Review: By Book Or By Crook By Eva Gates

Series: A Lighthouse Library Mystery (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: February 3, 2015
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451470931

Description:
For ten years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family’s social whorl or her sort-of-engagement to the staid son of her father’s law partner. But when her ten-year relationship implodes, Lucy realizes that the plot of her life is in need of a serious rewrite.

Calling on her aunt Ellen, Lucy hopes that a little fun in the Outer Banks sun—and some confections from her cousin Josie’s bakery—will help clear her head. But her retreat quickly turns into an unexpected opportunity when Aunt Ellen gets her involved in the lighthouse library tucked away on Bodie Island.

Lucy is thrilled to land a librarian job in her favorite place in the world. But when a priceless first edition Jane Austen novel is stolen and the chair of the library board is murdered, Lucy suddenly finds herself ensnared in a real-life mystery—and she’s not so sure there’s going to be a happy ending....

My Thoughts:
This debut in the new Lighthouse Library series by Eva Gates is sure to delight readers...and not just fans of cozy mysteries!  Set against the beautiful and charming backdrop of the Outer Banks, the Bodie Lighthouse Library is a reader's getaway and that's exactly what Lucy needs at this point in her life.  But when the library's chairman is found dead and precious first editions of Jane Austen begin to disappear, Lucy suddenly finds herself in the midst of a whirlwind investigation....and as a suspect.  Filled with endearing characters and a well-developed plot with unexpected twists and turns, Eva Gates provides readers with a delightful new series.  I quickly found myself lost between the pages and dreaming of living inside the Bodie Lighthouse Library surrounded my books and the sound of ocean waves...a perfect winter escape!  I'm looking forward to the next installment and a return to the Outer Banks.  FIVE stars.