students from Tinker’s Cove on the cusp of making it big. But the story becomes headline news for all the wrong reasons when one girl’s mother is found dead in her bathtub . . .
DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLIS
As owner of Bar Harbor’s hottest new restaurant, Hayley Powell offers to cater the after-party for popular comedian Jefferson O’Keefe, but it’s no laughing matter when Jefferson keels over after gulping down his post-show Irish coffee . . .
PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSS
It’s a snowy St. Patrick’s Day in Busman’s Harbor. But when the power goes out, what better way for Julia Snowden to spend the evening than sharing local ghost stories—and Irish coffees—with friends and family? By the time the lights come back, they might even have solved the coldest case in town . . .
IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
Part-time reporter Lucy Stone is writing a piece for the Courier about four Irish step dancing students from Tinker’s Cove on the cusp of making it big. But the story becomes headline news for all the wrong reasons when one girl’s mother is found dead in her bathtub . . .
DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLIS
As owner of Bar Harbor’s hottest new restaurant, Hayley Powell offers to cater the after-party for popular comedian Jefferson O’Keefe, but it’s no laughing matter when Jefferson keels over after gulping down his post-show Irish coffee . . .
PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSS
It’s a snowy St. Patrick’s Day in Busman’s Harbor. But when the power goes out, what better way for Julia Snowden to spend the evening than sharing local ghost stories—and Irish coffees—with friends and family? By the time the lights come back, they might even have solved the coldest case in town . . .
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2023
181 people are currently reading
1005 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Meier
70 books2,071 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 258 reviews
September 26, 2022
Irish Coffee Murder is a collection of three in-between novellas with settings in Maine. The books are written by Leslie Meier of the Lucy Stone Mysteries, Lee Hollis of the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mysteries, and Barbara Ross of the Maine Clambake Mysteries. I have read all the previous books in the series (well over 60 in total) and highly recommend them for cozy mystery lovers.
In the Lucy Stone Mystery, Lucy interviews a team of Irish dancers, four high school girls looking for big wins and escapes from some family situations. One of the mothers turns up dead, and each of the 3 other women and their daughters have motives. Why would someone kill a seemingly kind and innocent lady? Lucy learns the truth about the underbelly of Irish dancing (who knew?) and makes some new friends in the process. Great fun, easy read, looking forward to an Irish Coffee now.
In the Food & Cocktails Mysteries, St. Patrick's Day has arrived in Bar Harbor, and Liddy asks Hayley to cater for a comedian's big splash in a local entertainment venue. Hayley's brother will throw in the booze for an after party, and his key employee asks to do the catering. Hayley agrees but at the last minute, the woman gets sick. She shows up to help anyway and the guest of honor drinks some bad whiskey... which ends up killing him! What is going on? Who poisoned the guy and for what reason? He seemed so kind... except his murderer felt differently. Good way to introduce new characters and revive some old ones. I always love visiting this wonderful town.
In the dead of winter, the lights go off in Busman's Harbor of the Maine Clambake Mysteries. Julia entertains her friend, mother, and her mother's friend with warm Irish drinks and they soon tell a ghost story about something that happened 150 years ago. But once the story ends, Julia isn't sure who killed the man and whether he was the ghost currently haunting people on St. Patrick's Day. Soon enough, different neighbors show up to partake in the Irish coffee and huddle together to stay warm, each sharing their own version of the 150 year old story. When the lights return, Julia is determined to research the truth - and she finds the real killer. Loved the change in style and it shows the strength of good writing.
In the Lucy Stone Mystery, Lucy interviews a team of Irish dancers, four high school girls looking for big wins and escapes from some family situations. One of the mothers turns up dead, and each of the 3 other women and their daughters have motives. Why would someone kill a seemingly kind and innocent lady? Lucy learns the truth about the underbelly of Irish dancing (who knew?) and makes some new friends in the process. Great fun, easy read, looking forward to an Irish Coffee now.
In the Food & Cocktails Mysteries, St. Patrick's Day has arrived in Bar Harbor, and Liddy asks Hayley to cater for a comedian's big splash in a local entertainment venue. Hayley's brother will throw in the booze for an after party, and his key employee asks to do the catering. Hayley agrees but at the last minute, the woman gets sick. She shows up to help anyway and the guest of honor drinks some bad whiskey... which ends up killing him! What is going on? Who poisoned the guy and for what reason? He seemed so kind... except his murderer felt differently. Good way to introduce new characters and revive some old ones. I always love visiting this wonderful town.
In the dead of winter, the lights go off in Busman's Harbor of the Maine Clambake Mysteries. Julia entertains her friend, mother, and her mother's friend with warm Irish drinks and they soon tell a ghost story about something that happened 150 years ago. But once the story ends, Julia isn't sure who killed the man and whether he was the ghost currently haunting people on St. Patrick's Day. Soon enough, different neighbors show up to partake in the Irish coffee and huddle together to stay warm, each sharing their own version of the 150 year old story. When the lights return, Julia is determined to research the truth - and she finds the real killer. Loved the change in style and it shows the strength of good writing.
August 29, 2025
3.5 stars
This book contains three cozy mystery novellas written by three authors: Leslie Meier of the Lucy Stone Mysteries; Lee Hollis of the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mysteries; and Barbara Ross of the Maine Clambake Mysteries. Each story takes place in Maine around St. Patrick's Day, and features Irish Coffee (coffee laced with Irish whiskey and served with cream on top).
*****
Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier
Journalist/amateur sleuth Lucy Stone of Tinker's Cove, Maine - who works for the Courier newspaper.....
......is covering an Irish step dance competition.
Four of the teenage participants attend the same step dancing school and their rivalrous mothers get into a hot argument before the contest.....after imbibing several Irish Coffees each.
A mishap during the competition raises tempers even more, and reporter Lucy takes note of the rancorous exchanges.
Meanwhile the charitable food pantry in Tinker's Cove - which is planning to move to a larger facility - is holding a contest: the company that donates the most food gets to name the new facility. Lucy's boss at the newspaper hopes to win so he can choose the name "Courier Food Pantry", but there's stiff competition from a realty company.
As all this is going on, the body of one of the dance moms is found by her daughter. This turns out to be murder, and Lucy feels compelled to investigate. The 'random stranger' scenario is considered, but it seems more likely the perpetrator is a member of the Tinker's Cove community.....and Lucy searches until she finds vital clues.
