The Spook in the Stacks is a fun, Halloween themed cozy mystery.
Lucy Richardson is loving her job as assistant librarian at the Bodie Lighthouse, which houses the eclectic library.
When word gets out that the library is in the running to receive a large contribution, everyone wants to get involved.
When the benefactor is found dead, murdered in fact, Lucy tries to resist investigating, but it seems her curiosity gets the best of her.

I enjoyed this story and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. Fans of Halloween mysteries will want to put this at the top of their list.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley

If you've been reading my blog for even a minute, you are fully aware of what a huge sucker I am for cozy mysteries that involve books in any way, so when the opportunity presented itself to read this one, I had to get my hands on a copy!

Last year, I read and reviewed Body on Baker Street the author's Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series under her name Vicki Delany, which you can check out HERE. I was incredibly excited to discover she was one and the same and couldn't wait to begin reading the Lighthouse Library series, as I had the first installment By Book or By Crook on my shelf. Ultimately, life happens and while I did not have the chance to start the series from the beginning prior to picking this one up, it was so gratifying to feel as though I wasn't missing anything as I began to read. This book can very well be read as a stand-alone though I am now looking forward to starting the series from book one sooner than later!

The story is fast-paced, page-turning, and incredibly atmospheric for not only its Halloween vibes, but also the richly detailed setting of the lighthouse. I loved escaping to this coastal community and could practically hear the ocean waves and feel the damp fog around me! The entertaining cast of characters were all well-developed and just quirky and suspicious enough to keep the identity of the culprit a surprise until the very satisfying end. Lucy's investigative skills are quite sophisticated and work well as a guide for the reader given that very few clues are revealed as the story unfolds. Additionally, the library staff are so endearing and truly created a welcoming and special place for visitors that will be fun to return to once again.

Overall, this was a delightful and well plotted mystery in a series that I look forward to continuing on with. But until the next adventure, you can find me behind the pages of the previous books!

It's Halloween and the library in Bodie Lighthouse is decorated for the season. The Lighthouse Library is also in the running to receive a donation of a historical documents collection from a rich businessman, Jay Ruddle. Unfortunately, during a lecture at the library on local ghostly legends, Ruddle is found dead in the library's rare book room. Spooky things start happening in the library after Ruddle's death.....lights flickering, ghostly horses appearing and inanimate skeletal sailors on a model ship seem to move by themselves. Who killed Ruddle and is the Lighthouse Library haunted?

I love this series! The location is awesome. I live in NC and have been to Nag's Head and Bodie Lighthouse. ;) The characters are likable and quirky. And the mystery is always entertaining and interesting. Halloween is my favorite holiday so I very much enjoyed this spooky visit to the OBX and its lighthouse library. The mystery had plenty of suspects and spooky twists. The pacing was great. The story definitely kept my attention from beginning to end. Great new addition to this series! There are four books so far in the Lighthouse Library mystery series.

My only issue with this series is the fact that Bodie Lighthouse is a real location at Nag's Head. And the lighthouse is too small to house a library or an apartment of any kind. I have no problem with authors taking poetic license a little bit with actual places....but when it comes to Bodie Lighthouse, it's a biggg step away from reality. I would have preferred that she used a fictitious name instead of using an actual existing historical lighthouse if fact and fiction were going to be so far apart. The actual Bodie Lighthouse has just enough room for the metal spiral staircase to the top.....no place for a library or someone to live. No second floor. No nothing. Stairs to the top....and a sturdy metal platform at the top where you can look out on the ocean and the surrounding countryside. There is a visitor's center nearby that is big enough to house a library (it's a gift shop and information center in reality) and an apartment. But, I can see how the idea of a library actually inside a lighthouse with the main character living there too was much cooler than locating the books inside a regular building near a lighthouse. :) But still.....knowing the real place and reading about the fictional place always pulls me out of the story. I still love this series....and this one issue does not effect my reading enjoyment all that much. Just me being a North Carolinian. :) [As an aside: Nag's Head is awesome. The surf can get a bit rough there, but I highly recommend it as a tourist destination. It has the right mix of quiet beach, touristy fun and local flair. Plus, great seafood and the beautiful pier! I love it there! Just don't expect Bodie (pronouced like beau-dee not like body) Lighthouse to have a library in it. You can buy a nice t-shirt that proclaims you climbed to the top though! Can you tell I love my state? :)]

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

The Lighthouse Library Mystery series is a favorite of mine, and my sister. I want to send a thank you to Crooked Lane Books for picking up this series and giving us readers more time with the wonderful characters.

