Leslie Meier Books in Order: The Complete Lucy Stone Mystery Reading Guide
If you enjoy small-town mysteries, amateur detectives, holiday-themed crime novels, and cozy mysteries with a strong family element, Leslie Meier is an author worth exploring. Her long-running Lucy Stone series follows an ordinary woman whose work and community life repeatedly place her in the middle of unexpected murders.
What makes the series especially enjoyable is its continuity. The mysteries can often be read individually, but starting at the beginning lets you follow Lucy’s family, career, friendships, and changing role in Tinker’s Cove over time.
Leslie Meier Books in Order: Lucy Stone Mystery Series
The Lucy Stone Mysteries are best read in publication order. The series has grown over several decades and includes full-length novels, novellas, and collaborative holiday anthologies.
1. Mistletoe Murder / Mail-Order Murder (1991)
Publication year: 1991
Reading position: Lucy Stone #1
Key themes: Christmas, small-town secrets, family, amateur sleuthing
Lucy Stone’s first mystery begins during the busy holiday season in Tinker’s Cove. While juggling family responsibilities and a demanding job, Lucy discovers that a suspicious death may not be as straightforward as it first appears, launching her long career as an unlikely investigator.
Title note: The book was originally published as Mail-Order Murder and later appeared as Mistletoe Murder.
2. Tippy-Toe Murder (1994)
Publication year: 1994
Reading position: Lucy Stone #2
Key themes: Community, family life, murder, secrets
Lucy becomes involved in another unsettling case in her seemingly peaceful Maine community. The novel continues the series’ blend of domestic life and mystery, showing how ordinary routines can quickly become connected to dangerous secrets.
3. Trick or Treat Murder (1996)
Publication year: 1996
Reading position: Lucy Stone #3
Key themes: Halloween, community, secrets, murder
Halloween brings costumes, celebrations, and an unexpected crime to Tinker’s Cove. Lucy must look beyond the festive atmosphere to uncover what really happened and determine which familiar face may be hiding something dangerous.
4. Back to School Murder (1997)
Publication year: 1997
Reading position: Lucy Stone #4
Key themes: School life, community, family, investigation
The return to school brings more than ordinary family challenges for Lucy. When a troubling crime disrupts the community, she finds herself balancing motherhood and investigation while trying to uncover the truth.
5. Valentine Murder (1999)
Publication year: 1999
Reading position: Lucy Stone #5
Key themes: Romance, relationships, secrets, murder
Valentine’s Day is supposed to celebrate love, but Lucy finds herself surrounded by complicated relationships and darker motives. The mystery explores what can happen when romance, jealousy, and secrets collide.
6. Christmas Cookie Murder (1999)
Publication year: 1999
Reading position: Lucy Stone #6
Key themes: Christmas, family, community, murder
Holiday preparations take a sinister turn when Lucy encounters another mystery during the Christmas season. The book delivers the cozy seasonal setting readers expect while reminding us that even festive traditions cannot keep crime away from Tinker’s Cove.
7. Turkey Day Murder (2000)
Publication year: 2000
Reading position: Lucy Stone #7
Key themes: Thanksgiving, family, community, secrets
Thanksgiving brings Lucy another complicated case at a time when family life is already demanding. As she investigates, the contrast between warm holiday traditions and hidden tensions becomes central to the mystery.
8. Wedding Day Murder (2001)
Publication year: 2001
Reading position: Lucy Stone #8
Key themes: Weddings, relationships, jealousy, murder
A celebration that should mark a joyful new beginning becomes overshadowed by crime. Lucy must navigate emotional relationships and community gossip to understand what lies behind the mystery.
9. Birthday Party Murder (2002)
Publication year: 2002
Reading position: Lucy Stone #9
Key themes: Family, celebration, secrets, investigation
A birthday celebration becomes connected to a troubling crime, forcing Lucy to look beneath the surface of an apparently happy occasion. The novel continues the series’ talent for turning familiar events into the backdrop for murder.
10. Father’s Day Murder (2003)
Publication year: 2003
Reading position: Lucy Stone #10
Key themes: Family, fatherhood, relationships, crime
Father’s Day brings family expectations and another difficult mystery into Lucy’s life. As usual, she must balance her personal responsibilities with an increasingly dangerous search for answers.
11. Star Spangled Murder (2004)
Publication year: 2004
Reading position: Lucy Stone #11
Key themes: Independence Day, community, secrets, murder
A patriotic celebration provides the setting for another mystery in Tinker’s Cove. Lucy discovers that public festivities can conceal private conflicts, resentments, and motives for murder.
12. New Year’s Eve Murder (2005)
Publication year: 2005
Reading position: Lucy Stone #12
Key themes: New Year, change, secrets, murder
As one year ends and another begins, Lucy becomes involved in a case that proves the past is not always easy to leave behind. The novel combines seasonal atmosphere with the series’ familiar small-town intrigue.
13. Bake Sale Murder (2006)
Publication year: 2006
Reading position: Lucy Stone #13
Key themes: Community, food, family, amateur sleuthing
A community event that should bring people together becomes connected to murder. Lucy investigates the tensions beneath Tinker’s Cove’s friendly surface, where competition and personal grudges can have serious consequences.
14. St. Patrick’s Day Murder (2008)
Publication year: 2008
Reading position: Lucy Stone #14
Key themes: St. Patrick’s Day, community, secrets, crime
A lively seasonal celebration sets the stage for another investigation. Lucy follows the clues through familiar community relationships while discovering that appearances can be particularly misleading.
15. Mother’s Day Murder (2009)
Publication year: 2009
Reading position: Lucy Stone #15
Key themes: Motherhood, family, relationships, murder
Motherhood is already central to Lucy Stone’s life, making this installment especially suited to the series’ personal side. When crime interrupts the community, Lucy’s experiences as a mother and observer help shape her investigation.
16. Wicked Witch Murder (2010)
Publication year: 2010
Reading position: Lucy Stone #16
Key themes: Halloween, community, secrets, mystery
Tinker’s Cove enters another season of costumes and celebrations, but a darker mystery soon emerges. Lucy must separate harmless local eccentricities from clues that point toward something far more serious.
17. English Tea Murder (2011)
Publication year: 2011
Reading position: Lucy Stone #17
Key themes: Tradition, social life, secrets, murder
A seemingly civilized social occasion becomes the setting for crime. Lucy’s investigation explores relationships and hidden tensions within her community while maintaining the warm, accessible style of a classic cozy mystery.
18. Chocolate Covered Murder (2012)
Publication year: 2012
Reading position: Lucy Stone #18
Key themes: Food, romance, secrets, murder
A sweet setting hides a far less pleasant mystery. Lucy once again discovers that community events and personal relationships can provide both motives and opportunities for crime.
19. Easter Bunny Murder (2013)
Publication year: 2013
Reading position: Lucy Stone #19
Key themes: Easter, family, community, investigation
Easter celebrations bring another mystery into Lucy’s world. As the investigation develops, the contrast between a cheerful holiday and the darker reality of murder creates the cozy-but-suspenseful atmosphere readers expect.
20. Christmas Carol Murder (2013)
Publication year: 2013
Reading position: Lucy Stone #20
Key themes: Christmas, tradition, family, crime
Lucy returns to the Christmas season, where festive traditions are complicated by a new investigation. The novel combines holiday charm with the interpersonal tensions that often drive the series’ mysteries.
21. French Pastry Murder (2014)
Publication year: 2014
Reading position: Lucy Stone #21
Key themes: Food, culture, community, secrets
A culinary connection adds flavor to another Tinker’s Cove mystery. Lucy must investigate the people and relationships surrounding the crime while continuing to balance her professional and family responsibilities.
22. Candy Corn Murder (2015)
Publication year: 2015
Reading position: Lucy Stone #22
Key themes: Halloween, autumn, community, murder
Halloween once again brings trouble to Tinker’s Cove. Beneath the costumes and seasonal traditions, Lucy finds a mystery involving motives that are anything but playful.
23. British Manor Murder (2016)
Publication year: 2016
Reading position: Lucy Stone #23
Key themes: Travel, culture, mystery, investigation
This installment gives Lucy a setting and atmosphere that differ from many of her usual Tinker’s Cove adventures. The mystery combines cozy crime traditions with a fresh environment and new social dynamics.
24. Turkey Trot Murder (2017)
Publication year: 2017
Reading position: Lucy Stone #24
Key themes: Thanksgiving, competition, community, murder
A seasonal event turns unexpectedly dangerous when a crime disrupts the community. Lucy investigates the rivalries and relationships surrounding the case while navigating the demands of family life.
25. Silver Anniversary Murder (2018)
Publication year: 2018
Reading position: Lucy Stone #25
Key themes: Marriage, relationships, secrets, murder
An anniversary should be a celebration of commitment and shared history, but old memories and hidden tensions become important to Lucy’s latest investigation. The novel reflects the series’ ongoing interest in relationships as well as crime.
26. Invitation Only Murder (2019)
Publication year: 2019
Reading position: Lucy Stone #26
Key themes: Social secrets, privilege, community, mystery
An exclusive gathering provides the backdrop for another investigation. Lucy must look beyond appearances and social boundaries to understand the relationships and motives connected to the crime.
27. Irish Parade Murder (2021)
Publication year: 2021
Reading position: Lucy Stone #27
Key themes: St. Patrick’s Day, community, secrets, murder
A colorful parade and seasonal celebration cannot prevent Tinker’s Cove from becoming the scene of another mystery. Lucy follows the evidence through a community filled with familiar faces and unexpected motives.
28. Easter Bonnet Murder (2022)
Publication year: 2022
Reading position: Lucy Stone #28
Key themes: Easter, tradition, family, murder
A traditional seasonal celebration takes an unexpected turn when Lucy finds herself facing another crime. The novel continues the series’ signature combination of community life, humor, and amateur investigation.
29. Mother of the Bride Murder (2023)
Publication year: 2023
Reading position: Lucy Stone #29
Key themes: Weddings, family, relationships, murder
Wedding preparations bring emotional pressure and complicated relationships to the forefront. When crime enters the picture, Lucy must investigate while navigating the tensions surrounding one of life’s most stressful celebrations.
30. Patchwork Quilt Murder (2024)
Publication year: 2024
Reading position: Lucy Stone #30
Key themes: Community, tradition, secrets, murder
A mystery connected to the close-knit traditions of Tinker’s Cove gives Lucy another opportunity to uncover what lies beneath a seemingly peaceful community. As always, personal relationships become important pieces of the larger puzzle.
31. Bridal Shower Murder (2025)
Publication year: 2025
Reading position: Lucy Stone #31
Key themes: Weddings, family, celebration, mystery
Another important celebration becomes complicated by unexpected danger. Lucy’s experience as both a reporter and an amateur sleuth helps her examine the secrets and strained relationships surrounding the case.
32. Easter Egg Murder (2026)
Publication year: 2026
Reading position: Lucy Stone #32
Key themes: Easter, community, family, investigation
The latest Lucy Stone mystery continues Leslie Meier’s long-running tradition of placing murder investigations against the backdrop of familiar holidays and community life. It is best read after the earlier novels for readers who want to follow Lucy’s journey from the beginning.
33. Countdown to Christmas Murder (2026)
Publication year: 2026
Reading position: Upcoming/latest listed Lucy Stone novel
Key themes: Christmas, small-town mystery, family, suspense
This Christmas-themed installment continues Lucy Stone’s long association with holiday mysteries. Readers should check the author’s official website for the most current release and publication information.
What About the Lucy Stone Novellas and Anthologies?
The Leslie Meier bibliography can become confusing because some titles are full-length Lucy Stone novels, while others are novellas or collaborative anthologies featuring stories by multiple cozy mystery authors.
Examples include:
- Candy Canes of Christmas Past
- Gingerbread Cookies and Gunshots
- The Christmas Thief
- Christmas Card Murder
- Halloween Party Murder
- Irish Coffee Murder
- Easter Basket Murder
Some of these books include stories featuring Lucy Stone alongside mysteries by authors such as Lee Hollis, Barbara Ross, and Peggy Ehrhart. Because publication databases categorize these collaborations differently, readers may see different total counts depending on whether novellas and anthologies are included.
My Recommendation for First-Time Readers
If you are reading Leslie Meier for the first time, follow the numbered full-length Lucy Stone novels first. You can then add the holiday novellas and collaborative collections in their publication order.
That approach provides the clearest character journey without making the reading order unnecessarily confusing.
Do You Need to Read Leslie Meier Books in Order?
Yes, publication order is recommended—but it is not absolutely required.
Most Lucy Stone mysteries feature a self-contained murder investigation. You can usually pick up an individual title and understand the central mystery without reading every previous book.
However, reading from Mistletoe Murder onward gives you a much better sense of:
- Lucy’s development as a character
- Her family life
- Her career as a reporter
- Recurring friends and community members
- The long-term changes within Tinker’s Cove
For readers who enjoy becoming attached to recurring characters, starting with Book #1 is definitely the most rewarding option.
