I was so excited to see Leslie Meier had a new Lucy Stone Mystery out, Irish Parade Murder! I was reading another cozy mystery one of many in the series and was struggling to get into it. At first I though I might be off of the genre or just burned out books after quite the reading streak, but when I picked up Irish Parade Murder and read half in the first sitting I knew that this was a good one and I wasn't off cozies. Lucy Stone is back to her daily life as reporter, mom and wife in her coastal Maine town Tinker's Cove. I love seeing the evolution of Lucy and her family and friends. Without giving away too much of the plot, this book dives into police corruption, the opioid epidemic and pay to play politics. I always wanted to read another chapter to see where the story would go. Perfect read for anytime of year.

Love this series and 1 of my favorite authors. It's March and there will be a st Patrick's parade. When a murder happens. Lucy sets out to investigate. If you have never read her books. I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of Irish Parade Murder through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Irish Parade Murder is the 27th installment in the Lucy Stone series and focuses on the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the corruption surrounding it and a murder. This is one of a few in the Lucy Stone series I have read and it was as enjoyable as all the others. The characters are well written, the storylines are intriguing as they intertwine together to form a sound mystery and the small town setting draws you in.

I enjoyed this mystery and plan on going back and starting and this series from the start very soon. If you are looking for some St. Patrick’s day fun with a mystery thrown in, this book is for you.

Lucy Stone is astonished that her boss has purchased the nearby Gilead Gabber newspaper and is incorporating both it and the Pennysaver into a new joint paper called The Courier. He's hired a new big city reporter named Rob Callahan to develop the on-line edition and write up some of the big stories. Rob is investigating the Gilead sheriff for corruption. Meanwhile Lucy is interviewing the three candidates for the upcoming St. Patrick's day parade. Bill's father has died and his mother Edna comes to visit. She's received a letter from a strange woman who claims to be her husband's illegitimate child, and Edna enjoys her company. Bill and Lucy think she's a scammer.

This story picked up at the end, with an exciting finish. I wish that corruption and prejudice could be solved as easily as it is in these stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel.

I have been a huge fan of Leslie Meier's for a very long time. Her Lucy Stone novels never fail to entertain and I am always ecstatic to get my hands on the newest one. And this one was no different. Lucy Stone is as always a go getter, always there for her family and friends, and one heck of a good reporter.

Now, in this one, Irish Parade Murder, I definitely did not care for the newest character brought on: Rob Callahan. I thought he was a snot nosed little punk who was too big for his britches. But, I conceded to the fact that he obviously was written in that way on purpose so we can hate him and root for Lucy. However, (slight spoiler alert!) when he gets arrested for the murder of Gavin McGourt, I didn't care enough about him to want Lucy to get him out of jail. I realize that probably sounds callous but true. There has to be some kind of redeeming something about the character to make me care about them.

That being said, I do think the mystery part of this book was a little off because from the beginning you could kind of tell where it was going so when you reach the conclusion there's no surprise when you find out who it actually is. And on the side mystery, I wish there would have been a more fulfilling conclusion to that as well. I hope she clears that up in the next book.

Now, there is one thing that I have to ding this book for and hence the reason it gets a 4 star rating from me instead of a normal 5 is this: there are politics and some of our new "social norms" brought into this. Normally, I have no problem with that except for the fact that day in and day out we are constantly being bombarded by all of this in the media and our every day lives. I understand some of this has to be brought up due to the fact that she is a reporter so some of it I let slide. However, when I read a book, especially a cozy mystery, I just want to escape into it and leave my problems behind. This one did not do that for me. It left me feeling aggravated and stressed at the fact that I have to deal with this in my reading now to. I felt like I was being pounded over and over again by the politicians being corrupt. And that if we don't do anything then we're allowing it. Ugh. Please make it stop already. Politicians are gonna be corrupt. They're politicians. We know this. That's why we vote and try to make the best choice possible. Now, I had to get all of that out of the way so I can talk about what I love about this book.

I love love love love Lucy Stone. I meant it when I said I always look forward to reading Lucy Stone books and I meant it. Leslie Meier does such a good job detailing her and the whole Stone family. It really makes you wish that you were apart of it. And she is the reason that I have started to honestly love books about Maine. Maine sounds absolutely gorgeous with the way she describes it in her writing. And it makes me want to live there sometimes. I love small towns and I love how they have the ability to come together and act like just one giant neighborhood. And that is what I get from Lucy Stone. The feeling of togetherness. We all just want to be apart of the group. From her family to her friends and her co workers, these are always books I am going to want to read. And if you love mysteries that involve good friends and good people then you will love these to.

I was given this arc for free from netgalley for my own honest opinions.

