Whose Body In The Library

A Lighthouse Library Mystery Book 13

Author:    Eva Gates

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:   9798892424370

Crooked :Lane Books

304 Pages

$29.99; $14.99 Amazon

June 26, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

While Lucy McNeil is enjoying her new job as the mother of twin boys and library director, new librarian Nichelle Gilchrest has just arrived at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, reporting for duty.  But life throws a wrench on Nichelle's first day when she finds a body on the steps -- a body that bears a startling resemblance to her father, who disappeared on a fishing trip to the Outer Banks thirty-eight years ago.

Fingerprints confirm the dead body is indeed Nichelle's father, now living in Nags Head under the name Brian Saunders.  Brian had been befriending older lonely women in exchange for money, but was he working alone?

Detective Rhonda Thomas is on the case, and the suspect list is only getting longer.  Sorting through the wronged women and their relatives, Detective Thomas discovers Nichelle's own brother Brad had been in Nags Head a few days before the murder happened and has been lying about his whereabouts.

Hoping to clear her brother's name. Nichelle decides to investigate what happened.  With seasoned sleuth Lucy's gentle encouragement for the amateur, Nichelle is in for an exciting and dangerous first week at the library.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽ 

Once again we venture back to Nags Head, North Carolina and the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library.  This time out, Lucy McNeil has a new job as director of the library, and there is a new librarian, Nichelle Gilchrest.

Nichelle is in her 50's and starting over with  a degree in her pocket and her nerves on edge as to whether she'll fit in or not.  That feeling doesn't change when she opens the library doors the next morning and finds a body on the doorstep.  Moreover, that body could be her long-long father, who deserted the family thirty-eight years ago and presumed drowned at sea during a fishing trip.

Now the new detective, Rhonda Thomas, is warning Nichelle to stay out of it, and Lucy is trying not to get involved, with her new job and new twins taking over her life.  But when Nichelle's brother becomes a sudden suspect, she's determined to find the truth, but doesn't know how to go about it.

With the help of Louise Jane, whose never-ending 'knowledge' of people and things in the Outer Banks, Nichelle is learning who might be responsible.  But can she keep herself safe or will she walk into the arms of a killer?...

This is the latest book in the series, and I have enjoyed them.  I love every time I get to visit the Outer Banks, and with Lucy and her friends.  But this time out is different.  Lucy is a side character, and the mystery seems to focus on Nichelle (as it should, since she is the new character) and Louise Jane (whom I have never been fond of).  But I have to say that I cannot warm up to Detective Thomas.  She's not likable, and doesn't seem to want to make friends of the residents, which I think she should do since it's a small community.  You can be professional and still have friends that you deal with.  Sam Watson proved that.

There is very little of the other characters that we've grown to love as well, so we're in new territory all around here.  The way we keep Lucy in the story is the difference in which it is written.  First person for Nichelle, third person for Lucy.

The mystery is written well, as always; and I enjoy Ms. Gates so much that I read her books straight through.  This one is no different.  The plot keeps you guessing, although I did figure out the murderer before Nichelle; but when she figures it out herself, there's more work to be done before the murderer can be apprehended.

There are clues throughout, and descriptions of the area aplenty which always add to the story.  When the ending comes it is put together well, and I will read the next in the series.  Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Whose-Body-Library-Lighthouse-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0FQHC3T7T/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8227469880

More on Eva Gates's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/eva-gates/

The Little Lost Library

 A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel Book 7

Author:    Ellery Adams

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781496743794; 9781496743800

Kensington Cozies

320 Pages

$11.43; $17.95; $10.86  Amazon

October 22, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When an elderly Miracle Springs resident, Lucille Wynter, arranges for Nora to deliver an order of books to her creepy, crumbling Southern Gothic mansion on the outskirts of town, Nora doesn't expect to be invited in.  An agoraphobic, Lucille doesn't leave Wynter House.  But when Lucille doesn't come to the door to collect her books, Nora begins to worry.

Forcing her way into Lucille's dilapidated home, Nora is shocked to finds rooms bursting with books and a lifeless Lucille at the foot of the stairs.  After reading a note left behind by Lucille, Nora wonders if her death was an accident.  Did she fall or was she pushed by someone seeking a valuable item hidden within Wynter House?  Lucille's children are clearly confident the house contains something of value, because they hire Nora to sift through the piles of books.

Nora's obsession with Lucille's collection becomes cause for concern among her friends in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society -- she's even neglecting her bookshop!  But Nora does find something valuable deep inside Wynter House -- a revelation about Lucille's terrible past...and a secret worth a small fortune.  But there's someone who'd do anything to keep the truth buried amid the moldering tomes, and it's up to Nora and her friends to track down a murderer before Wynter House's lost library claims another victim...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Nora Pennington owns a bookstore in Miracle Springs, North Carolina.  She's built a good life for herself with friends and the love of Sheriff Grant McCabe.  She has a great love of books, and regularly delivers them to the town recluse, Lucille Wynter.  Lucille lives in Wynter House, and doesn't ever leave it.  Nora isn't even allowed in the house after years of bringing her books.  They sit in the boot room, have tea, and talk about books.

But one day her delivery doesn't go right.  Lucille doesn't arrive on time, and Nora gets worried.  She calls her from the boot room and Lucille answers, asking for help.  Nora breaks down the door and finds Lucille at the bottom of the stairs, recently deceased.  When the police arrive, they find a house filled with books everywhere, and discover that Lucille was a hoarder.

