Book Review ~ Deadly Ever After (Lighthouse Library Mystery #8) by Eva Gates @evagatesauthor #CozyMystery @vickidelany

 

About the Book:

Librarian Lucy's wedding is at stake when a murder interrupts her engagement celebrations. To make it down the aisle, she'll have to find the killer to save the date in the 8th book in the Lighthouse Library mysteries.

They're getting married! Lucy Richardson and Connor McNeil have announced their engagement. Their friends throw a party for the couple at Coquina Beach, close to Lucy's beloved Bodie Island Lighthouse Library.

As they're packing up the presents and the (few) leftovers from Josie's Cozy Bakery, who should arrive, but Richard Eric Lewiston III, Lucy's former almost-fiancé and his overbearing mother Evangeline. Push comes to love when Evangeline makes no secret of why she's here: to get Lucy and Ricky back together.

Lucy isn't tempted in the least, and Ricky is nothing but embarrassed at his mother's desperate ploy. Before returning to Boston Evangeline throws a dinner party at Jake's Seafood Bar for a reluctant Lucy and her family. Lucy hopes to get the dinner over with and see Evangeline and Ricky returning to Boson. But when a body is found at the restaurant's kitchen door, Lucy is again forced to unwillingly put on her detective's hat and do what she can to save her family and her engagement. Meanwhile, the classic novel reading club is reading The Hound of the Baskervilles, and open war breaks out in the Lighthouse Library when Lucy agrees to temporarily take care of a dog named Fluffy, but Charles the library cat has other ideas.

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Book Details:

ASIN : B08FZLW1SB

Publisher : Crooked Lane Books

Publication date : May 11, 2021

Word Wise : Enabled

Print length : 298 pages

My Review:

Lucy and Connor have announced they are engaged and during clean up after their engagement party, some unexpected guests arrive. Lucy's ex, Ricky Lewiston and Evangeline, his mother appear at the tail end of beach party and Evangeline has one agenda: Get Ricky and Lucy back together. Of course, Connor has nothing to worry about, but Ricky's appearance is less than ideal. Ricky doesn't want to get back with Lucy any more than Lucy wants to trade Connor in for Ricky. When Evangeline insists on throwing a dinner party for Lucy, Connor, and Lucy's family, the event takes a disastrous turn. A body is found outside the kitchen door at the restaurant where the dinner party takes place. Now, everyone is a suspect as Lucy investigates the death at the door, especially when there are ties to the new faces in the Outer Banks.

I love the entire Lighthouse Library series and each book is fantastic. The novels are filled with terrific writing, wonderful character interactions, a plausible murder mystery, and include a fantastic and breathtaking setting. I love the anticipation the author creates with the death of the person at the restaurant and the whos and whys. There are so many potential suspects it becomes hard to narrow the list down to any one person. Means, motive, opportunity, lack of alibi all plague those who made it to the list.

Lucy is a wonderful character. She may come from money, but she doesn't act like it or flaunt her family's riches. Her character is down-to-earth and likeable. I enjoy the slow yet progressing relationship the author has built up between Lucy and Connor. She didn't just toss them together in book 1, she nurtured their connection and drew out the romance in a realistic manner. They are sweet together and you can definitely feel their chemistry. The secondary characters are unique in their own way and believable. Oh, and how could I forget about Charles?! The library cat is a delightful addition to the cast.

The story is well paced, enjoyable, and full of suspense, anticipation, joy, and redemption. The author did a wonderful job describing the characters and scenery within the book. I was able to visualize the story as it played out. Deadly Ever After is a fantastic cozy mystery and a wonderful addition to the Lighthouse Library series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating: