Invitation Only Murder is the 26th Lucy Stone Mystery, and although Lucy doesn't have the company of her regular cast of friends and family in this particular story, it's just as charming as the previous 25! Lucy has been invited to stay for several days on a private, isolated island off the coast of Tinker's Cove, without any modern conveniences, but when she finds a young woman's dead body on her morning walk her working holiday turns into a nightmare. Stranded from civilization until the weekly ferry arrives, tensions run extremely high and Lucy has to fight for her life against a murderer! Another winner by author Leslie Meier! A+

This was my first Lucy Stone mystery, although I know this series has many, many loyal readers! I appreciated the fact that I could jump right in to the series and have a good reading experience. This novel is really all about the setting, which is a remote island owned by an eccentric billionaire who forbids any kind of modern technology. The characters, including Lucy, are stranded there after a murder takes place. And there are no cell phones or other communication devices to notify the outside world. And, a storm has destroyed their boats. It's a great setup, and it is fun to watch Lucy unravel the mystery. Great read -- perfect to recommend to any readers who enjoy female sleuth/cozy/New Englandy-setting stories.

I am a huge fan of the Lucy Stone mysteries. This one is departure from her other books because this one takes place almost exclusively on an island where she is trapped for the duration of the story. Lucy travels to said island by boat to do a story on the eccentric family living there and soon finds a dead body and loss of their only means of escape. But being stranded on the island gives Lucy plenty of time to investigate and get to the bottom of this mystery. But she soon finds that things are not as them seem on the isolated island and there is no shortage of suspects.

2.5 stars This is the most recent addition to the Lucy Stone mystery series by Leslie Meier. I have read pretty much every single book in this series and I have to say that I found this one to be the most predictable. Though I really enjoy these books because they are usually a quick read I just felt that this one was a little redundant. I figured out the big plot twist or reveal way too soon. However overall it was a quick read. I wish that there was more of Lucy's family dynamic in this one. A lot of it just featured the cast of characters on the island. I will continue reading this series because I love the author's writing. :)

A great mystery with an unusual setting. Leslie Meier does an excellent job describing the unique setting and describes the characters in depth making it easy for the reader to connect with them. This book is a great who done it, with some thought provoking aspects that include how reliant the world is on ease of transportation and communication through cell phones. The isolation of the island in the story truly compounded the suspense.

This is honestly one of the best Lucy Stone mysteries that I have read in awhile. This is a series that I have read from the very beginning. My kids grew up with Lucy's kids. Some of the later books haven't been up to the same quality as the earlier ones. Leslie Meier did a fantastic job with this book. I got very engrossed in the story and had a hard time putting the book down! Invitation Only Murder did not take place in Tinker's Cove, Maine. The location was on an island off the coast. This story was a prime example of why I will never willingly go off the grid. For a change, I did not get the murderer right; I did not see the ending coming at all. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the next one! Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Cozy Mysteries are a subgenre of crime fiction which is a little lighter on things like sex and violence. They usually involve small town crime solvers who may or may not be amateurs. Each cozy series often has a theme that can be anything from coffee to cooking, to magic or even talking pets. The possibilities are endless.

In the past I have reviewed and offered many giveaways for Berkley Prime Crime titles but not many from other publishers. I know that you as my readers have been very interested in cozy mysteries and I want to provide you with a bigger range of cozy books to explore.

Kensington Publishing offers a huge selection of cozies every month and I’ve decided to do a post at the beginning of each month to spotlight their titles for the upcoming month and another to feature the new books from Berkley as well.

Enjoy!

Kensington has ten new titles for November. Their books come out at the end of the month, so these will be available by 11/26/2019. Preorder is available on select titles and Amazon links will be provided. There will also be a link to the goodreads page for each book and a short summary.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44283547-cobblered-to-death?from_search=true

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Courtney Archer Book 1

Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .

Courtney Archer is known for hosting the show Cooking with the Farmer’s Daughter . . . despite the fact that she’s actually a pediatrician’s daughter. Now she’s signed on for a role on The American Baking Battle. On this reality show, she can start developing a more authentic image for herself—and as a bonus, the usual backstabbing and manufactured drama isn’t part of the Baking Battle script. But genuine drama is heating up behind the scenes . . .

