Three amazing cozy mystery novellas centered around Halloween night! Each had their own spooky vibes ranging from creepy to whimsical. I loved the variety, and each author did an excellent job! My favorite was the Lee Hollis story, but all of them were incredible

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Halloween Night Murder is a selection of three short stories from authors Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Liz Ireland.

The first story by Meier was a little disappointing as the only connection it has to Halloween is that the opens on Halloween night - the last tricker treater of the night is found dead near the end of Lucy Stone’s driveway, apparently killed by a hit and run soon after visiting Lucy’s house. While the story was fine, the teen could have been selling cookies or popcorn, or delivering a package - there was no reason why it had to be a Halloween story.

The second one has some serious serial killer vibes. A trio of friends are returning from a concert; because of traffic, they take a detour, and end up in wreck avoiding a animal in the street. The nearest house is home to a sweet old lady and her creepy gun-carrying son. Are they up to no good, or is it merely the stress of the evening getting to them?

The third story is from Liz Ireland, and set in her Mrs. Claus world, where April has married Santa Claus and moved to the North Pole. When a snowman is frozen, suspicion falls on Flake, an elf who’s recently returned from exile. He claims he’s innocent, and Mrs. Claus is determined to get to the bottom of the case.

Despite my complaint about the first story not being Halloweeny enough, I enjoyed all - perfect for getting in the Halloween mood.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

Three fun Holiday reads for cozy mystery lovers. In Halloween Night Murder Lucy tries to figure out who hit and ran a trick-or-treater who came to her house late the same night. She turns up more than.she bargained for while investigating the case. In Death of a Halloween Night Stalker Hayley and her friends get stranded when they have a car accident and are welcomed into the home of an elderly lady who lives near by. The soon realize there is more going on than even they could have imagined. In Mrs. Claus and the Wily Witch a disgraced elf named Flake has returned to town from being exiled. When the local Snowman suffers a mysterious illness everyone is looking at Flake as the person that has brought upon the illness. When another elf is poisoned by a caramel Flake is the first suspect in everyone's eyes. Can Mrs. Claus figure out who the real culprit is.or will Flake be exiled again?

I am a huge fan of novellas because I don’t always have a lot of time to sit and read a book. I loved that these were novellas and especially because they were Halloween themed. These cozy mysteries kept my attention and kept me entertained.

"Halloween Night Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery)" by Leslie Meier has Lucy deep in some serious local political scandal investigating. A teen out trick-or-treating is the victim of a hit and run and Lucy gets involved with the care of his siblings. Leading down a rabbit hole of political corruption similar to what is in real world politics now. It also brings up domestic abuse and the extreme views pushing back at political policy currently. If you're a MAGA supporter you may not appreciate this one.

"Death of a Halloween Night Stalker (Haylee Powell Food & Cocktails Mystery)" doesn't fit as a title. There really isn't a stalker in this one. There also isn't much of a mystery either. This one is more Halloween trapped in a creepy house with a killer during a storm cozy thriller.
There isn't anything but how to get out safely to figure out. Almost a third was unrelated Halloween stories and recipes I skipped. Really, this one just didn't give me cozy mystery but rather four short Halloween themed stories on the G-PJ13 rating scale. Not what I was really looking for having been paired with the other two.

"Mrs. Claus and the Wily Witch (A Mrs. Claus Mystery)" by Liz Ireland felt like the best version of Halloween Cozy Mystery Short Story of the three stories in this book. Santa Land is preparing for Halloween with a decorating competition and caramel competition. This is done the only way Santa's elves do anything. Over the too and not exactly like what you'd normally expect. April end up calling in her Winter Witch connection when someone seems to be hexing people. I didn't quite see the culprit coming. It may be due this being a short story.

All three stories were enjoyable. They were all true, format wise, to their respective series. However, only two were successful as cozy mysteries and what I expected from these authors.

The Haylee Powell story maybe would have been better off on its own and advertised as more of a Halloween thriller. Also, just one of her journalistic stories would have been more than enough for the length of actual story we got. Plus stuck at the end. They aren't connected enough to the main story line that they pull me out of the story. It's like a commercial break or ad pop up. Not what I want in the middle of a book.

I enjoyed this book of mystery novellas set at Halloween. They were all cute easy reads. If you like short mysteries then you will enjoy these stories.

This is a trio of seasonal mysteries. Three authors have written their own novellas Halloween related. The novellas are a part of each author’s individual series. Leslie Meier writes an Halloween mystery that begins with a hit and run near Lucy’s home. During the search for the driver, Lucy encounters a family in need and some crooked politicians. This is really one of my favorite in this series, but I am afraid if I say more I’ll give the story away. Read it!

