Book Club “Halloween Cupcake Murder”
For October we chose a festive read to celebrate Halloween. We wanted something with TREATS as well as tricks, so we selected Halloween Cupcake Murder. This anthology book has stories by three established cozy mystery authors. We couldn’t wait to read their sweet and potentially spooky mysteries.
Book
Halloween Cupcake Murder by Carlene O’Connor, Carol J. Perry, and Liz Ireland
Description:
From Galway, Ireland, to the North Pole, to Salem, Massachusetts, a trio of Halloween mysteries that prove the spookiest season knows no borders . . . and neither does murder!
“The three cozy writers successfully exploit the deadly-cupcake theme in entertaining mysteries that will appeal to readers looking for a holiday treat.” —Library Journal on Halloween Cupcake Murder
HALLOWEEN CUPCAKE MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR
With Galway’s Halloween Mystery Tour only a few days away, Tara Meehan is scouring the town’s curiosity shops for spooky decorations. But when a stranger appears in her salvage shop bearing a cryptic cupcake and an ominous message, Tara suddenly finds herself tangled in a mystery with ancient Gaelic roots . . .
MRS. CLAUS AND THE CANDY CORN CAPER by LIZ IRELAND
Christmastown is pulling out all the stops for their Halloween celebration, but the sweet theme stokes the bitterest of rivalries amongst the elves, until tragedy strikes at Santaland’s newest bakery. It’s up to Mrs. Claus to to unmask a Halloween fiend . . .
A TRIPLE LAYER HALLOWEEN MURDER by CAROL J. PERRY
WICH-TV’s Lee Barrett can’t wait to cover Salem’s month-long Halloween festivities. But rumors swirl after a wealthy bakery owner goes missing. Now, amid Salem’s wicked revelry, Lee must conjure clues to reveal the missing millionaire . . . or the truth about his disappearance . . .
Club
Snack suggestions:
You could go all out with a meal making Beef Burgundy like Aunt Ibby or have Irish pub fare found in Galway, but this time we just ordered some pizza like Lee and Pete on their date night. Instead of focusing on the main meal, we were all about desserts.
Diving into the cupcake theme, we set up a cupcake decorating station and made festive Halloween treats while discussing the book.
You could serve cupcakes outright (and possibly follow the Triple Layer Halloween Cupcake recipe provided in the back of the book) or make the decorating an event like we did. Even if some of the cupcakes are messy, it was a really fun time!
Check out Cozy Crimes’ book club questions that can be used for any mystery.
Here are our questions targeted to Halloween Cupcake Murder:
1. Have you read any of the series that these stories were set in? How did they compare to what you knew of the established series and how did they fit into the timeline? Did these stories make you want to read more books in the series?
2. Do you enjoy anthologies?
3. How did the cozy mysteries utilize the recurring cupcake theme in each tale?
4. How did the Halloween season carry through in each mystery? How did the location of each story affect the holiday?
5. Which mystery was your favorite and why?
6. What did you think of the pacing in these mysteries?
7. In “Halloween Cupcake Murder” there were Irish Halloween traditions and lore presented. How did these further the story or aid the mystery?
8. In “Mrs. Claus and the Candy Corn Caper”, a traditionally Christmas setting has a Halloween spin. Did you enjoy seeing this combination? What were your theories on the two mysteries April investigated?
9. In “A Triple Layer Halloween”, clues reach Lee in various, magical and non-magical ways. Which clues did you enjoy the best and which helped you to solve the crime?
10. Do you enjoy mysteries that have a heavy holiday theme?
