Cover Image: Halloween Murder

Halloween Murder

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This book includes 2 different Lucy Stone mysteries: Treat or Treat Murder (book 3) and Wicked Witch Murder (book 16).

In Treat or Treat Murder, Zoe is 6 weeks old, Lucy is being run ragged between the kids, her husband, the upcoming Halloween party and her job at the Pennysaver. Fires are being lit all over town, but it isn't until Monica Mayes is killed in her summer home fire that someone finally decides they might linked.

This was entertaining, but all the mom stuff got old. And she already had 2 kids at home, so I don't know why she insists on complaining like she didn't know what a third would bring. And Lucy's move near the end that puts her in danger (not a spoiler - she gets put in danger near the end of every book), is colossally stupid. I really just wanted to smack her in this one.

In Wicked Witch Murder, a practicing Wiccan (Diana) moves to town and opens a little store to sell items and give readings. A new family moves into town with extreme religious beliefs (no alcohol, no doctors, no fun) and the father, Ike Stoughton, begins a personal mission to run her out of town. Everything that goes wrong is because of witchcraft - flooding, tornadic activity, and the death of his wife. Naturally, his daughter as well as Lucy's are drawn to her and start practicing Wicca. Then the Lord of the coven gets burned at the stake and things really start getting interesting.

I really liked this one. All the witchcraft stuff was interesting, but I've always been interested in that type of stuff. Diana was one of the most annoying characters I've encountered in awhile. She asks to stay with Lucy when she becomes concerned about her own safety, even though they barely know each other. And Lucy allows it! Then she asks Lucy to check her house and bring her cat to her. Then when Lucy brings her mail with threats, she decides she needs to stay longer. Then she needs a ride from the airport. And can Lucy pretend to be Diana so the press doesn't follow her to the Samhain celebration? Good god! Why doesn't someone bump off this annoying witch already?!? There was some things that weren't wrapped up though, and that bothered me.

Overall, these were entertaining. The big problem I had was that they combined books that were set YEARS apart. In the first, Toby is running around with his friends TPing the principal's house and creating mischief, and Zoe is a brand new baby. In the second book, Toby is married with a baby and Zoe is hanging out with her sister casting spells in their bedroom! It's a bit of a jump, and I found it disorienting at first. Otherwise, they were fine.

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I love Lucy Stone. This book was a cumulation of two previous Lucy Stone mysteries. The first Trick or Treat Murder takes us back to just after her last child is born. When a rash of arsons are taking place and one turns deadly, Lucy must find who is responsible before anyone else is hurt or killed. Meanwhile she is in charge of a baking cupcakes for the upcoming Halloween party. Will she be able to stop a killer?
The second gave the reader a more sinister plot. While not a fan of witchcraft or wiccan storylines, Lucy Stone must find out who killed one of the witches before another murder takes place. I found this one to be a bit over the top for me. However, in typical fashion, Lucy must find her killer before it is too late.
I love reading this series because we have followed Lucy through all her years of raising her children. We have seen her become a grandmother. I look forward to reading her next mystery. I received a copy through Netgalley. My review was not required.

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Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier is compilation of two previously published books, Trick or Treat Murder (Leslie Stone, Book 3) and Wicked Witch Murder (Leslie Stone, Book 16). Of the two books, I strongly preferred the first over the second. Trick or Treat Murder is a bit more of straightforward cozy, though the mystery itself is a bit jumbled. It was a lightweight and fun read. Wicked Witch Murder is heavily laden by witchcraft, Wicca, a negative Christian storyline and included a rescue by a possibly supernatural but definitely ridiculously placed bear. It also had a climax that was just too over the top for me.
I do enjoy the character Lucy Stone, who is an “every woman,” with four children, a job, a household to run and obligations to her community. She is likable and her sometimes snarky inner thoughts are entertaining and typical of what many people might think but don’t say out loud. What isn’t as likable about Lucy is that she too often allows others to push her around, whether demanding dozens of cupcakes for a party or pushing her to put herself into unreasonable, and sometimes dangerous situations. In the course of reading two mysteries back to back, this is more apparent and a bit off-putting. One fun thing about the Lucy Stone mysteries is that time progresses. In Trick or Treat Murder, Lucy’s youngest, Zoe, is a newborn and all her children are young. In Wicked Witch Murder, the two oldest have fled the nest and the two youngest are adolescents. 
I have read other Lucy Stone books and, by and large, I enjoy them. Some are definitely better than others, as is the case with these two entries. I recommend this book for those who enjoy reading cozy mysteries and want to read something light. I give Trick or Treat Murders a strong 3 1/2 stars and Wicked Witch Murders two stars combining for a three star read.
I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write an honest review and the opinions stated are solely my own.

