I always enjoy a cozy mystery from Leslie Meier and Easter Bonnet Murder was no different. This book has an intriguing mystery, characters we've grown to love and wonderfully written dialogue. I really enjoy how easily the story flows and the bonus banter with the characters.

Another installment in the Lucy Stone cozies, this one was reminiscent of the others in the series. There was an Easter theme and a murder, with lots of good banter. This one was a cozy read that I enjoyed, but nothing remarkable or that deviates from what you'd expect. The narration was full of voice acting which was enjoyable in a comical way but definitely rested on stereotypes for older person voices. A fun and easy read overall.

I did not realize that this was the 28th book in the Lucy Stone mystery series.

It follows Lucy Stone, a reporter, trying to figure out what happened to a missing elderly woman from an assisted living facility. Of course she turns up dead (not a spoiler) since you prey try much expect it to happen, at least I did.

With that being said I felt like it took a while to get into it, maybe because I felt that I should have knows the characters before reading this book. I feel like there were irrelevant storylines (like about Lucy’s daughter).

Not until the end do you find out why and how the murder happened.

I’m not generally a reader of cozy mysteries but I liked the sound of this one and since I’ll read anything if it sounds good, I went for it. I’m so glad I did!
The Heritage House is a senior center that is well known for its cheerful staff and annual Easter Bonnet Contest. New residents are attracted to it and it gets nothing but good press. However, once retired librarian Julia Tilley checks into the center to recover from an illness, Lucy starts to see a side of the facility that isn’t as perfect as she thought it was. Then, an unexplained disappearance occurs and the place may be making some headlines of a different sort.
Agnes Neal apparently simply went missing from the assisted living facility. She’s told it’s due to an Easter bonnet contest and few seem to be very concerned even though all the signs are pointing to foul play. Agnes, a retired journalist with a fiercely independent streak who had little to no interest in conforming to the ways or rules set by her caretakers, just up and disappeared?
Police investigations stall without a single answer so Lucy realizes that things like backstabbing have no age limit and she sees a striking parallel between her daughter’s own friend group and the social circles at Heritage House. Lucy sets about gathering clues that are as small as a half eaten chocolate bunny to things much larger. Now, she needs to figure out what happened to Agnes before her own story becomes an unsolved tragedy.
This is a good story that is very much what you would expect to get from a cozy mystery. It’s quick to read with fun characters, humor throughout, and a little murder as well. I really liked this and definitely recommend it.
I was lucky enough to get a little listen to the audiobook thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and I have to say it was very good. The narrator was fantastic and really brought the story, emotions, and humor to life. It’s a great way to go if you are an audio fan!

Hard to believe that we are 28 books into this cozy mystery series. I loved this book. I found Lucy to be right on the spot when it came to doing what she does best - solving murders, all while being a capable wife and mother as well as fulfilling her job as a part-time reporter.

In this addition to a series that I have been enjoying over the past few years, Lucy engages herself in her endeavors to locate a missing woman. While busy looking for answers, Lucy finds herself distracted when Mrs. Tilley falls ill and is hospitalized. Ms. Tilley is well-advanced in years, and her current health battle is definitely concerning. As Mrs. Tilley is recovering in a rehab home, a dead body is discovered.

When one of the other residents named Agnes turns up missing, those in authority are not very concerned. The rehab has a lot of freedom for its residents and it is thought that the missing elderly woman has gone to visit someone perhaps. However, Lucy is asked to locate her, and before long, Agnes is discovered to have been killed.

This story was simply a lot of fun. Lucy is at her best in this book. We do have appearances of her husband Bill and her youngest daughter Zoe, so the continuity is perfect. However, this book could be read as a standalone novel.

Having listened to this audibook narrated by Karen White made a good story even better. I am looking forward to the next book in this delightful series.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you to @dreamscape_media @netgalley for the ALC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts…
Cozy. I enjoyed this more than I thought. I read one other book from Leslie Meier,
and enjoyed it. So, why not give this a try? So I did. I thought the title and cover were cute, so I just jumped into it. The Easter bonnet does make an appearance, not at the centre, more of a bridge to the other side stories. The plot, theme and the senior citizens created a quirky and cozy mystery. I didn’t know this was the 28th book in a series, because it worked so well as a stand-alone. Meier did a great job in filling us in with the necessary details. And the narrator was good.

Lucy Stone, the main reporter in Tinker's Cove, is concerned for her friend Miss Tilley when she has to move into retirement home Heritage House after an illness. But that concern only grows when an intrepid resident, Agnes, goes missing from the place.

I did not realize when I requested this audiobook ARC that it was the twenty-eighth book in the series! Had I not known, I wouldn't have guessed it, for the writing is not tired at all as you sometimes get with long book series, and it holds up quite well as a standalone.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Lucy is a likable lead with a nose for news, and her job gives her quite a few excuses to get involved in the mystery! The characters were all quite vivid, even the minor ones, and I enjoyed how much personality was infused in the story. The final showdown was a lot of fun, and I liked how the author paid careful attention to all the elderly characters who are after all important to the story.

However, I did have some issues with the story. The narrative takes a while to pull itself together, with the mystery not advancing too much until past the halfway mark. I am also unsure if I liked the long side-plot about Zoe's apartment hunting, especially as the mystery was handled in a fairly light-hearted manner. The solution to the mystery, however, is quite dark, and I don't know that the tone was thoroughly balanced throughout.

I listened to this as an audiobook which was narrated by Karen White. I thought she did a good job, especially with bringing out the moments of humor in the story. However, I thought some of her character voices got rather similar, making it tough on occasion to identify the speaker.

Overall, a fun cozy mystery. I'm curious to see where Lucy's adventures began!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to review the audiobook of Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier.

The Heritage House Senior Center is known for its annual Easter bonnet contest and the residents are known to go to extreme lengths in order to win the competition. The town's librarian, Miss Tilly, winds up at Heritage House to recover from an injury, which brings Lucy the reporter into the center. Lucy winds up covering the Easter Bonnet contest, among other Heritage House events, for the local paper. When a bird-watcher named Agnes mysteriously vanished from Heritage House, Lucy winds up with a larger story to cover than she ever expected. Did Agnes get lost or injured while birdwatching or did something more sinister happen?

Easter Bonnet Murder attracted my attention because of the title and while the Easter bonnet contest does play a role in the story, there are many side stories that draw attention and play more of a role in the story. While some side stories, such as Lucy's daughter apartment hunting, play a minimal role to the story, as things unravel we come to understand how everything is interconnected. I feel that the author did a great job explaining the backstories of the characters and helping the reader/listener develop feelings (both positive and negative) for them. The narrator did a good job portraying emotion in the appropriate places and helped make the audiobook entertaining for the listener.

This was an intriguing book and I would recommend it to anybody that is looking for a quaint murder mystery, especially if they like books that follow a seasonal theme.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. What a cute and cozy murder mysteries. If you are looking for an easy read this book is perfect for you! I found out that this book is from a series so I am looking forward to reading more books from this author. The narrator did a good job!

This is book #28 in the Lucy Stone series, but I confess this is the first one I have read by this author. This is a cozy mystery. Lucy is an investigative reporter assigned to cover the local Easter Bonnet contest held at Heritage House-a senior assisted living facility. Heritage House seems to have some shady dealings as of late. Lucy was really hoping for something more serious - something that would make front page news above the fold. While there for the contest, she discovers one of the residents is missing and no one seems concerned a senior citizen in assisted living is nowhere to be found. No one thinks that odd except the patient's daughter, not even the local police. Using her super sleuth snoop skills, Lucy digs deeper - much deeper and uncovers a sinister plot. I enjoyed Karen White as the narrator.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, LLC for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

This is the 28th book in the Lucy Stone series. Lucy Stone is a reporter for the local Courier newspaper. Lucy goes to the hospital when she hears that Miss Tilley isn't doing well. When she arrives, she finds that her fever has broken and she is back to her normal self. After the hospital, Miss Tilley is sent to Heritage House, an assisted living facility for seniors, to recover. Another resident goes missing and her daughter asks Lucy to help look into her dissapearence. I liked the story and the characters are great,

Thye audio narration was excellent. There was clear distinction between the voices for each character. I would definietly read more in this series and listen to more from this narrator.