Who Is Lucy Stone?
Lucy Stone is the central character in Leslie Meier’s cozy mystery series. She is a mother, wife, newspaper reporter, and amateur detective living in the fictional coastal community of Tinker’s Cove, Maine.
Unlike traditional detectives who investigate crime professionally, Lucy becomes involved in cases through her everyday life and her connections to the community. Her family responsibilities and reporting work often give her access to information that helps her notice details others overlook.
This combination is a major reason the series fits so comfortably within the cozy mystery genre. The crimes are serious, but the stories remain strongly connected to community life, relationships, holidays, and familiar traditions.
Why Are So Many Leslie Meier Books Holiday-Themed?
One of the defining features of the Lucy Stone series is its use of holidays and seasonal events as settings.
Readers will find mysteries connected to:
- Christmas
- Halloween
- Valentine’s Day
- Thanksgiving
- Easter
- Mother’s Day
- Father’s Day
- New Year’s Eve
- St. Patrick’s Day
These occasions give each book a distinctive atmosphere while allowing the series to return repeatedly to the rhythms of small-town life.
The holiday settings are more than decorative. They often create natural gatherings, family pressures, community conflicts, and social expectations—all of which can become important to the mystery.
About Leslie Meier
Leslie Meier is an American author best known for the long-running Lucy Stone Mystery series. Her work focuses on cozy crime fiction centered around small-town life, family relationships, and amateur investigation.
Her official website identifies her as the author of the Lucy Stone Mysteries and remains a useful source for current information about her books and new releases.
Meier’s professional experience also connects closely with elements of her fiction. Publisher information notes that, like Lucy Stone, Meier worked as a New England newspaper reporter while raising children—experience that helped inform the world of her best-known protagonist.
What makes Leslie Meier’s work distinctive is the way she combines two seemingly opposite worlds: the warmth of ordinary domestic and community life with the disruption of murder. That contrast gives the Lucy Stone books their enduring cozy-mystery appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leslie Meier Books
What is the first Leslie Meier book?
The first Leslie Meier book featuring Lucy Stone is Mail-Order Murder, originally published in 1991 and later issued under the title Mistletoe Murder. It is the best starting point for anyone new to the series.
What order should I read the Lucy Stone books?
The recommended order is publication order, beginning with Mistletoe Murder / Mail-Order Murder. While most individual mysteries are understandable on their own, reading sequentially makes the ongoing character and family developments more meaningful.
How many Lucy Stone books are there?
The answer depends on whether you count only the main novels or also include novellas, short stories, and collaborative anthologies. Bibliographies can therefore show different totals. The core series currently contains more than 30 main installments, while broader reading lists include additional collaborative works and short fiction.
Are Leslie Meier books cozy mysteries?
Yes. Leslie Meier is primarily known for cozy mysteries featuring a small-town setting, an amateur sleuth, recurring characters, and mysteries that develop alongside family and community life. Lucy Stone’s role as a mother and reporter gives the series a particularly domestic and personal perspective.
Do the Lucy Stone mysteries need to be read in order?
They do not strictly have to be read in order because most books contain a complete central mystery. However, publication order is the best choice for readers who want to follow Lucy’s evolving family life, career, and relationships throughout the series.
Where is the Lucy Stone series set?
The series is primarily set in Tinker’s Cove, Maine, a fictional coastal New England community. The setting is an important part of the books’ cozy atmosphere and provides the close-knit social environment that connects many of the mysteries.
Is Leslie Meier still writing Lucy Stone mysteries?
The series has continued with recent releases and listings for 2026. Because new titles, editions, and collaborative books can change the bibliography, readers looking for the newest release information should check Leslie Meier’s official website.
Final Verdict
For readers looking for Leslie Meier books in order, the simplest and most satisfying path is clear: start with Mistletoe Murder and read the Lucy Stone novels in publication order.
The series offers much more than a collection of unrelated cozy mysteries. Over the years, readers get to know Lucy Stone as a mother, reporter, community member, and increasingly experienced amateur sleuth. The recurring holiday settings add personality to each installment, while Tinker’s Cove provides the continuity that makes the series feel like a place readers can repeatedly return to.
If you enjoy authors who mix small-town atmosphere, family life, seasonal traditions, and classic whodunits, Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone Mysteries are well worth adding to your reading list.
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