Something Read, Something Dead

Lighthouse Library Mystery #5

by Eva Gates

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 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.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Contemporary, Books About Books

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2019

About the author

Eva Gates is a pseudonym of Vicki Delany.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something Read, Something Dead is the 5th Lighthouse Library Mystery novel written by Eva Gates. I've read the first four books in the collection as well as several other series penned by the author under another name, Vicki Delany. All her books are enjoyable and are ones I look forward to reading. This series takes place in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where Lucy Richardson is a ~30ish assistant librarian who's relocated to be closer to her aunt and the ocean. Originally from Boston, she escaped a bad job and a failing engagement (that never really happened)... and her life has been so much better ever since. In this installment, her cousin Josie is getting married, and all she wants is a low-key wedding. Unfortunately, Grandma (on her father's side, not Lucy's side) won't hear of it. Gloria is a high society matron from Louisiana, and the woman has insisted on a huge wedding.

One of Josie's cousins comes along and gets herself murdered at the wedding shower. Was it another angry family member? Someone out to make it look like Josie was guilty because they want her life / future husband all to themselves? A weird connection to random visitors in town? Lots of different angles, but truthfully, it was quite obvious from the beginning who the culprit would turn out to be. That said, I adore these types of cozies, especially when it's all about family drama. The other big side story was a comeuppance for the library board members who are trying to undermine the place. This time, the building has a serious structural issue and money is needed to keep it open. How both stories come together is refreshing and made me smile. Looking forward to the next one.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something Read, Something Dead is the 5th book in the Lighthouse Library mystery series. I enjoy the series for its characters, humor and mystery plots....but also because the series is set in Nags Head, NC. I love to visit Nags Head! I've been to the Bodie Island Lighthouse -- climbed to the top, bought the t-shirt, love the place! So, being a Carolinian, I love this cozy mystery series!

I will say that I do have to suspend reality while I read these books. Bodie Lighthouse in the books and the real deal are quite different. Bodie Lighthouse is not big enough to house a library and an apartment...not even close. It's basically big enough to house the winding staircase to the top, and that's it. But I'm willing to forget that and enjoy imagining what it would be like for the tall, magestic, black and white striped landmark to house a library. :)

In this 5th visit to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, Librarian Lucy Richardson has a lot going on. Her cousin Josie is trying to plan her wedding, but apparently not fast enough for her Grandma Gloria. Gloria shows up with wedding planners in tow, expecting to take over the arrangements. Fussing about the venues, caterers, menus, dresses, etc ensues. All that fuss alone causes enough commotion all by itself....but it gets fundamentally worse when one of the planners drops dead at the wedding shower. Then a contractor finds major foundation damage to the lighthouse. Lucy is beside herself trying to investigate a murder....and save the library.

Great addition to this fun series. I love the mix of humor, mystery and NC coast quirkiness. :) I highly recommend both reading this series and visiting Nags Head! :)

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. This review is gluten free.**

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

for my thoughts on this book and other cozy mysteries subscribe to my YouTube channel @:https://t.co/Jx58B4KNW5?amp=1 ...more

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outer Banks, North Carolina. Present day. Eva Gates’ Something Read Something Dead (Lighthouse Library Mysteries, #5) finds Lucy Richardson involved with her ‘favorite cousin’s’, Josie O’Malley, Winter wedding plans. Josie of Josie’s Cozy Bakery and her fiancé plan on having a small wedding, but Josie’s grandmother and the ‘Louisiana Mafia’ descend on Josie and her family to take over the planning of wedding. Josie’s fiancé has almost a bigger problem. An ex-girlfriend appears of Jake’s appears from NYC and is going to get Jake back no matter the cost to Josie or anyone. This ex is definite trouble. Josie, Jake, Lucy, and everyone best be extremely careful, but even with all the great characters on their toes, a death occurs when an invitee to Josie’s bridal shower, given by Lucy at the Lighthouse Library, dies. A good installment to this series, but a bit convoluted.. 4 stars.

[JoAn · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
This book is worth reading just for Lucy’s denouncement scene alone. I thought that the killer would wind up being Aunt Gloria’s daughter Mary Anna, because Florence really didn’t want the victim killed because she needed her. It never occurred to me that Florence’s target was Gloria because of her ill treatment of her.

I really liked the plot of this book, you had two things to care about
Josie is a great character and I really wanted Lucy to solve the crime to clear her cousin and the subplot that put the library itself in danger was almost as important to me as the actual murder.



Cozies Reading Challenge

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun cozy mystery, my first read, though 5th in the Lighthouse Library series. I loved the idea of a library in a lighthouse. It gave a warm fun feeling to imagine the entire setting.

Librarian Lucy's cousin was getting married and in the hoopla, one of the planners Mirabelle dropped dead. And Lucy investigated

The story moved at a swift pace with lots of humor. The characters were all different and very sweet. Grandma Gloria was really overbearing, I wanted someone to tell her to chill. The author Eva Gates's writing was smooth, with all the scenes in the mystery settling well. The author kept me guessing till the end about the murderer.

Overall a fun fast read

[Grandma Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic series. Highly recommend.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It's a very light summer read, even though it takes place in the winter on the Outer Banks. Perhaps just a bit overlong on the weak plot. I still like the Bodie Island Lighthouse library setting and Lucy as a resident librarian; wonder if there will be more in this series.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth installment of the Lighthouse Library series. It's January on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Lucy's cousin Josie, the owner of a successful bakery, is planning her wedding to restaurant owner Jake. Josie wants to keep the wedding small and intimate but her grandmother and cousins from New Orleans arrive to plan a bridal shower. Lucy offers to host it at the Lighthouse library and all is going well, until her cousin Mirabelle dies of poisoning and Josie is the prime suspect. There is also a subplot where the lighthouse is cracking and funds are needed to repair it.


I really like this series. The characters are fun but the setting is what really attracts me. I lived in this area for a time and used to sit in my car in the Bodie parking lot for my lunch break when I had business in Manteo. While I enjoyed the development of Josie's character, I didn't care for so much of the focus to be on the out of town relatives; they were very unpleasant. I look forward to reading more of how Lucy's relationship with Connor progresses.


Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the 5th book in the Lighthouse Library Cozy Mystery series. I have read the first four books in this series before picking up this book. I do think you can read this book as a standalone without any problems. I love this cozy mystery series. The series takes place in the outer banks of NC, and that is where I grow up. The fact it took place on the outer banks of NC is why I first pick up this book series, but since then I have felling in love with the series.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of cozy mysteries, I thought I would be onto a winner with this fifth book in ‘A Lighthouse Library Mystery’ series! “Something Read, Something Dead” ticked all the right boxes before I had even started reading. The setting - a library in a lighthouse, no less - and an eye-catching front cover - all the makings of a great read for me. The concept of a library in a lighthouse is incredibly alluring and the thought of living and working there even more so. This location is particularly enticing for me as I live on the coast near a lighthouse!

I have not read the earlier books in the series, but I didn’t feel as though I had missed out as it wasn’t particularly difficult to catch up with the characters and their roles.

Best-selling author, Eva Gates has drawn a lot of fun characters in this fabulous cozy mystery. Likeable Lucy is a librarian who recently moved to the Outer banks and she had a lot going on in this book. Protagonist Lucy had the necessary attributes of any great sleuth - intelligence, curiosity and keenness.

I was especially fond of Eva Gates’ portrayal of endearing Grandmother Gloria. She was depicted as being a bit of a car crash but was always very entertaining. Charlie, the library cat, was, of course, one of my favourites too.

There aren’t many settings as perfect as a library located within a lighthouse, and Eva Gates made great use of this. Outer Banks, North Carolina is a fine coastal town, with a real sense of community and a general feeling of nostalgia. I could really feel its wild beauty and this, as well as a town full of secrets, made it a brilliant backdrop for a murder investigation.

Another of my favourite aspects of this novel was the fluidity of the writing. The details of the plot were very well executed and every chapter left me with a compelling need to read on.

The author did a brilliant job of balancing a few different story-lines and even potentially set things up for another book in the series. A couple of events jumble matters up somewhat and make figuring out the identity of the perpetrator more challenging. There was a sense of increasing danger as the story progressed, which definitely helped to keep my interest.

Reading “Something Read, Something Dead” was my chance to discover another new favourite author to add to my ever-growing list and I’m happy to be able to say I have definitely achieved this goal.

I very much look forward to returning to the Outer Banks, North Carolina with Lucy on a future occasion and reading the earlier books in the series, too!

Thank you for a complimentary digital copy of this novel, sent at my own request, from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this series. I really did. I love the author's other series [written under another name] and had high hopes for this one. And while this book wasn't nearly as bad as one of the previous ones [and is much better read rather than listened to - that narrator cannot do southern accents to save her life], it still was not a really great read. The only reason it got two stars was because the ending was really great - the reveal and the why and how was really well done.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of the things that bugged me the most about this book and that is how they dealt with what it means to be gluten-free and how everyone reacted to that. As someone who has celiac disease and HAS to eat gluten-free, nothing upsets me more than people who don't do their research about it [and assumes that ALL gluten free food is gross; I will admit there is stuff out there that is gross, but there is much more that is delicious and in many cases BETTER than their gluten filled counterparts] and write about it like it is some fad that is just gross and has nothing good to offer food-wise. It is a dangerous thing as it will confirm what many people think already and will make an already rough road to travel even harder for those of us who's lives depend on safe food to eat. That part of the story-line [and the idea that Josie, an accomplished baker, could not make delectable gluten free desserts - my niece who is NOT a trained baker makes incredible gluten free desserts that everyone eats and loves, so you cannot tell me that Josie wouldn't be very well versed in that art] was very distressing and upsetting and really almost resulted in me giving this book a very low rating. Only the ending and some of the other story-line kept that from happening. PLEASE do your research about things that are medically related if you are going to write about them and please take into consideration what your flippant attitude will do those who struggle with this every single day.

I will not be reading any of these [should she write them]; I just do not enjoy then enough to try and continue with them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lighthouse Mystery #5

Back in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Lucy Richardson, our resident library dweller and worker, is trying to keep her cousin Josie calm and plan Josie's wedding to Jake.

Everyone loves Josie and her Cozy Bakery and also her fiance' who is a chef with his own restaurant. They know they want simple and small. But there is still a dress to buy, flowers to arrange and showers to host.

To everyone's horror, the New Orleans branch of Josie's family shows up and apparently left their manners at home. Between Grandma Gloria pushing everyone around and insisting on changing every detail of the wedding, as well as aunts and cousins who are more interested in making a buck off the affair. They truly were a horrible lot.

When one of the more obnoxious cousins ends up dead at the bridal shower, even the cousins are pointing fingers at Josie! Lucy of course is diving right into this case to save her friends reputation, at the same time that the lighthouse seems to be about to crumble down.

You need a few things for a really fine cozy mystery and no matter what name she is writing under, this author has a knack for creating characters that are relateable to most of us. The location? Well a lighthouse library! In the Outer Banks? There should be a murder, but not too gory, and more than a few sketchy characters to keep you guessing. This one hit every mark as usual!

Well Done!

Netgalley/ March 13th 2019 by Crooked Lane Books

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Richardson is helping her cousin Josie O'Malley planned her wedding Jake Greenblatt in the fifth book of the Lighthouse Library series. Josie's relatives from out of town agave arrived for the wedding. Her autocratic Grandmother is determined to change the wedding to her suit her not Josies. She has degreed that Mirabelle, a cousin has an elaborate wedding scheduled much to Josie's dismay. Lucy as maid of honor decided to hold a shower for Josie at the Gatehouse library. At the shower, Mirabelle dies and Josie becomes the main suspect in the case. Lucy needs to find an to save the answer to save Josie business and keep her from prison. I highly recommend this book and series.

Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was even better than the last book, and I really liked that one a lot. While this is only the second book I've read in the series (I seriously do need to start it at the beginning), I'm never lost, because the character relationships and previous happenings are referenced or explained, and...I like that there are never any spoilers.

Josie and Jake's wedding was coming up soon and when the "Louisiana Mafia" as Josie called her Grandma Gloria, aunt and cousins on her dad's side, showed up, Josie was nearly tempted to grab Jake and elope. One of the cousins died after eating a dessert at Josie's shower at the lighthouse, and since the dessert was made by Josie, her bakery was closed for the investigation, and she was the main person of interest. Sam Watson who was the usual detective had to step to the side and allow the state detective to take over, and it wasn't easy for Lucy to investigate without him getting angry.

There was an awesome twist toward the end that I never saw coming, and I hadn't really figured out the killer. I had it down to two people, but no particular reason, so it was fun to watch it play out. I especially liked that Lucy had all the suspects and both detectives gathered at her aunt Ellen's house and was able to do her big reveal there, like in so many TV shows and older mysteries.

The side story of the library desperately needing $100K for emergency repairs was interesting and even had a little drama of its own, when someone spread rumors that the donations would revert to the town's operating fund if the library didn't raise the total (which was a total lie). In the end, everything worked out great and I was very pleased with the book's ending as well. While I'm anxious for the next book, I hope I can get caught up with the first three before it comes out!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[Kelli V Spann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This, the fifth book in this entertaining series, and my fourth, was true to form. Lighthouses have always held a dear place in my heart. The drama in this mystery, as in all the books, surrounds the lighthouse itself. The basic formula of a murder, who done it, with other surrounding drama - holds true in this book - but, if it ain’t broke . . .. This is a wonderful addition to this series. The characters are authentic, the setting delightful, and the mystery kept me guessing. If you are in the mood for a light, cozy mystery, any of the books in this series would fit the bill. This book can be read on its own but I recommend them all - in order, if possible.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lighthouse has a crack threatening continuing library operations unless significant funds are raised. Josie's upcoming wedding brings in distant relatives from New Orleans who think she's way behind on her wedding planning and try to take over. When one of them shows up dead, Josie becomes a suspect. The state police send in their own detective since the local law enforcement know the main suspect too well. Officer Watson doesn't even try to dissuade Lucy from her investigation in his usual manner. The action takes place during winter when tourism is slow on the Outer Banks. I figured this one out much earlier than Lucy did, but it didn't stop me from enjoying my trip to the Outer Banks with the enjoyable cast of characters, including Charlie the lighthouse cat. I received an advance electronic copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something Read, Something Dead by Eva Gates is the fifth A Lighthouse Library Mystery. Lucy Richardson is helping her cousin, Josie O’Malley plan a small and simple wedding to chef, Jake Greenblatt. Unfortunately, Gloria O’Malley, Josie’s grandmother, does not feel the wedding is progressing the way she desires. Gloria descends upon Outer Banks with a group the relatives call the “Louisiana Mafia” to take over the wedding plans. The mafia includes Florence Fanshaw and Mirabelle Henkel who run Festivities by Fanshaw. Gloria, Florence, and Mirabelle have extravagant plans for the nuptials and reception. They are completely ignoring the wishes of the bride and groom. Twice-divorced Mirabelle is on the prowl and takes to flirting with Jake. As if that is not enough, Jake’s old girlfriend has moved to town and is determined to win back the bridegroom. Lucy hosts Josie’s bridal shower at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library with the help of her friends. Josie provides the sweets from her bakery along with some gluten free options for Mirabelle. At the end of the shower, Mirabelle becomes ill, collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Mirabelle passes away and foul play is suspected. Detective Yarmouth from the North Carolina State Police is overseeing the case and he has placed Josie at the top of the suspect list. Lucy dons her sleuthing cap to clear her cousin of suspicion. Can Lucy wade through the suspects to identify the killer or will Josie be saying I do behind bars?

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.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read!!

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As captured in my review of the 4th novel in this series,

"There are multiple cozy mysteries with the librarian as amateur sleuth but this series continues as my all-time favorite as I am simply enthralled by the library setting. The library is in the Bodie Island Lighthouse on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Using this picturesque setting the author has created an extraordinary library within the interior that also provides accommodation of a studio apartment for the assistant librarian Lucy Richardson complete with a reading nook with bench seat and ocean view at the window. Add to this idyllic setting a handsome Himalayan cat named Charles (in honor of Mr. Charles Dickens) to supervise library activities and provide purrs and company during apartment time."

Even though the title implied there would be another opportunity for Lucy to put her investigative skills to work I wasn't sure if there would be a murder as concentration of this novel in the series was focused on the upcoming wedding of Lucy's cousin, Josie O’Malley and fiancé Jake Greenblatt. As owners of Josie's Cozy Bakery and Jake's Seafood Bar respectively they have both appeared in previous novels in the series and the event of a wedding is always special to enjoy. Simultaneous to wedding planning, there is also a structural concern at the library that may endanger the future of the library not only for the community but librarian and staff jobs, and residences for Lucy and Charles. Lucy's relationship with the mayor is also in danger as Mayor Connor McNeil tries to navigate being impartial to keep clear of a conflict of interest. As with many conflict of issues it's easy to understand intellectually but Lucy's having a hard time keeping her emotions in check.

My enchantment with this book is that it is not merely a cozy mystery title in a favorite series but a novel that has multi-dimensional layers in the sub-plots from the stress of wedding planning for business owners even in the off-season tourist location and especially with overbearing relatives that think they are entitled to change the desired plans of the bride and groom, family dynamics of competing cousins, the progression of relationships with conflicts of interest, the effect of social media on businesses when headlines are more important than facts, a past relationship partner not accepting that the past is the past, and the effect that weather and climate can have on older structures such as the lighthouse library. The descriptive writing made the imagery of January in Nags Head, North Carolina simply picturesque and charming.

I can't wait to read what's next for all of the characters of this endearing series.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Credevo che questa serie fosse finita, poi è ripresa con un'altra casa editrice e sono stata contenta, sebbene non abbia potuto acquistare il libro precedente a questo perché la versione kindle è scomparsa dopo un anno e io stavo aspettando un prezzo più abbordabile. A parte questo, devo dire che è stato bello tornare a leggere di questo gruppo di amici perché considero tali quelli che fanno parte di questo cast. Per quanto riguarda questo libro, bella storia e alla fine entrambe le persone che avevo preso in considerazione come probabile colpevole avevano qualcosa da farsi perdonare. E non dico altro per spiegare questa mia strana affermazione per non fare spoiler.

[Gail C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The elements of a good cozy mystery include interesting characters you want to spend
time getting to know, a location that sounds like you would at least like to visit if you can’t live
there, and a tidy murder that, while unfortunate for the victim, has little or no gory details. What
makes it a great cozy adds clues and red herrings woven throughout the story in a seamless
progression and plenty of opportunities for the reader to solve the mystery of “who done it” or,
conversely to be lead down the virtual garden path. Something Read, Something Dead by Eva
Gates has all these elements on full display.
Lucy, a librarian at the lighthouse library, is the protagonist, drawn into the most recent
murder when it appears her much loved cousin, Josie, is the prime suspect. Of course the
murder isn’t the only thing claiming Lucy’s attention. It all starts when Gloria, Josie’s
grandmother, a “grande dame” from Louisiana, blows in for a visit and promptly tries to take
over the planning of Josie’s wedding, turning it into the exact opposite of what Josie wants
because it will be more “suitable” for a family of their standing.
One of the beauties of having Gloria as a character in the book is it’s easy to read her
conversation in the deep southern accent I’ve heard all my life growing up in the south. All the
characters are well written, and easy to see as they appear in the book, but Gloria is one of my
favorites because she sounds like so many of the women I knew when I was growing up in the
south.
Add to the interesting characters The Outer Banks, one of the most beautiful coastal
areas on the Atlantic. As with the characters, Gates draws a picture of the Outer Banks and the
wildness of the area that makes you want to pack a bag and go for an extended stay. This novel
takes place in the winter and Gates makes it sound like the perfect place to spend some time as
long as you bring along an extra coat, hat and gloves.
Of course the book wouldn’t be complete without a murder, which occurs with minimal
blood and gore and a determination by Lucy to solve the mystery since she doesn’t trust the
state policeman who has been imported to do the job. The story progresses steadily toward the
unmasking of the killer, all the while taking delightful short detours to include dealing with Josie’s
fiance’s ex who has turned into a stalker, the cousins who have arrived with Gloria and dubbed
the Louisiana Mafia because of their overbearing insistence on controlling the wedding plans,
and Lucy’s advancing relationship with Connor, mayor.
The end of the book was totally satisfying, with the solution being reached and explained
by Lucy in a well orchestrated denouement. The explanation provides the readers with
vindication if they solved it and a reason to say “how could I miss that’ if they didn’t. This is the
fifth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series, and my first read; but I certainly plan on it not
being my last. While the mystery here is completely self contained and easy to understand
without having read any of the previous books in the series, I think it might be enjoyable to read
the series from the beginning to experience the relationships of secondary characters develops.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me an advanced digital read
copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fun cozy mystery has a great setting in the Outer Banks of coastal North Carolina that got me interested right away. Another plus was that Lucy Richardson is a librarian of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library set in the lighthouse. Imagine working and living in a lighthouse. Fun! But things are not so fun with her cousin Josie O'Malley when her simple wedding plans are turned upside down by her overbearing grandmother and entourage of an aunt and cousins (dubbed the Louisiana Mafia) who show up from New Orleans to help with her plans. When her pushy cousin Mirabelle turns up dead of poison from goodies served at the bridal shower, the police look at Josie as their number one suspect since she made the desserts at her bakery, Josie's Cozy Bakery. The cake that she made glutten free just for Mirabelle had an illicit substance on top of a cake. No way could Josie by responsible so Lucy puts on her sleuthing hat to find out who might have either wanted Mirabelle dead or for the blame to fall on Josie. An old girlfriend of groom Jake's shows up to try to win him back. Maybe she could be responsible. But cousin Florence is not happy with Mirabelle trying to take over her event planning business. Lucy has her work cut out looking for who is the culprit. In the midst of the murder mystery, a huge crack shows up in the lighthouse foundation that could be disastrous. The library board hopes that the city will help with the costs but they are not interested in donating much money. This puts a strain on the relationship between Lucy and her boyfriend Connor, who happens to be the mayor.
This is an enjoyable read with great characters (including a library cat, Charles for Charles Dickens, a fun setting and a plot with some mystery and danger thrown in.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Kaijsa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to like this series more than I do. The Outer Banks setting with a public library in an historic lighthouse are appealing, and I even like Lucy, the protagonist, and her friends and coworkers. It's just not that interesting, and I tire of the catty fights between women (maybe that's just me). Louise Jane isn't as nasty as usual this time around, which is refreshing, but the central conflict is related to Josie's upcoming wedding, which brings her horrifying grandmother, aunts, and cousins from New Orleans. Give me a murdered researcher or town resident over this, please. I might be done with this series, but I can see from other reviews I might be an outlier.

I received a free ebook ARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

[Anna Catharina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gerne würde ich dem Buch mehr Sterne geben, aber leider war das in meinen Augen der bisher schwächste Teil der Serie. Kaum Handlung, kaum Katze, kaum Bibliothek und null Spannung. Hoffentlich wird der nächste Teil besser.

[Nancy Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Ms. Gates