Valentine Candy Murder

VALENTINE MURDER Lucy has arrived at her first-ever library board meeting. Unfortunately, she finds the new librarian dead in the basement. The agitated group assumes Bitsy Howell was killed by an outsider—until Detective Lt. Horowitz announces that the killer is among them. Lucy knew that Bitsy rubbed some people the wrong way. But she has a hunch the murderous motives run a lot deeper. And as she snoops into the curious lifestyles and shocking secrets of Tinker’s Cove’s most solid citizens, what she finds is far from hearts and flowers.

CHOCOLATE COVERED MURDER Despite the frigid winter temperatures, to boost the economy, Tinker’s Cove is launching a travel promotion for Valentine’s Day. Lucy is assigned a puff piece on upscale Chanticleer Chocolate—and its deliciously handsome owner. But there’s another tantalizing tart behind the counter—sultry store manager Tamzin Graves. Leaving a throng of jealous women in her wake, it’s almost no surprise when Tamzin turns up dead, her body covered in chocolate. And as Lucy closes in on the culprit, she may find herself locked in the clutches of a half-baked killer.

---

Series: Lucy Stone Mystery Book
Author: Leslie Meier
Genre: Cozy Mystery /Business/Holiday
Publisher:Kensington Books

Rating:

Valentine Candy Murder from Kensington Books http://www.kensingtonbooks.com is a fun and entertaining read. With this book, readers get two stories in one. Valentine Murder (book 5) and Chocolate Covered Murder (book 18) which was also published in 2013 is included in this Valentine’s inspired cozy. Leslie Meier has once again created a wonderful story with her main character, Lucy Stone, that has Lucy scratching her head and causing trouble.

Lucy knows that someone murdered Bitsy, but she finds it difficult to believe that one of the town’s most upstanding citizens is responsible. Why would any of them commit murder, especially the murder of a librarian and right after they had helped fund the library’s new addition and remodel? It looks like she will have to stick her nose into police business once again to solve another murder in Tinker’s Cove.

Characters in the Lucy Stone mystery series are as down to earth as they come. They remind readers of a simpler time when playing in the snow was a holiday, and murder was something that happened in the big city. These characters remind us that everyone has problems, no matter where they live, and sometimes bad things happen to good people.

The characters are warm and interesting. The town is always fun to read about, and Ms. Meier does a fantastic job of describing the two and the characters. This is a long-running series, so it is advised that readers go back to the beginning. Otherwise, they will be confused as the timeline in this book is not chronological.

Valentine Candy Murder is worth the read. If readers have never read one of the Lucy Stone mysteries, they will want to read them all once they read these two entertaining stories. Those who have read the series will enjoy returning to an old favorite.