Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Death Knells and Wedding Bells is the tenth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. The book starts with Lucy and Connor's wedding. A guest is found murdered, and Lucy investigates. This new entry in the series is a great continuation in terms of character development. The storyline is great, and the mystery is well written. There are nice twists and turns. This series is best enjoyed if read in order, but a new reader will not feel lost or confused. Highly recommended to cozy mystery readers and to those who enjoy books with a library setting.

This is the tenth installment in the Lighthouse Library mystery series, wherein librarian Lucy Richardson--newly married to Connor McNeill, the town's mayor--constantly becomes involved in the unseemly number of murders happening in the small town of Nags Head.

(By the way, allow me to state upfront that, while some of the covers are eye-catching, it's mostly the titles of these books that kept reeling me in.)

As with the other book in the series that I've read, the cast of characters is large; not only the regular complement of town residents, but almost everyone in Lucy's family, many close friends from town, and a number of plus-ones and other people present at Lucy's and Connor's wedding reception.

This even is not only the occasion for murder, but also where the reader is immediately treated to an introduction to the complicated dynamics of the bride's family.

The continuity here is good, not only reflecting Lucy's changing relationships with the people in Nags Head, from the pushy library volunteer to the police detective who usually deals with murder cases in town; but also following up on a couple of lines of text from the fourth book about one of Lucy's brothers, and his wife.

(I will note here that it's likely some of these family issues, and more besides, are mentioned in the intervening novels, but as I only recently read that one other book in the series, that's what jumped at me.)

The strength of this story is also its weakness: the sense of community. We spend a lot of time on interpersonal relationships that have no bearing on either setting up or solving the mystery, only for the murderer to be--of course--the ultimate outsider.

I was irritated, by the way, that Lucy, who proves both attentive and sensible enough to find the missing absentminded professor early on, as well as to connect the few solid clues dropped in the oceans of petty family squabbles, socially-awkward friend dating attempts, and at-work jealousies, then proceeds to behave like an absolute ninny, pulling the equivalent of the ditzy négligée-clad blonde investigating basement noises in the middle of the night.

The narrative voice is light, and the book is a quick, easy read; again, nothing terribly clever, but a good way to spend a couple of hours. I must note, however, that the excess of useless detail I've seen creeping in in recent genre fiction makes an appearance (for example, not only what specific items Lucy makes for breakfast, but in which order she preps them for cooking, and so on).

Which brings the overall rating of this entry down a bit more.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells gets 6.50 out of 10

I love the Lighthouse Library mystery series; this series has an eclectic collection of characters. I am happy that Lucy and Connor are finally married. Leave it to the two of them to have a guest disappear during the reception. I was able to guess who the killer was but I still enjoyed the journey to find out the "why".

This is a Cozy Mystery, and this is the 10th book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. I read the first nine books in this series before picking up this book. I think you need to read the other books in this series before picking up this book, so you will know the backstory of all the characters. The mystery in this book had me guessing throughout this book. I am so glad we got Lucy and Connor's wedding. I have been wanting their wedding for several books now. The ending of this book had me so scared for Lucy, and it had my heart going. I also was so happy to be with Charles (the library cat that lives with Lucy), and I was so happy he plays a big part in some times in this book. This series is a must read cozy book series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Crooked Lane Books) or author (Eva Gates) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Lucy and Connor finally get married. It was a perfect day but Lucy finds out the next day that one of the wedding guests was murdered...and, of course, some of her family turned out to be suspects. Lucy tried to stay out of the investigation, she really did, but it was not to be.