During a film shoot in the scenic Pocono Mountains, Courtney has to juggle career commitments like pots on a six-burner stove. Adding to the stress is Mick, a contestant who finds out about her fake farm-girl story. Determined to succeed at her new gig, she whips up a cherry cobbler in a cast-iron fry pan one evening and leaves it out to cool. But the next morning, it’s Mick’s body that’s cooling—right next to Courtney’s pan, now classified as a murder weapon . . .

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Daisy’s Tea Garden Book 4

In Pennsylvania's Amish country, Daisy Swanson has a tea shop to run, a daughter to marry off--and a murder to solve . . .

Daisy's worried one of her employees at Daisy's Tea Garden may be in a spot of trouble. Lately Karina's been loading up on soup and second-day baked goods at the end of her shift--and while the shop's scrumptious treats may be hard to resist, Daisy suspects there's more going on, especially since Karina has been seen hanging out in a rundown part of Willow Creek.

Planning her own daughter's wedding is enough to keep her busy, but Daisy can't help feeling a protective maternal instinct--and an instinct to investigate. It turns out Karina has been helping a down-on-his luck single dad who's been making ends meet--barely--by selling antiques at a place called Pirated Treasures.

But when an employee at the antiques store is bludgeoned to death with a marble rolling pin, Karina's new friend is suspect number one. Though the motives are muddy and steeped in intrigue, Daisy is more than determined to flush the real killer out.

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Lucy Stone Book 26

With family tensions intensifying in Tinker’s Cove, part-time reporter Lucy Stone could really use some time off the grid. But after she RSVPs to an unconventional celebration on remote Holiday Island, Lucy realizes that disconnecting from reality comes at a deadly price . . .

Lucy doesn’t know what to expect as she arrives on a private Maine island owned by eccentric billionaire Scott Newman, only that the exclusive experience should make for a very intriguing feature story. An avid environmentalist, Scott has stripped the isolated property of modern conveniences in favor of an extreme eco-friendly lifestyle. A trip to Holiday Island is like traveling back to the nineteenth Century, and it turns out other residents aren’t exactly enthusiastic about living without cell service and electricity . . .

Before Lucy can get the full scoop on Scott, she is horrified to find one of his daughters dead at the bottom of a seaside cliff. The young woman’s tragic end gets pinned as an accident, but a sinister plot unfolds when there’s a sudden disappearance . . .

Stuck on a clammy island with murder suspects aplenty, the simple life isn’t so idyllic after all. Now, Lucy must tap into the limited resources around her to outwit a cold-blooded killer—before it’s lights out for her next!

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Lady and Lady’s Maid Book4

Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva Huntford, are preparing for a wedding, but it may not be the happy occasion everyone hopes for . . .

Since the Great War, some family fortunes have suffered, including those of the Renshaws. Despite being the granddaughter of an earl, Julia Renshaw is under pressure to marry for money—and has settled for Gilbert Townsend, a viscount and a wealthy industrialist. He is decades older than Julia, and it’s clear to her sister Phoebe—and to Eva, who has been like a surrogate mother to the girls—that this is not a love match. Nevertheless, the wedding takes place—and in a hurry.

At the reception aboard the groom’s yacht, there appears to be tension between Gil and several guests: his best man, a fellow veteran of the Boer War; his grouchy spinster sister; and his current heir, a nervous young cousin named Ernest. The bride is also less than pleased when she discovers that her honeymoon will be more crowded than expected—with Gil’s pretty secretary, among others, coming along.

That very night, Julia pounds on her sister’s door, brandishing a bandaged hand and reporting a hot-tempered outburst on her new husband’s part. Julia is feeling doubt and regret about her hasty decision, but returns to the boat. Then the next morning, before the yacht can depart the harbor, Gil’s body is found in the water below—and Phoebe and Eva must discover who pushed him over . . . before the Renshaws’ social standing is irreparably stained by Julia’s arrest for his murder . . .

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Desert Flowers Book 1

Lee Hollis begins a delightful new series in which Poppy Harmon and her friends find that life after retirement can be much busier--and deadlier--than any of them ever anticipated . . .

