Entertaining romp in the French countryside following the exploits of a sleuth on the hunt for clues following a murder, including plenty of twists and characters.

#book40of2023 Mother of the Bride Murder by Leslie Meier I have not read any of the many books in this series and perhaps that why it felt disconnected. Lucy Stone is surprised to discover her daughter has become engaged to a noble Frenchman. After conveniently discovering they can afford to go abroad for the wedding they are whisked away to a fancy chateau. All is fun and games until a body is discovered in the family’s moat surrounding their chateau. It is unclear of the motive let alone the killer. Rumors and secrets emerge regarding the family that Lucy’s daughter is marrying into. She begins to wonder just how safe her daughter is. This just was not good. It was disconnected and all to convenient. It didn’t feel like a real mystery at all. I found Lucy to be annoying and unlikable. It is available now. #kristalreads

Thank you to #netgalley and #kensingtoncozies for an advanced readers copy.

Some books I do better reading a physical copy vs listening to an audiobook. I think this is one I would have enjoyed more if I read the physical copy.

I enjoyed the storyline and was interested in what would happen, but at times I had difficulty following along and focusing on the story.

Lucy Stone’s oldest daughter Elizabeth is about to get married in France. Lucy and the entire family arrive at a beautiful French château in order to prepare for the celebration. The Stones are not rolling in dough, but a recent lottery win certainly helps their trip. This is especially so since their soon-to-be in-laws are exceptionally wealthy. Is Elizabeth’s love for fiancé Jean-Luc the real thing?

When a woman’s body turns up on the property, especially after they noticed a less than reputable house nearby, Lucy can’t help but wonder if Jean-Luc’s family has any connection to the body. Elizabeth’s ex Chris is the police officer on the case.

29 books in and this series continues to be a real delight. In typical cozy mystery fashion, it was indeed a dead body, intrigue and drama. I loved that the entire family was in France, and a Hall lose his grandson. Patrick became embroiled in the mystery that was involved. I had a feeling about how things might turn out in this book, and I will say that I was not surprised, so there is plenty of fodder for the next book or books in the series.

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

This was such a fun listen. I'm pretty sure this was the first book by Leslie Meier that I have read and I quite enjoyed the story. It is book 29 in a very long series of cozy mysteries, but I don't feel like I missed much by starting with this story. That being said, I would like to go back and read more of the Lucy Stone books. The setting in France really was what caught my eye and it definitely helped to pique my interest more in the story. In this story, Lucy Stone's daughter is getting married to a Frenchman and while at the wedding festivities, a body turns up and someone is shot. This had mystery elements in the story, but it also had a lot of family drama. Looking at other reviews and comments, this one is a little different than other books in the series. I would recommend this if you enjoy cozy mysteries.

I've listened to all of the Leslie Meier books and I love Lucy Stone and this book was no different. Elizabeth's wedding is a definite time to celebrate, but Lucy has a terrible feeling when she arrives at the country estate owned by Elizabeth's future in-laws. Her premonition was correct when a body is found in a moat. Lucy is busy trying to solve the murder, while figuring out if Elizabeth's really going to marry her Frenchman or will someone else capture her heart? I love coming back to these characters in each book, and can't wait for the next one!

This book is a great addition to the series. Meier is skilled at creating relatable characters that are dealing with real life issues.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.



I first started reading Lucy Stone mysteries in the late 90's and was always a fan. I will admit that for a bit things were feeling a bit stale but I decided to pick them up again and I am glad I did. I enjoy the fact that Leslie Meier actually allows her characters to age. I also will admit to liking Bill more now that he has loosened up much more. I enjoyed seeing him actually give Lucy some help in her investigation. It was nice to also see Toby help her.

I will say that I am a little curious as to where this storyline with Toby is going. The hints about his life in Alaska and the changes he is making have me wondering what will happen in future novels. Is a trip to Alaska in the future for Lucy and Bill?

Anyway, Coleen Marlo did a great job narrating, she was a very good Lucy. I liked the setting of this mystery and the mystery itself was good. I think I will enjoy picking up more Lucy Stone books in the future.

Mother of the Bride Murder by Leslie Meier was a fun audiobook! This new book in the Lucy Stone series was a great addition to the series. I love cozy mysteries and this one was wonderfully cozy. The entire Stone family is off to France for their daughters wedding but a murder occurs and Lucy must help to solve the mystery. Even though this book is part of a series it can be read alone. While it doesn’t have the usual Tinker Coves cast of characters is was still a fun read and I got through it within a day.

Entertaining mystery that keeps you guessing. Eclectic cast of characters. Lucy Stone and her family arrive in France for her daughter's wedding to the very rich Jean-Luc. The French chateau and grounds are exquisite. Lucy's senses tell her all is not as it seems especially after her grandson snags a dead body on his fishing line. The brothel on the outskirts of the chateau property disappears overnight and her grandson is kidnapped. Can she convince her daughter she is making a mistake to marry into this family? Lucy, an investigative reporter has a nose for sniffing out crimes. Excellent narration by Colleen Marlo.
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.