It was nice to see see Lucy and Connor get their happy day without it being spoiled by murder...that was discovered the next day. It was fun to revisit old friends and a few formidable relatives. I had an idea of who the culprit was but there were plenty of twists and turns that kept me not a 100% sure. There was an exciting chase scene and a real knock of an ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This, the 10th story of the Lighthouse Library Mystery series, is a great addition with the celebration of Lucy and Connor's wedding. Family and friends gather for the church wedding followed by the reception at the Ocean Side Hotel for the dancing, fun, and great food. Of course, the usual family tensions are present but then ramp up when the guest of Aunt Joyce is found the next morning in the supply closet. Lucy feels bad that a guest died and feels the need to do a little investigating. The man was not a nice person, but it is a terrible thing to happen. This is another complicated, layered mystery to peel back to find answers. Good thing that the honeymoon is not scheduled for a couple of weeks. The killer was not someone that I had suspected and that is always fun to get a surprise ending. This is such a fun series with a great setting on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with the library set in a lighthouse. It is always fun to see old friends and new ones too. Highly recommended.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review, and these are my thoughts and opinions.

Death Knells And Wedding Bells is the tenth book in the A Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates.

Wedding bells are ringing for Lucy and Connor, and the ceremony went as planned. Then comes the reception. Lucy’s Aunt Joyce showed up at the wedding with Wayne Fortunada, whom she has been seeing for a short period of time. Wayne had been friendly with almost everyone at the wedding, but his attitude was the opposite at the reception. Later in the reception, Lucy heads back from the ladies' room and hears Wayne arguing with someone. Early the following day, Lucy receives a call from Bertie, her boss, wanting to know if she had seen jer date, Eddie, after they had left. Bertie tells Lucy that Eddie said he was returning to the hotel to retrieve the tie he had left there. While having brunch at the hotel the following day, Lucy notices a housekeeper trying to gain access to a storage room. She stops to see if she can help, and once the door gets opened, they find the dead body of Wayne in the room.
Detective Sam Watson arrives to begin his investigation, and soon after, a new hire from the NYPD, Detective Kyle North. It’s soon learned that Wayne is a known blackmailer, and several of his blackmail victims are attending the reception. Lucy quickly finds Eddie and brings him back to Nags Head. When Det. North learns that Eddie was one of the blackmail victims he is ready to call the case solved. North and Watson will be at odds throughout the investigation, with North telling Watson he should withdraw from the case several times. Watson will refuse and continue, while Lucy will ask questions and continue working together like they did in the past. Charlie, the library cat, [proves to be the hero of the day.

The story is well-written, plotted, and descriptive; you feel you were at the reception. The characters are wonderfully well-developed, believable, and enjoyable. Many that I would love to call my friend. The bookThere are enough red herrings that I kept guessing about the killer's identity until the end of the story.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this interesting series.

Another fantastic lighthouse library mystery, with lots of twists and turns. Lucy and Connor are finally married, but their newlywed bliss is interrupted by the murder of one of their wedding guests. I will admit I figured out the mystery pretty early, but it was fun to see how the characters came to the same conclusion.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells by Eva Gates is the tenth book in the Lighthouse Library series. I've not read all of the prior books in this series, but I am familiar with the main characters. This made it fun to celebrate with Lucy and Connor on their wedding day, but of course their reception is marred with a murder.

The book includes a lot of drama in Lucy's family with most of them spending time in Nags Head, North Carolina for the wedding. The victim has ties to Lucy's family and also to a good friend of Lucy, so she can't help but do some sleuthing of her own. Lucy is friends with one of the detectives on the case who welcomes her help, but there's a new member of the Nags Head police force who resents her involvement in the investigation. There are times when I wish Lucy would have been more forthcoming with her new husband on things she learned while asking questions of witnesses and potential suspects. There's no reason for her to keep quiet on a few of the things, and one ends up putting her in danger. Overall, it's an enjoyable cozy mystery that fans of the series will especially enjoy. The book has a satisfying and unexpected resolution to the case, with Charlie the library cat playing an important role in those events.

