Very happy to be up-to-date with the happenings in library sleuth Lucy Richardson’s life as she solves another crime set in the gorgeous Outer Banks - her last, in fact, as resident of her Lighthouse Aerie, since she and fiancé Connor find a home of their own.

The murder this time is of her father’s Boston law partner Rich Lewiston, outside a Nag’s Head restaurant while she and her family are dining there. With Rich’s dreadful wife, Evangeline, and useless son, Ricky, under suspicion, Lucy helps the Nag’s Head Police get to the bottom of the whodunnit.

Eva Gates really does write cosy library crime at its best - the plot of this novel comes partly from The Hound of the Baskervilles, and she manages to drop in several other literary references and even an allusion to Daniel Craig’s detective role in Knives Out - both Gates and her protagonist are nothing if not up to date.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, highly recommended. Can’t wait for the next instalment in the series, and grateful to Crooked Lane for the ARC of this one, which hits UK bookshops in April.

Deadly Ever After was a great cozy mystery set in a library within a lighthouse on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I love Lucy, the main character, and how she investigates, and then relates what she finds to the authorities. Some of the suspects were people that Lucy knew most of her life, and had to deal with. It made for some juicy reading. My favorite part of the book was when the culprit actually confronted Lucy, and she was involved in his/her apprehension. I can't wait to read the next installment to this wonderful series. I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy and company from the Lighthouse Library Mysteries are back in action and it is another enjoyable adventure in the Outer Banks. Lucy's mom is back for this mystery and we even get to spend some quality time with her dad. They are in the Outer Banks to celebrate Lucy's engagement to Connor. Boston comes to town by way of Lucy's ex, his mother, and another unexpected relative. Can Lucy put the past behind her after all or will this engagement party mark the end of her fairy tale with Connor?

This mystery will leave you anxious to spend more time with Lucy and her crew- just be warned that not everyone will be coming back for the next adventure!

“Deadly Ever After” the 8th instalment in the "Lighthouse Library" Mystery series by Eva Gates. This is the 3rd book I have read in the series but I had no trouble following along. I really enjoyed this story, and it has made me want to catch up on the series. I have several books in my TBR pile. In fact I am now a huge fan girl for Vicki Delany/Eva Gates and bought a a lot of paperbacks in her other series too.

The setting of the Bodie Island Lighthouse library in the Outer Banks of N.C. is a dream location that my friends all know is my dream place to live if I ever moved to the States. I could picture it in my mind from the descriptions which really helps make it come to life in your mind.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. Lucy, her mum, and her adorable cat Charles and Fluffy the dog set out to solve the crime. I enjoyed seeing Lucy with her mum too and hope her parents come to visit again. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I enjoyed the sub-story with Evangeline as well as Charlene too.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love reading series that take place at the beach, adding the lighthouse makes it even more fun especially when Lucy explores the marshes in the fog, very creepy and gothic. In this book we finally get to meet the infamous Ricky, Lucy's ex from Boston. Ricky's mother, Evangeline, is desperate see an end to Lucy's engagement to Connor and for Lucy and Ricky to reconnect. Connor wins a lot of brownie points by not being jealous and supporting Lucy spending time with her parents while they're in town, even though it means also spending time with Lucy's ex and the woman who's still convinced the two should be together.

The mystery comes in when Evangeline's husband, Rich, turns up murdered outside of Jake's on a night when the whole crew has gathered for dinner. They have no idea why he's there and no idea who the killer might be, despite plenty of motive to go around. There are also several other mysterious happenings that could be related... or maybe not?

Lucy has a lot going on in this book, there's not a dull moment. By the end there are some pretty significant changes taking place, some pretty bittersweet. This is probably one of my favorites in the series so far.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Vicki Delany is a well known mystery writer who has created 9 mystery series along with several stand alone novels. Writing as Eva Gates she started the Lighthouse Mystery series in 2015. Deadly ever after is the eighth volume in this series. As the title implies, Deadly Ever After has wedding bound theme.

