Something Read Something Dead: A Lighthouse Library Mystery
Something Read Something Dead: A Lighthouse Library Mystery book cover

Something Read Something Dead: A Lighthouse Library Mystery

Hardcover – March 13, 2019

by
Price
$15.99
Format
Hardcover
Pages
336
Publisher
Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1683319504
Dimensions
5.7 x 1.06 x 8.5 inches
Weight
13.6 ounces

Description

Praise for Something Read Something Dead : “The fifth in Gates’ sprightly series sets romance and a mighty good mystery against a delightful picture of the Outer Banks.”— Kirkus Reviews "An engaging mystery...Readers who enjoyed Miranda James’s ’Cat in the Stacks’ mysteries will discover this series similarly entertaining, complete with a library, a cat, and a captivating location and sleuth."— Library Journal starred review“Charming...This entry reinforces Gates’s position at the top of the cozy genre.”— Publishers Weekly Praise for The Spook in the Stacks : “Gates creates an atmosphere that perfectly balances the chill of a spooky night with small-town coastal charm in a mystery that will delight bookish cozy fans.”— Booklist “Lively...Book lovers will envy Lucy’s dream of a life, working in a wonderful library, surrounded by amusing friends, not to mention a fine feline companion and a handsome suitor. Cozy fans will look forward to her further adventures.” — Publishers Weekly Praise for By Book or by Crook : “[A] charming, entertaining, and smart series...[featuring] an unusual (and real) setting and colorful cast of characters that set it apart from other bookish cozies.” — Library Journal starred review“A charming new series by Eva Gates. A librarian in a historic lighthouse with a cozy apartment upstairs and a clever cat named Charles (Dickens) make for a book lover’s dream. Lucy is a delightful and engaging sleuth surrounded by a cast of intriguing characters in an original and unique setting.” —Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Domestic Diva mysteries“A smart whodunit...A likeable heroine.” —Sofie Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of the Magical Cats mysteries“A library in a lighthouse? And a cat? Sign me up! A fun read for all cozy fans.” —Laurie Cass, national bestselling author of the Bookmobile Cat mysteries Eva Gates is a national bestselling author who began her writing career as a Sunday writer: a single mother of three high-spirited daughters, with a full-time job as a computer programmer. Now she has more than twenty novels under her belt in the mystery genre, published under the name Vicki Delany. She lives in Ontario. This is her fifth Lighthouse Library mystery.

Features & Highlights

  • National bestselling author Eva Gates’s fifth Lighthouse Library mystery will carry fans of Miranda James and Jenn McKinlay to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
  • Dark deeds in the Lighthouse Library threaten to send Lucy Richardson’s soon-to-be-wed cousin Josie to an early ‘til-death-do-us-part.
  • Winter falls on North Carolina’s Outer Banks as Lucy Richardson and her friends joyfully help her favorite cousin, Josie O'Malley, plan her wedding. The owner and head baker of Josie's Cozy Bakery and her fiancé, chef Jake Greenblatt, want a small, simple wedding.But to their horror, Josie's imperious grandmother, Gloria, descends with the “Louisiana Mafia”: a gaggle of aunts and cousins who intend to take control of the wedding plans. Gloria doesn't do small and simple, and cousin Mirabelle has her own ideas for Josie's wedding, something grand and lavish—and paid for by Josie's parents, of course—that will kickstart her fledgling event planning business and get her work shown on the covers of wedding magazines. To make matters worse, Mirabelle focuses her full Southern charm on the prospective groom...and Jake doesn't seem entirely adverse to her attentions.To smooth the waters, Lucy hosts a bridal shower at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. But it turns deadly when Mirabelle collapses—soon after eating the gluten-free treats Josie prepared specifically for her. Now, to save her favorite cousin from prison, Lucy will have to bring a crook to book in this fifth festive Lighthouse Library mystery from national bestselling author Eva Gates.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(486)
★★★★
25%
(203)
★★★
15%
(122)
★★
7%
(57)
★
-7%
(-58)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

At least there wasn't much of Louise Jane in this one

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 5 in the series.

I've really wanted to like this series. And I was thrilled for the author when she got the rights back and was able to find a new publisher after the massive Berkley Purge. But I really just don't like the characters in the series enough to like the books. Louise Jane needs to be the next murder victim, and then maybe I will read them again. She's just too distracting and annoying.

In fact, the only thing I really liked about this book was the fact that we didn't see much of Louise Jane!

This series is for sure relegated to my library list, if I remember it.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book given to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.*
4 people found this helpful
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Another cozy mystery I wish I could step into

I wish this library was real. I can almost picture it in my head but then I remember I've never actually been inside a lighthouse so I'm probably picturing it wrong. This book is everything you want in a cozy mystery and then some. I can't wait for the next book.
3 people found this helpful
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Lighthouse Library Murder!!!

I loved this lighthouse mystery. It’s as good as the preceding ones. Lighthouses, libraries, cats and mystery! What can be better?😻📚
2 people found this helpful
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Cool series!!