Lee Hollis’s story begins with the trio of Hayley and her friends caught in a downpour on their way home from a concert. Stuck in traffic beyond a major accident, they leave the main road only to run into a real haunted house. Fun read on the scary side.

Liz Ireland’s book is set in Christmastown. The residents are elves, snowmen, and of course, Santa. The celebration of Halloween provides one last break before the Christmas rush. Everyone decorates for Halloween including special food and special sleigh races. Mrs Claus becomes involved when Pumblechook, a snowman appears to suffer a stroke. Solving this mystery will require a real witch from the North.

Three great mysteries. #Netgalley.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
After a tiring but satisfying day of organizing Halloween festivities, Lucy Stone is surprised by a lone late-night trick-or-treater at her home in Tinker’s Cove, Maine. The next morning, she’s heartbroken to learn that the teenager died in a hit-and-run just minutes after she gave him the last of her candy supply. Haunted, she starts digging into his story—and discovers some dark secrets . . .

Lucy Stone sees the other side of life through the teenager's death and tries to help his family. It'sa a sweet cozy with a good moral story and several twists.

DEATH OF A HALLOWEEN NIGHT STALKER by LEE HOLLIS
Bad weather has stranded restaurateur Hayley Powell and her friends in rural Maine—and the only shelter available is a spooky spot where they’re welcomed warmly by the lady of the house—but coldly by her suspicious, gun-toting son. They’re even more nervous after he scares them with his Halloween zombie costume—but the real fright is yet to come . . .

Hayley and her friends get stranded in Maine after a car accident and are taken in by a suspicious old lady and her even more suspicious horror loving, gun-toting son. Will they be safe until help arrives or will it be the fright night of their lives. This was a nice cozy murder mystery with several twists and turns.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE WILY WITCH by LIZ IRELAND
Disgraced elf Flake has returned from exile just in time for Halloween, but not everyone in Christmastown thinks he’s truly reformed. When Pumblechook the snowman suffers a mysterious fate, and a fellow elf is felled by Flake’s caramels, Mrs. Claus must determine whether the sticky-fingered Flake has become a hardened criminal—or if sorcery has invaded Santaland . . .

Santaland is turning into Halloweentown for a night and Pumblechook the snowman is frozen solid. Not to mention Flake the elf is killing people with his killer caramels. It's up to Mrs. Claus and a witch from the north to figure out what's going on before the holiday festivities begin. This was a fun read with several twists and a great peek into Santaland's spooky side.

What a spooky, fun collection of three Halloween-themed cozy mystery novellas. The stories are a nice mix of suspense, entertaining characters, and a bit of humor to create these quick reads, perfect for the holiday season.

Halloween Night Murder by Leslie Meier

I loved this short story about Lucy Stone and her shenanigans. I couldn’t put it down once I started it. It was a really good mystery and I enjoyed all of the twist and turns.. I’ve read every Lucy Stone book that she has written and love them all!

Death of a Halloween Night Stalker by Lee Hollis

Wow! This short story was so good that I read it straight through without stopping. I enjoyed catching up with Hayley and her friends. I was totally shocked by the mystery. So, so good!

Mrs. Claus and the Wily Witch by Liz Ireland

This is the first time that I’ve read a Christmas book by Liz Ireland. It was so cute! I loved the names of the characters and the references to Christmas. If you love Christmas, you will love her books!

A great selection of spooky reads for Halloween.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
Crime comes to journalist Lucy Stone's doorstep when a teenager trick-or-treater is found dead near her house.

DEATH OF A HALLOWEEN NIGHT STALKER by LEE HOLLIS
After an accident in a storm Hayley Powell and her friends seek help at the only house they can find in an isolated part of Maine. But they soon get an inkling that things there aren't as they seem.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE WILY WITCH by LIZ IRELAND
When snowman Pumblechook appears to be put under a spell Mrs Claus works to figure out what sorcery is afoot.

Some great little mysteries that will keep you wanting to read them until your reach the end.

I have read all of Lucy Stone and Mrs. Claus books before, so I am familiar with the series. I have only read one by the other author, so I am so what familiar with those characters. I can’t really judge that one too well.

All of three books take place around Halloween within established book series. It is a great collection for autumn reading! Mrs Claus always has interesting issues that come up being in. Christmas centered place that has started to recognize other holidays. Lucy Stone is especially interested in the murder that takes place after having just met the victim before they passed.

Halloween Night Murder consists of three cozy mysteries from popular series. I have read parts of all three of these series, mostly in holiday collections like this, and I’m usually hit with miss with all of these series. This time was no different and I think they all fell kind of short for me. I liked the Halloween theme and thought the mysteries were creative, but I didn’t get pulled into any of them in the way I hoped. Overall they were okay Halloween cozies, but not the best ones I’ve ever read.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Halloween Night Murder contains three short stories taking place during Halloween. The first story, Halloween Night Murder, is part of the Lucy Stone series. This time, Lucy investigates the tragic death of a teenager who died minutes after trick-or-treating at her house. This story is great. Ms. Meier always writes great stories that grab the reader's interest, and Halloween Night Murder is no exception. It is an excellent Halloween read. The next story is Death of a Halloween Night Stalker, which is part of the Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mysteries. Hayley and her friends find themselves in a scary situation and must find a way out. This story really sets the perfect Halloween mood. There is a good amount of scary things, along with everything that has made this series so good until now. Finally, the last story is Ms. Claus and the Wily Witch. Being unfamiliar with the series from which it stems, it was more difficult to really get into the story, but I made it until the end. It is quite different from what I usually read, but I found it to be charming and interesting. In all, Halloween Night Murder is the perfect short story collection to get readers in the Halloween spirit. I had a marvelous time reading it!

3 cozy Halloween murder mysteries?!?! Uh, YES!!!

I really loved this concept. And each story was great in its own way. Perfect read for Summerween, Falloween and Halloween!

If you are a Halloween and fall lover like I am, then please cuddle up and get to reading this!

I absolutely love all three of these authors and read their series that are included as part of these three novels. What a great Halloween treat for this cozy, loving gal!

This was such a cute read! I loved the mystery and all the puns/thoughtfulness towards connecting Halloween and the mystery! Also, appreciated all the effort of the author preventing predictability.

Leslie Meier and Lee Hollis are two of my favorite cozy mystery writers. Liz Ireland is new to me. However, each of these authors are very talented.

Leslie Meier brings us one of my favorite sleuths Lucy Stone. After a tiring Halloween day, Lucy just wants a quiet night handing out Halloween treats and enjoying all of the cute costumes. A lone late trick or treater has Lucy worried something isn't right. When the boy turns up dead, Lucy puts on her cap to find out why.

Lee Hollis has amateur slueth Hayley Powell and her friends stranded on a dark stormy night. The only shelter appears to be a spooky house with strange owners. Will they make it until morning?

Liz Ireland sets her tale in Christmastown at Halloween. Mrs. Claus must flesh out if the elf Flake is truly reformed or is he a sinister elf.

Three great stories for a fun cozy night. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

4.5 stars
Each of the three stories in this collection takes place on Halloween night, but they are very different. Usually these three-novella collections contain holiday-themed cozy mysteries. In my opinion, only one of the stories this time is cozy, but all are good.
Halloween Night Murd3r by Leslie Meier - Lucy Stone, is a reporter in Tinker's Cove, Maine. Lucy helps organize a Halloween night fundraiser and later at home, gives candy to an older, late-night trick-or-treater. The next morning Lucy is devastated to learn the teen was killed in a hit-and-run accident in front of her house. Lucy is suspicious of the circumstances and becomes involved in a difficult situation. This suspenseful, but sad mystery deals with serious, somewhat political issues.

Death of a Halloween Night Stalker by Lee Hollis is a creepy, scary story that reads like a thriller. Hayley, Mona, and Liddy are driving from Boston back to Maine on Halloween night. A car accident forces them to seek help at a spooky-looking house where a mother and son offer their hospitality but seem to be hiding something. This story is tense and has definite horror movie vibes. It's a great story for Halloween, but only Hayley's blog posts about past Halloweens that are mixed in with the story are cozy. 

Mrs. Claus and the Wily Witch by Liz Ireland is a fun, cozy mystery story. Santaland is celebrating Halloween with several different activities. Something happens to one of the town's snowmen and an elf with a checked past is blamed. April. Claus takes the drastic measure of asking a temperamental witch to help the snowman. This is a humorous story (and this entire series) will make you believe in Santa (and Mrs. Claus). 

I received an advance copy of this ebook from Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies, and NetGalley for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Leslie Meier; Lee Hollis; Liz Ireland for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Halloween Night Murder coming out August 26, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really love cozy mysteries. I love Halloween centered mysteries. I know this is by different authors, but I was kind of thinking it would be one story written together. I’m not very into anthologies. The stories were good, but I’d prefer one story. I’d check out other books by these authors.