Ive been following the lighthouse library series because i enjoy it very much.

It’s got a great cast of character, it’s humorous, mysterious, and the right amount of cosy.

I love following Lucy on her investigations, and this one is just as fun.

I recommend this to anyone who likes well thought out characters, heartfelt moments, believable mysteries, and good old fashion detective work.

Overall rating 4 of 5 🔎

Shot Through the Book is my first step into the world of Lucy McNeil, and it sucked me right in.
The atmosphere of the little island town is on the spot. I felt the summer breeze flying through my hair when my feet were sitting on the warm wood of the house's deck, overwatching the beach.

The same deck where murder happens.

Librarian Lucy McNeil is stunned when bestselling author Todd Harrison shows up at her Outer Banks home unannounced. But before she can find out why, he’s murdered on her deck—during the few minutes she’s inside getting a drink.
With no idea what he wanted or how someone killed him so quickly, Lucy is determined to get answers. But Todd’s widow, more focused on her political ambitions than grief, is out for blood—targeting both the investigation and Lucy herself.
Between obsessive fans, feuding authors, and a cutthroat politician, Lucy must untangle the truth before the killer strikes again.

Lucy McNeil quickly became one of my favorite amateur detectives. She is a kind and interesting character, and her internal monologues are funny and insightful.

The side characters in this story are also very well-written, and the whole town feels alive and comforting.
I was briefly checking out the other books in the series, and I like that, similarly to the detective series of Armand Gamache, it looks like the main character here is developing through all the books and is not stuck in one life part.

As for the mystery, I was pleasantly surprised not to be sure who the killer was, which is so rare for me when reading cozy murder mysteries. So, just for that, I was very happy with this book.

I would say that Shot Through the Book is the perfect read for anyone who likes cozy murder mysteries in small-town settings and also an ideal read for anyone who likes the island setting in the book, strong and intelligent heroin, and mystery that will let you on your tip toes who is the murderer.

Always a delight to visit the Brodie Lighthouse library and Lucy. The characters and their development are awesome. Great story plot that flows smoothly. Lots of suspects will keep you guessing. Looking forward to the next. Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

It was wonderful to be back at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library! I love this series, and this newest book did not disappoint. It took me a while to get into the story this time, but the setting, small town politics, and theme of a Young Adult event at the library and a murdered author made for an enjoyable read. You were really able to follow the path to the killer through the clues discovered by Lucy.

I felt like Connor was a more in the background for this book, which was disappointing, but the way the other characters have grown and developed over the series has made for a great read.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this Cozy Mystery series. It was actually the one that got me started in ready Cozies. In this book, Lucy, the Brodie Lighthouse , librarian in the amateur sleuth and she is a great one. This time the library is having a YA reader book festival. The lead author is Todd Harrison. He is actually shot with an arrow on Lucy's deck while she is in the house getting them tea. He has a fan club in town and they tend to invade Lucy and Connor's house quite a few times in this book. Connor is the mayor in town. The list of suspects is long and as you go along you will see why. The person who done it is surprising . A VERY GOOD READ. Must read to see who done it.

This was the first book I’ve read in this series and overall I like it. I wish the main character was a bit braver and would tell Louise Jane to stick it, lol, as she’s such an obnoxious character, but that’s really my only complaint. This is a series that’s better if read in order, but doesn’t need to be. I’ve gone back to the first book and I’m starting at the beginning to see how the characters storylines progress placing a library in a lighthouse is a fun idea, but as someone with library experience, I know how impractical it would be. But it would be such a lovely place to settle down and read.

The books have a nice flow and don’t drag out, which I appreciate it. You can’t guess the ending too quickly either, which I like. I don’t want to figure out how it ends halfway through. Overall, a cute and fun lighthearted series for cozy mystery fans.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

When the author hired for the YA book festival is killed on the deck of librarian Lucy's home, things get strange. The widow is acting very odd, there are hordes of teen fans constantly showing up at their home, and the police don't want to talk to Lucy or Connor any more. There seems to be no real motive for the crime, so how can there be a list of suspects? Lots of finger pointing, and questions. So of course, Lucy needs to do some sleuthing to find the answers!
Great characters with real lives, the plot moves smoothly throughout, and the ending was perfect. Loved it! Looking forward to the next book.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Shot Through the Book is the 12th book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. This book could probably be read as a standalone without too much trouble. The Bodies Island Library is set to host a young adult authors event but before the main show one of the authors shows up at Lucy's door. After asking about her amateur sleuthing, Lucy returns to her deck with drinks to find him dead. Using her expected nosiness and brilliant detective skills, Lucy runs down a killer in another interesting, page turning cozy mystery in a fun series with impressionable characters. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based on a review copy from NetGalley.

I appreciate the ARC for this title as I’ve read the entire series and love seeing a new title out. As a lover of the Outer Banks area, each new installment brings new dreams of a world in which the Bodie Lighthouse is actually a library with a thriving book community around it. Lucy is back as are all of the regulars and another mystery awaits with the death of an author scheduled to speak at a library youth book event. A few extra surprises in this one and a few twists that set up new questions for any future installments. Another winner for anyone who loves this series and enjoys time spent in OBX.

The lighthouse library mysteries are an entertaining morsel like a bite of cotton candy. Fun and sweet and easy to read in a sitting. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC--all opinions are my own.

Another win in the Lighthouse library series. This book was amazing, the characters are growing and developing and I love that this is set in the Outer Banks. Highly recommend!

Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is the setting for a YA book conference that has everyone excited to meet the featured author, Todd Harrison. Unfortunately, Lucy McNeil, librarian meets Todd in an unusual way - he shows up at her Outer Banks home needing to talk to her. Before Lucy can bring out refreshments, Tom has been murdered by an arrow in his chest! It's up to Lucy to solve a mystery that goes back years before she is the next victim!