Loved this book!! Lucy's cousin, Josie, is getting married and when Josie's grandmother shows up with her cousin Mirabelle, everything starts going wrong. Josie's grandmother is determined to do the wedding the way she wants it and enlists Mirabelle to help plan the wedding. When Mirabelle dies after eating poisoned food, Josie becomes a prime suspect. Now, Lucy is determined to find the real killer. The library also experiences an issue with the foundation and needs to raise money. I love this series, the characters, and Charles the cat! The idea of a library in a lighthouse is so intriguing. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book!!
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avoid the gluten free treats

Lucy's cousin Josie is marrying Jake. Then Josie's grandmother Gloria shows up with three cousins in tow. Cousin Mirabelle tries to steal Jake and take over the wedding plans. Then she dies after the bridal shower at the lighthouse.
Lucy is on the case. There is some misdirection but the case is solved in the end.
I enjoyed this latest Lighthouse Library Mystery. Gloria and the cousins were not a pleasant part of the book and the lighthouse is in structural danger, but the main characters shine through to make this a fun journey to the Outer Banks once again.
✓ Verified Purchase

Great read!!

Something Read, Something Dead the 5th Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates is as usual an awesome read! The story grabs you at the beginning and keeps you reading until the very end. Lucy and friends are joyfully helping Cousin Josie O'Malley plan her wedding to Jake Greenblatt when the bride's Grandmother and Cousins descend intent on helping plan the wedding weather Josie wants it or not. When one of the Cousins ends up dead at the bridal shower it's up to Lucy to find the real killer before Josie is wrongfully accused. I received an ARC for my honest review.
✓ Verified Purchase

Great story, well paced...

Lucy Richardson, assistant librarian, and Charles, the library’s cat, always make reading the latest Lighthouse Library Mystery a pure delight.

This adventure opens with the news that Lucy’s cousin Josie, of Josie’s Cozy Bakery, is soon to wed Jake Greenblatt, of Jake’s Seafood Bar, in a small, simple ceremony. This plan is soon subverted by the intervention of Grandmother Gloria and her Louisiana Mafia (daughter, Mary Anne, grandniece Mirabelle and wedding planner Florence Fanshaw) who arrive with the intent to give the upcoming nuptials a more elegant and traditional touch. Before long, Josie’s family is embroiled in disagreement over the plans with Grandmother Gloria and Mirabelle pushing for expensive features that Josie doesn’t want.

Things really go sideways when Mirabelle is poisoned by gluten free pastries Josie made for her bridal shower. So now the bride-to-be is a suspect and Lucy must find the killer if she wants the wedding to take place.

A major distraction, especially since Lucy and Charles live is a small third floor apartment in the Lighthouse, is the discovery that the lighthouse foundation needs over $100,000 in structural repairs and Nags Head only has $5,000 to contribute.

Balancing her sleuthing with trying to find money to, literally, save the library, proves challenging for Lucy. Something Read, Something Dead is the fifth Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates and is a strong entry in the series. Ms. Gates is a skillful storyteller who fabricates absorbing mysteries with warm and relatable characters. A suspense driven pace keeps readers engaged.
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Wedding Bells and Murder!

I came into this series at book 4 and couldn't wait to read the next installment. Lucy and Josie are like old friends who fit right back into your life with no hesitations like they never left. Who knew Josie's extended family was so NUTS! I was getting anxiety just reading about them trying to take over the wedding. It made me even more thankful I did not have to worry about that for my own wedding. I really don't think I could have kept my cool the way Josie did.

I enjoyed that Eva Gates made sure to have plenty of red herrings throughout the book all the while making sure my attention was riveted. I did not guess the villain until it was revealed. The added catastrophe of the lighthouse wall almost made me cry. I have become attached to the library in the lighthouse and Lucy's little apartment in the aerie. Even though the thought of climbing 100 steps daily makes my knees ache.

I feel as if each book can be read as a stand-alone. I do have plans to go back and read the series from the beginning. I hope you take a chance and pick up Something Read, Something Dead and see for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
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A charming addition to an entertaining series!

SOMETHING READ, SOMETHING DEAD is the fifth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates (aka Vicki Delany) and I’m so happy that this series has continued to flourish with its new publisher. The protagonist, Lucy Richardson, lives and works in the coolest spot imaginable: a lighthouse turned library! This Outer Banks setting in Nags Head, North Carolina is brought to life by the author, who weaves a tale of murder, stalking, and a disintegrating lighthouse into wedding celebrations. The backdrop is set amidst unpleasant out-of-town family descending upon the town to sow their discord. The drama that ensues is enough to make the bride, Josie, want to follow through on her wishes to elope, or hide out until the disagreeable guests have left town. Ms. Gates has created well-developed characters and allowed her protagonist to shine in the face of adversity as Lucy supports her cousin/best friend, Josie. Some of the out-of-town guests are nasty people and it wasn’t hard to think that someone, or even many people, would want to do away with one of them.

Ms. Gates also weaves in a few subplots that effectively kept me guessing about who the culprit was with a unique twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. The entire town is also pulled into the drama when a huge crack is discovered at the lighthouse library and the safety of the building is questionable. It provided an uplifting way to showcase the small-town spirit and the heartwarming conclusion left me cheering for Lucy and her friends and counting down the days until the next book!

I was provided an advance copy via Netgalley with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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