Lucy & Connor have returned from their European honeymoon just in time for Lucy to create an art history display at the Lighthouse Library for an upcoming show on impressionist art. But the library staff are surprised to find that a reproduction of a famous painting has gone missing the net morning. The painting belonged to Louise Jane's ancestor but it was no real value.

Then at the glitzy opening night, Lucy, her baker cousin & Louise Jane find the body of show organizer drowned in a fish pond. Was this a tragic accident or murder? Tom Reilly, a handsome, charming art dealer has captured Louise Jane's heart but may have more nefarious intensions in mind.

This was another solid entry in the long-running Lighthouse Library mystery series.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions are my own.

I mistakenly thought the series ended when Lucy and Connor got married and I’m so glad I was wrong! This series is so much fun with a library in the lighthouse and interesting characters who come together for a book club.

A traveling show of impressionist art comes to Nags Head, North Carolina, and Lucy and her coworkers create a display about art history. Louise Jane talks her grandmother into loaning a family painting that is a reproduction of a valuable painting that is guarded at the exhibit. The question they face is why would someone steal a painting that has no value? Even more curious is that it is returned.

On the evening of the gala, a man who was instrumental in getting the traveling art to Nags Head is murdered. Lucy and Louise Jane find the body and end up working together to help solve the mystery. While I find Louise Jane annoying, she does add something to these stories with the delivery of her lines. I liked that she had a love interest in this story, and he is a hottie! Go Louise Jane!

The ending is quite exciting and I was surprised by the killer because it seemed like there were several suspects. As always, reading Ms. Gates’ Lighthouse Library Mystery series is an enjoyable read with the charming setting of Nags Head, the lighthouse library, and characters who feel like your friends. I hope there are many more stories to come in this series.

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

As with every book in this series by Eva Gates(The Brody Lighthouse Library Series) they are a VERY GOOD READ and very good Cozy Myster.y.
Lucy , who works at the library is the amateur sleuth and a very good one. She is always landing in bad situations. This one is about an art show that Lucy has planned. She discovers the next morning that one painting has been stolen and then it is suddenly returned with a rip in the paper. Then at the actual art center gallery strange things go on. Of course, Lucy has to check everything out. Mar,k, the person who was to speak was found by Lucy and her two friends as they were out for a breather. Thus the sleuthing begins. This another one where couldn't figure out who did it until the end.

Another great addition to the series! I love catching up with all the characters I've come to love and solving the murder along with them.

3.5 stars

This pleasant and undemanding cozy series is set in a fictional library in a lighthouse on the Outer Banks. Newlywed librarian Lucy and husband Connor and their friends and co-workers make a fun ensemble cast.

A major Impressionist art exhibit locally has spurred the library into an eclectic accompanying (without the valuable paintings) event. One of the paintings is by a family member of an important artist of that period. It has not much value so nobody is clear why it gets stolen one night -- and then returned several days later.

In the meantime the important exhibit is a hotbed of intrigue. The principals involved in arranging and funding the program have history and a lot of artistic temperament is on display. The night of the debut, a body is found in the garden outside the building.

Lucy says she is not getting involved, but when the short-handed police department asks for help, she can't refuse. She never means to put herself in harm's way, but sometimes things just happen. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This book surprised me in a good way. I think this was the best constructed mystery and I did not guess the culprit at all.

I love how Eva Gates always find new interesting ideas for her books. The art aspect of this story was great. The artist that was created for this story felt real. It was well researched.

In conclusion, this might be one of the best books in this series.

NetGalley surprised me again with a pleasant cozy mystery. I really appreciate being able to choose from fresh looks from time to time. I like those light crime stories when, in addition to the investigation, the lives of the characters are emphasized. This time, art and digital investigation meet, and Lucy throws herself into the investigation of a painting and a murderer. I think the characters are likable, the setting and atmosphere are pleasant. And the mystery gets a little twist at the end, which made the conclusion interesting. Overall, I loved investigating with Lucy and the small town residents.

I adore this series. As a long time traveler to Hatteras Island, I appreciate the setting ANF the author’s creative liberties with said setting!
Cute cozy mysteries.