Mother of the Bride Murder AUDIO by Leslie Meier was a bit of a departure for Lucy as she and her family travel to France for her eldest daughter’s wedding. She wan’t sure she liked the whole thing but she was there as were her son, his wife and son; her two other daughters; and her husband. They were at the groom’s family’s chateau, which had had to go commercial to pay for the upkeep. Jean-Luc seemed like a nice guy, although not very attentive, and he appeared to love Elizabeth, which was first and foremost in her mind, but something was off. The first concrete thing she had noticed was a farm down the road with strange inhabitants: only young women. She thought maybe it was a house of ill-repute. The next thing that happened was finding a dead body in the moat. A young woman, dressed up and wearing jewels, fake as it turned out. It was pretty traumatic as her husband and grandson discovered it. Of course, things went downhill from there. She called Chris, Elizabeth’s old boyfriend, ex-CIA, who now had his own private security firm here in Europe. Luckily he was coming as he’d been hired to protect the wedding. It was all very strange.

This seemed to be a bit of a departure for Lucy: human trafficking, for one. Of course, she is not stranger to murder, but this story just seemed a little darker than most of her stories. She is a terrific character: small-town, part-time reporter, tenacious and maybe a bit of a busy-body. Even a small town in Maine has too many bad things happening for her. The plot of this story was a little more convoluted, I thought, but good. The pacing was excellent. It touched on so much beyond the murder: her daughter being used for free labor, the realities behind an enterprise such as the chateau, some of the problems associated with living in Europe, and more. Meier wrote a good book which has something for everyone. Her characters are strong and relatable, her plot is intriguing, and she was able to give it a happy ending, at least for her and hers.

The reader was Coleen Marlo who did a wonderful job accessing Lucy’s small-town roots and yet keeping her just cosmopolitan enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version of this book, although the print version was good, too.

I was invited to both read and listen to a free e-ARC of Mother of the Bride Murder by Kensington Books, the audio by Dreamscape Media, both through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #DreamscapeMedia #LeslieMeier #ColeenMarlo #MotherOfTheBrideMurder

This book took me some time to get used to but at the 20% mark I was off - it was fun and exciting and at some points bizarre but always and enjoyable read.

Mother of the Bride Murder
by Leslie Meier
Lucy Stone Book 29
Narrator, Coleen Marlo
I was looking forward to this audiobook but it was a bit of a disappointment for me. I have read many books in this long-running series but not all. When the setting for a cozy mystery is somewhere other than the original hometown, it loses something because the setting is part of the story. Also, I have to say that Elizabeth is not a very likable character and she did not really gain much insight into herself in this book.
The biggest negative for me was Toby and his family. Toby has turned into a doomsday prepper who is obsessed with guns and climate change and cannot stop talking about it. It is an important topic but I don’t enjoy being beaten over the head with it. His wife was almost as bad and Patrick is the most annoying tween ever. Also, sometimes Lucy acted like he was three rather than twelve-ish. At one point she tells Molly he may need a bedtime story. Really?
And why is Lucy so shocked that the police will keep their passports? She says she already had that experience once before in Paris. There were just too many irritating behaviors by the main characters.
The narrator was good but sometimes her pronunciation of French words was a bit odd.
I will read this author again but maybe in the books that include three short stories by different authors.

Fabulous new addition to the Lucy Stone series. I adore these cozy mysteries and this one was so much fun with her entire family off to France for daughter Elisabeth wedding. Even if you have not read the other books in the series you will still enjoy this book and the quirky characters that make it a fun read.

I read this book first physically with an arc from net galley and loved it but I had to listen to it as well nothing puts you in the lucy stone mood than the audiobook i love the narrators even when it is not karen white this new narrator did a great job capturing lucy stone. I always love going back to tinkers cove.

Mother of the Bride Murder by Leslie Meier was a fun audiobook! The whole stone family heads to Paris for Elizabeth’s wedding. While it doesn’t have Tinker’s Cove there’s plenty of classic Lucy meddling and I enjoyed it and flew through it! Could definitely read or listen as a stand alone book.

Lucy is excited to head to France with her whole
Family for her daughter, Elizabeth’s wedding. Lucy didn’t anticipate her oldest daughter getting married and was surprised by the phone call from Elizabeth letting her know she was getting married. The grooms family owns a chateau that they use as a hotel, but it seems like there are more secrets lurking than anyone expected.

I have not read the previous installments in the series and I didn’t feel lost at all. You can read this as a stand-alone and it was a quick fun read that brings that cozy mystery to light.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy

Another Lucy Stone mystery! This time the setting is in a French château for her oldest daughter Elisabeth wedding. It took some doing and luck but the whole family makes it to the event. Things seem a little off with the engaged couple and then a body is found in the moat by Lucy grandson. Another mystery to solve for Lucy.
Enjoyable read, first time I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic. The ending seemed a bit anti-climactic in my opinion. 3.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #MurderoftheBrideMurder #DreamscapeMedia

Leslie Meier’s latest Lucy Stone mystery was a good, clean read. While some parts of the plot were predictable, I really enjoyed the never-ending twists in this installment.

Lucy’s daughter Elizabeth is engaged and is getting married in France. Lucy convinces the entire family to travel to the wedding. Elizabeth’s in-laws- to-be are hosting the entire family in their countryside home where the wedding and reception will take place.

Things slowly take an unpleasant turn when the body of a young woman is found in the moat on the property. And just when things couldn’t get worse, the wedding is put on hold when a gunman takes a shot in the chapel. Lucy and the family find themselves help plan a chariot race at the château and look for a dangerous criminal.

I have read every book in the series and recommend this latest book. The last few books in the series have included some type of political statement and this one does as well. The characters are well developed, but I’ve “known” them for years. This setting is described nicely and easy to picture. The plot moves at a steady pace and was engaging.