Reading Up a Storm
Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book #3
By Eva Gates
ISBN: 9780451470959
Author Website: Vickidelany.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
The national bestselling author of Booked for Trouble returns with another charming mystery set in the most literary lighthouse in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
Misfortune blows into North Carolina’s Outer Banks when a dead body in a boat on the shore leaves local librarian Lucy Richardson racing to solve a strange new mystery….
After a successful party at Bodie Island’s Lighthouse Library, librarian Lucy Richardson is ready to curl up with her cat, Charles, and a good book. But her R and R is cut short when she notices some mysterious lights leading a small boat to crash into the coast.
The two shipwrecked seafarers survive the ordeal—but one of them shows up dead ashore a few days later. Lucy finds herself again roped into a murder investigation and navigating a sea of suspects, all of whom had motives to deep-six the deceased. And this time, she has a sinking feeling that finding the real killer won’t be so easy…
Review:
If I could live in my dream home for a week or two, I would be to live in a lighthouse with a library, including rare documents and books, and a large studio type apartment for the librarian! Lucy has everything a young woman could want for this season of her life, including the library cat to snuggle with in her off hours. Of course Charles, a Himalayan, goes a step farther and helps Lucy solve mysteries and mayhem. Yup, a dream home in which one can live their very own cozy mystery. Did I mention that I love this series?
Third in A Lighthouse Library Mystery series, ‘Reading Up A Storm’ can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series. We open to a surprise party for Bertie, who hoped nobody else would learn that it was her ten-year anniversary as head librarian. The party cut short by a furious storm rolling in, Lucy planned to curl up with Charles and a good book. After seeing a series of lights on the beach, in spite of the torrential storm, her curiosity kept her gaze outside. When she saw the lights of a small craft in distress on brutal waves, she called 911 to alert the coast guard. Two evenings later, in the book club meeting at the library, Lucy and the other members met the couple that were rescued. William Williamson and his much younger lady friend, Marlene, were guests of mayor Connor, one of two men trying to win Lucy’s heart. It was only a couple evenings afterward that Will was found murdered on the beach. Other than the usual suspect of significant other, was Stephanie, Lucy’s close friend who was…Spoiler alert! Didn’t think I’d share that juicy tidbit, did you?
Lucy is the best defined of the characters, then Bertie and Stephanie. Lucy could step off the pages if one could get her to leave the ocean; Bertie and Stephanie are almost ready to step out. The author brings us the wonderful eccentrics, including Ronald, the colorful Children’s Librarian who dresses the part of a lead character in whatever book he is reading with the the children who attend the group. The other is Louise Jane, a unique woman who tries to meet local ghosts and is a source of partial island history – if one could determine which part of the story is real or which is manufactured – who really wanted Lucy’s job. Connor, the mayor, and Butch, the police officer, are both great guys who vie for Lucy’s heart. Others are defined as required by their roles. Charles, the library cat who adopted Lucy, is a hero in his own right, earning his weight in prime kibble and fresh seafood.
If the gorgeous cover is any indication, a reader just has to pick up ‘Reading Up a Storm’ and take it home. A theme throughout on this election year, as seen by the decorated lighthouse, is the value of voting as one of our freedoms, including local elections. Eva Gates has a perfectly-executed plot through the dark and stormy night that delights those of us who are desert-bound as well as those who are a reasonable drive from the waterfront. There are several twists and turns that might send Lucy and a reader down the wrong road temporarily and change the course of the novel. By following the clues, intelligence and patience, Lucy – and readers – could help put the right person behind bars. I highly recommend this latest Lighthouse Library Mystery to cozy mystery lovers who enjoy all things books, lighthouses, humor, and helping-paw cats. The discriminating reader will enjoy this trip to the Outer Banks!
