Read and Buried

Gates, Eva. Read and Buried. New York: Crooked Lane, 2019.

When the crew working to stabilize the lighthouse discovers a metal box with a diary enclosed, they call the library's director down to the construction hole. Unwilling to go herself, she sends assistant director Lucy Richardson down. When they examine it with gloves and tweezers, they find a couple of pieces of paper tucked inside. One is a map. The other appears to be a coded message. Several persons were present when the discovery was made. When Lucy returns to the lighthouse library after an evening out with Connor, they discover the door has been smashed and find a historical society member no one likes murdered. The diary itself remains in Bertie's desk, but the two pieces of paper disappeared. The deceased man provided funding for the historical society including the upcoming Settlers' Day festivities. Lucy, of course, becomes involved even though she tries to stay out of the investigation. Suspects and motives abound. With a fun setting, fascinating historical angle, and better-than-average writing, this series continues to impress me. I hope the publisher's proofreaders and editors catch the missing words, double periods, and other proof-reading errors before its release. The review is based on an electronic advance copy obtained through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.