In "Halloween Cupcake Murder", Carlene O’Connor, Liz Ireland, and Carol J. Perry whip up a trio of cozy mysteries where sugar, spice, and homicide are all in the mix. First, Carlene O’Connor’s Galway-set mystery has salvage shop owner Tara Meehan prepping for the town’s Halloween Mystery Tour when she stumbles upon a cryptic cupcake and a shopkeeper who soon turns up dead. The Irish folklore elements add a fun layer to the case, but if you’re not brushed up on your ancient Gaelic traditions, some moments might feel like you accidentally wandered into a history seminar. Still, the atmospheric setting and Tara’s charm keep the mystery engaging.

Liz Ireland’s "Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper" shifts gears to Santaland in the North Pole, where Halloween is causing a stir among Santa’s workforce. When a rivalry among the elves turns deadly during a carnival, Mrs. Claus steps in to solve the case before the holiday spirit takes a nosedive. Ireland delivers a festive mystery with a comedic bite—think of it as "The Santa Clause" meets "Knives Out", but with significantly more elf drama. Rounding out the collection, Carol J. Perry’s "A Triple Layer Halloween Murder" takes us to Salem, where reporter Lee Barrett investigates a missing bakery owner while navigating the town’s month-long Halloween festivities. With a missing-person case, a suspiciously fluffy cat named Cupcake, and plenty of Salem’s signature witchy vibes, Perry’s entry is a fun, slightly twisty closer, though at times it juggles one too many plot points.

While each novella is tied to an ongoing series, you don’t need a deep dive into backstory to enjoy them. The cupcake motif ties the collection together with a sugary bow, though fair warning: if you don’t have baked goods nearby, you’ll probably regret it. Some stories could use a bit more bite in their finales, but overall, this is a fun, festive batch of Halloween-themed whodunits. A solid three and a half stars out of five, best enjoyed with a mug of something warm and a delicious dessert.

This is a fun collection of Halloween novellas. I’ve only read the Irish Village and Witch City Mysteries, so the third story was just okay for me.
HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR:Tara Meehan is scouring the town’s curiosity shops for spooky decorations to draw tourists into her architectural salvage store. She finds some items in an antique shop, but shortly after, the owner is dead with a cupcake in his mouth. Then someone shows up in her shop with a cryptic message and another cupcake. Who killed the shopkeeper and what does the message mean?
MRS. CLAUS AND THE CANDY CORN CAPER by LIZ IRELAND: Christmastown is planning a carnival and candy corn themed back-off to celebrate Halloween. This causes a rivalry, as well as someone ending up dead from tainted candy. With thefts, arguing and employees sneaking around, will Mrs. Clause be able to find the killer before someone else ends up dead?
A TRIPLE LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER by CAROL J. PERRY: Set in Salem, October is a month-long celebration of Halloween. WICH-TV’s Lee Barrett loves this time of year and can’t wait to cover the festivities. When a wealthy bakery owner disappears and his cat, Cupcake is found under mysterious circumstances, Lee needs to either find him, or figure out what happened to him.


I enjoyed the Halloween Cupcake Murder the best of the bunch. It had a real Halloween feel to it with a spooky mystery for Tara to solve. It kept me guessing, and although a novella, it was fully fleshed out. The Santaland story was just okay for me, but that is because it is not a series I read. I know from other reviews that it was enjoyable for those who follow this series. It was an interesting mystery and the characters were intriguing as well. Mrs. Claus can’t help herself but asking questions to solve both a theft a murder when the local police are more interested in the upcoming candy corn baking contest than finding a murderer. Carol J Perry's story was a great addition to the series. Lee, an investigative reporter, is a scryer or gazer, which means she sees visions in shiny objects, mirrors, silver, glass etc. This enables her to see things that are clues to the mystery. She interviews, asks questions and puts together the clues to solve this mystery in a satisfactory way. If you want a taste of these author's work and their series, you can easily pick this up and check them out, afterall, Halloween is right around the corner.

HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR
With Galway’s Halloween Mystery Tour only a few days away, Tara Meehan is scouring the town’s curiosity shops for spooky decorations. But when a stranger appears in her salvage shop bearing a cryptic cupcake and an ominous message, Tara suddenly finds herself tangled in a mystery with ancient Gaelic roots.
MRS. CLAUS AND THE CANDY CORN CAPER by LIZ IRELAND
Christmastown is pulling out all the stops for their Halloween celebration, but the sweet theme stokes the bitterest of rivalries amongst the elves, until tragedy strikes at Santaland’s newest bakery. It’s up to Mrs. Claus to to unmask a Halloween fiend.
A TRIPLE LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER by CAROL J. PERRY
WICH-TV’s Lee Barrett can’t wait to cover Salem’s month-long Halloween festivities. But rumors swirl after a wealthy bakery owner goes missing. Now, amid Salem’s wicked revelry, Lee must conjure clues to reveal the missing millionaire, or the truth about his disappearance.

These stories were fun reads full of the Halloween spirit. I loved the main characters and the plotlines which were confounding yet short. I wish there was more to each story. I will definitely read each author again. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

This is another installment in the cozy collaboration between popular mystery authors O'Connor, Ireland and Perry.
They were all very creative with their stories.
Fans of baking cozies will enjoy this book.

This was such a fun cozy Halloween read that kept me engaged. Great writing styles from all the authors involved.

Much like a candy corn, these stories are short, sweet, and multilayered. Each story has incorporated a cupcake as a main part of the story. These are quick reads or novellas, which whet your appetite for the series that they are taken from. All three stories are stand-alone but you will want to read the other offerings in the various

Halloween Cupcake Murder
Carlene O’Connor
Did you know that Halloween or rather its roots were founded in Ireland? Samhain the ancient Druidic observance plays a big part in this mystery. There is also a mysterious Cave of the Cat painting, and a possible coven. What lead to the murder and what does a free cupcake with a key in the center have to do with it. Was it because the antiques store owner was a wheeler-dealer, a card shark, or a crazy old codger? Expat Tara Mehan is left with the entire estate and she had only met the man the same day he died. If that doesn’t shout “investigate this mystery,” I am not sure what would.

Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper
Liz Ireland
Santa Land and candy corn craziness mixed with cupcakes, but what else would you expect Mrs. Claus to be dealing with. With each new holiday introduction, there seems to be murder and a little bit of Christmas Town chaos. April Claus will need determine if the death was caused by a woman scorned, a baking betrayal or someone out for candy corn.

A Triple Layer Halloween Murder
Carol J. Perry
An astronaut, a missing baker, and a ginger cat with marmalade feet are the clues that Lee Barrett and husband/detective Pete Mondello have to work with to determine what happened to the local baker and why. Was it due to gambling debts or was there something else going on with his mysterious disappearance that ended in murder.

Halloween Cupcake Murder is a great book of short cozy mysteries. I only read the stories by Liz Ireland and Carol J. Perry as I don't read the series by Carlene O'Connor. The two stories I did read were very cleverly written and kept me stumped until the killer was revealed. My only complaint is I do feel like the ending of Carol J. Perry's story was a bit rushed to get all of the information in about what happened with the killer. Other than that, both stories were great additions to their respective series. Highly recommend.

These are a great group of authors and stories. This was a fun Halloween cozy mystery anthology. I would highly recommend.

A perfect Halloween or anytime mystery! I'm a fan of Carol J. Perry but hadn't read any of Carlene Carter or Liz Ireland's books. Now they're on my "to be read" list!

The opinions expressed in this review are my own and I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O’Connor, Liz Ireland, and Carol J. Perry contains three Halloween novellas. Cupcakes are the common thread between the stories (the thread may be looser in some than in others). Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O’Connor is book 2.5 in A Home to Ireland Mysteries. I was able to read it as a standalone. I did not find the story engaging. I thought the story was slow in places which made the story feel long (I was beginning to think it would never end). Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper by Liz Ireland is book 3.5 in the Mrs. Claus Mysteries. I ended up skimming through this short story which seemed geared towards a younger audience. The final book is A Triple Layer Halloween Murder by Carol J. Perry. It is A Witchy City Mystery novella. It can be read as a standalone since the necessary background information is provided. I like the author’s writing style which makes the story easy to read. I enjoyed the Halloween atmosphere in Salem. I like the supernatural element and how it is incorporated into the mystery. The whodunit suited the length of the story. I did feel that the ending was rushed. I felt that Halloween Cupcake Murder was like receiving raisins when trick or treating instead of a candy bar.

This is a fun collection of Halloween-themed short stories from authors I was unfamiliar with at the time. I will check out their series.

Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O'Connor. The cover looked very enticing that is why I picked it to read. I don't usually read shot stories. They were all in all good reads. They kept me going with the interesting ideas with the different types of Halloweens parties besides the murders. This is the first book i have read from O'Conner I will look at her other books. Thank You Net galley for the book to read.

From Galway, Ireland to Salem, Massachusetts, all the way up to the North Pole, a trio of Halloween mysteries from authors Carlene O’Connor, Liz Ireland, and Carol J. Perry prove that the spookiest season knows no international borders–and neither do cupcakes! A fun collection of short stories but really are more novellas and just the perfect length. All 3 were entertaining and definitely got me in the Halloween spirit!

Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O’Connor

The Galway Halloween Mystery Tour is a few days away. Tara Meecham is on the hunt for spooky, weird items to either use as décor or to resell in her shop, Renewals, an architectural salvage shop. You might think Halloween is an American tradition but the city of Galway disagrees. It’s lit up orange with all the spooky trimmings. One of the items she finds is a small painting titled Cave of the Cats. When the seller wraps the painting, he also offers a postcard from Galway Bakes Grand Opening—Free Cupcake! She’s told to email the address on the card and in the body of the email, put the number of her postcard—thirteen.

It’s just a chance to get a free cupcake until someone tells her on Halloween that the Cave of the Cats is a portal into the Underworld.

With murder and mayhem, strange people who want the painting, the puzzling cupcake, and mysterious meetings, Tara is getting more than she bargained for this Halloween.

O’Connor writes the Irish Village mysteries (9, reviewed here in KRL), Christmas Cocoa Murder with Maddie Day and Alex Erickson, Christmas Scarf Murder with Maddie Day and Peggy Ehrhart, Home to Ireland books (2), and A Kerry County Mystery (2).

Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper by Liz Ireland

Have you ever wondered what Santa’s helpers do in the off season? One headliner story in the Herald was an elf who found a potato shaped like a walrus in his greenhouse. A robbery is big news. What was stolen? Candy corn, a large shipment of it.

Mrs. Claus is from the States and is introducing new activities for Santaland. Some work out better than others. Rumors ran rampant with talk of shady characters offering candy corn in the protective darkness of alleyways. Shop owners tried to replicate the candy corn but had no concept of the triangular tricolored sweets. Dash, owner of Dash’s Candy and Nut Shoppe, made his candy corn look like tiny ears of corn.

Wink Jollyflake used to work at the Silver Bell Bakery but made a sudden switch to Chestnut’s Cake Emporium, to the shock of everyone. When Wink turns up dead, Chestnut is a suspect along with Bell, owner of the Silver Bell. Mrs. Claus has to find the killer and get the Halloween festivities back on track. After all, her reputation, and Santa’s, rests on its success.

Liz Ireland is the author of four Mrs. Claus mysteries, Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings reviewed here in KRL. For a mystery combined with spooky goings on and a lot of humor, this will have you laughing and reaching for tiny candies.

A Triple Layer Halloween Murder by Carol J. Perry

You can expect chaos in the town of Salem, Massachusetts when Halloween rolls around. Lee Barrett is a program director and sometimes field reporter for WICH-TV, the local cable channel. During October, it can be bumper to bumper traffic with parking at a premium, so she’s glad to live close enough to the station that she can walk to work.

When Patrick Duncan, owner of Pretty Party Bakery, goes missing during this busy season, it sets off alarm bells. Who knew an “on the scene” live feed about a cat in a tree could be a clue to finding the missing man? Aliens and orange goo only add to the mystery

Will Lee, with the assistance of a reporter friend and her beau, police detective Pete, find the missing man in time to save Halloween? The cat knows more than she’s telling.

The recipe for Patrick Duncan’s triple layer Halloween cupcakes is included. Be sure to buy extra orange and chocolate Reese’s Pieces—some for the cupcakes and some to snack on while they bake!

Perry also writes the Haunted Haven mysteries (2) and Witch City series (12).

****
With three stories, about a hundred pages each, readers will find a healthy dose of Halloween spirit. Be sure to check out their full length books for more good reads.

This was a fun collection of short stories.
I loved Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O'Connor and I am glad I read this story, I think I would have been really confused when the next book in the Home to Ireland series is released.

I have only read one other story in the Mrs. Claus series by Liz Ireland and this one was a short story about candy corn, blech, also known as the worst Halloween candy. The elves were very creative when trying to replace the stolen candy corn, I think I would have enjoyed some of their creations.