But Officer Andrews gives Nora a package that Lucille had left for her.  Inside is a small book, and a note that tells her there is a little lost library in the house, and she must find it with clues.  But how is she to get into the house?  With the help of her antique dealer friend Bea, and Bea's niece Cricket, who owns a junk hauling business, Nora makes the decision to find the library, even if it puts her in danger...

I absolutely loved this book best out of all in the series.  Maybe because I love mysteries, but this was more a mystery within a mystery -- who killed Lucille, and where is the library -- and that intrigued me to no end.  Unfortunately, Nora doesn't realize how dangerous a game she is playing.  It isn't until another tragedy occurs closer to home that Nora realizes she has to involve McCabe, who isn't happy that she didn't let him know right away.

On top of it all, someone is stealing books from her store, and she can't figure out who it is.  But with the help of good friends around, nothing is impossible...

Nora is digging through the crowed house for clues, and they aren't easy to find; especially since the house is in such bad shape and filled to the brim.  But when she starts digging, she finds that the clues are leading to a deeper tragedy still, and that makes all the difference in this story.  We are pulled into the tale, wanting to know the truth, and being given answers slowly, which only make us want more.

I will say that I knew the murderer very quickly, but the reasons eluded me, which isn't a bad thing, as I love to probe for the truth as much as Nora.  When the ending comes, it all weaves together tightly, and the story has a very nice ending, leaving us waiting for the next in the series.  Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Library-Secret-Scone-Society-ebook/dp/B0CTDKBXZH/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7849663450

More on Ellery Adams's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/ellery-adams/

Shot Through the Book

 A Lighthouse Library Mystery Book 12

Author:    Eva Gates

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9798892420440; 9798892242322

Crooked Lane Books

272 Pages

$22.80; $19.99; $14.99 Amazon

May 6, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The upcoming YA book festival at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is bringing in renowned authors from all over the world.  When best-selling author Todd Harrison unexpectedly visits librarian Lucy McNeil at her Outer Banks beach house after a meeting, she is puzzled by his presence, since they're virtually strangers.  After she steps inside to get him a drink, she's shocked to discover that he's been murdered on her desk in the few minutes she left him alone.  

Not knowing why he wanted to meet with her in private, or how someone managed to kill him in the time it takes to make lemonade, Lucy is determined to help with the investigation and figure out what happened.  When Heather Harrison, Todd's widow, shows up in town, her motivations aren't inspired by grief.  She's intending to use her husband's tragic death to launch her candidacy for state senator and her first order of business is to go after the local police force -- and Lucy herself.

Caught between an intrusive fan club mourning Todd, squabbling authors, fighting for prominence in his absence , and a politically ruthless widow, Lucy must roll up her sleeves and catch the killer before the chapter closes on justice.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy McNeil is happily married to Mayor Connor McNeil, and works at the Lighthouse Library.  The employees are organizing an event to bring in young adult authors, and especially well-known author Todd Harrison.  But the night of the meeting, which Lucy was unfortunately late to, Todd shows up at her house unannounced.  He states he'd like to speak with her about him, and being a good host, she asks him to wait on the deck while she gets them some iced tea.

But when Lucy returns a short time later, Todd is dead...and whoever killed him is long gone.  After telling the police that she only met him that day and didn't know why he was at her house, she thought would be the end of it.  But it wasn't.

The widow was blaming her for the death, town teens are haunting the place where Todd died (her home) and her life has just been upended once more.  Lucy is trying to stay out of the investigation, but things keep going wrong and she keeps getting pulled in.  Will she find a killer or will she put herself in danger once again...

This is the twelfth book in the series, and I have read them all.  I've come to grow fond of all the characters, and watched them change over time, which isn't a bad thing at all.  This book was different in that it centered around Lucy and her relatives weren't in the book much, which is fine; there was enough action with the other characters to keep things interesting.

Lucy isn't happy that the teens are haunting her home, and even Connor is getting tired of cleaning up the 'tributes' to Todd.  When Lucy finds out that it's not going to end, she goes into hyper mode to figure out who the true murderer is.  

I really enjoyed this book, except for one part at the end, which I won't name here, but I was disappointed that it was even mentioned, much less added.  Those who have read the book will discover what I am talking about (hopefully) and those who have not read it -- maybe it won't change your perception at all, since it is my own opinion.

Other than that, I liked the way the story came together, and the killer was definitely a surprise; still, no one knows what goes on in the mind of a murderer, right?  It made the story more believable and gave it more push.  I do enjoy Ms. Gates's writing, and I love this series especially.  (I read other of her series as well and enjoy them as much).  When you find a talented writer, you know it, and Ms. Gates fits the bill.

In the end, everything came together nicely, and gave us a look as to what is to come in the next book.  I look forward to it immensely.  Recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Shot-Through-Lighthouse-Library-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0DCFLVP6W/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7826610950

More on Eva Gates's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/eva-gates/

The Tattered Cover

A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel Book 8

Author:    Ellery Adams

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook & Audio CD Available)

ISBN #:    9781496743824

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$27.00; $13.77 Amazon

October 28, 2025

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It was a dark, rainy night at Nora Pennington's Miracle Books when a mysterious death brings the Secret, Book, and Scone Society into the Halloween season on the trail of a murderer...

As the residents of Miracle Springs, North Carolina, select their costumes, plan parties, and get excited for a night of tricks or treats, Nora joins in the festivities by hosting medium memoirist Lara Luz at the bookstore.  Charismatic and compelling, Lara mesmerizes the audience with her life story.  Struck by a bolt of lightning as a child, she was pronounced dead only to be resurrected with the ability to connect with those on the other side.