I really enjoyed this entry into the Lucy Stone Mystery series. I've read these books occasionally and really do like Lucy Stone and all her friends and neighbors. In this story, Lucy is investigating possible misdoings in a retirement home. Who will it be? I laughed out loud quite a few times while listening to this story. I thought the narrator was excellent - she had great character voices for the different people in the story so it really came alive.

I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an advance audiobook copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

This is the #28th novel in the Lucy Stone Mystery" series. A new novel always feels like catching up with an old friend you haven't seen in ages. You just catch up where you left off. These cozy mystery novels are always a good read and this one didn't disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an audio copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I had never heard of this series before getting this audiobook, but I am definitely going to look for it now. I hate when storylines get super complicated or there are way too many characters to keep track of. This book is not one of those. I found the characters unique and yet relatable. The story was easy to follow and I had a hard time putting it down. I liked all the side stories and how the mystery developed.

I really like the narrator Karen White and I hope she does other books in this series. I did think there was a bit too long of a gap of time in between chapters, but other than that I really like it.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a nice easy mystery read. In many ways it almost had a Hallmark Movie feel to it. Although this book has an Easter theme, I think you could enjoy it anytime of year. I will be definitely looking up previous books in this series as well as other books by this author.

So I am clearly late to the game as this was my first in the series. I didn’t realize that this was book 28, but I listened and had no issues keeping up. A little backstory might be good, but it didn’t hamper my experience. Lucy Stone is living her life in the best way she can. Her kids are all grown and out of the house (but for one who is one her way out) and she makes sure to keep herself busy. When she hears that her dear friend Miss Tilley has taken ill she rushes to the hospital to see her for what she believes may be the last time. Turns out that she is has made a miraculous turn for the better and is back to her normal opinionated feisty self. When its time to return to the assisted living facility things get kinky. The lovely assisted living facility isn’t as lovely as it professes itself to be. How does a person go missing, turn up dead, or wind up with criminals running the place? Lucy puts on her detective hat and starts investigating. What she finds is far more nefarious, darker and deeper than anyone could have anticipated or at least than I did. Surprising, interesting listen with great narration. Now I need to read more from this clearly prolific author.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Read a few books from this series, not my favorite cozy mystery series but they are always a fun, quick festive read that i enjoy.

Miss Tilly (I wouldn't dare call her Julia) has been sent to a specialized elder care facility as she recovers from a bout of pneumonia. Of course, Lucy visits her, both as a reporter (she is covering the annual Easter Bonnet contest) and as a friend. While there, Lucy meets a trio of gossipy friends, as well as an independent senior citizen named Agnes, who lives at the center for the convenience, as well as its proximity to excellent bird watching.

Agnes disappears, and Lucy assists in trying to find out what happens. Of course, as a wife and mother, and a reporter for the local paper, Lucy's plate is full.

I liked the issues that were brought up in this story. Things such as "mean girls" (which doesn't always end in high school), aging, having children leave the nest, etc. gave it a sense of realism - maybe because I too feel like my life is scattered between too many things!

I listened to this book from netgalley. I thought the audio was well done. The narrator was clear, I could tell which characters were speaking in conversations, and it was an enjoyable way to read the book.

I love Lucy Stone, she has never failed me yet. Lucy is brought in to help her old friend, Ms. Tilley, who is having to recoup at the local nursing facility. While visiting the home, Lucy meets the other ladies that live there, including an avid bird watcher and winner of last year's Easter Bonnet Contest. When the bird watcher comes up missing, the daughter of the missing woman calls up Lucy to get on the case. Lucy who is up to her neck at work, at home, and in on her job takes on the case! I don't know if I could ever keep up with Lucy! Her boss has her going one way and her daughter Zoe has her going in another way! But I can relate to the issues that Lucy faces with her daughter. I love how Meier softly reminds us that senior citizens are not children and should not be treated as such!

Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier, audiobook narrated by Karen White, is a cute cozy mystery set in a nursing home/assisted living facility, which was a first for me! I didn't realize this was book 28 (twenty-eight!!) in a series of Lucy Stone mysteries. Nevertheless, I felt like I caught on quickly to the characters' personalities and relationships.

When one of the younger, more independent residents of the facility goes missing, investigative reporter Lucy Stone takes up the case and, ultimately, not only solves the mystery but also saves the day.

Here are all the things I loved about this book:
Lucy's family - Lucy has several grown children, including Zoe, who still lives at home and is so funny and frustrating and perfectly 20-something. Zoe plays a large role in the non-mystery sections of this story, and I really enjoyed this mother-daughter relationship. Apparently, some readers might remember Zoe's birth and childhood from the earlier books in this series!
The narrator - Karen White does an amazing job narrating this book! She creates a different voice for each character, and this is helpful to the listener because there is a lot of dialogue between Lucy and various characters at the assisted living facility. The narration is easy to listen to and really captures the connections and relationships between characters
The cover - Truth be told, I chose this book because of its beautiful cover. In fact, I have longed for Leslie Meier books for years because every single cover is gorgeous. Who hasn't walked into a bookstore during any given holiday season and seen a display of festive Leslie Meier covers?
The characters - I had no idea I was picking up an assisted living facility cozy mystery, but what a refreshing surprise. Filled with funny conversations about crafting, mystery meat, fire drills, and nursing home cliques, Easter Bonnet Murder really is entertaining. The residents are many but easy to keep track of, and they really are a fun group of ladies (plus one gentleman) who have seen it all and aren't afraid to say what they think.

And, that leads me to the one thing that made me a little uncomfortable: some of the conversations and thinking of older characters at the assisted living facility seem dated. I suspect this was intentional, demonstrating, perhaps, the thinking of a generation different from mine. Also, the beginning of the book does open with considerations of the meaning of death and the effects of losing loved ones, quite the contrast from the cheerful, yellow, Easter-bunny-and-eggs cover; fear not, this talk only lasts a few minutes and does not cast a shadow over the rest of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ms. Meier, and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Easter Bonnet Murder AUDIO by Leslie Meier is another of Meier's holiday-themed mysteries. Lucy Stone had believed the reputation of Heritage House, a local nursing home/assisted living home. It wasn't until Miss Tilley, her friend, the retired librarian had almost died, but rallied, and was sent to Heritage House to recover. Something seemed odd. Then, she got a call from a woman whose mother lived there, but had disappeared. She couldn't seem to get anyone to care: Heritage House or the police. Lucy agreed to look into the disappearance. No one seemed to care at Heritage House. Lucy found that odd until a caregiver explained that all of the residents knew they were on borrowed time so didn't notice when one of them ran out of time. Lucy kept up with the other parts of her life with the disappearance at the back of her mind. Then, the pieces of puzzle slowly started to come together. First the body was discovered in a stairwell. Then things started moving faster. Agnes had been in that stairwell for 10 days. How could that be? Then she found out. Her first priority was Miss Tilley. She had to get her out of there.

This series is full of fun cozy mysteries, none very series, but all with a decent plot, and recurring characters that have personalities. It takes place in a small community in Maine and includes Lucy's family, which is down to just one child, who is about to graduate college, and her husband. Lucy meets her friends for breakfast on Thursday, now that they no longer saw one another at high school events. She works in a very small office, but knows her co-workers well. She has a good life. This nursing home topic is one close to my heart, many of them owned by people who just see dollar signs and don't really care so much about the residences. That was not the primary crime here, but one of them. The plot was good, with only minor holes. The characters, Lucy in particular are relatable. It was the ideal book to be made into an audiobook.

Karen White was the narrator and her voice was ideal for Lucy and her life. She couldn't have been better. The only negative was that the editing could have been better. There was a definite lag between chapters that was annoying.

I was invited to listen to an e-ARC of the audio version of Easter Bonnet Murder by Dreamscape Media, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #dreamscapemedia #lesliemeier #easterbonnetmurder