A DEATH LONG OVERDUE is the seventh book in the “Lighthouse Library” cozy mystery series by Eva Gates. In addition to cozy mystery fans, this book will also appeal to readers who enjoy books and TV programs about true crime “cold cases”. Bertie James, the director of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, is having her 40th college class reunion. I love these types of tales about people reconnecting and the good, the bad, and the ugly that can come with that. What starts out as a well-intentioned takes a turn toward tragic when one of the people at the reunion is murdered.
Bertie’s former classmates and friends are an eclectic bunch who soon turn into excellent suspects when curmudgeon, and former lighthouse library director, Helena Sanchez winds up dead. Librarian, and amateur sleuth, Lucy Richardson takes it upon herself to investigate. I think the focus in this book is more so on trying to connect crimes from long ago with more recent events. Some of the suspects seem more guilty than others, but there are one or two red herrings to work past. Among all the variables, Lucy seems convinced that the reason Helena was killed has something to do with sins from the past. In addition to the murder, there is a secondary mystery involving an extremely valuable gem that went missing years ago. The theft can’t help but captivate Lucy and the rest of her book club, since the month’s book is the classic mystery THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins. I enjoy a novel that has a double mystery for readers to solve. Hunting down clues and talking to witnesses is made slightly more difficult when some people that were around years ago are either dead or missing now. However, these bumps in the road make the mysteries ten times more intriguing. Doppelgangers reign supreme in A DEATH LONG OVERDUE – whether they are people, positions, or places.
A DEATH LONG OVERDUE has echoes from the past that bedevil people in the present, with a slew of puzzles to perplex and delight readers. Lucy’s friends, as always, add some humor and a lighter mood when needed. Librarian wannabe, busybody, and mistress of local ghost lore Louise Jane is as obnoxious as ever. I like the dash of romance sprinkled throughout the story. I look forward to the next “Lighthouse Library” mystery.
It's summertime in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Bertie James's college class is having their 40th anniversary reunion. The opening night reception is held at the Lighthouse Library and Lucy and her colleagues have assembled an exhibit of library artifacts showing how libraries have changed over the years. After the reception, some of the women take a walk down the boardwalk to the pier, using flashlights to illuminate the dark path, but what's scarier than the dark is finding the former director of the Lighthouse Library floating lifeless in the water.
Helena Sanchez, the former director, wasn't much loved and spent the party being rude to almost everyone there. As a result, Lucy finds herself in deep water as she rocks the boat, questioning several suspects. But she'll have to batten down the hatches and fast before she's left high and dry...and right in the killer's crosshairs.
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