Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates (Lighthouse Library Mystery #8) 4 stars

Lucy Richardson and her fiance, Conner McNeil are finally getting married. Their friends and family throw an engagement party on a nearby beach. A wonderful time was had by all until, Richard Lewiston II, Lucy's ex-boyfriend show up with Evangeline, his mother in tow. Evangeline's agenda is crystal clear; she want Richard and Lucy to get back together. Awkward conversations, maternal machinations ensue. Evangeline's invites Lucy and her family to a polite dinner at Jake's Seafood Bar as a last ditch effort, but neither Lucy or Richard cooperate. When leaving the restaurant, Lucy's family discovers a body near the back door. The body is Richard's father, Richard Lewiston Jr.; why was he in the vicinity and who killed him? Lucy spends her time trying to find out more about the deceased and house hunting with Conner.

This was a fun mystery with a lot of red herrings thrown in. The house hunting parts were very funny. The key to solving this mystery was understating the past actions of the deceased and finding the motive and means of the killer. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

The latest book in the Lighthouse Mystery series finally sees Lucy Richardson an Connor McNeil headed down the aisle. However first they must get through their engagement and all the planning and festivities that inevitably precede a wedding. Things of course do not go to plan as the unwanted arrival of Lucy's ex boyfriend Ricky and his overbearing mother, who is intent upon breaking up the happy couple, can only spell trouble. However things take an even darker turn when a murder takes place right outside the back door of the restaurant where the party is taking place. Lucy is the first to jump in and start investigating as it seems to come all too easy for her. As Lucy starts digging deeper however she realizes that this mystery has ties to her old life in Boston and her ex boyfriend, a life she longs to leave behind.
Deadly Ever After is a strong new addition to the Lighthouse Library mystery series. The series takes place in the quaint and atmospheric beach side town of Outer Banks, North Carolina, a perfect setting for those looking to escape to the beach from the comfort of their own home. Lucy's occupation as a librarian in a library within a lighthouse, full of books and a resident cat, adds some extra cozy into a series that readers are sure to enjoy. The mystery itself was tightly plotted with enough suspects and surprising twists to keep readers engaged and guessing throughout. The characters, both old and new to the series are full bodied with their own unique personalities and quirks that work well together. Deadly Ever After is a delightfully fun cozy, full of surprising twists and lively characters, perfect for those book loving readers looking for a book to get them ready for the summer.

3.5 stars

Another entry in a reliably entertaining cozy set in a lighthouse library on the Outer Banks. Librarian Lucy and her fiance Connor are househunting and planning their wedding and so lots of family members are in town for their engagement party. But they hadn't invited, or expected, Lucy's ex-boyfriend and his mother. And when the ex-boyfriend's father (a law partner of Lucy's dad in a Boston law firm) turns up dead outside a local restaurant, things get downright uncomfortable.

Lucy can't help but try and ferret out what's going on since her family is caught right in the middle. She is a likable heroine surrounded by a nicely fleshed out supporting cast and the setting is well-described. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Deadly Ever After: A Lighthouse Library Mystery
By Eva Gates
Crooked Lane Books
May 11, 2021

Review by Cynthia Chow

After running away from a marriage proposal and fleeing to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Lucy Richardson finally found her dream as the Assistant Director for the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Lucy even met her soulmate and is now engaged to the town’s Mayor/dentist, Connor McNeil. While they have not yet set an exact date or made any wedding plans, their friends and family are enthusiastically throwing them the perfect engagement party on Coquina Beach. Definitely not on the invitation list but arriving late anyway are Richard Lewiston the Third, his mother Evangeline, or her very barky bichon frise Fluffy. Ricky happens to be the son of Lucy’s father’s law firm partner, as well as her ex-boyfriend, the one whom she fled from when he attempted to deliver a family-approved proposal. While Lucy’s mother has accepted that maybe it was for the best, Evangeline is still determined that Ricky and Lucy marry. That makes for an extremely uncomfortable dinner that has Lucy witnessing not just a confrontation with a law firm client, but Evangeline ordering Ricky to make a move on Lucy…or else.

When Richard Lewiston Junior – Ricky’s father and Millar Richardson’s partner in their firm – is found murdered right outside of the restaurant, Ricky is nowhere to be found. At least not until Lucy finds him passed out drunk in her Lighthouse Library, denying any knowledge or involvement in the death. Detective Sam Watson once again orders Lucy to stay out of his case, but with the threats coming far too close to her home and those she cares for that’s not about to happen. While their bookclub selection of The Hound of the Baskervilles occasionally leads her astray, that doesn’t mean that Lucy won’t still attempt to track down suspects and verify alibis. For once she seems to keep veering in the wrong direction, and it doesn’t help when Evangeline continues to push Ricky on her while also saddling her with an adorable but aggressive Fluffy.

This 8th in the series has Lucy searching for solutions to a multitude of problems, both personal and professional. Finding an affordable home for both her and Connor that will fit their combined households as well as their budgets, without being a falling-down-shack, has Lucy appreciating her enviable, cozy lighthouse apartment above her beloved library. When not attempting to track down hairstylists to interrogate and disgruntled law firm clients, Lucy is working herself into a state over concerns that her naïve coworker at the library is falling into a polyamorous relationship with British researchers. Lucy’s affection for her Bodie Island Lighthouse Library family has her protective over her quirky staff and patrons, all who share her love for books and reading. Readers will see why Lucy has fallen into her happy place on the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Longtime fans of these books, who also writes under her name Vicki Delany, will be delighted to spend time with these characters as they find their happy places. Even the library volunteer/ghost hunter Louise Jane McKaughnan, once Lucy’s nemesis and rival for the librarian position despite having no qualifications, has become a surprising ally who may deliver Lucy and Connor’s greatest wedding present. A surprising but extremely satisfying conclusion wraps the bow on this charming mystery that celebrates libraries, coastal towns, and those who love them.

Terrific addition to this charming series, which can be read as a stand-alone. What bibliophile would not wish to trade places with Lucy and live in the upper level of a lighthouse whose ground floor serves as the public library where she works. Having Charles (Dickens)) the cat as her roommate and the mayor her fiancé, only increases the coziness. Of course a murder must be solved, a former boyfriend faced and a mysterious co-worker dealth with. Thanks to #NetGalley and #DeadlyEverAfter for this advanced digital copy.

The characters in this series have become old friends by now, and I thoroughly enjoyed this
installment, too! Thanks for the opportunity to preview the title!

Lucy and Connor are getting married! Wait- Evangeline, mother of her ex-almost fiance Richard says- marry Richard. Well, no, but they do agree to a dinner. All goes about as you might expect under the circumstances but then-then Richard's father is found murdered. Of course. Luckily, Lucy's an ace detective, as is Watson, the actual town detective, and they will, of course, find the villain, Oh- and the book club is fighting about Hound of the Baskervilles and Lucy takes a dog home to a very unhappy Charles the cat. This is a cozy mystery to be sure but it's also one where the characters and the locale shine. I'm a fan of the series but I also think this will be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. What could possibly be next for Connor and Lucy? And Charles?

Sigh. I liked this book. A lot [it still amazes me how this series went from being completely yuck to totally awesome. I am not sure what happened, but I am so glad it did and that I kept reading]. And then the end happened, in which a book [The Hound of the Baskervilles] I have not yet read [but plan to] is majorly spoilered for me [THEY ACTUALLY TELL THE END OF THE BOOK!!!!!!] and also in which the most annoying, least qualified character in these books gets a HEAD POSITION in the freaking library [I liked Charlene and am sorry to see that character go and I am so glad her ARC wasn't what we all [and by we, I mean Lucy [the MC] and I] feared it was]. But because the mystery was soo good [and it REALLY was - I never saw that killer coming. SO. MANY. RED. HERRINGS], I couldn't take points off for the stuff that bugged me. Though I will never stop hoping that one day the dead body will be Louise Jane.

SO, my suggestion to you is this; if you ever plan on reading The Hound of the Baskervilles, do it before reading this book or it will totally be spoiled for you [I am V E R Y disappointed in this]. Otherwise, this is a really good cozy read and I recommend it to anyone who loves books, lighthouses and life on the beach/Outer Banks.

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

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I am probably a little biased since I actually live about 90 minutes from the setting. In the latest installment, Lucy and Connor are making wedding plans when Lucy's ex-Ricky and his mother descend on town to crash the engagement party. By the end of the night, Ricky's father's dead body is found outside the party. Lucy and the gang make attempts to figure out who wanted the man murdered and why. The novel, as usual in this series, has many twists and turns, and by the end some unexpected news is revealed regarding the parentage of one long time character. We also say goodbye to another long time character who falls in love and decides to follow their heart. The ending was a little rushed, but that doesn't distract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Can't wait for the next installment!

Thank you to Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for review.

I love these books!

Deadly Ever After is a cosy mystery that is a fast paced, quick read. I loved the characters and enjoyed reading about them and trying to work out who did it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my ARC.

It should be a happy time for Lucy and Conor as they celebrate their engagement. A blast from the past threatens to rain on their parade along with another corpse. I liked the mystery and the involvement with Lucy's family. I liked the animals' roles in the story as well. Lucy faces a lot of upcoming changes in her life and the Lighthouse Aerie will be her home no longer. I'm eager to read the next book to see what else is in store for the the Lighthouse Library community.

Lucy Richardson and Connor McNeil are enjoying their engagement celebration when Lucy's past comes to haunt her in the form of Evangeline Lewiston and her son Ricky. Evangeline is determined to get Ricky and Lucy back together . She host a dinner party with that in mind only to have it backfire so she leaves in disappointment and leaves her guest holding the tab.. Later that evening Richard Eric Lewiston Jr.is found murdered behind the restaurant.Why isn't Evangeline shedding any tears? Lucy starts to investigate only to be threatened. Is she getting too close to the truth ? Will she be able to figure things out or will the killer make her their next victim?.

The wedding of librarian Lucy Richardson and Connor McNeil might not happen when a murder happens during the engagement party. A fast paced who done it that's a fun enjoyable read. Thanks #netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

This is definitely the best cozy mystery I have read this year, and the Lighthouse Library series by Eva Gates is one of the most engaging cozy mystery series available.
This is the 8th novel in the series, and it matches the quality of its predecessors. This time, librarian/sleuth Lucy is starting to plan her future with fiance Connor. Family members visit from Boston for an engagement party, and along with mixed wishes, they bring murder!
One of the aspects I enjoy most of the Library Lighthouse series is that the library book club's book selection is often interwoven into the mystery Lucy is solving, and the selection of "Hound of the Baskervilles" was particularly enjoyable in this novel. I love the atmosphere of the Outer Banks, from the beach to the foggy marsh to the lighthouse library and cozy bakery. The characters were phenomenal as always - a very enjoyable read! I recommend this novel (& series) to mystery lovers everywhere!
Thank you to Netgalley & Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for review.

This series is a favorite of mine. The characters are interesting and I love Charles the cat. I hope to keep reading more about these characters.

I have been a huge fan of Eva Gates' lighthouse library mystery series for quite a while now. I mean what's not to love- it's a library in a lighthouse plus a mystery! There are so many things to love about this series. The Outer Banks is a great and atmospheric backdrop, the characters are quirky, fun and likeable, and the mystery always delivers.

In Deadly Ever After the eighth book in the series a lot of changes are looming for librarian Lucy Richardson. She is newly engaged to her love, Conner and he is restoring and old house for their future home together, and the wedding planning has commenced. There is also a new dog which Charles, the library cat, is not at all happy about. Amidst all of this there is an engagement party with all of their family and friends. There is also an unwanted guest. Lucy's ex-fiance and his overbearing mother show up after the party and decide to stay awhile. It is against this backdrop that a murder takes place and as usual, Lucy finds herself having to be an amateur sleuth. To say any more would deprive the reader of al the fun, twists and surprises.

This is one of the very best cozy series being written today and this particular entry is a great read. The characters feel like friends and it is always wonderful to visit with them again. I really enjoyed getting to know Lucy's family a little better in this book. The ex-fiance and his mother are wonderfully unlikeable and the reader will cheer happiness that Lucy fled from them and into the loving arms of Conner. The mystery is really well done- I was surprised at the culprit and thought the twists and turns were a lot of fun. This series has always been great, but with this book I think the author has really excelled. I can't wait for the next entry to see what lies next for Lucy.

I love this series! Who wouldn't want to live and work in a lighthouse library? I really enjoy following along with all the changes in Lucy's life. If anyone wants a cozy mystery set in a small seaside town, this is highly recommended!

I’m back with another glowing review for the Lighthouse Library Mystery series from Eva Gates! I’ve been reading, reviewing and loving this series since I started my blog back in 2017 and I don’t see that changing any time soon! Every time I pick up a book from this series it feels like coming home; it’s so comforting to be able to come back and see what all my Outer Banks friends are up to.

This installment finds Lucy and Connor in the beginning stages of their engagement and starting to think about buying a home together and planning the wedding. What starts as a fun engagement party with all their friends and family quickly takes a turn when Lucy’s ex-fiancé turns up at the party, maybe to win her back. Of course, at some point, there is a murder and Lucy ends up quite firmly in the middle of the investigation!

Eva Gates just keeps getting better and better! Not only do I adore her writing style and the characters she’s created here, but she always delivers when it comes to the mystery. I’m frequently left guessing and just as soon as I think I have something figured out, it turns out I was wrong. The novel always has ties/elements to the classic book that Lucy’s book club is reading and this time around it’s the Sherlock Holmes masterpiece The Hound of the Baskervilles. We can see similar plot lines involving dogs, threatened inheritance, and a spooky late night atmosphere. It’s always one of my favorite elements of the series and I think it’s so creative!

Lucy’s parents take a bigger role in this novel which was really fun considering we don’t see much, or really anything, of her mother and father. Which makes me sad because her mom is a hilarious side character! Speaking of hilarious characters, this book had me laughing out loud quite a few times. The banter is always top notch and it just gets better as we get more comfortable with the characters. It has the perfect blend of comic relief and spooky/creepy murder. They’re quick and fun to read, which is really why I love them.

Lots happened in this novel for our characters, too. With the upcoming wedding, the new house, and the newest staff member of the Lighthouse Library (I won’t spoil this one!) there is a lot that can happen in the next novel, and I cannot wait to get my hands on whatever it is!

Thank you SO much to Crooked Lane Books and Eva Gates for another opportunity to read and review the Lighthouse Library books early! I have a review for every single book in this series on my blog, just search under Cozy Mystery or Eva Gates!

I enjoy the Lighthouse mysteries and was glad to read this one as an advanced review copy from NetGalley. I am especially happy that the protagonist gets to move forward with her life and isn't stuck in an endless loop as so many cozy mystery protagonists are!

This is book 8 in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series and it has some major changes for Lucy and all her friends. She is planning her wedding to Connor who is hard at work restoring the old house the bought for the two of them. When old boyfriend Ricky arrives in town with his mother he is determined to win Lucy back. Now with a murder to solve and an adopted dog that Charles, the Library Cat hates it's chaos at the library. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.