Lucy and Connor get their dream wedding, but they also get another murder investigation as a gift as well! I love that Lucy is portrayed as such a strong, smart young woman who uses logic and reasoning to get to the answers with the support of her family, friends and the local detective. It is a modern twist on Sherlock Holmes! The author has crafted a cast of characters that you love and connect with, yet she also crafts characters that you definitely don't like and don't want to connect with just as well. A great mystery wrapped in wonderful stories of the characters lives that keeps you wanting to come back for more! I absolutely love this series and can't wait to see what is next for our newlyweds and their friends!

This is such a fun series. I almost hate to admit that I spend more time watching in awe the shenanigans of the locals than I do genuinely trying to solve the mystery. And to someone who’s just slightly addicted to puzzles, that’s a major accomplishment. I loved watching Lucy and Connor start to settle into their newly married life, and I particularly enjoyed seeing how the true king of the castle, Charles, was handling all the changes. The mystery Lucy’s faced with kept me guessing all the way to the end. Both because I was so cleverly distracted by everything else going on and because, like Lucy, it wasn’t a solution that had even occurred to me. I’m guessing that the next book will take us on the honeymoon, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what kind of mischief that’s going to land Lucy in.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Death Knells and Wedding Bells (Lighthouse Library Mystery #10) by Eva Gates from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…a fun, intriguing, cozy mystery with a cleverly crafted plot, a brilliant and quirky cast of characters including a comedic library cat, nail-biting suspense, humor and a touch of romance…

A fan of The Lighthouse Library Mysteries, this tenth entry, Death Knells and Wedding Bells was as expected another wonderful addition to the series.

We open at Lucy and Connor’s Wedding Reception in Nags Head at the Ocean Side Hotel. Everyone appears to be having an amazing time despite some family drama. Lucy’s brother Kevin and his soon to be ex Kristen Richardson who has come with her new boyfriend, Roy Croft and her aunt Joyce’s, her mother’s sister the black sheep of the family attends with her recent arm candy Wayne Fortunade. When Wayne’s mood turns sour. Lucy overhears a conversation between Wayne and an unknown person that seems to sadden Wayne. Lucy is concerned for her aunt but decides to let it go and enjoy the first moments of her marriage. When the next morning Wayne’s body is found in a hotel storage room Lucy, being true to form, can’t let it go, especially when the murderer might be one of her wedding guests. With a new member of the police department, Detective North from the NYPD focused on select guests and with a critical eye on Lucy’s overly familiar relationship with the department she tries her best to stay out of it but it becomes increasingly difficult for her to do. When she finally figures out the truth it might be too late…. for her, especially since she’s put herself in the crossfire of the real killer.

This was a fun, intriguing, cozy mystery with a cleverly crafted plot, a brilliant and quirky cast of characters including a comedic library cat, nail-biting suspense, humor and a touch of romance. Having read the series from the start I was not disappointed. Overall, I love this series and I thoroughly enjoyed Death Knells and Wedding Bells; I would highly recommend it!

Lucy and Connor are getting married. Family squabbles, however, are getting in the way. When a corpse is found in the utility closet the morning after the ceremony, the corpse turns out to be her Aunt Joyce’s date. In the past, Lucy’s friend, Sam Watson had been willing to let her help solve murders. With the new Detective North on the case, however, Lucy’s friendship with Sam comes under scrutiny. Additionally, tensions between her brother and his estranged wife are building. When Bette James’ date disappears as well, Bertie soon becomes a suspect. Is there a connection between Bette’s date and the dead person? Who committed the murders?
The book is well-written and adds a level of humor to the story. The characters are well-rounded and engaging. Character dynamics throughout the book are masterfully done and helps the story to feel more realistic. Author's writing style shines through well in this book. Fans of murder, mystery, small towns, and humor will want to pick this one up.

The tenth in the series, Death Knells & Wedding Bells, is another great book. This author's writing style is one of my favorites (I read a lot of cozy mystery series). The main character, Lucy, is someone you’d want as a friend. The supporting characters are great (Louise Jane is still my favorite). The book begins at Lucy’s wedding where someone is murdered later that evening at the same hotel where the wedding takes place. Someone who was a plus-one to a guest at the wedding. The book moves along perfectly as Lucy casually investigates. Lucy’s family is in town for the wedding, so there’s lots of drama (& one hysterical fight scene at Lucy’s library). I hope there are many, many more to come in this series! I recommend this series to everyone.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this wonderful ARC. I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I will post this review to my blog, Goodreads, Bookbub, & Amazon accounts on the publication date, 6/6/23.

