Death By Beach Read is number nine in the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series. Lucy and Connor have purchased their dream house on Nags Head Beach. It needs a lot of updating and repair work. Connor and his father are doing the work in their spare time. The house comes with a history and that history includes stories of a ghost. When Lucy spends the night alone in the house, she hears things that seem to point to the ghost story being true. When Lucy and Connor find a dead body in their kitchen who is connected to the family they purchased the house from, it is up to Lucy to help figure out the connection. I have read some of the Lighthouse Library series before. I enjoyed this one but they kept mentioning things that had happened in the past the I either have not read about or forgotten. The mentions weren’t relevant to this story and almost seemed like an intrusion to me. All in all, I enjoyed the book and will be reading more of the series.

Death by Beach Read has perhaps a bit of a slow start, but it picks up within a few chapters, and soon we are back to our friends at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library and Nags Head, North Carolina.

The focus on Lucy and Connor’s new house is an engaging setup, and keeping the entire episode there expands the locale of the series significantly. The mystery is woven well into the richer, deeper ongoing saga, even if a couple of the characters and elements of the backstory seem a bit forced. Overall, Death by Beach Read is a satisfying visit to the shore, and I look forward to returning soon.

Audio: As the narrator for earlier books in the series, Elise Arsenault is comfortable in the style and characters, which makes a comfortable experience for the listener. I was able to marathon listen as I relaxed, perfect for a summertime release.

Thank you to Eva Gates, EliS Arsenault, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

(4.5 Rounded up)

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Death by Beach Read (Lighthouse Library Mystery # 9) by Eva Gates from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… a fun, intriguing, cozy mystery replete with a cleverly crafted plot, great atmosphere as well as a brilliant and quirky cast of characters…

A fan of The Lighthouse Library Mysteries, this ninth entry, Death by Beach Read was another wonderful addition to the series.

We open with Lucy and Connor settling into their new home and in the process of planning their wedding, life for them is good although so much work is still to be done. Since their home had stood abandoned for years and with the legend that had surrounded scaring people away, the house had fallen into a neglected state. When Connor is on a business trip and Lucy is woken up in the middle of the night by Charles the cat alerting her to the sound of footsteps in the house, a whirlwind of events begins. From a ghostly legend, family secrets, the return of a troublesome character and a body in their kitchen, Lucy is on the case trying to put the pieces together in order to preserve her sanity…and her life.

This was a fun, intriguing, cozy mystery replete with a cleverly crafted plot, great atmosphere as well as a brilliant and quirky cast of characters. Although I miss Lucy living in the lighthouse, I feel the character is growing along with the changes, making the series feel fresh, in my opinion. My one criticism and not to give spoilers, it felt there were loose ends that were not really addressed which left the reader hanging just a bit. Overall, I love this series and I thoroughly enjoyed Death by Beach Read, I would highly recommend it!

Lucy and Connor have the chance to buy an old beach house and they take the plunge. It's been vacant for fifteen years and the current owners didn't want to sell it to just anybody. Lucky for Lucy and Connor they click with the owners and take possession of a house in need of repairs. Once Connor and his father, with some help from friends, have redone the kitchen, deck and the second floor it will be the house of their dreams. Before that can happen, it's looking more like a nightmare. While Connor is at an out of town conference Lucy twice hears creaking floorboards and it's not because the house is old. Charles, the library cat (who comes home with Lucy every night) is acting edgy. Upon Connor's return they go out for dinner only to return to find a dead man in their kitchen. How did he get in when all of the doors and windows are locked and the doors had just been re-keyed? Let the sleuthing begin as Lucy, Connor, the local police and Charles the cat all try to unmask a killer.
With this, the ninth in the series, Lucy has made big changes in her life. She's still the librarian but no longer living at the lighthouse. Her wedding plans are aimed at a wedding a year out and that means picking out a dress, flowers, invitations not to mention who she well invite. Helping the police find a killer, one who knows more about their home than they do, will keep some of those issues on hold. Questions like why has one of the previous owners refused to set foot in the house for decades ? and, once the identity of the dead man is revealed, what had he been doing in those same decades? Exposing secrets and ghosts are the order of the day.
If you are new to this series that's fine as it works as a stand alone. The pace is nice and slow with a lovely setting and many recurring characters - some more welcoming than others. The mystery itself builds nicely to the final reveal and I found it to be a very welcome stress reliever.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Spring is blooming in the Outer Banks, Lucy and Connor have finally moved into their historic cottage right on the beach. As the work on the house is finished Lucy and Connor are ready to make it their home. Now Lucy is focusing on her work at the lighthouse library, planning her wedding and decorating their new home. Well, until a dead body is found at their new home. On her first night staying home alone Lucy here sounds and sees foot prints and a place there should be none. They have a house with history and with that person comes baggage.To settle her own mind and get to the bottom of what’s going on, Lucy is forced to find out what the baggage of the past is that is now threatening her future.