I like that A Triple Layer Halloween Murder by Carol J. Perry takes place in Salem, it was the perfect backdrop for a Halloween story.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of this collection that I received for free in exchange for my honest review.

The first novella in this collection is part of a series and is named Halloween Cupcake Murder (Irish Village Mystery, #9.5) written by Carlene O'Connor.  Tara Meehan owns an architectural salvage yard and in search of new products for her store.  When she receives a cupcake and a cryptic message from a stranger, Tara becomes entwined with an ancient mystery tied to Samhain.  I found this story to be intriguing but a little hard to follow at times, but all in all, I really enjoyed this novella.  It was suspenseful without being scary, and I loved that their was a secret society involved.  It made me want to re-watch the movie The Skulls.  Four out of five stars.

The second novella is also part of a series and is entitled Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper written by Liz Ireland.  Mrs. Claus has introduced the holiday of Halloween to Christmastown, and the locals are planning a huge celebration that includes a candy corn themed bake off.  When an employee is found dead at the newest bakery in town, Mrs. Claus is determined to save the holiday by find out who would be so awful to kill.  I loved the concept of this novella because I love both Halloween and Christmas, but the story seemed to be targeted more towards tweens and teens instead of adults.  For that reason, I had a hard time connecting with this tale.  However, I am will to read other stories written by this author.  Three out of five stars.

The third novella is called A Triple Layer Halloween Murder written by Carol J. Perry and is part of a series as well.  The town of Salem, Massachusetts is amping up for its month long celebration of Halloween, and Lee Barrett is looking forward to covering all the festivities for the local news station.  However, when a local bakery owner goes missing, and Lee's security system captures the bakery owner catching a ride in front of her house, she knows she has to help solve this mystery.  This story was somewhat predictable, but I absolutely loved the fact it took place in Salem, which is one of my favorite places to visit.  The author did a fantastic job of keeping me engaged in the plot and wanting to know what happened next.  I definitely want to read more books in this series.  Four out of five stars.

If you, like me, love seasonal mysteries filled with fall imagery, Halloween hi-jinks, and festive food-this book is for you!

There are three short, easy-to-read cozy mysteries included in this book. Each story has its own feel. The book also includes a recipe for Triple Layer Halloween Cupcakes which is a selling feature for me.

Halloween Cupcake Murder is a cute story centered around the Samhain Festival in Ireland and the Samhain Six- a secret society that goes back hundreds of years. This book has a spooky, creepy feeling to it while Tara and Danny work together to solve the mystery behind the poisoned cupcakes showing up around town. It was a perfect read for Halloween. I really enjoyed the characters and all the secrets to be solved in the book. It was sometimes confusing and hard to follow, but I enjoyed it nonetheless

Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper is another easy, fun read. The writing is ok and a bit cheesy at times. I'm not sold on Santaland celebrating Halloween and there wasn't much to the story so I skipped through most of it to find out how it ended.

A Triple Layer Halloween Murder was my favorite of the three stories. I'm usually not a fan of paranormal stories, but this one worked well with the Halloween theme. It had great writing, good dialogue, relatable characters, and more depth to the storyline and characters than the other books. I really enjoyed Lee's alter ego of being Nancy Drew. It brought a fun twist to the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

<b>IT'S ME, HI, I'M THE PROBLEM, IT'S ME!!!!!!!</b> Halloween Cupcake Murder is a cozy mystery novella with three short stories written by Carlene O'Connor, Carol J. Perry, and Liz Ireland. It took me way too long to read this novella, I'm not sure what it was, but I just couldn't get into the stories, I often found myself falling asleep every ten seconds. The title truly grabbed my attention along with the cover, I so badly wanted to love this Halloween themed novella, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. I tried to take a few days away from this book, but every time I went back in, it just felt like it wasn't meant for me. I'm so stunned to give this book a one star rating after seeing a few raving reviews. I have read other novellas by these authors before, and I adored them, so it was disappointing this one wasn't working for me. Despite Halloween Cupcake Murder being a part of a series, you <b>CAN READ THIS NOVELLA AS A STANDALONE.</b> Please don't let this review stop you from reading this book, these are just my thoughts and opinions on how I felt while reading this book. Please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book immediately. If anyone does decide to read this, I hope you have much better luck than I did and I look forward to your thoughts.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND KENSINGTON BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

Halloween Cupcake Murder- Carlene O'Connor- Tara Meehan is a proud business owner. With Galway's Halloween Mystery Tour just a few short days away, Tara is on a mission scouring the town's curiosity shops for spooky decorations to draw tourists attention to her shop. When a stranger appears in Tara's shop with a cryptic cupcake and an ominous message, Tara suddenly finds herself tangled in a mystery with ancient Gaelic roots, but with very deadly consequences.