There is never a dull moment in the Outer Banks of North Carolina with this quirky crew of characters. Lucy and Connor are finally getting married. Fans, like myself, of this series have been waiting patiently for this day to come. Of course no event with Lucy would be complete without Lucy finding a dead body, and her wedding was no exception. A guest of the wedding is found strangled in the closet. After the investigation begins, it is readily apparent that this guest has many enemies. You are introduced to a new detective in this book, and he is not as keen on accepting Lucy's help with the investigation. He actually thinks she is a nuisance, but we know this will not keep Lucy from doing her own amateur sleuthing. After all she has a very keen mind and is highly observant.

I love this series and the characters within the series. I dearly love the setting for this book, and every time I read another installment in this series it just makes me want to go to the beach. Each character tends to grow on you as you get to know them more each time. Some will make you laugh. However, my favorite character is Charles. Charles is the library cat, and trust me, he owns the place. If Charles does not like someone, you probably should pay attention. He is having to travel to the library each day with Lucy now that she and Connor are married. He is not happy about his travel arrangements, but once he gets into the library, he takes over as the king of the place.

The mystery is well written and the author always provides plenty of suspects to choose from as you try to solve the mystery as you read. This is a refreshing, fun mystery with sassy characters and fun book facts from their book club. You can read this as a standalone, but I highly recommend that you read all of them.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This series has always been a favorite - what's not to love about a library set in a lighthouse in the Outer Banks with a library cat! The mysteries are consistently well plotted and fast paced enough to keep your attention the whole way through but not too quickly that you miss out on the Southern charm and the wonderful characters. Bonus points for the wedding - finally! I can't wait to see what they get up to next.

Finally, librarian Lucy Richardson and mayor Connor McNeil get married in Nags Head. But the celebrations are tainted when a wedding guest is found strangled in a locked hotel closet. Wayne had been the +1 of Lucy's aunt & no one knew him well. When Bertie's friend Eddie goes missing, the police headed by Detectives Sam Watson & new recruit Kyle North are suspicious about his disappearance.

Although I enjoy the Lighthouse Library mystery series, this book felt a bit off. The identity of the killer was a surprise and the motive for the murder seemed weak.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

My first book in this series and by this author and it was an enjoyable murder mystery set around the wedding of the heroine. I felt it was a little heavy handed at times and I had the culprit pegged pretty early on - but I liked the setting and the set up and there were enough details filling in the backstory that I didn't feel lost or like I was missing out. I would read more from this series.

I love the Lighthouse Library series. It never fails to deliver a solid cozy mystery. Even with it being a murder mystery, it’s still relatively lighthearted and the characters are always great as well. This one kicks off with Lucy and Connors wedding and a body is found the next morning in the hotel where the reception was held. When Lucy realizes the man had been a guest of her wedding, she can’t keep her nose out of the case, even after being warned away by the new detective in town.

We get a good dose of all our favorite characters, including Charles the library cat, and even though Lucy no longer lives in the library we spend plenty of time there anyway. We still get a book club meeting, and Lucy is still detecting even if she’s in denial about it. It’s cute, it’s cozy, if you like the series you’ll enjoy this too!

Thanks to NetGalley for the audio and ebook copy of this one!!!

Book ten in the series opens at Lucy and Connor's wedding which is a perfect affair until one of the guests is found dead in a locked storage room. Lucy tries very hard not to get involved but it is not possible to stay out of it, and in the end she solves the case.

This is a very clever mystery with a most surprising ending. I did not see it coming at all. There is a scary chase scene too which is more realistic than usual for a cosy. Charles is a hero as usual. It was all excellently written and it is good to see the author maintaining the momentum of the series after ten books. I hope there are lots more.

DEATH KNELLS AND WEDDING BELLS is the tenth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates. While it can be read as a standalone for the excellent mystery, if you enjoy really getting to know characters, you’ll want to start with the first book and read them in order. In this newest release, the protagonist, Lucy, had finally married Connor. I was pleased that the author gets right to the setup of the conflict leading to the crime. And conflict aplenty shows up at Lucy’s wedding reception and continues through to the morning after brunch. There are so many wonderful characters and I enjoyed getting to know Lucy’s family better. I especially liked that the head librarian, Lucy’s boss, Bertie, figures prominently in the story.

