This is another fun installment of the Lucy Stone Mysteries series (number twenty-nine, to be exact!). I love the Lucy Stone mysteries, and although I have not read every one, when I read these stories it's like I'm reconnecting with an old friend. I've read some of the earlier books in the series where her children are school aged with an infant on her hip, to her current empty nester situation. I can definitely relate to that stage in life now, and just like Lucy feels, it seems like only yesterday I had a little one running around. In Lucy's case, her oldest daughter Elizabeth is getting married - in France!

Lucy convinces her other three children to come to France for the wedding and family time. While there, Lucy has concerns about Elizabeth's upcoming nuptials and the influence her mother-in-law to be already seems to have over Elizabeth. Then, a body is discovered on the property and Lucy's investigative instinct kicks in.

This story was a good one and I enjoyed reading about the further adventures of Lucy and her family. I did feel that the outcome was fairly predictable, however it was a good addition to the series.

I love this series, but I am increasingly annoyed with the way Lucy's family treats her. They are so disrespectful. I also prefer when the plot takes place in Tinker's Cover because I love the supporting characters in the town. I liked the plot of this book and was glad to be along with Lucy as she solved the mystery.

I have read almost every Leslie Meier book and it was so nice to be at Lucy Stone's daughter's wedding. There were so many twists to this book! I enjoyed it and could not wait to see how it continued. I also liked the aspect of being in Europe, and I could feel the struggles that the family had when they were stuck there! I can't wait to see the next book!

Mother of the Bride Murder

By: Leslie Meier

Publish Date 25 April 2023

Publisher: Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies

Mystery and Thrillers

#MotheroftheBrideMurder#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Kensington for allowing me to read and review this book.

Good Reads Sysnopsis:

As part-time Tinker’s Cove, Maine reporter Lucy Stone says “ oui” to her daughter’s surprise wedding invitation in France, she must also make a different kind of vow—to catch a killer!

When Lucy Stone arrives at a sprawling French chateau with the whole family, it should be the trip of a lifetime—especially because she’s about to watch her oldest daughter, Elizabeth, marry the handsome, successful man of her dreams. But while navigating the vast countryside estate owned by her impenetrably wealthy in-laws-to-be, the jet-lagged mother of the bride has a creeping feeling that Elizabeth’s fairytale nuptials to Jean-Luc Schoen-Rene are destined to become a nightmare . . .

Maternal instincts are validated the moment a body is pulled from a centuries-old moat on the property. A young woman has dropped dead under mysterious circumstances—possibly at the hands of someone at the chateau—and unflattering rumors about the Schoen-Rene line and their inner circle flow like champagne. Then there’s the matter of Elizabeth’s hunky ex beau showing up on the scene as she prepares to walk down the aisle . . .

With tensions building, personalities clashing, and real dangers emerging at the chateau, Lucy is determined to protect her family, together for the first time in years, and expose the one responsible. She’ll have to locate the culprit among a list of worldly jilted lovers and potential criminal masterminds, or Elizabeth’s trip down the aisle could end in tragedy . . .

Book Review:

This is only the second book of her’s that I have read. I gave it 4 stars. This is the 29th book in her Lucy Stone series. I didn’t feel lost or that I missed anything by not reading the other books in the series. I felt like the book was a standalone and really had a great time reading it. Lucy’s daughter, Elizabeth is getting married in France. She wants everyone to go and have a family reunion as they enjoy the wedding. Elizabeth has made arrangement for them, so they don’t have to worry about it. Bill wasn’t sure they could afford to go and then he has a winning lottery ticket, and they are able to help the family members who need it to get to France. Once there they go sightseeing and finally get to meet the groom. They aren’t too impressed with the groom. It seems that Elizabeth is more into the chateau then into the groom. Also, the mother-in-law to be is a little over baring. She wants to run the wedding they she wants it and won’t allow anyone to help or change things. One day as Lucy’s son and grandson go fishing, they find a dead body. This changes everything for them because now they can’t leave after the wedding, which is still going on even though a dead body has been found in the moot. At the wedding the groom is shot, which delays the wedding for a few days or maybe forever.