Another solid installment in the Lucy Stone mysteries. This one actually starts a bit before St Patrick’s Day, but does finish there. Lucy is tackling a lot of issues along with the murder. Intolerance, corruption, and possibly an inheritance scam. I liked that so much was going on in this book, it was not possible to get bored! Compared to earlier in the series, there is way more action and less Lucy feeling bad for herself and how much she has to do.

I think I am enjoying the series a lot more than I used to. I hope Lucy continues down this path.

Another enjoyable mystery solved! . I love seeing the family dynamics as the family gets older and expands.

I can’t believe this is the 27th book in this great series that I’ve followed from the beginning.
Lucy Stone, a reporter with a small local paper in Tinker’s Cove Maine suddenly has some competition at work in the form of a young and ambitious new reporter. On top of that, a woman claiming to be the illegitimate daughter of Lucy’s recently deceased father in law may or may not be a con woman looking to ingratiate herself with Lucy’s mother in law. Finally, a murder and an overly zealous sheriff all conspire to keep Lucy, her family and her coworkers guessing as to what will happen in their community and private lives.
I enjoy Lucy in that she isn’t the perfect heroine, she gets annoyed, jealous, petty, and feels guilty about all of it, she can’t stand to see injustice and wants to shine a light on it, and she’s a busy mom and wife torn in many directions. Lucy’s husband and two of her daughters play a bit more of a part in this book than some of the others, the family interactions are well written and believable. This book addresses current matters such as Black Lives Matter, police brutality, and the Me Too movement in a way that doesn’t seem forced at all, I was pleasantly surprised to see the author’s take on them in what may be considered a ‘cozy’ mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance readers copy in exchange for my unbiased review. I’ll be looking forward to book 28.

Lucy Stone solves another mystery while running a busy household, working as a reporter and maintaining long time friendships. An enjoyable addition to the series.

I’ve read all the books in this series, and I think this latest one is the best yet. All the main characters are very likable and after all this time they feel like friends. Lucy is a part time newspaper reporter for her small town paper, and finds herself in jeopardy often while trying to solve a mystery. It’s fun to see how she gets herself out of predicaments and moves forward. There were lots of twists in this storyline. Complete with an Irish parade and a festival, this is a not to be missed cozy mystery. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books. All opinions expressed are my own.

Whilst this is a long standing series, this is the first one I have read and it was most enjoyable. There are a number of storylines, some personal and then the murder mystery! The characters have depth and are quite relatable. The dynamics of the relationships rang true for the most part. I didn't find it much of a mystery but did find the small town dynamics and power struggles intriguing. The resolution felt rushed, just a little too sudden for me and I found I reread that aspect a couple of times. It just felt like a bit of a leap. However, I feel sure the long term fans of Lucy will enjoy this latest episode in her story.

My thanks to #Netgalley, Kensington Books and the author for my advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Irish Parade Murder is a welcome and very entertaining addition to Leslie Meier’s long running Lucy Stone mystery series. It is difficult for a series to remain fresh when it has well over 20 entries, but this book manages to breathe fresh air into the series. One thing that I continue to appreciate about this series is that time passes, characters age, and the normal changes that occur throughout one’s life, including the death of a parent, all happen in this series. In this entry, Lucy is more full time than part time reporter and is doing a great job, though drawing the attention of the local, power hungry sheriff in the process. Sheriff Murphy seemingly controls every facet under the county’s control and does not appreciate anything or anyone that he feels questions his authority. One complaint I have about the book is that I felt the sheriff’s character was just too much over-the-top, almost cartoonishly overbearing. 
Lucy, like many women juggling a career and home, is always pushed for time and doing the best she can to balance the two. As in previous books, Leslie Meier addresses current events and issues through the eyes of the book’s characters. Depending upon a reader’s own views, this is either a big positive or a detriment. I did feel that the book’s resolution was a bit rushed, both the main plot and the subplot. That said, I enjoyed reading the book very much and found it difficult to put down. Four 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.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Kensington Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Lucy Stone is back again to solve another case. Nothing says St. Patrick festivities like a parade and murder. Even the luck of the Irish could not save the victim.

When a new hire at the newspaper declines to report on the parade, she finds herself with the assignment. Things get strange when he is then charged with the death of a correction officer. Did he really do it or was it someone else? It will up to Lucy to straighten things out.

It’s a fun Irish themed story line in the series.

This was a lovely, relaxing read, but not so relaxing that it was boring. It's an interesting mystery and definitely not one that I solved early on forcing me to read the rest of the book just to make sure I was correct.

Irish Parade Murder by Leslie Meier was a fun read. Lucy's father in law has died in Florida, where he had moved to. A huge service takes place and Lucy's mother in law is in total denial. Bill, Lucy's husband, receives a letter from a woman who says she is Bill's half sister. While all that's happening, changes affect Lucy's work life at the newspaper she's employed by. Rob, a city reporter, is hired. He thinks he's top dog and keeps changing Lucy's articles. Between the drama with Bill's potential half sister and Rob, Lucy has a lot going on. What will happen next?

