Book Review: Star Spangled Murder

Reviewed By: Dawn Dowdle

[5 stars]

Star Spangled Murder Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Leslie Meier
Class/Genre: Mystery Woman Main Character Amateur Sleuth Cozy
Series: Lucy Stone # 11
Hardcover, 6/04, 240 pages, $22.00

Once again Lucy Stone is sleuthing. The Fourth of July is coming. At the town selectman meeting they vote to cancel the fireworks. No one can believe it. And why? To save the purple-spotted lichen, a plant that grows mainly on rocks. The town is divided. There are protests and many letters to the editor.

Then there are the naturists down at the pond. They are sunbathing nude. Pru Pratt has called for a law banning nude sunbathing. Lucy is having a hard time handling the naturists. Her boss makes her go down to interview some of them. She is appalled to find one of her own children down there sunbathing nude!

Plus there is the upcoming selectman’s meeting where they will decide the fate of their dog, Kudo. He is an escape artist. This wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t make a beeline for the neighbor’s chicken coop every time he escaped.

Lucy’s son Toby and Wesley Pratt get into a fight over lobster poaching. They are both arrested. Will Toby end up in jail?

Then Lucy finds Pru Pratt (the neighbor complaining about her dog’s activities) dead, the victim of murder.

Out of concern that the naturists would participate in the parade, they cancel the parade. What is happening to this quiet little town?

Lucy decides she’d better find out who killed Pru before one of her own family is charged.

I really enjoy this series. Lucy and her family are such fun characters. They really come to life through her writing. And Tinker’s Cove is such a great town. Even with all the recent problems, I’d still want to vacation there!

Leslie Meier has created such a wonderful series, I always look forward to reading the next book. I’m never disappointed. I highly recommend this book.

Dawn Dowdle

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Please visit Dawns website at www.mysteryloverscorner.com