If you're looking for a suspenseful cozy mystery that explores a historical case rife with family drama, Death by Beach Read would be a great read for you.

My favourite thing about this book were the inclusion of scenes full of tension and action. It added a suspenseful feeling to the book while still remaining a cozy mystery at its heart. I felt as if there was really something at stake for Lucy, the protagonist, as she went about solving the mystery, making for a gripping read. The mystery itself was well-written, with many layers to unravel.

At the same time, I didn't love Lucy as a character. I found that she could be a bit judgemental of other people at times (particularly people she did not care for), whereas people she was more sympathetic to got the benefit of the doubt. I think there are a few moments where she could be considered TSTL (too stupid to live) - it's not for all of the book, but I just thought I'd throw that warning out there in case this is a trope you'd really like to avoid.

Many of the other characters are colourful figures, so if you're not a big fan of Lucy, you might enjoy reading about everyone else. I especially liked learning more about the family members involved in the main family drama in this book.

This is the first book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series I've read. While it is possible to read and enjoy this book without knowing about the other books in the series, as I did, I feel that some scenes would be more thrilling with knowledge of the prior books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this cozy mystery.
When Connor and Lucy buy and move into their old house, they get a whole lot more than they were expecting from the old, historic house. Lucy is convinced someone is watching them, walking around at night, and breaking in the back door. The rumors are the house is haunted, but do ghosts leave footprints? When the body of Jimmy, former resident of the house, is found in their kitchen, fingers point in a few directions. What was Jimmy doing in the house, and who killed him?
Great characters, beautiful setting, and intriguing plot. Looking forward to more books in this series.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy and Connor are planning their wedding, but they also need to find a house. When one of the famous "unpainted aristocracy" houses becomes available unexpectedly, they leap at the chance to own it. The house comes with a history, but Lucy loves a challenge. At least until she finds herself awakened at night by strange sounds. She wonders if the house is haunted. Once she learns more about the unusual former occupants, she starts to reconsider what she thought about the house being haunted. When a body turns up, Lucy and Connor search back through the house's history to discover who the man is. Entertaining and suspenseful.

The ninth installment of the Lighthouse Library Mystery series follows Lucy as she and her fiancé, Connor, move into their new home in Nags Head. The home was a great buy - a townsman wanted the perfect buyer, but they didn't know dark family secrets came with the bargain. When a man they've never met turns up murdered in their living room, Lucy finds herself in the middle of the dramatic investigation. With a hero cat, a long list of suspects and lots of sweet tea - Lucy and her friends and neighbors solve the latest murder in the Outer Banks.

I never read any of the eight preceding stories, but never felt like I was missing out on the fun in this fun mystery. Though I missed some history, apparently in which Lucy has been in similar situations, this story easily stands alone - and begs you to read the other stories to learn what can only be interesting back story. The relationships and characters in this book are relatable - from the friendly fisherman to the paranormal enthusiast. If you're looking for a fun, fast murder mystery, definitely give this story a go!

Another delightful book in one of my favorite series. The characters are relatable and interesting. When reading one of these books I feel as though I am reading about someone I know personally. I love how the mystery ties in with the book club book the library group is reading in each book. The story is well-plotted with lost of well paced red herrings to keep you engrossed in the mystery. I look forward to the next one in the series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

If a murder can be fun, this one definitely fits the bill. A fun Sunday read for me. The main character has a library in a lighthouse located on Nags Head and with her fiancé they have purchased a house which might be haunted. I was drawn in immediately and didn’t want to put,it down until the end. I, will be seeking out more of Eva Gates books. Thank you to #NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend this book,to,z one who would like to enjoy,a quick read.

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Lucy and Connor are in the midst of wedding plans and fixing up their new home. Like they are not busy enough, a body is found and Lucy will once again find herself in the middle of the investigation. Will this be a bad start to their happy ever after?

Another wonderful read in the series which brings up Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The House of Seven Gables.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this title. This is the 9th book in the Lighthouse Library series and the first I've read. The feel of the Outer Banks and small town beach community is captured delightfully here. The protagonist, Lucy, and her fiance, Connor just purchased and are remodeling one of the older beachhouses in Nag's Head. They return home to find a man dead on their kitchen floor. What follows is a tale of intrigue, family history, and restoration. The characters are likable, and the story is engaging. Excellent pacing. Truly a delightful read. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Really nice read – again- Just like the previous episodes, is Lucy involved in a murdercase. This time there’s a body in her new house. She starts an investigation and find out about a treasure, a nasty grandfather, a joke which wasn’t funny and had great consequences. She also makes new friends. Cat Charles is the hero of the story and at the end, the murderer is unmasked.

