"Monster Mash Murder" by Leslie Langtry: Review/Giveaway

Review by Becky Sue Epstein 

Details at the end of this book on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase it. 

“EEEEEEAAAA!” is the beginning of the first chapter, and that’s pretty much how I felt throughout the whole book. In a good way.

Thirtysomething CIA operative Merry Wrath was suddenly outed and forced to retire. Completely lost, she returned to her hometown. Never mind that Merry is petrified of children; her best friend somehow roped her into co-leading a troupe of tween-aged Girl Scouts. And despite Merry’s best intentions, they all get involved in solving the murders which just happen to occur in their vicinity.

---

➡ switch to KingsRiverLife.com for more articles ⬅

---

Image Source Gemma Halliday Publishing

In this book, the murder investigation is interwoven with the girls governing their hometown of Who’s There, Iowa, while on deadline to build the largest, scariest Halloween house ever, for a local fundraiser. Also figuring in this tale are werewolves, a blood-sniffing raptor, tiny hamster detectives, Chechens, zombies, and a scary coroner/surgeon, some of which are real. 

Author Leslie Langtry throws everything into the mix here, so cleverly that you just have to give in and try to keep up. Full disclosure, I have read some of the books in this series before. I liked them so much that I am very slowly doling them out to myself, in order not to devour them all at once. So, in my own life, I am quite a few adventures behind.

To thoroughly enjoy this new book, I suspended disbelief, trusting that my burning questions would be answered somehow. Like, when did one of the tween scouts become mayor of the city – which she runs with terrifying efficiency? How did another scout acquire a Washington informant who provides top-secret international info on command? How do the four Kaitlins in the group constantly read each other’s minds – and perhaps other people’s? Is it possible that, with her ingrained, undercover training, Merry Wrath has taught these scouts all too well? Of course!

Speaking of Merry, when did she figure out that her destiny was to marry the hot police chief who moves in across the street, instead of her tantalizingly handsome CIA handler, who keeps re-appearing in her life?

Have I lost you? Not to worry. You get the idea. With Merry in charge, international covert operations are seamlessly intertwined with a troupe of earnest, frighteningly competent twelve-year-old girls. Is it any wonder that Merry can’t keep her sleuthing completely compartmentalized? And that she occasionally finds herself clandestinely benefiting from the super-powers of her pack?

Wouldn’t you?

Monster Mash Murder is Leslie Langtry’s millionth (or 28th) book in the series, and she never falters. Best-selling author Langtry also writes the Greatest Hits and the Aloha Lagoon series, and is somehow also finding time to write stand-alone books.

To enter to win an ebook copy of Monster Mash Murder, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "monster,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen October 28, 2023. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter.  If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors! A new episode goes up next week.

You can use this link to purchase the book or click here. If you have adblocker on you may not be able to see the Amazon link:

While traveling the world and writing about wine and spirits, Becky Sue Epstein read cozy mysteries to relax. One day it occurred to her that she could combine the two pursuits. She recently began to write wine-themed cozy mysteries. Hopefully, her agent will love them.

 

 

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.