Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant

A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery, Book 4

By: Darci Hannah

Narrated by: Amy Melissa Bentley

Lindsey prefers to keep her bakeshop's Halloween decor light and autumnal, rather than gruesome and ghoulish. But everyone knows her lighthouse home is haunted. Some intrepid teens have even tried to break in to witness the resident ghost themselves. Dreading Halloween night, Lindsey reluctantly allows her influencer and podcaster best friend, Kennedy, to host a live ghost hunting investigation in the lighthouse, conducted by a professional team. Protective of her ghost, Lyndsey is understandably nervous about what they might uncover . . .

The segment is uneventful—until things take a terrifying turn. The team freaks out. As Kennedy joins the mad dash outside, she bumps into what looks like the prankster teens' creepy clown costume hanging from a tree. But when Lindsey's dog, Wellington, begins to whine, they make a grim discovery: the clown is no dummy. It's a corpse.

Now Lindsey and company will need to keep their cool if they want a ghost of a chance to solve the murder—and see another Halloween . . .

©2023 Darci Hannah (P)2023 Tantor

A favorite series

I just love all the characters in this book. The stories have a rhythm but with unique story lines. And it makes me want to live in a lighthouse.

Delicious fall cozy

I’m a huge fan of Darci Hannah’s Beacon Harbor Bakery mysteries. This is one of my favorites to date! I’m in love with the atmosphere and the characters. I want to be a part of the community. Once again, I was left salivating, listening to all the fabulous dishes being created, and enjoyed. This mystery was full of intrigue and humor. Cozy fireplace with a mug of hot cider and enjoy!

5 Stars

Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant is an entertaining and enjoyable cozy mystery with engaging characters and a well written plot. I look forward to the next book.

Not a treasure for me

I love this series and characters. As someone who bakes, listening to the books helps me get inspired as I work. This specific book did not hold my interest as they all usually do. I wanted more pumpkin, Halloween, ghosts, and deliciousness. The plot of this one was not really of interest to me and I found it too consuming throughout. I missed all the feels of fall. I’m not an author and I this is just my opinion. I still give this one 5 stars because this series is one of my favorites and so much fun!

A delightful story.

The writing is masterful and the narrator is very talented. I have listened to every book in this series and I can't wait for the next one.

Stories continue to be really well written

I really like this series. Yes, it has baking and dogs and romance and ghosts, but somehow it all goes together in a little different way than other cozy mysteries. The characters keep getting better and the author manages to continue to get the reader invested in their lives. And Welly! Well, who couldn't love that great big lumbering dog? The ghost interactions are just enough to make it interesting. The narrator of this series is, hands down, one of the top ten I've ever listened to and I hope she continues to do this series. She does a good job of changing voices for the characters and reads well, The narration is superb!

Another great addition to a wonderful series!

I love this series it’s like catching up with good friends.
The setting is charming, the mystery fun and not too taxing, and characters who actually act like real people in their 30’s!
So many cozy characters even if they are in their 30s act as if they are ready for a geriatric ward.
I can’t wait for the next book to see how Lindsay & Rory and Tuck & Kennedy relationship progresses!
Ohh and the narration is top notch!

Worse than average cozy Halloween book

Overall, I liked the baking moments and cozy Michigan feel with the underwater archaeology portion of the plot. I also love a cute dog (Wellie not Trixie) but those elements did not redeem the slow pacing and filler descriptions as well as the abundance of one dimensional characters. I would only recommend it to a specific niche person with singular interests in Michigan shipwrecks and cozy mysteries.

cozy scary

Lindsey is being pranked by teens prior to Halloween. They keep attempting to get into the lighthouse and leaving costumes of horror characters. Then Kennedy gets ghost hunters to come to the Lighthouse for Halloween. When they run out in terror, a body is found hanging from a tree.
This story did manage to scare me some at the beginning. And the bad guy did come across as crazy evil. Good thing the author didn’t take it any farther as I do Not do horror.
Bentley did ok as narrator.