I absolutely adore the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series and Death by Beach Read is really something. The mystery is well plotted and the pacing of the book is perfect. I feel Lucy made a lot of personal growth between the last book and this book. She doesn’t take everything that everyone says at face value and is standing up for herself and away I have not seen her down before. I really like that about her. I also love that her and Connor are starting their lives together. They haven’t made it to the altar yet but I know it’s got to be coming soon. Fingers crossed. Eva Gates Draws you in with her wonderful characters, the lovable cat Charles and a mystery that keeps you guessing. This series truly does get better with each book.

“Death by Beach Road” by Eva Gates
Release Date: 6/7/22

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This is the ninth book in this cozy mystery series. I had not read any of the prior books and was still able to follow along. They refer to some things that Happen in the past for Lucy’s life, but you can read them out of order! I really enjoyed this cozy mystery.

Lucy and Connor have bought the old Harper house and are fixing it up before they get married. Lucy works In the local library and Connor is the Mayor. When odd things keeps happening around their house they question if the old stories of it being haunted is true. Then a body shows up in their kitchen. Lucy can’t help but to investigate the murder.

The series keeps getting better and better. Looking forward to the next installment. Recommend this series for nice cozy read with great characters

Lucy and Carter are working on renovating their new home, one of the unpainted aristocracy in Nags Head. After some nights with strange occurrences, Lucy and Carter come home to a dead man in the kitchen. From there ghosts and old tales flourish.
This was an interesting Lighthouse Library Mystery. There is the library in a lighthouse, a home undergoing renovation, a book club, Charles the cat being a hero, a garden, a broken family and an old nemesis.
There was an intriguing twist to the culprit behind the murder and some other events in the book. Lucy is in danger at the climax as she often is in the series.
Death by Beach Read is a satisfying addition to the series. I enjoyed the every day things that make up the story as the author interwove the clues that lead to the final conclusion.
This book depends on previous books in order to understand the full picture. I recommend reading previous books in the series before starting Death by Beach Read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

"Death by Beach Read” the 9th instalment in the "Lighthouse Library" Mystery series by Eva Gates. I love this series and couldn’t wait to visit Nag’s Head and the Bodie Island Lighthouse library in the Outer Banks of N.C. Again.

Librarian Lucy’s new historic house comes with a lot of baggage and family secrets. Can she put them to rest or will a killer bring Lucy’s family to their downfall.

This time the story is more centred around Lucy and Connors new home one of the historic unpainted aristocracy on millionaire row. The house has secrets and is supposedly haunted and Lucy needs to dive into the past to solve this mystery. We can’t forget Charlie the library cat who seems to sense when something is not right at the house…

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. Lucy, Connor, her adorable cat Charles, and Connors dad along with Ralph and Jo Harper are the main characters in this mystery. I have enjoyed seeing Lucy outside the library as well as meeting some new characters. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.

I can't wait for the next instalment! I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley.

This is book 9 of the series and it just gets more charming as it increases! Lucy and Connor have their hands full with renovating their new home, adjusting to living together, and the work changes they are going through, when chaos whirls into their life as a dead body in their home. As secrets come out not only about the man, but their home, they both begin to wonder if the house is cursed and meant for them. it's a tight little cozy page turner, that's perfect for beach reading this Summer! It will get you wanting to go back and read the previous books as well.

Death By Beach Read is the 9th book in the delightful Lighthouse Library Mystery series. You can definitely read it as a standalone, as the author provides enough backstory for those new to the series (I’ve only read two of them myself.), but, as with any series, your reading experience will be richer if you’ve read at least some of the previous titles in the series. The plot centers around a death in one of the revered “unpainted aristocracy” beach houses in Nags Head, North Carolina, part of the Outer Banks area.The author really makes you want to visit the Outer Banks (which I was very lucky to do recently)! The characters are varied and individual, not stereotypes at all. Lucy is a librarian; her fiancé Connor is juggling both the mayor ’s job and his dental practice, in addition to working on fixing up their house. There are a number of family members and townspeople that pop up in most or all of the books, as well as ones that are new to the reader. I loved the library cat, Charles. He saves the day on more than one occasion and definitely has his likes and dislikes among the townspeople! The mystery definitely had me guessing and I love that Lucy works WITH the police on the puzzle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The past is intruding on the present in this mystery and light romance set in Nags Head, North Carolina. I grabbed this book, even though I hadn't read anything else in the series, mainly because it just sounded entertaining and I do love a good cozy mystery. This was a fun, absolutely cozy mystery. I like the setting, but there's not a lot of description of the area, which I felt like I was missing the setting. I enjoyed the way the community came together during times of trouble with a helpful attitude. Unfortunately, I didn't really like the first person narration. All in all, it was a good read and I would recommend this series as I feel like the rest of the series would be just as good as this one.

