Christmas Cookie Murder

Title: Christmas Cookie Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery - A Partners in Crime Mystery

Copyright Date: 1999

Print Date: October 2000

ISBN: 157566691X

Pages: 232 + 2 recipes

Series: 6th in the Lucy Stone mystery series

Book Description (from back cover):

For Lucy Stone, the best thing about Christmas in Tinker's Cove has always been the annual Cookie Exchange. But the usual generosity and goodwill is missing from this year's event which turns out to be a complete disaster.

Petty rivalries and feuds that have long been simmering finally come to a boil, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of many guests, including Lee Cummings who accuses Tucker Whitney of stealing her recipe for low-fat, sugar-free cookies. But the icing on the cake is when Tucker is found strangled in her apartment on the following morning.

Who could've wanted Tucker dead badly enough to kill her? Despite all of the ingredients for danger, Lucy sets out on the trail of a murderer and soon uncovers a Christmas secret best left wrapped.

Comments:

 It seems Tinker's Cove has a surprising amount of corruption. Although, these books are more spaced out (time-line wise) than many cozies I've read. Anywhere from a year to three can pass between books. I'm not sure if I like this (the kids get older much faster for one thing), but it certainly makes the frequency of murder incidents for an amateur sleuth to get involved with more feasible than those other cozies.

Note: This book does have some teenage drug use (and selling) involved.

Anyway, I've already read the next book Turkey Day Murder, but it may be some time before I read any more. I still have to get books 8-11(or 12...I can't remember).