So happy to revisit the Lighthouse Library series by Eva Gates in Death Knells and Wedding Bells! This is a terrific series and it's been a while since I've read the most recent book. Seriously - I hate waiting!

But, I have to say, the wait was oh-so worth it! The story opens with Lucy and Connor's wedding and a fun cast of characters both inside the usual nuclear group of family and friends and out. The next day, at a post-wedding family luncheon (well played on the upcoming Paris honeymoon!), a body was discovered.

Let the sleuthing begin!

I love that Lucy doesn't do anything overly stupid along the way. She just uses her smarts and has a good memory which is half the battle. She's friends with one of the police detectives and then gets caught up in things. :-P Fortunately, all's well that ends well in this story, but the ending is not at all what I expected while reading. Gates does an excellent job weaving a tale with a large number of characters without one ever making it confusing for the reader.

Side Notes:

* For a married couple, they didn't seem very affectionate toward each other. Sure, it's a cozy, but goodness! Could we have a little romance and flirting, please, during the handful of days immediately following their wedding?
* Gloria was a hoot - thanks for making her amusingly overbearing without making her an annoying snob. I kind of hope our main characters end up in New Orleans someday.

I look forward to reading Lucy and Connor's next adventure!

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells: A Lighthouse Library Mystery
By Eva Gates
Crooked Lane Books
June 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s happening! Bodie Island Lighthouse Librarian Lucy Richardson is finally marrying Nags Head mayor Connor McNeil, and while they will be delaying their honeymoon in Paris, they still have a perfect Outer Banks wedding. Despite her many inopportune encounters with murder, she and Connor successfully make their way down the aisle to become husband and wife. It’s not until the next day that her Aunt Joyce’s wedding date goes missing, only to later be found in a locked closet. Not-quite-a-gigolo despite his expenses all being paid by his date for the ceremony, Wayne Fortunada is not unduly mourned by the bankrolling Aunt Joyce. More concerning for Lucy is that not only does the new Detective Kyle North suspect one of Lucy’s nearest and dearest of being the murderer, he lays out the theory that her record of mystery-solving is a little too coincidental for her to ever have been just an innocent – if meddling -bystander.

Being an amateur detective is one thing, but being thought of as a possible serial killer is another. So utilizing all of her considerable librarian skills, Lucy is determined to prove her innocence and solve the murder. Family tensions are already running high since her uninvited ex-sister-in-law arrived with her own oversized Boy Toy, infuriating Lucy’s brother and leading to a family brawl. Keeping the book themes in mind, the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library Classic Novel Bookclub has something of a Manor Mystery to solve, even including a Poe-character-named victim hidden in a closet. With the friendlier police presence taking a backseat to the far more aggressive investigations of Detective North, Lucy is on a deadline to keep her family out of jail and solve a murder before she and Connor can finally depart for their dream destination.

This 10th in the series rewards longtime fans with appearances by all of their favorite characters. Louisa Jane McKaughnan continues to be her eccentric, fake-ghost-psychic self, but she has finally settled in as an actual library staffer who doesn’t see Lucy as a threat. Lucy’s own family is often more supportive than actually helpful, but they are a delightful presence and add humor and charm to the North Carolina Island’s setting. The unbelievably prolific author of multiple series also written under her own name, Vicki Delany can always be relied upon for mysteries led by clever heroines in compelling settings. By now the author is an experienced hand at delivering satisfying cozy mysteries, ones filled with elaborate food preparations and of course an adorable cat library companion. New readers to the series may require a closer reading until they become familiar with Lucy’s family and the Bodie Island locals, but all will enjoy the satisfying conclusion and reveal that leads to the Lighthouse Librarian’s Happily Ever After ending.

A mystery with a wedding and books is always a winner and this one didn't disappoint. I've this series from the beginning and knew that one Lucy and Conner would be husband and wife. However, Lucy gets involved with another murder and will do her best to get it solved. Her reading club is always available to help with the case. It was nice to visit the Outer Banks again in another well-done mystery. I almost enjoy the relationships between the characters grow as much as the mystery itself. I'm already for the next one.

Eva Gates showcases her Lighthouse Library mysteries with Death Knells and Wedding Bells as librarian Lucy marries her bridegroom Connor who also is mayor of their small community. One of the guests is found strangled in the hotel the next day. Whodunit? Lucy's family or plus ones from the wedding? Members of the community. The dead man had been the escort of her aunt; he also had a past as a shady actor and blackmailer. Many suspects and a surprise twist to the ending.

This is easily one of my favorite cozy series. This latest installment was a fantastic read and one that kept me guessing at the different threads as the mystery progressed. I enjoyed everything about this story and devoured this one. Having a case on the heels of Lucy's wedding was a fun setting and timing for the current mystery. Great read!