It was so easy to fall back into the grove with protagonist Lucy Richardson and the crew of the Brodie Island Lighthouse library. Through the words of author Eva Gates, it was incredibly easy to picture the library and surrounding area, as well as hear the characters voices as I read their written words.

To say it was hard to put this book down would be an understatement. As with the first three books in this delightful series, THE SPOOK IN THE STACKS is a fast-moving mystery with an attention-grabbing plot. With Halloween thrown into the mix, this tale had something fun or exciting happening in every chapter. I simply couldn’t put it down until I had read the last word.

Don’t let your TBR spook you into keeping this book from your stacks. Grab up your copy of THE SPOOK IN THE STACKS today!

The Spook In The Stacks
Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book #4
Eva Gates
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Halloween in North Carolina’s Outer Banks becomes seriously tricky when librarian Lucy Richardson stumbles across something extra unusual in the rare books section: a dead body.
Wealthy businessman Jay Ruddle is considering donating his extensive collection of North Carolina historical documents to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, but the competition for the collection is fierce. Unfortunately, while the library is hosting a lecture on ghostly legends, Jay becomes one of the dearly departed in the rare books section. Now, it’s up to Lucy Richardson and her fellow librarians to bone up on their detective skills and discover who is responsible for this wicked Halloween homicide.
Meanwhile, very strange things are happening at the library—haunted horses are materializing in the marsh, the lights seem to have an eerie life of their own, and the tiny crew of a model ship appears to move around when no one is watching. Is Lucy at her wit’s end? Or can it be that the Bodie Island Lighthouse really is haunted?
With The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on everyone’s minds and ghoulish gossip on everyone’s lips, Lucy will need to separate the clues from the boos if she wants to crack this case without losing her head in The Spook in the Stacks, the delightful fourth in national bestseller Eva Gates’ Lighthouse Library mysteries. (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Lucy is a strong, smart loving person and she is always ready, willing and able to help her friends when they need it. I found it very funny that Lucy does not really like Halloween and anything scary. She does not think being scared is fun. But she works and lives in a lighthouse that is said to be haunted. I think that is ironic and very humorous. I enjoyed getting to spend time with Lucy and her friends and library “family”. And Connor seems to be a great boyfriend and their relationship is progressing at a normal speed. All of the characters, primary and secondary, added a lot to this book. And Charles is one cool cat.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and she drew me into the location. I feel like I know more about North Carolina’s Outer Banks. I could picture the area and the lighthouse in my mind as if I visited it in real life. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. It defined the characters very clearly by their actions and dialogue. There are literary references and some history lessons peppered throughout the book that I felt added a lot to the overall enjoyment.

The mystery was well plotted and not an easy one to solve. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through. There were twists and turns everywhere you turned and I did not see the ending coming.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. If you like lighthouses, the Outer Banks or Halloween, I think you’ll like this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Halloween is fast approaching in Nags Head North Carolina at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library and librarian Lucy Richardson is helping Bertie, Charlene and Ronnie prepare for all the events they have planned. Jay Ruddle a wealthy businessman from New York, formerly from Nags Head has a collection of rare documents and maps that he is looking to donate and has narrowed the search down to two, the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library And Blalock College.

During one of the pre-Halloween festivities, Jay Ruddle, his niece Julia and his curator of the Collection Greg to the Lighthouse Library for the fun, but Mr Ruddle decides he wants to check the libraries rare documents room. Unfortunately, Mr. Ruddle ends up dead. Julia is suspected of the murder and Theodore, a regular at the library, offers Lucy services as an amateur sleuth. The suspect list continues to get larger as Lucy digs into who Jay Ruddle was. Can Lucy figure it out before anyone else turns up dead?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Eva Gates keeps you guessing all the way until the end of the book. This is a wonderful Cozy read and I definitely recommend it!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I admit I was late to the party on this series. I started reading it in April and was so taken by the premise of a library in a lighthouse I read all three looking forward to this new release. I could have started with this one because with the publisher change the author wrote this so it could stand on its own but the first three were great stories and I was able to enjoy all the prior character development.