When Poppy goes from complacent retiree to penniless widow in a matter of weeks, the idea of spending her golden years as the biggest charity case in Palm Springs renders her speechless. With no real skills and nothing left to lose, Poppy uses her obsession with true crime shows to start a career as a private eye . . .

But after opening the Desert Flowers Detective Agency with help from her two best friends, Violet and Iris, Poppy realizes that age brings wisdom, not business--until she convinces her daughter's handsome boyfriend, Matt, to pose as the face of the agency. It's not long before Matt's irresistible act snags a client desperate to retrieve priceless jewelry burglarized from an aging actress at the Palm Leaf Retirement Village. Or before Poppy stumbles upon the bloodied body of the victim's arch rival . . .

In a flash, Poppy's innocent detective gig is upstaged by a dangerous murder investigation riddled with slimy suspects and unspeakable scandal. As she and her team uncover the truth, Poppy must confront the secrets about her late husband's past and swiftly catch a killer lurking around the retirement community--even if it means turning her world upside down all over again.

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Ferrara Family Mystery Book 3

Seasoned Italian-American Alberta Scaglione can whip up a traditional dish for any occasion. But when an impromptu vacation turns deadly, can she sift out the deadly ingredient?

When her granddaughter lands a reporting gig at the grand opening of the luxurious Icicle Lodge, Alberta and friends tag along for a week of much-needed R&R amid the snowcapped hills of northeastern Pennsylvania. But the idyllic winter getaway becomes a nightmare after the gang discovers blood on the ice—and the dead body of celebrity guest Pamela Gregory, a frosty Olympic gold medal figure skater who won herself more enemies than fans . . .

With a killer on the loose, multiple suspects, and a blizzard on the way, Alberta must now race to crack a bone-chilling case . . . before the outspoken Ferrara ladies get served murder: family style!

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Literary Pub Mystery Book 2

In this intoxicating mystery by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox, a winter carnival becomes a recipe for disaster when a Shady Creek celebrity gets iced.

The Winter Carnival always brings holiday cheer, Christmas joy—and tourists with cash—to picturesque Shady Creek, Vermont. At the center of the glittering decorations and twinkling lights is booklover and pub owner Sadie Coleman, creating original cocktails, hosting a literary trivia evening, and cheering on her loyal employee Melanie “Mel” Costas as she competes in the ice carving competition.

But holiday cheer can’t compete with former resident and renowned chef Freddy Mancini, who arrives with his nose in the air, showing off his ice-sculpting skills like a modern-day Michelangelo. During the artists’ break in the night-long contest, Mel’s tools disappear . . . and Freddy is found dead with her missing pick in his chest.

Although the police turn their attention to Mel, it seems everyone in town had a grudge against Freddy, including his assistant, his mentor, his former flame, and even his half-brother.

Faster than she can fling a Huckleberry Gin, Sadie finds herself racing to make sure the police don’t arrest the wrong suspect—all while sharing a flirtation with local brewery owner Grayson Blake. Their chemistry leads to a heated rivalry at the hockey rink—and to the hot pursuit of a killer.

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Mystery Bookshop Book 5
Amateur sleuth Samantha Washington’s shopping trip to Chicago takes a deadly detour when a man is murdered on her bus . . .

After some post-Christmas retail therapy in the Windy City, mystery bookshop owner and historical whodunit novelist Sam Washington is returning home to North Harbor, Michigan, on a chartered bus. With Nana Jo and her gal pals Irma, Dorothy, and Ruby Mae from Shady Acres Retirement Village along for the ride, it's a lively trip. But one passenger is not so lively—a gentleman Irma befriended is found dead in his seat after an unscheduled stop. The ladies immediately shift gears to find out who punched his ticket, while Sam slips into the driver's seat to make sure Nana Jo and her crew steer clear of fatal conclusions . . .

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Eleanor Wilde Mystery Book 2

It may have been a ghost that led Eleanor Wilde to set up shop in a quaint English village. But now that she’s established herself as the town witch, Ellie’s contentedly casting spells on anyone desperate enough—or gullible enough—to request her mysterious potions…

Selling mystical elixirs and tantalizing tonics is a pretty good way for a fake medium to earn a living. Or at least it’s Ellie’s main source of income—until a villager turns up dead. The cause? Murder by poisoning. And though Ellie’s concoctions don’t include anything worthy of a skull and crossbones, suddenly she’s the prime suspect. Her only recourse is to find the culprit who did do away with Sarah Blackthorne. No one liked the mean old battle-axe. But did anyone hate her enough to kill her?

