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Lucy Stone #7 & 24

Gobble, Gobble Murder

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For Lucy Stone, Thanksgiving in Tinker's Cove, Maine, is more than just gathering friends and family in gratitude. It's also about catching a killer or two...and in Gobble, Gobble Murder, Leslie Meier's fans get two beloved holiday-themed cozy collected in one volume for the very first time!

Turkey Day Murder
Tinker's Cove has a long history of Thanksgiving festivities, from visits with TomTom Turkey to the annual Warriors high school football game and Lucy Stone's impressive pumpkin pie. But this year, someone has added murder to the menu, and Lucy intends to discover who left Metinnicut Indian activist Curt Nolan deader than the proverbial Thanksgiving turkey...

Turkey Trot Murder
Besides the annual Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day, Lucy expects the approaching holiday to be a relatively uneventful one--until she finds beautiful Alison Franklin dead and frozen in Blueberry Pond. As a state of unrest descends on Tinker's Cove, Lucy is in a race to beat the killer to the finish line--or she can forget about stuffing and cranberry sauce...

401 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2020

206 people are currently reading
428 people want to read

About the author

Leslie Meier

66 books2,055 followers
Leslie Meier lives in Braintree and Harwich (Cape Cod), Massachusetts. She is the creator of 'Lucy Stone', a reporter and amateur sleuth in the fictional seaside village of Tinker's Cove, Maine.


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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
Profile Image for James.
Author 20 books4,357 followers
March 11, 2025
Turkey Time - a double collection. Liked hearing about side characters in these stories. At over 35 books or novels or short stories, there are a few repeat holidays but still fun.
Profile Image for Tina Loves To Read.
3,405 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2024
This is two cozy mystery book in one book. I normally really love cozy mystery book, but I could not get into this book. I had to push myself to just finish this book. I do not think it is a badly written book, but it was just a book that was not for me. I hope that the right person finds this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington Publishing Corporation) or author (Leslie Meier) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
Profile Image for JEN A.
217 reviews189 followers
August 9, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 29 Sept 2020

I’m a huge Leslie Meier fan but I just couldn’t get into the first story in this two story edition. The second story is an already published story I’ve read before and really liked. The first story is new and really didn’t appeal to me. Th main character, Lucy Stone, was a bit too whiny through out this story, dealing with her empty nest issues. The story seemed to lag a bit and just wasn’t one of my favorites.
Profile Image for Tina Loves To Read.
3,405 reviews1 follower
September 29, 2020
This is two cozy mystery book in one book. I normally really love cozy mystery book, but I could not get into this book. I had to push myself to just finish this book. I do not think it is a badly written book, but it was just a book that was not for me. I hope that the right person finds this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington Publishing Corporation) or author (Leslie Meier) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. (*)
Profile Image for Lorraine.
1,393 reviews40 followers
August 29, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this combined book.

The first book in this selection was Turkey Day Murder, written in 2008. Lucy is working as a part-time reporter for the local paper. The local Indian band wants to build a casino on some land being used as a turkey farm, and many locals are opposed, as is Curt Nolan, a member of the tribe. When Curt is found dead at the Thanksgiving Day football game, Lucy is upset as she had met him at the local town council meeting. She agrees to take his dog, renamed Kudo. Lucy nearly comes to harm at the turkey farm when cornered by the killer, but Kudo interrupts (along with the local policeman) and she is saved. Months later, at the ground breaking for the casino, Indian remains are unearthed by the excavator, and construction is stopped due to their historical importance. Another fast and fun read.

The second book was Turkey Trot Murder, written in 2017, and it's a very good read. Lucy is training for the Thanksgiving Day run, the Turkey Trot. Only Zoe and Sara are still living at home but both have other plans, so it will be just her and Bill for dinner on the holiday. While running along Blueberry Lake, Lucy see pink on the lake, and finds the body of Alison Franklin, 20 year old daughter of very wealthy Ed Robertson. What had made her venture onto the thin ice of the lake? Then Bill gets a job restoring the old pub on the harbour into a upscale eatery "The Cali Cafe" in fusion style, owned by celebrity chef Ric Rodriguez and his son Matt. Meanwhile, the town is angry about the drug dealers who are killing the kids in the town, and a group called America for Americans, led by Ed Franklin, is demanding that the Rodriguez family leave town, even though their family has been living in the USA before the American revolution. When Lucy sees Hank DeVries, a former boyfriend of Elizabeth, buying drugs at the lake parking lot, she approaches him and suggests he go into rehab. Then there's an explosion at the Cali Cafe and Bill is injured. Lucy is determined to find out who's behind both murders.

I found this book very topical because of the drug abuse and the outpouring of hate for "non-Americans". It's not just a cozy, but a commentary of today's world.
Profile Image for Amary Chapman.
1,664 reviews27 followers
August 15, 2020
Turkey Day Murder
Lucy Stone is holding down her reporting job and cooking Thanksgiving for a large group. when an Indian artifact is stolen and the suspect found dead, she starts her own investigation.
Ms. Meier's use of colorful characters and interesting scenarios always makes her books a great way to spend some time. Realistic family interaction, parents of teenagers know there is a lot of humor when you're on the outside looking in, not so funny living it, and a close group of friends who aid her in her investigation. Her snooping becomes dangerous and she's rescued just in time.
Turkey Trot Murder
An older Lucy Stone prepares for Thanksgiving, but none of her brood comes home for it. when she discovers the body of young, beautiful Alison Franklin, she's determined to solve it, but not having much luck, until after he father is shot during a melee in front of the restaurant he was trying to prevent opening. A bunch of motives, but who killed them, she investigates until she accidentally happens across the answer.
I recommend this book as break times when getting ready for the holiday rush. It's a picker upper, sure to relieve the stress.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse gratis and offer my opinion freely.
Profile Image for Taryn.
1,107 reviews33 followers
September 29, 2020
In this new book from Meier we get to wonderful short stories that are set during the Thanksgiving holiday.
In Turkey Day Murder the Metinnicut Indians want to open a casino in the town of Tinker's Cove. Some people are for it and others against the idea. One of the Indians, Curt Nolan, would love for it to become real as long as a museum is included so that their history will be available for others to explore. When Curt ends up dead Lucy investigates and uncovers quite the story.
In Turkey Trot Murder Lucy is training for the Turkey Trot 5K that is held on Thanksgiving Day every year. While on one of her training ing runs she discovers the body of Alison Franklin frozen to death in Blueberry Pond. The police think drugs are involved but Lucy isn't so sure. She decides to do her own investigation and comes across quite a few clues. Lucy realizes she must sort fact from fiction to find out what really happened to Alison.
Both are fun short reads that will get your mind working, can you figure out who the killers are?
Profile Image for Taryn.
1,107 reviews33 followers
September 29, 2020
In this new book from Meier we get to wonderful short stories that are set during the Thanksgiving holiday.
In Turkey Day Murder the Metinnicut Indians want to open a casino in the town of Tinker's Cove. Some people are for it and others against the idea. One of the Indians, Curt Nolan, would love for it to become real as long as a museum is included so that their history will be available for others to explore. When Curt ends up dead Lucy investigates and uncovers quite the story.
In Turkey Trot Murder Lucy is training for the Turkey Trot 5K that is held on Thanksgiving Day every year. While on one of her training ing runs she discovers the body of Alison Franklin frozen to death in Blueberry Pond. The police think drugs are involved but Lucy isn't so sure. She decides to do her own investigation and comes across quite a few clues. Lucy realizes she must sort fact from fiction to find out what really happened to Alison.
Both are fun short reads that will get your mind working, can you figure out who the killers are?
Profile Image for Kim.
1,161 reviews15 followers
January 14, 2021
This is a great collection of Lucy Stone Books to enjoy during our time of Thanksgiving. The collection contains books 7 and 24 of the series allowing the readers to see how Lucy, her family, and friends have evolved over the series.