Part of the charm of this story is the description of Irish step dancing and the costumes associated with the activity.
*****
Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker by Lee Hollis
Hayley Powell of Bar Harbor, Maine owns an upscale eatery called Hayley's Kitchen.....
......and Hayley's brother Randy runs a bar called Drinks Like a Fish.
As the story opens Hayley's friend Liddy Crawford is planning a fundraising event at the Criterion Theater......
......and Liddy has engaged stand-up comic Jefferson O’Keefe - who grew up in Bar Harbor - to perform.
Randy will provide after-show drinks at his bar and Hayley will prepare food for the event. Jefferson asks the hosts to serve his favorite beverage, Irish Coffee, and they make plans to do so.
Though Jefferson is a popular entertainer, not everyone likes him. One of the employees from Drinks Like a Fish is seen having a contentious talk with Jefferson, and a rival comedian shows up at Jefferson's show to heckle him. Things come to a climax at the after-party, when Jefferson sips his Irish Coffee and falls down dead.
This turns out to be a homicide and Hayley makes it her business to track down the killer.
There are plenty of possible suspects, including Jefferson's manager; Jefferson's bodyguard; Jefferson's lady friends; Jefferson's enemies; etc. But Hayley is able to sort through the chaff and find the murderer.
The story's characters are interesting and the plot is engaging.
*****
Perked Up by Barbara Ross
Julia Snowden, who works for the Snowden family clambake business.....
......lives with her widowed mother Jacqueline in Busman's Harbor, Maine.
One evening Julia and her friend Zoey arrive at the Snowden residence during a snowstorm and find that Jacqueline has a guest - longtime family friend Captain George.
Julia makes Irish Coffee for everyone, and when the electricity goes out in Busman's Harbor, Julia, Zoey, Jacqueline, Captain George, and the family cat gather around the fireplace to keep warm.
Captain George, a well-known storyteller, proceeds to relate a tale about Hugh O'Hara, a wealthy Irish Catholic farmer who was murdered in 1867. As Captain George's story goes, a thief caught robbing Hugh O'Hara's home shot the farmer and injured his wife Catherine. A young man named Daniel - who was employed by Hugh - confessed to the crime, but escaped before justice could be served. To top it off, a ghost now haunts the old O'Hara house.
As the evening proceeds, various friends, neighbors, and relatives arrive at the Snowden home to weather the storm, and Julia make more and more Irish Coffee to serve everyone. It turns out the visitors have different opinions about who REALLY killed Hugh O'Hara - which range from Hugh's wife, to Hugh's daughter, to Hugh's son-in-law, etc. - and it appears the cold case will never be resolved.
The uncertainty bothers Julia and she decides to investigate the O'Hara homicide by poring through old records.
Julia finally discovers who killed Hugh and she identifies the ghost who haunts Hugh's old house.
This story has interesting tidbits about the Irish Catholic immigrants who emigrated to Maine in the 1800s.
*****
Recipes are sprinkled throughout the narrative. In the Hollis novella, these include Irish Mudslide Cocktail; Irish Stout Onion Soup; Irish Stew; and Corned Beef and Cabbage. And the Ross novella has a recipe for Irish Soda Bread.
Irish Mudslide Cocktail
Irish Stout Onion Soup
Irish Stew
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Irish Soda Bread
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Callie Beaulieu, who does a fine job.
Thanks to Netgalley, the authors, and Tantor Audio for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
January 8, 2023
All three of these authors were new to me so I figured this was a great way to get a sample of them and I think that was successful. I didn’t feel lost in any of the stories so I don’t think I it’s necessary to read all the prior books. I really liked the first two novellas a lot. The third one was ok, but it really wasn’t as much to my tastes at all. The first two are typical cozy mysteries but in novella form. The last story takes place during a storm when the friends all tell different versions of the same local ghost story/unsolved murder mystery. The first mystery features a lot of Irish culture and includes Irish dancing which was cool. All three stories include Irish coffee which was fun. Overall his was a fun, quick read that will be a perfect read for St. Patrick’s Day.
February 5, 2023
Irish Coffee Murder is a collection of three novellas, each written by a different author and each novella is a part of an ongoing, popular cozy mystery series penned respectively by the said authors. I have, till date, not read anything by the authors in question, Leslie Meier, Barbara Ross and Lee Hollis and suffice to say I now have three more cozy mystery series to add to my already lengthy list! The list of books already published in each series is pretty long so it will take a while for me to get through all of them.
All the stories take place around St. Patrick's Day so it's no surprise that Irish coffee is the drink of choice in all of them. There are also recipes included which food lovers will enjoy!
All the stories were well written and I had a great time listening to all of them but my favourite was the third story 'Perked Up' in which a 100 years old cold case is finally solved amidst rounds of Irish coffees and ghost stories.
The narrator Callie Beaulieu did a great job of narrating all these stories. She was engaging and I enjoyed listening to her.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Tantor Audio and the authors for the audio Arc of the book.
All the stories take place around St. Patrick's Day so it's no surprise that Irish coffee is the drink of choice in all of them. There are also recipes included which food lovers will enjoy!
All the stories were well written and I had a great time listening to all of them but my favourite was the third story 'Perked Up' in which a 100 years old cold case is finally solved amidst rounds of Irish coffees and ghost stories.
The narrator Callie Beaulieu did a great job of narrating all these stories. She was engaging and I enjoyed listening to her.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Tantor Audio and the authors for the audio Arc of the book.
August 19, 2022
I love all three of the authors that collaborated on Irish Coffee Murder.
Lucy Stone is my favorite character, she seems so genuine and down to earth. She'd do anything for her family, even though they drive her nuts at times. I would enjoy being her friend, but I don't want to see any dead bodies.
Hayley Powell is another favorite character, and I always look forward to catching up with her in new books.
In the third story, Julia Snowden hits the mark with a ghastly tale of a ghost story.
All there of these stories were well written and really had me wanting an Irish Coffee.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#IrishCoffeeMurder #NetGalley
Lucy Stone is my favorite character, she seems so genuine and down to earth. She'd do anything for her family, even though they drive her nuts at times. I would enjoy being her friend, but I don't want to see any dead bodies.
Hayley Powell is another favorite character, and I always look forward to catching up with her in new books.
In the third story, Julia Snowden hits the mark with a ghastly tale of a ghost story.
All there of these stories were well written and really had me wanting an Irish Coffee.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#IrishCoffeeMurder #NetGalley
August 8, 2022
Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross 4 stars
A St. Patrick’s Day trio of short stories with a common denominator of Irish Coffee. All three authors feature their main sleuths (Lucy Stone, Haley Powell and Julia Snowden) around March mysteries. I enjoyed all of them, but of the three, Lee Hollis’s entry (Death of a Irish Coffee Drinker) was the one I liked the least. My favorite was “Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier. So if you want a quick enjoyable read, settle in with a mug of Irish Coffee, put on a CD of Irish music for background and follow the trio on their investigative paths.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
A St. Patrick’s Day trio of short stories with a common denominator of Irish Coffee. All three authors feature their main sleuths (Lucy Stone, Haley Powell and Julia Snowden) around March mysteries. I enjoyed all of them, but of the three, Lee Hollis’s entry (Death of a Irish Coffee Drinker) was the one I liked the least. My favorite was “Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier. So if you want a quick enjoyable read, settle in with a mug of Irish Coffee, put on a CD of Irish music for background and follow the trio on their investigative paths.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
January 23, 2023
This was pretty cool getting a collection of short stories for St. Paddy's Day. We usually see a collection around Halloween or Christmas, so this gave the stories a different spin. The main theme was Irish coffee having something to do with murder, but I liked how Barbara Ross differently incorporated it into her mystery. She has a little about that and some other interesting things in her acknowledgements at the. end. We even got a couple of Sergio-isms in the Hayley Powell story, so that was an added plus especially for a novella! Overall a fun way to celebrate your Irish or someone else's this coming St. Paddy's Day.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
August 20, 2022
As the daughter of an Irish American matriarch, Irish Coffee Murder had me at the title. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this trio of highly entertaining and well-written stories, with endearing characters and evocative settings (plus: recipes!). I'm a New England girl myself, so I loved the local references and the care the authors all took in getting places, language, customs, and context correct. I liked all three stories, but was especially taken with Barbara Ross' ghostly tale, and the fascinating true history of the Irish in Maine. I had never heard of Benedicta, the community planned as a safe haven for Irish immigrants. Plus, who wouldn't want to be in front of a fire on a snowy night in Busman's Harbor with a steaming mug of Irish coffee, listening to memorable characters telling different versions of the same ghost story? Slainte!
April 20, 2024
Three Novellas ☘️ ☘️ ☘️
#1 - Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier
Snoopy Lucy is at it again. Murder, mayhem and the usual mess. Throw in Irish dancing and a bit of Jamison’s and you get the Irish theme. When did the Pennysaver become the Courier? Pennysaver sounds like a throwaway with ads and coupons, so that is an improvement. 3*
#2 - Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker by Lee Hollis
This story needed a lot more than Irish luck. It was beyond ridiculous- I skimmed to the end. 1*
#3 - Perked Up by Barbara Ross
Ghosts and Toasts, Irish Coffee and soda bread. A perfect St Patrick’s Day, a raging storm, a cozy fire and a houseful of the Busman’s Harbor gang. Loved all the historical references. Ms Ross is definitely the best of this trio, so I read her first. 5*
#1 - Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier
Snoopy Lucy is at it again. Murder, mayhem and the usual mess. Throw in Irish dancing and a bit of Jamison’s and you get the Irish theme. When did the Pennysaver become the Courier? Pennysaver sounds like a throwaway with ads and coupons, so that is an improvement. 3*
#2 - Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker by Lee Hollis
This story needed a lot more than Irish luck. It was beyond ridiculous- I skimmed to the end. 1*
#3 - Perked Up by Barbara Ross
Ghosts and Toasts, Irish Coffee and soda bread. A perfect St Patrick’s Day, a raging storm, a cozy fire and a houseful of the Busman’s Harbor gang. Loved all the historical references. Ms Ross is definitely the best of this trio, so I read her first. 5*
February 1, 2023
A nice collection of 3 mysteries! Apparently Irish Coffee is popular in Maine since that was the reoccurring setting.
I liked the variety that each story brought, from Irish dancing moms to a party for a famous comedian and a cold case. Even though each story was written by a different author, they had a cohesive feel. All three did a good job at throwing me off on figuring out whodunit.
The Irish themes were present, but I felt like I wanted more Irish flair. Other than that, this was an enjoyable collection.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this Audiobook for my honest review.
I liked the variety that each story brought, from Irish dancing moms to a party for a famous comedian and a cold case. Even though each story was written by a different author, they had a cohesive feel. All three did a good job at throwing me off on figuring out whodunit.
The Irish themes were present, but I felt like I wanted more Irish flair. Other than that, this was an enjoyable collection.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this Audiobook for my honest review.
January 13, 2023
I’m not usually a fan of novellas but these are some of my favorite series so it was nice to visit with the characters again. Usually these feature the same characters in a shorter mystery but don’t really move the series along in any way. I was pleasantly surprised that the Maine Clambake story did, focusing on a few potential budding relationships. The stories were all well written and intriguing, particularly the last one, which was a cold case. Highly recommended for fans of these series but you don’t have to be to follow the stories.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #RBMedia for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #RBMedia for an honest review.
March 13, 2023
A collection of novellas with an Irish coffee theme. This is a prefect book to read when you are looking for a a quick fun cozy mystery to read. Each author pens entertaining story with likable protagonists. The mysteries even though short are well plotted with plenty of twists.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.
August 22, 2022
I follow authors LESLIE MEIER, LEE HOLLIS & BARBARA ROSS, and will forever read anything they write. This book contains one Irish Coffee related story from each author, so I will review them separately:
IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER – It was wonderful to meet up again with Lucy and her friends, and as usual, the reader gets cozily snuggled into Lucy’s life and new situation. The plot was intriguing and gripping. I knew which character I wanted to be murdered, but that did not happen, which made the story more interesting for me. I almost read the story in one sitting, but when I got to the end, I felt that the ‘wrapping up’ was rushed, and even though all loose ends were tied, it left me wanting more detail. This happened to me for the last novella she wrote last year in her story Haunted House Murder, yet, if she writes them, I will read them. Leslie has a gift for entertaining us with the familiar and the new, so that makes me eager to read her books. Proof of her popularity is that her 29th.book Mother of the Bride Murder is being published on April 25, 2023. I am eagerly anticipating it.
DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLIS – I was prepared to laugh and be entertained with a new Hayley Powell escapade, and I was not disappointed! This brother and sister writing duo truly knows how to grab us and puts us in the middle of Hayley’s fun and funny situations. The expressions used are so funny, and the story was written very smoothly and made you want to read on. The ending was unexpected, and did not seem rushed. I can’t wait to read the last book Death of an Ice Cream Scooper ( #15), which is in my TBR list.
PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSS – Barbara’s books and novellas are MUST reads for me, because I know that I will be immersed in the world of Julia Snowden, her Clambake business in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and the cast of friends I have gotten to love throughout the 10 books in this series. I also know I will learn something useful. Barbara selects a certain topic of perhaps historical significance to weave a story around a murder. The story she chose in this book was absolutely fascinating, and it was so detailed, and told from various characters’ point of view, that you believe it happened just as described at the end, which was totally unexpected. I loved this book as it develops further into Julia’s personal life, and it is nice to see that she has made a new friendship from a character in a previous novel. Congratulations, Barbara. I hope she continues writing mysteries about Julia and the Maine Clambake Mysteries.
I was blessed to be able to read an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.
IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER – It was wonderful to meet up again with Lucy and her friends, and as usual, the reader gets cozily snuggled into Lucy’s life and new situation. The plot was intriguing and gripping. I knew which character I wanted to be murdered, but that did not happen, which made the story more interesting for me. I almost read the story in one sitting, but when I got to the end, I felt that the ‘wrapping up’ was rushed, and even though all loose ends were tied, it left me wanting more detail. This happened to me for the last novella she wrote last year in her story Haunted House Murder, yet, if she writes them, I will read them. Leslie has a gift for entertaining us with the familiar and the new, so that makes me eager to read her books. Proof of her popularity is that her 29th.book Mother of the Bride Murder is being published on April 25, 2023. I am eagerly anticipating it.
DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLIS – I was prepared to laugh and be entertained with a new Hayley Powell escapade, and I was not disappointed! This brother and sister writing duo truly knows how to grab us and puts us in the middle of Hayley’s fun and funny situations. The expressions used are so funny, and the story was written very smoothly and made you want to read on. The ending was unexpected, and did not seem rushed. I can’t wait to read the last book Death of an Ice Cream Scooper ( #15), which is in my TBR list.
PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSS – Barbara’s books and novellas are MUST reads for me, because I know that I will be immersed in the world of Julia Snowden, her Clambake business in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and the cast of friends I have gotten to love throughout the 10 books in this series. I also know I will learn something useful. Barbara selects a certain topic of perhaps historical significance to weave a story around a murder. The story she chose in this book was absolutely fascinating, and it was so detailed, and told from various characters’ point of view, that you believe it happened just as described at the end, which was totally unexpected. I loved this book as it develops further into Julia’s personal life, and it is nice to see that she has made a new friendship from a character in a previous novel. Congratulations, Barbara. I hope she continues writing mysteries about Julia and the Maine Clambake Mysteries.
I was blessed to be able to read an advance copy of this book via NetGalley.
August 14, 2022
Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier; Lee Hollis; Barbara Ross is an exc collection of three cozy mystery novellas that celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and the tasty beverage of Irish Coffee. I loved it!
These three authors and their respective cozy mystery series are truly my three favorite series of all time (in addition to Hannah Swenson). I discovered this amazing genre when I stumbled upon Leslie Meier and her beyond excellent Lucy Stone Mystery series over 10 years ago. I devoured that first book, and never looked back. It is my go-to genre, my three go-to authors that can’t go wrong, and it makes it even better that this is holiday-themed (my personal favorites). Needless to say that I am highly recommending this wonderful collection.
IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER ( Lucy Stone Mystery)
DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLIS (Hayley Powell Mystery)
PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSS (Main Clambake Mystery)
Each author and series has its unique touch, but all include murder/mysteries, family, holidays, themes, chuckles, and the best way to spend one’s free time.
These were great additions to the series ( Yes, I have read every single one of each of the series). One does not have to read previous books to fall right in and fall in love.
I just loved this and cannot recommend it enough!
5/5 stars enthusiastically
Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing 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 1/24/23.
These three authors and their respective cozy mystery series are truly my three favorite series of all time (in addition to Hannah Swenson). I discovered this amazing genre when I stumbled upon Leslie Meier and her beyond excellent Lucy Stone Mystery series over 10 years ago. I devoured that first book, and never looked back. It is my go-to genre, my three go-to authors that can’t go wrong, and it makes it even better that this is holiday-themed (my personal favorites). Needless to say that I am highly recommending this wonderful collection.
IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER ( Lucy Stone Mystery)
DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLIS (Hayley Powell Mystery)
PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSS (Main Clambake Mystery)
Each author and series has its unique touch, but all include murder/mysteries, family, holidays, themes, chuckles, and the best way to spend one’s free time.
These were great additions to the series ( Yes, I have read every single one of each of the series). One does not have to read previous books to fall right in and fall in love.
I just loved this and cannot recommend it enough!
5/5 stars enthusiastically
Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing 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 1/24/23.
August 18, 2022
Who knew Irish coffee could be deadly? Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross, that's who! That delicious St. Patrick's Day treat weaves its way through three murderous tales that may have you thinking twice about imbibing - nah, it only makes it more fun!I
Lucy Stone delves into the world of Irish step dancing and finds that murder and dancing go together. When the Mom of a dancer is killed, Lucy has to separate gossip from fact and keep her life safe. Hailey Powell discovers murder among old friends and Julia Snowden solves a ghost story/mystery that took place over a hundred years ago.
Though I read this book in August, the writing drew me in until I really felt a need for a cozy blanket and some Irish coffee. An anytime treat you'll love!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Lucy Stone delves into the world of Irish step dancing and finds that murder and dancing go together. When the Mom of a dancer is killed, Lucy has to separate gossip from fact and keep her life safe. Hailey Powell discovers murder among old friends and Julia Snowden solves a ghost story/mystery that took place over a hundred years ago.
Though I read this book in August, the writing drew me in until I really felt a need for a cozy blanket and some Irish coffee. An anytime treat you'll love!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 12, 2023
I want to thank Netgalley and the author's for gifting me the audio version. Okay the first story. I have read a few of the books in the series and I enjoyed them but this book just slaps you across the face with woke liberalism. It absolutely turned me off. It was absolutely ridiculous. The other stories were better and I enjoyed them more. Very disappointed with the first story.
