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.

"Shot Through the Book (Lighthouse Library Mystery #12)" by Eva Gates has yet another death happening basically right in front of Lucy and even at her home. When a popular YA fantasy author dies on her deck, Lucy is almost forced to do something to find his killer. His teen fans are invading her home and his wife is trailing to railroad her and the local police.

I did bounce around a little bit about who the culprit might be. However, I kept coming back to one particular character. In the end I was right.

In Shot Through the Book, Eva Gates delivers another delightful page-turner set against the charming backdrop of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. This twelfth installment in the series keeps the intrigue fresh, the stakes high, and the coastal vibes as cozy as ever.

When librarian-turned-amateur-sleuth Lucy McNeil finds herself at the center of a murder investigation—again—it’s personal in a way she didn’t expect. The mysterious death of bestselling author Todd Harrison outside her beach house sets the stage for a cleverly woven mystery filled with literary drama, ruthless political ambitions, and a few unexpected twists. As always, Lucy’s knack for connecting the dots shines, and her determination to uncover the truth makes her a protagonist you can’t help but root for.

The cast of quirky characters is as lively as ever, from the meddling fan club mourning Todd’s demise to the squabbling YA authors jockeying for attention at the book festival. Adding to the drama is Todd’s widow, Heather, whose cutthroat ambition and brazen moves against Lucy add a tense, high-stakes element to the story. Gates balances this character-driven drama with lighter moments, keeping the tone engaging without losing the mystery’s edge.

The setting, as always, is a highlight. The Outer Banks and its lighthouse library are described with such vivid detail that you can almost hear the waves crashing and feel the sea breeze as you follow Lucy’s investigation. The only slight drawback is that the pacing drags in a few places, but the strong finish and satisfying resolution more than make up for it.

4 stars for a cozy mystery that blends charm, suspense, and literary flair. Shot Through the Book is perfect for readers who love small-town intrigue, clever amateur detectives, and a touch of bookish drama. You’ll want to curl up with this one and a cup of tea—and maybe double-check your deck for unexpected visitors.

Another fantastic mystery by Eva Gates! In this book we find Lucy, librarian at the Bodie Island Library, happily married and loving life. She opens the door to her home to find a popular local author, who is supposed to be the headliner for the youth book festival standing there wanting to discuss something with her. Next things she knows, he is dead, she has no clue why he was there, and now, she is suspected in his death! She has a reputation for helping police, but is now getting push back from someone with political aspirations. It is up to Lucy to ask questions and find out ho committed this crime so that she can clear her name. A wonderful series that I would recommend for anyone looking for a light hearted mystery. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy.

I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. The setting, the Outer Banks with a library in a lighthouse? What could be better? This mystery is no exception. I like the cast of quirky characters that surround our MC, and the mystery was intriguing and enjoyable.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is a good cosy, I enjoyed it. You don't need to read the books in order (though this one has a rather significant event for Lucy and Connor, the main couple) - I skipped a few books here. A famous YA author is scheduled to talk at the local YA book festival but he ends up dead on Lucy's porch - shot by an arrow while she was fetching him a drink. This has some interesting architectural bits about Lucy's house which I enjoyed and an insight into the publishing world.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for this ARC!