TURKEY DAY MURDER The is a quick-paced cozy mystery. I sometimes feel sorry for Lucy because she is taken for granted by her husband and kids. But I think most women have felt the same way Lucy does at one time. The mystery is engaging and keeps the reader guessing. I recommend this to fans of cozy mysteries and the series.

TURKEY TROT MURDER This is a fast-paced cozy mystery. I enjoyed the mystery with its twists and turns. Some of the characters are relatable, but some you just find unlikable. The storyline covers some heavier subject matters like racism. I recommend this book to fans of the series and cozy mysteries.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
Profile Image for Denice Langley.
4,765 reviews45 followers
October 2, 2020
A timely set of cozy mysteries to whet your appetite for more Leslie Meier! Each story has been published prior to this so you may have seen them before, but they are worth the reading time.

Lucy Stone's series is set in Tinker's Cove, Maine where Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims are celebrated with style. With most of her family planning to be elsewhere on Thanksgiving, Lucy and Bill can do as they please. Or they can until a dead body shows up...and the holiday takes a dark turn. The second story shows the town's ugly side when racism and vandalism blow up a family restaurant. Both stories are Meier gold, cozy mysteries that will keep you guessing while Lucy digs up the dirt.
Profile Image for Katie Oliver.
Author 19 books211 followers
October 26, 2020
Two absorbing mysteries. I enjoyed both. Lucy Stone is always a relatable and entertaining character.
Profile Image for Evelyn.
529 reviews16 followers
July 26, 2020
A trip to Tinker’s cove plus Lucy Stone is always a treat, unfortunately when I requested this arc I did not realize this duo of stories were two of her previous books combined. Nevertheless any time spent with Lucy Stone is not time wasted.

In the first, Turkey Day Mystery, Lucy is out to discover who killed killed Mettincut Indian activist, Curt Nolan. This is one of Meier’s earlier books so it was a fun trip down memory lane. I enjoyed reading about her children who are minor additions as the grow up and the series moves on.

In the second, Turkey Trot Murder, finds Lucy and her husband, Bill planning a quiet holiday for the two of them, until the dead and frozen body of an heiress turns up in Blueberry Pond.

This will be a fun holiday read for Meier’s fans and it was really pleasurable seeing how the series and the characters have evolved from one story to the next. Time well spent with an old friend and deserving of the word cozy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Angela Williamson.
245 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2020
Gobble, Gobble Murder is a two story volume featuring Lucy Stone and family at Thanksgiving.
The first story Turkey Day Murder goes back in time to book 7 and Lucy is working and preparing for her son's first visit from college. She expected one roommate but got three extra guests for the holiday. During the annual Thanksgiving football game, and member of the Metinnicut Indian tribe is murdered. Keeping a promise to old friend Miss Tilley Lucy begins to investigate on her own against everyone else's advice.

In The Turkey Trot Murder, Lucy discovers a dead young woman and deals with the opioid crisis that is running rampant in our country. Even though I had read both books before, a visit with Lucy and her friends and family is just like a nice visit home. If you haven't read Leslie Meier's series featuring Lucy Stone, you need to start it. Now. And be ready to grab this edition when it arrives!

Thank you NetGalley for and advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.
Profile Image for Jen.
1,060 reviews10 followers
September 18, 2020
I received a copy of Gobble, Gobble Murder through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gobble, Gobble Murder is the combination of two Thanksgiving themed Lucy Stone mysteries, Turkey Day Murder and Turkey Trot Murder. Both mysteries focus on big issues, one on Native Americans and their rights and the other on the opioid crisis and immigration. Tackling big issues made both of these books relevant, but to me they were just okay. It took me over half the book to get into the Turkey Day Murder story, which made reading slow. I definitely liked the Turkey Trot Murder the best and was captured by that story from the prologue.

Overall, I did enjoy the Gobble, Gobble Murder book, but it was a slow start. I liked the Thanksgiving feel and the town of Tinker’s Cove a lot. I’m just hoping my own Thanksgiving is more about family and being thankful and has less controversy and murder!
Profile Image for Toni.
1,545 reviews65 followers
July 27, 2020
4.5 stars

This is one of those books that is a bind up of two books both featuring the Thanksgiving holiday. Book 1 was quite complex and I thought well plotted. The whodunit was quite on point. This book really resonated with me considering everything that is going on nowadays in the media. The story really stuck with me.

