Bake Sale Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 13)

I have read a couple of other books by this author and have enjoyed them. This was a great mystery. I love the characters and the storyline. I almost wish I could really visit Tinker's Cove.

This installment in the Lucy Stone series was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Tinker's Cove is growing and new subdivisions and people are arriving. The hat and mitten fund needs money. Lucy, Pam, Sue, and Rachel decide to have a bake sale. This was an interesting part of the book. It was typical how things change in communities and "new blood" should be brought in to help as often as possible. These new people bring new situations to Tinker's Cove including murder. The author does an excellent job with this book. She weaves a story about teen issues and coping with home and career into her usual mystery. You will enjoy this book.

Lucy Stone's neighborhood has changed. Instead of her nice quiet street, now there's a new subdivision nearby with a loud motorcycle riding teenager. Lucy and her friends, Sue, Pam, and Rachel begin working on the Hat and Mitten fund. They decide a bake sale, like they used to hold, would be a great fundraiser. Lucy volunteers to call everyone to get donations of baked goods. Unfortunately she finds that she hasn't kept up with everyone and they're all busy doing something else and unable to bake anything. So they decide to include the new neighbors in the subdivision to help with the bake sale. New neighbor Chris Cashman decides to take over. Lucy's fine with letting her take over, but it puts a real strain on her friendship with Sue as she'd always been the leader before. Chris decides they should make low-carb snacks, sell bottled water, and even make some dog treats. They're going to have a taste test to decide which recipes are the best for the sale. The date of the taste test Mimi Stanton doesn't show up. Lucy is dispatched to check on her and find out if she needs any help. Unfortunately Lucy finds Mimi in her kitchen with a large knife in her chest. Who could have killed her and why? Lucy sets out to figure out who did it since she doesn't think the person the police arrested is the killer. I love this series. Lucy is such a fun character. She's very involved with her kids, friends, and community. Her involvement gives her credibility in investigating, plus it sets up the secondary story line. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it.

I'm a huge Lucy Stone fan, however, the last couple of books in this series, IMO, haven't been as good as some of the others...until now. Lucy Stone is back, and this book is a great addition to the series. It's well-written...there's a lot of red-herrings, some nicely placed clues, and the killer is introduced early in the book. As a mystery lover, you can't ask for much more. This time out, Lucy has new neighbors, and one who is quite the little troublemaker. Early on, she is found dead, and Lucy investigates the murder, and eventually discovers who the murderer is. BAKE SALE MURDER is a great addition to this series. I loved the addition of the new characters, and I hope they will appear in the next Lucy Stone Mystery. I also loved the recipes that are included at the back of the book. Honestly, I'd have given this book 10 stars if it were an option.

Life in Tinker's Cove, Maine is changing and some locals believe not for the better. Next door to Lucy Stone's home is five modular houses that make up Prudencea Path development; the old Pratt home used to be there before he sold the property to standoffish Fred Stanton. Fred's wife Mimi is unpopular because if someone fails to do what she demands, she complains to the proper authorities causing that person some trouble. Lucy meets her new neighbors when she invites them to join a bake sale to raise money for charity. Mimi fails to show up at the bake sale so the others "deputize Lucy to find her. When she enters her home she finds Mimi dead with a knife protruding from her chest. In her role as a reporter Lucy investigates; in her role as a mother Lucy worries about her cheerleading daughter who seems troubled. Lucy thinks the latter has something to do with the high school senior football players; their coach Buck Burkhart allows them plenty of freedom. Rumors abound that he encourages them to take liberties with the cheerleaders and to haze others; he and the administration deny this. At Mimi's funeral, Lucy sees a homeless man, whom she later links to the coach. Not long afterward, the intrepid reporter finds she is in a déjà vu scenario as a determined killer wants her dead. Leslie Meier's mysteries are quaint down home amateur sleuth tales (though Lucy is a journalist so has some experience) starring a protagonist who juggles being a mother and wife with being a reporter. Her desire to see justice served always places her in danger; luck has been on her side which is why she still lives. BAKE SALE MURDER is a fine who-done-it combined with a strong family crisis with Lucy solving the murder and taking care of her loved ones in her unique fashion leading to an enjoyable family oriented mystery. Harriet Klausner