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Leslie Meier
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Back to School Murder (Lucy Stone Mysteries, No. 4) Hardcover – January 1, 1997

by Leslie Meier (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 823 ratings
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Struggling with her job, night classes, and the responsibilities of single parenthood, sometime sleuth Lucy Stone investigates the bombing of the local elementary school, which has resulted in a death and the implication of a teacher.
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  1. Book 4 of 30
    Lucy Stone Mysteries
  2. Print length
    268 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Kensington Pub Corp
  5. Publication date
    January 1, 1997
  6. Dimensions
    5.25 x 1 x 7.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1575662167
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1575662169
  9. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

The Maine village of Tinker's Cove is again awash in murder and mayhem (Trick or Treat Murder, 1996, etc.), but not to worry- -Lucy Stone, wife to contractor Bill, mother of four; part-timer at the local paper; evening student at the local college; and above all, amateur sleuth--is on the case. Carol Crane, new assistant principal at the elementary school, has rescued a disabled child from inside the school just minutes before an explosive device goes off--an anonymous warning call to the police had evacuated everyone else. Lucy, helping Pennysaver editor Ted Stillings write the story, is intrigued by Carol's past, in which heroic rescues seem to have figured prominently, and by her connections to Lucy's seductive English professor Quentin Rea and to the town's fundamentalist preacher DeWalt Smythe and school politics. Carol's background assumes more urgency when she's discovered smothered to death in her apartment and well-liked high-school coach Josh Cunningham is charged with the murder. While police chief Crowley rests on his laurels, Lucy, unconvinced, scurries from home to job, to class, to daughter's day-care, to supermarket, finally, between chores, engineering a near deadly confrontation with the real killer. A tad more substantial than the author's previous outings, but still bogged down in domestic detail, vacuous dialogue, and our heroine's mopey musings. Harmless ho-hum. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Pub Corp; First Edition (January 1, 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 268 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1575662167
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1575662169
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1 x 7.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 823 ratings

About the author

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Leslie Meier

Leslie Meier

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I started writing in the late '80s when I was attending graduate classes at Bridgewater State College. I wanted to become certified to teach high school English and one of the required courses was Writing and the Teaching of Writing. My professor suggested that one of the papers I wrote for that course was good enough to be published and I sent it off to Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine's Department of First Stories. I got $100 for the story and I've been writing ever since. The teaching, however, didn't work out.

My books draw heavily on my experience as a mother of three and my work as a reporter for various weekly newspspers on Cape Cod. My heroine, Lucy Stone, is a reporter in the fictional town of Tinker's Cove, Maine, where she lives in an old farmhouse (quite similar to mine on Cape Cod!) with her restoration carpenter husband Bill and four children. As the series has progressed the kids have grown older, roughly paralleling my own family. We seem to have reached a point beyond which Lucy cannot age -- my editor seems to want her to remain forty-something forever -- though I have to admit I am dying to write "Menopause is Murder"!

I usually write one Lucy Stone mystery every year and as you can see, my editor likes me to feature the holidays in my books.Of course Christmas is one of my favorite times of year and my newest mystery{released September 2013} is called "Christmas Carol Murder.".I have always loved the Alistair Sims movie version of Charles Dicken's ,"The Christmas Carol",so I was excited to be able to have Lucy encounter some modern day versions of Dicken's classic characters.

In addition to the recent holiday mysteries I have written such as "Chocolate Covered Murder"{Valentine's Day}and "Easter Bunny Murder",I have written one travel mystery in which Lucy and her friends ,travel to London,"English Tea Murder".Since I love to travel I can only hope that Lucy will be able to solve some mysteries in some other cities and countries also.My husband and I did stay in an apartment in Paris this past year {big hint!}

My books are classified as cozies but a good friend insists they are really "comedies of manners" and I do enjoy expressing my view of contemporary American life.

Now that the kids are grown -- I now have four grandchildren -- my husband and I are enjoying our empty nest on Cape Cod which we share with our new very frisky kitty ,Sylvester.I am busy writing the next Lucy Stone Mystery which is due out this Spring.I do hope you will enjoy it!