In this story, Lucy’s book group is reading Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Louise Jane’s Halloween Ghost Story Lecture Series is in full swing. The library is also being considered to house a collection of North Carolina historical documents and the owner, Jay Ruddle, has come to town to see the library for himself with his granddaughter and his private curator. While the granddaughter is excited to listen to the ghost stories, he would rather spend his time in the rare books section of the library. Lucy finds him there after the lecture is over. . . dead in the chair. The murderer has used the outside event as a cover for their crime. Anyone in attendance could have killed Mr. Ruddle and slipped back out without anyone even noticing. That coupled with some unusual sighting around the library makes Lucy think the stories of the lighthouse being haunted may be true. But she knows there is no way a ghost killed Mr. Ruddle.

This is an excellent story, just as I have come to expect from this author.

The characters really come alive within these pages. I enjoyed that Theodore “Teddy” Kowalski was featured more this time and that both Lucy and us readers got to see a different side to this man. He was much more likable and not quite as creepy. I hope we continue to see this side. We get to know the library staff, Lucy, Bertie, Ronald, and Charlene better in each installment of this series. I absolutely love Charlie, named for Charles Dickens, the library cat. He really is a special animal.

I was pulled into this mystery by many elements. The murder itself was very intriguing. It couldn’t have been planned so it happened in the heat of the moment? or was it just because the opportunity arose? Was it someone close to him? or someone from his past? As Lucy tried to pull the clues together I was right there with her. There were plenty of red herrings in this Outer Banks tale. I was astonished when the real killer was revealed.

I was also drawn by the observations Lucy made in the fog outside of the library. Was she dreaming? Was her imagination out of control? Was someone pulling a prank? Or were her visions real?

I also found Lucy and her friends helping out Connor’s mayoral campaign added an interesting element. Connor busy with senior citizen lunches throughout the whole story was funny too. To find out if he won, you are going to have to read the book. 🙂

I am always drawn in by the setting. The library in the lighthouse that stretches to meet the author’s imagination and my default ours. The author’s descriptive talents make it so easy to follow her into the wonderful world of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library including Lucy’s Aerie, on the 4th floor. Such a wonderful place.

Eva Gates has given us a story that is fun and unique, with charming characters, realistic dialogue, and a marvelous mystery. I am so happy that I found this series and hope there will be many more virtual vacations to the Outer Banks and the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library!

The Spook in the Stacks is the fourth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series and I have enjoyed every single one of them. What I truly love about these books is the setting as the lighthouse is such a perfect place for an author to go wild with her imagination and the author certain makes use of the setting to set up mysterious events and community outings that are perfect. It makes me wish there was such a library so that I could go visit as I'm sure I could spend hours in such a place. And for Lucy to be able to live at such a place? Lucky!!

This installment is set during Hallowe'en and while I'm not a fan of trick or 'treating, I definitely love the idea of Hallowe'en, with all of the ghost stories and the hauntings. I really think what draws me to this series are both Lucy, the assistant librarian, and her cat Charles, whom I adore, and I am not normally a fan of cats. But cats, for whatever reason, belong in a lighthouse and a library, and Charles definitely adds both nuance and character to the story, often helping Lucy sort out her thoughts. Lucy's character feels so normal as she doesn't really try to manipulate the cops or try to do their job, she just happens to be in places where she hears things and then immediately passes on the information. I like how she respects the detective's job and doesn't think about them condescendingly, one of my pet peeves in some cozy mysteries. So, the story is not necessarily about Lucy doing a lot of detective work, but she does find out a lot of information by just being who she is and listening to people's conversations, something that I really like. And because so many of the events take place at the lighthouse, you do learn a bit more of the history of the area which is definitely a bonus. Lucy is also just a regular woman struggling with her emotions in a new relationship which makes her seem more real, someone who is questioning her choices and decisions. Her struggle is very real and something anyone can relate to.

The author has definitely written a novel that draws you into the lives of the characters and I was happy to learn more about them; this is one of those series where I enjoy every single character, even the annoying ones. The plot was entertaining and events moved along rather quickly, with quite a few twists and turns. I didn't have a problem figuring out who the murderer was, but it was still fun figuring it out along with Lucy with the help of her trusted cat Charles. I'm not sure if people are aware that Eva Gates is actually Vicky Delany, Canadian author of many other cozy mystery series, and that Crooked Lane Books saved this series for which I'm eternally grateful.