I gave a neutral rating because I did not finish it so I can't be a fair judge of the overall book. I tried quite a few times to get into this book but I couldn't and every time I tried I was left feeling frustrated. From the very beginning it was just information overload and rapid fire names. There were so many characters and they were being cycled through so quickly that I couldn't keep straight who anyone was or actually get to know any of the characters. I only made it to about 10% and was left feeling very overwhelmed. I couldn't get any of the names or information to stick in my brain so it was all meaningless to me.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library has created a huge display of historical art. The launch of the display was a huge success. The next day Lucy realizes that a reproduction of a famous painting has gone missing. The real painting is under lock and key in a nearby exhibit in Nags Head. Worried about why the print was taken, the employees report the theft. Lucy gets an invitation to the real exhibit, so when the key speaker is a no-show Lucy wonders if the theft is somehow linked to the man's disappearance. When the man's body is found Lucy and friends can't help but get involved in the investigation.

The characters in the book have great chemistry in their relationships. Lucy is a smart, strong female protagonist who is relatable and realistic. The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The storyline moves at a quick steady pace to keep the reader engaged in the story.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.

Returning to this series is like going home. Familiar characters and setting. And speaking of characters - my favourite character in this series, Louise Jane, has big events occurring in this book. And by the end, I was wondering what it would mean for her. That was a big cliffhanger!

This is both a murder mystery and an art mystery. Our library (yes, since this is the 11th book, it is our library) is hosting an art show of sorts. Louise Jane's grandmother lends a painting for the show, and with all the focus on that painting you just know it will be key in the book. But that's all I'll say. There's also a cast of new characters, probably all only for this book, who add to the story. They're written well, and many have big personalities.

While there is a murder, I enjoyed the art mystery more, because it felt more like a treasure hunt, and I enjoy when that happens in mysteries. What made it more enjoyable is it throws Louise Jane and Lucy together more, and you just get the feeling they are becoming good friends in this series now. Of course, Louise Jane still tries to find ways to hold a seance, but that's just one of the things that makes her my favourite in these books.

Another standout is the eccentric local artist who demands his artwork by adored by millions. When he first appeared, I was in two minds - it was going to be a disaster or be brilliant. It ended up being a brilliant choice in the book and really well written. Eva Gates took the risk and we get to read the reward!

A fun read - and I do recommend reading this series from book one. I guess you can read this as a standalone, but there are many characters connections that will make more sense with knowledge of prior books.

Video link will be shared later.

Lucy is a librarian in Nags Head, NorthCarolina which is also known as the outer banks. She is working on an art show. Slowly pieces of art and people start to go missing. Lucy is the assistant director at the Bodie Island Lighthouse library. Her and her husband Connor, who is also Mary of Nags Head, have recently returned from their honeymoon. The library is having a cocktail party open house for the art show. Lucy’s cousin Jose who owns the bakery is catering the party. The Historical Society is also having a party the next night. One of the pictures at the library is a reproduction called Stormy Seas. Louise Jane, head of the Historical Society, has an uncle George who hand painted the picture of his brother Robert’s original. When Lucy opens the library the day after the cocktail party, she realizes the painting is missing. When it does get returned the back paper has been sliced like someone was looking for something. At the Historical Society party there are all the right people attending. Mark, who is the owner of the company hosting the party is found dead in the fish pond.by Lucy, Jose and Louise Jane. This is when the story evolves into so much more. The three of them all get involved in the investigation of Mark’s death. Chaos and intrigue ensues.and secrets come to the forefront. This was a great little cozy mystery. There are a few road blocks and unexpected turns of events but Lucy prevails and finds the culprit to the murder. I am looking forward to book 12 now.

Finding a dead body in the fish pond wasn't on Lucy's to-do list.

Just back from her honeymoon in Paris, Lucy has been hard at work planning the library's promo for a local art event. Despite some, uh, unexpected guests, everyone seems to be enjoying themselves despite the downpour outside. The only snag seemed to be that the noted guest speaker was a no-show. Bet you can guess whose body was found in that koi pond as the party wound down.

There's another surprise ahead for Lucy. One of the borrowed but not valuable replicas is missing when she returns the next morning. Are the crimes related? Well, we know the dead man didn't have it on him but who would steal a replica painting, community sentiment attached to it or not? You surely don't have to have read the book to know Lucy is soon caught up in investigating, although her focus is largely on the stolen painting. She has the help of friend-enemy Louise Jane who was smitten with one of the mysterious guests, one supposedly known in the art world. One problem. He's gone missing and the police can't turn up any info on him, not that that seems to bother Louise Jane. Is he the murderer? Was Louise Jane inadvertently involved? Is she hiding something or maybe someone?

