Murder at the Pumpkin Patch. Lindsey is trying to stay baking even though her place is haunted so they say everyone. It's a very Halloween mystery in a different way. Lindsey and Rory are trying their best. They are a bit fun, and the dogs add to the mixture trying to give their part in the story.

Book Review: Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah

Rating: 4.5 stars

First off, let me start by saying that I absolutely adored the cover of Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah. As a sucker for colorful, cute, and festive cozy mystery book covers, this one did not disappoint. It immediately drew me in and set the tone for an enjoyable reading experience. Now, let's dive into my review of the book itself.

Set in the charming small town of Beacon Harbor, Michigan, Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant is the latest installment in Darci Hannah's delightful Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series. The story revolves around Lindsey, a talented baker who lives in the local lighthouse with her beloved Newfoundland dog, Wellington. While Lindsey prefers to keep the Halloween decorations in her bakeshop light and autumnal, her lighthouse home is infamous for being haunted.

When her influencer and podcaster best friend, Kennedy, convinces her to host a live ghost hunting investigation in the lighthouse, Lindsey reluctantly agrees. Little does she know that this seemingly harmless event will take a terrifying turn. As the team conducts their investigation, they stumble upon a corpse disguised as a creepy clown costume. Now, Lindsey and her friends must keep their cool and solve the murder if they want a ghost of a chance to see another Halloween.

One the that stood out to me about this book was the fantastic writing. Darci Hannah has a way with words that draws you into the story from the first page. The narrative flows smoothly, and the pacing was just right, keeping me engaged and eager to uncover the truth alongside Lindsey.

What impressed me most was that Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant worked exceptionally well as a standalone novel. Although it is part of a series, I didn't feel lost or confused by not having read the previous books. The author ensured that new readers could easily follow along while still providing enough background information to satisfy longtime fans.

The setting of Beacon Harbor was incredibly charming and served as the perfect backdrop for this cozy mystery. The descriptions of the small town, its inhabitants, and the pumpkin pageant created a vivid and festive atmosphere that added to my overall enjoyment of the story. I could almost smell the delicious aromas wafting from Lindsey's bakeshop as I read.

The mystery itself was well plotted and kept me guessing until the very end. Darci Hannah skillfully planted clues and red herrings throughout the narrative, making it difficult to pinpoint the true identity of the killer. I love a good whodunit that keeps me on my toes, and this book certainly delivered in that aspect.

Furthermore, all the characters in Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant were incredibly likable and relatable. From Lindsey's determination to protect her ghostly companion to Kennedy's enthusiasm for solving mysteries, each character had their own unique charm. I found myself rooting for them and genuinely caring about their well-being throughout the story.

Lastly, I must mention the mouthwatering addition of delicious recipes featured throughout the book. Darci Hannah has thoughtfully included a plethora of treats that will leave your taste buds craving more. These recipes not only added an extra layer of enjoyment but also complemented the storytelling and enhanced the cozy atmosphere.

In conclusion, Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah is a delightful cozy mystery that will satisfy fans of the genre and captivate new readers alike. With its fantastic writing, well-paced plot, charming setting, likable characters, and delectable recipes, this book is a treat for both mystery enthusiasts and food lovers. Whether you're looking for an engaging standalone or an enticing addition to the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series, this book has it all. Highly recommended!

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

Another winner by Darci Hannah! I'm a fan of her books, so I was really looking forward to this one. The Halloween/Autumn season was captured wonderfully by the author. All the characters I've grown to love, are back in this book with a new mystery to solve.

While this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend checking out the rest of the books in this series as well. Each book is fun and enjoyable to read.

My thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGallery for a digital copy of this book for my review. I'm looking forward to more of this series!

An entertaining story with almost constant action. The protagonist’s best friend, Kennedy, gets on my nerves sometimes, and I didn’t care for her decision at the end. The protagonist and her boyfriend, Rory, are an interesting couple. I enjoy the lighthouse itself, and the ghostly happenings there. Hidden treasure is always a great addition to a story. I enjoy the pet characters, also. I highly recommend this book, and series to cozy readers!

4th book in the series. 2nd book I've read in the series. Thank you #NetGalley and #Kensington for another opportunity to read the Beacon Bakeshop story.

Disclosure. I did not give a good rating to the 3rd book in the series-Murder at the Blueberry Festival. I did not find it engaging. But, I'm a sucker for a holiday themed story and I like to give a series a second chance.

