This is really two books in one. Lucy Stone has been around for several years and this is book 3 and 16 in her series. Tinker's Cove is getting ready to celebrate halloween and the local witch's coven is making plans for a human sacrifice in Wicked Witch Murder. Trick or treat murder is an arson investigation that turns to murder. Both are good cozy's with great cast of characters. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love this series while the mystery was fairly easy to solve in this one the characters are so charming they always keep me reading.

Howard Academy's Halloween party is just days away, and everyone is already dreaming of the headmaster's assistant's (Harriet's) marshmallow puffs. When Harriet's neighbor is found dead with a marshmallow puff in his hand, the puffs are confiscated and Harriet is suspected of murder. Her co-worker Melanie is tasked with finding the real killer. This was the first book I read in the series, but I had no trouble following along. The mystery was a bit too obvious, but otherwise I enjoyed it.

In Greenwich, Connecticut, Melanie Travis teaches at the prestigious Howard Academy. The school runs smoothly, except for those times Melanie gets involved in murder cases, strictly as a way to help friends, of course.

Harriet is the school’s efficient secretary. She keeps the headmaster on schedule and seems to have been at her desk forever. However, a call from her sister upsets everything. A neighbor, Ralph, has died. He was an older man who suffered with dementia but still lived alone. The panicked look on Harriet’s face isn’t because poor Ralph died, it’s because it was murder and she’s the strongest suspect.

Each year, Harriet makes hundreds of marshmallow puffs to hand out at Halloween. They’d gotten so popular that she started making them in advance and delivering trays of them to neighbors and friends to hand out Halloween night. Of course, not all the puffs made it until Halloween. They were so tasty, many people found them irresistible and ate them before the 31st rolled around.

In fact, Ralph was eating one of the puffs when he died. It was the cyanide that proved fatal.

Harriet asks for Melanie’s help in gathering the remaining puffs from neighbors for disposal, just in case, and by the way, could she investigate as well? After all, what could go wrong?

This is book twenty-six of the popular series featuring Melanie, husband Sam, oldest son Davey, now practically grown up according to him, five-year old Davey, Aunt Peg, five black Standard Poodles, and a little mixed breed, Bud. This time, Melanie doesn’t have as much pressure from Peg as usual, although as an alum, Peg is interested, of course. Since dementia turned Ralph into a grouch who got lost on his own street, each of the neighbors had some kind of problem with him. His daughter has a for-sure alibi. It’s hard for Melanie to see who had means, motive, and opportunity but as usual, she manages to pull it off, without spoiling Halloween too.

The recipe for marshmallow puffs is at the back of the book—simple to make, addictive to eat.

Melanie Travis is at it again. One of her co-workers at the academy, where she teaches, becomes the prime suspect in the poisoning death of an elderly man who lives in her neighborhood. This woman, Harry Harriette), makes a special treat around Halloween each year and gifts them to her neighbors and the school for its Halloween party. The elderly man died after eating one of the treats—which was laced with cyanide. Naturally, Melanie and just about everyone else is convinced Harry is innocent, so it is up to Melanie to find the real culprit. In the process, she learns a lot about Harry that she did not know before. For starters, she has a sister, Bernadette, who lives with her. Bernadette is the opposite of Harry in many ways, but they do get along well enough to share the same house. Bernadette has a new boyfriend who keeps showing up around the house. As her search for clues continues, Melanie becomes familiar with Harry, the elderly man who dies, and his daughter. In fact, Melanie is not taken in by the daughter, much the same way that Harry and everyone else feels. Melanie sifts through a myriad of clues, coming closer to the answer, but never close enough to come to a conclusion. However, there has to be an answer. Someone other than Harry had to have poisoned this elderly man. Meanie just needs to keep plugging at it until she finds the answer. If anyone can find the answer, Melanie can.

This was, like the other books in this series, a well-done enjoyable read. As usual, Melanie’s family figured prominently in the story, moving in and out, as things progressed. Also, the poodles figured well in the book, especially Melanie’s faithful poodle, Faith. I thoroughly enjoyed watching how the author tied the dogs, especially Faith, into the storyline so effortlessly and smoothly. The characters were likewise well done and realistic. I was not surprised at the ending, however, as I had an inkling where things were going earlier on. However, it was still a satisfying conclusion. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Congratulations! Your review for Howloween Murder, captioned
below, has been published. Visit
<https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=72071> to view your
published review.

Please share your review via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest,
Instagram and other social media venues. Include the #FFreview
hashtag or @FreshFiction in your posts.

As the town of Greenwich, Connecticut, counts down to a spooky celebration on October 31st, a horrifying murder leaves Melanie Travis pawing for clues in a hair-raising game of trick-or-treat . . .

With just a few days left before Halloween, everyone at Howard Academy is anticipating the guaranteed sugar high they’ll experience from gorging on Harriet Bloom’s famous marshmallow puffs. The private school’s annual costume party revolves around the headmaster’s assistant and her seemingly supernatural batches of gooey goodies. So, it's a shock when Harriet’s elderly neighbor is suddenly found dead with the beloved dessert in his hand. In a snap, police start questioning whether Harriet modified her top-secret recipe to include a hefty dose of lethal poison...

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publication for the eARC

My first read by Laurien Berenson and I loved it! Very fun, cozy read, you will enjoy it! Highly recommend and I would read this author again!

You know when you open a Melanie Travis mystery by Laurien Berenson, you’re in for a good read…and Howloween Murder does not disappoint.

It’s almost Halloween and everyone at Howard Academy, where Melanie works, is looking forward to the school’s annual costume party. That is until the famous and popular marshmallow puffs made by the headmaster’s assistant Harriet Bloom end up as a murder weapon when her elderly neighbour is found dead with one of the puffs laced with cyanide. With the police looking straight at Harriet as the killer, she asks Melanie to help clear her name. But first Melanie has to get back all the puffs Harriet has given to the school (for the party), neighbours and friends.

But searching for answers leads to a neighbourhood rife with plenty of secrets, lots of gossip and a killer in their midst. And that killer is willing to strike again when Melanie starts to close in.

In addition to figuring out who the murderer is, you’ll get to spend time with Melanie, her family and their Standard Poodles, which is always like spending time with friends. Grab your copy of Howloween Murder and then sit back and enjoy this newest Melanie Travis mystery.

This is the 26th book in this series and the 1st that I have read. This is a really cute. Halloween novella and it's enjoyable. There is an obvious mistake in Chapter 9... Davey's eyes widened... it should be Kevin and I was bothered by a line about a student talking like a rapper. The student is white and his mom is a pro golfer and it didn't sit right with me. Hopefully its just an oops!

Howloween Murder is cute mystery just in time for Halloween! Tutor Melanie Travis and her gang of poodles are helping to solve another murder mystery that impacts Howard Academy. When an octogenarian is seemingly murdered by cyanide laced Halloween treats, Melanie helps sort through the clues to try to eliminate her colleague from suspicion. Classic Berenson this was a fun mystery complete with a recipe for the famous treats!

There is one detraction here and as I'm not the only reviewer who noticed I'm hoping this will be addressed and rectified in future books-there was a line about a student talking like a rapper but the reference is made that the student is white and his mom is a progolfer-which would imply he shouldn't rap or speak like that. For that reason this is a three star read and hopefully the intent was not how the line reads-but it is something to note.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Melanie is looking forward to enjoying the marshmallow treats school employee Harriett makes every year. They are a hit with kids and adults alike. In fact you could say she kills them. Literally. It seems one of her treats was the means to poisoning her neighbour. When it seems likely she will be accused of murder, Harriett asks Melanie to help her find the real villain.

With her trusty poodle, Faith, by her side, Melanie collects the treats already distributed to the neighbourhood on the off chance there is another tampered candy. It also gives her a good chance to interview the neighbours and find out who might have had a serious enough issue with the poor man who suffered from dementia to poison him. What she discovers is a helpless soul who has been left too often to his own devices and was more nuisance than harm to those who lived nearby. But someone had motive. The mystery is whom that person might be.

I do confess I was highly suspicious of the culprit but the way the story was woven and the apparent twists that might or might not have been twists kept me entertained. She does twig in the end but does the knowledge come too late. That is for you to discover. Four purrs and two paws up.

I always look forward to new books by Laurien Berenson. I am avid dog lover and I enjoy the oodles of Poodles in her books immensely.

In this novella, Melanie Travis has to find a way to prove the innocence of the school secretary, Harriet, after the murder of her neighbor.

No spoilers but the ending of this book is the best part. Since the book is so short, there is not much too the plot other than Melanie's usual sleuthing on a speedier basis. However, the length of the book did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. I was excited that the recipe for these delicious marshmallow puffs that are integral to the story was included at the end of the book. I liked all the Halloween references and I adore Melanie's youngest son, Kevin and his silliness.

As long as Ms. Berenson keeps writing these, you can bet I'll read them all!

Melanie Travis and her standard poodle, Faith help students with special needs at Howard Academy. In this book everyone is preparing for Halloween. The headmaster's assistant, Harriet Bloom always makes her famous Marshmallow Puffs for the annual costume party and for many of her neighbors. Unfortunately, this year one of Harriet's neighbors dies of cyanide-poisoning with one of the treats in his hand. The police suspect Harriet, which is impossible. Melanie is determined to identify the real killer.

This is one of my all time favorite cozy mystery series. Congratulations to the author on book release #26! I have read the entire series and always look forward to my next canine adventure with Aunt Peg and Melanie. I love a Halloween theme cozy and this was a perfect blend of Halloween theme fun, dogs, murder and a great sleuth. I highly recommend this series . Any new reader to the series can easily follow along starting with any book in the series. The author has a great love of animals that shine through her writing of this lovely dog theme series. i love the particular poodle Faith that has a close relationship with the main charcter.

This book is a step back in time of the series and its wonderful to re visit the history of all the charcters.
Melanie works at a private school where she has many friends among the staff. As the school prepares for the Halloween festivities of a costume party with sweet Halloween theme treats, Melanie looks forward to one particular co worker's sweet treats. When her co worker is accused of poisoning a elderly neighbor with her same treats, Melanie is sure this colleague is innocent. Amid the costumes and fun a murderer lurks and Melanie is sure with her talent for finding suspects she can help solve the case.

