It's Somerset for the Sanford 3rd Age Club and, at a busy charity weekend in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, Joe, Sheila and Brenda are looking forward to a relaxing time. But along with the chocolate for the Great Egg Hunt, someone has hidden a body, and even before the rain stops, the STAC are in the thick of it. Threatened with violence as he tries to learn the identity of the bad-tempered redhead wandering round town, embroiled in blackmail and hidden personal histories, while the body count rises, Joe and his two companions struggle to make sense of what is going on around them. With the Easter Bonnet Parade to come, it's obvious these are no accidents. They're MURDER... amongst the chocolate eggs.
In a mystery inspired by a historical murder, best friends become amateur sleuths when a senator’s memoir reveals secrets someone would kill to keep quiet. Why was a US senator suddenly writing a book about an unsolved murder that happened fifty years ago? Dynamic duo Harrie McKinsey and Ginger Vaughn know the story is bound to stir up trouble, especially since the ruthless killing on Easter Sunday in 1950 led to the end of illegal casinos in New Mexico. Eager to tell the tale, the two ambitious editors take on the high profile project. But just moments after the Albuquerque press announces the news of the senator’s upcoming exposé, a person closely connected to the case is killed, and another narrowly escapes death. Suddenly Harrie and Ginger are not just editing the story but racing to get to the bottom of it. Uncovering the clues pits Ginger against her overprotective husband, and Harrie against an attractive FBI agent who would prefer she keep her pretty nose out of it. But Harrie is having mysterious dreams about the murder victims, so she feels an urgency to stay on the case, even if it means confronting a cold-blooded killer intent on silencing Harrie and Ginger forever. “Patricia Smith Wood deftly guides you through this thrilling tale to its surprise conclusion. You’ll love it!” —Sandi Ault, the Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning author of the Wild mystery series “Imaginative and compelling! A tantalizing plot and memorable characters combine to make this a spellbinding debut.” —Margaret Tessler, author of the Sharon Salazar mystery series
Can you figure out who the killer is before the guilty culprit is revealed? During an Easter egg hunt, Roland “Beanie” Bean and his two-year-old son Evan are searching for eggs when they find a woman sprawled in the dirt beneath a hibiscus bush. Little Evan thinks the lady is just sleeping, but Beanie knows better. The woman is dead. As an investigative reporter at the Palmchat Gazette, Beanie is the perfect person to cover the story, considering that he found the victim. Narrowing down the field of suspects, Beanie finds out the victim had plenty of enemies. Not only was she unfaithful to her husband, but she was blackmailing her lover and cheating her business partner and may have been involved in a scam with a vicious island cartel. As Beanie continues to investigate, he uncovers sinister secrets and devious motives among those who were closest to the victim. Racing to discover the killer, he ends up the target of a diabolical murderer who won’t hesitate to kill again. Easter Egg Hunt Murder is a contemporary whodunit murder mystery novel in the Reporter Roland Bean Cozy Mystery Series but can be read as a standalone. With lots of clues and red herrings, it features plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! Get your copy today!
"Reading a new Leslie Meier mystery is like catching up with a dear old friend." --Kate Carlisle, New York Times bestselling author With a harsh Maine winter finally over, Lucy Stone is excited to cover the annual Easter egg hunt for the Tinker's Cove Pennysaver. Hosted by elderly socialite Vivian Van Vorst at her oceanfront estate, it's a swanky event where the eggs are as likely to contain savings bonds as jelly beans. But when Lucy arrives at Pine Point, the gates are locked, and a man dressed as the Easter Bunny emerges only to drop dead moments later. . . Lucy discovers that the victim is Vivian's grandson, and all is not well at Pine Point. Vivian has been skipping lunch dates, and her charitable donations have abruptly stopped. Is she going senile? Or are her heirs a little too anxious to take over her estate? As Lucy gathers a basketful of suspects, she'll have to chase the truth down a rabbit hole before a killer with a deadly case of spring fever claims another victim. . . "A fun and engaging read." --The Barnstable Patriot "Delightful. . .Cozy fans will enjoy Lucy's hunt for the truth." --Publishers Weekly "Once again, Meier delivers a top-notch mystery!" --RT Book Reviews
The beloved New York Times bestselling author and Queen of the Culinary Mystery delivers a new mouthwatering Hannah Swensen Mystery with brand new recipes, but it’s not just chocolate bunnies and Peeps on the menu, this year someone is serving up murder for Easter! New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! Spring has sprung in Lake Eden, Minnesota, but Hannah Swensen doesn’t have time to stop and smell the roses—not with hot cross buns to make, treats to bake, and a sister to exonerate . . . Hannah’s up to her ears with Easter orders rushing in at The Cookie Jar, plus a festive meal to prepare for a dinner party at her mother’s penthouse. But everything comes crashing to a halt when Hannah receives a panicked call from her sister Andrea—Mayor Richard Bascomb has been murdered . . . and Andrea is the prime suspect. Even with his reputation for being a bully, Mayor Bascomb had been unusually testy in the days leading up to his death, leaving Hannah to wonder if he knew he was in danger. There are plenty of suspects to sift through for sure. And as orders pile up at The Cookie Jar—and children line up for Easter egg hunts—Hannah must spring into investigation mode and identify the real killer . . . before another murder happens! Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar! “Another sweet-tempered outing filled with tempting sweets.” —Kirkus Reviews
Ahhh, good food, family and friends, stylish clothes, and candy. What more could you ask for on Easter? Well... maybe you could hope that you don't find a body during an Easter egg hunt. That would be nice. But Beulah "Cookie" Simmons should have known that things weren't going to be simple. Of course, she and her mother, Maven Simmons, would find a case to solve on Easter. What should have been a peaceful Sunday full of fun and relaxation has quickly turned into a mystery when a local church member's body is found. Now, shady business partners, a broken-hearted wife, and suspicious money dealings have Mama and Cookie wary of everyone. Will they be able to solve this case and bring some much needed peace to the people involved, or will this case be harder to crack open than a candy-filled Easter egg?
