Easter Basket Murder

Book Review: “Easter Basket Murder” by Leslie Meier

In the delightful collection of Easter-themed capers set in coastal Maine, “Easter Basket Murder” showcases the talent of three renowned cozy mystery writers - Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Barbara Ross. As readers put on their springtime best and grab a basket, they are thrust into a world where Easter egg hunting takes an unexpected turn towards danger and intrigue.

The book weaves together a series of mysteries that are as charming as they are suspenseful, featuring fan-favorite sleuths from the long-running bestselling cozy mystery series. Each author brings their unique storytelling style to the collection, creating a diverse range of plots and characters that are sure to captivate readers.

EASTER BASKET MURDER by LESLIE MEIER

⭐⭐⭐ Stars

In Tinker's Cove, businesses are at odds over an Easter Basket-themed promotion aimed at increasing in-store sales. Conflict arises when a valuable golden egg, created by a reclusive Maine artist, is stolen. Part-time reporter Lucy Stone takes on the task of investigating three struggling entrepreneurs who become suspects in the theft. As Lucy delves deeper into the case, a seemingly harmless shopping spree takes a sinister turn when a murder occurs, forcing her to prevent the killer from striking again and uncovering a town scandal in the process.

My thoughts...In all honesty, I must admit that Lucy isn't my favorite character in this book series. I tend to steer clear of the full-length books featuring her, but I found her more bearable in these novellas. This one was decent. It had an engaging plot with plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing. Admittedly, there wasn't as much investigating as I would have liked, but overall, I still found it enjoyable. Surprisingly, Lucy wasn't as annoying and preachy in this one, which made the reading experience more pleasant than I had anticipated.

DEATH BY EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS

⭐⭐ Stars

The storyline revolves around Hayley Powell, a columnist and restaurateur in Bar Harbor, preparing for an egg hunt with her grandson Eli. However, the festivities take a dark turn when a peanut butter treat leads to the death of the Easter bunny. Hayley finds herself in the midst of a murder mystery and must unravel the clues to prevent further harm.

My thoughts...Out of the three novellas in the series, this one didn't quite hit the mark for me. I'm a fan of the series overall, but one thing that bugs me is how the author keeps throwing in these flashbacks right in the middle of the action. It totally messes with the flow of the story, and that was especially true for this novella. It just made it hard for me to stay engaged and really get into the plot.

HOPPED ALONG by BARBARA ROSS

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stars

In “Julia Snowden's Easter Sunday at Windsholme,” a picturesque mansion on a secluded Maine island, the festive atmosphere is disrupted when a dead body is found in the garden, only to disappear mysteriously. This unexpected turn of events transforms a simple Easter egg hunt into a perilous quest for the truth. Armed with just a copy of The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, Julia must unravel the puzzle to determine whether she is unwittingly entangled in a murderer's sinister scheme.

My thoughts...Out of the three stories I read, this one totally won me over. It had a pretty decent plot that had me hooked, a mystery that kept me on my toes, characters I actually liked, and a cool setting that I could picture myself in. Two thumbs up - definitely my fave of the bunch.

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