Cover Image: Death By Beach Read

Death By Beach Read

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Member Reviews

This was a cozy mystery set in the outer banks of NC. I currently live in NC, so it was fun reading about familiar places along the coast. I didn’t realize this book was part of a series but I didn’t feel like I had missed anything by not reading the previous books. In this small town mystery, I found the characters likable and entertaining. The supernatural element was a fun added touch. 3.5 stars

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Lucy and Connor are settling into their new home, and things seem perfect. The picture perfect home is disrupted when the couple find a dead body. The mystery was not as strong in this book. I do wonder how things will progress now that Lucy is no longer in the Lighthouse. While I did not love this book, I am not giving up on the series just yet.

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This was my first read from the author and I did not realize it was book 9 in a series! There are some spoilers to previous books, however, can definitely be read as a stand-alone.
Anyone looking for a cozy mystery will love this beach house murder and wondering who did it until the end.

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Although this is the first book I've read from this series, I was definitely not disappointed. The story draws you in from the start with interesting and believable characters. The backdrop of the beach is always a plus.

Lucy and Conner finally have their house in The Outer Banks and with some repairs it will be a dream home for them. Well, except for the misfortune of a dead body they find one night in their kitchen. Can they figure out what happened to this person who just happens to have a connection to their house?

Eva weaves such a well balanced story that keeps you wondering and guessing. I was completely engrossed from start to finish. Finding out the "who dunnit" was interesting but not the only twist in this story. In the end though, all is revealed and Lucy and Conner can continue with what will hopefully be a memorable wedding and life together.

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This is book nine in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. The characters are delightful. The book kicks off with the dynamic duo- Lucy and Conner- finally moving in together. Everything seems to be going well for them, until they realize their gorgeous new beach home comes with some...lets say, baggage. Lucy is a transplant from Boston who has a knack for discovering dead bodies and uncovering what has happened to them.

While this is a cozy mystery - there is a lot of character development for Lucy - I really enjoyed this fiester side to her. You cannot go wrong with this series if you enjoy a small town mystery.

I was given a copy of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read this book!

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I loved this cozy mystery set in one of my favorite places...Outer Banks! Quick and easy read and I will definitely be looking for more books by this author!

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I love this series, and this book did not disappoint! I've followed Lucy's story since the beginning, and this continuation was just what I needed.

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Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book was the first one that I read by this author. Although it is part of a series, I ready it as a stand alone and I really enjoyed it. This book was just a fun cozy book. It was really easy to read and quite enjoyable. I will definitly be reading more by Eva Gates.

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A delightful and fun read - so enjoyable!! Lucy and Connor are getting married in a year. They settle in the outer banks of the Carolina's and purchase an older home with a history that begins to evolve the first night Lucy and her cat, Charles, stay at the home. The house is in need of major renovations and as they are done the history of the house and its former residents unfolds.

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I always enjoy my visits with Lucy at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Although this book was more at her new home it was still an enjoyable visit.

Lucy and Conner have made one more step closer to forever by buying a home to fix up. This home is full of mystery and unfortunately a murder. Who killed the twin brother of the seller and why?

I was completely shocked at who the murderer was and why. I can’t say I’m sorry to see that character go away.

I do miss Lucy living in the lighthouse. There was just something about knowing she could pop down and read any book she wanted that was appealing.

I do enjoy the classic book pairings with each book. I have never read The House of Seven Gables and am thinking of giving it a try.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

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This was a very fun read! Despite this book being the ninth book in the series, I had no problem jumping right into the story., having never read another book in the series. Having said that, I am eagerly looking forward to binging the entire series up until this point soon.

This book has a lot of characters that I enjoyed including the cat, William (named for Shakespeare, of course). In this story, Lucy and her fiancée Connor, the mayor of their small town, are remodeling their new home. The house is a historic home on the beach, and Lucy could not be happier.

Then, a man related to the previous owner is found dead in the ktichen of the home. The story had some red herrings and I enjoyed the "hunt" for the killer. I thought that the story was well-written, and I find myself longing to find a library in a lighthouse in the Outer Banks.

I am looking forward to other books in the series. My thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Lucy is a librarian in a lighthouse library on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She and her fiance have just moved in to their historic house on the beach, but there seem to be some unusual noises that frighten her. Is the house haunted, as rumors say? When a body is discovered in their kitchen one night, Lucy sets out to find the historical connection to the stranger.

I enjoy this series because of the library theme, but also the setting on the beach. The characters are interesting, and some are quite quirky. This mystery seemed a bit too easy to predict, but was still a nice one to read. Looking forward to the next book.

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One of my favorite comfort reads series, I always look forward to the next installment. In this one Lucy and Connor have moved in together in a house they bought. Charles comes along as well of course. Aaaand then Lucy finds a dead body right inside their home. What follows is secret doors,old treasures, old feuds and some investigating. What I particularly liked about this one was that Lucy seemed to have grown a backbone. Now she doesn't just allow people to walk all over her, she has things to say back. Also, we find out more about Connor's family, his father specifically, which was quite nice. Overall, a great read as always, can't wait for the next one where I hope to see the wedding finally.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I enjoyed this book immensely. The characters were relatable and enjoyable to get to know! The plot kept me engaged at all times! I like this author a lot!

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I loved this newest one in the Lighthouse Library Series. It's always a pleasure to 'visit' with Lucy and Connor and the rest of the Library staff and family.

The mystery kept my attention and I hated to put this book down. It was well-crafted and one that I had to keep reading. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series!

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Death by Beach Read by Eva Gates

This book wasn't for me. It was not offensive or even bad. I was bored, and I thought just not for me. But here are some good things about this book:

I love the setting: It's on a beach, there is a lighthouse library, there are book clubs at that library and such. There were a lot of opportunities for rainy beach weather and I loved that. Eva Gates also gave a great overview of Nags Heads (aka island) life, including fishing and small town gossip.

There was a cat named Charles, who is a badass. The main character, Lucy, is a librarian!

Other than that, the story lacked diversity. As far as I can tell, there was no racial, gender, sexual and barely any income diversity (except the "criminal types" who looked criminal). Even the gender roles were pretty strict for each character except our main character, Lucy, was not a perfect cook but she is going to learn!

I also didn't care about the writing style. I thought it was a repetitive. Yes; I remember that happened. Do you writer? And I thought the dialogue didn't read like real people talking.

The mystery was fine, and the plot was solid. So, this is a fine cozy mystery if you want something traditional, atmospheric and light,

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Lucy and Connor move into a historical beach house that comes with murder, lots of mystery and gossip, secret entrances, and hidden treasures.
I loved the storyline and couldn't stop reading! I especially loved reading all the secrets and mysteries around what happened to Jo all those years ago. I also loved how the author often shifts the reader's thinking to a new suspect just when you think you have solved the mystery. I would never have guessed the reveal at the end!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

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Fairly typical cozy - perfect for reading on the beach.

The main characters have recently purchased a new house, rumored to be haunted. After a body shows up, they start investigating. As I said, typical cozy, with as much focus on the characters as the actual mystery while still being highly entertaining.

Recommended.I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com and voluntarily chose to review.

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This was a fun beach read. There was good mystery and the characters were interesting. I look forward to more by this author.

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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Thanks for the ARC. What can I say? I didn't want to put this book down once I started reading it. I did but could not wait to get back to reading it. Love a great cozy mystery. Will recommend!

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