Lucy has some new neighbors, and it’s a bit of struggle trying to get along with some of the bossier, take-charge moms. They are trying to raise money for school supplies for some less fortunate kids with a bake sale. But instead of the relaxed, make what you want atmosphere of past bake sales, these new people decide to steamline the process, holding a test session to determine who will make what. Yes, specific cookies will be assigned. And, of course, these new women are health conscious, too. Sue, Lucy’s best friend, is dismayed when her very tasty but quite rich brownies get the boot from the new powers that be. Lucy is tasked with making dog biscuits, which even the dog doesn’t like. She secretly switches from the recipe she was given to one that her dog approves of, but that turns out to be the least of her worries. Sue is put out with Lucy making nice with the bossy mom. Lucy’s daughter, a new cheerleader, gets caught up in the middle of high school hazing incidents by the football team. And Lucy, sent to pick up cookies from one of the bakers who didn’t show up at the sale, finds burning cookies and a dead cook. Yes, it’s just another day in the life of Lucy Stone. Be sure to grab a cookie or two and spend some time with Lucy as she investigates another murder. This one has ties to the past, and Lucy will need more than a little luck to find the killer before she ends up like the other baker. Well written, this cozy is quite intriguing with its intricate mystery and delightfully different characters. ( )

Ah, another fun Lucy Stone mystery. Lucy is wrangling some pesky new neighbors on her street who can’t seem to leave well enough alone, as well as anonymous letters to the Pennysaver and a Bake Sale that will leave anyone who’s ever had to sit through a PTA meeting in stitches. And of course, wherever Lucy goes, there’s always a murder to investigate. I loved that this one was set in Tinker’s Cove (my favorite books in this series are) and liked seeing all the familiar town characters as well as the everyday problems of conflict with friends and controlling bake sale partners as Lucy also has to solve the case. And the parts with Libby the lab and her tendency to eat everything except Lucy’s homemade dog biscuits were fun ( )

It wasn't awful. And I'm pretty sure that I got it for free. But I just don't care that much for cozies with little to no character development (and, might I add, a plot that really fell apart for me at the end). There was much in this that made zero sense and a few gaping holes. Life is too short to read bad books. ( )

There is a new development of sorts right near Lucy Stone's home. Five modular homes have been built and problems played right from the outset. Whether it was a new teen and his ultra-large motorcycle, or the teen's mom Mimi Stanton's chronic complaining, well, either situation is certain to drive Lucy crazy.

But, she has bigger fish to fry at the moment. School will be starting soon, and Lucy and her friends decide to set up a bake sale for The Hat and Mitten Fund. The proceeds will go towards purchasing complete school supplies for the town's young students. As a mother of four, Lucy knows that sometimes the long list of supplies can be overwhelming, so she is glad to spearhead the bake sale.

Right in the midst of this newfound chaos, shockingly Mimi, the complaining neighbor, is found dead, with a knife sticking out of her back, Quite naturally, the police are on task in trying to discover who the murderer is. Meanwhile, Lucy adept in her job as a reporter, starts coverage in her paper, the Pennysaver. More than that, Lucy cannot help but to follow leads of her own. As an amateur detective, Lucy does what she does best. She snoops, asks questions, and gets herself into some pretty sticky predicaments.

Bake Sale Murder is the thirteenth book in the Lucy Stone series and it is a quick, delightful read. Whether read in or out of order, or as a standalone, each book has its own story. As usual, there is always a surprise as to who the killer is, especially when there is one murder.

I look forward to the next entry in this series,St. Patrick's Day Murder, as each month I am striving to read at least one book in this ongoing series by Leslie Meier. ( )

reread--still as good. ( )