This Easter themed book contains three novellas by three of my favorite authors.
EASTER BASKET MURDER by LESLIE MEIER was my absolute favorite of the three. It had a good plot, likeable main characters. and lots of red herrings.
DEATH BY EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS was also a good read but the very lenient parenting style of Hayley's son and girlfriend was bothersome. Hayley had her hands full dealing with her rambunctious grandson while trying to solve a murder.
HOPPED ALONG by BARBARA ROSS was a pretty good mystery with an interesting premise, but I was hoping for a happier ending in this easter themed novella. My thanks to netgalley for this ARC.

I always enjoy these short novellas by each of these writers. I wasn’t happy with the one by Barbara Ross only because I had hoped the ending would have been happier. Otherwise, I enjoyed each story.

Easter Basket Murder is a seasonal release by three authors, Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross. Each of the three books is set in a small Maine village featuring a heroine from an ongoing series by each author.

Leslie Meier’s entry, Easter Basket Murder, was a very enjoyable and entertaining read. It features Leslie’s longtime heroine, Lucy Stone, and it harks back to the classic entries of the series: Lucy solving a crime in her hometown of Tinker’s Cove, and featuring her husband, friends, and other characters from previous books. I love that each book or novella advances Lucy’s life story and, murder aside, explores the issues encountered by a woman of her current age. These days Lucy and husband Bill are empty nesters and are enjoying their lives as such. The mystery was well written and I highly recommend this book.

I was less taken by the second book, Death by Easter Egg by Lee Hollis. I have a more difficult time getting into the flow of the Hayley Powell books. Hayley is likable enough but I am not as enthralled by the secondary characters. This novella features a visit from Hayley’s son, his significant other and their unruly toddler son, who is being allowed to run wild and is rarely disciplined. I’m lukewarm on this entry.

I loved the final entry, Barbara Ross’s Hopped Along, an excellent cozy mystery. It also advances the narrative from previous books, which gives it an increased depth. This is a great cozy series and this book lives up to previous entries. Julia Snowden is a solid lead heroine and it is nice that her life evolves in a manner that makes sense. The mystery wasn’t too straightforward and presented an interesting puzzle. I highly recommend this book and series.

Overall, I give this anthology 4 1/2 stars based on the strength of the first and third stories. The second story, while weaker, is still worth a read.

DEATH BY EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS

Dustin and his girlfriend Mackenzie have come home to Bar Harbor for Easter with their toddler son, Eli. As Eli is bouncing around on a sugar high he disappears from a local Easter egg hunt and as she's searching for her grandson, Hayley stumbles upon the body of the local bank security guard. How did he end up dead from exposure to peanuts in the middle of the Easter egg hunt?

I love Hayley! She's a loving wife, a supportive mother, a phenomenal cook, a wonderful friend, and now she's the world's most tolerant grandmother. This story sees her hunting down clues as to how the town's Easter bunny got taken down by an allergy he was totally prepared to combat against a backdrop of bank robbery. We also get to read some fun reminiscing from the old days along with several delicious recipes for dishes that would be perfect for a holiday potluck.

HOPPED ALONG by BARBARA ROSS

Windsholme is getting ready to open for the upcoming clambake season and Julia and her family are preparing for a busy summer when an innocent Easter egg hunt ends in the discovery of the body of a stranger on the island. But when Julia summons help they discover the body has disappeared. A few days later Julia discovers the body - alive and well - at her friend Quentin's house. And a few days after that, he's dead again?

I really like where this series is going. I've always enjoyed the books but Julia's relationship with Chris (and Chris in general) always rubbed me the wrong way. Now Chris is out of the picture and Julia is involved in a relationship with Tom, a detective from the State Police. While I have my reservations about their relationship I definitely like Tom better than Chris and I like how they can each do their own thing. We have yet to see if Tom is the kind of guy who will be there for Julia when she needs him but I like where things are going. This particular story has a very interesting premise and the wrap-up is even more interesting. I would have liked to see this be a full-length novel because I think there was a lot more that could have happened and the wrap-up was pretty quick.

I did not read the Easter Basket Murder by Leslie Meier, however I really enjoyed both the other stories and highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of any of the authors featured in this collection.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Three wonderful cozy novellas in one book by three of my favorite authors. Yes, please. I loved each of them but my favorite was Hopped Along by Barbara Ross. I cried at the end. I need to read the beginning of this series. All written so well.

I always look forward to the newest collection of holiday stories and Easter Basket Murder didn't disappoint. I enjoy "visiting" each of the towns for the holidays while the main Lucy, Haley and Julia take us along as they solve the newest crimes that come their way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.
#EasterBasketMurder#NetGalley#KensingtonBooks

I love Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross (Love the state of Maine) and each of their respective mystery series.