January 16, 2023
Irish Coffee Murder contains three novellas by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross. Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Stone takes us back to Tinker’s Cove where Lucy Stone is shivering because the heat went out in the newspaper office. Lucy is happy to head out to work on an article on local Irish dancers. When one of the dancer’s mothers ends up dead, Lucy learns that dancing is a cutthroat business. Irish Coffee Murder is A Lucy Stone Mystery. It can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed Lucy Stone’s latest adventure. It is an easy-to-read story with likeable characters. We get to catch up with Lucy, Zoe (Lucy’s youngest daughter, Ted (who was quick to retreat to the other newspaper office when the heat went out), and Phyllis (she has a colorful wardrobe). The mystery was straightforward, but it suited the length of the story. It was interesting learning about Irish dancing. Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker by Lee Hollis is A Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you have not read any of the other books in the series. I found the story easy to read with a lively main character. It is a story that will make you laugh. Hayley finds herself in some amusing situations. Perked Up by Barbara Ross was different from the other two. It is a stormy night in Busman’s Harbor and the electric goes out. Julia Snowden and a friend join Julia’s mother and Captain George McQuaig (Julia was surprised to find him in the living room chatting with her mother) in the living room in front of the fire. They are all enjoying Irish Coffee when Captain George begins telling them about a century old mystery involving Hugh O’Hara. Soon others arrive when they see the candles in the windows. Each new arrival has a different take on the mystery. The next day, Julia decides to dig into the case and find out what really happened. Perked Up was my favorite. I thought the mystery was unique and entertaining. There are a lot of details which makes the mystery realistic and intriguing. We also get to catch up with Julia, her family, and friends. These three tales will get you in the mood for St. Patrick’s Day.
January 30, 2023
Three short St. Patrick's Day reads by some wonderful cozy mystery authors. In book one Lucy Stone is writing an article about step dancing and is really enjoying the subject. When one of the dancers mothers is murdered Lucy is ready to dive into her own investigation. Will the killer be caught or will they get away with murder. In book two Hayley has agreed to cater the after party for Jefferson O'Keefe, a popular comedian. When he drops dead after drinking an Irish Coffee Hayley wonders who wanted him dead and why. She starts to investigate and begins to realize this won't be an easy solve. In book three Julia Snowden and family and friends are treated to a blackout. They sit around the fireplace to stay warm and soon a local ghost story is being discussed. Everyone has their version of who the killer in the story was. When the lights come back on Julia decides to see if she can solve this case.from so long ago. Will she figure it all out in the end or will it remain unsolved in the end?
January 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this audiobook performance of Irish Coffee Murder, an installment in the Lucy Stone Mystery series. I haven't read all the books in the series, but each time I do I really enjoy how Lucy works about finding the answer to the mystery. In this case, having too many Irish coffees let too many secrets slip (as alcohol is wont to do). The narration was very good, and the narrator did a really good job in letting the different characters have different accents/tones. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an advance copy of this audiobook, in return for an honest review.
November 3, 2022
Did not care at all for this book. It has three stories in it, written by different authors. Lucy Stone mysteries are a favorite of mine, so I was excited to read that one. It ended extremely abruptly, and we were not given a motive or any explanation for the reason that they arrested the person that they did.
The second story was at least more or less complete, but it was interspersed with recipes between chapters and stupid stories of chasing dogs and then one about missing her husband as they drove back and forth looking for each other. I have never read a book by this author, and never will if this is her thing.
Third story was okay, but way too much repeating. People coping with an electricity outage by drinking Irish Coffee and telling ghost stories. But every time a new person showed up at the house, the whole thing was repeated over and over.
In a nutshell, this was not for me! Thanks anyway, NetGalley and Kensington for the chance to read it.
The second story was at least more or less complete, but it was interspersed with recipes between chapters and stupid stories of chasing dogs and then one about missing her husband as they drove back and forth looking for each other. I have never read a book by this author, and never will if this is her thing.
Third story was okay, but way too much repeating. People coping with an electricity outage by drinking Irish Coffee and telling ghost stories. But every time a new person showed up at the house, the whole thing was repeated over and over.
In a nutshell, this was not for me! Thanks anyway, NetGalley and Kensington for the chance to read it.
August 15, 2022
I received an ARC of, Irish Coffee Murder, by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross. This enjoyable book has three mysteries, surrounded by Irish Coffee. I love that there is recipes in this book, a really lovely read. Curl up to 3 cozy mysteries.
March 20, 2023
I really enjoy these holiday anthologies from Kensington Publishing. Three of the cozy mysteries I enjoy make an appearance and it was nice to catch up with some of my favorite characters. In these anthologies the author is given a theme and they write a story using it. Each story in this book deals with a mystery set around or caused by Irish Coffee. As well, all of these novellas is set in Maine, although different towns along the coast. I usually have a hands down favorite when I read these anthologies, but I enjoyed all the stories and it is hard to pick just one to highlight. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, or would like a taste of a few different series, I recommend you pick this one up along with an Irish Coffee and enjoy.
First up was Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone in the story referred to in the title, Irish Coffee Murder. Part-time reporter Lucy is covering a group of Irish Step Dancing students on their way to international competitions. She meets with the mothers and can easily see that they are extremely competitive on their daughter's behalf. When one of them is found dead, it becomes the question as to whether it was suicide or another mother did her in. This is the longest story in the book and I enjoyed it. As in any competition sport, there is an ugly side and Lucy finds out all about it. There were several suspects and motives that kept me guessing.
Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker by Lee Hollis is a short story from the Food & Cocktails Mysteries. A local comedian is set to perform in Bar Harbor and Liddy asks Hayley to cater. Hayley's brother, who owns the local bar, Drinks Like a Fish, will throw in the drinks for an after party, Irish Coffee being the highlight. At the last minute Hayley scrambles to find another server when her brother's employee calls in sick. When a drink of Irish Whisky finds the guest of honor dying, Hayley scrambles to find the killer and take the pressure off her brother and herself. This was a fun mystery and another that kept me guessing. I thought the actual murder, once solved was very interesting and not one I had seen often. If you follow this series, you will know that there are little vignettes within the story from Hayley's column.
The final story, Perked Up by Barbara Ross is from one of my top three cozy mysteries. We catch up with Julia Snowdon in Bar Harbor, Maine after she has moved back home with her mother following her breakup with her longtime boyfriend, Chris. This story is set on St. Patrick's evening during a storm. The power goes out in town and many of the locals meet at Julia's mother's house, drink some Irish Coffee and discuss a mystery from the past. As more people arrive, there are different perspectives of the same story, with different suspects. Who really killed old Hugh O'Hara? Did someone get away with murder all those years ago? Who is the ghost that wanders the old mansion? I liked this cold case mystery and the fact that with wonderful investigative skills, memories from other people and great friends to accompany her, Julia figures out the mystery.
