National bestselling author Eva Gates’s fifth Lighthouse Library mystery will carry fans of Miranda James and Jenn McKinlay to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.Dark deeds in the Lighthouse Library threaten to send Lucy Richardson’s soon-to-be-wed cousin Josie to an early ‘til-death-do-us-part.Winter falls on North Carolina’s Outer Banks as Lucy Richardson and her friends joyfully help her … friends joyfully help her favorite cousin, Josie O’Malley, plan her wedding. The owner and head baker of Josie’s Cozy Bakery and her fiancé, chef Jake Greenblatt, want a small, simple wedding.
But to their horror, Josie’s imperious grandmother, Gloria, descends with the “Louisiana Mafia”: a gaggle of aunts and cousins who intend to take control of the wedding plans. Gloria doesn’t do small and simple, and cousin Mirabelle has her own ideas for Josie’s wedding, something grand and lavish—and paid for by Josie’s parents, of course—that will kickstart her fledgling event planning business and get her work shown on the covers of wedding magazines. To make matters worse, Mirabelle focuses her full Southern charm on the prospective groom…and Jake doesn’t seem entirely adverse to her attentions.
To smooth the waters, Lucy hosts a bridal shower at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. But it turns deadly when Mirabelle collapses—soon after eating the gluten-free treats Josie prepared specifically for her. Now, to save her favorite cousin from prison, Lucy will have to bring a crook to book in this fifth festive Lighthouse Library mystery from national bestselling author Eva Gates.
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Something Read, Something Dead can be read as a standalone if you have not indulged in the previous books in A Lighthouse Library Mystery series. I always enjoy Eva Gates descriptive writing which brings the story to life. I can imagine the beautiful library, the town, the characters, and Lucy’s adorable apartment inside the lighthouse. There are a variety of new characters as Grandma Gloria descends on the town with a group of relatives. Gloria is a Southern lady who believes in proper etiquette and extravagance (which she expects Josie’s parents to pay for, of course). Gloria brings along her own wedding planners to carry out her instructions (oh dear). Mirabelle has her own agenda and is happy to cause mischief wherever she goes. The adorable library cat, Charles is back, and he provides some laugh out loud moments. After Mirabelle’s death, Lucy is not about to let Detective Yarmouth pin the crime on Josie. Lucy immediately starts asking questions so she can quickly close the books on this terrible incident before Josie begins a new chapter of her life married to Jake. The mystery has multiple suspects (all with good motive to harm Mirabelle) plus misdirection to send readers down the wrong path. I was able to identify the killer long before the reveal, but it did not hinder my reading pleasure. There are references to Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers and her main character, Lord Peter Wimsey sprinkled throughout the story. The Outer Banks sounds like a beautiful place to live and work. I believe many of us would want to work and live in a library that is inside a lighthouse (it must be a large lighthouse). It is such a shame that Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is suffering from foundation issues which will be costly to repair. Let us hope that the townspeople will rally around and help with the expensive renovations. I liked the reference to Daryl Wood Gerber and her French Bistro Mystery series (entertaining cozy mystery series). Something Read, Something Dead will delight cozy mystery readers with its engaging characters, charming library, delectable sweet treats, and a bewildering whodunit.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back in North Carolina just in time for Josie and Jake’s wedding. Jake and Josie have plenty of love but very little time. Josie owns the local bakery and Jakes owns a restaurant. All they want is a simple wedding with no big fuss and one that is within their budget. As the date draws near Josie’s grandmother has real concerns about this wedding. Email invitations and people left off the guest list have her in a real tizzy. She will not stand for small and simple. Like a hurricane, she blows into town with the “Louisiana Mafia” (aunts and cousins). She has tasked cousins Florence Fanshaw and Mirabelle Henkel with planning the most over the top wedding possible. She also decides the simple shower at the lighthouse library and reception at Jake’s restaurant will never do and Gloria takes over those plans too. Unfortunately, Mirabelle is also searching for a new husband herself and she seems to have set her sights on JAKE!
Things kick off with Lucy’s shower with a few Louisiana adjustments. But it doesn’t end well. Mirabelle dies shortly after eating the gluten-free goodies Jodie had made just for her. The police decide Josie had the motive, means, and opportunity to pull it off. Lucy knows she didn’t do it. Seriously, first Josie would never kill anyone. And second, Josie would not be stupid enough to kill her cousin and have all the evidence pointed right at her. Clearly a set up, Lucy is on the case and she intends to catch the real killer and throw the book at them so that Josie and Jake can start the next chapter of their lives without Josie behind bars.
I absolutely love the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library on the Outer Banks. The author takes poetic license with the place for it to house all the wonderful things it does. Readers imaginations are easily stretched to believe it too. All the books and rooms and Lucy Aerie apartment on the 4th floor reached by climbing all those steps. I can envision it all perfectly. The structure itself has a little trouble in this installment and I was drawn right into the process and cost of handling the issue.
The characters Ms. Gates has created have become old friends. I was taken aback by the way Grandma Gloria took over everything, not caring at all about Josie’s wishes, but I had to deal with something similar when I was married 36 years ago. Instead of a grandmother, it was my mother driving me crazy for opposite reasons though. Gloria wanted things grander, my mother was very budget oriented. Both were determined to have their way. My mother didn’t like the colors I had chosen for the bridesmaid’s dresses or the style. She thought they were too expensive and our trip to buy dresses turned into a trip to buy fabric and not in peach but lilac. The pattern silhouette chosen was nowhere near what I wanted either and they ended up costing more because we had to pay a seamstress to make them. Both she and I loved to sew and she really thought we could make the six dresses ourselves. And that was just the bridesmaid dresses, I won’t go into my dress or the food or the other things she tried to take over. Thankfully like Josie, I had great friends, family, and a wonderful man that help me pick my battles. Can you tell I really identified with this part of the story? Of course, no one died at my shower but there were a few stressful moments.
All the subplots flowed into the main plot very nicely. I truly enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded and the way the library’s monthly book club selection Busman’s Honeymoon by Dorothy Sayers played into the story. Several more suspects were noted and I had a delightful time following all the clues and detours right along with Lucy. The killer was on my radar but I couldn’t fully commit until the very end.
This is a wonderful addition to this series. The characters are genuine, the setting ideal, and the mystery kept me guessing. This book can be read on its own but I recommend them all.
I came into this series at book 4 and couldn’t wait to read the next installment. Lucy and Josie are like old friends who fit right back into your life with no hesitations like they never left. Who knew Josie’s extended family was so NUTS! I was getting anxiety just reading about them trying to take over the wedding. It made me even more thankful I did not have to worry about that for my own wedding. I really don’t think I could have kept my cool the way Josie did.
I enjoyed that Eva Gates made sure to have plenty of red herrings throughout the book all the while making sure my attention was riveted. I did not guess the villain until it was revealed. The added catastrophe of the lighthouse wall almost made me cry. I have become attached to the library in the lighthouse and Lucy’s little apartment in the aerie. Even though the thought of climbing 100 steps daily makes my knees ache.
I feel as if each book can be read as a stand-alone. I do have plans to go back and read the series from the beginning. I hope you take a chance and pick up Something Read, Something Dead and see for yourself.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
I loved this 5th book in one of my most favourite mystery series.
While Josie and Jake are preparing their small wedding her grandmother and some cousins show up to take over the planning part and wanting to make it a big event. Mirabelle, one of Josie’s cousins starts flirting with Jake which causes some disturbance. When Mirabelle dies from poisoning at the bridal shower Josie becomes the main suspect…
At the same time Jake’s ex-girlfriend shows up in town and tries to win him back.
A great cast of characters and a well plotted mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Highly recommended!
I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Crooked Lane Books and the author provided me with an advance copy.
Something Read, Something Dead (Lighthouse Library Mystery #5) by Eva Gates
This is the fifth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series.
Lucy Richardson is helping her cousin, Josie plan her wedding. But Josie’s Grandma Gloria makes a visit and brings along cousins and a wedding planner, as well as all of her overbearing demands on the wedding plans that everything must be big and better, even down to the cake.
When Josie can’t take any more of her grandma’s overbearing demands and watches her cousin Mirabelle openly flirts with her soon to be husband, Josie says a few heated words and storms out.
What a wonderful, well-planned story with plenty happening with over the top Grandma Gloria who has to have the best, The humour and lightheartedness, and poor Josie who wants nothing more than a small simple wedding.
This book follows Lucy Richardson as she is helping her cousin Josie plan her wedding when Josie’s grandmother and other cousin show up. When her cousin winds up dead the heat is all over Josie? Did she kill her cousin and if she didn’t who did?
This book was full of so much including the library’s structure failing and having to play peacemaker with Josie’s relatives. One Josie has the most problem with is Mirabelle who is trying to turn Josie’s wedding into a three ring circus. Add to the fact that an ex of Josie’s fiancé Jake shows up determined to win her man back which adds more conflict to the situation of whether someone was aiming for Mirebelle or Josie herself?
I love this series so much following Lucy and her friends and family is so much fun you never know what is going to happen next at the lighthouse? Definitely worth checking into the series if you haven’t already. Can’t wait to read the next book!
That was total crazy! My first guess for the killer was wrong, my second guess for killer was wrong, my guess for attempted killer was, you guessed it WRONG! But FINALLY I got the right killer (okay so it was right before the reveal), but still it’s a win. I can only guess what is going to happen in the next book and I bet I get that killer wrong too.
I absolutely love the Lighthouse Library series and every book is fantastic. Each book is filled with wonderful character interations, a plausible murder mystery, and a fantastic and breathtaking setting (at least in my mind, anyway). I love the anticipation the author creates with the death of Mirabelle and the indication that it was Josie and her treats. Knowing Josie didn’t do anything, I loved trying to figure out who did what to the treats without anyone noticing. The mystery of the death of Mirabelle so much to the story. There are so many potential suspects it becomes hard to narrow the list down to any one person. Means, motive, opportunity, lack of alibi all plague those who made it to the list.
As per my reviews of the other books in the series, I love the setting, the characters, and the mysteries in each. Lucy is a wonderful character. She may come from money, but she doesn’t act like it or flaunt her family’s riches. Her character is down-to-earth and likeable. I love Charlene’s obsession of rap music and her passion for wanting to share. I enjoy her slow and chaste relationship with Connor. They are sweet together, yet you are able to feel their chemistry. The secondary characters are unique in their own way and believable. Oh, and how could I forget about Charles?! The library cat is a delightful addition to the cast.
The story is well paced, enjoyable, and full of suspense, anticipation, joy, and redemption. The author did a wonderful job describing the characters and scenery within the book. I was able to visualize the story as it played out. Something Read, Something Dead is a fantastic cozy mystery and addition to the Lighthouse Library series.
I loved how this book was about Josie and Jake, and included Josie’s dad’s side of the family from Louisiana. Lucy and the Lighthouse Library did play a big part in it but they were not the main story line. I love the characters, the library, Charles the library cat, and the Outer Banks setting. The mystery was interesting and I did not see the ending coming. This series continues to keep me guessing on what will happen next. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Loved this book!! Lucy’s cousin, Josie, is getting married and when Josie’s grandmother shows up with her cousin Mirabelle, everything starts going wrong. Josie’s grandmother is determined to do the wedding the way she wants it and enlists Mirabelle to help plan the wedding. When Mirabelle dies after eating poisoned food, Josie becomes a prime suspect. Now, Lucy is determined to find the real killer. The library also experiences an issue with the foundation and needs to raise money. I love this series, the characters, and Charles the cat! The idea of a library in a lighthouse is so intriguing. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!!
Something Read, Something Dead the 5th Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates is as usual an awesome read! The story grabs you at the beginning and keeps you reading until the very end. Lucy and friends are joyfully helping Cousin Josie O’Malley plan her wedding to Jake Greenblatt when the bride’s Grandmother and Cousins descend intent on helping plan the wedding weather Josie wants it or not. When one of the Cousins ends up dead at the bridal shower it’s up to Lucy to find the real killer before Josie is wrongfully accused. I received an ARC for my honest review.
cozy-mystery, library-cat, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, lawyers, family-dynamics, friendship, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths *****
A lighthouse on the Outer Banks where the town library is housed along with a library cat and a very interesting woman who is a good friend, has some real characters for relatives, and a gift for sleuthing/snooping. The publisher’s blurb is pretty extensive so there’s no need to recap or do the spoiler thing, but it’s all about the characters, plot twists, and red herrings isn’t it? Especially when dealing with local law as well as the state police detective! It kept me reading late into the night and enjoying every bit of it!
Did you know that it’s part of a series? I didn’t know until after I read it and I went to see what else she’s written!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Something Read, Something Dead by Eva Gates is the fifth book in the Lighthouse Library series and grabbed my attention from the first page.
I have read every one of the books in this series and am always excited when a new one is about to be released. Ms. Gates writes a story filled with likable and relatable characters. At this point in the series, the characters feel like old friends to me. I want to move down to the Outer Banks so I can hang out at Josie’s Cozy Bakery and go to the Lighthouse library. However, I don’t want the opportunity to meet Josie’s extended family from Louisiana. Once you read it, you’ll understand that sentiment.
The plot was quickly paced with more than one mystery to solve, several suspects – even Josie’s family from Louisiana aren’t exempt, red herrings and enough twists that kept me totally in the dark until Lucy’s reveal.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
This novel is fifth in the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series, and the best I’ve read by Eva Gates! Such a delight it is to be back in the Outer Banks, visiting the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library! From Charles, the loving library cat, to Lucy, the Assistant Librarian, it is a wonderful place where Lucy lives in the tiny fourth floor apartment and works in the library housed in now a non-working lighthouse.
Lucy’s best friend and cousin, Josie, is getting married in a few short weeks, and there are still decisions to make and tasks to complete. Including Josie finding a wedding dress. As she and fiancé Jake are keeping the wedding small, they emailed invitations to their friends and family. When learning that her granddaughter was not sending proper engraved invitations, her grandmother Gloria flew in from Louisiana with her entourage of Mirabelle, a cousin who will be a bridesmaid, Florence, one of Gloria’s nieces, and Gloria’s daughter Mary Ann. Mirabelle and Florence are in the event planning business together. With their expertise and Gloria’s experience, they want to do the wedding of the season. One little thing holds them back; Josie and the budget she needs to stay within.
When the “Louisiana Mafia” meets Jake, Mirabelle shamelessly flirts with him while Gloria and Florence make suggestions for the wedding and reception. Hard as it is to forgive and move on, Josie does so. Next on the schedule is a small bridal shower that Lucy hosts. Josie bakes the sweet treats, including a separate plate of gluten-free goodies for Mirabelle, who recently changed her diet. The shower starts out beautifully but ends with Mirabelle extremely ill and being rushed to the hospital, where she later died. State police take over the investigation, and Josie’s Cozy Bakery is closed for inspection by the police and health department. To top it off, a wannabe journalist tweets terrible photos and potentially damaging info for all to see.
A heavy wind and rain storm brought water in the library through a crack in the wall. The crack goes through the foundation, and only major, costly repairs might be able to save the lighthouse if the work is done soon. The city will give only 10% of the estimate, and the cost is too steep for the usual methods of fundraising.
The author, primarily using actions and conversations, show our favorite people as three-dimensional folks. I envy Lucy’s job! I love how she left challenges behind in Boston and went to her favorite place in the world to stay with her favorite people, and begins a new life. She enjoys the friends she made during the years she spent summers there and is now dating the mayor.
This is one of the best cozy mysteries I’ve read so far this year. The beautiful east coast setting is described very well. The mysteries and the underlying struggle to find a way to repair the lighthouse make it a riveting read. With Josie a murder suspect, her business and her marriage may already be doomed. Plot twists move the mystery in different directions. It was a challenge to find out who the real killer is, who attempts to kill Lucy, and why. I never would have figured out one of the motives! I was very pleased with the solutions to the crimes and the library needs, and highly recommend this to fans of the author, love east coast lighthouses, cats, libraries, and the folks connected with them.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of the through the publisher and NetGalley; a positive review was not required.
Awesome Lighthouse Library Cozy Mystery
This is a wonderful cozy mystery that takes place in a lighthouse that has been converted into a library. The setting is the Outer-banks near Nag’s Head in January. What a wonderful setting! The plot is great with plenty of suspects, motives and literary references. This is a memorable story that I will enjoy reading again. I also plan on reading more of this series and more of this author’s books.
Something Read, Something Dead is the fifth book in the Lighthouse Library series.
Lucy Richard is excited for her cousin, Josie whose wedding will be coming up soon. Josie and her fiance Jake want a small and simple wedding with a reception to be held at Jake’s restaurant. That was how the planning was going until Josie’s, Grandmother Gloria gets wind of the pending wedding and arrives, unannounced, with Josie’s Aunt Mary Anna and cousins Mirabelle and Florence. Gloria announces that no way is her granddaughter and proceeds to suggest that Mirabelle, along with Florence have a wedding planning business, plan a “proper” wedding. Unfortunately, at one of planning meeting where Josie has heard enough of Mirabelle plans and says that she hopes someone would “bump” off Mirabelle.
Lucy has planned that the bridal shower will be held at the Brodie Island Library, where she works. Gloria reluctantly agrees to this and is cordial to everyone. Soon the food is brought and everyone is taking advantage of the delicious spread. Then as things are winding down, Mirabelle starts to complain about not feeling well and is rushed to the hospital and succumbs shortly after arriving there. Tests made show that she died from poisoning. The source of poison were gluten-free pastries that Josie had specially prepared for Mirabelle. State Police detective Yarmouth is brought in to investigate Mirabelle death, as local detective Sam Watson is too close to Josie and her family. Yarmouth seems to only want to gather information that will convict Josie, so Lucy, her friends, and family set out to clear Josie’s name.
I always enjoy visiting the Brodie Island Lighthouse Library and this was no exception. The story is well-written and plotted with a very enjoyable and believable cast of characters. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing to the end.
Something Read, Something Dead is the fifth book in Eva Gates’ Lighthouse Library Mystery series. In this story, librarian Lucy Richardson is helping her cousin, Josie O’Malley, plan her wedding to restaurant owner Jake Greenblatt. Josie wants a simple wedding with just close family and friends.
But then the Louisiana mafia comprised of her grandmother Gloria O’Malley, her Aunt Mary Anna, and more distant cousins Mirabelle and Florence arrive. Gloria will not hear of a simple wedding for her only granddaughter and cousins Mirabelle and Florence have an event planning business and want to take over the wedding planning. Their new plans skyrocket the expenses and balloon the guest list. Josie and Jake have both been greatly helped financially by their families and therefore want to take on the wedding and its expense themselves, but they none can shoulder such extravagant plans.
The simple shower Lucy is throwing in the Lighthouse library for Josie, her Aunt Ellen, and their friends, many of whom are also library volunteers, does not meet Gloria’s expectations but she is cordial. The afternoon event goes smoothly until the very end when Mirabelle says she isn’t feeling well and collapses, dying a little later at the hospital. As Lucy prepared the food and Josie furnished the desserts, including a special plate of gluten free for Mirabelle, they move to the forefront of the investigation when it is determined Mirabelle was poisoned.
With many twists and turns, outside characters adding to the fray, and a state police investigator set on his perpetrator and working to get the evidence to support his theory, it appears to be up to Lucy to use her logic skills to put the puzzle pieces together to clear her cousin. And Lucy does rise to the occasion, even after her own close call.
As with the previous books in this series, this is a well plotted mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it.
This is another book from the Lighthouse Library Mystery series and who wouldn’t love a library in a lighthouse. Water views, lighthouse charm, fun friends and books. Give me a job now. Except for the ghost. I forgot to mention the ghost. Who will die in the lighthouse this time because of the ghost?
This is set in a charming town on the coast with almost everything in walking distance. A quiet town except for tourist season. Have I just described your dream? Well that’s how well Eva Gates described this setting. Wait, I forgot, she put in two restaurant owners and enough seafood dishes and bakery items to make you be running to the frig every time you take a break. But before you pick up just any old yummy to put in your mouth, maybe you should find out where it really came from.
There is one thing you might not want…a snobbish, blue blood grandmother to try and usurp the charming little SMALL wedding you have planned; just a few guests, small inexpensive venue, low cost all the way.
Each of these characters was fun and had their own distinct personalities. A neurotic on, a fun-loving one, a snob, a sweetie, just all kinds of life-like characters. And you can surely tell from this review that I really enjoyed the book.