Like "Murder at the Blueberry Festival", the story starts out with pranks, but this time it's at the lighthouse bakery. Things take a sinister turn when what looks like another prank, turns out to be a dead body.

I like the writing. I like the story line. I love halloween themed books. I found the story very interesting and engaging and it kept me reading........But I hate the main character's best friend Kennedy. Yep. How that character is written and portrayed absolutely annoys me. And that's what has knocked down the number of stars I'm giving. It took me more than a couple of chapters to get into the rhythm of the story and convince myself to ignore Kennedy and focus on the rest And that's what I did and I'm glad I plowed through and read it. (I"m also glad Kennedy stopped saying "darling" at the end of each sentence.) I can see why Kennedy is in the story and I can also see what Darci Hannah is doing with her character. Doesn't help. She needs to be toned down. Which I think is coming. I hope.

3 solid stars for this story. More if could rewrite Kennedy.

After "Murder at the Blueberry Festival", I didn't think I would read any more of the series. But "Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant" has changed my mind. I would like to continue with the series. Maybe with some Kennedy blinders on.

I love fall and I love my visits to Beacon Harbor! Lindsey, Rory, Kennedy, and friends are back to solving murders when a popular teacher is killed Halloween night. Throw in a ghost hunt, a ship wreck, a treasure hunt, a lost dog, and awesome pumpkin recipes….a winner of a book.

Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant
By Darci Hannah
Kensington
October 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

As much as Beacon Bakeshop owner Lindsey Bakewell appreciates the Halloween season and the town’s Halloween Bash celebrations, she’s at her limit with the pranks and trick-before-treats shenanigans. Waking up every day to find a different horror movie icon hanging outside of lighthouse home has gotten old, especially since she already has the in-house ghost of Captain Willy Riggs haunting the tower. Not sharing Lindsey’s sentiment is her best friend Kennedy Kapoor, who is doing everything she can to promote the Beacon Harbor Halloween Bash’s Pumpkin Pageant. She’s why she is thrilled with the publicity-attracting appearance by The Ghost Guys, who plan to investigate the lighthouse ghost for their Travel Channel show. Lindsey didn’t even know that her new assistant baker Teddy Pratt had the reality television experience that initially led to their interest, as she was far more concerned with his stellar baking skills.

Before their arrival and the planned pet costume pageants that will take over their town, Lindsey hopes to put an end to the continued immature pranks plaguing her lighthouse bakery. Connecting with frequent Teacher-of-the-Year Leslie Adams was a part of her plan, at least until a livestreamed Ghost Guys investigation manages to capture their discovery of her body hanging in the lighthouse. Kennedy was also live-podcasting the event at the time, which ensures that she will be demanding to be a part of the investigation and enlisting Lindsey’s very reluctant help. The arrivals of a bestselling author and TikTok wiccans who have their own Witchtok platform only add to the confusion, especially when Leslie’s pampered poodle Trixie also goes missing. Now that Lindsey has Halloween treats to bake, a murder to solve, a dog to find, a break-in, and rumors of a shipwreck treasure floating around the small Michigan town, it is sure to be the scariest season of all time.

In this fourth Beacon Bakeshop mystery series, readers are taken through a very fun Halloween adventure that immerses readers into the world of paranormal investigators, social media witches, and lighthouse ghosts. Kennedy Kapoor is definitely a LOT in this novel, with her obsession to become a social media sensation taking center stage in both the plot and her life. There’s a surprisingly emotional resolution for her character, and it will be fascinating to see if and how she grows as a result. It feels only natural that modern day witches have evolved to become influencers, as the effect social media has on the young does seem magical. As much as this is very much a Halloween-centric mystery, it also charms with the continued presence of Lindsey’s oversized pooch and pumpkin-spiced recipes. This is the perfect spooky-lite novel for readers looking for a funny and clever mystery to cozy up with during the Fall season.

I had mixed feelings while reading this book. I saw it was #4 in the series, which worried me, but I went for it anyway even though I didn't read any of the other books in the series. I will say the first few chapters I was kind of lost when it came to who each character was and throughout the book, there were a lot of references to the other books (I think). It didn't affect the story much but it felt similar to missing out on an inside joke. I also felt like some of the characters were one-dimensional.

With this being said, this book did keep me guessing who the murderer was. Every few chapters had me thinking it was someone else. So, I was able to get into the storyline itself. It is also very festive and was my first read of October, so it really got me into a cozy Halloween/Fall mood.

It’s Halloween and a professional ghost hunt is happening in the Beacon Lighthouse. As people are fleeing, a local teacher is found hanging from an oak tree. The investigation into her death also leads to a treasure hunt/shipwreck that may be connected.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery, especially the treasure hunt for a shipwreck and missing gold! The method of death was interesting and I was a little shocked by the culprit. Overall I enjoyed this book & the Halloween setting.

“Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant” by Darci Hannah the 4th instalment in the "A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery" series. I loved visiting Beacon Harbor, Michigan again and really want to to go to Michigan now …Brandi M here come!

I absolutely love this series, Lindsey, Rory, Kennedy, Tuck, and her co-workers at the Beacon Bakeshop are lots of fun to hang out with. I enjoyed seeing how the characters of Lindsey, and Kennedy have progressed since the last book and look forward to the next book as we were left with a small cliffhanger.

I love Wellington the big Newfie who loves everyone especially if you have food but he is loyal to Lindsey and he really shines in this story. I also love the idea of living on a haunted lighthouse where the ghost is watching over you and seems to have your back.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Lindsey did. Plus all the descriptions of the pumpkin baked goods made my mouth water. ( recipes included in back of book)

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 5 - Murder at the Blarney Bash in January 2024

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Darci Hannah has written another wonderful addition to the “Beacon Bakeshop Mystery” series. Lindsey’s lighthouse features prominently and is filled with ghost hunters, pumpkin treats, and murder. Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant is a great read for the upcoming Halloween season. This one will have readers on the edge of their seats from the first to the last page.

How Lindsey let Kenndy talk her into hosting a live podcast at the lighthouse with a group of ghost hunters boggles the mind. When things go terribly wrong, as she knew they would, there is no shortage of excitement, questions, and nerve-rattling mystery.

The victim was beloved by her students, and no one appeared to have a motive for murder. There are plenty of red herrings, twists and turns, and a few surprises along the way. The lighthouse is the scene of too many mysteries, and Lindsey needs to put a few of them to rest. With the help of Kennedy, Rory, and the ghost hunters, the killer is caught after trying to kill Lindsey and ending with a wild ride.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Halloween takes on a special meaning when you own a haunted lighthouse that you have turned into a bakery and your home. It ramps up when a ghost hunting tv show arrives wanting to prove or disprove your haunting. And the tension mounts when some local pranksters seem determined to hang macabre objects from a tree on your property. Nothing, however, compares to the trauma of discovering the body of a well loved teacher hanging from the same tree on Halloween. And to have the body discovered by her best friend who happened to be doing a live podcast with the ghost hunters. Lindsey has all that on her plate as well as a famous author who thinks her lighthouse has some clue to a vast treasure.

The elements for a good mystery that moves at a good clip and keeps the reader anchored to the story are here.. Lindsey and her BFF Kennedy investigate the murder. Lindsey is convinced it is connected to her and her lighthouse and as events transpire, she is reminded of that painfully a number of times. No Darwin nominee, she still manages to get herself into a few pickles. Good things she has a friendly ghost and an awesome Newfoundland dog.

I enjoyed the book thoroughly and with the trees starting to change and the temperatures dropping a bit, it is perfect for this time of year. Five purrs and two paws up.

This is a great addition to the series. This cozy mystery is filled with delightful characters and is the perfect read to get you into the Halloween spirit. This is a fun read with some great recipes. And after that cliffhanger ending I can't wait for the next one!!

This 4th book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series is also the first I've read. I consider it my favorite "new to me author" I've discovered this year. Immediately upon finishing it, I snapped up the first three books in the series so I can catch up. I absolutely loved this one.

This Halloween-themed mystery involves Lindsey Bakewell and her haunted lighthouse home in Michigan as well as her bakeshop. There's a truly outstanding cast of characters and a clever plot that's a cut above the traditional cozy.

Very highly recommended to cozy fans!! I hope there are many, many more books to come in this series.

I adored this cozy mystery! The group of characters were fantastic, and I loved the beach setting. I enjoyed the plot twists and the mystery. It was well paced and well written!

