Curling Up by the Fire: Review: Read and Buried by Eva Gates

Read and Buried (Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book #6)
by Eva Gates
Release Date: October 15th 2019
2019 Crooked Lane Books
Kindle Edition: 325 Pages
ISBN: 9781643852331
ASIN: B07P9MQV3F
Genre: Fiction / Cozy Mystery
Source: Review copy from Great Escapes Book Tours

4/5 Stars

Summary
Librarian Lucy Richardson unearths a mysterious map dating back to the Civil War. But if she can't crack its code, she may end up read and buried.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library Classic Novel Book Club is reading Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne while workers dig into the earth to repair the Lighthouse Library's foundations. The digging halts when Lucy pulls a battered tin box containing a Civil War-era diary from the pit. Tucked inside is a hand-drawn map of the Outer Banks accompanied by a page written in an indecipherable code.

The library is overrun by people clamoring to see the artifact. Later that night, Lucy and Connor McNeil find the body of historical society member Jeremy Hughes inside the library. Clearly Jeremy was not the only one who broke into the library--the map and the coded page are missing.

My Thoughts
Read and Buried is the sixth entry in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series and I really enjoyed returning to Lucy Richardson's world as she uncovered another mystery yet again. I really think the setting is part of the appeal for me with this series as a library situated in a lighthouse whose main character lives on the fourth floor of said lighthouse sends shivers down my back as to the possibilities of murder, secrets, and mayhem that can ensue in such a setting.

I really enjoy Lucy as a main character as she is curious without being reckless and if she just happens to discover information that is relevant to whatever murder is currently being solves, well...it just happens to be coincidence if she decides to investigate a little further than she should. What I do like however, is her healthy respect for the law and how she divulges everything to the police when she does discover something she thinks is useful. I also like how the police treat her with respect while, at the same time, keep her at a distance while they are investigating. A few snide remarks from the police chief had me laughing out loud wishing I could picture Lucy's face during those moments having she was put back in her place and her role as librarian and not detective. I also really like the secondary characters and their interactions in such a small town, especially with how they treat 'outsiders' and the small jokes and history they share. And I really liked Louise Jane in this one, especially her actions towards the end. Interesting times! I can definitely see her playing a larger role in future books.

The plot was interesting and definitely piqued my curiosity right away. Gosh, as a kid I lived for books about treasure maps and codes and this one seemed to have both plus a mystery. Although it was quite easy to figure out how it would all play out in the end, it was definitely entertaining to read as the characters all fell over themselves trying to solve the clues and discover who did the deed. I have to say, this series continues to entertain and impress me. The author's writing style has a way of drawing you in and although I had figured out the ending, I did read with bated breath as the characters searched for a missing treasure. What fun!

Verdict
Read and Buried is another fun entry into a really great series. While it can be read as a stand alone, I do recommend you start from the beginning just to get a feel for the characters and the setting. Some of the animosity might be more apparent if you have read the previous entries as well. With quirky characters and a lovely setting, I highly recommend this book. In fact, I want to move there and live in that lighthouse. What a perfect setting!!

Author Information

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than thirty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Tea By The Sea mysteries for Kensington, the Year Round Christmas mysteries for Penguin Random House, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series and, as Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library books for Crooked Lane.

Vicki is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It crime writing festival. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

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