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HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER is a compilation of three spooktacular novellas by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Liz Ireland. Each feature longtime favorite characters from cozy mystery series I already love, and it was a treat to catch up with them in between the full-length books.
The first novella is Halloween Night Murder by Leslie Meier. Featuring Lucy Stone, a reporter for the local Tinker’s Cove, Maine, newspaper, the book starts with an annual children’s Halloween party. It sounds like a very fun event and captures the vibe of a cozy mystery Halloween. But from there, things turn dark. While the story is well written, it veers into crime fiction or suspense with themes of child endangerment, domestic abuse, and the death of a minor. I was caught unprepared and had to do some mental adjustments to finish the story. Had I been forewarned of the triggers, I think I might have been able to enjoy it more than I did.
The second novella is Death of a Halloween Night Stalker by Lee Hollis. This is definitely not a cute trick-or-treater tale… instead it captured the chills and thrills of the spine-tingling Friday Fright Night programs I watched as a young adult (eons ago!). Campy and spooky, reminiscent of a Stephen King novel, and definitely Halloween-worthy, yet stays within the cozy realm with some humor thrown in. When protagonist Hayley and her friends get stranded in the middle a storm, in the middle of nowhere, with no one but a strange mother and her even stranger son to take them in, the stage is set for an edge-of-your-seat read. You’ll want to keep the lights on for this story!
The third novella is Mrs. Claus and the Wily Witch by Liz Ireland. This story definitely captures the cuteness of Halloween yet weaves in a mystery with twists and turns. The creative descriptions and the setting of Santaland pulled me in while the memorable characters (how can you not love a holiday crossover featuring Mrs. Claus, snowmen, elves, reindeer, and a snow witch?!) kept me reading to find out what happens next. Ms. Ireland includes plenty of humor alongside the mystery… this is just a fun, fun read!
If you’re looking for some quick Halloween-themed stories, you can’t go wrong with HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER. It’s perfect for snuggling in with a hot drink and leftover candy once all the ghouls and goblins are tucked in.
Lee Hollis includes a few recipes within Death of a Halloween Night Stalker, and the recipe for Hayley’s Halloween Apple Crisp caught my attention. Using a generous number of apples with a generous amount of cinnamon and topped with loads of crunchy oat and brown sugar topping, this apple crisp hit the spot. Served warm with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream, you’ll forget all about those leftover mini candy bars from trick-or-treating, although this is so yummy you’ll want to serve it year round!
Synopsis
HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER by LESLIE MEIER
After a tiring but satisfying day of organizing Halloween festivities, Lucy Stone is surprised by a lone late-night trick-or-treater at her home in Tinker’s Cove, Maine. The next morning, she’s heartbroken to learn that the teenager died in a hit-and-run just minutes after she gave him the last of her candy supply. Haunted, she starts digging into his story—and discovers some dark secrets . . .
DEATH OF A HALLOWEEN NIGHT STALKER by LEE HOLLIS
Bad weather has stranded restaurateur Hayley Powell and her friends in rural Maine—and the only shelter available is a spooky spot where they’re welcomed warmly by the lady of the house—but coldly by her suspicious, gun-toting son. They’re even more nervous after he scares them with his Halloween zombie costume—but the real fright is yet to come . . .
MRS. CLAUS AND THE WILY WITCH by LIZ IRELAND
Disgraced elf Flake has returned from exile just in time for Halloween, but not everyone in Christmastown thinks he’s truly reformed. When Pumblechook the snowman suffers a mysterious fate, and a fellow elf is felled by Flake’s caramels, Mrs. Claus must determine whether the sticky-fingered Flake has become a hardened criminal—or if sorcery has invaded Santaland . . .
A special thanks to Lee Hollis for offering a print copy of HALLOWEEN NIGHT MURDER to one lucky winner! Contest ends August 31, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
- 6 McIntosh apples, peeled and chopped (you can use your favorite apple in this recipe)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon, divided
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced into small cubes
- Pinch of kosher salt
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees (F). Butter an 8x8-inch baking dish and set aside.
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In a bowl add your chopped apples, granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, and lemon juice. Stir to combine and pour into your buttered baking dish.
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In another bowl add the rest of the ingredients and using your clean hands (my preferred method) or a pastry cutter, mix all the ingredients until the mixture looks like pea-sized crumbs.
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Spread your toppings over the apple mixture in the baking dish and pat it down evenly over the top. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until brown and bubbly.
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Serve your apple crisp warm and enjoy! Just a quick note: I like to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top while warm. It's to die for!
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