Lara performs a reading for a select group of bookstore patrons when the encroaching storm knocks out the power.  In the sudden darkness, howling cold winds intensify, and Lara clutches her heart, collapsing dead without warning.  But Nora doesn't believe she died of natural causes.  Not one member of the psychic's reading group -- which includes the town's widower pharmacist, an urgent care nurse, a mystery author, and even truculent Deputy Hollowell -- were admirers of Lara.

Nora confirms this when she stumbles upon Lara's journal in the aftermath of her death .  For within its leathery bound pages are the medium and her clients' deepest and darkest secrets, written in code,  Now, Nora and the Secret, Book, and Scone Society must sift through the suspects and their motives to uncover which one of them is a killer before he or she is tempted to strike again...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is surprised when an author wants to do a reading and signing at her small bookstore.  But urged by her employee and friend Sheldon, she agrees.  When that turns out to be successful, she organizes a mixed signing by several authors just before Halloween.  Among them is Lara Luz, a psychic who wants to read from her memoir and then has agreed to do special readings for a small number of attendees.  Among them are a widower, a nurse, and surprisingly, Deputy Hollowell, a K9 officer who's clashed with Nora from the day she came into town.  But, if this is a success as well, Nora will be able to hold more.

Unfortunately, it isn't.  The lights go out due to a storm, and Lara is struck down, supposedly from a bad heart.  When Nora tries to help, Lara's partner pushes her, and Nora strikes her head and passes out.  When she awakens, she discovers that Lara is dead, and she eventually learns that it was murder.  Her own partner, Sheriff Grant McCabe, wants her to stay out of it because she received a concussion, but Nora and her friends are curious enough to want to know who murdered her -- Nora is concerned that her reputation will be tarnished by the murder in her store -- so they still do their own investigation.  When Nora accidentally finds Lara's personal journal, she sees that the woman kept track of her clients.

But it's more than that.  When she starts to decipher Lara's code, something sinister pops up...and it might just be the key to why Lara was killed...

This is the eighth book in the series, and I have loved them all.  I have grown fond of the people in Miracle Springs, and have even felt for them and their own secrets and pain.  Once you journey to a town in books, if the writer is good enough (and Ms. Adams certain is), you want to return again and again.

This book does not disappoint.  I do not want to say too much about it, because I want the reader to enjoy their own travels to Miracle Springs.  I will say that finding the murderer isn't easy, and the answers aren't always the ones that come with the clues.  The conclusion was definitely surprising; the story was intriguing and even dark at times.  But all this added to the suspense and the enjoyment of the tale.  

Nora has her own decisions to face; Estella is looking at a new life to come forth; and even Hester may find some changes coming to her.  But even the subplots are part of the main plot, and it's pulling you into the story almost from the start.  I read this one through in one sitting, which I rarely do.  All I can say now is that when you get the chance to read this, do so.  You will not be disappointed.  Highly recommended.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Tattered-Cover-Secret-Scone-Society-ebook/dp/B0DX4X1HMT/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7804101139

More on Ellery Adams's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/ellery-adams/

Maid of Dishonor

 The Wedding Bell Mysteries Book 4

Author:    Nancy Robards Thompson

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781694703121

Tule Publishing

290 Pages

$11.99; $4.99 Amazon

July 18, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Maddie Bell's life and career have hit peak stride.  She's sold her cozy mystery series and is contracted for two more books; she's engaged to Hemlock's chief of police; and her mother has purchased and restored the beautiful historic mansion, Gracewood Hall, in their hometown of Hemlock, North Carolina.  Three generations -- Gigi, Maddie, and Jenna -- are now happily engaged in the wedding and special event business.

But their highly scrutinized inaugural event -- the wedding of an A-List social media influencer -- becomes a murder scene before the rehearsal dinner.  Kate Archer, the professional bridesmaid Jenna hired, is found bludgeoned by a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, not only threatening their new business, but also sending Jenna into a tailspin of guilt.  She knew Kate from college and has begged her to fill in as the maid of honor.

Even as the police warn Maddie not to interfere with the investigation, mother and daughter set out to discover who killed Kate and dispel the growing rumors that Gracewood Hall is cursed.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Maddie Bell writes a mystery series and owns a bridal shop.  Her daughter Jenna is an events planner, and works with her.  But now her mother, Gigi, has purchased Gracewood Hall, a resplendent place perfect for weddings and other events.

They've agreed to host the wedding of a social media influencer, London -- who turns out to be a bridezilla -- without cost, in return for the exposure it will give them in the future.  But now they are rethinking that, since the woman has alienated every single bridesmaid and has to hire a professional one, and pretend that Kate Archer is her bestie.

Things seem to be working so far -- that is, until Kate turns up murdered, and London is found standing over her body, with the champagne bottle she was holding shattered next to the woman.  Now the three generations of women must put their heads together and find the true killer before London is convicted of a crime they're certain she didn't commit.  But with a manor full of wedding guests and staff, how do they figure it out?  Especially since Maddie's fiance Jack is telling them to stay out of it, and he's also keeping Maddie at arms' length.  Will they find a killer?  Will Maddie figure out what is going on with Jack?  Or will their livelihoods be ruined forever by a killer who is smarter than any of them...