Irish Parade Murder by Leslie Meier is the newest (27th) book in the amazing Lucy Stone mystery series. I have to admit that I have read every single book Ms. Meier has written and I am always anticipating the newest addition to my favorite series. I have truly enjoyed these cozy murder mysteries since their inception, and after all of these years, I am still in love with this cast of characters. Tinker’s Cove, Maine feels like a second home to me, and the town’s inhabitants feel part of my own hometown. I am particularly fond of the Stone family and after reading all of Ms. Meier’s novels and novellas, I feel as if I am a part of their family as well.

I identify with Lucy. She is my favorite heroine and female sleuth. She is a great mom, strong, intelligent, fiery when needed, imperfect, a loyal friend, and a great partner to Bill, her husband. I love reading all that she gets into (sometimes through no fault of her own). I just love her!

This book is a great addition to this series and is Lucy at her best. The murder/mystery plot is spot on. There were plenty of twists tossed in, plenty of potential culprits, and suspense abound. I loved the fact that the story included a St. Patrick’s Day theme. It was cute, creative, held my interest, and stayed true to the continued development of the characters. I love that Bill, Sarah, and Zoe got more screen time. They have really grown into their own. The banter, wit, and one-liners were excellent and had me laughing out loud many times. I cannot recommend this book, and this series enough. It is beyond my favorite in existence and I cannot wait for the next visit with Lucy and Tinker’s Cove.

Perfect in every way. 5/5 stars

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

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

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, in return for an honest review. While the 28th or so book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Leslie Meier returns us to Tinker Cove, Maine, with a new mystery for Lucy Stone, the series protagonist and main reporter for the weekly Pennysaver newspaper. The book begins with the death of Lucy’s father-in-law, Bill Sr. in Florida. Upon her return, things aren’t the same at the office. Ted, the owner, is having meetings with a bunch of out-of-towners and things look bleak for the paper. Then, in a surprise turn, Ted announces he’s bought the paper in the next county and will be expanding coverage, including that of the local seat of government and sheriff’s department. Bringing in a big city reporter, Rob, is part of the grant that Ted received to support local journalism and minimize the growing local news deserts in America. When things start looking unsavory at the sheriff’s office and one of the corrections officers dies in a traffic accident, the heat turns up on Lucy, Ted and Rob as they work to uncover the truth about corruption, intimidation and murder. On a personal front, Lucy’s mother-in-law has a woman suddenly claiming to be Bill Sr’s daughter from an extra-marital affair, as evidenced by a GNA test. Is she out for money or something more sinister?
This is one of the first cozies that tackles negative policing, the BLM movement, freedom of the press, DNA outcomes, and other current topics. It’s all handled sensitively and within the context of the story. This is another solid addition to this series and one I recommend.

More family and work drama than murder but Lucy Stone is always a welcome cozy.

Tinker's Cove & county seat Gilead are now part of Lucy's beat as an investigative reporter when her boss Ted buys "The Gabber". Ted also hired former Cleveland reporter Rob Callahan to help upgrade the papers to online daily news making Lucy nervous about keeping her job.

The Stone Family are rocked by Bill Sr.'s sudden passing in Florida. Bringing his widow Edna to Maine means trying to find time for her in their big busy family. Add the sudden appearance of a 'half sister' has the family questioning everything..

Corruption, deceit and prejudices all mix to the lead up to the St Patrick's Day parade and festival that wraps up this cozy mystery.

Lucy Stone returns to work after her father in law’s funeral in Florida and something is up with her boss, Ted. Suspecting he is selling the paper leaves her a bit nervous, but he announces an expansion and brings in a hotshot reporter, Rob Callahan, to help them up their game. When Rob is arrested for murder after digging into the county sheriff, Lucy suspects Rob was onto something and digs deeper. Hoping to uncover a blockbuster, Lucy finds she might just be silenced forever.

This is one of the first cozies I have seen to take on some of the current topics of today with dirty police, BLM and Gay discrimination. Well done and timely. I enjoy spending a couple hundred pages in Tinker Cove whenever I can and can relate to the characters in the books.

My absolute favorite Leslie Meier to date!

When Lucy’s father in law passes , the family gathers in Florida to say goodbye. Grandma Edna is now by herself with just Bill as her only son. A strange letter pops up from a woman claiming to be an estranged daughter- Katie Klein. Bill doesn’t trust it although Edna feels a pull toward this kind woman.

Meanwhile, St Pattys Day is coming and Tinkers Cove is excited for the big parade in Gilead. The small newspaper has now bought the county newspaper and has gone online as well...life is good.

Lucy begins digging into the parade for a story and finds the sheriff is a bit corrupt, a murder of a local prison warden occurs and a fellow journalist gets the blame .
Lucy is on the case and finds herself caught in the middle before she knows it.