The YA Book Festival at the Bodie Lighthouse Library's main draw is Todd Harrison, author of a best selling series.
After a meeting, he visits Lucy at home to ask for her help. While getting refreshments, Todd is killed with an arrow
while sitting out on the deck .Lucy gets drawn into investigating who wanted to kill Todd. Is it his wife who is using
his death to aid her stepping into the political arena/ His agent who was in fear of losing Todd as a client? A local
author who is convinced Todd stole her idea? Or is it one of his devoted fans?
Lovely addition to the series.
#ShotThroughtheBook #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

Librarian Lucy McNeil has a lot on her plate helping to organise the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library’s YA book festival but hadn't expected it to spill over into her private life. When she discovers the body of one of the headline authors on the deck of her home just minutes after their surprise arrival Lucy is plunged into a world of accusation, political ambition, and coordinated grief way beyond anything she has experienced before. With her unsettling personal connection to the death, Lucy tries to stay away from the investigation but the author's accusatory widow and his army of devastated fans have no intention of letting that happen.

The Lighthouse Library mystery series just keeps geting better and better and with Lucy and Connor, the library staff, and local police force feeling like old friends it is always a pleasure to return and read the next book in this series. I loved the political and publishing storyline in book twelve which appears to be quite a pivotal installment and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my. I loved this and recommend it highly. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

contemporary, amateur-sleuth, library, lighthouse, small-town, library-cat, librarian, Outer Banks, small-business, cozy-mystery, mayor, series, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, murder, murder-investigation, police-detectives, friends, friendship, unpleasant-widow, entitled-attitude****

The author was in town to promote his books, not to be shot dead with an arrow on Lucy's lanai. In the next days his very rude widow showed up at Lucy's house along with her personal assistant and a photographer. And then the investigation begins but goes pear shaped rather quickly. Interesting.
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Avail May 06, 2025 #ShotThroughtheBook by @evagatesauthor #LighthouseLibraryMysteryBk12 @crookedlanebks

#ShotThroughtheBook is the newest addition to the Lighthouse Library Mysteries, a series I have read for years and look forward to each new release. I had some concern about this one since we know from the given synopsis that Lucy will be at odds with the police department and I wasn't sure how that would go. I actually ended up really liking that aspect to the series where Lucy has to rely mostly on her own sleuthing skills rather than police information (although she does still get some help from our beloved Sam Watson).

The development of the characters has continued and I still love the relationship between Lucy and Connor. The premise of the murder was more dramatic than usual, and I thought the randomness of the crime would make it hard to solve. I did feel like the story telegraphed the culprit very early on, which didn't necessarily take away from my enjoyment. However, what did take away from my enjoyment was the explanation for the murder which didn't feel like it made sense and was an easy out for the author.

Overall though, I will always love anything in this series, and I look forward to adding it to my hardcopy collection. Thank you to #NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this early copy!

Assistant library director (and sometime sleuth) Lucy is shocked when a YA author arrives at her door one evening saying he needs to talk with her. Unfortunately, that talk never happens and, once again, Lucy is playing detective.

This is the 12th book in the Lighthouse Library series and easily read as a stand-alone. This time, Lucy and her fellow librarians are planning a YA literary festival when things don’t go at all according to plan. This time, an author is killed, in an unusual way, at Lucy’s home where he’s unexpectedly shown up to speak with her. This drags Lucy into a series of unpleasant situations, from the teenaged groupies wanting to visit her porch each night to Lucy not feeling well. The ‘not feeling well’ is fairly obvious but how Lucy utilizes her knowledge of the Outer Banks, as well as her many relationships, to solve the mystery is another solid edition to this series.

This was another good addition to this series. It was typical of the lighthouse series. If you want a book that you know what you will get, this will fit that. Lucy and the gang set out to solve the murder of a YA author that dies on her back porch. There are several possibilities and of course at the last minute she has a lightbulb go off. There is a bit of a life change for her but I am glad to see that the author plans to continue the series anyway.

I enjoyed Shot Through the Book for the most part. The mystery was well crafted and intriguing, and I was able to follow the story even without having read the other books in the series. I was a little disappointed in the solution to the mystery, though; it didn't feel like it was well set up, or like it really made sense.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and or the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review Shot Through the Book.

It was interesting

This is a lovely cozy with a somewhat unexpected premise. I suppose I may be biased toward protagonists who are librarian, but this book was really fun to read. I hope there are many more in the series. I do miss her tiny apartment, even though I can't quite get the layout sorted out in my head.

Lucy and her loveable group of friends are back again with another solid outing from Canadian cozy mystery pro Eva Gates.

When the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library prepares to host a young adult book festival, things become complicated when the featured author is found dead on librarian Lucy McNeil's back porch. With a gaggle of the author's fans, as well as his suspicious wife, constantly throwing a wrench into the investigation, Lucy is forced to put her detective hat on lest another murder happen on her property.

Anytime I read one of the Lighthouse Library Mysteries, it's as if I am coming home to a cast of characters that I need a good catch up with. From Lucy to the cheeky Charles to the quirky Teddy, this book is a summer vacation in literary form.

Ms. Gates has a knack for having a strong tie-in to other famous books, helping enrich her story even further and firmly place it in the real world instead of an unreality.

The mystery of this book took a turn that I was not expecting, and this coming from a dedicated cozy mystery reader. The concept of the young adult fiction festival also has me wanting to reach for some of my old favourites.

Literary lovers unite for this series addition, which also beautifully sets the stage for another instalment.

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

Delightful addition to the series. The series introduced a character who if she continues in future books could be a potential victim. The ending promises changes for the future.

This is the first Eva gates book and the first Lucy McNeil mystery that i have read. The story is set in a small town and the author has captured the small town charm really well.
The book starts with a public library planning to host a literary events with one of the nest selling YA author in attendance
Lucy McNeil is a librarian and her knack for solving mysteries attracts the author's attention and he pays a visit to her. One moment she is confused as to what is the reason for the author's visit and the very next moment she is shocked to find him dead on her porch!
The story keeps you hooked throughout and my favourite scenes are the ones where the fans do crazy stuff near McNeil 's deck pay homage to the author. They are iytright hilarious and a little worrysome too.It is a cozy read overall.
That being said story in itself is a lukewarm effort and a little predictable . Its a Comfort read as not much action takes place but something is constantly happening that will keep you interested. Connor and Lucy make a beautiful couple and the town's people are equally lovely. I would have loved a little more mystery and action.
But nevertheless the book makes up for an entertaining read. Try this one out. Snuggle in your cozy blankets with hot chicolaand this book.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

The library is hosting a YA (young adult) book festival and when the headliner turns up dead there's no telling who might have done the dirty deed. A jealous local author tired of playing second fiddle to an author she considers her inferior? His bougie wife who loves nothing more than making drama, no matter who she has to take down to do it? A lunatic fan, angry that the author is discontinuing the series that made him famous? Or someone else entirely?

I've been reading this series since it first began and I have to respect how the author has allowed the characters to move on with their lives, not leaving them suspended in the same place. I loved the beginning of the series when Lucy is getting on with her life, moving to the lighthouse and living upstairs, single with her cat and finding her way in life. It's true to life that she would find love and need to leave the lighthouse, get married, etc., but it's still hard to watch/read. I miss the good old days. Colin is fine, kind of blah, but fine and he brings with him new storylines and angles. The new house is nice, but it's nothing like the lighthouse. Louise Jane being around all the time now that she lives in the lighthouse is not my favorite, but does make for good tension in the story.

In this book there's constant references to Lucy's stomach being upset or her being tired, thinly veiled hints to an impending pregnancy announcement. To avoid sounding like a giant B, I will say that the pregnancy thing is a trigger for me and it seems to be all the rage in cozies right now so seeing it here was kind of ugh (though I hope this doesn't go the way of the Blue Ridge Library mysteries where in the next book the babies are suddenly 5 years old and all this time has passed that we completely missed out on).

Overall, the story was not my favorite but although I can't say I'm crazy about the direction things are going, I did enjoy the book and I will definitely be continuing the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Another splendid visit to the OBX marred only by a very clever murder. When the death occurs very close to home, Lucy has no choice but to help the police with their investigations. Lots of twists and turns and insight into both the publishing and the political world make for a very entertaining read.

Lucy and the gang never disappoint. While her guest waits on the porch for refreshments, he is murdered by an arrow. He said he had something to tell her, but now she and her friends will have to investigate to see what his message was. Love the lighthouse setting.
Goodreads

It is hard to believe that this is the 12th adventure in the Lighthouse Library mystery series! But, Eva Gates only gets better with experience. This is a wonderful visit to the Outer Banks. Lucy once again ends up in the middle of a murder investigation without even trying. While she and her staff are preparing for a YA book festival, one of the authors is murdered on Lucy deck. The author’s widow makes life miserable for Lucy and puts her in a bad light. But, as always, Lucy is able to ferret out the truth and bring a murderer to justice. As with all series, it is more fun to read the books in order, but this one works well as a stand alone. NetGalley was kind enough to provide me with an advanced copy, but the opinion is my own.

I enjoyed this book. Another murder for Lucy to help the police solve. The young adult author for the libraries book festival is murdered on Lucy's deck.

This was a strong twelfth book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series, it had everything that I was hoping for from the previous entries. The mystery was everything that I was looking for and worked in this genre. The characters still felt like they were supposed to be there and was glad I continued to read this series. Eva Gates wrote this perfectly and can’t wait for more.

I absolutely love this series--it's one of my favorite cozy series. This one, though...despite the interesting set-up with the visiting author for the YA conference who gets killed on Lucy's porch. I feel like the killer is telegraphed too obviously, which is disappointing. And anytime a female protagonist who "wants a family someday" starts having an upset stomach, you pretty much know where that book's going to end. So, I love the characters and the Bodie Island Lighthouse, but I don't love this book quite as much as I'd like to.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.