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
823 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Robert Edler
5.0 out of 5 stars SUNDAY AT THE BARBECUE WITH LUCY STONE
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2001
Verified Purchase
As I said in an earlier review, summer afternoons are perfect for exploring the exploits of Tinker's Cove murder meddling sleuth Lucy Stone. So I decided to use my second of three books as an excuse to crash under the tree at the annual family burnt meat ritual. So while the pork steaks (a part of the pig known only to residents of Saint Louis) were slowly cooking on the grill I was quickly turning the pages of Leslie Meier's Back To School Murder.
The start of this adventure is a real blast - a high noon bomb blast at the grade school Lucy's daughter Sara attends. Luckily all the children escape injury including one who is rescued in the nick of time by assistant principal, Carol Crane. But within a couple of chapters she is rewarded for her heroism by being murdered. So, who done it? Was it Mr. Mopps, the school janitor, the high school science teacher, Lucy's night school English professor, or the sleazy minister? As usual Lucy is convinced the wrong person has been arrested for the murder and so she sets out to solve the crime herself.
Two complications to Lucy's solving the crime as well as being able to meet her husband's demands for having dinner on the table at six sharp each day have been added in this book. First, she has become a part-time working mother (at the Pennysaver weekly newspaper) and second she has returned to college. But we all know that this won't stop her from discovering the identity of the murderer at the end of this very enjoyable book. Only this time I was at least a chapter or several pages ahead of her sleuthing abilities.
10 people found this helpful
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CKozaki
4.0 out of 5 stars Small town politics almost convicted the wrong person
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2021
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There are lots of every day crisis that sometimes detracts from the investigation. Lucy tries to balance her family, job, and friends and still tries to find the truth. She looks for information following hints and personal beliefs to finally lead her to the truth.
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sherilyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Headline news story?
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2023
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I really enjoyed this story, I would recommend it to all my friends and family. I love a good mystery that has a surprise ending. This story held my attention from begging to end, all the while trying to figure out who done it. I'll be sure to read more of Leslie Meyer's work.
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Kathy Cope
5.0 out of 5 stars That you can depend on the seller
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023
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This was a book it came when expected and in good shape.
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Jacque Harris
3.0 out of 5 stars Decent Story For Killing Time
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2015
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Fairly decent story line with a moderate number of spelling and/or grammar problems. Characters aren't particularly compelling or very interesting. Lucy poorly manages her time, makes very unwise decisions and is way to self involved but she grows on you. Her husband and kids are only there as foils to move the story line along. However I am rarely able to guess the true culprit as it often turns out to be some barely mentioned character until the "surprise ending". OK read to kill an afternoon or at bedtime.
One person found this helpful
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Donna Reid
4.0 out of 5 stars Cozy mystery
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2013
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I am enjoying these mysteries by Leslie Meier. Each one is just different enough but with continuing characters. I like Lucy Stone.
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carmmie
5.0 out of 5 stars Back to School Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery Series Book 4)
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2014
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Another great Lucy Stone mystery, Leslie Meier tells a great story. Her characters are fully developed and I feel like I know Lucy Stone, her family and her friends. Each one of the Lucy Stone mysteries travels a well developed path, leaving the reader guessing who did it until the end. She builds suspense as the story develops. so that you can not put down the book .
2 people found this helpful
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S. Carmony
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fast and Good Read
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2014
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I just discovered this series a week or so ago, and I love it! The mysteries are reminiscent of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. The focus is on putting the everyday details together rather than on bizarre turns beyond the realm of most people's reality. For the most part, the characters are decent people who are not doing drugs and murdering others as a regular practice. The main character is a good mother who loves her kids and husband--nice change of pace. Although I also love Lee Child's Jack Reacher, I very much enjoy this series, and this one was another good read.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

H. A. Fairgrieve
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2001
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As a very new devotee of what you term "Cozy Mysteries" this book ,along with three other authors, was my first read-- and I couldnt put it down! As an English reader this was first foray into "small town America" as I believe its known. The characters were so believable and the various family situations so true to life I wished I might move there immediately!! I particularly enjoyed the holiday theme, and Lucy is a very believable amateur detective. I ordered my next book within days and cant wait to read the entire series!...
5 people found this helpful
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RAB
2.0 out of 5 stars Loss of Direction Murder
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2012
Verified Purchase
A regular football Mum with her family at the centre of her life suddenly thinks she's a desirable sexy siren and it doesn't work. A pity because her stories have, up to now been enjoyable and entertaining.
Go back to what you know and what you do best. Back To School Murder: Lucy Stone Series, Book 4
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