The next book I had recently read back in 2018 and still remembered much of the plot. Meier’s books just have that timeless quality about them that keep you coming back for more.

If you want to read a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Plunkett.
197 reviews17 followers
July 28, 2020
Gobble, Gobble Murder by Leslie Meier combines Lucy Stone Mystery number seven, Turkey Day Murder, and number twenty-four, Turkey Trot Murder for a cozy Thanksgiving delight that pairs well with pumpkin pie! It was fun reading these two murder mysteries that are set the same time of year, but in such different points of life for Lucy. I enjoyed visiting simpler times with Lucy in Turkey Day Murder, but what really stood out to me was seeing Lucy take on the opioid crisis in Turkey Trot Murder. I was surprised by the murderer in both books which was nice, sometimes cozies can make it too obvious.
Profile Image for Amy.
492 reviews4 followers
October 12, 2020
Although this is labeled the 28th book in the series, it is a combination of two previously published books. I had read Turkey Day Murder (pub. 2008) which involved a murder surrounding a Native American artifact. It was a good read at the time, but after reading subsequent installments, it didn't entice me for a second read. I hadn't read Turkey Trot Murder (pub. 2018). Lucy is training for a Thanksgiving 5k run and discovers a young woman's body in a wooded area. While the book raised timely issues such as drug addiction and anti-immigrant bias, the mystery plot didn't hold my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
Profile Image for chels marieantoinette.
1,133 reviews10 followers
September 26, 2020
I’m a big Lucy Stone fan, so I’m probably not a great critic. These two mysteries are very solid and great picks to combine in one Thanksgiving extravaganza. I love the way Meier brings bigger world & cultural issues into her books including indigenous peoples and the opioid crisis in the current events along with these two interesting mysteries. Sometimes Lucy’s family can take advantage of her, which really bothers me, but in Turkey Trot her husband Bill was actually a pretty good partner.
This is a great cozy mystery set to kick off the holiday 2020 season.
Profile Image for Cathi Lips - LovesBooksMore.
155 reviews19 followers
August 29, 2020
Both cute short stories, but they are not new Leslie Meier stories- just put into a holiday special. The jump in age with her children was a bit confusing.

Still adore her cute involvement with the quirky town of Tinkers Cove and the murders that happen. The town always seems genuinely horrified.
Profile Image for Smitten.
786 reviews39 followers
October 14, 2020
Murder frequents the Thanksgiving holiday in the small town of Tinker’s Cove, in Leslie Meier’s Gobble, Gobble Murder. This book contains a generous two murder mysteries, Turkey Day Murder and Turkey Trot Murder. The series starring Lucy Stone, reporter for the local newspaper, The Pennysaver, will have her once again more than involved in its reporting.

This was a tough one for me. I must admit that I struggled to read this book to the very end. I could not identify with the protagonist or most of the supportive characters. The protagonist was not strong. She was wavering in her opinions and at times was rude and seemed uncaring and insensitive. Most of the supportive characters were very one dimensional. There was not enough depth to these characters and the reason for their issues was lacking development. Also, there were so many angry characters in the both of the stories. It was very difficult for me to process.

The characters in these stories had some very strong opinions about other cultures. Their harsh characterization in a socially sensitive time, along with their misconceptions and their dialogue, left an off-putting taste. If it had been in just one story, I’d chance it to that particular storyline, but in both?… Just, no.

The first story was centered around an issue with Native Americans. The initial issue involved a citizen of Tinker’s Cove and his dog. This issue evolves into a much more complicated issue on the recognition of a Native American tribe for the cliche of putting a casino on town property. There was lots of emphasis on Lucy Stone’s current life issues and very little murder-mystery.

The second story improves on the murder-mystery narrative. The murder happens right away but it lingers in the background while other issues arise at Tinker’s Cove. Some of those issues involving the construction of a new restaurant owned by a Hispanic character. This is where the story takes an uncomfortable turn.