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I thought this was a new book by Leslie Meier so I was anxious to read it. I was disappointed to find that it was two previously published books together in one book. I had read "Trick or Treat Murder" in 2008. It was my first Meier book and I enjoyed it then and I enjoyed reading it again. Since it had been so long, I didn't remember a lot of the story so that helped.

The second book, "Wicked Witch Murder" was new for me and I did like it, but sometimes I had to stop and ask myself if I would allow my young daughters to attend Wiccan ceremonies or to go to a friends home who I suspected of abuse.

I do enjoy this series probably because of Lucy and her family. I can relate to having kids and the trouble they can get into but this book didn't resonate with me on that front. Thank you to Netgalley for this book to read and give my honest opinion.

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I was completely confused by the references about current events in these books, until I figured out this is a re-release of books written years ago. Although the town of Tinker's Cove is engaging, I don't find the characters likeable and feel like they are remote, as in the case of Bill, Lucy's husband. The mysteries were well done and kept me guessing, but overall I'm going to pass of going back and reading the rest of the books in the series.

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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.

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This collection has 2 of the 3 Halloween themed Lucy Stone mysteries. First off, I think it's a bit odd to exclude the most recent one, but I'm not the publisher haha.
The first book, Trick or Treat murder I read a few years ago. I read the books leading up to it so I was familiar with the characters and settings, however this series is pretty good with you not needing to have read all the books before. Some mysteries you'd be completely lost, or they repeat so much about what's happened before that you get bored. This one you can just jump in. This is still early in the series, and it suffers a bit from trying to find its footing. Occassionally it seems to veer off in tangents. Lucy Stone is looking into the arson in her town, but really only figure things out by the murdered attempting to kill her... Twice... The setting of Halloween and New England appeal to me, and this is a fun Autumn read. Or any time you want to get lost in the Halloween spirit of things.
The second book, Wicked Witch Murder was new to me. It deals with actual witchcraft, and religious issues. We have some intolerant people, who ironically want tolerance for their own religion which forbids many things including getting much needed healthcare. We have Wiccans, and those abusing witchcraft. Lucy Stone gets all caught up in it of course, as do her daughters. There is interesting themes of intolerance, and when the authorities need to step in when parents aren't adequately taking care of their children. Wicca is given a fair look at, instead of just tossed aside as some nonsense. I liked this one so much better than the first book. Somethings confused me ( the entire driving Nemo home scene. We really only needed Lucy to get to someone's house, but it felt longer than needed. And while his mother was, in fact not as thankful as she should of been what is it to the story? Just a comment on be more greatful?) but overall a great read for a cozy fall mystery.
I like the idea of having these books packaged together. Makes for easy re-reading when the seasons change. Also good if you just want Halloween stories.

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This is a re-release of two of Leslie Meier earlier Halloween books. I was hoping it was a brand new mystery, since I really enjoy her books, but I was disappointed. I already read these two books when they first came out.

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In this new book we are gifted with two Halloween shorts from the author. In the first, Trick or Treat Murder, we are taken back to a few months after Lucy has had her last child Zoe. Someone is setting fires to older historic buildings in the town of Tinker Cove. When a summer owner comes during the off season and is burned to death in her home the town becomes truly worried. What they thought might be kids being bad has turned into something much more serious. The woman killed was a friend to the Stone family and Lucy feels like she must try and figure out who is setting the fires and why. Follow along as Lucy takes care of baby Zoe, bakes a ton of Halloween Cupcakes for an upcoming party, and asks questions every chance she gets. Will she find the answers she is looking for or will she get burned. In the second short, Wicked Witch Murder, a local is up in arms about having a witch in the community and has no qualms about letting everyone know his feelings. While out for a walk with her dog, Lucy comes across a dead body that has not only been tied to tree but also burned. When it comes to light that the dead man was the head of a local coven everyone starts looking at those who had a problem with witches being in the town. Could it have been the new comer who has been speaking his mind about witches and how evil they are? Lucy is determined to find out, especially since her daughter has become interested in the craft. Follow along as Lucy looks into the mans death hoping that she'll be able to find out the truth before another witch is murdered. I've enjoyed the Lucy Stone series from the beginning and love these shorts that keep you appraised of what the characters are doing while waiting for a longer mystery. I look forward to seeing what Lucy gets into next.

