Leslie Meier New Year’s Eve Murder

New Year's Eve Murder

Leslie Meier

Kensington, Nov 2005, $22.00, 256 pp.

ISBN 0758206992

On the day before Christmas Eve, the Stones of Tinker's Cove, Maine, receive a letter from the college that their daughter Elizabeth attends, stating that since their income went up last year, they owe $10,000, that previously would have been covered by a scholarship. The problem is that this year the Stone's income has dramatically dropped due to the economy; they don't have a clue how they are going to raise the money.

Elizabeth entered a contest sponsored by Jolie magazine, that won her and her mother, along with five other mother-daughter duos, complete makeovers. Elizabeth tells her that all the contestants will be judged, and the winner will win $10,000, which makes Lucy want to win more than ever. While they are receiving their makeover, the fashion editor is murdered, and Elizabeth is hospitalized when she becomes ill. The causes of the death and the illness are anthrax. Lucy is determined to find out who sent it to the office, so that they can figure out how the editor and her daughter came into contact with it. That decision almost gets her killed by a terrorist organization, though not the kind one usually reads about in the papers.

Fans who appreciate the Jessica Fletcher books and Miss Marple stories, will love this fine cozy amateur sleuth mystery. Leslie Meier modernizes the heroine, who is a likable, believable and understandable character. The jealousies, uncertainties and in fighting between the workers at the magazine, give the audience plenty of suspects who wanted the fashion editor dead. Leslie Meir has written a charming holiday mystery that readers will love for its' humor and originality.