When one of the wedding guests is murdered, the police focus on Bertie’s special friend, Eddie. Too many people witnessed their argument at the wedding and now Eddie seems to have disappeared. I love Lucy’s helpful nature and she is quick to help Bertie find Eddie. Except it’s not as easy as they hope. With twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, and plenty of suspects—thanks to a crowd of wedding guests—I was glued to the pages. Ms. Gates knows how to plot a mystery and the clues sprinkled throughout will keep the armchair detective on their toes. With a hair-raising reveal—I loved that Charles, the library cat, got in on the action—all the threads of the multi-faceted story came together. This highly anticipated book lived up to my expectations and has me counting down the days until the next book is released.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells by Eva Gates has readers returning to Nags Head, North Carolina for Lucy and Connor’s wedding. I like how everyone (family, friends, co-workers, and even a soon-to-be ex-wife) came together for the couple’s wedding. There was a wrinkle or two during the day, but it was overall a wonderful wedding day which Lucy and Connor deserved. The murder of Aunt Joyce’s plus one casts a shadow on the wedding weekend. I know Lucy was enjoying her wedding weekend, but I have a feeling that a murder was icing on the cake (she loves solving a whodunit). The force’s newest detective, Detective North, is not happy with Lucy’s sleuthing and is vocal in expressing his displeasure to Detective Sam Watson. The mystery was straightforward. It is a whodunit that can easily be solved early in the book. I did, though, enjoy following Lucy as she questioned people and searched for clues. I love Charlie’s role in the takedown. I could envision the scene in my head and it had me laughing. Eva Gates has created a great cast of characters for this series. I like Lucy’s curiosity. She has questions and Lucy likes to get answers. Lucy is a natural born sleuth. It is also what makes her a good librarian. I like how the characters are there for each other. Bertie may be Lucy’s boss, but she is also a friend. The same goes for the rest of Lucy’s coworkers. I understand Lucy’s motivation for wanting to help Bertie’s plus one, Eddie. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of Nags Head, Lucy and Connor’s new home, and Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. I like how the author likens the library to the TARDIS. There is no way the lighthouse could be big enough to house the library and Lucy’s Lighthouse Aerie (now Louise Jane’s). It gives readers a chance to use their imagination (I see this regular lighthouse on the outside with a beautiful, big library on the inside). Death Knells and Wedding Bells is the tenth A Lighthouse Library Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but new readers will struggle in the beginning (gets easier the further you get into the story). I did find the pacing a little slow at times, especially in the beginning. In addition, there is repetition of information (case details, background on suspects and victim). Overall, though, I enjoyed my latest trip to the Outer Banks, and I am looking forward to my next visit. There is humor sprinkled throughout the story. Louise Jane provides several mirthful moments. I enjoyed the book club discussions about Edgar Allan Poe’s stories (A Tell-Tale Heart is my favorite). I like how the death of Aunt Joyce’s plus one related to The Cask of Amontillado. Death Knells and Wedding Bells takes readers to the Outer Banks with beautiful beaches, jovial nuptials, a snuffed out plus one, an absent date, a single-minded detective, and a probing bride.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read & review this title. This is the second book in this series that I've read, and I found it enjoyable.

Family and loved ones have gathered in Nags Head for the nuptials of Lucy and Connor. Everything is perfect until one of the guests is found murdered in the hotel the morning after the wedding. Lucy tries not to investigate but is drawn in after suspicion falls on the beau of a friend. Throw in a little family drama, and you've got yourself a fun read.

The characters are great in this series, especially Lucy's family and Louise Jane. I love the combination of library and small beach town. The mystery is intriguing and multilayered. All in all, it is a fun read. I plan to read more of this series. The sense of community is strong in this one, and I like that. There are moments when I question Lucy and why she does things, but it is not often and overall doesn't detract from the story.

My opinions are solely mine and are honestly and freely given.

I was so excited to receive an ARC for this installment of the Lighthouse Library mysteries and while I enjoyed my reading experience I had a few things that I wish had been done differently. One of my main gripes is the lack of interaction with some of Lucy's friends, family and coworkers; It made her feel very isolated during the mystery. I also wish we would have seen more of the lead up to the wedding and the wedding activities of Lucy and Connor. With nine books leading them to become husband and wife it would have been nice to have more of a glimpse into the I do's.