This is the fourth book in the series, and I will admit that it is also the only one which I have read.  Perhaps I should go back and read the first, since there are references to other books throughout; I will find the time to begin.  That being said, I wish I could give this a higher rating, but I didn't care for the fact that it was shown through different POVs.  I hate having to 'set one person aside' while reading another's thoughts.  That's just my opinion, but it's valid for me.

Other than that, the back-and-forth was a tad confusing; and I don't really care about influencers, so perhaps I am the wrong audience for this book.  However, I read it through, and did think that the murderer was a surprise and liked the climax, so that's a good thing.  All in all, this was a decent book and as I stated above, I will go back and read the first in the series.  Recommended. 

I was given a copy of this book from the author and BookSprout but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Maid-Dishonor-Mystery-Wedding-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0D2PKHDQW/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7556624367

More on Nancy Robards Thompson's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/t/nancy-robards-thompson/   

The Stranger In The Library (A Lighthouse Library Mystery Book 11)

Author:    Eva Gates

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781639106608

Crooked Lane Books

304 Pages

$29.99; $17.99 Amazon

June 4, 2024

⭐⭐⭐⭐

When a traveling show of Impressionist art comes to Nags Head, North Carolina, librarian Lucy and the staff at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library are inspired to create an educational display about art history.  Their launch of the display is a huge success, but the morning after, they discover that a reproduction of a famous painting has gone missing.

No one knows why anyone would bother stealing it: the picture is of no value -- the real, priceless painting is under lock and key at the show itself.  Lucy gets an invite to the glitzy opening night for the real show, where she notices unusual tension among the show's organizers.  Then the man scheduled to give the welcoming speech fails to arrive, and a party-goer is discovered drowned in a fish pond.

Meanwhile, Louise Jane is totally captivated by Tom Reilly, a handsome, charming art dealer lurking at the edges of the receptions on both nights.  Tom slipped away from the party early, and he cannot be located by the police.  Who, Lucy asks, is Tom Reilly, the shadowy figure threatening to break Louise Jane's Heart?

Something is afoot in Nags Head, and it's up to Lucy and her friends to get to the bottom of it before it's not just paintings being framed.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Librarian Lucy McNeil is recently married and returned from her honeymoon in Europe, happy to be home.  She's involved in displaying Impressionist art in the library, a co-project of a traveling art show, and they are displaying reproductions of art, which are meant for library visitors to learn about the genre.  While the opening goes well, Lucy is amused once again by Louise Jane, who has a painting by one of her ancestors at the opening, a well-known Outer Banks artist.  But the next day they notice the painting is missing, and no one seems to know where it has gone.  Even though they report it to the police, it now has to take a back seat, because Lucy, her cousin Josie, and Louise Jane have discovered the body of one of the show's organizers.  

What Lucy wants to know is are the two crimes connected, and if so, how?  Even if Detective Sam Watson asks for Lucy's impression of some of the suspects, she's more concerned with the painting, as it wasn't valuable but sentimental.  Why would someone steal it at all?

But there's also the problem of Louise Jane being attracted to Tom Reilly, a man who claims to be an art dealer, but he disappears and can't be found.  While Louise Jane refuses to believe anything bad about him, Lucy isn't so sure.  And finding him might be just as difficult as finding out why the painting was taken, and why the organizer was killed.  Can she once again enter a murder investigation but without putting herself in danger?...

This is the eleventh book in the series and I have read them all.  While I will admit that it took me a few books to warm up to the series, I now love it.  I have fully immersed myself in the Outer Banks without actually visiting there, and the populace in this book makes you want to do so.  The characters are quite human, and actually have human interests.  By that, I mean that they don't spend their time sitting around drinking, but they also watch television, go shopping, etc.  It's the same type of lives that we, outside the books, live.  This is what makes them so endearing, and the author has done a wonderful job of it.

But back to the book -- when the painting is discovered missing, I, along with Lucy, am wondering why anyone would want it at all.  But then there's a surprise in store (and I won't mention it here) that helps in the investigation, and we only have to decipher the clue.  Hah!  Easier said than done.  Especially when Lucy is pretty much on her own this time, since Sam is concerned with finding out who killed the Person in the Pond.  Two very different mysteries, with possibly two different reasons.  Or is it?

When the ending comes, I have to say that I figured out the killer earlier than Lucy, but then again, as I've said many times before, I read a lot of mysteries, so this is how my brain works. However, finding the reason why was a bit more difficult, and worth the read altogether.  

There's a bit of a twist at the end, and it makes everything even more worthwhile.  Again, I love this series and would have no problem recommending it to anyone.  You can read this as a standalone, but it will make you want to go back to the beginning and see how it all began.  Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Library-Lighthouse-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B0CH9J39DV/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6115402759

More on Eva Gates's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/eva-gates/

Death Knells and Wedding Bells (A Lighthouse Library Mystery #10)

Author:    Eva Gates

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781639102723

Crooked Lane Books

272 Pages

$13.99; $26.99 Amazon

June 6, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lucy and Connor planned for the perfect Outer Banks wedding  -- and that's exactly what they got.  Aside from typical rumblings of familial tensions, the late spring weather allowed for a beautiful day, the food the delicious, and everyone had a good time, until one of the guests goes missing.

Before Lucy can look forward to the rest of her life in Nags head and the work she does at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, she gets a phone call from her boss, Bertie James.  Eddie, Bertie's friend, never made it back home after the reception.  Initially, Lucy doesn't think anything of it -- sometimes wedding guests simply have a little too much fun.  But this quickly turns to something darker when she discovers the body of a wedding guest strangled in a locked closet, and the police immediately start asking questions about Eddie.  Lucy must figure out if the two are connected before it's too late -- both for Bertie's friend and the rest of her wedding guests.

With the Classic Novel Reading Club reading the Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe -- Lucy wonders if the master of the macabre can assist her investigation or if the hunt for the killer's identity will remain as nothing more than an unsolved mystery.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Lucy and Connor have finally gotten married, and they couldn't be happier.  The wedding came off beautifully, and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  Everyone, it seems, except a small few who probably shouldn't have attended anyway.  But before Lucy can enjoy married life, she receives a call from her boss Bertie James -- and Bertie is worried about her friend Eddie, who never returned from the wedding after telling her he needed to find his tie.

This wouldn't be a big thing except another one of the wedding guests has been found murdered by Lucy and Connor, and even though this shouldn't affect them at all, Lucy can't help but wonder who killed the man.  Was it Eddie?  Or another disgruntled guest?  It's obvious that either another guest or staff at the wedding did the deed, but with so many people, it's going to take a lot of questioning by Detective Sam Watson and the new detective in town, Kyle North.

Lucy doesn't like Kyle or his way of asking questions, and tries to stay out of his line of fire.  He's got his sights on a certain person, and she's sure he's wrong.  Now Lucy might be in the fight of her life, finding the truth, and protecting those she cares for...

This is the tenth book in the series and I have read them all.  I love this one the best.  It has plenty of action, and we get to meet more of Lucy's family, albeit some more than others.  Gloria, Lucy's Aunt Ellen's mother-in-law, is back once again, and making everyone crazy around her.  I don't know why, but I find her hilarious (sorry, Ellen).  There are also a couple of minor subplots that are interesting, and I don't want to say any more so as not to spoil the book for others (you must read this one!)

But finding the killer this time out isn't going to be as easy as before.  Lucy has to use all her powers of observation and asking the right questions to put things together.  I did know who the murderer was before her (but then again, as I've stated before, I read a lot of mysteries, so there's that).  I still enjoyed Lucy sifting through clues, and watching her do so was the best part of the book.  I also loved that Connor tried to protect her as well, which sat right with me.

When the ending comes, the climax is almost pulsating, and definitely worth waiting for.  Lucy pulls all her wits about her, knowing that she needs to if the truth were to come out.  As I stated above, this, I think, is the best book in the series so far, but it can be read as a stand-alone.  Highly recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Knells-Wedding-Lighthouse-Library-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0BDF18V3Y/ref

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5086835761

More on Eva Gates's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/eva-gates/ 

Paper Cuts (A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel Book 6)

Author:    Ellery Adams

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN#:    9781496726476

Kensington Cozies

304 Pages

$27.00; $13.77 Amazon

April 25, 2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nora escaped her past a decade ago.  So it feels like a visit from another world when Kelly Walsh -- the woman her ex-husband left her for -- walks through the front door of Miracle Books along with her son, a sweet, serious boy with a talent for origami.  Kelly hasn't come to gloat, though.  As it turns out, she's been dumped, too.  She's also terribly ill, and all she wants from Nora is forgiveness.

Shockingly, however, the woman who's been the victim of so much misfortune is about to become a murder victim.  Who would do such a thing?  Certainly not Nora.  But that doesn't stop the gossip and suspection -- especially after Kelly's sister-in-law claims that she saw the two women arguing.

In seeking justice for Kelly, The Secret, Book, and Scone Society joins forces with the sheriff's department, but they've barely begun their probe when life throws another wrench.  After serving a fifteen-year sentence, Estella's father returns to Miracle Springs.  And when his past comes back to haunt him, it might be more than the four friends can handle.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Nora Pennington, owner of Miracle Books in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, has finally achieved peace in her life.  After finding out her husband of ten years was cheating on her, she had a devastating accident that left her with scars both physical and emotional.  Some she's never been able to put away permanently.  But her best friends -- June, Estella, and Hester -- all have scars of their own, and it's a daily battle for the foursome to believe that life can give them something to offer.  

When a woman enters Nora's bookstore, she has a young son who seems focused only on the books with origami.  Kelly Walsh states that she's just moved to town and her son doesn't interact with people very well.  Nora has empathy for the young man, and promises to order more books for the boy.  

Then Estella's dad is being released, and she's worried about what he can find as a job, wanting to keep him from going back.  But that's not all:  Nora eventually finds out her ex-husband is in town, and she plans to avoid him at all cost...

After discovering that Kelly is the woman who broke up her marriage, she wants nothing to do with her.  But it's an early morning visit from the police that wake her up, telling her Kelly is dead.  Only later does Nora discover that Kelly was murdered, and a witness insists that shortly before the murder, she saw Nora arguing with the woman.

Now Nora is a suspect in the murder, and her beau Sheriff Grant McCabe needs to stay away from her during the investigation, although he doesn't believe a word of it.  Can her friends help her stay out of jail?  If not, Nora might just spend her days and nights in solitary...

This is the sixth book in the series, and perhaps the best of the lot.  I've come to care for these four women who still carry the scars of their early lives and have come to depend upon one another for their strength.  Each one has a secret that haunts them, and together they form a force of nature.  Now Nora is in trouble, and they won't stand by idly while she's in trouble.

But finding the murderer isn't easy: it would be easier to find a coyote in the wilderness, or so it seems.  There is more at stake than just Nora's life, and they need to find the core of what it is.  The subplot of Estella's father Gus becomes part of the story, and Nora learns that All Is Not As It Appears.  When she starts to put the pieces together, what she discovers stuns her; it could change everything, and she wonders if her perceptions are correct.

There were parts of this book that brought tears to my eyes.  I emphasized with Nora in so many places, and my heart ached for her pain.  Sometimes outer scars can't truly give the story of those that remain inside us, and Nora is an example of that.  Her decision to carry those outer scars truly shows her character.

Each one of these books is unique.  It tells its own story within stories, and each one touches me.  When I find these books, nothing will stop me from reading them.  I even bypass cooking dinner to read these (and my husband knows it so orders takeout -- luckily, he understands my love of the series).  These are women I would love to meet, and I would love to reside in this town.  But it is the compassion, warmth, and kindness of four damaged women that touches me the most.

All in all between her friends, Nora sees that the truth is right in front of her.  And in the end, it comes together with each piece layering upon the other; until you can see the final picture.  It is a marvelous addition to the story and its peoples, and I cannot wait until the next is written.  Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the Publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Paper-Secret-Scone-Society-Novel/dp/1496726472/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5071947624

More on Ellery Adams's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/ellery-adams/

The Vanishing Type (A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Book 5)

Author:    Ellery Adams

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)

ISBN #:    9781496726445

Kensington Publishing

304 Pages

$20.49; $9.06 Amazon

April 26, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

While January falls outside in Miracle Springs, North Carolina, Nora Pennington is encouraging customers to cozy up indoors with a good book.  Even though the shop and her bibliotherapy sessions keep Nora busy during the day, her nights are a little too quiet -- until Deputy Andrews pulls Nora into the sci-fi section and asks her to help him plan a wedding proposal.

His bride-to-be, Hester, loves Little Women, and Nora sets to work arranging a special screening at the town's new movie theater.  But right before the deputy pops the question, Nora makes an unsettling discover -- someone has mutilated all her store's copies of The Scarlet Letter, slices angrily into the pages wherever Hester Prynne's name is mentioned.

The coincidence disturbs Nora, who's one of the few in Miracle Springs who knows that Hester gave up a baby for adoption many years ago.  Her family heaped shame on her, and Hester still feels so guilty that she hasn't even told her future husband.  But when a dead man is found on a hiking trail just outside town, carrying a rare book. the members of the Secret, Book, and Scone Society unearth a connection to Hester's past.  Someone is intent on bringing the past to light, and it's not just Hester's relationship at stake, but her life...

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Nora Pennington owns a bookshop in the small town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina.  It's not only a bookshop, it's a meeting place for her friends in the Secret, Book, and Scone Society.  While her relationship with her boyfriend Jed is done and finished, she still has June, Estella, and Hester in her life -- three women who are damaged as much as she is, all in their own way.  But a surprise soon enters in the form of Deputy Jasper Andrews, who wants to propose to Hester in a special way.  When Nora hears of his plans, she's delighted and enlists the help of Estella and June.  The proposal, like the town, is going to be magical.

However, before the proposal, Nora is stunned when her employee Sheldon finds copies of The Scarlet Letter vandalized, with the word 'Hester' scratched out in each one.  But even this is not as disturbing as when Sheriff Grant McCabe finds a dead man with no identification on his person, but a book by Elmer Freeman, Miss Delphinium.  It turns out that Elmer Freeman was a pseudonym for Enid Elton, who wrote eight books in her series.  When another of the books turns up in Hester's bakery, Nora begins to suspect something else is going on.

When more of the books start appearing around town, it's apparent to Nora that these all relate to Hester.  Could her secret from long ago be found out?  Who would be sending the clues?  And why now, after all these years?  On top of this, a young friend is injured in a car accident, and Nora thinks it could be related.  But how can she tell Sheriff McCabe, just when it seems their friendship might be turning into something more?  Nora knows she has to act, and turning to McCabe, whom she must learn to trust, might help her find the puzzle pieces and put them together.  Or will Hester's life be forfeit instead?

This is the fifth book, and perhaps even the best, in the series  It gives us more insight into Hester's past, and shows that the friendship between the four women is a strong bond.  When there is a crisis or two, they pull together and act as each other's anchor.  It's both charming and heartwarming; it brings a sort of calm to the series, and the want to read the other books.  This one is indeed my favorite.

We have a puzzle to figure out, and I did figure it out early on, but watching Nora and her friends put their minds together to save Hester was worth everything.  Their determination to keep each other buoyed while they worked through their problems with humor, love, strength, and friendship was the heart of the book.

When the ending comes everything comes together nicely; but at a cost.  Some things are never meant to be regained, while others will stay with us forever.  Well done, Ms. Adams.  Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Secret-Scone-Society-Novel/dp/1496726448/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4571396061

More on Ellery Adams's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/a/ellery-adams/

Farmer In The Dead (A Chelsea Lawson Cozy Mystery Book 2)

Author:    CeeCee James

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798623464859

Independently Published

230 Pages

$12.99; $2.99 Amazon

March 10, 2020

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mayhem follows Chelsea Lawson like baby ducks chase their mama.

Chelsea's thrilled when her best friend, Tilly, returns home from overseas.  The joy's short-lived, though, because before she's even settled back in, the police show up, and they're full of questions.  Turns out Tilly's ex has turned up dead, and she's the last one to see him alive.

Now, it's up to Chelsea to find the real killer and clear her friend's name.  But that's not the only mystery on her plate.  Chelsea's digging into her own past, and the more she learns about it, the less sure she is of the future.

