Death Knells and Wedding Bells by Eva Gates

Whether you’re a fan of Eva Gates or Vicki Delany, it just doesn’t matter since they are one in the same! As Eva or Vicki, cozy fans know she’s written countless cozy mysteries to keep us all entertained year after year, 24/7!

Death Knells and Wedding Bells by Eva Gates is the 10th in her Lighthouse Library Mystery Series. The summer months are always popular for weddings and this is a special wedding you’ll be able to attend from the comfort of your own home.

The book opens with Lucy and Connor finally tying the knot in the Outer Banks. It’s a beautiful wedding — a new life for Lucy and Connor in Nagshead, NC. Lucy is a librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse and Connor, well – he’s the mayor!

Almost everyone in town and every relative on both sides are attending the wedding. And with so many personalities and so many people meshing together, especially at the reception, there’s sure to be some drama. Lucy’s brother is divorcing his wife who just happens to show up at the wedding with a new beau on her arm, sure to get some fireworks started!

And much to her family’s surprise, Lucy’s Aunt Joyce shows up at the wedding with her new “boy toy” (an outdated term that fits)! Folks also notice Bertie James, Lucy’s boss, and her friend, Eddie, who appears to be a little green around the gills – perhaps just a bit too much celebrating at the bar?

Then a wedding guest mysteriously disappears – and even worse, another guest is murdered. Are the two tied together – a coincidence? Doubtful. Somehow Lucy always seems to get herself involved in murder, but this time she’s assuring everyone she’s not investigating — after all, she’s a librarian, not a detective. But then again, this was HER wedding and this IS personal. And there you have it. She finds herself formally “not snooping”, but informally “snooping” into all the possibilities.

Her bottom line: someone at the wedding is a calculating killer. Lucy begins uncovering specters from the past: a hushed up affair, blackmail schemes and theft. Could any of these be the motive for murder?

In spite of all that’s going on around her (even suspecting one of her relatives), she’s still looking forward to her delayed honeymoon. But as she gets close to solving the murder, she realizes Connor might be going alone as a widower!

A solid plot and colorful, quirky characters are what make cozy mysteries so enjoyable — and Eva Gates nails it! Grab a copy of Death Knells and Wedding Bells and settle in for an entertaining summer read.

A copy of this book and cover photo were provided by Crooked Lane Publishing.