The Spook in the Stacks was a fun and delightful read and I couldn't be happier discovering this series was to continue as there was quite a long wait between books three and four. The plot was interesting and so were the characters and I can't wait to see what this author has in store for Lucy and Charles in the next installment. For anyone who loves fun and interesting cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this series.

And I thought
A goulish read? Not really just a good 'ole cozy. Although there might just be a little of Sleepy Hollow type eerieness going in future books. Not revealing anything though.
This was a fun and enjoyable read and my first visit to the lighthouse.
As with all good cozy's that are series books most of the books are written as a stand alone The Spook In The Stacks was a fine place to start even though it is book 4 in the series. (You will probably want to read the previous books. I do)
The characters are all charming and fun. Especially Charles the
live in library cat. He tends to hang around and help Lucy decipher good guys from bad guys most of the time.
When a very rich collector is murdered at a Light House event his
grand daughter is accused. The fair Julia whom Theodore one of
Julia's co-worker is smitten with becomes the prime suspect; it is
only logical for Theodore to beg for Julia's help in investigating.
And clearing Julia's name.
Even though I haven't read the other books it was easy to gather
that Julia is a somewhat a reluctant sleuth that happens to have some talent. As Detective Watson who is doing the official investigation tends to listen to Julia's suppositions. There is clearly some sort of a working relationship between them.
All the while the truth is being ferreted out there an election going on. The mayor who is Julia's sort of boyfriend is running for re-election. Surprisingly for this reader he wasn't on the suspect list
which tends to be the norm for most cozy's. That was refreshing.
The challenger however does have some reasons to be on the list.

As Julia struggles to keep the light house running smoothly she struggles with her as of yet un-named relationship with said
Mayor.
Everythings comes together in the end with the real murderer being discovered as he tries to take out Theodore and Julia.

I was a little surprised with how things turned out with them and I am wondering if they'll make it into a future installment. Is Julia
the heiress going to later become a victim? Things seem to be set up for some interesting reading in book 5.

I received a complimentary copy.

The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates is the fourth book in A Lighthouse Library Mystery series. Lucy Richardson is the assistant librarian at Bodie Island Lighthouse Library in Outer Banks, North Carolina. Halloween is approaching, and Louise Jane has convinced the board to do a special display which includes a detailed replica of the downed ship, Rebecca McPherson. Bertie and Charlene are excited when Jay Ruddle puts their library on the shortlist to receive his historical North Carolina collection of maps and documents. On Saturday during Louise Jane’s historical ghost story lecture, Jay is allowed access to the libraries rare book room. Lucy later finds him dead in a chair with a blue velvet rope wrapped around his neck. When Julia finds herself the prime suspect in her grandfather’s death, Theodore Kowalski (who is quite smitten with Julia) asks for Lucy’s help in clearing her name. While working to uncover some clues, Lucy notices some unusual occurrences at the library. A ghostly horse, strange lights in the marsh, and the miniature crew of the replica of Rebecca MacPherson keep moving around. With Halloween just around the corner, Lucy needs to keep her wits about her.

The Spook in the Stacks is an enticing cozy mystery. I just love the concept of a library in a lighthouse. Lucy is lucky to be able to work and live in such a beautiful and unique building. The author brought the library, Lucy’s apartment, and the area alive with her descriptions. There is a nice variety of characters that the author has taken the time to craft and develop. Lucy is a smart, friendly main character (relatable) and it is nice to watch her grow as the series progresses. I did feel that Louise Jane is a little over-the-top for my tastes. She enters a scene and takes it over (reminds me of a steamroller). I delighted in the various books, authors and literary references sprinkled throughout the story. The Halloween atmosphere was fun, and I reveled in the added paranormal element. The mystery was pleasing with good components. The Spook in the Stacks can be read alone (easily). There are a couple a of subplots that enhance the book. Lucy’s boyfriend, Connor McNeil is running for re-election and Lucy is helping with his campaign. His competitor is not above mudslinging if it will help him win. The book club is meeting to discuss Sleepy Hollow and the outdoor venue enhances the spookiness. I like the history of the area and local lore included in the story. My rating for The Spook in the Stacks is 4 out of 5 stars. I thought The Spook in the Stacks was well-written with steady pacing. The dialogue is realistic (for library and book people especially) and I thought Charles, the library cat, was charming. There is some repetition in the first few chapters such as where Lucy lived, and the jobs the various library personnel perform. The Spook in the Stacks is a lively, airy cozy mystery that you will keep you engaged and ordering takeout for dinner.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for sending this my way! I was super pumped when this got announced because I had read this series hadn’t been renewed after the third book, and when this came on NetGalley I requested it right away.

