I had mixed feelings while reading this book. I saw it was #4 in the series, which worried me, but I went for it anyway even though I didn't read any of the other books in the series. I will say the first few chapters I was kind of lost when it came to who each character was and throughout the book, there were a lot of references to the other books (I think). It didn't affect the story much but it felt similar to missing out on an inside joke. I also felt like some of the characters were one-dimensional.

With this being said, this book did keep me guessing who the murderer was. Every few chapters had me thinking it was someone else. So, I was able to get into the storyline itself. It is also very festive and was my first read of October, so it really got me into a cozy Halloween/Fall mood.

It’s Halloween and a professional ghost hunt is happening in the Beacon Lighthouse. As people are fleeing, a local teacher is found hanging from an oak tree. The investigation into her death also leads to a treasure hunt/shipwreck that may be connected.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery, especially the treasure hunt for a shipwreck and missing gold! The method of death was interesting and I was a little shocked by the culprit. Overall I enjoyed this book & the Halloween setting.

“Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant” by Darci Hannah the 4th instalment in the "A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery" series. I loved visiting Beacon Harbor, Michigan again and really want to to go to Michigan now …Brandi M here come!

I absolutely love this series, Lindsey, Rory, Kennedy, Tuck, and her co-workers at the Beacon Bakeshop are lots of fun to hang out with. I enjoyed seeing how the characters of Lindsey, and Kennedy have progressed since the last book and look forward to the next book as we were left with a small cliffhanger.

I love Wellington the big Newfie who loves everyone especially if you have food but he is loyal to Lindsey and he really shines in this story. I also love the idea of living on a haunted lighthouse where the ghost is watching over you and seems to have your back.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Lindsey did. Plus all the descriptions of the pumpkin baked goods made my mouth water. ( recipes included in back of book)

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 5 - Murder at the Blarney Bash in January 2024

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Darci Hannah has written another wonderful addition to the “Beacon Bakeshop Mystery” series. Lindsey’s lighthouse features prominently and is filled with ghost hunters, pumpkin treats, and murder. Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant is a great read for the upcoming Halloween season. This one will have readers on the edge of their seats from the first to the last page.

How Lindsey let Kenndy talk her into hosting a live podcast at the lighthouse with a group of ghost hunters boggles the mind. When things go terribly wrong, as she knew they would, there is no shortage of excitement, questions, and nerve-rattling mystery.

The victim was beloved by her students, and no one appeared to have a motive for murder. There are plenty of red herrings, twists and turns, and a few surprises along the way. The lighthouse is the scene of too many mysteries, and Lindsey needs to put a few of them to rest. With the help of Kennedy, Rory, and the ghost hunters, the killer is caught after trying to kill Lindsey and ending with a wild ride.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Halloween takes on a special meaning when you own a haunted lighthouse that you have turned into a bakery and your home. It ramps up when a ghost hunting tv show arrives wanting to prove or disprove your haunting. And the tension mounts when some local pranksters seem determined to hang macabre objects from a tree on your property. Nothing, however, compares to the trauma of discovering the body of a well loved teacher hanging from the same tree on Halloween. And to have the body discovered by her best friend who happened to be doing a live podcast with the ghost hunters. Lindsey has all that on her plate as well as a famous author who thinks her lighthouse has some clue to a vast treasure.

The elements for a good mystery that moves at a good clip and keeps the reader anchored to the story are here.. Lindsey and her BFF Kennedy investigate the murder. Lindsey is convinced it is connected to her and her lighthouse and as events transpire, she is reminded of that painfully a number of times. No Darwin nominee, she still manages to get herself into a few pickles. Good things she has a friendly ghost and an awesome Newfoundland dog.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly and with the trees starting to change and the temperatures dropping a bit, it is perfect for this time of year. Five purrs and two paws up.

This is a great addition to the series. This cozy mystery is filled with delightful characters and is the perfect read to get you into the Halloween spirit. This is a fun read with some great recipes. And after that cliffhanger ending I can't wait for the next one!!

This 4th book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series is also the first I've read. I consider it my favorite "new to me author" I've discovered this year. Immediately upon finishing it, I snapped up the first three books in the series so I can catch up. I absolutely loved this one.

This Halloween-themed mystery involves Lindsey Bakewell and her haunted lighthouse home in Michigan as well as her bakeshop. There's a truly outstanding cast of characters and a clever plot that's a cut above the traditional cozy.

Very highly recommended to cozy fans!! I hope there are many, many more books to come in this series.

I adored this cozy mystery! The group of characters were fantastic, and I loved the beach setting. I enjoyed the plot twists and the mystery. It was well paced and well written!

Thank you to Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I love a good cozy mystery, especially around the start of the fall and Halloween season. I have been meaning to read Darci Hannah and was excited to receive this ARC. Darci Hannah's Beacon Bakeship Mystery series is set on Lake Michigan in a small lakeside village in Michigan and as a fellow Midwestern this was right up my alley. I thought that the setting was perfectly cozy and loved that Lindsey's bakeshop was set in a lighthouse. The mystery definitely kept me guessing and I found the slightly paranormal inclusion of Captain Willy to be delightful! I found the story to lag a tiny bit in the middle, but overall I found the story to be exactly what I wanted in a fall cozy. I plan to request Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop from my local library soon.

This cozy mystery oozes Halloween atmosphere, with a pumpkin carving party, a costume parade (the titular pageant), a haunted lighthouse and, of course, a murder.

While this is number five in the Beacon Bakeshop cozy mystery series, this was the first one I’ve read, and it worked fine for me as a standalone. I’m sure there’s backstory that I missed, but it wasn’t essential to the story. It was an enjoyable read, but it somehow didn’t fully pull me in. I loved the adorable, huge Newfoundland dog owned by the bakery and lighthouse owner, Lindsey. But I didn’t care at all for her best friend Kennedy. Among other things, her constantly calling Lindsey’s boyfriend Rory, “Sir Hunts-A-Lot,” got very annoying.

I also didn’t care for the fact that some teens were immediately suspects, just because they look and act a bit different (they were into “witchtok”). There was also some ridiculing of some beliefs, such as smudging, which rubbed me the wrong way. It’s okay to not believe in some things, but you don’t need to write characters who make fun of those beliefs. It wasn’t necessary to the story to do so.

There are quite a few descriptions of yummy-sounding baked goods (as well as a pumpkin martini!) and there are several recipes included at the back of the book, if you are inclined to try making any of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was a bit late to it. I guess I just wasn’t in the mood to read a book set during the Halloween season when it was the middle of the summer!

Murder at the Pumpkin Patch is the fourth book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series, but it can be read as a standalone story. It is coming up to Halloween in Beacon Harbor, Michigan and things are gearing up for the holiday. Lindsey Bakewell lives in the renovated lighthouse with her Newfoundland, Wellington. Everyone knows the lighthouse is haunted, so when Kennedy, Lindseys's BFF invites a group of ghost hunters to film, she plans to do a live podcast as well. While online, they stumble upon a dead body hanging from a tree outside the lighthouse. It is a favorite teacher, one Lindsey just met at the pumpkin carving festival. Who wanted her dead? Why hang her outside the lighthouse?

This was a great addition to the series. I was pulled into this story from the start and kept listening intently to see what would happen next. There were not a lot of suspects initially, but as Lindsey began her investigation, a few came to light. The mystery kept me guessing right to the end, and the killer wasn't even on my radar. The characters in this series are great, relatable and realistic. I enjoyed their easy relationships and how well they help one another. Of course, Wellie, is a great character and if any of you have ever owned a Newfoundland dog, you will agree with this portrayal. He is loyal and helpful, but also a teddy bear that loved everyone, especially if they had food. The final showdown was suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the part Wellie played in that part of the book. There was some bittersweet news at the end, but hopefully things might change by the next book. This was a great story and one I recommend to cozy mystery lovers.

This is one of those series that caught me off guard. I thought it would be the usual run-of-the-mill cozy mysteries that were easy to guess the culprits and left me with the feeling that there should have been more. Not so with this series.

I enjoy all the characters that Darci Hannah introduced. The atmosphere and the dialog fit without being overdrawn or talking down to the reader, and the newest creations out of the Beacon Bakeshop make you wonder where you can pop out to find a pumpkin scone.

My only issue was the title. Is a pumpkin pageant the same as a pumpkin carving contest? Is a parade a pageant? With that little matter aside, The Beacon Bakeshop series is still one that I keep on my radar.

I love this series so much! Everytime I read a new book, it's like visiting old friends. Having a drink. Eating yummy baked goods. Solving mysteries.

Lyndsey has her hands full with this one. The bakeshop is busy churning out yummy Fall treats, the town is planning a Halloween parade, there's a dead clown *shudder* hanging from a tree in Lyndsey's backyard. And there's a ghost hunting crew investigating the"haunted" Beacon Harbor lighthouse....where Lindsey lives and has her bakeshop. It's gonna take all hands on deck to solve this one in a timely manner.