“BUILD THE WALL! DEPORT THE DRUG DEALERS! and AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!”

“You cant’s just come into this town and start polluting the water with your greasy

Mexican gunk.”

“Mexicans should stay in Mexico. America is for Americans.”

This is just some of the dialogue used by the characters of this story. Race is a sensitive topic and we shouldn’t limit ourselves with misconceived notions on other cultures. I felt like this was in poor taste and disrespectful. The dialogue of these blatantly outspoken fictional characters fit the reality and narrative of the world today, perfectly.

I’m a champion for the underdog and even the self-serving villain. Supportive characters are my favorite and villains, even so. I love unscrupulous characters… But, I draw a line. At this point, I no longer cared about the murder or the mystery. All I could think about was the undertone of the story and the unbelievable comments coming from the members of this town. I would never want to live in a town like this one. The town itself is a character and this one seems to lack respect towards its citizens.

I hope you’re still hanging in there. I’m rating this book two stars for good editing and story flow. Not all characters were hurtful. I was certainly not encouraged by the words this author used to bring her characters to life. But…she did have a moment where Lucy Stone helps a very minor character who is battling addiction. Addiction is near and dear to my heart and this author did right by Hank’s character. The help brought to the very smallest of a supportive character mentioned was really the only redeeming quality of this book, in my opinion. The scene was well written and emotional.

Although, I completely understand that unsavory characters like these exist in the real world, I’m not too keen on seeing it in a cozy murder-mystery. If I wanted the current reality, I would simply turn on the news. Perhaps, this is a misconception on my end. In the end Lucy Stone was not a strong enough protagonist to change my mind.

~ Patricia
Profile Image for OpenBookSociety.com .
4,097 reviews134 followers
February 1, 2025
https://openbooksociety.com/article/g...

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Gobble, Gobble Murder is a compilation of two of Leslie Meier’s Thanksgiving themed cozy mysteries that have been released previously: Turkey Day Murder (book #7) and Turkey Trot Murder (book #24). I have always had Ms. Meier on my to-be-read pile of cozy mystery writers to read, but these two books made it to the front of my pile first. A nice introduction to her writing style of story telling.

First up – Turkey Day Murder. What can I say? It was crafted well enough and the mystery was sufficient but for some reason, I was not able to “love” this story. It seemed to fall flat for me. The main storyline was a divide amongst the town members who want a casino and those that do not. Also, it seemed that Lucy Stone should have been more prepared for her child going off to school. She seemed a bit whiny, if I must say. And to me – that is not attractive in an amateur sleuth.

My thoughts are that the story felt like it was progressing very slowly at the beginning (snails pace actually). It seemed that in the beginning all we got was Lucy worrying about the Thanksgiving meal she was going to serve now that there were extra guests (and that her son’s friends were rather thoughtless as guests in her house) and stressing over being an empty-nester.

I do think, if I was a part-time reporter and had to sit through the town’s Board of Selectmen meetings (usually long and boring) – I might be a bit grumpy and whiny as well. Lucy sets out to discover who killed killed Mettincut Indian activist, Curt Nolan.

There were enough twists and turns (i.e. red herrings) to keep this reader guessing, for the most part, as to whodunit. And of course – that is a must for me to enjoy a cozy mystery. Well – that and an interesting amateur sleuth.

Second – Turkey Trot Murder. I did find this story capturing my interest a bit more.

One day as Lucy is training for the Turkey Trot run – she notices a body of a girl, who appears to have fallen through the ice and frozen to death during Lucy’s run. As Lucy learns more about the victim – she is not convinced it is an accident. And of course, this leads to Lucy trying to solve the murder. What really amped up the angst in this book is that the father of the deceased girl (Alison Franklin) goes on a bit of a rampage and starts blaming the towns opiate problem for his daughter’s death. He then proceeds to blame immigrants (especially the Mexican immigrants) for the problem. Then he is shot to death in his car. Now Lucy must try and find out who killed both Alison and her dad.

