ECONOGAL

Bridal Shower Murder is a timely cozy mystery blending in with the many weddings and bridal showers occurring during this wedding season. Leslie Meier once again entertains with this addition to the Lucy Stone series.

Zoe, Lucy’s youngest, brings home her beau, Chad Nettleton to meet her parents. The young man is a rising star in professional baseball and his parents hail from Tinker’s Cove. However, in-law problems rear almost as soon as the engagement is announced.

True to her style, Meier uses multiple storylines in her novel. On a personal level, Lucy is managing the stresses of upcoming nuptials for her daughter. However, she is also reporting on the latest news from the fictional Maine hamlet.

The local historical society steps on the toes of area Native Americans with an unintentional exclusion of their participation as early loggers and the shuttering of an entire town by the government benefitting a logging company. Primarily, Eminent Domain unfairly benefits a few at the cost of many minority families. Lucy is in the thick of the story.

Naturally, the two stories end up dovetailing. And a murderer is on the loose.

Much of the story revolves around the differences between the two families of the bride and groom. Followers of the Lucy Stone series have the benefit of familiarity with the Stones. Lucy and Bill Stone are open-minded and could be described as hard-working progressives. But finances are always tight. On the other hand, the Nettleton’s are rolling in dough, a bit stand-offish and shy away from those with different cultural backgrounds. So, the two Moms have very different ideas on how to throw a bridal shower. And a wedding.

To complicate things, Penny Nettleton’s first son, Chris, left behind when she married Nate is accused of murder and then dies from an overdose. Penny is devastated and the bridal shower is cut short.

Bridal Shower Murder is a quick read and a good library check-out. The twists in the story come from subplots with the biggest surprise of all unrelated to the murder mystery. But the villain is easy to spot. Furthermore, the down-to-earth love between Zoe and Chad highlighted the story. However, the reader will need to overlook a few flaws that I won’t disclose since it would spoil the story. Visit your local library to pick up a copy.