While the local artist is fictional, you'll learn a bit about art along the way, such as how painting strokes seem to identify the likelihood of it being such and such an artist as well as how/why certain signatures are used. You'll also gets insight in how it is evaluated and authenticated, not to mention how art dealers wheel and deal in acquiring and selling pricey art. The brief dive into the art world was fun. You get to see Lucy in action, albeit much of it seemed to be online, as well as meet some of the locals, including a very snooty, obnoxious artist who likes his own work much more than he perhaps should. And, it was great fun to see Lucy and Louise Jane team up rather than maintaining their usual polite co-existence. It'll be interesting to see what comes of that possible story line given the ending.

Bottom line, although the start was relatively slow going, it was giving us the background we'd need, so that made sense. I was a bit surprised to find Lucy being part of the police investigation in a way, albeit unofficially. The situation she (and Louise Jane) find themselves in at the end is also because of rather poor choices on Lucy's part. Her hunches aren't always factual, let's just say, and lead to more headaches. I'll just say, as way of a teaser, I hope she's not claustrophobic.You'll love Louise Jane's idea for summoning help. Nope, not giving away anything else. Eva Gates has another winner here and despite my minor quibbles, I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with Lucy, Conner, and the rest of this cast, even the one in disguise. Thanks #CrookedLaneBooks and #NetGalley for inviting me back to Nags Head, NC. I've never been there in real life but feel like I have via Gates' books. I'd love to visit the very real lighthouse, albeit it doesn't really host a library.

The Lighthouse Library mystery series is one of my favorites! Set in the Outer Banks of North Caroline, this mystery centers around some art that has disappeared from the library. With excellent characters and a page turning mystery, this is a good read. Thanks #Netgalley and#CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

I love to revisit the Lighthouse Library mysteries with Lucy and now husband Connor. This time it's an art display at the library gone awry and watching Lucy along with Louise Jane -- who is becoming a little more likable in each book! Danger, mixed with the expected Nags Head characters and charm, another winner in the series!!

The Stranger in the Library written by Eva Gates is the 11th book in her Lighthouse Library Mysteries, a cozy amateur sleuth series set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Art work disappears during an event at the library, and protagonist Lucy is determined to find out who took Louisa Jane's grandmother's painting. A stranger wearing various disguises appears, as well as several art critics and artists, all who have interesting connections to one another. Lucy is also adjusting to being newly married to the mayor so she's got a lot on her plate this time. I enjoyed the mystery and shenanigans, and the side stories were also entertaining. The mystery had a small twist, which you'd think by now I'd be able to spot, but not in this one. Gates always sends us away with a neatly tidied up story and a curiosity to continue reading the series.

Join Lucy and all of her friends from the Lighthouse Library in Nag's Head, North Carolina as they become entangled in an art-world mystery. Filled to the brim with a cast of characters that I have adored from the very first book, this 11th instalment in the series shows the staying power of a great cozy mystery series.

As a reader who adores a good art-centric mystery, this was an absolute grand slam for me. As always, Charles the library cat is ever present with his sassiness and love of being around his humans (even when they don't give him enough pets).

A strong edition to this already wonderful series, fans new and old alike will be drawn in from start to finish. I honestly did not know what the end result would be until the very end either, a hallmark of a great mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book for free and provide my honest review.

This book was so fun! I love reading about Lucy and all the gang. This time there is a big art show in town and during the opening gala a guest is found dead! Lucy and Louise Jane team up and try to help the police find the identity of the killer. I had a lot of fun, highly recommend!

An American Impressionists Art show is in Nags Head and the Bodie Island Lighthouse is providing the community with it's own Impressionists art show for educational purposes using reproductions. The invitation only grand opening of the art show is the scene of a suspicious death of one of the organizers. Plus one of the reproductions in the library goes missing.

Ms. Gates provides a skillfully written fast-paced plot, with several suspects and some well placed twists and turns as there is more than one mystery in the book that needs to be solved. It was interesting to see Louise Jane being more friendly toward Lucy than in previous books which provided a new dynamic to the story. From the the first page to the last I couldn't put the book down.

While I love the characters and the mystery was good, I'm not sure that I like the police including Lucy in the investigation. I wish she would just do her own investigating and not seem like the police need her to solve the crime. I do enjoy the character's personal lives and their stories are entertaining. Looking forward to the next book!