If that isn’t action packed enough, I don’t know what is. I found my interest held and I really could not wait to find out “whodunit”.

I thought the cover art was clever, but then from what I have seen, most of Ms. Meier’s covers are fun and engaging.

If you are in the mood for Thanksgiving cozy mystery reads, then Gobble, Gobble Murder will provide you two complete Lucy Stone Mysteries in one volume to read (both have been previously published). You will be kept on your toes (turkey toes that is) guessing whodunit. And of course – you will probably be craving a delicious turkey dinner as well 🙂
Profile Image for Stephanie Goodrich.
49 reviews1 follower
September 13, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gobble, Gobble Murder is actually 2 separate stories by Leslie Meier. It includes: Turkey Day Murder (published in 2002) and Turkey Trot Murder (published in 2017). I have recently started reading and enjoying the cozy mystery books that are food related, so I had high hopes for this book. However, I ended up being a bit disappointed.

The Turkey Day Murder follows Lucy, a reporter for the local paper. The local Indian Tribe is petitioning for federal recognition, so they can build a casino. However, the local tribe leader, who is rather outspoken and passionate about the tribes history, is vehemently against the casino and wants to build a museum instead to honor his heritage. That is, until he is found murdered. It's up to Lucy to sift though Curt's many enemies to find out who killed him and why.

I felt like it was very slow at the beginning, and didn't pick up until a little over half way through. The first half of the book was a lot of Lucy worrying about what she is going to do about Thanksgiving dinner with so many extra guests, stressing over being an empty-nester, and complaining about her son and his friends being inconsiderate. I was about to give up on the book, but I pushed through, and finally over halfway though, the murder and action happens. If I was reviewing this book alone, I would have given it 3 stars.

The Turkey Trot Murder starts with Lucy going for a run to train for the annual Turkey Trot marathon. While on her run, she finds the body of a girl, who appeared to have fallen through the ice and froze to death. Then the girls father, blaming the opiate problem for his daughters death, went on a anti-immigration and anti- Mexican tirade. That is until he is shot to death in his car. Lucy brings it upon herself to figure out what happened to both Allison and her father.

I liked that this book had part of the mystery right up front and kind of built to the second one. It made the story a bit more intriguing in my opinion than the Turkey Day Murder. However, I found that I still didn't care for Lucy. She was still irritating and whiny to me. I think I would have enjoyed this more if the protagonist was more likable. I also gave this book 3 stars.
277 reviews3 followers
September 27, 2020
Gobble, Gobble Murder by Leslie Meier is a compilation of two previously published Thanksgiving themed mysteries, Turkey Day Murder (2000) and Turkey Trot Murder (2017).

Turkey Day Murder is quite an entertaining read; well plotted, plenty of suspects and and a taut cozy. It reminds me why I always look for a new Lucy Stone mystery. One of the things I really enjoy about a Lucy Stone book is Lucy herself and her family. Lucy is a bit of an “every woman.” She balances her family, a part time job and her occasional forays into sleuthing. Neither Lucy nor any member of her family is close to perfect and their foibles keep the books entertaining. There is a realistic tone to the interactions between the family members and the world around them. Her children are far closer to reality than young people in other books I’ve read.

One thing I found interesting is how clearly Turkey Day Murder reflects its earlier publication date in a less politically correct time. The plot revolves around the possibility of a casino being built by a Native American tribe on farmland in the middle of rural Tinker’s Cove, Maine. The word Indian, rarely used today, is the word used to describe tribe members and there are a few references that might be considered questionable today. I was not offended; I just think it is interesting and am glad that the original text was left.

I give this book a solid 4 1/2 stars.

Turkey Trot Murder, the second of the two books, is a tight little mystery, clearly written in response to anti immigration sentiments, in particular immigrants from Mexico. The book also addresses the opioid epidemic and its devastating consequences. Lucy remains the everywoman, though instead of juggling a family of four and a part time job, she is rapidly becoming an empty nester and dealing with the prospect of spending a Thanksgiving with only her husband, Bill. 

The mystery was well written and I enjoyed the book but did get a bit tired of the repeated messages threaded into the book. That said, I give it a solid 3 1/2 stars. 

The two books together represent a great bargain for those new to this entertaining series. Four stars.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any way. The opinions stated are solely my own.
2,210 reviews30 followers
November 15, 2020
Princess Fuzzypants here: This is the latest compilation of Leslie Meier stories around a holiday theme. It’s a fun way to follow the adventures of Lucy Stone, part time investigative reporter and mom. Thanksgiving is the hook these two stories share. As in previous collections, the stories are anything but linear in that the one story is set when all of Lucy’s children are still at home, except for the eldest, who descends with three of his university friends to crash at Lucy’s house. Amidst the turmoil of dealing with the emotions of children growing up, a curmudgeon who has devilled many in town is murdered. He has been a gadfly but his current issue is a big casino the local tribe, of which he is a member, wants to build. Lucy tries to juggle her family responsibilities with her professional ones in her quest to discover who killed him and why.

The second is set when not only are two of the children on their own, and the other two are in university, Lucy is also a grandmother. She discovers the body of a young woman who has fallen through the ice and drowned. The speculation around the accident is that drugs were involved. Their little town is embroiled in an opioid crisis and the more Lucy digs, the more she realizes how pervasive it is. But when the young girl’s rich father is also murdered. Lucy wonders if there is not more to the deaths. There are lots of issues and confrontations both in the dysfunctional family and the community at large. There is also some overt and very nasty racism that is occurring at the same time and the deceased father has been a driving force.

While there was an underlying theme of corporate greed, the first story is more of a straightforward mystery. There are social issues that are touched upon but nothing like the second one. It shows how the series and the character has evolved over the books. The drug plot line and the racism plot line both figure prominently in the tale. It is not heavy handed but it does reflect how our society has changed in recent years. It is just an interesting side bar to two good stories.

Four purrs and two paws up.
Profile Image for Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle.
1,497 reviews26 followers
March 8, 2025
What’s better than one Thanksgiving murder mystery? Two. Gobble, Gobble Murder bundles together Turkey Day Murder (Lucy Stone #7) and Turkey Trot Murder (Lucy Stone #24), so whether it’s your first time or a re-read, it’s a chance to soak up the chaos of Tinker’s Cove while ignoring your own holiday stress. Just know that between some outdated portrayals and heavier themes of addiction and immigration, this cozy mystery set isn’t quite as fluffy as it looks.

In Turkey Day Murder, Lucy is juggling Thanksgiving prep—her oldest is home from college, and her house is filling up with last-minute guests—when activist Curt Nolan is found bludgeoned to death. His push to acknowledge the local Metinnicut tribe’s history hasn’t won him many friends, and Lucy quickly realizes the suspect list is longer than her grocery list. This one has all the charm of early Lucy Stone mysteries but hasn’t aged well—particularly in its portrayal of Native American culture. And Bill? Still terrible.

Fast forward seventeen books to Turkey Trot Murder, and Lucy is training for a 5K when she stumbles across the frozen body of Alison Franklin, a young woman rumored to have struggled with opioid addiction. Before Lucy can figure out the truth, Alison’s wealthy, loud-mouthed father is murdered, throwing the town into chaos. This one leans harder into real-world issues—addiction, racism, and immigration—giving it a sharper edge than the average Lucy Stone mystery.

At 3 stars, Gobble, Gobble Murder is a mixed bag—engaging mysteries, but not without their issues. The older story struggles with outdated cultural representation, while the newer entry leans into politics more than some cozy readers might prefer. Still, Lucy’s signature blend of curiosity and stubbornness keeps things moving, and for those looking for a festive whodunit (or two), this collection serves it up with a side of small-town drama. And hey, at least this Thanksgiving disaster doesn’t involve overcooked turkey.
157 reviews2 followers
September 7, 2020
The Lucy Stone mysteries are long time favorites. Gobble, Gobble Murder is not a new installment but is two books previously published in the series, both having a Thanksgiving theme. Combining books like this has pros and cons - the reader can read books of the same theme together, however they take place many years apart which can be confusing to the reader. Nonetheless, they are great reads and I highly recommend the entire series.