It’s enough of a mystery to make Ellie hang up her witch’s hat and take millionaire beau Nicholas Hartford up on his offer to keep her afloat. Except Ellie is not the kind of woman to lean on a man—least of all a man she adores but whose place in her life is uncertain. Besides, Ellie’s taken on two young witches-in-training—apprentices if you will—and both of them are convinced a werewolf is the murderer.

Just as Ellie’s wondering if there really is something otherworldly going on, animals suddenly begin to disappear—including her beloved cat, Beast. Now Ellie’s on the warpath to uncover the wicked truth about the people and the place she’s only just begun to call home…

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Lucy Stone makes a welcome return in Leslie Meier’s Invitation Only Murder, the 26th entry in the long-running Lucy Stone Mystery series. 

Overall I enjoyed the book but I found the book to be a bit slow going towards the beginning, especially once the action transfers to Fletcher’s Island, recently renovated by billionaire Scott Newman to return it to its perceived more environmentally friendly early days, totally off the grid with no electricity, no cellphones, no computers. Lucy is at first eager to be a guest there, if only to escape tensions at home, figuring she’ll have a few quiet days to relax and observe before writing an article about life on the island and the Newman family. What Lucy gets is entirely different when one of Newman’s older twins, Parker, is killed in an unknown manner and there is no way to get help. The ramifications of her death on the family are huge and Lucy finds herself in the middle of a huge family drama. The action ramps up from here as does the increasing dark atmosphere of the book. A reference is made to an Agatha Christie novel, “And Then There Were None,” and it seems apropos at the time. Lucy becomes increasingly on edge and afraid for the safety of others as well as herself. Needless to say, Lucy is happy to return to her own life, messy as it can be, at the end of the book. 

The book has several recurrent themes including not everything is what it seems and references to the corruption, entitlement and oblivion of the extremely wealthy. 

As a longtime fan of the Lucy Stone series, I enjoyed this book. It was nice to experience Lucy on her own and, while is she as helpful as always, she becomes increasingly proactive as the book proceeds and it was nice to see. One thing I’ve always enjoyed about the Lucy Stone character and the books is the realistic feel of family life and this book is no different. Neither her children, her husband, nor herself, are perfect and their arguments and faults tend to be universal to families everywhere as is the love they share. 

I recommend this book for those who enjoy cozy mysteries and especially for those who like the Lucy Stone mystery series. While it has a bit of a different feel to it, it is a good read. Three and a half stars. 

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.

I am forever a Lucy Stone fan, but this one just didn’t do it for me. The murders/kidnapping were pretty much unjustified and I felt really unsatisfied with the ending.
I love the way Leslie Meier always pulls in current world issues - this book focus on environmental issues - but the “mystery” really fell short. All the people Lucy met on the island were awful and shady, yet she just rolled with the punches while trapped with them. It was all a bit odd and far-fetched.
I thought the way she automatically hated Zoe’s new boyfriend was ridiculous and uncalled for, too. Especially since Lucy doesn’t tend to be the one who unfairly judges anyone.
I look forward to the next Lucy Stone mystery where she’s with her girlfriends in Tinker’s Cove and home with her family.

A big thumbs up for the next book in the Lucy Stone series! This book kept me in suspense the entire time & I seriously feared for Lucy's safety. I missed the regular characters in the series in this book, but it was a fresh storyline with a surprising ending. And, my favorite part of this series is that it is set in Maine, where I live.

Another great story from Leslie Meiers. I enjoy the series and her family as well. Not too bloody with a good mystery. I look forward to the next one ands wring how they change and grow too.

In Lucy Stone's next adventure, Invitation Only Murder, Leslie Meier has again shown why I don't miss her books when she writes!
Lucy and her husband Bill are invited to a party to celebrate the restoration of an island to an earlier time with a more self sufficient, peaceful lifestyle. The island is then donated to the Maine Island Trust by the eccentric billionaire, Scott Newman. When Lucy is invited back for a visit to write an article on the island and the way the people are living without modern conveniences, she takes Newman up on his offer. Of course, it doesn't take Lucy long to stumble over the body of one of Newman's twin daughters. With no modern conveniences, not even an emergency phone, and discovering the boats on the island have been destroyed, every one is just waiting for the weekly supply boat to show up. But strange things continue to happen. Lucy's trip has her trapped on an island with no way off and a killer. Fast paced, several twists and turns lead to another great story.
Thanks NetGalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read this.