A excellent next in series and we series fans await the next in series.

Howloween Murder by Laurien Berenson is the 26th book in the Melanie Travis mystery series, and another great addition. Reading this book made me feel like I was visiting good friends, and catching up on their latest adventure. This book focus around the school where Melanie teaches, and the Dean's admin Harriet Bloom. It's Halloween time again, and everyone is anxiously waiting for Harriet's home made marshmallow puffs. When her neighbor is found dead, after eating one, Melanie is on the case. I love this series, and this book! I love the well developed characters and plot of this story. This book kept my interest, and was fast paced and all round fun . I strongly recommend this book and this whole series, for people who love cozy mystery book and dogs.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Melanie Travis is looking forward to Halloween and the big party Howard Academy holds for the students and their families every year. One of the things everyone looks forward to the most is Harriet's, the school receptionist, secretary and assistant to the headmaster, homemade marshmallow puffs. Harriet id well known for her marshmallow puffs and she shares with everyone, including all of her neighborhood. When a neighbor dies after eating some of the treats, Harriet asks Melanie to help her find out who set her up. With a dose of humor, time with Melanie and Aunt Peg' standard poodles and the dilemma of what costume her young son is wearing, Melanie takes on the task and solves the mystery. Always an enjoyable read, Laurien Berenson's newest book lives up to expectations!
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

Melanie Travis and Faith have a deadly case to solve, before a long-time Howard Academy administrative assistant, Harriet Bloom, is charged with murder by marshmallow puff!

I loved this book! It was a perfect mystery to get into the Fall/Halloween mood! a favorite part is when Melanie questions all the neighbors who received the puffs from Harriet and what an entertaining group of suspects....they were such fun! Faith was featured more in the book and I loved it. I also enjoyed the descriptions of family life with Sam, the kids and Aunt Peg. Aunt Peg has a heartwarming moment that I loved and you will.too!

A Halloween mystery you'll love! I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Howloween Murder is the twenty-sixth book in Laurien Berenson’s Melanie Travis Mystery series. Each book in this series can be read as a standalone because the author provides sufficient background information, which makes the character’s relationships easy to understand. The storyline is well plotted and flows at a steady pace. Other than some mild adult language, this is a clean, fun, and quick read.

Melanie Travis and her husband, Sam, live in Stamford, Connecticut with their two sons, Davey Kevin, five Standard Poodles, and a mutt they found on the side of the road. Melanie is a special needs tutor at Howard Academy, Sam is a software developer who works from home, and dog shows are a way of life for Melanie and her family. Aunt Peg, who is a seasoned dog shower, is now a well-respected judge at the shows. Harriet Bloom, the headmaster’s secretary, becomes Detective Raymond Young’s prime suspect in the poisoning death of her elderly neighbor, Ralph Penders, when it’s determined that he’d been eating her popular marshmallow puffs which had been laced with cyanide. Both Harriet and Aunt Peg ask Melanie to look into Ralph’s death and clear Harriet’s name. As Melanie asks questions, she discovers that while most people liked the victim, some of the actions, which were related to his dementia, troubled a few of his neighborhoods.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This is definitely a great book. It doesnt hurt that it is a halloween mystery cozy. They are my favorite. I was a bit surprised by the murder weapon which is a poisoned marshmallow. It made it lighthearted and fun. It really was an adoreable cozy. I read it in one afternoon. I am definitely a fan.

Melanie Travis is having a strange day at work. First she helps a fellow teacher at the Howard Academy in Connecticut see that there really isn’t a ghost in the school’s attic. Then she finds herself comforting the usually unflappable school secretary, Harriet Bloom. Harriet is a suspect in her neighbor Ralph’s murder who died after eating poisoned Halloween marshmallow treats that Harriet baked for him. Both Harriet and Howard Academy’s headmaster convince Melanie to investigate to clear Harriet’s name and save the school’s reputation.

Howloween Murder is the twenty-sixth book in this dog-centered series. This installment would definitely stand alone for new readers wanting to give the series a try. Most of the books in the series take place at least partially at a dog show. There are no dog shows in this book, but there are some touching scenes with one of Melanie’s poodles, Faith, and a shy student of Melanie’s.outspoken Aunt Peg has limited involvement in this book and is on her best behavior when she is. There are a few scenes with Melanie at home, but not as many as usual.

Although facts about poodles are worked into the story, the focus of the book is the investigation into the murder of Ralph Penders. Melanie does a great job uncovering details that the police department can’t. I wasn’t surprised when it was revealed who was behind Ralph’s death since I had figured it out before Melanie. However, I like both the human and the canine characters in this series, so I enjoyed the book. The school’s big Halloween party is fun and will get you in the mood for Fall. There is even a recipe for the infamous chocolate marshmallow treats at the end of the book. Although this isn’t the best in the series, returning fans will enjoy the story. The book is also a good introduction to the series for new readers, especially dog lovers, who will want to go back and read prior books in this well-written series.

~ Christine