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I loved this book. This is first book that I have read by author Leslie Meyer, and it won't be my last. Halloween is such a fun time of year I didn't know how deadly it could be. Lucy is a detective I would love to have on my side or to help solve a puzzling mystery.

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A delightful volume of two of Leslie Meier's classic Halloween mysteries. Returning to the lovable character of Lucy Stone, fans can revisit her antics in the fictitious Maine town of Tinker's Cove. If you think there's not enough mischief and mayhem afoot in this sleepy coastal fishing village you would be wrong.

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I didn't read the description of this book before I started it and was quite surprised to find Lucy as a young mother with a newborn. I've been reading the Lucy Stone series for years and expected Lucy to be an older sleuth and grandmother. After I finally read the description, all became clear. Halloween Murder by Leslie Meier unites two previously released Halloween books in the series. Both are excellent standalone mysteries. It was especially interesting to see the evolution of the supporting characters Pam and Miss Tilley from the earlier book to the later one.
If you haven't read this series, this would be a great beginning. It will leave you curious about Lucy's life between the two stories. If you have read the series, you will be interested to see how Lucy's life has changed from that young, harried mom sleuth to the confident older Lucy who is thrilled with her grandson

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What a fun surprise! I'm a big fan of Leslie Meier and have read all of her Tinker's Cove books. This book was a combination of two previously released books in the series carrying a Halloween theme. "Trick or Treat Murder" and "Wicked Witch Murder" are each included. Even though each story is a part of the bigger series, it's nice to be able to read and enjoy each of these stories and not miss much if you haven't read the previous entries into the series. I always enjoy the characters of Tinker's Cove, cozy murder storylines and the Halloween theme is one of my favorites. It was fun to be able to reread and enjoy these stories as I did the first time around. Thank you for bringing back some of the classics just in time for the season! Don't miss these wonderful Halloween themed cozies to get you in the mood for a spooky night!

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I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. There are two books in this set and they are a set of Halloween themed cozy mysteries about Lucy Stone. I was drink some iced chai since it was too hot for a heated beverage. Relaxed to read these two cozy mystery tales. I enjoyed them and they were quick reads for me. They made me relax and just enjoy the mystery of what was happening.

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Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review Halloween Murder. I have no problem with reading books that were previously published under a previous title, but it should be mentioned in the description of the book. This book contains two previously published Lucy Stone mysteries ;Trick or Treat Murder and Wicked Witch Murder. Both are very enjoyable if you haven’t read them before. I would recommend this book to new Lucy Stone readers.

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Like all the Lucy Stone books, this is a pretty straight forward, fun, and family friendly cozy. This is an entertaining series to read when you are looking for something light and uncomplicated. If I had any criticism at all it would be that these are starting to become a bit too formulaic for me. But it’s a good mystery and fun read.

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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.

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Leslie Meier writes like a true pro. I feel like I know the Stone family personally, and I know the town of Tinkers Cove. This book is a double the fun read!.

I made myself a cup of hot Chai Tea, and settled in for good Fall/Halloween read. Her books can really put you in the spine chilling moment.

What a great way to sit back, relax, and enjoy the the activities - without all of the extra work.

I recommend this book and all of Leslie Meier's books to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery and a delightful adventure.

Buy it and give it to a friend or relative with a bag of Candy Corn.

I will also post this on Goodreads to be enjoyed by other mystery lovers!

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I have been a long time fan of Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone series, watching her family grow, so it was fun in this book to go back to the beginning when her children were young and her sleuthing career just starting out. Lucy lives in beautiful Tinker's cove, a small Maine town where there has been a sudden rash of arson fires. When one of those fires destroys a home that her husband Bill, a restoration carpenter, remodeled and kills Mona, the owner who became a friend to the couple, Lucy is determined to find justice for her dead friend. This book has wonderful characters who you would love to have as your friends, a compelling plot and a beautiful setting. I highly recommend it.

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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!

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