I am a longtime fan of Eva Gates/Vicki Delany and this series is one of my favorites of hers. Book Nine was a good addition to the series although with less of the library friends. The mystery was not a huge surprise but that was okay too. Teddy becomes more likable with every book. Unfortunately I cannot like Connor. He seems condescending toward Lucy and sometimes treats her like a child.
Hoping the next book will include the wedding.

Lucy and Connor move into their dream home An historic cottage on Nags Head Beach. All is fine until one night when Lucy is alone and strange things begin to happen. Is the house haunted as some say or are darker forces at work. Edge of your seat murder mystery. Very enjoyable.

Lucy and Connor moved into a house full of secrets and old family drama. When they find a man’s dead body, will Lucy discover the motive for the murder before she’s next on the list?
When I read a cozy mystery, I want to feel the “coziness” while trying to figure out the mystery. I really didn’t get that feeling. This mystery had a very creepy vibe, and it seemed somewhat intense throughout the book. I also felt a little disconnected from the main character until midway through the story. The plot was very compelling, and I was surprised by the reveal at the end. I will continue reading the rest of the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Lucy and Connor are beginning life in their new home. With Connor and his father doing lots of work the house is slowly coming together. Connor goes out of town and Much hears boards creaking in the house. When Connor returns home, they wake up to discover a dead body in their kitchen. Is it part of the old story of a ghost in the house? Louise Jane is ready to seek out the paranormal activity, but the police and Lucy have other ideas. Great read that keeps you guessing with Lucy to the end. Another great adventure by the outer banks!

3.75 stars

Another entry in the enjoyable Lighthouse Library series. Librarian Lucy and husband to be Connor have moved into their dream house and are renovating bit by bit. But finding a body in their new home puts a damper on their happiness.

The victim turns out to be the son of the family that lived in the house long ago. He was a felon and a ne'er do well but his more respectable siblings still live in town.

Lucy attempts to help solve the murder while planning their wedding and carrying out her usual library duties. This is a likable cast in an attractive setting and these books are always great fun. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After spending the winter renovating their new home, an historic cottage on the beach, librarian Lucy Richardson and her fiancé Mayor Connor McNeil have settled in. Rumors that the cottage is haunted don’t faze Lucy until she hears odd noises while spending her first night alone there. Hearing stories from the locals about how the past occupants of her new home fled the cottage screaming about a ghost and then Lucy’s finding a dead body in the kitchen make her even more uneasy. It’s up to Lucy and Connor to figure out what the dead man was doing in their cottage and why, after sitting vacant and ignored for decades, a bunch of suspicious characters have suddenly become so interested in it. Once again, Eva Gates provides an outstanding mystery with great characters in Death by Beach Read, the ninth mystery in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series.

The past is intruding on the present in this mystery and light romance set in Nags Head, North Carolina. I grabbed this book, even though I hadn't read anything else in the series, mainly because it is set on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I'm a North Carolinian and enjoy reading books set in my home state when I get the chance.

Lucy and Connor, who are engaged, have been lucky enough to buy one of the historic cottages on the beach at Nags Head, NC know as one of the "unpainted aristocracy". They have a lot of work to do to renovate the house while both working their regular jobs. Lucy works at a library set in Lighthouse and she used to live on the premises as well before moving in with Connor. Connor is the town Mayor and is also a dentist. Connor and his Dad are doing most of the renovations themselves, while Lucy is working on wedding planning and decorating the house.

The house has a somewhat disturbing history and rumors of a ghost who haunts the premises. Lucy and Connor both dismiss the idea of a ghost. Then there are some unsettling occurrances where Lucy hears things in the house, sees someone watching her from the window, and then a man is found murdered in the house. Something is definitely wrong and Lucy begins asking questions and "investigating".

This was a fun, cozy mystery. I like the setting, but there's not a lot of description of the area. There is some discussion of the history of pirates and rumrunners at the Outer Banks. I enjoyed the way the community came together during times of trouble with a helpful attitude. Unfortunately, I didn't really like the first person narration.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on June 7, 2022.

A library in a restored lighthouse, a secret treasure and a dead body all add up to Lucy, the Librarian, having to investigate the mystery. Especially, when the dead body turns up in her kitchen! An enjoyable cozy with fun characters and a leading role played by a cat!