Customer Reviews

Mistletoe Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book, ISBN #1575663708, published in 1998, is a retitle of the first Lucy Stone mystery, "Mail-Order Murder" published in 1991 with an ISBN # of 0670841110. I made the miistake of purchasing the 1998 book thinking it was a NEW work, but it turned out to be only a new TITLE!

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.

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!

It's only ten days before Christmas, and Tinker Cove resident Lucy Stone has more than enough to do before the holiday. But during her evening break from work at County Cousins, the mail-order store headquartered in town, she discovers a snow-covered car running in the company parking lot, which turns out to contain the body of the company president Sam Miller. Being somewhat of an amateur sleuth herself, Lucy tries to find out who murdered Mr. Miller.

I was a little disappointed in the mystery aspect of this story, because the reader is not really privy to many clues to the murder. It seems that the solution just pops out of thin air! I love the character of Lucy Stone, though, and her cozy town of Tinker Cove. The holiday traditions in the story, including a community cookie exchange, are just right to get the reader in the Christmas spirit! Author Meier has created a believable town and likable protagonist. I would recommend this book more as a cozy seasonal story, with just a touch of mystery in it.

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!

And 9 years later, I still love it. I have held on to this first book so I could read more from this author. Lucy Stone is a 60's hippie, now grown up with family and kids. She reminds me of Rita Mae Brown's "Harry" Haristeen in that she lives a real life, she has chores, drives kids to school, worries about pets and has a full time job. I've never been to Maine, but her descriptions fit what I have always imagined Maine to be like. I'm also a sucker for a good holiday mystery.

This isn't a mystery...this is a compendium of shopping notes, cookies, children's problems, antiques, etc....and, oh yes, someone gets murdered at the beginning of the book...and the killer is discovered at the end...with very little pertinent detecting in between. One good thing about misteltoe....I can kiss this "author" goodbye!

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?"

The small town flavor of this book drew me to it right away. Lucy Stone is a character that many of us can relate to, especially during the holidays. If you are looking for light reading with enough suspense to keep you hooked, then Misteltoe Murder is the perfect mystery. Bake some gingerbread men, warm some cocoa, and snuggle up for a Christmas caper.

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.