I enjoyed this murder mystery it was well
written. It’s about Lucy and Conor and there house on the beach. Loved all the characters whom become part of the story.

This was a fun read. Though I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series (I received this as an ARC from NetGalley) I felt like there was enough backstory provided that I knew what was going on. The characters are quirky and loveable and the plot is a comedic take on a whodunnit.

Death by Beach Read is book #9 in the Lighthouse Mystery series by Eva Gates. Lucy and Connor have finally moved into their historical home on Nags Head Beach in the Outer Banks. They still have a lot of work to do to rehab the home but nonetheless they’ve moved in.

Connor has had to go out of town for a meeting so Lucy is spending the night in the house alone for the first time. First night alone, Lucy wakes in the middle of the night believing someone is watching her. The next night she believes she hears someone in the upstairs that they’ve blocked off but as she investigates she finds nothing. As in usual Lucy fashion, the next day she and Connor find a dead man in their new kitchen. The dead man just happens to be the twin brother of the family that sold the house to them. Stories, legends and old mysteries abound as Lucy tries to figure out what is going on with her new house.

I enjoyed the story but there were parts of it that dragged a bit for me about three quarters of the way through. I love Eva Gates, but this wasn’t one of my favorites. This is a strong 3.5 starts that I’ve rounded up to 4.

Thank you #netgalley and #crookedlane for allowing me to read an early copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

This has been a fun series & the new (9th) book is no exception. An easy quick read despite a slow start. The story really picked up after the murder and when Lucy was interacting with all of her fellow library staff & friends. The mystery & clues were put together nicely (though I found the culprit / motive a bit far-fetched) and I enjoyed the locale of Nags Head.

I'm on the fence about having the majority of this story set at her new home on the coast as opposed to the lighthouse library. The Lighthouse Library mysteries work best when all of her coworkers, family, and friends are involved but Death by Beach Read focuses almost completely on Lucy & Connor and their interactions with the prior owners of their new home.

I hope that the next book will make better use of Lucy's coworkers & the library itself.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series to read. Lucy is a fun amateur sleuth and I do especially have a soft spot for amateur sleuths that work in libraries or bookstores. Lucy and her fiancé Connor have bought a house that they are working n fixing up. It is old and has a lot of history and creaks at night. Lucy is shocked when she returned home one day to find a dead body in her kitchen. Of course she can’t leave all the detecting to the police, although she did pretty quickly share all she learned with them and collaborated pretty well. I liked the story quite a lot and really enjoyed the newly introduced character of Jo. I’m ready for the next book and hopefully the wedding (although maybe they can have their wedding off from murders?)

This was a very cute murder mystery. I didn't realize it was part of a series until I started, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all. Lucy and Connor are renovating their old beach house in Nags Head and creepy things start happening. It was cleverly written with a cast of eccentric characters that really made it a great read.

Looking forward to reading the first 8 books in this series and the next one.

Lucy is happily renovating her house with her fiancé Connor. The house is steeped in history and they know of the family that they brought it from. The a dead man is found in their house and someone is trying to scare Lucy of by 'haunting her'. A well written story full of twists, turns and likeable characters.

Another fun cosy I read in a day.
An historic house, lots of secrets, murder and mystery that needs to be solved. Love the cat, Charles the Library Cat. The setting for the book is good too and the author uses the scenery in the book well, The characters are great, the book is easy to read and as with most cosy mysteries it is fun yet has a bit of intrigue, mystery and of course.... Murder.

A fun book to read and another great cosy (which I now need to find the first 8 so I can see what has happened before).

I picked up Death by Beach Read because I was getting bored with another book and didn’t want to get stuck in a reading rut. Thankfully this book kept me engaged and entertained and the hours flew by.

Death by Beach Read is the story of Lucy and Connor, a newly engaged couple who move into a beach house along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. While renovating the place, a man is found murdered in their pantry and the mystery ensues. The book is mainly a murder mystery but also includes historical and paranormal elements.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and its many characters. I confess that I had know idea who the murderer was until Lucy revealed her suspicions. I loved the setting and the descriptions of the town, the “unpainted aristocracy” homes and the lighthouse library. I really enjoy books that make me want to visit the places in which the story is set. This book fits the bill nicely.

I didn’t realize this book was part of the Lighthouse Library Series and am eager to read more of the books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Once the book is published, a review will be posted to my Amazon.com profile https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AHUWBZKXEXBHCZ3JP35FWHTEBEPQ.

A review will be posted on my Instagram account the week of November 29th, 2021 https://www.instagram.com/alwayscarryingbooks/

I have already posted my review to Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4363168212

I haven't read any other books in this series and i"m not 100% I will be. after this book.
It was cute but it didnt really hold my interest.

Lucy loves being the librarian in the historic Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. So much so, she used to live in it. That was before she became engaged to Connor, the local mayor. They find a fabulous historic home on the beach that needs a bit – most likely a lot – of work to bring it back to the beautiful beach home it once was. Luckily, Connor and his father are doing most of the work, but living in a construction zone is difficult for the couple as well as Charles the cat. He is actually the library’s cat and was named appropriately for Charles Dickens. He travels with Lucy to and from the library each day.

While Connor was away for business, Lucy was awakened by what sounded like someone walking in their home. Charles was also aware that something or somebody had invaded their space. Lucy didn’t say anything to Charles, thinking she must have been hearing things outside. But soon, it became apparent that someone was trying to scare them – or more sinister – kill them.

Delving into the history of the home, they found interesting facts and folklore including rumors of a resident ghost. Could someone be looking for hidden treasure long forgotten? Could the incidents be personal attacks on Lucy and Connor? Legends and larceny may be teaming up creating a catalyst for disaster.

This is the 9th book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates. It is the first one in the series I have read, but was not confused by reading it out of order. The characters are interesting and fully developed. Some I loved and some I loved to hate. Like all cozy mysteries, there is a happy ending. It is an interesting and easy read with likable main characters and a persnickety cat that has a realistic attitude. He lends a paw when needed.

Eva Gates is one of the pen names of Vicki Delany. She resides in Canada and is an award-winning mystery novelist. I highly recommend Death by Beach Read and will be checking out the other books in her series.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2021 Laura Hartman

Thank you to #NetGalley for this incredibly delightful book!

As things are thawed out and giving way to spring, sassy and savvy librarian Lucy who works in a library in a lighthouse must navigate her way through a murder in the brand new home she and her finance, Connor, have purchased. Her trusty cat Charles, technically the librarian cat, helps to navigate through this.

There are not enough adjectives to describe how much I liked this book. It is part of a series but I was able to read it as a stand alone just fine. Eva Gates weaves a large cast of characters in this book and does it well. There were so many intricate and interesting relationships. I especially liked Ralph and his love of the sea. The town of Nags Head is so beautifully described it makes me want to visit!

Now, the real star of the book is Charles, the library's cat who has adopted Lucy. He is shrewd, discerning, and protective. So many people don't realize cats are intuitive little creatures. Because of Charles's presence, I was reminded of "The Cat Who..." book series I loved in my 20s.

I highly recommend this book whether you are reading on the beach or not.

“You never know what will matter… until it does.”

After moving into a historical landmark home in the Outer Banks, Lucy begins hearing the floorboards squeak. Her fiancé is away, so it must be the cat looking for mice, right? She shrugged it off until it happened again. When her fiancé, Connor, returns she tells him and they both agree that it must be because the house is older… that is until she walks into the kitchen to find a dead body on the floor. Quickly, the ghosts of the old Harper house are discovered and maybe even some long lost treasure.

I was immediately interested in this book after hearing the title. It was fast-paced, but it worked really well for this book. I love old houses, especially when the houses have ghosts, secret pathways, and possibly treasure. I really enjoy Lucy’s character and while some of the characters did have annoying tendencies, I enjoyed all of them. The cat, Charles, brought so much character to the book. I enjoyed the way it was written and kept waiting for more secrets to unfold. I do wish there would have been more regarding the house and Jo and Ralph. Maybe more discovered pathways or at least Lucy investigating it for herself, but I still loved how all of it played together. It was a very light, fun, easy read with a summer mystery vibe.

I dunno how the author made a horror book cozy, but it felt that way to me. Lucy's investigation kept me hooked on who's haunting the new house (the murdered man and or the one from the past?)

Loved the quirky characters, and thoroughly enjoyed the red herrings and plentiful twists. I can't wait to check out more from the author in the future!

If you're looking for a suspenseful cozy mystery that explores a historical case rife with family drama, Death by Beach Read would be a great read for you.

My favourite thing about this book were the inclusion of scenes full of tension and action. It added a suspenseful feeling to the book while still remaining a cozy mystery at its heart. I felt as if there was really something at stake for Lucy, the protagonist, as she went about solving the mystery, making for a gripping read. The mystery itself was well-written, with many layers to unravel.

At the same time, I didn't love Lucy as a character. I found that she could be a bit judgemental of other people at times (particularly people she did not care for), whereas people she was more sympathetic to got the benefit of the doubt. I think there are a few moments where she could be considered TSTL (too stupid to live) - it's not for all of the book, but I just thought I'd throw that warning out there in case this is a trope you'd really like to avoid.

Many of the other characters are colourful figures, so if you're not a big fan of Lucy, you might enjoy reading about everyone else. I especially liked learning more about the family members involved in the main family drama in this book.

This is the first book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series I've read. While it is possible to read and enjoy this book without knowing about the other books in the series, as I did, I feel that some scenes would be more thrilling with knowledge of the prior books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this cozy mystery.
When Connor and Lucy buy and move into their old house, they get a whole lot more than they were expecting from the old, historic house. Lucy is convinced someone is watching them, walking around at night, and breaking in the back door. The rumors are the house is haunted, but do ghosts leave footprints? When the body of Jimmy, former resident of the house, is found in their kitchen, fingers point in a few directions. What was Jimmy doing in the house, and who killed him?
Great characters, beautiful setting, and intriguing plot. Looking forward to more books in this series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy and Connor are planning their wedding, but they also need to find a house. When one of the famous "unpainted aristocracy" houses becomes available unexpectedly, they leap at the chance to own it. The house comes with a history, but Lucy loves a challenge. At least until she finds herself awakened at night by strange sounds. She wonders if the house is haunted. Once she learns more about the unusual former occupants, she starts to reconsider what she thought about the house being haunted. When a body turns up, Lucy and Connor search back through the house's history to discover who the man is. Entertaining and suspenseful.

The ninth installment of the Lighthouse Library Mystery series follows Lucy as she and her fiancé, Connor, move into their new home in Nags Head. The home was a great buy - a townsman wanted the perfect buyer, but they didn't know dark family secrets came with the bargain. When a man they've never met turns up murdered in their living room, Lucy finds herself in the middle of the dramatic investigation. With a hero cat, a long list of suspects and lots of sweet tea - Lucy and her friends and neighbors solve the latest murder in the Outer Banks.

I never read any of the eight preceding stories, but never felt like I was missing out on the fun in this fun mystery. Though I missed some history, apparently in which Lucy has been in similar situations, this story easily stands alone - and begs you to read the other stories to learn what can only be interesting back story. The relationships and characters in this book are relatable - from the friendly fisherman to the paranormal enthusiast. If you're looking for a fun, fast murder mystery, definitely give this story a go!

Charming read which kept my interest and attention. Characters are relatable and the story is well written and plotted. I want more in the series.

Another delightful book in one of my favorite series. The characters are relatable and interesting. When reading one of these books I feel as though I am reading about someone I know personally. I love how the mystery ties in with the book club book the library group is reading in each book. The story is well-plotted with lost of well paced red herrings to keep you engrossed in the mystery. I look forward to the next one in the series.

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