Mistletoe Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery)

I read this as "Mail Order Murder", I then went to purchase what I thought might be the next book, and it's title was "Mistletoe Murder". Imagine my surprise when I found word for word, the "Mail Order Murder" book I had just read, only with a new title. No explanation was given on either cover, nor a warning stating the this was written with a different title.

I loved this installment of the Lucy Stone series. It's the Christmas season in Tinker's Cove. Lucy is working part time at Country Cousins, a large catalog store headquartered in Tinker's Cove. Early in the book Lucy discovers the body of her boss in the parking lot. Little by little she finds clues that help her solve the murder. I liked the detours this book traveled. Lucy is so "real." She has to deal with a parent who is suffering from the loss of a spouse. She has a kind heart and reaches out to a poor family. The only question I have is, "Where was the mistletoe?"

Five stars is not enough. Lucy, the main character, has a cozy family. She has a husband and three kids. She works the late shift as a customer service representative at a mail-order company, so that they can save money on daycare because her husband works days. I absolutely love the character Lucy and her cozy family. She is realistic with a busy and hectic schedule. She is also a loving mother and wife and friend. I love her. I loved the scenes where she was at work. I almost felt like I was there. I also loved the comradery she had with her co-workers. I loved the Christmas activities, the grandparents coming to visit, the cookie-baking, and the excited kids. I loved all the activities of Lucy and her family and her friends and the town. It was really a lot of fun. The whole book was cozy. This book is the first book of this series. It was originally published as "Mail Order Murder". I read the third book first ("Trick or Treat Murder"). I love these books so much, I will definitely read all of the books, in order (except for having read the third one first). I am so grateful that I stumbled upon these books in the book store. I am so excited about reading the rest of these holiday/occasion murder mysteries. There is a mystery for every holiday and every occasion.

Lucy Stone is completely busy with the holidays. From baking cookies to knitting sweaters. If you name it, she's doing it. But her holiday preparations come to a halt when she finds Sam Miller, the founder of the mail-order company Country Cousins dead in his car. The police are calling it a suicide, but Lucy knows that that's not the case. Now she's got to find the killer before she's the next one dead.This was my first and favorite Lucy Stone Mystery. This book will get you hooked on the series before you can say Merry Christmas.

I just recently discovered Leslie Meier's books, and I am tickled-pink with my discovery. The entire series is fun. Just the right mixture of suspense, drama, and comedy. If you are a mom, this series is a must read. I can't tell you how many times I have seem myself in her books. Just recently I have been rushing around trying to get my daughter's asthma release form signed so she can have her asthma inhaler at school(without this form, they probably would kick her out or arrest her if she carries her inhaler with her). In one of her books, Lucy is dealing with the same issue(my daughter shared her inhaler at a roller-rink and saved the day...Lucy's daughter had the same thing happen in school!). If you are a new reader to the series, I would suggest starting from the beginning(although it certainly isn't necessary). I loved following the antics of her children as they have aged(my husband is convinced her stories are based on our family!), along with the locals and how her relationship with them developed. My hope is that Lucy will live a long and happy life, so I can enjoy her books for a long, long time. Leslie Meier has me hooked!

This is the first Lucy Stone mystery and in my opinion, one of the best. Who cares if the title was changed? As a mystery reader, when I find a series I like, I want to read ALL the books in that series, especially the first one. Obviously the previous publisher didn't know what they were doing, otherwise the book still would have been in print. This is a really good mystery, with a great cover and title. If you like good mysteries, happen to be a fan of Leslie Meier and Lucy Stone, AND you HAVE TO start a myster series from the first book, do yourself a favor and buy this book today!