It's always a delight to spend time with Lucy Stone and her family and this story is no exception. Lucy and her husband Bill are invited to a special party to be held on a nearby island which belonged to hedge fund manager/environmentalist Scott and which he has willed to the Maine Land Trust after his death. Scott has returned the island to its form in the past century, with no electricity, telephone or other means of communications connections with the rest of the world.Lucy asks him for an interview for her job as a reporter for the Pennysaver and when she is invited out to the island for a weekend, she is delighted to go. The next morning while out on a walk around the island she comes across the body of Parker, one of Scott's young adult daughters. That same morning the island's boats are destroyed, leaving the weekend party no way of getting help. When Scott's two young sons go missing, Lucy once again finds herself involved in solving a mystery. This fast paced book has enjoyable characters, an interesting plot and a great Maine island location. I loved it and highly recommend it.

This is one of my favorite series. leslie Meier is a great author. Lucy is invited to stay at the mansion that is on an island. The next day she is there someone is killed. Will they find the killer before they are off the island. There are no TVs, computers. The cellphones have no signal. If you want to hear more read the book.

I really enjoyed this book. It has tons of action, lots of plot twists. I felt like I was on that island myself and I was relieved when the miscreant was taken care of. The only bad thing about the book is how long I'll have to wait until the next one.

Another great installment in the Lucy Stone series. Will definitely be buying a finished copy for my shelves.

What’s not to like about this book? Leslie Meier has provided another winning installment in the Lucy Stone series. Reporter Lucy Stone has been invited to visit and write about an Island owned by an eccentric billionaire who rejects modern-day living in favor of an eco-lifestyle a la the 19th century. The island is 10 miles off the shore of Tinker Cove. Lucy arrives on the Island excited to spend a few days relaxing and writing. Soon the excitement gives way to horror. One of the billionaire’s daughters is found dead be the seaside. All the boats off the Island have been destroyed and there is no way to call or radio for help. This is a fast-paced and gripping mystery until the explosive end.

Invitation Only Murder by Leslie Meier is the most recent installment of the Lucy Stone mystery series.
This book takes Lucy out of Tinker’s Cove for the majority of the book and places her on a small local island that is about 10 minutes away accessible only by boat/air. Lucy is invited over the 4th of July weekend to stay with Scott Newman and his family (an ultra rich businessman who has created an island set up as if it was 1850 modern convenience wise). He has restored the island and handed it over to a Land trust to conserve and save the Puffin population much to everyone’s surpise, including the Hopkins family that has lived there for generations.

Needless to say, the stay amounts to much more including a murder mystery, along with a real “bang” of any ending.

While I will always love Ms Meier and Lucy Stone, this book was a little extended for me in the amount of a hot mess that occurred while on the island, as well as the fact that I love Tinker’s Cove, the Stone family, and all of the community’s inhabitants and would have much rather read a story involving any of those factors. However, I will never stray from Lucy, so I will still give this 4.5/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this to my GR account immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Learn a bit about Puffins as Lucy Stone's latest adventure takes her to Fletcher's Island, Maine, off of the coast of Tinker's Cove.

Lucy is invited by billionaire Scott Newman to join his family as they celebrate July 4 in the 1850 lifestyle he has implemented on the island that he purchased. After local craftsmen (like her husband Bill) completed the restoration and upgrades, he wants everyone to know about it. . .

The blended Newman family seem perfectly adapted to Scott's vision until a death opens the cracks in their relationships with each other. . Lucy experiences puffins and a red tailed hawk along with some questionable people. during her stay.

A fast paced cozy set away from Tinker's Cove and Lucy's family and friends we have come to know and love in her previous 28(?) books. A very different ending for a Lucy Stone mystery.

Not my favorite in the series, but still a good read. It’s always fun to visit Lucy and her friends and family to see what adventures they get into.