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

Leslie Meier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2006

Ever since local developer Fred Stanton and his wife, Mimi, built five modular homes next door to Lucy Stone's farmhouse, life just hasn't been the same. With Mimi complaining about everything from the state of Lucy's lawn to another neighbor's lovable dog, quaint Tinker's Cove, Maine, is now entangled in cul-de-sac politics and backstabbing. And when Mimi doesn't show up for her shift at The Hat and Mitten Fund bake sale, the scent of burnt sugar leads Lucy to a shocking discovery: Mimi, face down on her kitchen floor--with a knife in her back.

While the police start their investigation, Lucy gets busy writing up the murder for the local Pennysaver--and following a few leads of her own. Lucy knows the women in her neighborhood didn't like Mimi, but they certainly didn't want her dead...right?

"I like Lucy Stone a lot, and so will readers." --Carolyn Hart

"Leslie Meier writes with sparkle and warmth." --Chicago Sun Times

"Mothers everywhere will identify with Lucy Stone and the domestic problems she encounters." --Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Meier's disjointed 13th Lucy Stone mystery (after 2005's New Year's Eve Murder), the Tinker's Cove, Maine, newspaper reporter has a whole subdivision of peculiar neighbors around her once peaceful farmhouse, and anonymous letters are arriving at her office. The unknown penman alleges that the new football coach, Buck Burkhart, is condoning unsavory behavior by the high school's senior football players toward the junior players and the cheerleaders, one of whom is Lucy's daughter, Sara. But no one is talking or listening, as the coach launches his lackluster team into a victorious season. Then Lucy finds Burkhart's neighbor, one of her volunteer bakers, knifed to death in her kitchen. And what about the homeless man? The philandering veterinarian? The victim's bad-tempered husband? The author makes only a halfhearted effort to connect all the dots, while the one big break in the murders comes, unpleasantly and literally, through Lucy's dog, Libby. (Dec.)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (December 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758207018
• ISBN-13: 978-0758207012
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,234,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deadly Bake Sale, March 13, 2007

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bake Sale Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 13) (Hardcover)

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.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baking Can Kill You, March 6, 2008

By 

J. E. Stephens "Jeanne" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bake Sale Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 13) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, December 9, 2006

By 

Cozy Reader (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bake Sale Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 13) (Hardcover)

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.