Has everything in her life been a lie?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Chelsea Lawson moved back home to take care of her friend Tilly's daughter and home while Tilly was on a work assignment.  But the day Tilly arrives back, she needs to go see her ex-boyfriend about another photography job.  When she calls Chelsea to pick her up, she seems angry.  And when the police show up at Tilly's farm, they have her as a suspect in the man's death, since she was the last one to see him alive.  Now Chelsea's made a promise to find out the truth, and she intends to do so.

But Chelsea's also wondering about a strange man who showed up at her place of work.  And wonders what her mother has been keeping from her.  With two mysteries she needs to solve, she doesn't know which one is more important...

This is the second in a three-part series, and while I hate the fact that the author leaves us with another cliffhanger, I was going to read the book anyway, so there it is.  What I hate is the fact that Chelsea would rather avoid people than confront them when they treat her badly; and also am still wondering why she can't cook when she's almost thirty.  Sorry, but that's just lazy.  Even the busiest person should be able to cook eggs.

We also get some answers, but there are more questions.  I also thought the ending was done more as an afterthought, since there weren't any clues to the murderer throughout the book, just as the point toward the end where Chelsea was figuring it out -- and the police already had.  So the mystery itself seemed more of a subplot and the main plot was about Chelsea figuring out her past.  Other than that, it was an enjoyable read that can be read in an afternoon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0834DL5Q7?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4780537874

More on CeeCee James's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/j/ceecee-james/

Mooved to Murder: A Milk It For All It's Worth Mystery (A Chelsea Lawson Cozy Mystery Book 1)

Author:    CeeCee James

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781652876243

Independently Published

204 Pages

$12.99; $.99 Amazon

December 29, 2019

⭐⭐⭐

When Chelsea Lawson's best friend Tilly asks her to stay at her place to watch her six-year-old daughter and pets, Chelsea doesn't hesitate.  Turns out she agreed to manage a micro-farm and "a few pets" included a cow and two goats as well as a little girl too smart for her own good.

When the local community tries to run her out of town, Chelsea realizes something big and rotten hides under the surface of the idyllic small town.  The mayor makes it clear she's not wanted and the townspeople give her the cold shoulder, but that only makes Chelsea more determined to uncover their secrets.

No one expected the repercussions those secrets would have, or that murder would be the result.  Now life, the animals, and the farm, hangs in the balance.  Can Chelsea figure out who did the deed before she -- and her new home -- are the next victims?

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Chelsea Lawson left her job in Charlotte to take care of her friend Tilly's home and daughter while Tilly is in Australia on an assignment.  What she thought should be easy turned out not to be.  Chelsea discovered that there was a veritable mini-farm she'd be tending, and Emma turned out to be not much what she expected a six-year-old would be.  Not to mention the body in the barn, that turns out to be related to someone powerful in town.  Now almost the entire town wants to see her gone, and she can't even get her mail delivered.  It doesn't help that everyone is calling her Denise and thinks she's someone else.  How can Chelsea do what she came to do if she can't get any help?  Or if she might be the one everyone thinks murdered the dead man?

This is the first book in the series and I generally found it to be interesting.  The idea of a career woman totally out of her element with no help sounded fun.  But I did have to wonder about the main character, as I do in most cozies:  what are they doing with their money?  Are they not saving any of it?  Because they all seem to be in dead-end jobs and making barely anything at all; otherwise they wouldn't be struggling financially.  Saying that, I did find the way she interacted with the 'pets' amusing; although I really didn't buy that Emma was only six, the way she acted.  Ah, well.

Other than that I did like the story line.  I enjoyed the mystery a bit (although the clues came late in the book, and the police had figured it out, too).  I liked the descriptions of the animals and parts of the town.  I didn't like the fact Chelsea didn't stand up to those who insulted her.  She was timid and didn't strike me as the type of person who would be left to the care of one's livelihood and child.  She couldn't even cook!  Tell me, how many women in their thirties can't at least make eggs?  Or hamburgers?  These are basics anyone can cook.  Why would you leave your child in the care of someone who had to order in every night?

But what really turned me off was the fact that the author held me hostage, so to speak.  I absolutely hate cliffhangers.  Don't authors trust their writing to be enough to bring people to the next book?  It irks me that I didn't read reviews so I would know beforehand that I have to read the others in the series to get a resolution to Chelsea's problems.  I definitely took off a star because of this.  Hopefully the next in the series will give more answers than this book did.

https://www.amazon.com/Mooved-Murder-Mystery-Chelsea-Lawson-ebook/dp/B0838L3763/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4778057179

More on CeeCee James's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/j/ceecee-james/

Mystery Repeats Itself (A Minerva Biggs Mystery Book 1)

Author:    Cordelia Rook

Genre:     Mystery

Paperback; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9798424657863

Independently Published

222 Pages

$8.99; $.99 Amazon

February 22. 2022

⭐⭐⭐

Delighted by the promise of living and working in a glittering Gilded Age mansion, Minerva Biggs moves to idyllic Bryd Hollow, North Carolina with her dog Plantagenet.  She's looking for a new beginning; what she finds is five quite possibly deranged people, four French bulldogs, two distracting dimples attached to one inconvenient man...and one murder.

Nope, make that two murders.  When Minerva makes a connection between her new employer's fatal fall and the death of his celebrated great-grandfather in the same spot more than a century before, she doubts that either was an accident.  Delving into old secrets and new grudges, she begins to unravel the twisted threads that bind the past to present.  Right up until she tangles them around the wrong guy.  Oops. 