A very nice story to read. Nice to see all the characters from previous episodes again, the are getting really familiar. It was nice to find out -together with Lucy- who the murderer was and why the murder took place. Not difficult to read, really enjoyable.

An engaging mystery with a little romance and a dash of quirking. A story that involves mystery, history, psychology, sea shore and home renovations. A little something for everyone.

I had an ARC of this book from NetGalley and it wasn’t for me. I couldn’t finish it. The writing was so simple and the story predictable and it just couldn’t keep my attention.

Solid installment in this cozy mystery series.

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley--all opinions are my own.

This was an engaging mystery, set in a quaint beach town on the coast of North Carolina. I really enjoyed reading it. This is the first time I've read a Lucy Richardson mystery, and I look forward to reading more. I highly recommend this book to other mystery readers.

I loved the comforting feel of this story. While there is a murder and a few surprises along the way, the characters were amazing. Well developed storyline consistent with a cozy mystery and characters that were fun and 'real.' I usually stay away from plots where the ending is predictable but that isn't the case with this book. I truly enjoyed reading this story.

Lucy & Connor (along with Charles!) have moved in to their new home. Upon returning home, they find a dead man in their kitchen. When it is determined who he is, the mystery continues with talk of a ghost in the house. The story moves along, Charles saves the day more than once, and the killer is revealed at the very end. It was not made obvious who it was until then (in my opinion). Looking forward to the next book in this series, always a pleasure to read about this little community!
Thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for the chance to preread this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 9th book in the Library Lighthouse series and it doesn't disappoint! Lucy and Connor have moved into their dream home on the beach while renovations are still in progress. Connor and his dad are doing the renovations while Lucy plans their wedding. While Connor is away for the night Lucy and the library cat Charles awaken to strange noises in the house and when they go to check it out they find the back door open and footprints in the dusty floor. The previous owners daughter fled the house as a teenager and never entered the house again. She claims it is haunted. One evening Lucy and Connor find a dead man on the kitchen floor. Neither of them recognize him. All the locks have been changed so how did he even get in? Naturally Lucy sets out to investigate. There are lots of twists and turns which kept me guessing til the very end! This was a page turner. You'll love this book.

When I requested an ARC of Eva Read’s novel, I had no idea that Death by Beach Read represents work number nine in the Lighthouse Mysteries series of cozy crime. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book, set on the atmospheric coast of North Carolina, as a stand-alone work. Here we find the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, where main character Lucy is the librarian and her fiance Conor a dentist and the town’s mayor. They are busy renovating their dream house on the beach, a house with a long and chequered history, but Lucy cannot shake off the suspicion that someone is repeatedly trying to break in. This strong suspicion sets in motion a series of her investigations that show a spotlight on this fictional, quaint coastal community. Although there were occasions when I did not much like Lucy, who as the first-person narrator comes across as superior and opinionated, and although I found some of the ancillary characters rather cliched, overall I enjoyed reading this novel and the lighthouse mystery concept appealed to me. I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for sending me a free ARC that allowed me to provide this review.

Mysterious things happen in the historic home on the Outer Banks of NC in Death By Beach Reads. Some say the house is haunted. Long-held secrets and relationships are revealed as this book comes to its climax. This was an entertaining read and I would recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. Although number nine in a book series this can be read as a stand-alone book. After reading this I’m very keen to read 1-8! The story follows Lucy and Connor who have purchased a house that has stood empty for a number of years and needs renovating. There is intrigue, murder, history, friendship and romance. I didn’t guess the outcome and really liked how all the loose ends were tied up. I found this easy to follow plus the chapters were a good length. I found most of the characters likeable and got a real sense of community. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good murder mystery.

This is the second book I read in the Lighthouse Library Mysteries series. I really loved the first book By Book or by Crook, so I jumped at the opportunity to read another book in the series. I wouldn't say this is a standalone book, and certainly having read any of the previous books will be beneficial to understanding this ninth installment. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised to see that Gates continues to keep this series interesting. The mystery in this book was a tad more predictable than in book 1 but I still loved reading about Lucy, Connor, and the cat Charles. I will definitely catch up with the other books in the series.