Leslie Meier, Bake Sale Murder

Bake Sale Murder

Leslie Meier

Kensington, December 2006, $22.00

ISBN: 0758207018

Life in Tinker's Cove, Maine is changing, and some locals believe not for the better. Next door to Lucy Stone's home are five modular houses that make up Prudencea Path development; the old Pratt home used to be there before he sold the property to standoffish Fred Stanton. Fred's wife Mimi is unpopular, because if someone fails to do what she demands, she complains to the proper authorities causing that person some trouble. Lucy meets her new neighbors when she invites them to join a bake sale to raise money for charity.

Mimi fails to show up at the bake sale, so the others "deputize Lucy to find her. When she enters her home she finds Mimi dead with a knife protruding from her chest. In her role as a reporter, Lucy investigates; in her role as a mother, Lucy worries about her cheer leading daughter who seems troubled. Lucy thinks the latter has something to do with the high school senior football players; their coach Buck Burkhart allows them plenty of freedom. Rumors abound that he encourages them to take liberties with the cheerleaders and to haze others; he and the administration deny this. At Mimi's funeral, Lucy sees a homeless man, whom she later links to the coach. Not long afterward, the intrepid reporter finds she is in a d j vu scenario as a determined killer wants her dead.

Leslie Meier's mysteries are quaint down home amateur sleuth tales (though Lucy is a journalist so has some experience) starring a protagonist who juggles being a mother and wife with being a reporter. Her desire to see justice served always places her in danger; luck has been on her side, which is why she still lives. BAKE SALE MURDER is a fine who-done-it combined with a strong family crisis, with Lucy solving the murder and taking care of her loved ones in her unique fashion, leading to an enjoyable family oriented mystery.