During a brief lull in my [other commitments] I had the chance to look at Storm's offerings, and decided to read an ARC of The Body in the Lighthouse, by Kate Hardy, being released Oct. 29. Described on the cover as "a gripping cozy mystery novel," it's the fourth in a series, but I decided not to let that stop me.

I'm happy to report that this novel stands on its own perfectly well; there were quite a few characters to keep track of, as well as a previously begun and now developing romance, but I never felt lost or even slightly confused. Hardy explains context for what's happening without belaboring the points, so I was able to step in and hit the ground running. Well, maybe jogging would be a better word -- things do happen in this book, but at a comfortable trot, not a flat-out run.

Importantly for me, the protagonist, Georgina Drake, is likeable and interesting. She's an older woman, a widow and professional photographer, with a springer spaniel, a trio of female friends, and a fairly new relationship with a handsome Detective Inspector. She loves flowers and food and trading literary quotes with DI Colin Bradshaw and other people.

I was a bit startled to discover on the first page that Georgina also sometimes hears a ghostly voice through her hearing aids, since the book's promotional copy didn't hint at any supernatural elements; however, this ghost is more of an occasional visitor who can sometimes give helpful tips, rather than granting leveled-up supernatural detection powers to Georgina. Mostly, Georgina just talks to people and gets them feeling comfortable enough to open up to her. Certainly, this novel stays firmly in the cozy subcategory of mysteries rather than veering into the spooky or scary.

Unlike another British novel I read recently, which I didn't even realize was British (I'd assumed Appalachian) until nearly the end, this book is firmly grounded in the here and now, despite ghostly revelations. I particularly enjoyed reading about the architectural details encountered in various buildings and towns. Even though the murder site is in a town made up by Hardy, it had a solidly local feeling, with discussions of priests' holes, historical smuggling and wreck-salvagers, and current development woes.

Oh, yes, the murder site. Actually, Georgina and Colin stumble across two dead bodies when he accompanies her to a photo shoot at a picturesque lighthouse; the owner seems to have fallen victim to carbon monoxide poisoning, but Georgina's dog also digs up human remains that had been buried on the property. [This is all mentioned in the promo copy, so no spoilers here.] Colin reminds Georgina about the rules against interfering with police investigations, but there's no harm in asking questions, right? Seriously, I do enjoy how carefully Georgina and Colin are navigating their new relationship, thinking about what they can assume and what they need to ask each other about, and tell each other (he doesn't know about her ghost friend yet).

This is partly a cozy mystery because the primary victim was reportedly a terrible person; readers need feel little sympathy for him aside from knowing that violence is rarely the best way to solve problems; since he was so awful, there are lots of suspects, so Georgina gets to have lots of conversations with relatives and townsfolk as Colin goes through the police routine. The buried remains are another story, but eventually there is closure for all the threads.

This book provides a very enjoyable light read. The plot elements are intriguingly entangled, but the connections make sense once revealed; historical and architectural details give a good sense of place; characters are distinct, the romance is progressing nicely, and the protagonist is fun. Really, the only qualm I have is that Georgina the professional photographer is surprisingly agreeable to delay telling her magazine that there won't be any lighthouse photo package due to the owner dying, but maybe that's just because I've been an editor much longer than I was a reporter. ("Oh no! What will be the next issue's centerpiece NOW?")

I'd be happy to try another Kate Hardy novel when I have time for another cozy read. Indeed, I see that Hardy won three Romance Novelists' Association awards in the last 20 years. Additionally, under her real name of Pamela Brooks, she's written more than a dozen books about history and legends, so that helps explain how Hardy's novel feels real.

A very good murder mystery. Even though its part of a series it can be read as a standalone book. I enjoyed this quick read. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

4.5 Stars
Georgina Drake’s latest photography assignment takes a dark turn when she discovers the body of unpopular property developer, Eliot Manson, at the scenic Summerstrand Lighthouse. As if one body wasn’t enough, Georgina has barely managed to share her concerns with charming DI Colin Bradshaw when her spaniel, Bert, digs up human remains buried near the lighthouse.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I love how relationships have grown & changed over the series especially Georgie & Colin’s. A very well written intriguing murder mystery. There are plenty of suspects as Manson was disliked by just about everyone apart from his fiancée but then she’s found dead in their house. There’s also the mystery surrounding the body under the patio, Doris is also back & helps Georgie solve this mystery. I was drawn in from the start & read it in two sittings & thoroughly enjoyed it
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This is truly a mystery! The mystery starts at Summerstrand Lighthouse. A dead body has been discovered and it is a man named Eliot Manson. He has quite a few enemies in town so there are quite a few people for Detective Colin Bradshaw to clear. Along with another dead body that has been discovered that organ Everett.
Georgina is a professional photographer and she had an appointment to go out to meet the man that was going to be renovating the lighthouse. Bert her spaniel came with her and unfortunately for her and him he brought back a bone to her. Being that Colin was there they went to investigate and found the other body..
Are the two bodies connected or is it a coincidence?

Truly a fantastic book highly recommend!

Happy Mystery Reading!!

Another fabulous story in this awesome series, this one takes us to a lighthouse in Summerstrand when Georgina has an assignment to take photos and interview the owner, Eliot Manson who is renovating it, much to the dislike of many of the locals, but when she arrives with her trusty dog Bert and her partner DI Colin Bradshaw what they find is the owner dead and then Bert digs up a bone, which means two cases to investigate.

The investigation starts in earnest with Doris helping with the body found buried, and Georgina is enthused to help uncover what happened to them and who they are, but the scene in the lighthouse looks very suspicious to Colin and Georgina and with the fact that the victim is not well liked by anyone only his fiancé there may be a lot of suspects to interview with the forensic team on the case there are some answers coming in and it classed as a murder.

When the victims fiancé is found dead as well more questions are piling up and the pressure is on Colin to find the answers, of course Georgina is there to help she is very good at getting answers to her questions and with Doris helping with the buried body they soon discover who this person is and are uncovering the reason for his death, but will they discover who killed Eliot Manson.

This is a page turner of a book one that I read in one sitting, I could not put it down, so well written it kept my mind turning trying to work out who done it, Kate Hardy brings the characters and the setting to life in her stories and of course Georgina, Colin, Doris and Bert are a formidable team they work through things and get the answers, I do highly recommend this one and the series and look forward to many more mysteries to uncover in this beautiful setting.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

This is book four in this series. I haven’t read the previous ones and I don’t think you really have to. However I think I would just so you get some sense of the main characters and how they came to be together.
There’s two mysteries to solve in the book. I thought each one was good and kept me guessing. I did think it started a bit slow but it picked up and moved fairly quickly then. I will definitely be looking forward to the next ones in this series.

This was a great cozy mystery set on the coastline with historic pasts. When Georgina’s invited to photograph the lighthouse with a business, all is not well. Her dog starts digging and they find a body in the garden. The mystery begins. Then another body turns up inside the lighthouse.
It’s a great quick read, I enjoyed the characters and will go onto read the first three books in this series. Can be read as a stand-alone thought. Got into it quickly and read it in one sitting. A cozy 4 star read.

This was my first Kate Hardy book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will certainly be looking for the previous 3 books in this series, and any that come after as well.

This book read just fine as a stand alone novel, with previous events explained to that I didn't feel like I missed anything.

Georgina Drake is a wonderful character. I just loved her. She's only a year older than me so I really identified with her, but not with her tragic history of course. Bert the dog is just gorgeous and reminds me of my dog Holly.
Colin also sounds lovely, especially looking like Mr Darcy! Lucky Georgie.

The storyline was really interesting and I felt that it just moved along at the right pace. I didn't want to stop reading last night but I couldn't keep my eyes open so had to finish the story this afternoon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I couldn't put this book by Kate Hardy down.
It's a well written mystery and full of twists and turns and great characters

When Georgina Drake was sent to photograph a scenic, soon to be redeveloped lighthouse, she was with DI Colin Bradshaw and her dog Bert. Having to meet with the current owner, Georgie was bemused when no one answered her knocking at the door. And Bert was determined to do some digging close to the lighthouse. When he uncovered human bones, and Colin had sent for a set of keys for the lighthouse door, it soon became clear that they had two deaths - one obviously suspicious, and one (the owner/developer in the lighthouse) perhaps not suspicious. But Georgie wasn't convinced and Colin felt the same. Forensics and his team soon arrived on scene, and the job of interviewing members of the public began. Georgie set herself the job of discovering who the bones belonged to, but could she after the time which had lapsed?

With the help of Doris, Georgie dug deeply. Her daughter Bea provided her mother with links to past missing persons so they had something to work with. Meanwhile, Colin was frustrated, continually hitting a brick wall regarding the body in the lighthouse. Then another body was discovered, the clock was ticking; time was of the essence...

The Body in the Lighthouse is the 4th in A Georgina Drake Mystery series by Kate Hardy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Georgie and Colin are becoming close, Bert the spaniel is digging up more bones, and Doris is wonderful. I've loved every one in this series, and am looking forward to #5. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

I like this series. I enjoyed the mystery and it kept me guessing. I find the characters interesting as well.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another instatelment in the Georgia Drake cozy mystery series. The same loveable characters and gor new readers this vould be read as a standalone which would probably have you reaching for the orher titles in the series.
As always a nice mystery set against a lighthouse backdrop with another historic crime in the background. This was a quick enjoyable read full of returning characters and new ones who were well written . I loved the way the mystery unfolded and was solved. It was enjoyable throughout with clear character arc. I loved the way the interactions highlighted the various relationship changes and how the characters had grown throughout the series. I really hope there is another one as I gave grown yo love Georgian her ghost and Colin.
Thank you do much netgallery publisher and author for this cracking 5 star read.

