Christmas may be 63 days away, but as the Tinker’s Cove Chamber of Commerce gears up for an elaborate Dickens-themed Christmas event, reporter Lucy Stone is already feeling a bit Grinchy—until a possible murder requires her sleuthing skills in the latest Lucy Stone Mystery from bestselling author Leslie Meier.
With all four kids out of the house, Lucy Stone’s suddenly empty nest has put a damper on her usual zest for Christmas. She’s got plenty of article ideas to keep her busy though, including reports of vicious social media posts targeting several town residents. Plus, there’s the self-proclaimed “reputation changer” who promises he can clean up any negative press. It all seems a bit too convenient to Lucy, who decides an investigation is in order.
On top of all that, after agreeing to play Mrs. Cratchit in “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Lucy also decides to plan a pre-Thanksgiving family weekend. Despite her juggling, it’s not a success—the kids and their partners come but the mood is tense, and Lucy is relieved to see them off. Then comes shocking news: bank manager Bert Cosgrove, one of the victims of the slanderous media posts, has been found dead. The police are calling it a suicide.
No one, including Lucy, believes sweet, mild Bert would take his own life. While holiday preparations reach a feverish pitch, she’s determined to find his killer. And as she burrows into a surprising history of motives, longstanding secrets and family connections begin to stink like rotten plum pudding. Now, as Lucy gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation that would definitely spoil Christmas—permanently.
Praise for Leslie Meier and her Lucy Stone Mysteries
“Danger, intrigue, and a dash of Easter fun abound in this quirky Maine-set cozy mystery.” —Woman's World on Easter Bonnet Murder
“Fans who started with Meier’s first Lucy Stone novel in 1991 may be interested to see how the gumshoe’s children and grandchildren are turning out.” —Publishers Weekly on Mother of the Bride Murder
"The beloved author of quirky whodunits is serving up two Thanksgiving tales in one charming book!" —Woman's World on Gobble, Gobble Murder
“New York Times bestselling author Leslie Meier is the proof that no holiday would be complete without some hijinks.” —Suspense Magazine
“The frenzied pace of the city, effectively contrasted with the more tranquil atmosphere of a small town; the reappearance of familiar characters; and numerous plot twists all contribute to the appeal of this satisfying entry in a long-running series.” —Bookliston Silver Anniversary Murder
“Timely…Meier’s focus on racism gives this cozy a serious edge rare for this subgenre.” —Publishers Weeklyon Turkey Trot Murder
“Counts, countesses, and corpses highlight Lucy Stone’s trip across the pond...A peek into British country life provide a nice break.” —Kirkus Reviewson British Manor Murder
“Even after 25 books, Lucy is fresh and interesting, and first-time readers will have no trouble following her story. Meier’s cozy mysteries, which are usually based around holidays and celebrations, are always a fun read.” —Mystery Sceneon Silver Anniversary Murder
Leslie Meier is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty Lucy Stone mysteries and has also written for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. She is currently at work on the next Lucy Stone mystery. Readers can visit her website at www.LeslieMeier.com
View titles by Leslie Meier
Christmas may be 63 days away, but as the Tinker’s Cove Chamber of Commerce gears up for an elaborate Dickens-themed Christmas event, reporter Lucy Stone is already feeling a bit Grinchy—until a possible murder requires her sleuthing skills in the latest Lucy Stone Mystery from bestselling author Leslie Meier.
With all four kids out of the house, Lucy Stone’s suddenly empty nest has put a damper on her usual zest for Christmas. She’s got plenty of article ideas to keep her busy though, including reports of vicious social media posts targeting several town residents. Plus, there’s the self-proclaimed “reputation changer” who promises he can clean up any negative press. It all seems a bit too convenient to Lucy, who decides an investigation is in order.
On top of all that, after agreeing to play Mrs. Cratchit in “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Lucy also decides to plan a pre-Thanksgiving family weekend. Despite her juggling, it’s not a success—the kids and their partners come but the mood is tense, and Lucy is relieved to see them off. Then comes shocking news: bank manager Bert Cosgrove, one of the victims of the slanderous media posts, has been found dead. The police are calling it a suicide.
No one, including Lucy, believes sweet, mild Bert would take his own life. While holiday preparations reach a feverish pitch, she’s determined to find his killer. And as she burrows into a surprising history of motives, longstanding secrets and family connections begin to stink like rotten plum pudding. Now, as Lucy gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation that would definitely spoil Christmas—permanently.
Praise
Praise for Leslie Meier and her Lucy Stone Mysteries
“Danger, intrigue, and a dash of Easter fun abound in this quirky Maine-set cozy mystery.” —Woman's World on Easter Bonnet Murder
“Fans who started with Meier’s first Lucy Stone novel in 1991 may be interested to see how the gumshoe’s children and grandchildren are turning out.” —Publishers Weekly on Mother of the Bride Murder
"The beloved author of quirky whodunits is serving up two Thanksgiving tales in one charming book!" —Woman's World on Gobble, Gobble Murder
“New York Times bestselling author Leslie Meier is the proof that no holiday would be complete without some hijinks.” —Suspense Magazine
“The frenzied pace of the city, effectively contrasted with the more tranquil atmosphere of a small town; the reappearance of familiar characters; and numerous plot twists all contribute to the appeal of this satisfying entry in a long-running series.” —Bookliston Silver Anniversary Murder
“Timely…Meier’s focus on racism gives this cozy a serious edge rare for this subgenre.” —Publishers Weeklyon Turkey Trot Murder
“Counts, countesses, and corpses highlight Lucy Stone’s trip across the pond...A peek into British country life provide a nice break.” —Kirkus Reviewson British Manor Murder
“Even after 25 books, Lucy is fresh and interesting, and first-time readers will have no trouble following her story. Meier’s cozy mysteries, which are usually based around holidays and celebrations, are always a fun read.” —Mystery Sceneon Silver Anniversary Murder
Author
Leslie Meier is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty Lucy Stone mysteries and has also written for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. She is currently at work on the next Lucy Stone mystery. Readers can visit her website at www.LeslieMeier.com
View titles by Leslie Meier