Our sleuth, Lucy Richardson, is marrying her beau, Connor McNeil. Along with our romantic leads, other favorite characters are here, including Louise Kaye, (an employee I would most like to fire). The pending nuptials bring out the competition in Evangeline, wife of one of the partners in the Boston law firm. She is the mother of Lucy's former fiance, Ricky. Of course she assumes that Lucy will leave Connor and fall in Ricky's arms.

Things become more complicated; a demand party where manipulation is served along with Jake's famous seafood comes to a abrupt end when a corpse is found in the kitchen's alley. It is all hands on deck to solve the crime before her engagement is shredded. Part of the fun comes from the rivalry between our stalwart Charles, the library cat, and Fluffy a small dog left in Lucy's care.
The author excels in exploring funny oft times ridiculous moments in people's lives. While this is evident in Deadly Ever After, Gates also does not neglect sharing the splendid location of Lucy's Lighthouse Library on Bodie Island North Carolina.

Recommended for lovers of cozy mysteries

Full disclosure; I received this ARC from netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity

I love this installment of the series. The book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, but the back story will be understood better if you read at least the last book first. This is an entertaining fast-paced cozy. Reading about the characters seem like reading about old friends. The mystery grabbed me from the beginning. I didn’t want to put the book down until I knew whodunnit. The twists and turns kept me guessing. I recommend this book to cozy fans.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This is another great chapter in the the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. This series has a little bit of everything I love - great characters that are well-developed and continue to grow, mystery, just a bit of romance, and finally - a great setting. I love the Outer Banks and it's been years since I've been able to go there. Every book in this series is a chance for my mind to take a mini vacation there. I would highly recommend this series, but would suggest starting from the beginning.

I wish the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library was a real place! It sounds so inviting. A lighthouse, books, the beach a view for miles around. What is there not to like!! Lucy is charming and smart. I love her interactions with her cat Charles. She always manages to stumble upon a body and consults with the police to bring the killer to justice. She never takes crazy risks though she helps solve the crime through the use of her cunning brain. I wish we could be friends!

This was a fresh take on the usual librarian cozy because of its beachside setting. I really enjoyed it! Especially during the dead of winter when everything's so dark and it's not safe to go anywhere because of the pandemic, it was refreshing to escape for a while and spend time in Lucy's world.

A Lighthouse Library Mystery #8

This is the 8th book in the Lighthouse Library Series. Lucy the Librarian and Conner the Mayor are finally getting married!

The book begins with their friends throwing them a party at the beach, close to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library where Lucy lives and works.

But just as things are winding down and they are packing up with Josie, Lucy’s almost-fiance’ Richard Lewiston the third and his bull of a mother arrives. Mother makes no apologies for coming uninvited to Lucy’s party. She does, however, state her intentions to have Lucy marry her son. Almost desperately so.

Lucy and Richard aren’t interested in the least. As they agree to have dinner with the two as Lucy’s father and Richard’s father are law partners back in Boston. The dinner is awkward and they all head in different directions. Until a dead body is found at the back door of Jake’s Seafood Bar. The body of Richard the 2nd. What in the world is he doing here?

Lucy knows she will need to put on her detective hat in order to clear up the death and get rid of the grieving widow and her son before she can even think about walking down the aisle.

As for Charles, let’s just say he isn’t very happy with what she brings home. Charles is one of my favorite characters. Very discerning cat.

I enjoy this series so much. It’s a library. In a Lighthouse. Living in a lighthouse, be still my heart! So ready for the next book!

NetGalley Reviews/ May 11,2021

Another great addition to this series! I love that we got to know Lucy's family better in this one and more about her life prior to moving to the Outer Banks. I also enjoyed the glimpse into the more normal tasks in Lucy's life - planning her wedding, finding somewhere to live, juggling her job and family obligations. The mystery kept me guessing until the end.

I received a copy from #Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This book was an easy read kept me wanting to read until the very last page. Its a must read and I absolutely NEED to read more books by Eva gates

I have vacationed in the Outer Banks several times and thoroughly enjoy this series. Well developed, likeable characters in a wonderful setting. If you like libraries, books, and the beach, you will love this cozy series. Who wouldn't want to live in a lighthouse! Lucy finds herself investigating the murder of a longtime family friend and business colleague of her father all while trying to celebrate her engagement. Not to mention while also trying to plan her wedding and buy a house. Deadly Ever After is one of the best in the series by far!

Although I have not read the other books in this series I did enjoy this lovely book. The main characters were indeed all characters and I loved the dog! Trouble does seem to find Lucy wherever she goes. A very fun read. It makes me want to read all of the other books in the Lighthouse series. Well worth the time.

Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates is the eighth book in the Lighthouse Library series. We’re back with Lucy and Connor celebrating their engagement party while solving a mystery surrounding a bit of Lucy’s past. This is a great addition to this cozy series and I enjoyed the interaction with new characters and Lucy’s parents. I hope they continue to make appearances in the series.

I also kind of liked the addition of Fluffy…maybe a dog will become a permanent addition, too?

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 8th installment in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. Librarian Lucy Richardson is engaged to her boyfriend Connor McNeil and friends and family decide to throw them an engagement party and as that is winding down it is crashed by her ex boyfriend Richard and his Mother Evangeline. Evangeline is clearly trying to convince Lucy that she has picked the wrong groom. Lucy is not to be swayed but she does agree to go to a dinner Evangeline is hosting at a local restaurant when of course there is a dead body found who turns out to be Richard’s Father who was not believed to be in town. Lucy once again uses her keen observation and clear thinking to save her family and friends. The detective cleverly named Watson will take Lucy’s input which is refreshing as often the amateur sleuth is at odds with the police and in they take her observations into account. Lucy and her family, friends, and beloved book club are gems and the setting in the Outer Banks is so beautifully described. To live in a lighthouse with a library below so clever. Well done mystery and nice addition to this series. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I have read all the books of this series and love them all. The mystery is usually loosely tied to the book from the Library's book club book. It is great to have the character's lives advance and change the way that happens in real life.

Another enjoyable entry in the Lighthouse Library Series. Highly recommended.

Our protagonist, Lucy Richardson is celebrating her engagement to Connor McNeil when two uninvited guests arrive when they're wrapping up the party. It is her almost former fiancé Ricky and his mother Evangeline. Lucy and Ricky's parents are partners in a family law firm in Boston and they had drifted into a relationship. When Ricky proposed, Lucy realized that she wasn't in love with him and left for North Carolina where she had spent summers as a child and where she has family. Even though Lucy is engaged to Connor now, Evangeline is pushing to get Lucy and Ricky back together.

Lucy, Connor and her family are guilted into having dinner with Evangeline and Ricky the next day. Its an uncomfortable dinner that is interrupted by a boorish client of Ricky's father. Lucy also overhears a quarrel between Ricky and his mother and discovers that Ricky's father is in some kind of trouble and that is why Evangeline is trying to push them together. On their way out of the restaurant at the end of dinner, they hear screams-the hostess has gone out for a cigarette and stumbled across a body. And Lucy becomes involved in helping to solve the mystery.

I enjoy the characters in this series and the fact that Lucy is not someone who does somewhat stupid or over the top things in the course of her investigation. She works with the police and they like her observational skills. The mysteries are always well plotted and not easy to figure out. And of course, the characters are well drawn and easy to like.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Net Galley. However, the opinion expressed is entirely my own.

Lucy and Connor are celebrating their engagement when uninvited guests arrive: Ricky, her Ex-boyfriend, and his mother Evangeline - and trouble travels with them.
Shortly after this, a dead body is found and Lucy finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, again.

I really enjoyed reading this one. It was my first encounter with the Lighthouse Library Mystery. Although the eighth book in a series I got quickly into it. The characters are lovable. It won’t be the last book I’ll read from this author.