Valentine Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 6) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lesilie Meier (Author), Leslie Meier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000

It's Valentine's Day in Tinker's Cove. And while the cupcakes Lucy Stone is baking for her children will have pink frosting and candy hearts, Lucy's thoughts aren't centered on sugary sentiments. She's barely arrived at her first board meeting of the newly-renovated library when Bitsy Howell, the new librarian, is found dead in the basement, shot only minutes before story hour was to start. The agitated board members assume that Bitsy was killed by an outsider, until Detective Lt. Horowitz arrives on the scene and announces that the killer is among them.

Lucy was already aware that Bitsy's uppity big city ways rubbed some people in Tinker's Cove the wrong way. But she has a hunch that motives for the librarian's violent death run a lot deeper. From Hayden Norcross's elegant antique shop to Corney Clark's chic kitchen, Lucy relentlessly snoops into the curious lifestyles and shocking secrets of Tinker's Cove's most solid citizens--secrets that will plunge her into a terrifying confrontation with a conniving killer. . .

"Meier includes domestic details that add charm to this lighthearted cozy." --Publishers Weekly

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When plucky freelance writer Lucy Stone joins the library board in her small Maine town, she unexpectedly finds herself knee-deep in murder. Right before her first meeting, Lucy discovers librarian Bitsy Howell shot through the heart in a workroom. A state police detective tells Lucy that only board members were present at the time of the unpopular librarian's death; he also warns her to stay away from the investigation. Lucy agrees but, still curious, she decides to find out as much as she can about the other suspects, and learns that each board member was hiding a potentially lethal secret. She also discovers that the library's prized antique tankard, which was recently appraised by antique dealer Hayden Northcross, is a fake. When Hayden dies in what looks like a suicide, it's assumed by the cops?but not by Lucy?that he had killed Bitsy because she'd realized he'd stolen the authentic tankard. Before Lucy can piece together all the clues to reveal the culprit, her children are nearly run over, her car is set afire and her husband is placed in mortal danger. Meier's (Back to School Murder, etc.) inclusion of the domestic details attendant to Lucy's small, close-knit community add charm to this otherwise routine, if lighthearted, cozy.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Not-so-reluctant series sleuth Lucy Stone (Back to School Murder, Kensington, 1997) is thrust into a new murder investigation when, on her first day as a new library board member in Tinker's Cove, ME, she discovers a body. As it turns out, librarian Bitsy Howell, the victim, had no friends and more than one enemy owing to her inventive bad-mouthing of library patrons behind their backs. Despite warnings from the police and her husband, Lucy questions other board members, concluding that the library's prize pewter tankard may be the key. Nothing heavyweight or psychological here, just cozy small-town chatter, short-list suspects, and simple plot. Recommended for larger collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Kensington Books (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575664992
• ISBN-13: 978-1575664996
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #864,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Valentine Murder, February 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Valentine Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you are looking for a light, entertaining read, this is the book for you. I enjoy reading stories about women I can relate to. Lucy Stone is a housewife and mother, not a jet-hopping, globe trotting woman of the world. I will definately be picking up the other books in this series.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars (-: Read this book :-), April 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Valentine Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 6) (Hardcover)

i was first introduced to the Lucy Stone Mysteries in one of her latest books - Back to School Murder. I think these books are so clever and never boring in any way. After I read Back to School Murder, I was hooked. I soon found out there were three other books by Leslie Meier. I couldn't wait to read them, they were all great! I loved everyone of them, unfortunately I read them way out of order, but enjoyed them none the less. I enjoyed these books and so will you, read them all!! If you are murder mystery fan and especially love Leslie Meier e-mail me, I would love to hear from you!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast enjoyable read, January 25, 2001

By 

Amy Leemon (North Fond du Lac, WI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Valentine Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

Bitsy Howell, the new librarian at the Tinker's Cove library is murdered at the library right before a Board of Director's meeting. All of the board members are under suspicion as each of them was in the library at the time and each of them had the opportunity to kill her.

One of the new board members, Lucy Stone, just can't help herself from trying to find out who committed the murder. She finds that each of the members could have had a reason to kill Bitsy. But which one? Before she finds the answer, one board member is murdered, one is arrested and her life and her family's are threatened.

The book gives a view of small town life. But one thing that I really didn't like is that Lucy kept leaving her 4 year old daughter alone in the car while she just "dashed" into the store or library, etc. Also, she put her children in a dangerous situation by letting them sled down a hill into the street. I know these are minor flaws but they were aggravating.