Something Red, Something Dead by Eva Gates is the fifth book in the “Lighthouse Library” cozy mystery series. Publisher: Crooked Lane Books, March 13, 2019.

Dark deeds in the Lighthouse Library threaten to send Lucy Richardson’s soon-to-be-wed cousin Josie to an early ‘til-death-do-us-part.

Winter falls on North Carolina’s Outer Banks as Lucy Richardson and her friends joyfully help her favorite cousin, Josie O’Malley, plan her wedding. The owner and head baker of Josie’s Cozy Bakery and her fiancé, chef Jake Greenblatt, want a small, simple wedding.

But to their horror, Josie’s imperious grandmother, Gloria, descends with the “Louisiana Mafia”: a gaggle of aunts and cousins who intend to take control of the wedding plans. Gloria doesn’t do small and simple, and cousin Mirabelle has her own ideas for Josie’s wedding, something grand and lavish—and paid for by Josie’s parents, of course—that will kickstart her fledgling event planning business and get her work shown on the covers of wedding magazines. To make matters worse, Mirabelle focuses her full Southern charm on the prospective groom. . .and Jake doesn’t seem entirely adverse to her attentions.

To smooth the waters, Lucy hosts a bridal shower at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. But it turns deadly when Mirabelle collapses—soon after eating the gluten-free treats Josie prepared specifically for her. Now, to save her favorite cousin from prison, Lucy will have to bring a crook to book in this fifth festive Lighthouse Library mystery from national bestselling author Eva Gates.

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I love books that entices me into the character’s world. In the latest adventures, Lucy is thrust into another murder investigation when her favorite cousin becomes a prime suspect and it’s up to Lucy to clear her name.

I love the pacing, the comfortable tone and the well-written multi-plot drama that made my desire to continue reading from beginning to end. The author knows how to tell a story that caters to what I like in a mystery – a solid plot, worthy suspects, strategically placed clues and red herrings to keep me guessing until one by one, the only person standing was the killer. This series gets better with each book and I enjoyed my visits with Lucy and her friends in Nags Head, North Carolina.