Valentine Candy Murder by Leslie Meier

Happy Valentine's Day!  I treated myself (thanksfully--Doozy, my dog has yet to learn how to use the computer) to my favorite chocolates which are Russell Stover English Walnut/Pecan Clusters (yum).  What is your favorite treat?  One Feta in the Grave by Tina Kashian will be available on February 26 along with Criminally Cocoa by Amanda Flower and Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke (finally get answers regarding Hannah and her missing hubby).  

Valentine Candy Murder by Leslie Meier contains two previously published A Lucy Stone Valentine’s Day Mysteries.  Valentine Murder has Lucy Stone, as a new member of the library board, attending her first library board meeting.  They are ready to begin, but Bitsy Howell, the librarian, is missing.  Lucy goes to fetch Bitsy and finds her shot dead in the workroom.   The suspects are limited to the board members according to the police.  Lucy cannot stop thinking about the murder.  She decides to find out more about Bitsy and her fellow board members.  In a small town like Tinker’s Cove, secrets have a way of coming out especially with Lucy making inquiries.  Can Lucy unravel the clues to pinpoint the killer before someone she loves comes to harm?

Chocolate Covered Murder has Tinker’s Cove launching “Love is Best on Coast” travel promotion to attract tourists to the town.  Lucy Stone, reporter, is assigned to write a piece on Chanticleer Chocolate, which was just voted Best Candy on the Coast by Best of Maine magazine, to tie in with the town’s promotion. The upscale store is owned by chocolatier, Trey Meacham and run by the sultry Tamzin Graves who likes to flirt with the male clientele which is upsetting the local wives.  Lucy returns to Chanticleer Chocolate’s to take photographs and finds Tamzin dead behind the counter covered in chocolate.  Thanks to Tamzin’s behavior, there are no shortage of suspects.  Lucy puts her sleuthing skills to the test.  She needs to unscramble the clues, or she could end up the killer’s latest creation.

While Valentine Candy Murder contains two previous A Lucy Stone Mysteries, I enjoyed diving into them again.  I thought the stories were well-written with steady pacing.  I am a fan of Lucy Stone.  We have gotten to watch her mature over the years as she took care of her family, worked as a reporter and solved crimes.  We have seen her children grow up and leave the nest.  I like Leslie Meier’s engaging writing style.  It is always a pleasure to visit Tinker’s Cove and discover what crime Lucy is solving this time.   If you have not read any of the other books in the series, you can read this volume.  Everything a reader needs to know is included. Personally, I recommend reading A Lucy Stone Mysteries in order.  You will get to know Lucy, her family, friends and the town.  The mystery in Chocolate Covered Murder is more complex than the one in Valentine Murder.  I am giving Valentine Candy Murder 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  If you are looking for a diverting cozy mystery to read for Valentine’s Day, then join Lucy Stone in Valentine Candy Murder.

The next A Lucy Stone Mystery is 'Tis the Season Murder which releases on October 29.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I plan on highlighting Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake by Sarah Graves tomorrow.  It is the first A House-Flipper Mystery.  I hope you have a lovely day with the special someone in your life.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader