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Book 33, 2016
May. 14th, 2016 10:45 amLast night, I completed By Book Or By Crook, which is the first book in the "Lighthouse Library" mystery series by author Eva Gates.
When Lucy's de facto boyfriend proposes, she envisions of life of boring social engagements and bridge clubs, and she panics and flees to the Outer Banks, where she spent summers as a child. There, her Aunt Ellen helps her land a job at the Lighthouse Library, where a rare collection of first edition Jane Austen books is on display. When the chairman of the library board is murdered at the soiree intended to introduce the books to the public, the head librarian becomes the primary suspect. Lucy knows Bertie wouldn't hurt a fly, but the police aren't so sure.
Tensions escalate when one of the rare books goes missing. Now, Lucy finds herself caught up in a real mystery, rather than one contained in the pages of her beloved books. To complicate things, Lucy has a rival for her job. Louise Jane thinks she should have been chosen, since she's a local and knows the area's history. Lucy also reconnects with her former childhood crush, and she meets a hunky police officer, too.
The only paranormal element to the book was Louise Jane telling Lucy stories about the hauntings at the lighthouse, where Lucy has a small apartment on an upper floor. Fortunately, Lucy has a roommate, the regal Himalayan, Charles.
The story was fun and refreshing after the dark, brooding book I'd just read. Lucy is a likable heroine, the other characters are well-drawn, even the ones I didn't like, and the plot clipped along at a good pace. It was nice to see Lucy making new friends, and to see that she has two potential romantic interests after being involved in a rather romance-less relationship before.
Favorite line: In the sudden silence, I could hear a ghost screaming from the depths of a castle dungeon. Or it might have been Charles the cat, expressing his opinion at being locked in the closet.
Four stars:
****
When Lucy's de facto boyfriend proposes, she envisions of life of boring social engagements and bridge clubs, and she panics and flees to the Outer Banks, where she spent summers as a child. There, her Aunt Ellen helps her land a job at the Lighthouse Library, where a rare collection of first edition Jane Austen books is on display. When the chairman of the library board is murdered at the soiree intended to introduce the books to the public, the head librarian becomes the primary suspect. Lucy knows Bertie wouldn't hurt a fly, but the police aren't so sure.
Tensions escalate when one of the rare books goes missing. Now, Lucy finds herself caught up in a real mystery, rather than one contained in the pages of her beloved books. To complicate things, Lucy has a rival for her job. Louise Jane thinks she should have been chosen, since she's a local and knows the area's history. Lucy also reconnects with her former childhood crush, and she meets a hunky police officer, too.
The only paranormal element to the book was Louise Jane telling Lucy stories about the hauntings at the lighthouse, where Lucy has a small apartment on an upper floor. Fortunately, Lucy has a roommate, the regal Himalayan, Charles.
The story was fun and refreshing after the dark, brooding book I'd just read. Lucy is a likable heroine, the other characters are well-drawn, even the ones I didn't like, and the plot clipped along at a good pace. It was nice to see Lucy making new friends, and to see that she has two potential romantic interests after being involved in a rather romance-less relationship before.
Favorite line: In the sudden silence, I could hear a ghost screaming from the depths of a castle dungeon. Or it might have been Charles the cat, expressing his opinion at being locked in the closet.
Four stars:
****
