Cover Image: Death By Beach Read

Death By Beach Read

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Member Reviews

If a murder can be fun, this one definitely fits the bill. A fun Sunday read for me. The main character has a library in a lighthouse located on Nags Head and with her fiancé they have purchased a house which might be haunted. I was drawn in immediately and didn’t want to put,it down until the end. I, will be seeking out more of Eva Gates books. Thank you to #NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend this book,to,z one who would like to enjoy,a quick read.

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Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Lucy and Connor are in the midst of wedding plans and fixing up their new home. Like they are not busy enough, a body is found and Lucy will once again find herself in the middle of the investigation. Will this be a bad start to their happy ever after?

Another wonderful read in the series which brings up Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of Seven Gables.

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Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this title. This is the 9th book in the Lighthouse Library series and the first I've read. The feel of the Outer Banks and small town beach community is captured delightfully here. The protagonist, Lucy, and her fiance, Connor just purchased and are remodeling one of the older beachhouses in Nag's Head. They return home to find a man dead on their kitchen floor. What follows is a tale of intrigue, family history, and restoration. The characters are likable, and the story is engaging. Excellent pacing. Truly a delightful read. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

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Really nice read – again- Just like the previous episodes, is Lucy involved in a murdercase. This time there’s a body in her new house. She starts an investigation and find out about a treasure, a nasty grandfather, a joke which wasn’t funny and had great consequences. She also makes new friends. Cat Charles is the hero of the story and at the end, the murderer is unmasked.

A very nice story to read. Nice to see all the characters from previous episodes again, the are getting really familiar. It was nice to find out -together with Lucy- who the murderer was and why the murder took place. Not difficult to read, really enjoyable.

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An engaging mystery with a little romance and a dash of quirking. A story that involves mystery, history, psychology, sea shore and home renovations. A little something for everyone.

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I had an ARC of this book from NetGalley and it wasn’t for me. I couldn’t finish it. The writing was so simple and the story predictable and it just couldn’t keep my attention.

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Solid installment in this cozy mystery series.

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley--all opinions are my own.

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This was an engaging mystery, set in a quaint beach town on the coast of North Carolina. I really enjoyed reading it. This is the first time I've read a Lucy Richardson mystery, and I look forward to reading more. I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.

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I loved the comforting feel of this story. While there is a murder and a few surprises along the way, the characters were amazing. Well developed storyline consistent with a cozy mystery and characters that were fun and 'real.' I usually stay away from plots where the ending is predictable but that isn't the case with this book. I truly enjoyed reading this story.

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Lucy & Connor (along with Charles!) have moved in to their new home. Upon returning home, they find a dead man in their kitchen. When it is determined who he is, the mystery continues with talk of a ghost in the house. The story moves along, Charles saves the day more than once, and the killer is revealed at the very end. It was not made obvious who it was until then (in my opinion). Looking forward to the next book in this series, always a pleasure to read about this little community!
Thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the chance to preread this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the 9th book in the Library Lighthouse series and it doesn't disappoint! Lucy and Connor have moved into their dream home on the beach while renovations are still in progress. Connor and his dad are doing the renovations while Lucy plans their wedding. While Connor is away for the night Lucy and the library cat Charles awaken to strange noises in the house and when they go to check it out they find the back door open and footprints in the dusty floor. The previous owners daughter fled the house as a teenager and never entered the house again. She claims it is haunted. One evening Lucy and Connor find a dead man on the kitchen floor. Neither of them recognize him. All the locks have been changed so how did he even get in? Naturally Lucy sets out to investigate. There are lots of twists and turns which kept me guessing til the very end! This was a page turner. You'll love this book.

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When I requested an ARC of Eva Read’s novel, I had no idea that Death by Beach Read represents work number nine in the Lighthouse Mysteries series of cozy crime. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book, set on the atmospheric coast of North Carolina, as a stand-alone work. Here we find the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, where main character Lucy is the librarian and her fiance Conor a dentist and the town’s mayor. They are busy renovating their dream house on the beach, a house with a long and chequered history, but Lucy cannot shake off the suspicion that someone is repeatedly trying to break in. This strong suspicion sets in motion a series of her investigations that show a spotlight on this fictional, quaint coastal community. Although there were occasions when I did not much like Lucy, who as the first-person narrator comes across as superior and opinionated, and although I found some of the ancillary characters rather cliched, overall I enjoyed reading this novel and the lighthouse mystery concept appealed to me. I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for sending me a free ARC that allowed me to provide this review.

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Mysterious things happen in the historic home on the Outer Banks of NC in Death By Beach Reads. Some say the house is haunted. Long-held secrets and relationships are revealed as this book comes to its climax. This was an entertaining read and I would recommend it.

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Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. Although number nine in a book series this can be read as a stand-alone book. After reading this I’m very keen to read 1-8! The story follows Lucy and Connor who have purchased a house that has stood empty for a number of years and needs renovating. There is intrigue, murder, history, friendship and romance. I didn’t guess the outcome and really liked how all the loose ends were tied up. I found this easy to follow plus the chapters were a good length. I found most of the characters likeable and got a real sense of community. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good murder mystery.

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This is the second book I read in the Lighthouse Library Mysteries series. I really loved the first book By Book or by Crook, so I jumped at the opportunity to read another book in the series. I wouldn't say this is a standalone book, and certainly having read any of the previous books will be beneficial to understanding this ninth installment. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised to see that Gates continues to keep this series interesting. The mystery in this book was a tad more predictable than in book 1 but I still loved reading about Lucy, Connor, and the cat Charles. I will definitely catch up with the other books in the series.

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This is the ninth book in the Lighthouse Library series and this series is still going strong. The characters are relatable and I loved the storyline of a ghost, considering the house belonged to a relative of Louise Jane.

Lucy and Connor have moved into their dream home on Nags Head Beach in spite of the house needing a lot of work. Connor was out of town and when Lucy spent her first night alone she heard a noise that woke her. She woke to the sight of Charles, the library cat, all freaked out, and went to investigate the sound. She found Charles outside and wondered how he got out there. Soon after, Lucy and Connor find a dead body of a man in their kitchen. While investigating the man, she discovers he is related to the previous owner.

It was a fun story with the haunting and Lucy trying to plan her upcoming wedding. The usual cast of characters are there as well as some new ones. There were several suspects in this story and I have to say, the killer really surprised me because I can usually guess them. Great job! The backstory of the original owners of the house was interesting as was the history of rum running in the area. The way Ms. Gates describes the region makes me want to go visit.

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

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1 star
A total no go for me. I do not like paranormal, ghost or any of the like stories. I did not realize that this was that type of book. DNF

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Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in this series that I have actually read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book which means I will now have to read all of the others! The setting for this book is in Nags Head which is in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Lucy is the local librarian and is engaged to Connor McNeil. Connor is the mayor and dentist in the town. Apparently Lucy is always in the midst of some type of mystery. They have purchased their dream home on the beach and are in the midst of renovating the home. Some say the home is haunted! Lucy has several late night encounters which cause her to wonder if it is indeed haunted or if the intruder is very much alive! Once a dead body is found in the kitchen, then the true mystery begins. This is an enjoyable mystery with pleasant characters. I think my favorite is Lucy's cat, Charles. Charles is also the library cat. Eva Gates does a great job of describing the area and the characters so that you can lose yourself in the book. I can almost feel the ocean breeze! The library is also located in the Bodie Island Lighthouse. I kept thinking what a delightful place to have a library! I was completely surprised by the ending because I never dreamed this would be the person responsible for murder. If you like a clean mystery, you will love this book.

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5/5
Death by Beach read has to be, hands down, one of my new favorite books ever. I can't explain the level of enjoyment i've experienced while reading this book!.
The story follows Lucy and Connor, a couple that just moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. They bought this Historic Cottage, next by the beach and everything goes according to plan: they are happy, they are ready to decorate and start a new journey in this amazing house.
However, during their first night, Lucy experiences a paranormal event that leads up to a real murderer investigation. There's a dead body in the house, and Lucy and Connor had no idea how it ended there.
This book gave me major Agatha Christie vibes for some reason. The murder mystery, the house, the paranormal events... it's extremely atmospheric and creepy at times but really enjoyable. Our main character Lucy is smart and determined, and her relationship with Connor was really cute. I loved the writing style and the built-up to the mystery and the final resolution. The plot twists kept me on edge and i couldn't stop reading this book because it was really compelling and unique. I think Eva Gates wrote a wonderful story and I'm intrigued to see what she has in store for us next.

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"The Lighthouse Library Mystery Series is a cozy mystery series with librarians, lighthouses, cats and, of course, murder!" I'm sorry I have missed #1-8 in the series, but it did not take away from this little treasure of a mystery. The coolest part is the atmospheric setting of Nags Head and the Outer Banks barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina. Eva Gates writes a heck of descriptive story that glides you right into the scenery. The setting appears as a charming and cozy Hallmark movie! I loved the lighter mystery feel.

With Lucy, the librarian of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, as the main character be ready for a journey on this hunt for a killer. With her fiance, Connor, who is also the mayor of Nags Head, they are remodeling their dream home on the beach. The house has a dark past to it! 40 years ago the previous owner's daughter ran out of the house in the night never to return to it again. The haunt continues when they return one day to find a murdered man in their house.

Such a simple, light book with a cute little character, Charles the cat. With footprints of sand in the house, a secret trap door and slight uncanny noises, Lucy delves into this mystery to find a killer before the killer finds her.
Thanks NetGalley for this fun mystery read in exchange for my honest review.

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