Mrs. Claus and The Candy Corn Caper- Liz Ireland- Christmastown is pulling all their tricks and treats for their Halloween celebration, planning a huge carnival with rides, games, and a candy corn themed bake off, HOW EXCITING! The sweet theme stokes a bit of rivalries amongst the elves until tragedy strikes at Santaland's newest bakery. The only clue to the tragedy? A CUPCAKE!

A Triple Layer Halloween Murder- Carol J. Perry- Every October, Salem Oregon plunges into a month long Halloween celebration. And TV reporter, Lee Barrett can't wait to start covering the Halloween festivities. Rumors start swirling after a wealthy bakery owner goes missing and his beloved cat, Cupcake is found. As a reporter, Lee must find clues to reveal the missing millionaire bakery owner or the truth about his disappearance.

Book Review: Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O'Connor (Author), Liz Ireland (Author), Carol J. Perry (Author) 📚🎃

HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stars

🇮🇪 In Galway, Tara Meehan prepares for the Halloween Mystery Tour. But when a stranger brings a cryptic cupcake and ominous message to her shop, Tara is plunged into a deadly mystery with ancient Gaelic roots.

👻 Review: Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O'Connor is an entertaining Halloween-themed cozy mystery that stands out as my favorite among the three stories in this book. The writing is engaging, the pacing is fast, and the characters are likable. The Halloween theme is all throughout the narrative, creating a spooky atmosphere that perfectly complements the well-crafted plot. The mystery keeps readers guessing until the end. With its likable characters and storyline, Halloween Cupcake Murder is a must-read for mystery enthusiasts craving a delightful and suspenseful Halloween mystery.

MRS. CLAUS AND THE CANDY CORN CAPER by LIZ IRELAND – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stars

✨🎅 Christmastown's Halloween carnival takes a bitter turn when rivalries among the elves escalate. Tragedy strikes at the new bakery, leaving only a cupcake and a puddle of water as a clue. Mrs. Claus takes on the task of unmasking the killer, leading readers on a suspenseful journey.

🎄 Review: Liz Ireland's "Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper'' is a super cute and well-written story that combines the magic of Christmas with a Halloween mystery. Set in Christmastown, this enchanting tale follows Mrs. Claus as she unravels a Halloween murderer's plot that threatens their celebrations. Despite its Halloween-themed setting, the Christmas spirit shines throughout, creating a delightful twist. Ireland's writing is engaging, with a well-paced mystery that kept me guessing. The festive setting of Christmastown, with Mr. & Mrs. Claus, elves, and talking snowmen, adds to the charm. "Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper" is a delightful and enjoyable read that will transport you to a world where holidays collide.

A TRIPLE LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER by CAROL J. PERRY – ⭐⭐ Stars

🔮 A Triple Layer Halloween Murder by Carol J. Perry is the latest addition to the "Witch City Mysteries" series. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, the story follows Lee Barrett, a reporter for WICH-TV, as she investigates the mysterious disappearance of a bakery owner and his cat during the town's Halloween festivities.

🧙‍♀️ Review: As an avid fan of the "Witch City Mysteries" series, I had high expectations for A Triple Layer Halloween Murder. However, I found this particular installment to be somewhat underwhelming. One of my main disappointments was the lack of festivity throughout the story. Given that it is advertised as a holiday cozy mystery, I expected a more vibrant and Halloween-centric setting. Unfortunately, there is a noticeable absence of Halloween elements in the narrative, which left me longing for the atmospheric charm that usually characterizes this series.

Moreover, the mystery itself failed to captivate me as much as previous installments. While Carol J. Perry is known for crafting intricate and engaging mysteries, I found this particular plotline to be somewhat lackluster. That said, there is one aspect of A Triple Layer Halloween Murder that deserves brownie points. It is the only story in the series that includes a recipe at the end. This unexpected addition was a pleasant surprise and provided a delightful bonus to an otherwise lackluster reading experience.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️