Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates
has Lucy Richardson and Connor McNeil enjoying their engagement party at
Coquina Beach with their family and friends. It is an enjoyable afternoon until the
formidable Evangeline Lewiston and her son, Richard Eric Lewiston III (aka
Ricky) Lucy’s ex-boyfriend (and almost-fiancé) arrive. Evangeline makes it no
secret that she wants Ricky and Lucy back together. Lucy’s mother insists that they have dinner
with the unexpected guests on Monday. Lucy’s
hopes that the unwelcome pair will return to Boston after the dinner. After enjoying a delectable meal at Jake’s Seafood
Bar, the group heads to their cars. A
scream has them rushing to the kitchen door of the restaurant where they see
Ruth kneeling next a man on the ground. It
is quickly apparent that the man is dead.
Lucy’s father recognizes the victim as his law partner and Evangeline’s
husband, Richard Eric Lewiston II. With
Evangeline and Ricky under suspicion, Lucy must once again don her sleuthing
cap to help solve the crime. The killer
is not happy with Lucy’s snooping and attempts to warn her off. It will take more than a threat to scare off
this plucky sleuth. Lucy intends to
solve this crime so Evangeline and Ricky can head back to Boston as quickly as
possible.
My Thoughts
Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates is
the 8th A Lighthouse Library Mystery. I thought this story was well-written with developed
characters. The story moved along at a
quick pace with vivid descriptions. It
is always a pleasure to visit the Outer Banks where Lucy Richardson works at the
Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. She
lives in her Lighthouse Aerie and will miss it when she marries. Connor McNeil and Lucy are engaged with plans
to wed the following year in August.
They have been searching for a home to purchase with no success. I love the characters in this charming
series. They are a friendly bunch who
care for one another. I like how the
library staff are there for one another.
The descriptions of the library are delightful. I would love to live in an apartment above
the library. I, like Lucy, imagine the
characters come alive at night when the library is empty. Lucy will miss her cozy abode. The whodunit was a fun one to solve. There are several people who could have offed
the victim. The clues are subtle and can
easily be missed. There is humor
scattered throughout the story. Lucy
manages to get herself into sticky situations plus doing things she does not
want to do. There are subplots that
enrich this book. Charlene is smitten
with a visiting researcher, but Lucy fears she will get her heart broken. Bertie and Louise Jane are spending quite a
bit of time behind closed doors. Connor
and Lucy are trying to find a home to purchase.
Lucy’s mother was very gracious.
She is a kinder soul than I. I
cannot imagine looking after Evangeline.
Deadly Ever After can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading
all the books in this engaging series.
It will allow you to get to know the characters and see how far they
have come since By Book or By Crook. I
look forward to my next visit to the Outer Banks. Deadly Ever After is an entertaining cozy
mystery with engagement party poopers, house hunting hardships, book club
conversation, a misty marsh, flashing lights, a terrible threat, and an
affectionate fiancé.
Deadly Ever After is available from Amazon*. You can find the other books in A Lighthouse Library Mystery series here. You can find Eva Gates (aka Vicki Delany) other novels here. I picked images from the book to share with you today. The book group was reading The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Author Conan Doyle and Coquina Beach where Connor & Lucy had their engagement party. Thank you for joining me today. Tomorrow I am featuring An Amish Surprise by Shelley Shepherd Gray. It is the second book in A Berlin Bookmobile Series. I hope that you have a merry day. Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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