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!

I was happy to have a chance to be back in the Lighthouse Library mystery series- a few years back, I read books 1 & 2 and really enjoyed them!

I really like the Library setting- the staff who work there, the events they put on, and just their day to day with patrons (I'm a school librarian, so I could really relate!). I like Lucy, and find her to be a clever character. Problems/mysteries/murders seem to find HER, and she uses her wit to solve them!

I will say I wish her husband's character was more likeable, and that their relationship was more "show" not "tell"- I heard words about their great marriage and how great he is, but wish I felt it and saw it more. I also found that the murder was downplayed a lot in the small town, and that it would have/should have caused more of an uproar and stir (instead of many people brushing it off and going back to their day).

Overall, I enjoyed the setting, the coziness of the plot, and the way the mystery unfolded & was eventually solved.

I would definitely go back and read more from this series.

This was such a good book. I absolutely enjoyed it and look forward to reading other books by this author in the future. Great writing and wonderful storyline.

There are such talented and brilliant writers who bring joy and thrills to us readers. Ms. Eva Gates (a/k/a Vicki Delany) is one of my favorite authors, and she gifts the world with 4 mystery series.

Shot Through The Book is book #12 in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. This number is significant, because few authors are able to get such a high number of books in a series. Ms. Gates is just such a brilliant and prolific writer, and she entertains us regally in this new book. I am privileged to read an advance copy and post a personal review.

The protagonist, Lucy McNeil leads a cast of familiar friends I who have become my BFFs. Most of them are in this new mystery, and several new ones. All characters are “alive” through Ms. Gates’ vivid descriptions and interactions with others. I am amazed at how well she creates some of the people and their motivations and thought processes.

The plot of this book is most intriguing, and it takes the reader on a windy and twisty road until all is revealed at the end, and hints at something very important at the end, which is left to be explained in the next book, but whoever reads this book will have guessed what that it…and it has nothing to do with the murder…

The final scenes were gripping, and I just could not put the book down until I finished it way later than my usual bedtime.

I most highly recommend this book, and highly encourage anyone to start reading from the beginning, because the characters develop just as we all do in real life, and you will want to go along for the ride through the 12 books in this series. You are in for hours of enjoyable reading.

Thank you, Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books, for allowing me to read an advance copy and post a personal review. I also a huge thank you to Ms. Eva Gates/Vicki Delany for writing it.

Eva Gates is one of my most favorite cozy authors so no surprise that I loved this addition . A great addition to this series. Def a must read if you enjoy cozy mysteries

I'd like to thank netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read and review this book

Shot Through the Book by Eva Gates follows librarian extraordinaire Lucy as she gets embroiled in another murder investigation after a famous local author is killed on her deck. This time Lucy also has to deal with a widow who has made it her mission to call out Lucy in her pursuit of high office. The case gets more complicated as a group of grieving fans have made Lucy's backyard their grieving grounds. And on top of that, Lucy needs to find a replacement author for her upcoming book festival.

I feel a sense of nostalgia when it comes to this book, I mean we are 12 books in after all. I did like this one a lot though. My favorite part was the resolution of the case, I thought it was so funny how they apprehended the killer. My least favorite part was that Lucy acted like a doormat when the widow came calling to her house and then at the library. In both occasions Lucy did not act like the take charge librarian we know she can be. I had to deduct a star for that. I'm also glad to see Connor's relationship with Lucy growing, I thought that was sweet. I'm also looking forward to seeing this new detective need help in upcoming books.

Overall I recommend this book but I think it would be even sweeter if you read the whole series before you got to this book, however it is not necessary to read this one in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Eva Gates for giving me the opportunity of reviewing this ARC. All opinions are my own.

There is an upcoming YA Book Festival in this series, and the main draw stops by for a visit with Lucy at her home. While getting lemonade for her guest, he is shot with an arrow while waiting on her deck. Connor returns home, the authorities arrive, and of course Lucy starts her sleuthing. The story has a good plot and was an enjoyable read. The suspect is not who I had expected it to be. Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Gates, and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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