I read By Book or by Crook, the first in the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series by Eva Gates. Eva Gates, you may already know, also writes several popular series as Vicki Delany. (It still mystifies me why such a popular author needs to write under two names — oh well, it is lucky for us that the world is full of mysteries!)
The story follows Lucy Richardson, the new assistant librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. (By the way, in an “Author’s Note” at the beginning of the book, we learn that although the lighthouse actually exists, it is not big enough in real life for a library or much else that the book’s lighthouse contains.)
Lucy has newly arrived from Boston. She has arrived just in time for a very special exhibit — a complete set of Jane Austen’s first editions on loan for a few months. In celebration of the arrival of these special books, the library hosts a small party for staff and board members to see the books for the first time. During the party, as is often the case in Cozy Mysteries, a murder occurs.
Of course, the person murdered as disliked and/or hated by quite of few of the library staff and board members. So, it is a real mystery that must be solved. Lucy is especially interested in discovering the culprit since one of the prime suspects is Bertie, the head librarian who recently hired Lucy.
Besides the usual long list of suspects, the small town also includes several other characters, including two different men who are interested in Lucy as well as the murder. The first, Connor McNeil, is the mayor of the town and an old acquaintance of Lucy who first met Connor during one of the summer vacations that her family had spent in the area. The second, Butch Greenblatt, a police officer. Before the party is over, both Connor and Butch have asked Lucy out of for a date at the new seafood restaurant in town. (I must have been doing something wrong when I was single. When I moved to a new town, this never happened to me!!)
I forgot to mention another important character, the cat, Charles (Dickens), who spends his time in the library and ends up living with Lucy in the small apartment inside the lighthouse above the library.
The book is a charming delight of a read. I zoomed through the pages trying to solve the mystery before the plucky Lucy could do so. Fun and light (in the good sense of the word), By Book or by Crook is a delightful start to a Cozy series that hits all the right notes.
P.S. If you are interested in reading some of the other entries about highly recommended Cozy Mystery series, you can find them at the Most Recommended Cozy Mystery Series page on the site.
Dawn says
This is one of my favorite cozy series! What a cool idea…a library in a lighthouse!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dawn, it definitely is a great idea for a Cozy series!
stellans says
I just finished re-reading this series, and enjoyed it just as much as the first time. During this time of social disruption, I find myself turning to already-enjoyed series as a sort of comfort. It works!
Lucy the protagonist was not all that appealing at first, but I have to admit she grew on me as the books went on. My favorite character, however, has to be Charles the Cat.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stellans, returning to these sort of favorite series can definitely be a great way to spend some of this enforced solitary time. And it’s certainly no surprise that Charles is a fan favorite!
Susy S says
I love this series. Lucy is smart, independent and very sweet, but she doesn’t take any BS from anyone, especially the local crazy who thinks SHE should have Lucy’s job (even though she is not qualified in any way).
I always look forward to these books and buy them as soon as I can.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susy, I can definitely see this being a great series to keep up to date with. It’s definitely nice to have a few series on hand that have nice and reliable sequels every year or two.
Pam Walker says
I love this series and have read them all!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pam, it’s definitely a series worth a read!
Novella says
I agree! This is the only one I’ve read so far but have read her first book in Sherlock Holmes bookshop series as well both fun clean, no profanity, or immorality to wince at making these enjoyable and interesting reads. Kudos to this author with “double duty” writing twice as nice!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Novella, it’s definitely a great clean series!
Gail Q says
I have read the first 3 Lighthouse Library books and enjoyed them immensely. Imagine my dismay when I discovered books 4, 5 & 6 were unavailable in kindle, but 7, 8 & 9 were! Makes it a bit hard to follow the series. Would you be able to give me a reason?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Gail, hmm, I’m not having any trouble finding books 4, 5, and 6 in Kindle… here’s Something Read Something Dead in Kindle format, for example.
Robynn says
Thanks for bringing this pseudo new author to my attention. It sounds like it might be a fun series to read! Living in a lighthouse as well as a library in one sounds pretty magical to me!!!
I also question why the use of the other non deplume when she is already known by her other name and has a good following.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Robynn, I’ve heard that sometimes the name change is due to a change in publishers… though here I don’t think that’s the case, as both appear to be Penguin. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Wanda Pelfrey says
Love this series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Wanda, it’s definitely a good one!
Cheryl says
Love this series! Have read every single one. As a retired librarian & as a certified crazy cat lady, and as one fascinated by lighthouses, this Erie’s hits all the targets! Fun characters, great background, & intriguing mystery. I enjoy this author whichever name she writes under.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cheryl, it’s always nice to run into a series that has so many different elements that seem tailored just for you!
Pen says
I loved this series, and am looking forward to new additions to the series. I am also going to read some of the series written under Vicki Delany.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pen, I hope you enjoy them as much as this one.
MJ says
Pen,
Take particular note of Delaney’s ‘Year Round Christmas’ series. It’s surprising how the mother character is similar to the mother character in the Lighthouse series. This series is SOOO enjoyable.
Also, the Sherlock Holmes Bookstore series is exciting with a diverse cast of characters. The most recent release, “There’s A Murder Afoot’ is outstanding with all of it’s complexities. But you do have to start with the first book to understand the characters and their interactions.
Susy S says
MJ. Year Round Christmas is my second favorite, with the lighthouse series first. The Sherlock Holmes Bookstore is less of a favorite, but still a good read.
purplemamajj says
Love this series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Purple, so do I!
Barb E says
Having worked in libraries for many years, I enjoy books in that setting. Eva Gates is on my favorites list. I’ve sent in both Gates and Vicki Delaney as Cosy Mystery Recommendations in the past. And I’m looking forward to Tea and Treachery by Delaney this summer.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Barb, it certainly is fun to see a mystery set in a familiar background to one that you have yourself! And thanks for the recommendations – it’s definitely one of the big ways I determine what to read for the site!
Susan* says
Re: Pseudonyms. There can be several reasons for a ‘name change’. One as you say above, Danna, can be a new publisher.
Others can be if the author is prolific and the publisher doesn’t want to flood the market, which can be disastrous, as people get overwhelmed and just stop buying the author in question, thinking they won’t be able to keep up.
A third reason – which I think may be the case here – is ‘New series, New author’. Usually the publisher’s decision and for various reasons. They think (often wrongly) that a ‘New’ author will get people’s interest rather than a new series by an established author, or sometimes they just want to promote the new series ‘as’ something new, without the author’s previous works overshadowing it / bringing expectations with it.
It can also sometimes be the author’s decision, too, if they want to go in a different direction but fear a fan backlash. (Which has happened.)
It’s a complicated world out there. (And people can be the most complicated things in it! Lol!)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan, yes, those are all some reasons I’ve heard. I’m not sure how many of them are actually good ideas, though.
Cheryl Malandrinos says
I think I saw this book at the bookstore in Manteo this year. That town is on the Outer Banks. We have been to the Bodie Lighthouse. When we visited it that first time, it wasn’t even open to visitors, which has since changed. I love Outer Banks fiction. I will have to check this out. Thanks for sharing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cheryl, you’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.