With a trial looming, a scandal raging, and her job prospects dwindling, Minerva races to solve both crimes.  Preferably before her new beginning comes to an unfortunate end.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Minerva Biggs accepts a job as a personal assistant in Bryd Hollow, North Carolina, bringing along her very large dog, Plantagenet, assured that he's welcome.  But when she's injured by her employer the first day, and her dog is also a target, she at first rethinks, then decides she has nowhere else to go, so lets it slide.  

Not long after, her new employer is found dead, and she finds her own job in jeopardy.  Convinced it was not an accident, and might actually be related to the death of his great-grandfather over a century before in the same spot, she sets out to find a killer.  Unfortunately, in doing so she might also find herself a casualty...

When I saw this book I really liked the plot line, so thought I would give it a try.  It started out well, but unfortunately, soon became boring to me.  It just could not hold my attention.  I would like to know why she left her job as a teacher.  What was the point of installing her in the mansion if she wasn't going to stay there?  At that point, the book lost my interest completely, and I really didn't care what happened or who was the murderer.  It just became another cozy about a woman who is penniless, homeless, and doesn't know what to do with her life.

I skimmed to the end just to see what happens, and while it was well written (hence the three stars), I didn't find anything here that would make me read the next in the series.  Sorry.

https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Repeats-Itself-Minerva-Biggs-ebook/dp/B09TLFBYF1/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4774297462

More on Cordelia Rook's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/r/cordelia-rook/

Bound by Murder (An Antique Bookshop Mystery #3)

Author:    Laura Gail Black

Genre:     Mystery

Hardcover; Digital Book

ISBN #:    9781639100965

Crooked Lane Books

288 Pages

$26.99; $13.99 Amazon

September 6, 2022

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The birds are singing, books are selling, and the Hokes Bluff Inn has begun to host weddings on its property.  Antiquarian bookseller Jenna Quinn loves the romance in the air -- until her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson, walks in with his bride-to-be, Missy Plott.  Blake continues to profess his love for Jenna if she'll have him back, no matter the consequences.  And the the consequences are grave, indeed, when Missy turns up dead.

All evidence points to Blake, who was the last one to see her alive.  He begs Jenna to help him clear his name.  Blakes mother, Gwendolyn, is also bent on exonerating her son.  Jenna doesn't believe Blake could have killed Missy, and she starts digging for suspects.  If could have been Missy's ex-boyfriend, who proclaims a love for her he says only death could sever.  Or might it have been Missy's bitter little sister, who was secretly besotted with Missy's ex?

Evidence turns up that links Missy's death to embezzlement and another murder -- crimes that had falsely implicated Jenna herself less than a year ago.  As Gwendolyn continues to beg Jenna to help prove her son's innocence, Jenna wonders if Blake could truly be innocent.

Jenna has to choose whether to risk it all -- her reputation, her growing relationship with her boyfriend, and maybe her life -- or let a possibly innocent man go to prison.

✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽

Jenna Quinn, after being unfairly accused of embezzlement and murder in another city, moved here to take over her murdered uncle's (another story) bookstore.  Now a proud business owner in town, she's made friends and even has a new boyfriend that's a detective on the police force.  All seems well in her world until one day her ex-fiancé Blake Emerson walks into her bookstore with his new fiancée, Missy Plott, who was a co-worker at their company.  

But when Missy starts harassing her, Jenna can't wait to get them out the door.  But things aren't over that easy --  Blake keeps returning, trying to speak with her.  He even goes so far as to seem to be stalking her.  Jenna doesn't want anything to do with the man who handed her a key to a storage unit where her things were kept the day she was released from jail; yet he won't let it go.  Even when he's not around, Missy and her friends are there to keep Jenna's life in turmoil.

When 'accidents' start to befall Jenna, she's angry; but it gets worse when the body of Missy is found behind a dumpster.  And when the police arrest Blake for the murder, Jenna knows the man is a worm, but she also knows he's not capable of murder.  Now things are escalating as Blake's mother begs her for help and Jenna's boyfriend Keith has a fight with her.  Will she be able to find the real murderer?    Will her relationship with Keith take a dark turn?  Or will Jenna manage to stay away from a killer this time?...

This is the third book in the series and I have read all of them.  I do think that this one is the best of the three.  It not only gives us more insight into Jenna's past, but also the reasons that she is the way she is with her insecurities.  It also shows us how strong friendships with others work.  The love is there, not only with her friends, but with Keith as well.  It's a very good story with a very good mystery.

The clues are difficult to find, but I did love this book anyway.  The plot, as I stated above, is very good.  We have plenty of suspects, from friends to relatives, and most of them have a reason to want Missy out of the picture.  There is a lot going on, but it is the conversations between the characters that pull us into the story and keep us riveted to the page.  This is what writing is about.  Conversations that tell the story, along with action.  These conversations are telling, heartfelt, and chilling, depending upon who is speaking.

And what a storyteller Ms. Black is, in this tale.  It is one of the best I have read in a very long time, and gives me reason to want to read the next in the series immediately (please).  When the murderer is revealed, the reason is rather sad but nonetheless twisted all the same.  All in all, a very good mystery that one can 'dig your teeth into' and come out smiling.  Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Murder-Antique-Bookshop-Mystery-ebook/dp/B09N6MXQNV/ref

Goodreads:    https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4594249313

More on Laura Gail Black's Books:    https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/laura-gail-black/