What I like about this book is the family togetherness. I love how Lucy wanted her whole family there for a special event and made it happened. I love how she questioned Elizabeth even though it could have been destroyed a relationship between mother and daughter. I am glad that Elizabeth finally vented how she felt in the family. Lucy was shocked that Elizabeth felt that way and had no idea and she did not belittle Elizabeth for the way she felt instead she apologized. There were some twist and turns in the story and I really enjoyed it.

Lucy Stone’s oldest daughter Elizabeth calls to tell her mother she is engaged to be married. The most exciting part is the wedding will take place in France at her new in-laws home, a fancy chateau that she will be helping to manage. Elizabeth wants the whole family to attend. After much ado they all make it to the chateau and plan to spend some time enjoying the area before the wedding festivities. Lucy’s son and grandson decide to go fishing on the moat and end up catching the body of a young woman. The local authorities dismiss it as a suicide but Lucy feels there is something amiss. With rumors surrounding the in-laws and the chateau she investigates before danger befalls one of her own family members.

I liked that the mystery was set at a wedding. It gave the book a festive and celebratory feel.

Mother of the Bride Murder is the perfect book to take with you on your next vacation. It's a light and breezy mystery that will keep you entertained without being too challenging. The characters are charming, the setting is idyllic, and the mystery is engaging.

I'm a huge fan of Leslie's Lucy Stone mysteries and this is book 29! She never fails to deliver a rousing plot and a cast of delightful characters. This release isn't set in Tinker's Cove Maine, but we travel along with Lucy to a French chateau where her daughter, Elizabeth is going to marry Jean-Luc. The chateau is gorgeous and imposing but Lucy has an uncomfortable feeling that something is amiss. And it is! A murder occurs and Lucy goes right into detective mode to solve the crime. Another wonderful release in this long running series.

This is such a fun series and I enjoyed traveling to France with Lucy for her daughters wedding. . Of course there was a murder, plenty of suspects, and twists and turns. i loved it!
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lucy Stone was os ecited to take her family on a vsacation to her daughters wedding in France. She wasnt expecging al lthe trouble they wiuld run into. I enjoyed the story, and understood the trafficiing in this story, however I was hoping to get a cozy mystery I feel taking the story out if the country were Lucy can;t investigate as well as she could in her home town Made it harder to read, Plese bring our Lucy back to where the investigation is the main part of the story.

I’ve always been a fan of Leslie Meier's books and this was no exception. It was fun to see Lizzie and her wedding plans and the entire family’s trip to France and the Chateau. I did find that the characters, especially Lucy, seemed a bit snippier than usual, but that’s probably a reflection of the high stress of a daughter’s wedding and a murder. The change of scene was nice (it’s been getting dangerous in Tinker’s Cove!) and it was nice to see the whole family together again. Her writing is still top notch and it was a compelling story. I can see the series continuing without getting stale because Lucy is always doing new things and the family’s lives are always changing. It wasn’t my very favorite, but I really liked it.

I really enjoyed this book in the Lucy Stone series. There was enough intrigue in the story to make me want to keep reading. I liked the way the mystery played out and how they discovered who the murderer turned out to be. I've been reading this series for a long time and will definitely continue to do so.

Lucy's daughter Elizabeth is getting married in France and Lucy wants to the whole family to attend. Unfortunately, her husband says a mistake was made with their taxes and he owes back taxes. Toby and his family are trying to live sustainably off the land in Alaska and there's not a lot of extra money for a trip. But when Lucy finds a lottery ticket in her husband's truck she goes from grousing at her husband for gambling to praising him because the ticket own $30,000. Surely this is a sign that everything is going to be perfect for the wedding.

I've only read one book in the Lucy Stone series, plus a short story that was in a collection with a Joanne Fluke story. As this book takes place in France, I don't think it is necessary to have read previous books in the series as it is mostly Lucy's family and everyone is a stranger to them as well.

I like that Lucy is an older woman with a family. That is rare among the cozy mysteries I read.

I'm not sure if it is just this book, but I didn't think Lucy was so much a sleuth. She asked a few questions, but I felt the mystery just solved itself. Yes, Lucy was involved but more in a meddling way and not because she realized that it was directly connected to the mystery.

For the most part, I like Lucy though I think she could use a bit more self-confidence.

