Even though a local minister is helping with the event, another church is protesting what they consider a celebration of a pagan holiday. When a series of mean-spirited pranks - each accompanied by a limerick based on one of the seven deadly sins - begins, the volunteers of the event suspect the protesters might be behind them. When the pranks turn deadly, some of the committee members think it means the end of the marathon. However, Lindy thinks the murders go beyond the marathon, perhaps to a re-emerging drug problem.

With the usual small town group dynamics at play, along with the infused energy of a group of Lindy's citified theater friends and a pair of curious young boys in toe, there is plenty to keep Lindy on her toes as she tries to uncover a murder before the marathon is ruined and the farm lost forever.

This fourth Lindy Haggerty mystery focuses more on her north Jersey suburban home than usual, giving a different perspective on Lindy. She is also having her own problems as her marriage falls apart and she faces a growing attraction to her friend Bill. The cast is chock full of suspects from the spoiled daughter of a wealthy attorney, to the playboy who has breezed into town, to the mysterious Evelyn who has taken a strange interest in the limericks. A favorite, terminally ill English teacher and her flamboyant replacement, one of Lindy's oldest friends whose marriage is also in trouble, round out the small town group.

The mystery has several aspects and readers will enjoy figuring out which pieces of the mysteries are connected and to whom. While there are plenty of red herrings leaving a surprise or two for the end, Halloween Murder is a perfect backdrop for both the evil pranks and the murders, making this an enjoyable, quick read.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry