Something Read, Something Dead

As captured in my review of the 4th novel in this series, "There are multiple cozy mysteries with the librarian as amateur sleuth but this series continues as my all-time favorite as I am simply enthralled by the library setting. The library is in the Bodie Island Lighthouse on the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Using this picturesque setting the author has created an extraordinary library within the interior that also provides accommodation of a studio apartment for the assistant librarian Lucy Richardson complete with a reading nook with bench seat and ocean view at the window. Add to this idyllic setting a handsome Himalayan cat named Charles (in honor of Mr. Charles Dickens) to supervise library activities and provide purrs and show more company during apartment time."

Even though the title implied there would be another opportunity for Lucy to put her investigative skills to work I wasn't sure if there would be a murder as concentration of this novel in the series was focused on the upcoming wedding of Lucy's cousin, Josie O’Malley and fiancé Jake Greenblatt. As owners of Josie's Cozy Bakery and Jake's Seafood Bar respectively they have both appeared in previous novels in the series and the event of a wedding is always special to enjoy. Simultaneous to wedding planning, there is also a structural concern at the library that may endanger the future of the library not only for the community but librarian and staff jobs, and residences for Lucy and Charles. Lucy's relationship with the mayor is also in danger as Mayor Connor McNeil tries to navigate being impartial to keep clear of a conflict of interest. As with many conflict of issues it's easy to understand intellectually but Lucy's having a hard time keeping her emotions in check.

My enchantment with this book is that it is not merely a cozy mystery title in a favorite series but a novel that has multi-dimensional layers in the sub-plots from the stress of wedding planning for business owners even in the off-season tourist location and especially with overbearing relatives that think they are entitled to change the desired plans of the bride and groom, family dynamics of competing cousins, the progression of relationships with conflicts of interest, the effect of social media on businesses when headlines are more important than facts, a past relationship partner not accepting that the past is the past, and the effect that weather and climate can have on older structures such as the lighthouse library. The descriptive writing made the imagery of January in Nags Head, North Carolina simply picturesque and charming.

I can't wait to read what's next for all of the characters of this endearing series. show less

Something Read, Something Dead is the 5th book in the Lighthouse Library mystery series. I enjoy the series for its characters, humor and mystery plots....but also because the series is set in Nags Head, NC. I love to visit Nags Head! I've been to the Bodie Island Lighthouse -- climbed to the top, bought the t-shirt, love the place! So, being a Carolinian, I love this cozy mystery series!

I will say that I do have to suspend reality while I read these books. Bodie Lighthouse in the books and the real deal are quite different. Bodie Lighthouse is not big enough to house a library and an apartment...not even close. It's basically big enough to house the winding staircase to the top, and that's it. But I'm willing to forget that and enjoy show more imagining what it would be like for the tall, magestic, black and white striped landmark to house a library. :)

In this 5th visit to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, Librarian Lucy Richardson has a lot going on. Her cousin Josie is trying to plan her wedding, but apparently not fast enough for her Grandma Gloria. Gloria shows up with wedding planners in tow, expecting to take over the arrangements. Fussing about the venues, caterers, menus, dresses, etc ensues. All that fuss alone causes enough commotion all by itself....but it gets fundamentally worse when one of the planners drops dead at the wedding shower. Then a contractor finds major foundation damage to the lighthouse. Lucy is beside herself trying to investigate a murder....and save the library.

Great addition to this fun series. I love the mix of humor, mystery and NC coast quirkiness. :) I highly recommend both reading this series and visiting Nags Head! :)

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. This review is gluten free.** show less

Just finished [Something Read, Something Dead] for NetGalley. This was the first in the series that I have read, but actually number 4 in the series. I was really confused at the outset, until I got used to who the characters were. A cast of characters at the front of the book would help! The story features a librarian (Lucy) whose library is in a lighthouse! At a bridal shower for her cousin Josie, one of the attendees becomes ill and later dies. Lucy becomes involved in trying to clear her cousin's name since she provided baked goods that were implicated in the death. I found the characters quirky and interesting. Unlike some other amateur sleuth novels, this one did not paint the law enforcement officers as bumbling idiots who need show more citizens to solve their cases. 4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. show less

I am really enjoying the Lighthouse Library series. I like the characters, and Lucy is very endearing. I especially like Charles the Himalayan cat. In this book, which I enjoyed as an audiobook, Lucy is getting her cousin ready for her wedding. Josie's family arrives in Nags Head saying they are coming to "help with her wedding plans", but her southern grandmother and daughter and grand-daughter do no have the same ideas for a wedding that Josie has. The whole town is in a turmoil when the "New Orleans mafia" arrive, and dissension begins. And then a death and an attempt on Lucy's life occurs. All is not going well, especially because Lucy's cousin Josie is a suspect in the murder case. It's so much fun visiting the Outer Banks with show more these books. I look forward to the next one. show less

cozy-mystery, library-cat, murder-investigation, law-enforcement, lawyers, family-dynamics, friendship, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths

A lighthouse on the Outer Banks where the town library is housed along with a library cat and a very interesting woman who is a good friend, has some real characters for relatives, and a gift for sleuthing/snooping. The publisher's blurb is pretty extensive so there's no need to recap or do the spoiler thing, but it's all about the characters, plot twists, and red herrings isn't it? Especially when dealing with local law as well as the state police detective! It kept me reading late into the night and enjoying every bit of it!
Did you know that it's part of a series? I didn't know until after I read it show more and I went to see what else she's written!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you! show less

The lighthouse has a crack threatening continuing library operations unless significant funds are raised. Josie's upcoming wedding brings in distant relatives from New Orleans who think she's way behind on her wedding planning and try to take over. When one of them shows up dead, Josie becomes a suspect. The state police send in their own detective since the local law enforcement know the main suspect too well. Officer Watson doesn't even try to dissuade Lucy from her investigation in his usual manner. The action takes place during winter when tourism is slow on the Outer Banks. I figured this one out much earlier than Lucy did, but it didn't stop me from enjoying my trip to the Outer Banks with the enjoyable cast of characters, show more including Charlie the lighthouse cat. I received an advance electronic copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

Lucy and her friends are in the midst of helping her favorite cousin plan her wedding, and time is getting short. Things are going well, that is, until grandmother shows up with more aunts and cousins and decides to take over. And not in a way that pleases anyone. Then, in the midst of the chaos, a cousin dies and the police are looking closely at the bride-to-be. This cozy with its well-plotted storyline and intriguing characters will keep you turning pages until the end. The setting is unique, the cat is delightful, and the whole package is pure entertainment.