Such a fun book with great characters and a mystery that kept me guessing. Highly recommend this book and series.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

It’s always delightful returning to Beacon Harbor, Michigan, and Darci Hannah’s Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series. I love the small town aspect of the series, as well as the individual characters. The author has crafted intriguing plots, and that is definitely true for this book.

Lindsey prefers to keep her Halloween celebrations lighthearted and fun, but this year the holiday turns gruesome when a body in a clown costume is found hanging from the tree near her lighthouse and bakery. And if that isn’t enough, there’s a ghost hunting investigation team on site to try and capture the Lighthouse’s resident ghost, so the murder victim is caught on their live stream podcast.

Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant kept me immersed in the story from start to finish. It was definitely one of those unputdownable books - I read it in one sitting!

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy. I’m happy to leave my honest opinion for one of my favorite authors.

Lindsey is preparing for Halloween night at the Beacon Bakeshop. When teenagers start leaving ghoulish surprises, and a film crew wants to prove whether the lighthouse is haunted, Lindsey is tested. But, when a dead body is left hanging from a tree, Lindsey may need help to solve this Halloween mystery.
I really enjoyed reading this wonderful mystery filled with likeable characters, a gorgeous setting, and a suspenseful plot that kept me turning the pages until the very end. The culprit was a real surprise to me as I thought another character was the murderer. The only drawback for me was the length of the story, I felt that it was a bit too long. I hope to enjoy another book from this series soon. I wish to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the privilege of reading this ARC.

Synopsis:

The latest installment in Darci Hannah’s delicious Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series set in small-town Beacon Harbor, Michigan, featuring a baker heroine who lives in the local lighthouse with her beloved Newfoundland dog, Wellington.

Lindsey prefers to keep her bakeshop’s Halloween decor light and autumnal, rather than gruesome and ghoulish. But everyone knows her lighthouse home is haunted. Some intrepid teens have even tried to break in to witness the resident ghost themselves. Dreading Halloween night, Lindsey reluctantly allows her influencer and podcaster best friend, Kennedy, to host a live ghost hunting investigation in the lighthouse, conducted by a professional team. Protective of her ghost, Lyndsey is understandably nervous about what they might uncover . . .

The segment is uneventful—until things take a terrifying turn. The team freaks out. As Kennedy joins the mad dash outside, she bumps into what looks like the prankster teens’ creepy clown costume hanging from a tree. But when Lindsey’s dog, Wellington, begins to whine, they make a grim discovery: the clown is no dummy. It’s a corpse.

Now Lindsey and company will need to keep their cool if they want a ghost of a chance to solve the murder—and see another Halloween . . .

Praise for Murder at the Blueberry Festival

“You’ll never see the end coming in this delightfully zany tale.”
--Kirkus Reviews

Includes Delicious Recipes!

Review:

Lindsey and her best friend, Kennedy, are getting ready for Halloween. But someone is playing a prank on her by hanging Freddy Krueger by a noose on her oak tree. But that was not the worst prank she had to endure. That would have been the body hanging from the same tree, the body of a beloved teacher. Now there is another murder to solve and it will not be easy.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and there were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Give this book a try, you will not be disappointed.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (Beacon Bakeshop, #4) written by Darci Hannah. I wasn't familiar with this author or her books, but after reading the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book. I was delighted when I found out I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review.

At first, I didn't realize that this cozy mystery was the fourth book in a series until I started reading it. However, this book could really be read as a stand alone book as the author does a relatively good job at bringing the reader up to speed on the characters. I will say that I did have trouble keeping some of those characters straight in my mind, but the majority of them were likable.

The author did a phenomenal job with the twists and turns along with having plenty of suspects. There were three different people that I suspected, but one of them I had a gut feeling about being the actual murderer in the story. I just wasn't entirely sure of this person's connection to the victim, so that is why I suspected a couple of other people as well . . . they had more of a connection to the victim. The author definitely kept me second guessing myself!

I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, and it put me in the mood for Halloween. A few of the recipes sounded yummy, so I will give those recipes a try this fall. At some point, I will read the other books in the Beacon Bakeshop series. Four out of five stars is what I gave Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (Beacon Bakeshop, #4) written by Darci Hannah.