First up was Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone in the story referred to in the title, Irish Coffee Murder. Part-time reporter Lucy is covering a group of Irish Step Dancing students on their way to international competitions. She meets with the mothers and can easily see that they are extremely competitive on their daughter's behalf. When one of them is found dead, it becomes the question as to whether it was suicide or another mother did her in. This is the longest story in the book and I enjoyed it. As in any competition sport, there is an ugly side and Lucy finds out all about it. There were several suspects and motives that kept me guessing.
Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker by Lee Hollis is a short story from the Food & Cocktails Mysteries. A local comedian is set to perform in Bar Harbor and Liddy asks Hayley to cater. Hayley's brother, who owns the local bar, Drinks Like a Fish, will throw in the drinks for an after party, Irish Coffee being the highlight. At the last minute Hayley scrambles to find another server when her brother's employee calls in sick. When a drink of Irish Whisky finds the guest of honor dying, Hayley scrambles to find the killer and take the pressure off her brother and herself. This was a fun mystery and another that kept me guessing. I thought the actual murder, once solved was very interesting and not one I had seen often. If you follow this series, you will know that there are little vignettes within the story from Hayley's column.
The final story, Perked Up by Barbara Ross is from one of my top three cozy mysteries. We catch up with Julia Snowdon in Bar Harbor, Maine after she has moved back home with her mother following her breakup with her longtime boyfriend, Chris. This story is set on St. Patrick's evening during a storm. The power goes out in town and many of the locals meet at Julia's mother's house, drink some Irish Coffee and discuss a mystery from the past. As more people arrive, there are different perspectives of the same story, with different suspects. Who really killed old Hugh O'Hara? Did someone get away with murder all those years ago? Who is the ghost that wanders the old mansion? I liked this cold case mystery and the fact that with wonderful investigative skills, memories from other people and great friends to accompany her, Julia figures out the mystery.
February 4, 2023
Irish Coffe Murder is a collection of three novellas. The first is part of Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone series; the second features Lee Hollis's food and cocktail columnist Hayley Powell and the third one is a short Maine Clambake mystery by Barbara Ross called Perked Up.
All three are absorbing tales with a St Patrick's Day theme, and if pressed for a favourite I would choose Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker by Lee Hollis for the humour as I had such a laugh! In Perked Up I loved the writing style of Barbara Ross which is a good fit for me. Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier was engrossing with the discerning and intrepid Lucy Stone. These novellas are a great way to discover new-to-you cozy mystery authors and love the holiday or seasonal approaches they often have. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
All three are absorbing tales with a St Patrick's Day theme, and if pressed for a favourite I would choose Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker by Lee Hollis for the humour as I had such a laugh! In Perked Up I loved the writing style of Barbara Ross which is a good fit for me. Irish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier was engrossing with the discerning and intrepid Lucy Stone. These novellas are a great way to discover new-to-you cozy mystery authors and love the holiday or seasonal approaches they often have. Very highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
February 13, 2023
Irish Coffee Murder is a collection of three novellas, all set in Maine around St. Patrick's day. All three include Irish coffee in the plot. These are all parts of long-standing series that I had never read before and by authors that are new to me. It seemed like a nice way to sample these authors.
I enjoyed all three stories with Perked by Barbara Ross being my favorite. I loved the historical mystery and the ghostly aspects of it.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed all three stories with Perked by Barbara Ross being my favorite. I loved the historical mystery and the ghostly aspects of it.
Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2024
These three authors really do an anthology of cozy mysteries right! I adore all the books by these authors, and this compilation is no different! This book includes three novellas that continue existing storylines in these authors popular series. The series are Lucy Stone #28.5, Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery # 15.5 and Maine Clambake Mysteries #10.5.
These are fun holiday-themed novellas which all include Irish coffee is some fashion, and even though these are novellas supporting an existing series, a reader can easily jump right into this book without reading prior novels, as they are all self-contained mysteries. i just really enjoy these books, and St. Patrick's Day is a fun holiday that I enjoy celebrating.
I highly recommend this book to fans of holiday themed cozy mysteries, but also to anyone who enjoys any of the three series. It was a fun read!
These are fun holiday-themed novellas which all include Irish coffee is some fashion, and even though these are novellas supporting an existing series, a reader can easily jump right into this book without reading prior novels, as they are all self-contained mysteries. i just really enjoy these books, and St. Patrick's Day is a fun holiday that I enjoy celebrating.
I highly recommend this book to fans of holiday themed cozy mysteries, but also to anyone who enjoys any of the three series. It was a fun read!
April 6, 2024
It's another group of three novellas by the same three authors. This time they all have a St. Patrick's Day theme. Each novella is part of a regular series of mysteries. Leslie Meier's novella is part of the Lucy Stone Mysteries, Lee Hollis's novella is part of the Hayley Powell's Food & Cocktail Mysteries, and Barbara Ross's novella is part of the Maine Clambake Mysteries. Although each novella is a standalone, the reader will appreciate them much better if the reader is familiar with the usual characters.
August 25, 2022
Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross have returned with another quality anthology set in their respective worlds. What I enjoy about this anthologies is that it’s the same authors all the time, so I feel comfortable picking it up and catching up on these characters.
If you’re new to these authors, it’s a great way to try them out. But for me, I love being able to jump between authors and different series and still look forward to the next anthology that will be coming out featuring the same authors. In some ways, it’s comforting for me.
That being said, there’s definitely a cozy feeling with this collection of short stories, especially since the theme this time is Irish Coffee. Just thinking about it makes me hungry again. So if you enjoy foodie mysteries, then this is definitely one to check out. I devoured this book quickly!
If you’re new to these authors, it’s a great way to try them out. But for me, I love being able to jump between authors and different series and still look forward to the next anthology that will be coming out featuring the same authors. In some ways, it’s comforting for me.
That being said, there’s definitely a cozy feeling with this collection of short stories, especially since the theme this time is Irish Coffee. Just thinking about it makes me hungry again. So if you enjoy foodie mysteries, then this is definitely one to check out. I devoured this book quickly!
