It's Lucy and Connor's wedding. The wedding is perfect and the reception. The morning after Lucy notices housekeeping struggling to open a door. She tries to help and they notice something lodged in the keyhole. Security is called and he doesn't want to call a locksmith. He runs and knocks down the door and they find a body. Aunt Joyce recognizes the body as her wedding date. Lucy starts asking questions.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the mystery and being able to follow clues with Lucy. I'm excited to read more about Lucy and friends.

What I liked:
* Charles. He really proves himself as the greatest cat ever in this book and I didn't know I could love him more than I already did.
* Teddy. His part of the story was very sweet and it was lovely to see.
* Edgar Allan Poe. Seriously. So awesome.
* Bertie and Eddie. It is simply lovely to see an older relationship handled so deftly.

What I didn't like [buckle up buttercup]:
* No wedding. Seriously. I have been reading for NINE BOOKS and we don't even get the wedding?? UGH. I have a feeling we only get the reception because it worked well for the plot. EPIC fail [IMO].
* The ugly family drama. It was really distasteful and IMO, not needed. It didn't advance the story [even though it was trying to, but more on that later] and was just yuck. I wanted to skip those parts every time they came onto the page.
* ALL the missing side characters. I missed them tremendously. The "new" people that were there for the "mystery" were no fun and just made me miss our regulars that much more.
* Louise Jane. I am never going to like her, but she is borderline desperate in this one and it wasn't a good look; she typically is just annoying, but this time, I was both annoyed and felt sorry for her.
* COULD the killer have been M O R E obvious?? I kept hoping I was wrong [when discussing this with the bestie, she said she kept hoping it was a red herring and that is perfect], but nope. It was one of the transparent mysteries I have read in a long time [and I am using the word mystery very loosely here] and I was left feeling very disappointed.
* I have never been a fan of how Lucy disregards everyone's concern for her safety, but it was more so in this one. She has just married Connor and she continues to blow off his concern and get involved in a way that comes perilously close to her not having to worry about her marriage anymore. I know that he knew this about her going in, but it has seemed to amp up and it, for some reason, really bothers me. It seems really disrespectful.

I have long had a love/dislike relationship with these books and when they are good, they are REALLY good and the the last two seem to have gone back to the meh of the first couple. It is very frustrating as a reader who has loved this author's other books - I WANT to love these, but it does seem to be getting harder and harder to do so.

And all that brings me to the audiobook. I tend to forget that I am not a fan of some narrators when they are doing cozies [but are really good in other genres] and such is the case here. I am just not a fan of the narrator in this series [I have listened to her reading other things and don't have an issue at all] for several reasons; she cannot stick to ONE ACCENT [she will be doing the southern thing for a character and then all of the sudden that slips and you are led to believe that a new character is speaking when in fact it is the same person, just without the accent they started with], she gets super breathy when things get tense [and things get TENSE in this one; I may have known who the killer was, but was not really ready for how they come after Lucy] and that kind of makes it weird. Like I said, I really like her reading other genres; this one is just not my favorite of hers. IF you are not bothered by these issues, then she will be fantastic for you!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Eva Gates, Elise Arsenault - Narrator, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for providing the eBook ARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dollycas's Thoughts

The day has finally arrived. Connor and Lucy had a beautiful wedding and like most weddings there was a little bit of family drama but they are not going to let anything ruin their day.

Then Lucy gets a phone call from her boss and friend Bertie and she learns Bertie's plus one Eddie never came back to her house after the reception. Lucy tries her best to calm Bertie down and vows to reconnect the next day. But the next day a body is discovered. It's another plus one from Lucy's wedding and now the police really want to find Eddie. Could Bertie's friend be a killer? Are more of Connor and Lucy's guests in danger? Before Lucy can enjoy her wedded bliss she is going to have to find out but she knows it isn't going to be easy and it could be very dangerous.

____

This truly is one of my favorite series! The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is my fictional happy place. I love everything about it. Connor and Lucy's home is wonderful too. Ever since a vacation to North Carolina many years ago I have yearned to return. The books in the series always give me a nice little virtual vacation.

The author has created such fantastic characters. I was so excited for this wedding to take place. Lucy and Connor make a wonderful couple. I was sad that story didn't have the actual "I Do's" and that the day was marred by a murder but this is a mystery series and Ms. Gates has hit it out of the park with this one! A hotel full of suspects, a missing man, a new detective on the case, the twists, the turns. I couldn't put this book down. The final showdown was so exciting I was as out of breath as the involved parties.

With this being the 10th book in the series these characters have found a place in my heart. I enjoy each visit more than the last and each visit ends too soon. I do encourage you to read the series in order to really get to know the characters but this story can be read and enjoyed all on its own.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells is the second book this week that gave me a book hangover. Once I started reading I just couldn't stop. This book also receives my Paradise Rating and a spot on my Best Reads List for 2023. My bags are already packed for next year. Will readers be traveling with Lucy and Connor on their honeymoon? I can't wait to find out!

'Death Knells and Wedding Bells' is the 10th book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series but only the second I have read, the first one being book #7. Considering I have a lot of catching up to do, I did not find it hard to follow at all and this is one of those books that I couldn't find fault with at all.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Eva Gates (Vicki Delany) for the e-Arc of the book. The book published on June 6, 2023 and although I had finished reading it before the publication date, I got a bit delayed with sharing my thoughts.

