Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
Today I will share my thoughts about Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah!
Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – Michigan
Publisher : Kensington Cozies (July 25, 2023)
Mass Market Paperback : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496741722
ISBN-13 : 978-1496741721
Kindle ASIN : B0BKTWSZBW
Audiobook ASIN : B0CBT1QKJS
The latest installment in Darci Hannah’s delicious Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series set in small-town Beacon Harbor, Michigan, featuring a baker heroine who lives in the local lighthouse with her beloved Newfoundland dog, Wellington.
Lindsey prefers to keep her bakeshop’s Halloween decor light and autumnal, rather than gruesome and ghoulish. But everyone knows her lighthouse home is haunted. Some intrepid teens have even tried to break in to witness the resident ghost themselves. Dreading Halloween night, Lindsey reluctantly allows her influencer and podcaster best friend, Kennedy, to host a live ghost hunting investigation in the lighthouse, conducted by a professional team. Protective of her ghost, Lyndsey is understandably nervous about what they might uncover . . .
The segment is uneventful—until things take a terrifying turn. The team freaks out. As Kennedy joins the mad dash outside, she bumps into what looks like the prankster teens’ creepy clown costume hanging from a tree. But when Lindsey’s dog, Wellington, begins to whine, they make a grim discovery: the clown is no dummy. It’s a corpse.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Where better to celebrate Halloween than in Beacon Harbor, Michigan, and the haunted Beacon Bakeshop? Especially when Kennedy has convinced Lindsey to host a live ghost-hunting investigation by professional ghost hunters and record it for her podcast. Lindsay is unsure if Captain Willy will make an appearance or how he will react to the ghost hunters but she never expected such a horrific happening. When a bright, eerie green light suddenly fills the lightroom it scares Kennedy and the “ghost guys” sending them scrambling down the stairs and into the night. Kennedy ran into something that knocked her off her feet. Looking up she realizes there is a creepy clown costume hanging from a tree, but it isn’t just a costume, it contains a dead body!
Lindsey Bakewell, her family, and friends have really settled into Beacon Harbor. The town has big plans for its Halloween Bash and Lindsey is baking up all kinds of treats and making pumpkin spiced lattes to serve to the masses. She has found a new assistant baker but her former Navy SEAL boyfriend Rory and her dad still drop by to help if needed. Her friend Kennedy has started a podcast that keeps her busy when she isn’t working at the boutique Ellie & Co. she owns with Lindsey’s mom. Her podcast brings the “ghost guys” to town and Lindsey’s haunted lighthouse. What I love about Ms. Hannah’s characters is that they are so true to life. The core characters and the residents of Beacon Harbor are people you would find in small-town America with their own interests and issues. Each story feels like we are catching up with good friends. Of course, not typical of all small towns is that Captain Willy Riggs who died at the lighthouse in the 1800s still calls the Beacon Lighthouse his home, and he has various ways of making his presence known. And I can’t forget Lindsey’s Newfoundland, Wellington who has stolen my heart. He is such a good dog.
For purely personal reasons I had some trouble with the mystery this time, really the way the victim was found. It was too close to the way I lost my son to suicide in 2015. I thought after this much time had passed certain words wouldn’t be as much of a trigger as they turned out to be. At times, it kept me from following along with the plot but I couldn’t just set the book aside. I needed to know why such a good person had been killed. The author gave us several suspects to work through and many twists and turns. Scary situations led up to a chilling reveal, showdown, and rescue. I was right on the edge of my seat while it all played out.
One character was having a difficult time at the end and I truly felt for them. I am not sure they are making the right decision but they have to do what they feel is best for their well-being. I am a little anxious to see what the author has planned.
With Halloween quickly approaching you need to be sure to check out the recipes after the end of the story. Pumpkin scones, muffins, cheesecake and lattes are joined by Savory Roast Chicken and Apple Stuffing.
Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant was an entertaining read. I do love these characters and even with my personal issues, I couldn’t stop reading which is a tribute to the author. She captivated my attention enough to push past what I needed to and still enjoy the story. I am now looking forward to reading
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
Cozy mystery author, Darci Hannah, is a native of the Midwest and currently lives in a small town in Michigan. Darci is a lifelong lover of the Great Lakes, a natural wonder that inspires many of her stories. When Darci isn’t baking for family and friends, hiking with her furry pals, Ripley and Finn, or concocting her next cozy mystery, she can be found wandering around picturesque lakeside villages with her hubby, sampling baked goods, and breaking for coffee more often than she should.
You can learn more about Darci and her books at www.darcihannah.com
Also written by Darci Hannah
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.
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