January 12, 2023
Irish Coffee Murder is a collection of three novellas, all set around St. Patrick’s Day in Maine, and all using the theme Irish Coffee. It’s interesting to see how each author uses that theme to create a unique story.
The first novella in the collection is Leslie Meier’s “Irish Coffee Murder.” The story features the main character from her full-length novels, Lucy Stone. Lucy is a reporter for Tinker Cove’s local newspaper and travels to Portland, Maine to cover an Irish dance competition. There was lots of drama that seemed all too realistic between the dance moms before, during, and after the competition. There is plenty of drama between the dance moms throughout the competition, especially after a few too many Irish coffees! A few days later, one of the women is found dead in her home, and Lucy is on the case. This story starts out really good, and I really enjoyed the details about competitive Irish step dancing that are included. Unfortunately, things seem to veer off course instead of focusing on the investigation and the resolution to the murder comes abruptly, taking away from the story as a whole.
The next novella is “Death of An Irish Coffee Drinker" by Lee Hollis. The main character is Hayley Powell and her good friend, Liddy, is excited to have booked hometown hero Jefferson O’Keefe for a comedy show on St. Patrick’s Day. Liddy mixes business with pleasure and seems to be rekindling an old romance with Jefferson. Liddy’s happiness is cut short when Jefferson is murdered during the performance, possibly from the Irish coffee he’s served. Now it’s up to Hayley to find out who could have killed this up-and-coming star. I don’t care for the self-centered Liddy, whose demanding ways quickly become annoying. Luckily, Hayley’s character is very likable and I enjoyed seeing how hard she works to find the murderer. I was ultimately surprised when the identity and motive of the killer was revealed. Mixed in with the narrative of the investigation are food blog columns by Hayley that include several tasty-sounding recipes.
The final novella in the book is “Perked Up” by Barbara Ross. Julia Snowden and her friend Zoey decide to spend a quiet night at home on St. Patrick’s Day. They are soon joined by Julia’s mother and an old family friend, George. There is a power outage, and as the night goes on, more friends and family join the gathering to drink Irish coffees and tell ghost stories. One of the stories is about a murder from 150 years ago and each person has their own theory about what really happened. After the night comes to an end, Julia can’t let it go and continues to do research about this crime from long ago. It took me a little while to get into this story, but once I did, I was intrigued by this very cold case. When I was finished, I appreciated the author’s clever take on the theme, and this became my favorite story of the collection.
This book is great for fans of each author or as an introduction to the work of the unfamiliar authors. Each story has its own strengths and weaknesses, but overall is a fast, fun read to get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased. This review will also appear on the Smitten Review Site and Blog.
The first novella in the collection is Leslie Meier’s “Irish Coffee Murder.” The story features the main character from her full-length novels, Lucy Stone. Lucy is a reporter for Tinker Cove’s local newspaper and travels to Portland, Maine to cover an Irish dance competition. There was lots of drama that seemed all too realistic between the dance moms before, during, and after the competition. There is plenty of drama between the dance moms throughout the competition, especially after a few too many Irish coffees! A few days later, one of the women is found dead in her home, and Lucy is on the case. This story starts out really good, and I really enjoyed the details about competitive Irish step dancing that are included. Unfortunately, things seem to veer off course instead of focusing on the investigation and the resolution to the murder comes abruptly, taking away from the story as a whole.
The next novella is “Death of An Irish Coffee Drinker" by Lee Hollis. The main character is Hayley Powell and her good friend, Liddy, is excited to have booked hometown hero Jefferson O’Keefe for a comedy show on St. Patrick’s Day. Liddy mixes business with pleasure and seems to be rekindling an old romance with Jefferson. Liddy’s happiness is cut short when Jefferson is murdered during the performance, possibly from the Irish coffee he’s served. Now it’s up to Hayley to find out who could have killed this up-and-coming star. I don’t care for the self-centered Liddy, whose demanding ways quickly become annoying. Luckily, Hayley’s character is very likable and I enjoyed seeing how hard she works to find the murderer. I was ultimately surprised when the identity and motive of the killer was revealed. Mixed in with the narrative of the investigation are food blog columns by Hayley that include several tasty-sounding recipes.
The final novella in the book is “Perked Up” by Barbara Ross. Julia Snowden and her friend Zoey decide to spend a quiet night at home on St. Patrick’s Day. They are soon joined by Julia’s mother and an old family friend, George. There is a power outage, and as the night goes on, more friends and family join the gathering to drink Irish coffees and tell ghost stories. One of the stories is about a murder from 150 years ago and each person has their own theory about what really happened. After the night comes to an end, Julia can’t let it go and continues to do research about this crime from long ago. It took me a little while to get into this story, but once I did, I was intrigued by this very cold case. When I was finished, I appreciated the author’s clever take on the theme, and this became my favorite story of the collection.
This book is great for fans of each author or as an introduction to the work of the unfamiliar authors. Each story has its own strengths and weaknesses, but overall is a fast, fun read to get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
I received this ebook from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased. This review will also appear on the Smitten Review Site and Blog.
August 22, 2023
4.75 stars on platforms that allow for such delights.
Let me preface this by saying that I only read one of the three novellas in this collection. The Maine Clambake Mysteries is one of my favorite cozy mystery series of all time. I actually gave up on the other two series represented in this collection quite a while ago now, for reasons we don't have to get into here when I would really rather just talk about the one I read AND LOVED: Perked Up. Shall we?
What I liked about Irish Coffee Murder - Perked Up (Barbara Ross):
Characters and setting - I literally say this every time. I just enjoy everything about Busman's Harbor and the people who inhabit it, specifically Julia Snowden and her people. Ms Ross has this way of bringing both to life, so much so that it's hard to remember this is fiction, because I kinda want to move there and hang out with them all. This novella was no exception. You'll get a unique setting -- a place with which you're familiar, but the circumstances are fabulous -- and enough of the familiar faces to feel right at home.
The presentation of "the case" - Honestly, I don't know how she nails it every single time, but I love the way Ms Ross laid out the mystery at the center of this novella. It was perfectly executed for the type of storytelling a novella requires: all the pieces for a satisfying story, just in this compact format. When you only have about a third the number of pages typically used to unwind a mystery, I imagine you need to take a different approach and this was brilliant.
Continued character development - I absolutely adore that we get to see some character and long-term story arc progression here. Could you skip over the novellas and still know what's going on in Julia's life? Well, sure, but... why would you??