I have really enjoyed the books in the Lighthouse Library series by Eva Gates. The characters are richly developed and I have come to love Lucy and Connor and the other people on the Outer Banks of NC. There are lots of twists and turns as you travel through the pages and uncover random clues to the murder mystery. Though I know there is not really a library in the Bodie Island Lighthouse, I can envision one and would love to either visit one or have the opportunity to work in a lighthouse library. I guess I can add that to my bucket list! Charles, Lucy’s library cat, plays a major role in the resolution of the “whodunit.” I was cheering him on! Eva Gates does a great job writing cozy mysteries and I can’t wait for the next adventure with the Outer Banks gang.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

This series is a must-read for me!
I love how the characters are developing as the series progresses, and I hope there are more to come!

I enjoy traveling back to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with the Lighthouse Library mystery series. With great characters and great mysteries, this perfect for fans of the cozy mystery genre.

Lucy gets a call from her boss saying that a friend has disappeared right after a body was found at her wedding! Talk about a memorable occasion. Lucy sets out to find the real killer while continuing the wedding celebration weekend. Lucy has quite the knack for recalling tiny bits of information that lead to a break in the case. The quirky supporting characters add to the story. This is a fun but a bit more high end cozy mystery.

The author has again added an enjoyable book to her Lighthouse Cozy Mysteries series. Lucy McNeil (née Richardson) had been married at a well-planned ceremony followed by a great reception. As one might expect in an Eva Gates mystery, the reception ended with a murder. The victim was not very nice, but even he did not deserve to die.

With plenty of suspects, it would take the Nags Head Police Department with the help of amature sleuth Lucy McNeil days of hard work to find the responsible person. The library located on the Outer Banks along the North Carolina sea shore offered it clues along with a memorable setting for a wedding and/or vacation.

This reader’s attention was held in place - with multiple late nights trying to piece together the clues and find the right suspect. I have no problem giving the book 5-stars; I am sure others will as well. ______________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

Love this series. Has a great setting that takes place on the outer banks. Lots of details on the area. It has great characters and was a great cozy mystery. Hope there’s more in the series

I have been waiting for Lucy and Connor's wedding since practically the first book. Even when there was a bit of triangle starting, I was always rooting for Lucy and Connor. This book didn't disappoint. The mystery was great and very entertaining. Kept me guessing till the end.

Death Knell and Wedding Bells is the 10th installment in the Lighthouse Library Mysteries. However, it is the first book I have read in the series. I instantly liked Librarian Lucy and the cast of characters in this Nags Head, NC, cozy mystery.

The setting, the mystery surrounding a missing guest and murdered guest at her wedding, the nod to Sherlock Holmes, and characters all captured my attention and made for an enjoyable read. I look forward to reading this series from the start.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher due an advanced copy.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the setting. The mystery kept me guessing.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Wedding is happening and everyone is pretty happy. Except for maybe a few bits of family tension but what wedding doesn't have a bit of that but things get a bit more tense when murder happens.

It seems that something might have went down at the reception that Lucy and Collin didn't know about, some people not gettin along, etc. Then they find one of the guest murdered and Bertie's friend Eddie is missing, things don't look good for Eddie.

So of course Lucy is going to try and figure out where has Eddie taken off too and who might have had motive to kill the victim. There was a few good suspects but I did find it a bit easy at least to me to figure out the killer but I still enjoyed it.

I like this series as the characters are a lot of fun, I love Lucy, the lighthouse library, the folks that work there, just everyone, even the annoying one has grown on me a bit. :)

If your a cozy fan give this series a try!

It's Lucy and Connor's wedding. The wedding is perfect and the reception. The morning after Lucy notices housekeeping struggling to open a door. She tries to help and they notice something lodged in the keyhole. Security is called and he doesn't want to call a locksmith. He runs and knocks down the door and they find a body. Aunt Joyce recognizes the body as her wedding date. Lucy starts asking questions.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the mystery and being able to follow clues with Lucy. I'm excited to read more about Lucy and friends.

What I liked:
* Charles. He really proves himself as the greatest cat ever in this book and I didn't know I could love him more than I already did.
* Teddy. His part of the story was very sweet and it was lovely to see.
* Edgar Allan Poe. Seriously. So awesome.
* Bertie and Eddie. It is simply lovely to see an older relationship handled so deftly.

What I didn't like [buckle up buttercup]:
* No wedding. Seriously. I have been reading for NINE BOOKS and we don't even get the wedding?? UGH. I have a feeling we only get the reception because it worked well for the plot. EPIC fail [IMO].
* The ugly family drama. It was really distasteful and IMO, not needed. It didn't advance the story [even though it was trying to, but more on that later] and was just yuck. I wanted to skip those parts every time they came onto the page.
* ALL the missing side characters. I missed them tremendously. The "new" people that were there for the "mystery" were no fun and just made me miss our regulars that much more.
* Louise Jane. I am never going to like her, but she is borderline desperate in this one and it wasn't a good look; she typically is just annoying, but this time, I was both annoyed and felt sorry for her.
* COULD the killer have been M O R E obvious?? I kept hoping I was wrong [when discussing this with the bestie, she said she kept hoping it was a red herring and that is perfect], but nope. It was one of the transparent mysteries I have read in a long time [and I am using the word mystery very loosely here] and I was left feeling very disappointed.
* I have never been a fan of how Lucy disregards everyone's concern for her safety, but it was more so in this one. She has just married Connor and she continues to blow off his concern and get involved in a way that comes perilously close to her not having to worry about her marriage anymore. I know that he knew this about her going in, but it has seemed to amp up and it, for some reason, really bothers me. It seems really disrespectful.