I’ve ready every Lucy Stone mystery. I will continue to read them forever. I love Lucy and I generally like all the books. The novella in this bind-up was ok. I felt like there was some flippantness to a certain plot twist that made me really sad… I don’t want to spoil anything, but it didn’t feel cozy at all. Overall loved seeing Lucy again. Her boss, Ted, is insufferable, as per usual, and Bill, her husband, was kind of a manbaby… but we saw Lucy’s friend and coworker and supported local Tinker’s Cover business and it was cute.
I have only read novellas in bind-ups for Lee Hollis, but I’d definitely catch up on that series. I like the characters and I felt the MC’s pain in watching her grandson run amuck. My poor parents are always straddling the line of playing grandparent while their grandchildren are enabled and spoiled. The mystery was fun and great!
Ross said in her “dear readers” letter that she struggled writing a novella for this bind-up and I could totally tell. I haven’t followed her series either, but I felt like this story was weird and far-fetched. I’d read her overall series, though. I like the family business and the island location.
Overall a cute, seasonal bind-up.

This book was hip-hoppity fun. I don’t think I had a favorite, they were all so good. Definitely a good read for around Easter time. Totally made me want some chocolate Easter eggs.

Easter Basket Murder by Leslie Meier; Lee Hollis; Barbara Ross is a great collection of cozy mystery novellas by my favorite authors that have the adorable (yet sinister) spring theme.

My three favorite cozy mystery series of all time are presented within this collection of novellas: A Lucy Stone Mystery, A Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery, and A Maine Clambake Mystery series. The three novellas that build on those series are listed below:

EASTER BASKET MURDER by LESLIE MEIER

DEATH BY EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS

HOPPED ALONG by BARBARA ROSS

I enjoyed each one of them equally because they all have their strengths, and I cannot pick my favorite. I have a weakness for a good cozy mystery, as well as a good holiday theme…and these definitely fit the bill.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/23/24.

I adored this book. I cannot get enough of cozy mysteries and with Leslie Meier being one of my favorites I never thought I’d get a chance to review this Eastern Basket of delight.

Not only did I enjoy her portion of this but I was introduced to a couple more authors to add to my list of favorites.

Do be sure to add Easter Basket Mystery to the top of your to be read stack. I promise you too willl not be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review

I really like these three authors. Since I have enjoyed their stories in the anthology, I have started reading their stand alone full length novels. I always look forward to seeing a new book by any one of these three authors.

I LOVE Novellas and when a trio of my favorite authors is published together? I AM ON THERE! While I read all three of these series and authors, I get that not everyone else does. This is the perfect way to try them on for size. You won’t be disappointed if you’re a cozy lover, because these three are the perfect trifecta for any cozy lover!

I enjoyed these stories although I liked Hopped Along the best. It’s got a very interesting twist. I found the parents of Eli very annoying in Death by Easter Egg. Hope to read more. #EasterBasketMurder #NetGalley

I have to admit that I only read the Leslie Meier novella since I am not familiar with the other two authors in the collection. This is a nice addition to the Lucy Stone Mystery series which are always themed around a holiday or particular time of year or event. It is always a join to reunite with the characters in the series and to follow along as Lucy Stone solves the latest intrigue in Tinker Cove via her work as the town's newspaper reporter. A guilty pleasure and one that I recommend to fellow devotees of the cozy mystery genre.

Easter Basket Murder is a trilogy of three of my favorite cozy mystery with familiar characters.

The first story is Easter Basket Murder by Leslie Meier
The second is Death by Easter Egg by Lee Hollis
The third is Hopped Along by Barbara Ross.

The book gives you a chance to read from each of the three authors and if you haven't encountered all three authors before you are in for a treat.

The book itself is an Easter gift for you!

#EasterBasketMurder #NetGalley is a trio of stories surrounding the Easter holiday. This book includes three of my favorite authors, which always makes for a fun book.
In the first story, Lucy Stone is writing a story for the local newspaper about the Easter Basket promotion, which everyone hopes will encourage shoppers to buy local.
Murder is never far away from Lucy Stone, so it was no surprise when she found herself wrapped up in another investigation.
The second story includes Haley Powell, proud owner of her own restaurant, wife and mother, and now grandma to her grandson Eli.
Haley also finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation, but with Haley on the case,there are bound to be several laugh out loud moments.
The third and final story includes Julia Snowden and her family's holiday, which includes an odd squatter in a neighbor's house, whose attire gives Julia a chuckle.
There's something odd about this guy and Julia is quick to follow the clues and solve the mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.