#BookReview ~ The Spook in the Stacks (A Lighthouse Library Mystery) by Eva Gates ~ #CozyMystery #Halloween ~ @vickidelany @evagatesauthor

The Spook in the Stacks: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates

Book Details:

The Spook in the Stacks 

A Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book 4

Cozy Mystery

 Crooked Lane Books 

June 12, 2018

 Hardcover: 250 Pages 

ISBN-13: 978-1683315803 

Digital ASIN: B075QJ59PX

 Amazon 

 

About the Book:

Halloween in North Carolina’s Outer Banks becomes seriously tricky when librarian Lucy Richardson stumbles across something extra unusual in the rare books section: a dead body.

Wealthy businessman Jay Ruddle is considering donating his extensive collection of North Carolina historical documents to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, but the competition for the collection is fierce. Unfortunately, while the library is hosting a lecture on ghostly legends, Jay becomes one of the dearly departed in the rare books section. Now, it’s up to Lucy Richardson and her fellow librarians to bone up on their detective skills and discover who is responsible for this wicked Halloween homicide.

Meanwhile, very strange things are happening at the library―haunted horses are materializing in the marsh, the lights seem to have an eerie life of their own, and the tiny crew of a model ship appears to move around when no one is watching. Is Lucy at her wit’s end? Or can it be that the Bodie Island Lighthouse really is haunted?

With The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on everyone’s minds and ghoulish gossip on everyone’s lips, Lucy will need to separate the clues from the boos if she wants to crack this case without losing her head in The Spook in the Stacks, the delightful fourth in national bestseller Eva Gates’ Lighthouse Library mysteries.

My Review:

The Spook in the Stacks is the fourth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. This book features a wealthy gentleman shopping for the best library to house his extensive collection of  documents featuring the history of North Carolina. When he is found dead in the Lighthouse Library during a ghostly lecture, Lucy and the rest of the librarians must find a killer. A wonderful book full of twists turns and red herrings. There are a number of potential suspects and the race to figure out who did it is on.

I love the setting, the characters, and the mysteries in each book in the series and The Spook in the Stacks just adds another wonder book to my shelf. Lucy is a wonderful character. She may come from money but she doesn't act like it or flaunt her family's riches. She's pretty down-to-earth and likeable. I love Charlene's obsession of rap music and her passion for wanting to share. The love triangle is still present throughout most of the book but it doesn't overstep the death of Jay Ruddle. All of 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. 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. A fantastic cozy mystery and addition to the Lighthouse Library series, The Spook in the Stacks is engaging, doesn't divulge the suspect right away, and keeps the reader guessing. 

I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Review previously posted on Sapphyria's Books.

My Rating:

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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.

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55118926-deadly-ever-after

Purchase from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fzkttr

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:

#Review ~ A Death Long Overdue: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates @evagatesauthor #CozyMystery ~ Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book #7

When her former director is found dead in the water, librarian Lucy Richardson will have to get to the bottom of the mystery before the killer ends her tale.

It's summertime in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Bertie James's college class is having their 40th anniversary reunion. The opening night reception is held at the Lighthouse Library and Lucy and her colleagues have assembled an exhibit of library artifacts showing how libraries have changed over the years. After the reception, some of the women take a walk down the boardwalk to the pier, using flashlights to illuminate the dark path, but what's scarier than the dark is finding the former director of the Lighthouse Library floating lifeless in the water.

Helena Sanchez, the former director, wasn't much loved and spent the party being rude to almost everyone there. As a result, Lucy finds herself in deep water as she rocks the boat, questioning several suspects. But she'll have to batten down the hatches and fast before she's left high and dry...and right in the killer's crosshairs.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/344tLrS

Publication Date : October 6, 2020
Print Length : 297 pages
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
ASIN : B083RYX5WH

My Review:

Bertie James, the director of the Lighthouse Library is hosting her 40th class reunion in Outer Banks. Helena Sanchez, the former director of the library, is also in attendance and spending the majority of her time being rude to everyone in attendance. When the group takes a stroll down the pier after dark, Helena is found floating in the water and chaos ensues. Narrowing down where everyone was during the walk is proving to be difficult as Lucy again takes the reigns to find the killer among them.

I absolutely love the Lighthouse Library series and every book is fantastic. Each book is filled with terrific writing, wonderful character interactions, a plausible murder mystery, along with a fantastic and breathtaking setting. I love the anticipation the author creates with the death of Helena 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.

As per my reviews of the other books in the series, I love the setting, the characters, and the mysteries in each. 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 her growing relationship with Connor. They are sweet together and you can definite 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. A Death Long Overdue is a fantastic cozy mystery and addition to the Lighthouse Library series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating: