Publication Jan. 23, 2024
A fun read of three of my favorite authors showcasing characters their fans will recognize. The first, the one the book title is taken from, features Lucy Stone, initially following up a story on a theft and ending with a murder. The second, by Lee Hollis, may have a murder to solve but deals up lots of laughs (and recipes) in the telling. I found the third, by Barbara Ross, more serious than the others and as her Julia Snowden is one of my all-time favorites, I particularly enjoyed it. My quick take on the individual stories follows.
EASTER BASKET MURDER, by Leslie Meier
This series is one of the few where the characters seem to age. As such, Lucy and husband Bill are now in the empty-nest part of parenthood with their children grown and living their own lives. Bill is rather cranky in this offering but, well, you'll probably sympathize with him as you read. I know I did. As a reporter, Lucy is covering the town's latest effort to raise needed funds. They involve, I bet you can guess, an Easter basket. A well-known but eccentric artist's work has been donated but, whoa, it's stolen. Even worse, right out of the bank where it's being displayed, leading to much chatter about how things have changed in Tinker's Cove. Lucy seems only mildly focused on covering the theft, more focused on other concerns and not feeling the urge to compete for a scoop. Then, whoa, a murder takes place. That certainly piques Lucy's interest but, to be honest, she winds up more or less solving this crime by happenstance. Still, it's a good story and you'll enjoy hanging out with Lucy and the rest. Well, maybe not Ted. See if you agree when you read.
DEATH BY EASTER EGG, by Lee Hollis
Death of the Easter Bunny, whoa. Hayley is just trying to keep her rambunctious, wild-child of a grandson out of mischief. She finds a dead body, instead. Small town Bar Harbor's annual Easter egg hunt sounds like a hoot, both from inattentive parents and children practically running wild. That said, while it made me chuckle, I'm glad I wasn't in charge. In any case, who'd kill the Easter Bunny, aka Raymond, the bank's security guy? Why? How hard is it to rob a security deposit box anyway? How does Eli's dumping his Baby Shark toy in the toilet create problems? So much going on. Just keeping up with Eli's mischief will keep you reading, albeit probably rolling your eyes in disbelief, so it's a fun read as Hayley snoops. Love her columns and, oh, my, lovely recipes, including for cocktails!
HOPPED ALONG, by Barbara Ross
I've always liked this series and came away liking it even more, if that is possible. Not only is Julia Snowden a very relatable character, one we'd like to have as a friend, her depth of caring even in the midst of a murder investigation is impressive. Her relationship with Tom, a detective with the State Police, seems solid and they work together well both as a couple and when gathering information. I wound up liking everyone in this story, even the ultimate killer, go figure. That shows Ross's talent as a writer when she can make us empathize with a killer. The story of how they got to be a killer is a unique one, too, and it's only Julia's unique observation powers that help unravel the truth. And, hey, romance is in the air! I'm already looking forward to where that goes in the next book, which is already in my "to be reviewed" stash. Make sure you read the author's "Dear Reader" notes at the end, too, as it'll give you insight into how she came to this story idea and some of those who helped along the way. It's a strong plot, bringing in several favorite characters and sharing some past background memories, too, as do all three stories in this book, so I'm betting you'll enjoy the read.
Bottom line, while I usually wind up wishing for more from these story collections, it's a satisfying, fun read. Ross's was my favorite, offering a more serious, thoughtful take on the prompt of "Easter basket" that she was probably asked to write to, but all were fun and character driven. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for letting me take this virtual trip to Maine and hang out with these intriguing characters and those that surround their lives.
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