I have no read any of the other books in this series, got this one through Netgalley (thanks netgalley!!!) but if they are anything like this one!!!! I'm going to go buy them all now!!!

I've been a fan since book 1 so I was really exited to see book 4! Unfortunately this didn't do anything for me.

Doris was basically absent for 90% and even then she didn't shine as usual. We didn't really have the golden girls, nor Georgies children, so the main selling point (the connection between all of them) of this series was missing.

The writing was also lazier, a lot of repetition and lot's of detail that didn't add to the story. I was actually happy when I reached the end :(

Not sure I give book 5 another chance - I'll have to see.

I hadn't realised this was a series but it reads well as a stand alone book. I love the central character Georgina and the detective Colin Bradshaw. It is a gentle enjoyable read. I shall look for more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read "The Body in the Lighthouse" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was the fourth book in the Georgina Drake series and Kate Hardy has written another fabulous story. I look forward to her books because you know they will have characters you like and the story is always interesting and well crafted. I especially like how she weaves together a current case with a historic case.

Georgina's 53rd birthday on Valentine's Day is also the 53rd anniversary of the death of Doris. Since solving what really happened the day she died and "reuniting" her with her true love Harrison 3 months ago, the ghost that only Georgina can hear through her hearing aids had gone silent. But she was back in this story and once again led Bert the springer spaniel to a historic body buried underneath a patio behind the lighthouse. Then same way she had led him to bodies at harrington hall and the Regency Theatre.

Eliot Manson bought the Summerstrand lighthouse and is renovating it. Georgina had been hired to photograph the renovations. When she arrives for the meeting, he doesn't answer the door. As usual Georgie is the first on the scene when a body is found, though this time DI Colin Bradshaw was with her. Manson has no pulse, he's cold and he's very red in the face.

We learn that the body under the patio was Ryan Everett who was staying with his great-aunt in the mid-to late 1960s. His death ties to the current residents of Little Wenbrough. Once again many of Georgie's friends are questioned as suspects. Ms. Hardy has woven the characters backgrounds so seamlessly, it is easy to follow who is related to who, and who might have wanted Manson dead and why.

When another body turns up, Georgie wonders how it's related to the death of Manson, if at all. Why was Manson at the lighthouse by himself? HIs whiskey was spiked but who would be able to do that when the lighthouse was locked from the inside? Why was Manson so careless with a paraffin heater? Why was his home ransacked?

Also in the story are tales of smugglers, priest holes and tunnels that no one seems to believe could exist.

We learn about the case that haunts Colin to this day and why he left London and moved here. We learn a lot about secrets. Georgie fears that she is keeping a big one from Colin but how can she tell him or really anyone that she can communicate with a ghost.

I absolutely love this series and the stories just get better and better. I look forward to each new book in the series because I know it will be another book that I will have a hard time putting down. Definitely giving it more than 5 stars!

I love this series! Photographer Georgie is such a likable heroine and the relationship between her and police detective Colin is touching and believable. The Body in the Lighthouse has everything: a tangle of intriguing suspects, exciting and atmospheric historical details, excellent pacing and a satisfying conclusion. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable, puzzling and gripping cosy mystery!

These books are always a delight. What a marvellous creation Doris is and the other characters now feel like old friends. Suitably awful victim with plenty of motives for him to be killed, so lots to keep you guessing.

I knew I’d love this and I was absolutely right. There are so many fantastic elements, a cosy crime set in a beautiful coastal backdrop is a good starter. A historic crime always has an extra element of intrigue and the long lasting effects on the people left behind up until present day. The very human story of being homosexual in less enlightened times and the historical differences and deep sadness playing out. I also likes the Enid Blighton esque smuggler and lighthouse aspect although I can’t go into too much detail as I’ll inadvertently give spoilers. I’d read a previous book in the series and the added facet of Doris the ghost wasn’t something I thought I’d warm to then but I most certainly did then and definitely did now. She’s charming and a brilliant addition to the storyline. Overall love love love this and truly hoping for more. A great read.

This is another story in this delightful series of cosy murder mysteries. The main character, Georgina Drake, is a professional photographer who has agreed to do publicity photos and an article on an unpopular building developer and his ambitious project converting a disused lighthouse. Her plans go awry when she along with her partner, DI Colin Bradshaw, discover the developers body in the locked lighthouse. The situation gets more complex when Bert, her dog, digs up a human skeleton nearby.

The relationship between Georgina and Colin is nicely developed and with him in charge of both cases this makes for some interesting dialogue. Georgina is also helped in her investigations by Doris, the ghost of a young woman who died some 50 years ago. This quirky relationship provides the basis for interesting subplots. The coastal and rural scenery is carefully described. The characters are well developed and there are plenty of twists and red herrings making this a very enjoyable read. I look forward to further adventures for Georgina, Collin and Doris.