This is going to maybe seem random - Ms Ross does something here that delighted me endlessly: she captured sound effects in her writing that were so. spot. on. that I could actually hear them in my mind as I was reading. Some of my appreciation for her accuracy may be born of the fact that I grew up in New England and these are sounds that I have heard many times. But to add them into the story rather than merely saying "the sleet hitting the window" added this next dimension of story immersion. Now, not only was I picturing the scene as it unfolded in my mind's eye, but we were adding in another sensory experience and yes, just yes.
Julia's fall - There is one scene that simply blew me away. I have been trying to quantify why and I can't seem to articulate it in a way that does the scene justice, but it was one of those perfect scenes that, as you're reading it, you are inside the book in that moment. It's such a rare treat.
What I didn't care for:
Nothing. This was a perfect little nugget.
Short and sweet, but undeniably satisfying, Perked Up was the perfect snack-sized pick-me-up a devoted Maine Clambake reader needs to make it to the next full-length installment. Do yourself a favor: if you've never read a book in this series before, go back to the beginning and start there. You will not regret it!
Let me preface this by saying that I only read one of the three novellas in this collection. The Maine Clambake Mysteries is one of my favorite cozy mystery series of all time. I actually gave up on the other two series represented in this collection quite a while ago now, for reasons we don't have to get into here when I would really rather just talk about the one I read AND LOVED: Perked Up. Shall we?
What I liked about Irish Coffee Murder - Perked Up (Barbara Ross):
Characters and setting - I literally say this every time. I just enjoy everything about Busman's Harbor and the people who inhabit it, specifically Julia Snowden and her people. Ms Ross has this way of bringing both to life, so much so that it's hard to remember this is fiction, because I kinda want to move there and hang out with them all. This novella was no exception. You'll get a unique setting -- a place with which you're familiar, but the circumstances are fabulous -- and enough of the familiar faces to feel right at home.
The presentation of "the case" - Honestly, I don't know how she nails it every single time, but I love the way Ms Ross laid out the mystery at the center of this novella. It was perfectly executed for the type of storytelling a novella requires: all the pieces for a satisfying story, just in this compact format. When you only have about a third the number of pages typically used to unwind a mystery, I imagine you need to take a different approach and this was brilliant.
Continued character development - I absolutely adore that we get to see some character and long-term story arc progression here. Could you skip over the novellas and still know what's going on in Julia's life? Well, sure, but... why would you??
This is going to maybe seem random - Ms Ross does something here that delighted me endlessly: she captured sound effects in her writing that were so. spot. on. that I could actually hear them in my mind as I was reading. Some of my appreciation for her accuracy may be born of the fact that I grew up in New England and these are sounds that I have heard many times. But to add them into the story rather than merely saying "the sleet hitting the window" added this next dimension of story immersion. Now, not only was I picturing the scene as it unfolded in my mind's eye, but we were adding in another sensory experience and yes, just yes.
Julia's fall - There is one scene that simply blew me away. I have been trying to quantify why and I can't seem to articulate it in a way that does the scene justice, but it was one of those perfect scenes that, as you're reading it, you are inside the book in that moment. It's such a rare treat.
What I didn't care for:
Nothing. This was a perfect little nugget.
Short and sweet, but undeniably satisfying, Perked Up was the perfect snack-sized pick-me-up a devoted Maine Clambake reader needs to make it to the next full-length installment. Do yourself a favor: if you've never read a book in this series before, go back to the beginning and start there. You will not regret it!
February 27, 2023
Irish Coffee Murder Earns 5/5 Juiced Javas … Clever Cozy Gems!
St. Paddy’s, Irish coffee, and … murder? Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross have teamed up with three different takes on St. Patrick’s Day. In “Irish Coffee Murder,” Leslie Meier puts the rivalry in an Irish step dance competition with one of the moms dead. Accident? Suicide? Murder? Newshound Lucy Stone sees the latter. Meier provides the clues for us arm-chair to test our skill, but masks enough to make the conclusion an entertaining surprise. In “Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker,” Lee Hollis starts with a community needing a break from the weather with Hometown boy Jefferson showcase his comedic talents, but it’s his dramatic death that makes a splash hit. Several suspects are revealed, but one thing’s true … watch out for the secret ingredients. Entertaining characters kept me engaged. St. Pat’s treats follow: Irish Stout Onion Soup, Irish Mudslide for two, Whiskey Ginger, Irish Stew, Randy’s Irish Coffee, and Kelton’s Corned Beef and Cabbage. In “Perked Up,” Barbara Ross has her heroine serving up Irish coffees to her friends, but a power outage has ghosts stories being shared. Everyone has a different version of the long-ago tale of murder, but by the end of the evening Julia believes she’s cracked the cold case. Very clever perspectives. The recipe for Vee’s Soda Bread is included.
All three popular authors (Meier, Hollis, and Ross) are “cozy” experts providing clever murder mysteries, eclectic characters, and some delicious surprises. And, of course, a full menu of recipes for your St.Patrick’s Day celebration!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
St. Paddy’s, Irish coffee, and … murder? Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross have teamed up with three different takes on St. Patrick’s Day. In “Irish Coffee Murder,” Leslie Meier puts the rivalry in an Irish step dance competition with one of the moms dead. Accident? Suicide? Murder? Newshound Lucy Stone sees the latter. Meier provides the clues for us arm-chair to test our skill, but masks enough to make the conclusion an entertaining surprise. In “Death of an Irish Coffee Drinker,” Lee Hollis starts with a community needing a break from the weather with Hometown boy Jefferson showcase his comedic talents, but it’s his dramatic death that makes a splash hit. Several suspects are revealed, but one thing’s true … watch out for the secret ingredients. Entertaining characters kept me engaged. St. Pat’s treats follow: Irish Stout Onion Soup, Irish Mudslide for two, Whiskey Ginger, Irish Stew, Randy’s Irish Coffee, and Kelton’s Corned Beef and Cabbage. In “Perked Up,” Barbara Ross has her heroine serving up Irish coffees to her friends, but a power outage has ghosts stories being shared. Everyone has a different version of the long-ago tale of murder, but by the end of the evening Julia believes she’s cracked the cold case. Very clever perspectives. The recipe for Vee’s Soda Bread is included.
All three popular authors (Meier, Hollis, and Ross) are “cozy” experts providing clever murder mysteries, eclectic characters, and some delicious surprises. And, of course, a full menu of recipes for your St.Patrick’s Day celebration!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington thru NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
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