Like many of the previous mysteries I was unable to solve all parts of the who and why before the ending reveal which is always a nice surprise. Overall, I will continue to recommend the author and series to other cozy mystery fans and look forward to reading whatever comes next for Lucy, Connor and Charles.

The Lighthouse Library series has to be one of the most consistent cozy mystery series available!
Lucy and Connor are finally married, but of course, there is a murder that involves their wedding. It's a challenge wading through tricky family dynamics and friendships, and there is a new detective in town. With library cat Charles by her side, Lucy is once again on the case.
This is another well written novel by Eva Gates - it moves well, we have an entertaining cast of characters, and a wedding is a perfect setting for a murder. I missed the setting of the lighthouse library - Lucy still works there, but it was not as prominently featured in this novel.
I hope this series continues - I look forward to reading a new book every year!
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane for an ARC in exchange for review.

Title: Death Knells and Wedding Bells
Author: Eva Gates
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publishing Date: June 6, 2023
Rating: 5 Stars
****
Lucy and Connor are getting married! The wedding...the food...the family drama...and murder. What more could you possibly need for a highly entertaining wedding ceremony, er...cozy mystery. LOL. I adored everything about this book. I was kept highly entertained throughout the whole book.

One of my favorite cozy mystery series. I love the thought of a library in a lighthouse. So fun!

Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Lucy and Connor have finally had their wedding! But this being Lucy, a corpse turns up the next day and she must investigate (against Connor's wishes but with the help of Charles the cat). Wayne was the plus one of her aunt Joyce, a woman she doesn't know well. Her boss Bertie is worried because her pal Eddie seems to have disappeared. Are the two connected? Of course they are! Oh and Lucy has to run the library and the book club is reading Poe (I always like how Gates weaves bits of other novels into the story). It's classic cozy stuff but I'll suggest gently that it might be a bit of a struggle for those who haven't read the earlier books. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This is the 10th book in the series and I have loved every one! A library in a lighthouse and lots of fun characters always keeps my interest. This time Lucy and Connor are getting married and of course along comes a dead body. I was gifted an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

Story of the book-

The ideal Outer Banks wedding was just what Lucy and Connor had envisioned. The late spring weather made for a gorgeous day, the food was delectable, and everyone had a nice time until one of the visitors vanished, aside from the usual rumblings of familial tensions. Bertie James, Lucy’s supervisor, calls her before she can look forward to the remainder of her life at Nags Head and the job she conducts at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. After the celebration, Bertie’s pal Eddie never returned home.

Lucy doesn’t first take it seriously since, sometimes, wedding guests just have too much fun. However, when she finds a dead wedding guest strangled in a closed wardrobe, things soon turn dark. The police then start questioning Eddie as a result. Before it’s too late for Bertie’s pal and the rest of her wedding guests, Lucy must determine if the two are related. Lucy wonders if the maestro of the macabre can aid her inquiry or if the search for the killer’s identity will remain nothing more than a mystery as the Classic Novel Reading Club reads the Selected Works of Edgar Allen Poe.

My review-

I had a hunch about who could be hiding something throughout the majority of the tale, and it turned out to be accurate. But in the midst, I made a few mistakes. For me, the middle of this novel lagged a little bit more. I also had a rather indifferent attitude about the wedding because Connor never fails to let me down. Because of the evocative backdrop, the reader is immediately taken to North Carolina’s seashore. The author of this novel develops several subplots that cause readers to make false assumptions, but she ultimately solves the mystery in a way that surprises them and holds their interest until the very end.

The remainder of the novels in this series will be read by me because I liked this one so much. Although I haven’t read any of the other novels in this series, I found this one to be a nice, jovial cozy mystery. I related to Lucy as a person because I liked that she was a librarian and that she talked about books and a book club. Realistic and relatable personalities are present. Lucy is fighting to keep out of the probe, and you can sense it.

The mystery is packed with twists and turns to keep you wondering. I had no reason to suspect the murderer. This series is well-written, and each book seems like a visit with an old friend thanks to a strong female heroine, a cute cat, and fantastic supporting characters. For Lucy, Connor, and the rest of the team to be able to discover a lot more secrets in the future, I hope to see more stories in this series. The Lighthouse Library is the place to go for readers who prefer returning to a setting and cast of familiar characters or who just enjoy a mystery with literary overtones.