I have long had a love/dislike relationship with these books and when they are good, they are REALLY good and the the last two seem to have gone back to the meh of the first couple. It is very frustrating as a reader who has loved this author's other books - I WANT to love these, but it does seem to be getting harder and harder to do so.

And all that brings me to the audiobook. I tend to forget that I am not a fan of some narrators when they are doing cozies [but are really good in other genres] and such is the case here. I am just not a fan of the narrator in this series [I have listened to her reading other things and don't have an issue at all] for several reasons; she cannot stick to ONE ACCENT [she will be doing the southern thing for a character and then all of the sudden that slips and you are led to believe that a new character is speaking when in fact it is the same person, just without the accent they started with], she gets super breathy when things get tense [and things get TENSE in this one; I may have known who the killer was, but was not really ready for how they come after Lucy] and that kind of makes it weird. Like I said, I really like her reading other genres; this one is just not my favorite of hers. IF you are not bothered by these issues, then she will be fantastic for you!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Eva Gates, Elise Arsenault - Narrator, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media for providing the eBook ARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dollycas's Thoughts

The day has finally arrived. Connor and Lucy had a beautiful wedding and like most weddings there was a little bit of family drama but they are not going to let anything ruin their day.

Then Lucy gets a phone call from her boss and friend Bertie and she learns Bertie's plus one Eddie never came back to her house after the reception. Lucy tries her best to calm Bertie down and vows to reconnect the next day. But the next day a body is discovered. It's another plus one from Lucy's wedding and now the police really want to find Eddie. Could Bertie's friend be a killer? Are more of Connor and Lucy's guests in danger? Before Lucy can enjoy her wedded bliss she is going to have to find out but she knows it isn't going to be easy and it could be very dangerous.

____

This truly is one of my favorite series! The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is my fictional happy place. I love everything about it. Connor and Lucy's home is wonderful too. Ever since a vacation to North Carolina many years ago I have yearned to return. The books in the series always give me a nice little virtual vacation.

The author has created such fantastic characters. I was so excited for this wedding to take place. Lucy and Connor make a wonderful couple. I was sad that story didn't have the actual "I Do's" and that the day was marred by a murder but this is a mystery series and Ms. Gates has hit it out of the park with this one! A hotel full of suspects, a missing man, a new detective on the case, the twists, the turns. I couldn't put this book down. The final showdown was so exciting I was as out of breath as the involved parties.

With this being the 10th book in the series these characters have found a place in my heart. I enjoy each visit more than the last and each visit ends too soon. I do encourage you to read the series in order to really get to know the characters but this story can be read and enjoyed all on its own.

Death Knells and Wedding Bells is the second book this week that gave me a book hangover. Once I started reading I just couldn't stop. This book also receives my Paradise Rating and a spot on my Best Reads List for 2023. My bags are already packed for next year. Will readers be traveling with Lucy and Connor on their honeymoon? I can't wait to find out!

Hold onto your detective hats, folks, because Eva Gates' "Death Knells and Wedding Bells" serves up a delightful concoction of murder, mayhem, and matrimonial mishaps in this 10th installment of the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. Librarian Lucy's dream wedding takes an unexpected turn when a guest goes missing, only to be discovered strangled in a locked closet. Now, Lucy must channel her inner sleuth and solve the case before her honeymoon is over.

The Outer Banks provides the picturesque backdrop for this comical yet thrilling tale. Gates skillfully weaves together a web of family tensions, quirky characters, and surprising connections, keeping readers guessing until the very end. Lucy's wedding day may not have gone as planned, but her determination to uncover the truth adds a delightful layer of excitement to the narrative.

What sets this series apart is its witty and endearing cast of characters. From Lucy's sharp wit to the lovable heroics of Charles, each member of the ensemble shines with unique quirks and charm. Gates effortlessly balances humor and suspense, creating a rollercoaster ride of emotions that will have readers both chuckling and on the edge of their seats. Whether you're a devoted fan or new to the series, "Death Knells and Wedding Bells" is a hilarious and captivating addition that will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment.

'Death Knells and Wedding Bells' is the 10th book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series but only the second I have read, the first one being book #7. Considering I have a lot of catching up to do, I did not find it hard to follow at all and this is one of those books that I couldn't find fault with at all.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Eva Gates (Vicki Delany) for the e-Arc of the book. The book published on June 6, 2023 and although I had finished reading it before the publication date, I got a bit delayed with sharing my thoughts.