Lindsey dreads the upcoming Halloween season. Living in a true haunted lighthouse, she has way too many teens and others wanting to get inside to see the resident ghost. Reluctantly, she allows her best friend Kennedy, a podcaster, to host a live ghost hunt Halloween night. Will they connect with the ghost? When things go topsy turvy, Kennedy makes a discovery she wish she hadn't. Will Lindsey find out who killed the beloved teacher and bring peace back to her lighthouse? I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. It would be a great book to read on a long cool night in a warm comfy chair. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Delightful! The series is so much fun and I really enjoyed it! A great Halloween read with just the right amount of spooky!

Murder At The Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah

Lindsey Bakewell is perfectly happy with being the owner of a bakery located on the site of a haunted former lighthouse… most of the time anyway. While she’s come to terms with the resident ghost, the start of spooky season inspires several locals to prank the property where she both works and lives. The joke of choice seems to be stringing up effigies of various fictional horror characters in her trees. Lindsey isn’t thrilled about this, but figures it’s part of her ongoing initiation into the village community of Beacon Harbor, Michigan.

Her influencer best friend Kennedy Kapoor has an even more ghoulishly enthusiastic response to Halloween, much to Lindsey’s chagrin. Kennedy has leveraged her connections to invite a team of paranormal investigators to film their popular show at the lighthouse, with the proceedings to stream live on her podcast as well. Lindsey resigns herself to spending Halloween night with her boyfriend Rory Campbell instead of at home while Kennedy and the Ghost Guys are filming. But since Lindsey is a supportive friend, she, Rory and Kennedy’s boyfriend Tuck McAllister all watch the livestream from Rory’s place as the crew investigate the haunted lighthouse.

Lindsey isn’t exactly surprised when spectral lights and noises begin to be captured on-screen, but Kennedy and the Ghost Guys are certainly taken aback, if not downright frightened by the dire pronouncements of the lighthouse’s ghost. The investigators scramble away in fear, splitting up in their haste. Kennedy takes the fastest route out of the lighthouse via the kitchen while the rest go out the front door, which means that she’s the only one to run smack dab into the latest figure strung up on Lindsey’s property. That would be frightening enough, but this figure is no effigy. Hanging from the tree is the actual corpse of a Beacon Harbor resident.

Lindsey, Rory and Tuck immediately rush over, but they’re not the only people watching the livestream. Soon, it seems like half the town has come out with a quickness to see what’s happened, including many of the people the victim had close contact with. But the victim was well-liked by the community, leaving Lindsey baffled as to any possible motive. And why, she wonders, was the body hung near her lighthouse? It couldn’t possibly be a warning that Lindsey might be next… could it?

This fourth installment in the Beacon Bakeshop mystery series was excellently plotted, with clues laced subtly throughout the story. I was genuinely surprised by the identity of the murderer, and definitely wondered if any one person had been the real life inspiration for the killer. But even more than by the mystery, I was moved by Kennedy’s bittersweet decision at the end of the novel, and honestly hope she changes her mind.

There were eight recipes for fall-inspired food and drinks included here. Since my mom and aunt are currently staying with me, and since they love scones, I decided to try out this one:

QUOTE
Pumpkin Scones with Maple Glaze

Prep time: 15 minutes. Bake time: 20-25 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup (one stick) cold butter, cubed
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup heavy cream
½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

Maple glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon maple extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Using a pastry blender or a fork, cut in the cold butter until small pea-sized crumbs form.

In a smaller bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, pumpkin purée, egg, vanilla extract, and heavy cream. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix until the dough is moist, adding pecans if desired. (If the dough is too sticky, add more flour one tablespoon at a time.)

Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface. Shape the dough into a 9-inch circle that is approximately 1-inch thick. Using a floured knife, cut the dough into 8 even pieces. Transfer the scones to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. Cook for 20-25 minutes or until done. Scones should be crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Remove to a cooling rack.

In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients together. Once the scones have cooled, top each scone with the maple glaze. Let the glaze set, then enjoy!
END QUOTE

Aside from my ongoing presentation difficulties – at a glance, my scones could easily substitute for fried chicken breasts topped with gravy – these were the perfect baked treat! Despite being nice and firm on the outside, the pumpkin puree keeps them moist and flavorful on the inside, and that’s even before adding the delicious maple glaze. The scones honestly don’t take too long to put together either, and the recipe doubles beautifully if you want to use up as much of your can of pumpkin puree as you’re able to in one go. My family, including my discerning aunt and mother, was definitely impressed by this.

Next week, we head back to the East Coast and bake up a more summery teatime treat while investigating what may amount to much, much more than a tempest in a teacup. Do join me!