The good news is that Lucy and Connor get married. The bad news is wedding guest is murdered. See y complete review on www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

Lucy and Conner had the perfect wedding. The 10th edition of Lighthouse Library mysteries begins with their perfect wedding reception. After the last toast they went home since their Paris honeymoon was postponed for a month. The next morning they attended a family brunch given by Lucy's mother. Still perfect, until it's not.

On the way to the ladies room, Lucy and her Aunt Joyce encounter a hotel maid trying to unlock a storage closet. They try to help her until the hotel manager kicks down the door. That's when they find the dead body of Aunt Joyce's 'plus one'.

The story revolves around the dead man's story, a few likely suspects and Lucy's efforts to solve the murder.

This is a great story in a great series. Highly recommended!

#DeathKnellsandWeddingBells

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This is a novel worthy of a happy sigh after reading the last page. The author has a winning collection of characters, including Lucy, the Lighthouse Library librarian, her new husband, Connor, quirky Louise Jane, and wedding guests. I love the ambiance of the lighthouse and its associated scents, sounds, and visuals as so beautifully described. I also appreciate the love and friendship shared by locals who contribute to the community.

Lucy is the right-hand librarian of Bertie, the library director, and Connor is a dentist with a successful practice who is serving his final term as mayor. As part of her employment, Lucy lived in the little apartment at the top of the lighthouse library. I couldn’t imagine a more exciting place to live and work! Lucy and Connor purchased and have been remodeling a classic home they both love.

Their wedding and reception were perfect. Lucy and Connor will go on their honeymoon the following month. Lucy’s Aunt Joyce, who she barely knew, was there with her friend, Wayne, from New York City. Wayne had too much to drink and wanted to go back to New York, so Joyce told him to find his own way back. Bertie was there with Eddie, a long-time friend and professor who claimed to not be feeling well, so they left early. Sam, the detective who Lucy has helped solve a few crimes with, was there with his wife.

The following morning, Bertie hesitantly called Lucy. Eddie was staying at her home while in town. When they returned there the night before, he realized he left something behind and took the cab back to the reception. Eddie did not return or even contact her, and Bertie was worried. Lucy and Connor were on their way to a post-wedding brunch at the hotel where their reception was held. Lucy asked people about Eddie, but nobody knew anything except that he left with Bertie.

Joyce arrived at the brunch without Wayne and made excuses for him. Joyce and Lucy tried to help a maid who was wrestling with a closet door, but there was a problem with the lock. Connor joined them, then the hotel manager finally kicked the door inside the closet. Underneath the downed door was something keeping it from lying flat. They found Joyce’s plus one, Wayne, underneath, murdered several hours earlier.

Sam was one of the first people on the scene, and a new detective on the force, North, joined him. North criticized Sam for being too close to these people and believing anything they told him. Over the next few days, he particularly complained about Sam listening to Lucy. He claimed Lucy had been stringing Sam and the town along for years with murders she instigated and solved for attention. Eddie’s disappearance made him the person of interest, and North acts as if she is hiding him.

It has been fun watching the primary characters grow over time. Lucy has been my favorite, with her cousin Josie and Aunt Ellen being close seconds with Charles, the library cat. The incredibly quirky Louise Jane has even changed for the better. She still claims the lighthouse, where she now lives, is haunted, as are many places in the area. Louise Jane is an assistant to the research librarian, and is finally friendly towards Lucy. Sufficient backstory is given on the characters so new readers can feel a part of the story.

I enjoyed every step of watching Lucy and her friends try to solve this murder and Eddie’s disappearance, for both Bertie and Eddie. Whenever Lucy decided to let the police handle it, a new clue would surface and tease her back at it. Plot twists kept this already fast-paced mystery gaining momentum as several suspects came to light. This was a very challenging puzzle for me! I was so surprised to see who did it – someone I had considered, then discarded, several times. I highly recommend this book, and its series!

This long-running series will make you long to visit the Outer Banks in North Carolina. The local color is terrific, and the main characters are interesting, not just stereotypes. That being said, I wasn’t totally engaged in this particular mystery. Lucy and Connor finally get married and the next day, they find out that a guest (a “plus one”) has been murdered. There’s very little of the Lighthouse Library in this particular story, and lots and lots of characters to keep straight, right from the beginning of the book. Even though I’ve read the most recent two in the series (numbers 8 and 9 - this one is number 10), I was still a bit lost with all the relationships. There was a lot of family drama in this one too, which wasn’t particularly appealing.

Nevertheless, Lucy does a great job with her amateur sleuthing, putting together clues and letting the local police know what she’s discovered.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. Since I was a bit late to it, I bounced between the ebook and the published audiobook, courtesy of my public library. Elise Arsenault did a good job with the narration, using a variety of accents for the different characters.

All opinions are my own.

Death Knells 6/6-6/9

3.5 stars

Pro:
* good narration
* Familiar friends, the library, Charles
* Nods towards Poe’s work
* Book club
Con:
* too many characters too soon at the beginning
* Formulaic in places
* Mystery is too easy to solve.
* Familiar friends don’t have much of their expected quirk/endearing limelight.

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

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.