If you are a fan of the Lucy Stone series, then you will be happy with this book. The focus is largely on Lucy's family. There is a dead body, but the mystery is bigger than finding who killed the girl.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Sunday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/07/mother-of-bride-murder-by-leslie-meier.html

The perfect May cozy. Leslie Meier has written another murder mystery that is a delight. Highly recommend.

I always love visiting with Lucy and her family even when they go on the road to France. Although I can't believe that Lucy wouldn't be more involved with Elizabeth's wedding, I really enjoyed the book. The mystery was well-constructed even though I wasn't so sure that I liked the groom's family. The descriptions of the countryside and the villa had me visiting France with them. And now, I'm just waiting for the next one.

Part-time amateur sleuth, Lucy Stone, is back in another battle of wits with the French police. This time, a wedding in the Loire Valley turns into less of a celebration as bodies pile up throughout the weekend. Lucy will find that even when she is thousands of miles away, the danger is closer than she thinks.

This is the most recent in the series and my favorite so far. The plot was wonderfully crafted, and the characters are distinct and well-developed. While this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone or out of order. This book has something for everyone! Fans of cozy mysteries will appreciate the solution to the murder, the well-rounded characters, and will enjoy watching the Stone family work through relationship issues.

I am happy to recommend this book along with the entire series.

"Mother of the Bride Murder" was another great addition to the Lucy Stone family. A solid cozy mystery series for fans of the genre.

I enjoyed seeing all the Stones together. It is a happy reunion and Lucy is tickled pink. With regard to the wedding, I was surprised that Lucy was not consulted (she is the mother of the bride). The groom’s mother was like a steam roller. It was her way, and she would flatten anyone in her path. The mystery is rather disappointing, since it does not happen until you are halfway through the book. The case is concluded early. The author devoted more time to sex trafficking and climate change than to the whodunit. I have noticed in the last few A Lucy Stone Mysteries that the author addresses serious issues in each book. I found It over-the-top at times (like it is being shoved down your throat). I liked the earlier books in this series, and I wish the author would go back to that style. The extra characters in the story, including Elizabeth’s fiancé, were one dimensional. The author did not take the time to flesh them out a little. While I enjoyed catching up with the Stone children, I did not like how the author has changed Toby. He got on his soap box a few times about climate change. Young Patrick brags about shooting a gun and killing game. I did not enjoy the dysfunctional groom’s family and the rampant discontent. I thought the Stone family would want to explore France and check out the sites (a once in a lifetime opportunity visiting France). Zoe and Sara preferred to lounge by the pool and check out the pool boys. Mother of the Bride Murder was lackluster and one of my least favorite books in this series.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Lucy and Bill’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth, is getting married at the French chateau owned by the family of the groom. Everything seems to be fairytale perfect until the entire family arrives at the chateau and discover potential flaws. Things really get dicey when the body of an unknown woman is fished out of the moat and then there is a rude and deadly interruption as the bride is walking down the aisle.

Trapped in France with their passports withheld, Lucy tries to help out. Unfortunately, she neither checks with the family nor tells them what she is doing and she single-handedly makes a very bad situation much, much worse. She knows some of the background to the problems her future in-laws are experiencing but with no idea of customs or facts, she stumbles and fumbles and is very soon regretting her interference. Her hubris has tragic consequences.

Thankfully, things do work out and the family can return home. But the story is not one of my favourites. Partly because of Lucy’s lack of consideration for the differences in culture and partly because there were a couple of “soapboxes” that were treated with a heavy hand.

Four purrs but only one paw up.

Lucy Stone gets involved in The Mother of the Bride Murder. as she is in France invited to the wedding of her daughter to a wealthy Frenchman. A body is pulled from the moat and one of her daughter's former flames turns up. What else can go wrong? Read and find out in Leslie Meier latest cozy.

Mother of the Bride Murder by Leslie Meier is the 29th Lucy Stone mystery.

I have only read four other Lucy Stone mysteries but I do enjoy Leslie Meier’s conversational writing style which makes her stories a pleasure to read. Lucy has gone from working as a customer service rep many years ago while taking care of her four children to a reporter at the Pennysaver. She has solved many mysteries.

Set in the coastal Maine town of Tinker's Cove, the story moved along at a steady pace. Exes, lies and danger all feature making Mother of the Bride Murder very compelling and I highly recommend reading this engrossing cosy mystery with the discerning and intrepid Lucy Stone.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.