4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun read, but...(mild spoiler), February 16, 2011
This review is from: Wicked Witch Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries) (Hardcover)
I enjoy the Lucy Stone series, and I thought this book was a fun read, but the ending left me guffawing a little. Only because I found it hard to believe that Lucy would find herself in the situation that led to the story's climax, without apparently having any clue what was going on. As in, "La la la, oops, forgot to fill my gas tank, oh hey, look where I am! Look who's here! Look what they have handy! Nothing suspicious there!" Also, there were several questions that, to me, were not answered - obviously not the big question of whodunnit, but smaller ones, like: Why were those dudes chasing her in the woods? Who painted the pentagrams? What was the deal with the bear? Lastly, was I the only person who thought Lucy was maybe being a tad TOO open-minded in dealing with the Wicca folks, especially given the fact that an unsolved murder had been committed in their town? As a Mom, I don't think I'd open my home to a virtual stranger and let her hang out with my kids while I wasn't there, especially given the fact that said stranger was a potential suspect in the murder. Just sayin'.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS IS YET ANOTHER COZY SERIES I AM NOW ADDING TO MY LIST. I did enjoy this one., December 18, 2011
This is the first book in this series I have read and as far as I know, the first book by Leslie Meier I have been exposed to, although that is sort of problematic. I ready so many of these books that are classified as "cozy mysteries" that I tend to get my authors a bit mixed up - a result of my slowly slipping into my dotage.
Anyway, I picked this on up at the library after a recommendation from a good friend and fellow reviewer here on Amazon who has never lead me astray with her suggestions. I did not start with the first book in the series which is my usually practice - there are two reasons for this. First, our library, like most libraries these days, is suffering through rough economic times and as the politicians like to hit library funding first, our library simply cannot afford to buy all the books in any one given series. Secondly, I have found if I read the fifth, sixth or such book in a series and I like it, then the chances are pretty good that I will like the entire series. I have to tell you right now that I enjoyed this work very much and it contained all the elements in a cozy that I look for - more about that later.
The story takes place in a small town in Maine. Our central character, Lucy, is a reporter for the little weekly newspaper and is quite involved with her community. The main plot in this work revolves around a new member of the community, a self professed witch who has opened a small store specializing is books, herbs and such and she gives little "seminars" on witch craft and readings.
Lucy discovers the body of a man in the woods near her home that has died a rather ghastly death and begins investigating.
Now I will admit right now that the plot of this story is rather simple and the outcome is indeed, as others have pointed out, sort of predictable. Personally I could careless about this aspect of the story. I do not read these cozies for complicated murders, graphic violence, non-stop action and trying to figure out shaded and obscure clues as to "who done it." No, for me a cozy either makes you feel, well...cozy and allows you to share the lives of a family or small community or it doesn't; those that don't, I don't read. I like colorful characters and quaint settings. If I want complicated and complex murder mysteries there are thousands upon thousands available and when the mood strikes me, I seek them out.
This is a rather mellow read. I must say that even though this one is classified as a "cozy" I found the author's observations of human nature, community and family interaction and general "attitude" just as interesting as the mystery itself.
Each of us has our own reading requirements and we are lucky in this day and age to have so many great works available. If we do not like one, then we have plenty of others to choose from. This particular novel suited my purposes perfectly and I will now proceed to read others by this author and this series.
Let me address one point that seems to be a sticking point with several readers. This revolves around the fact that Lucy allowed an almost complete stranger to move into her house for a bit while the stranger faced a certainly amount of danger. While this may not be the brightest thing a person could do, there are those of us that would indeed do such a thing. As a matter of fact my wife and I have done just that several times over the years; from battered women, to slight acquaintances having hard times, to folks that simply needed a helping hand and an ear to bend, so this was not all that shocking to me personally. But he, that is just us...we are who we are and more or less have to follow our nature.
I did like this book!
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wicked Witch Murder, February 3, 2011
This review is from: Wicked Witch Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries) (Hardcover)
I loved this book! This is a very good, very well-written cozy mystery. I enjoyed this book so much.
This is the latest Lucy Stone Mystery. This book spans longer than most of the Lucy Stone books. It lasts from June until Halloween. In this book, there is a newcomer to town (unwelcome and unwanted by a lot of the town folks). This newcomer's name is Diana, and she is a witch. She claims to be a good witch, doesn't wish harm or hurt on anybody. She only claims to promote positiveness. Whether or not people believe her, just the idea of her being a witch makes some people uneasy.
Lucy, the open-minded person, is not quick to judge. She tolerates Diana, even befriends her and allows her to stay a few days in her house. Lucy doesn't judge her by her Wicca Religion. She judges her by her personality. Nonetheless, some people are upset with Lucy for not judging her and for tolerating her.
At the same time, Lucy has two daughters still at home - high school and junior high age. They are at that peer-pressure and impressionable age. Even though Lucy respects and tolerates Diana's religion, she does not want her daughters to become witches. She somewhat battles this with her daughters. On a good note, her two daughters are nice, respectable girls who totally respect their mother, and wouldn't do anything that their mother forbade them to do. Therefore, the battle is easier with Sara and Zoe that it would have been if Elizabeth was still at home (the monster). Lucy has raised two wonderful, nice daughters, and it's really not that hard with Sara and Zoe. (After Elizabeth, it's nice and refreshing to have two nice daughters.)
Anyway, with this small semi-battle to convince Sara and Zoe to not practice Wicca, Lucy is still the wonderful mother and grandmother (her son and his wife and their son live down the road on Prudence Path). She is still the reporter for the town's weekly newspaper, the Penny Saver. She still lives a cozy life in a cozy old house in a small cozy town. She still bakes and there is still plenty of coffee at her house.
This book is very interesting, and there are lots of fun adventures.
One of the highlights of these books, and of Lucy's life, is her weekly Thursday breakfast with three of her best friends. Lucy, Sue, Rachel, and Pam get together every Thursday at Jake's Donut Shack - just the girls - to stay in touch and to keep up with each other's lifes, and to just get a break. I love these cozy Thursday breakfasts.
I feel so cozy and comfortable and secure in Lucy's house. I feel right at home in this comfortable, warm, cozy house. Lucy is a domestic, loving mother, wife, grandmother, friend, and citizen. Tinker's Cove is a better place because Lucy is there. I love Lucy. Her person and her life is so warm and cozy and secure and comfortable. I love reading these books, and I could spend all day in her house.
Thank goodness there is no Elizabeth in this book. She has already left home. There is only one flaw in this series, and that is Elizabeth. She is the most horrible, hateful person ever. It's hard to believe that such a nice, wonderful person such as Lucy gave birth to the horrible monster Elizabeth.
This book ends at Halloween. There is a Halloween party. There are lots of treats, witch's brew punch, beastly bug cookies. There is a little boy, Nemo, who needs a ride home because his mother is not there. Lucy, the wonderful lady and citizen that she is, takes the little boy home. Will Lucy get the little boy delivered, get back to Tinker's Cove, and back to her warm, cozy house? Or will there be reason to beware because of these real witches (Wiccans) who are celebrating Halloween?
I cannot sing enough praise for this wonderful, fun book. I am glad I read it - I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fun.
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