I enjoy reading this series because the author has created a likable, kind and interesting character. The descriptions of the Outer Banks\ Bodie Island beach and community are breathtaking. The supporting characters are fun and loyal to Lucy. It's a perfect book to read on a cold winter's day or any day!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington. The opinions, in this review, are my own.

Another wonderful edition in this long running series. The characters are well crafted and there is a really nice tight knit community that has developed over the course of these books. The library in a lighthouse is a fantastic backdrop for well written mysteries and plots that keep the reader engaged until the end.

The upcoming YA book festival at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is bringing in renowned authors from all over the world. When best selling author Todd Harrison unexpectedly visits librarian Lucy McNeil at her Outer Banks beach house after a meeting, she is puzzled by his presence, since they’re virtually strangers. After she steps inside to get him a drink, she’s shocked to discover that he’s been murdered on her deck in the few minutes she left him alone.

Not knowing why he wanted to meet with her in private, or how someone managed to kill him in the time it takes to make lemonade, Lucy is determined to help with the investigation and figure out what happened. WhenHeather Harrison, Todd’s widow, shows up in town, her motivations aren’t inspired by grief. She’s intending to use her husband’s tragic death to launch her candidacy for state senator and her first order of business is to go after the local police force–and Lucy herself.

Caught between an intrusive fan club mourning Todd, squabbling authors fighting for prominence in his absence, and a politically ruthless widow, Lucy must roll up her sleeves and and catch the killer before the chapter closes on justice.

I need to read the others in the series. Loved it from start to finish. Will recommend to others

This is the 12th release in this charming cozy series set in the Outer Banks in a historical lighthouse library. I have read and enjoyed the entire series. Thank you to the publisher, to Net Galley and the author.

Lucy and staff at the library are hosting a young adult author series at the library.. A popular author is attending,and after a meeting at the library he shows up unannounced at Lucy's home. He is murdered on the porch and the investigation is on for Lucy. With her new home life shattered and even finding herself under suspicion she must put on her best investigation skills to solve this murder with the help of her friend the local detective. As she is finding his fans crying in droves on her porch and the media involved matter are made worse by his ex wife who is harassing Lucy and blaming her openly in town. While not feeling well and managing the library Lucy has a challenging investigation ahead. The sleuth is complex and I enjoyed the build up to the suspense.

I love this series for the community and close friendships . The location is atmospheric and superbly described by the author. This is a charming cozy series with all the right elements to keep cozy readers turning pages into the night. Well done to the author.

Book 12 was another solid story where I can’t say I have much I loved or much I disliked. I have to say as soon as Lucy mentioned her upset stomach, it was pretty obvious where things were going and then all the rest of the mentions/clues were like beating a dead horse. I found the parts about people coming to her house (even though they were “just” teenagers) to be the most chilling part of things, as opposed to the actual murder. I feel like the reason the author came to her house was completely skipped over for most of the book and then kind of revisited in the end. I had my suspicions about the murder due to repetitive similar comments about him, which made me figure there was a specific reason for it. I’ve found I’ve liked Louise Jane more in the past couple of books after many books of finding her annoying. She feels more useful now. Looks like lots of changes on the horizon for Lucy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Reading this series is like coming home. There is a sense of community and belonging in the way the library gang comes together to help and protect Lucy McNeil in her investigations.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is hosting a YA book festival and YA author Todd Harrison goes to Lucy’s house and ends up dead on her back deck. Why did was he there and why was he killed there? Those are questions you ask yourself as you read this story. Todd and Lucy had only just met and it was baffling that Todd’s wife, Heather, accused Lucy of the murder. Did one of the two lesser-known authors presenting at the YA festival kill him in order to get bumped up to main speaker? Seems a silly motive, but murders have been committed for stranger reasons.

Todd’s wife, Heather Harrison, is a piece of work and she is so offensive in the heavy-handed manner in which she accused Lucy of the crime in order to gain attention, as well as how she accused Sam Watson of sloppy work and using private citizens to do the police department’s work. How she thinks she can be the next state senator is baffling given the way she treated Lucy at her home, library, and Josie’s bakery.

I think most people will be surprised by the identity of the killer. There were twists and turns to get to the conclusion of the murder. This is such a wonderful series with the characters and the setting of the story. I want to visit Nags Head because of reading this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An Unexpected Mystery,,
The twelfth in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series finds a book festival bringing hoards of authors from around the world to the Lighthouse Library - but when one of them is unexpectedly murdered, Lucy is thrown into an unexpected mystery and vows to catch a killer. Another nicely penned addition to this long running series with a likeable protagonist, a well drawn cast and a well imagined backdrop.

There is nothing you won’t like about this book! It has everything from a great
Library and the folks who enjoy working there, will great community support.
There is a great murder that will keep the reader turning pagers to keep up
with the likely and the unlikely suspects. And, as with the rest of the series,
there is the one person who seems preordained to become a part of all
of the weird going’s on indirectly related to the Library.
I flew through this story and have a list of spoilers [that I have hidden away]
and there are also some pretty exciting pieces of information you will find
peppered through the book! And, the last teaser: there is a murder,
and Lucy will, obviously, become involved, though probably not
in the ways that have haunted her in the past!
I highly recommend this installment of the well written series.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for the download
of this book for review purposes.

Shot Through the Book is another very good entry in this series. Eva Gates has created a wonderful world of books, friends and family, location, and mystery. I always read these books and want to move to the beach and spend my days reading and eating on the deck of Lucy and Conner's wonderful house. This book begins with a murder and you spend the rest of the book learning about the Todd, the victim, as Lucy investigates the murder of a man she didn't know but who was murdered on the back deck of her house. This was one of my favorites in the series and I'm looking forward to many more enjoyable reads.