Halloween Night Murder

Lucy Stone, #3 & #16

By Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, Liz Ireland                  

ISBN 9781496749420

Website: lesliemeierbooks.com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra                   

Summary:

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

I am not a fan of short stories in general but given my “interest” in Halloween and my enjoyment of the writing of Leslie Meier – I thought I would give this book a read.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER by LESLIE MEIER           

Halloween Night Murder was an engaging short story. I am usually not into short stories (as indicated above) but I found with this story there was enough “story” with sufficient backstory and character development to keep me engaged and entertained by the main characters.

DEATH OF A HALLOWEEN NIGHT STALKER by LEE HOLLIS

Well all I can say is…talk about creepy! I did find the story very slow going – I know – an interesting thing to say about a short story!  The story line was captivating enough but with it SO slow moving…I did get a wee bit bored. And then the transition from one scene to the next – abrupt (this was near then end of the story – chapter 15 if I am not mistaken). Whew – talk about whiplash. However, I did like the mini story “Island Food & Spirits by Hayley Powell – the relaxing day for Hayley.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE WILY WITCH by LIZ IRELAND

I quite enjoyed the liberal use of holiday themed names…for example: Santaland, Christmastown’s Peppermint Pond, Castle Kringle, Tinkertown (sister city of Christmastown) -> just to name a few. Had me right in the holiday mode when reading that 🙂

And lest we forget – Pumblechook – an interesting snowman. “For the past few years, denizens of the city’s snowy streets had found themselves getting dressed down for infractions real and imagined by this self-appointed icy keeper of the peace” – referring to Pumblechook. Unfortunately – he becomes “frozen” in that he cannot move. Was a spell cast? What happened? The town blames the elf known as Flake.

Favourite quote – had me chuckling big time:

“…He said I didn’t have a permit to peddle my caramels, but that’s a load of walrus poo.

Hey now, the constable warned. “Let’s watch our language. This is the constabulary, not a grog tavern.”

Overall, a fun holiday story that kept this reader chuckling. The mystery was solved in a timely fashion by Mrs. Claus.