I will admit that this book is coming out at a weird time because we’re right in the beginning stages of Summer and this book takes place right at Halloween. While this did strike me as odd, it didn’t bother me while I was reading. Halloween happens to be my second favorite holiday, so it was fun for me to immerse myself in spooky things.

There were some good things about this book and some not so good things. Let’s start with my least favorite parts here, rip the band-aid off so to speak, and then move on to the good bits! For one, Lucy seemed different somehow. She was a little more snarky, a little less fun, and a good portion of this book focused on her feelings for Connor and her fears about their budding relationship. It was a tad boring. Two, I didn’t laugh nearly as much in this book as the previous three, and I missed the humor. Some of the ‘funnier’ moments seemed forced and weren’t funny at all. Three, this book had a really creepy element, and I’m not talking about Halloween creepy. I’m talking about borderline stalking creepy. See, in this book, Teddy becomes infatuated with one of the new characters, Julia, and he basically follows her around, shows up at her hotel, constantly offers to drive her places and tries to take her to a museum right after her grandpa dies. It was creepy and made me feel weird and I would have enjoyed the book a lot more if Teddy hadn’t been a central character here.

This is my lowest rated book of the series, and I do have some problems with this latest installment, but that didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. It was fun to go back and visit with characters I didn’t think I’d see again, I love the beautiful ocean side setting and coastal vibes, and the mystery was good! I genuinely didn’t know who committed the crime, and I was guessing the whole book. I had a lot of theories by the end of the book, but I was surprised that none of my theories were proven correct. Plus, I really liked the ghostly elements scattered throughout! This was the good type of creepy and I thought it was a lot of fun.

As a whole, this book was a fun and light read, a mystery that isn’t deep but does get your brain moving and involved in the book. I gave this book a three roses because I did have some problems with it, mainly the writing felt different than the previous three, but all the while I was enjoying myself. I do believe I’ll read any other books later released in this series because they’re fun, but I think I’ll go in without such high expectations.

I love bookish settings for a cozy mystery series and this may be my favorite setting ever. I especially enjoyed that Gates pulls in both the challenges of living/having a library in a lighthouse and the history. It really made the place come alive. I really enjoyed all the Halloween parties and other fun. I'll be keeping an eye out to see what my library does for Halloween this year.

Lucy is a good main character. She enjoys her job as a librarian and enjoys her small apartment in the upper floor of the lighthouse. Her relationship with Connor felt genuine. He's a good guy and she really cares for him but his job as mayor - especially during an election year makes for some challenges that aren't always easy to deal with. She doesn't always react the right way but I think I would probably make very similar decisions in her situation so she was easy to relate to.

Since the murder did occur in the library itself it made sense for Lucy and to a lesser extent her boss, Bertie to get pulled into the investigation. I liked that the primary investigator discouraged her from investigating and wouldn't give her any inside tips but at the same time did take the time to listen to what she had and didn't treat her like she was stupid. I hate when that happens in a cozy. I was a bit surprised by the conclusion which was a nice surprise.

I didn't love the paranormal aspect as I didn't feel like it was fully developed or fully explained. It was just kind of there. I also would have liked Ronald's character to get more page time but that's mostly because I love children's librarians and love reading about the programs geared towards children at fictional libraries.

Overall, this was a really fun read that made me want a pecan pie bar and a visit to the Outer Banks. It was fast paced and fun with a likable main character, a solid mystery, and a fantastic setting.

I am incredibly happy that there is a 4th book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series by Eva Gates. Thank you so much to the author for finding a different publisher. Thank you also to Crooked Lane for scooping up the next book in the series for publication.

This book features a wealthy gentleman shopping for the best library to house his extensive collection of documents featuring the history of North Carolina. When he is found dead in the Lighthouse Library during a ghostly lecture, Lucy and the rest of the librarians must find a killer. A wonderful book full of twists turns and red herrings. There are a number of potential suspects and the race to figure out who did it is on.

I love the setting, the characters, and the mysteries in each book in the series and The Spook in the Stacks just adds another wonder book to my shelf. Lucy is a wonderful character. She may come from money but she doesn't act like it or flaunt her family's riches. She's pretty down-to-earth and likeable. I love Charlene's obsession of rap music and her passion for wanting to share. The love triangle is still present throughout most of the book but it doesn't overstep the death of Jay Ruddle. All of the secondary characters are unique in their own way and believable. Oh, and how could I forget about Charles?! The library cat is a delightful addition to the cast.

The story is well paced, enjoyable, and full of suspense. The author did a wonderful job describing the characters and scenery within the book. I was able to visualize the story as it played out. A fantastic cozy mystery and addition to the Lighthouse Library series, The Spook in the Stacks is engaging, doesn't divulge the suspect right away, and keeps the reader guessing. I certainly hope there is a book 5.

I loved this book. I needed a little Halloween this time of year. Whenever I read this series I wish I could visit the library in the Lighthouse. There was great clues and the mystery took some great turns throughout the book. I highly recommend this book and this series.

**Thank you to Crooked Lane Books publishing and NetGalley **

This is the first book I’ve read in this series but won’t be the last. I loved it so much! I love the setting of it taking place in Bodie lighthouse. I live at the furthest west side of North Carolina and love going to the east side and visiting Bodie lighthouse. It was such a great idea to have the setting be a library in the lighthouse! I felt like I was part of it since I’d been there before. There are so many wonderful quirky characters. Not only is this a cozy mystery but it can also be enjoyed by paranormal mystery readers also. I especially liked the Halloween setting. I plan on reading it again in October. The murder that takes place is one that kept me guessing who the killer was. This is a very clever author. I’m finding that Crooked Lane Books is my favorite publishing company.

I am SO happy to see this series resume! How I love being back at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library with Lucy, the assistant librarian, Charles, the library cat, and Lucy’s unique Lighthouse Aerie! Our favorite, 3-D characters are back with gorgeous descriptions of this unique setting and a plot that stymies even Lucy. She doesn’t believe in ghosts or hauntings…but something is weird…both inside and out.
Halloween is only days away, and several events have been planned, from parties for the children’s groups to presentations by Louise Jane, an expert in the legends of the Outer Banks. Unannounced, Jay Ruddle, a multimillionaire and former businessman and resident of Nags Head, arrives at the library. He is considering the library and one other location the honor of donating his huge collection of maps and documents of the area from the 16th through the 18th centuries. His granddaughter, Julia, and his assistant and current curator, Greg, are there with him. With the collection would come a stipend to build a separate, climate-controlled facility and have a curator so that the collection can be viewed by those interested.
Jay, Julia, and Greg are present when one of the events begins. Julia wants to join Theodore, a local man who is besotted with the fair Julia, in hearing Louise Jane’s presentation, and Greg stays with them as the men vie for her attention. Jay, who prefers the facts of history, looks at the library’s current rare books and documents. When the event is over, Lucy goes to get Jay for Julia and Greg, and finds that Jay is dead – and not from natural causes.
One would think that a retired, 82-year-old man would not have many enemies. Not so. There are several possible suspects, from former competitors to folks from the other location being considered for the collection to Louise Jane’s hinting that maybe a spirit still not at rest killed him. Lucy gets into it against her own good counsel when Julia is the primary suspect.
Lucy and her co-workers are a delightful group who work well together and are well defined, as are her best friend, Stephanie, and Connor, the Mayor and man she is dating. Excellent, realistic dialog and actions primarily build each person. I like Lucy and Julia; I envy Lucy’s job and aerie! Louise Jane is the one we almost enjoy disliking, but as Lucy notes, Louise Jane is a born storyteller who draws in everyone listening to her. Theodore is even a much more likable young man in this tale.
Fourth in this series, The Spook in the Stacks can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. The author shares sufficient backstory to bring the reader up to date. There are significant plot twists that change the course of the investigation more than once, and a few incidences when Charles, usually a laid-back cat, seemed to be irritated at something – or some specter – around the model of a ship that sank with all hands on board. And other sightings by Lucy herself, for which she had no explanation. These events, and more, bring this set of mysteries to a startling denouement, with a bad guy who was one of the few I had not even considered. This novel is sure to keep the most discerning cozy mystery lover up late, turning the pages to find whodunit. I highly recommend The Spook in the Stacks to those who enjoy mysteries served up in libraries, lighthouses, or at oceanside settings.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this e-Arc from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, on North Carolina's Outer Banks is a magical place during October. The staff is dedicated and at least one volunteer is more than exuberant.
There is a little discourse over whether a library program should stick to fact or mix in fiction during presentations of the ghostly variety, as well as disputed discussions about the actual existence of ghosts.

Add in some competition over a valuable collection of historical nautical documents and things begin to get tense. Are any of the disagreements worth murder? When an aged, potential benefactor is discovered dead during a special library presentation, the number of suspects and motives rise dramatically.


Will the lawman in charge appreciate librarian Lucy Richardson's research skills and information about the case, or is she an interfering busybody who should be focusing on her boyfriend's political campaign?

It took a long time to figure out the motive and the person responsible for the murder.
I enjoyed the literary references within the storyline. The story moved along at a quick pace with unexpected moments throughout.
Anyone who loves a good character driven cozy and the Halloween season will enjoy this book.
I also love the covers used for this series

I am still going to write this after reading many books by Vicki Delany/Eva Gates, she is a master of the genre truly. I fell in love with her library lighthouse series and was so sad when her former publisher cancelled the series after only 3 books! What would I do without Lucy, Bertie and even Louise Jane. Crooked Lane must have heard the call and decided to publish more, to which I will forever be thankful. This story is a little more paranormal then the others but in no way does that detract from a delightful cozy mystery. As with other books by Vicki Delany (her pen name for this series is Eva Gates) the setting is so real you can smell the salty air, you can taste the delicious seafood and taste the mouthwatering baked goods at Josie’s. I would say read the first three before this, even though it can be standalone it is so much better in a series!
Synopsis: Halloween in North Carolina’s Outer Banks becomes seriously tricky when librarian Lucy Richardson stumbles across something extra unusual in the rare books section: a dead body.
Wealthy businessman Jay Ruddle is considering donating his extensive collection of North Carolina historical documents to the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, but the competition for the collection is fierce. Unfortunately, while the library is hosting a lecture on ghostly legends, Jay becomes one of the dearly departed in the rare books section. Now, it’s up to Lucy Richardson and her fellow librarians to bone up on their detective skills and discover who is responsible for this wicked Halloween homicide.
Meanwhile, very strange things are happening at the library―haunted horses are materializing in the marsh, the lights seem to have an eerie life of their own, and the tiny crew of a model ship appears to move around when no one is watching. Is Lucy at her wit’s end? Or can it be that the Bodie Island Lighthouse really is haunted?
With The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on everyone’s minds and ghoulish gossip on everyone’s lips, Lucy will need to separate the clues from the boos if she wants to crack this case without losing her head in The Spook in the Stacks, the delightful fourth in national bestseller Eva Gates’ Lighthouse Library mysteries.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley but chose on my own to review the book and share my honest opinions.

Spook in the Stacks is an entertaining cozy mystery. It is the fourth Lighthouse Library Mystery.

The Bodie Island lighthouse library is located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Rich Jay Ruddle is looking for somewhere to house his historic documents. The library and a local college are in the final round. At the same time, the library is holding several Halloween events in the days leading up to the holiday. During the first event, a murder occurs in the library.

I only read the third in the series before this one. However, I had no problem keeping up with the large cast of characters and the characters are the best part of Spook in the Stacks. Everyone, even the difficult Louise Jane, are clearly differentiated and have reasonable motivations. Teddy takes center stage in this series entry. But Lucy and Connor’s relationship are also featured. There is a paranormal element that is not resolved that hopefully will be revisited in book five.

Spook in the Stacks is a fun mystery for cozy fans. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

The Spook in the Stacks by Eva Gates is the fourt installment in Lighthouse Library Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.
This is the first book in the series that I have read and I had no trouble at all getting into the book. All characters are nicely presented, reader meets them step by step and it is easy to figure out what happened in the previous books. I particulary liked the setting, to have library and appartment in the lighthouse is like a dream come true. It is absolutely charming.
It's Halloween time and librarians and patrons are all excited. All the more so becouse a very rich man wants to make a huge donation and our little library is in the game. However before he can make final decision he is strangled. As one of the patrons is enamoured by dead man's niece, who happens to be a person of interest in the investigation he is asking Lucy to help him out.
Also very strange and mysterious things are happening in the library. Great holiday read which I enjoyed even now. A great mixture of mystery, suspense and intrigue. I highly recommend it.