Fans of small-town cozy mysteries will cherish this beloved holiday novella from the collection Gingerbread Cookie Murder is made available for the first time as an e-book single! Known for its cheerful staff and elaborate annual Easter Bonnet Contest, the Heritage House senior center regularly attracts new residents and positive press. But once the town’s retired librarian, Miss Julia Tilley, checks in to recover from an illness, Lucy sees a side of the facility that isn’t quite so perfect and pristine. And the place may soon be making headlines for different reasons following an unexplained disappearance . . . Lucy can’t fathom how Agnes Neal could go missing from assisted living over a silly Easter bonnet contest, or why few seem concerned as signs point to foul play. A retired journalist with an independent mind, Agnes had an eye for details and little interest in conforming to catty cliques or rules set by her caretakers—traits that threatened some and angered others. Gathering clues as flimsy as a half-eaten milk chocolate bunny, Lucy must discover what happened to Agnes—before her own story becomes another springtime tragedy left unsolved.
A “fast-paced” mystery with “a plot that involves two rival chocolatiers, a wealthy elderly couple from Connecticut, and plenty of local gossip” (Publishers Weekly). No one in their right mind would vacation in Maine this time of year, but to boost the economy, the town of Tinker’s Cove is launching a travel promotion for Valentine's Day. As a reporter for the Pennysaver, Lucy Stone is assigned a puff piece on upscale Chanticleer’s Chocolates, and its deliciously handsome owner, Trey Meacham. Not the best way to keep her widening waistline under control. Soon Lucy discovers there’s another tantalizing tart behind the counter. Sultry store manager Tamzin Graves is only too eager to serve her male customers. With a throng of jealous women in her wake, it’s almost no surprise when Tamzin turns up dead, her body covered in chocolate. There's no sugar-coating murder, and Lucy must crisscross the snow-covered landscape as she tries to find a heartless killer… “I like Lucy Stone a lot, and so will readers.”—Carolyn Hart, New York Times-bestselling author of the Death on Demand Mysteries “An enjoyable story.”—RT Book Reviews
After the suspicious drowning of a local fisherman and the murder of a chocolate-store manager, Lucy Stone tries to track down a killer while navigating the craziness of the Tinker's Cove Valentine's Day tourist promotion.
Put on your springtime best and grab a basket, because Easter egg hunting is to dye for in this delightful new collection of Easter-themed capers set in coastal Maine and featuring fan-favorite sleuths from the long-running, bestselling cozy mystery series by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross! EASTER BASKET MURDER by LESLIE MEIER Tinker’s Cove businesses are clashing over a new Easter Basket–themed promotion to boost in-store sales, with tensions boiling over the grand prize—a mysterious golden egg crafted by a reclusive Maine artist. When the one-of-a-kind art piece is stolen, it’s up to part-time reporter Lucy Stone to investigate three struggling entrepreneurs who stick out in the local scene. But a huge town scandal comes into focus when a harmless shopping spree turns deadly, leaving Lucy to stop a murderer from springing back into action . . . DEATH BY EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS As Bar Harbor’s annual egg hunt approaches, Island Food & Spirits columnist and restauranteur Hayley Powell is thrilled to introduce her grandson, Eli, to local springtime traditions. Turns out, keeping up with a rambunctious toddler isn’t always sunshine and rainbows—especially when a decadent peanut butter treat kills the Easter bunny himself during the festivities! Now, with a clear-as-cellophane case of murder on her hands, it’s up to Hayley to crack the clues and scramble deadly plans before it’s too late . . . HOPPED ALONG by BARBARA ROSS Julia Snowden’s Easter Sunday at Windsholme, a sprawling mansion tucked away on a remote Maine island, looks like it’s been borrowed from the pages of a lifestyle magazine. But when a dead body is discovered in the garden—then vanishes soon after without any explanation—an innocent hunt for eggs becomes a dangerous hunt for answers. With no clues beyond a copy of The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, Julia must find out if April Fool’s Day came early or if she’s caught in a killer’s twisted game . . .