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Fans will be excited for Lucy and Connor as Death Knells and Wedding Bells, the 10 book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series bring us to the great day! The adorable couple is married, and we are invited to the reception. By time we arrive, the couple is ready to leave, but enough happens that we get caught up in the story before they escape the crowd. All of our old friends are there to support the couple which adds to the fun for the reader.
I am pleased with the improved relationship between Lucy and her mother and a few other characters. Believe it or not, the whole wedding and reception pass without a murder. Of course, that pleasant pause does not last long, but it was great for a while as they celebrate with family and friends and delay the honeymoon for a few weeks. Ah, Paris! I cannot wait! I can usually figure out both the victim-to-be and the murder, but in this book, author Eva Gates managed to surprise me. Lots of red herrings give Lucy more than enough reasonable suspects to investigate, but it takes her a while to collect the clues to figure out the villain, but of course she once again arrows in on the murder just in time to...well, that has to wait. I did suspect that person, but I suspected half of the suspicious characters and yet didn't quite believe that any of them had done it.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #EvaGates #DeathKnellsandWeddingBells #LighthouseLibraryMystery

Lucy and Connor are finally married! Lots of family and friends attended the ceremony with just a few out-laws. You know in-laws that aren’t really family any longer. When the boyfriend of the out-law aunt is found murdered and the boyfriend of the head librarian disappears, Lucy really has her job cut out for her. Of course, she’s not getting involved but one thing leads to another. This is another great lighthouse book.

I was so happy that Lucy and Connor’s wedding went off without any issues. It was great to join the reception in progress because I always worry at cozy mystery wedding ceremonies that someone’s gonna show up from someone’s past and say something they shouldn’t lol. Instead of a mysterious past showing up for the bride and groom, the dead guy at the reception managed to get the cops unearthing several other people’s pasts. After some clues starting fitting and just from a gut feeling I had, I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was, just not why.

The showdown was nail bitingly exciting (go Charles! I love that cat!) and soon the nasty killer was away while Lucy got the fun not fun job of giving her statement. She got some nice incriminating pictures too! The ending was just sweet and very normal which these two newlyweds need a lot of now for a long time—or until the next book! 😉 This book's available today!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

"Death Knells and Wedding Bells” the 10th 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 wedding is nearly perfect—aside from a missing guest and the strangled body she finds. Now, she must vow to find the killer …

This time the story is more centred around Lucy and Connors wedding and her guests. We can’t forget Charlie the library cat who seems to sense when someone is not right/nice…

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. 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. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love this series and was looking forward to reading this instalment. it was fun, a solid mystery that kept me guessing, and i was glad to catch up with the characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

In this 10th book of Ms. Gates' Lighthouse Library cozy series, Lucy and Connor's wedding has gone off perfectly. All the guests, as well as Lucy and Connor, have enjoyed every minute. However, the next morning is when the mysteries begin.
Ms. Gates' has developed such well-rounded characters that I always feel as if I'm visiting old friends when I open one of these books. Lucy is a smart and capable female who uses logic and deductive reasoning to ferret out the clues. A swiftly paced plot with several suspects, twists, turns and red herrings kept me guessing as I read. The dramatic reveal came as a shock to me as I never guessed who was behind the murder.

Thank you to @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the ARC of Death Knells and Wedding Bells, book 10 in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates.

This is one of my very favorite cozy mystery series and I’ve read all of them and they never disappoint. I love the characters (Lucy is one determined librarian) and the setting of the Outer Banks is perfect–I feel like I’ve taken a little trip each time I read an entry in this series. This book had a pretty intense chase scene at the end that had me flying through the pages. I think I figured out the killer at the same time as Lucy this time around. Lots of fun.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells is book #10 in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates.

Lucy and Connor get married at the Outer Banks with family and friends around them. The next day, they find out that one of the guests didn’t make it home and another is found dead. Can Lucy find the missing guest and determine if the two events are related?

I was so happy for Lucy and Connor. They finally got married! It was entertaining to read about Lucy’s family and the typical family squabbles that take place. It was an interesting mystery. I figured it out after Lucy did. That person wasn’t on my radar but should have been. I enjoy going to the Outer Banks and seeing Bodie Lighthouse so this series is a favorite of mine.

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Another delightful dally in Nags Head. This time Lucy and Connor are finally getting married! Things go off without a hitch until Lucy's aunt Joyce's companion goes missing and is later found dead in a closet where their reception was held. Lucy starts asking questions "just to satisfy curiosity" while her new husband worries she will once again wind up in danger confronting a killer.

The whodunit in this one was a bit easy but did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. I love how Ms. Gates weaves in bits and pieces from the library's book club as similarities to the crime in question. The cast of eclectic characters in this book make it such fun to read.

Congrats to Eva Gates (aka Vicky Delaney) on her 50th book!!!

My thanks to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for this ARC. I look forward to finding out what happens next for Lucy.

Book 10 in the Library Lighthouse mystery series has been worth the wait. By wait I’m talking about Lucy and Connor’s wedding. Having read each book as it has published, I have been looking forward to Lucy and Connor getting married.
All the main characters make appearances and play a role in making the story a fun read.
We meet more of Lucy’s family - her brothers, wives and Aunt Joyce. Gloria adds her two cents even though she’s not technically related to Lucy.
Aunt Joyce’s companion is murdered. As the story moves forward, we find he wasn’t the best guy. Blackmail anyone?
There is a new detective on the scene, North. I didn’t like him. Maybe because he suspected Lucy of creating the murders.
Lucy keeps saying she isn’t investigating only asking questions, and she isn’t keeping secrets from Connor. To which I say keep telling yourself that sweetie. Lucy can’t seem to help herself and she’s in denial about it.
There are some interesting suspects. I kind of suspected the killer, but didn’t know exactly why.
A fight breaks out at the library. It’s definitely humorous but also ridiculous.
A chase scene rounds out the story.
Death Knells and Wedding Bells is a great title and a fun read.
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.
Thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to enjoy reading this book.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells and AUDIO by Eva Gates (Vicki Delaney) opens at Connor and Lucy’s long awaited wedding. Although not exactly what they had wanted, it had turned out perfectly. Only a couple of family members’ boyfriends had marred the reception and even then, not badly. All is well until the next morning a body is found in a hotel cleaning closet: the guest of Lucy’s aunt. Curiously, at the same time, Bertie’s friend, Eddie is also missing. As it turns out, the murdered man was a blackmailer with several of his subjects present at the wedding. North Carolina is far away from New York City, his base of operations, but not far enough. Of course, Lucy has to start asking questions, but she does locate Eddie three days later: he was one of the blackmail victims, and the new police detective immediately decides he is the murder. Things go from bad to worse in a trice.

I love this series. Lucy and Connor are perfect life mates and having all their family and friends present was a gift. They are so many and varied and have appeared often in the series. It is a true cozy mystery. Charles, the library cat, now travels back and forth with Lucy as she and Connor have remodeled the beachfront home they purchased and are living there. Sam Watson, Nags Head detective, is accused by the new detective of being too close to all involved in the crime and he ruminates on that accusation, thinking it may be correct. It was a good mystery, with the solution popping up out of nowhere. Lucy is an endearing sleuth and Charles, the cat, is the perfect partner for her in this pursuit, probably saving her life. This is a wonderful series, very character-driven with the plethora of interesting characters to support that. I think I prefer reading to listening, in this case. I recommend the story.

Elise Arsenault is the reader and she gave Connor a Southern accent, appropriately probably, but I had never thought of it as I read the books. No one else had any sort of accent: other long-time Nags Head residents or the many from Boston or New York. I thought that odd. All-in-all she did a credible job with the manuscript.

I was invited to read an e-ARC and listen to an e-AUDIO of Death Knells and Wedding Bells by Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions were my own. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #DreamscapeMedia #EvaGates #EliseArsenault #DeathKnellsAndWeddingBells