Thank you to Kensington Books, Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I love a good cozy mystery, especially around the start of the fall and Halloween season. I have been meaning to read Darci Hannah and was excited to receive this ARC. Darci Hannah's Beacon Bakeship Mystery series is set on Lake Michigan in a small lakeside village in Michigan and as a fellow Midwestern this was right up my alley. I thought that the setting was perfectly cozy and loved that Lindsey's bakeshop was set in a lighthouse. The mystery definitely kept me guessing and I found the slightly paranormal inclusion of Captain Willy to be delightful! I found the story to lag a tiny bit in the middle, but overall I found the story to be exactly what I wanted in a fall cozy. I plan to request Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop from my local library soon.

This cozy mystery oozes Halloween atmosphere, with a pumpkin carving party, a costume parade (the titular pageant), a haunted lighthouse and, of course, a murder.

While this is number five in the Beacon Bakeshop cozy mystery series, this was the first one I’ve read, and it worked fine for me as a standalone. I’m sure there’s backstory that I missed, but it wasn’t essential to the story. It was an enjoyable read, but it somehow didn’t fully pull me in. I loved the adorable, huge Newfoundland dog owned by the bakery and lighthouse owner, Lindsey. But I didn’t care at all for her best friend Kennedy. Among other things, her constantly calling Lindsey’s boyfriend Rory, “Sir Hunts-A-Lot,” got very annoying.

I also didn’t care for the fact that some teens were immediately suspects, just because they look and act a bit different (they were into “witchtok”). There was also some ridiculing of some beliefs, such as smudging, which rubbed me the wrong way. It’s okay to not believe in some things, but you don’t need to write characters who make fun of those beliefs. It wasn’t necessary to the story to do so.

There are quite a few descriptions of yummy-sounding baked goods (as well as a pumpkin martini!) and there are several recipes included at the back of the book, if you are inclined to try making any of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was a bit late to it. I guess I just wasn’t in the mood to read a book set during the Halloween season when it was the middle of the summer!

Murder at the Pumpkin Patch is the fourth book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series, but it can be read as a standalone story. It is coming up to Halloween in Beacon Harbor, Michigan and things are gearing up for the holiday. Lindsey Bakewell lives in the renovated lighthouse with her Newfoundland, Wellington. Everyone knows the lighthouse is haunted, so when Kennedy, Lindseys's BFF invites a group of ghost hunters to film, she plans to do a live podcast as well. While online, they stumble upon a dead body hanging from a tree outside the lighthouse. It is a favorite teacher, one Lindsey just met at the pumpkin carving festival. Who wanted her dead? Why hang her outside the lighthouse?

This was a great addition to the series. I was pulled into this story from the start and kept listening intently to see what would happen next. There were not a lot of suspects initially, but as Lindsey began her investigation, a few came to light. The mystery kept me guessing right to the end, and the killer wasn't even on my radar. The characters in this series are great, relatable and realistic. I enjoyed their easy relationships and how well they help one another. Of course, Wellie, is a great character and if any of you have ever owned a Newfoundland dog, you will agree with this portrayal. He is loyal and helpful, but also a teddy bear that loved everyone, especially if they had food. The final showdown was suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the part Wellie played in that part of the book. There was some bittersweet news at the end, but hopefully things might change by the next book. This was a great story and one I recommend to cozy mystery lovers.

This is one of those series that caught me off guard. I thought it would be the usual run-of-the-mill cozy mysteries that were easy to guess the culprits and left me with the feeling that there should have been more. Not so with this series.

I enjoy all the characters that Darci Hannah introduced. The atmosphere and the dialog fit without being overdrawn or talking down to the reader, and the newest creations out of the Beacon Bakeshop make you wonder where you can pop out to find a pumpkin scone.

My only issue was the title. Is a pumpkin pageant the same as a pumpkin carving contest? Is a parade a pageant? With that little matter aside, The Beacon Bakeshop series is still one that I keep on my radar.

I love this series so much! Everytime I read a new book, it's like visiting old friends. Having a drink. Eating yummy baked goods. Solving mysteries.

Lyndsey has her hands full with this one. The bakeshop is busy churning out yummy Fall treats, the town is planning a Halloween parade, there's a dead clown *shudder* hanging from a tree in Lyndsey's backyard. And there's a ghost hunting crew investigating the"haunted" Beacon Harbor lighthouse....where Lindsey lives and has her bakeshop. It's gonna take all hands on deck to solve this one in a timely manner.

Such a fun book with great characters and a mystery that kept me guessing. Highly recommend this book and series.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.