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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
This was your pretty typical cozy mystery complete with a newly eligible heroine, a bit of romance, and a cat. The setting (a lighthouse library in the Outer Banks) and the hook for the murder (a collections of Jane Austen first editions) were two unusual features. The cat was great. The heroine was a bit bumbling (but not as stupid as Stephanie Plum). Eva Gates is a nom de plume for mystery writer Vicki Delany who writes less cozy detective novels set in British Columbia. I read this for my 2016 Reading Challenge "read the first book in a series you've never read" (Bustle Reads).
I enjoyed this book so much. I liked all of the references to books.
New to her job at the Lighthouse Library, Lucy sets in as Assistant Librarian, much to the chagrin of its stingy board and a certain local who feels that job should be hers. Located in the Outer Banks of NC, it’s a quirky set up, utilizing all floors, with one being residential and where Lucy resides.
A rare complete set of Jane Austen first editions is on loaned display, which brings in fans, en masse, and sets the scene for murder and pilfering of several of the books.
The malapropisms of the Library Chair, John Uppington, had me missing Norm Crosby and highly regretting that he happened to be the murder victim. Would have loved him being a regular character.
A full cast of library crew, locals and the investigative team keep you guessing right along with Lucy as she tries to prove her boss (who found the body, happened to be holding the weapon, and had plenty to gain through circumstances entwined) innocent and regain custody of the invaluable books.
A rare complete set of Jane Austen first editions is on loaned display, which brings in fans, en masse, and sets the scene for murder and pilfering of several of the books.
The malapropisms of the Library Chair, John Uppington, had me missing Norm Crosby and highly regretting that he happened to be the murder victim. Would have loved him being a regular character.
A full cast of library crew, locals and the investigative team keep you guessing right along with Lucy as she tries to prove her boss (who found the body, happened to be holding the weapon, and had plenty to gain through circumstances entwined) innocent and regain custody of the invaluable books.
This was a delightful one sitting read. The main character gets a little dingy considering her education and former jobs, but I overlooked it because the story was fun. I also has a Lighthouse Library, a murder, a circular staircase, a rare book collection, and a cat (charles). How can you not just love it. Read it in a day.
fast-paced
The book interested me simply with a setting in a lighthouse library. Libraries are my happy place; books are comfort to me so this seems perfect for a cozy mystery. It's the busy season in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the library is having a reception for a valuable Jane Austen collection they have on loan. Of course a murder happens, some of the books go missing, and the mystery has to be solved.
Lucy has family ties to the town and seeks to find herself by moving there and taking a job as the assistant librarian, and by living in the 4th floor apartment in the lighthouse. I always enjoy getting into a new series, getting to know the characters. Most of the characters are unlikable, maybe because this is a mystery, and I suppose the author does this to keep the reader guessing who is dispicable enough to have committed the crime. I don't have to have likable characters, but for some reason I had a hard time warming up to these characters. There is also a love triangle evolving (I think) and that is not something I think a cozy mystery needs.
My favorite character is actually the cat, Charles (as in Dickens) and the ending makes it all worth it with its 2 most unlikely heroes.
Lucy has family ties to the town and seeks to find herself by moving there and taking a job as the assistant librarian, and by living in the 4th floor apartment in the lighthouse. I always enjoy getting into a new series, getting to know the characters. Most of the characters are unlikable, maybe because this is a mystery, and I suppose the author does this to keep the reader guessing who is dispicable enough to have committed the crime. I don't have to have likable characters, but for some reason I had a hard time warming up to these characters. There is also a love triangle evolving (I think) and that is not something I think a cozy mystery needs.
My favorite character is actually the cat, Charles (as in Dickens) and the ending makes it all worth it with its 2 most unlikely heroes.
I read the majority of this book while I was staying in a lighthouse while on vacation in PEI, the perfect setting for reading this book
I loved the characters and the set up of the mystery. I didn’t see the killer coming.
The town that it’s set it is so quaint, and the library itself is amazing.
I love Vicki Delaney’s writing so much.
I can’t wait to continue on in this series.
I loved the characters and the set up of the mystery. I didn’t see the killer coming.
The town that it’s set it is so quaint, and the library itself is amazing.
I love Vicki Delaney’s writing so much.
I can’t wait to continue on in this series.
Let me start with saying I rate my cozy mysteries different than all other genres of books I read. I still use a five star rating system (or with cozies I like to think instead of stars how many cups of coffee/tea.….which is my idea of cozy). The following is how I rate my cozies:
1 cup of coffee- did not finish or will not continue on in series.
2 cups of coffee- this book has potential, but on the fence whether I will read the next book.
3 cups of coffee- good- will definitely continue series, but did have some issues
4 cups of coffee- great- will definitely continue series- minor issues
5 cups of coffee-EXCEPTIONAL!
What I think about when I give my ratings:
1.) There called cozies for a reason, and that being said I know they are not for everybody. I love them. Therefore the first thing I think about is how cozy/cheesy are they? The more cheese the better for me…lol. The horrible puns in the titles…LOVE THEM. Yes…if you’re wondering I am the person who loves laffy taffy jokes.
2.) Characters/ and relationships with secondary characters
3.) Setting
4.) The mystery
I really enjoyed the first book in what I hope is a great series! I got a chuckle out of the title...so that was a plus for me. The setting appealed to me. I like any avid reader (im assuming) love libraries...and I thought it was a cool idea to have a library in a light house.
I liked all the characters and their relationships to each other...even Louise Jane (lol). I do hope (like I have said in most of my recent reviews) that the author does not fall into the love triangle trap.
Overall a great read! I will definitely continue on in the series.
1 cup of coffee- did not finish or will not continue on in series.
2 cups of coffee- this book has potential, but on the fence whether I will read the next book.
3 cups of coffee- good- will definitely continue series, but did have some issues
4 cups of coffee- great- will definitely continue series- minor issues
5 cups of coffee-EXCEPTIONAL!
What I think about when I give my ratings:
1.) There called cozies for a reason, and that being said I know they are not for everybody. I love them. Therefore the first thing I think about is how cozy/cheesy are they? The more cheese the better for me…lol. The horrible puns in the titles…LOVE THEM. Yes…if you’re wondering I am the person who loves laffy taffy jokes.
2.) Characters/ and relationships with secondary characters
3.) Setting
4.) The mystery
I really enjoyed the first book in what I hope is a great series! I got a chuckle out of the title...so that was a plus for me. The setting appealed to me. I like any avid reader (im assuming) love libraries...and I thought it was a cool idea to have a library in a light house.
I liked all the characters and their relationships to each other...even Louise Jane (lol). I do hope (like I have said in most of my recent reviews) that the author does not fall into the love triangle trap.
Overall a great read! I will definitely continue on in the series.
It feels a little questionable to say a book where someone is murdered was a fun, cute read, but...it was a fun, cute read!
I suppose that's sort of the point of a cozy mystery, though, right? Something awful happens, but it's surrounded by Hallmark-level cutseyness so that you don't have to dwell too much on the awful part. And considering this one involves books, a cat, and Jane Austen, the fact that a dude got murdered was not too hard to take.
You don't go into a book like this expecting Pulitzer-level writing or an amazing plot or deep characters, and that's fine. These days, I'm wanting a lot of stuff that is just enjoyable and easy, and I don't give a shit if it wouldn't ever make it anywhere near the Booker list. I loved the setting of a coastal town and a charming lighthouse with a library inside. The characters may not have been deep but they were well-drawn and definitely had distinct personalities. The cat was hilarious, even if he did do that thing cats often do in mysteries where they leap in to defend the protagonist from an attack. (IRL we cat people know our cats would either sleep through it or go into their hidey-holes.) The whodunit was a bit of a stretch but not totally unbelievable. So, it was fun.
I definitely did NOT think the weird love-triangle-ish plotline was necessary, and it felt very forced. And the dialogue was pretty corny at times.
Couple other little things that bugged me were a handful of fat-shaming comments, as well as the fact that you can tell an older white lady wrote this because she takes it as a given that of course everyone hates rap music and isn't it so terrible that this one character tries to make people listen to it. OK boomer.
But aside from all that! Again, fun, easy, quick, and a fairly believable plot. Now I want to read way more cozies because it's definitely something that worked well for me in this whole mishegas.
I suppose that's sort of the point of a cozy mystery, though, right? Something awful happens, but it's surrounded by Hallmark-level cutseyness so that you don't have to dwell too much on the awful part. And considering this one involves books, a cat, and Jane Austen, the fact that a dude got murdered was not too hard to take.
You don't go into a book like this expecting Pulitzer-level writing or an amazing plot or deep characters, and that's fine. These days, I'm wanting a lot of stuff that is just enjoyable and easy, and I don't give a shit if it wouldn't ever make it anywhere near the Booker list. I loved the setting of a coastal town and a charming lighthouse with a library inside. The characters may not have been deep but they were well-drawn and definitely had distinct personalities. The cat was hilarious, even if he did do that thing cats often do in mysteries where they leap in to defend the protagonist from an attack. (IRL we cat people know our cats would either sleep through it or go into their hidey-holes.) The whodunit was a bit of a stretch but not totally unbelievable. So, it was fun.
I definitely did NOT think the weird love-triangle-ish plotline was necessary, and it felt very forced. And the dialogue was pretty corny at times.
Couple other little things that bugged me were a handful of fat-shaming comments, as well as the fact that you can tell an older white lady wrote this because she takes it as a given that of course everyone hates rap music and isn't it so terrible that this one character tries to make people listen to it. OK boomer.
But aside from all that! Again, fun, easy, quick, and a fairly believable plot. Now I want to read way more cozies because it's definitely something that worked well for me in this whole mishegas.
