Death by Beach Read by Eva Gates

 Death by Beach Read

Book Summary

Librarian Lucy’s new historic house comes with a lot of baggage and family secrets. Can she put them to rest or will a killer bring Lucy’s family to their downfall, in the 9th Lighthouse Library mystery.

It’s spring in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and Lucy and Connor have moved into their new home at last, a historic cottage on the Nags Head Beach. The house needs a lot of renovations, but they worked hard over the winter to get it ready. Lucy is now happily immersed in her work at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, planning her wedding, and decorating the house. That is, until a dead body disrupts their peaceful new abode.   

The first night Lucy’s alone in the house, with the company of Charles the library cat, she hears sounds. Investigating they see footsteps in the dust of the unfinished living room, and the door to the outside is open. Lucy's reminded that the house is said to be haunted: forty years ago the teenage daughter of the owners fled in the night, and never again stepped foot inside her family home.
 
But the sounds have an all-too-human origin and one evening Lucy and Connor find the dead body of a man they don’t even recognize in their kitchen. They soon realize he has a long-time connection to their house. Lucy's forced to find out what happened all those years ago and why it’s threatening her happiness today.
 
Meanwhile, the Classic Novel Reading Club is reading The House of the Seven Gables by Nathanial Hawthorne, a book about another old house full of secrets. Can Lucy find parallels to her own situation in Hawthorne’s fiction before the killer strikes again?

My Thoughts

We return to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where Lucy and Connor have found a home.  It needs renovations, but it is an unpainted aristocracy which is what they wanted, and it is in a terrific location (on the beach).  Lucy loves her job, her fiancé, and her new home.  She has started her wedding plans, but there are still many items to complete.  But then strange things begin to happen in the house.  Footsteps, doors left open, and footprints in dust in the unfinished living room.  The house is rumored to be haunted, but Lucy is not buying the paranormal explanation.  Then one evening, Lucy and Connor find a man dead in their kitchen.  When they learn the victim’s identity, Lucy discovers that the man had a connection to their home.  Lucy intends find out why the man was in their home, how he got in, and who killed him.  It is a coincidence that the Classic Novel Reading Club is reading The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Lucy finds a few parallels between the book and what has been happening at her new home.  Lucy soon learns that her house troubles are not over.  Can Lucy clear up the mystery before the killer strikes again?  

Death by Beach Read by Eva Gates is ninth A Lighthouse Library Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on a delightful series.  I thought Death by Beach Read was well-written with realistic, developed characters.  I enjoy the wonderful descriptions of the Outer Banks.  I would love to live in that area.  All our favorite characters are back plus a couple of new additions.  Charles, the library cat, returns with attitude.  Charles is one smart cat and a good judge of character. The mystery was fun.  It was well-plotted with red herrings and good clues.  I like how the mystery ties into the book that the book club is reading.  I was delighted with the spookiness of the mystery.  I was able to solve the mystery early in the book, but that did not hinder my pleasure.  The reveal was exciting and provided the answers Lucy had been seeking.  I loved the descriptions of the unpainted aristocracy homes including Lucy and Connor’s.  I was sorry when my visit to the Outer Banks came to an end.  Death by Beach Read is a hauntingly good time with unpainted aristocracy renovations, baffling footsteps, a Nathaniel Hawthorne novel, a jolly Louise Jayne, a haunted history, a mystifying murder, and a fiery finish.

Death by Beach Read is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other eight A Lighthouse Library Mysteries here.  You can find Eva Gates novels here and Vicki Delany's here.  I appreciate you stopping by today and reading my review.  I am featuring I'll Be Seeing You by Robin Lee Hatcher tomorrow.  I am off to the storage area to hunt for my Fourth of July decorations.  I have been asked when they are going up. I know they are out there somewhere (I really need to organize it someday).  I hope that you have a calming day.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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