The Lucy Stone series tells the story of Lucy Stone, part-time reporter for the local newspaper, her husband who has his own construction business, and her 4 children (the fourth being born after the series begins). The characters are wonderful and relatable - the reader quickly becomes involved in their lives. Lucy is a character that you could easily call a friend and experiences the trials and tribulations of life like all of us!

Turkey Day Murder finds Lucy in the midst of Thanksgiving festivities, her son's return home from college, and solving the murder of a local Native American activist.

In Turkey Trot Murder, Lucy is planning to run in the local 5K on Thanksgiving, and on her morning run finds a dead body frozen in Blueberry Pond. The death is attributed to drug overdose, but Lucy doesn't quite believe this explanation and does some investigating on her own.

With the knowledge that the stories in this book are part of a series and are set several years apart, the book is a great Thanksgiving read that draws you into the life of Lucy Stone and makes you want to read more of Lucy's adventures.
Profile Image for Barb.
1,954 reviews
September 25, 2020
This book is really two previous books from the Lucy Stone series combined into one. Both books have a Thanksgiving theme, but they are set many years apart, so we get to see how Lucy's life has changed from the first book, Turkey Day Murder, the seventh book in the series, to the second, Turkey Trot Murder, #24 in the series.

I am not a big fan of previously released series books being combined into one book that is then marketed as a new installment in the series. If I had paid more attention, I would have realized that that was being done here, and would not have requested this book to read and review.

Although I am a big fan of this series, I do not generally re-read books, and was disappointed when I realized that I had already read both of these stories. Even more disappointing was realizing that I actually remembered the identity of the killers in both stories.

I was disappointed in this book, but only because I had already read both books previously. I look forward to the next *new book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
3,219 reviews32 followers
September 30, 2020
Gobble, Gobble Murder by Leslie Meier was really two novels, same basic cast. They were both pretty good books, if years apart: Turkey Day Murder and Turkey Trot Murder. Lucy Stone is a wife and mom in a small town in Maine. She works part time as a reporter for the Pennysaver. Does the Pennysaver even exist any more? Meier has the way a small town works to a T: the good side and the bad. Her characters could not be more realistic, especially Lucy and her frustrations with her children and her husband: each transitory, each true. Also her description of the meetings the selectmen help in which they governed the town were so right on. Both plots were well thought out and unfolded in a respectable fashion. The most interesting thing is how much things changed on the intervening years between the two novels. It is so reflective of the way our country has changed.

These Lucy Stone novels were new to me, but welcome. They are well written and timely. They sometimes made me smile. They sometimes did not. There is so much going on in the world, it is important that snip-its are written and digested by the readers. Sometimes this happens in the guise of a cozy mystery. It did in this case with these two Thanksgiving-themed stories. I recommend you read this book.

I was invited to read a free ARC of Gobble, Gobble Murder by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #gobblegobblemurder
Profile Image for Teresa.
2,245 reviews16 followers
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March 23, 2022
I really enjoy the books in the Lucy Stone series. However, I need to be alert when checking out new books being released. This one was just a rerelease of two previously published books. I feel taken advantage of because it’s like a ploy by the publisher to sell more copies of the book. That’s my rant, so I’ll move on to the reviews of the book(s).

Turkey Day Murder ~ Lucy Stone #7: Once again, Lucy finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. The family dynamic is still having some blips. And then celebrating Thanksgiving adds to the family and community vibe in Tinker’s Cove. The murder mystery has you flipping through the pages with twists and turns to keep your attention.

Turkey Trot Murder ~ Lucy Stone #24: This addition to the Lucy Stone series was a great read. There were some very serious but timely issues addressed. The opioid epidemic is something that is affecting so many lives and families. And the issue of immigration which is also related to racism was addressed. The author does a great job of treating these subjects with a level of importance they deserve while being gentle with the sensitive nature. There were several plots going on at the same time but this was not at all distracting. It kept your interest and provided a well developed read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
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