Get bound up in murder in the first Lighthouse Library mystery!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 … 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….
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I was attracted to this series and wanted to start with the first book because it features a lighthouse library and a cat, both of which, as a librarian and cat lover, I’m interested in. Although the lighthouse in this mystery is fictional, it’s based on a real lighthouse, Bodie Island Lighthouse, in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The story involves a murder and subsequent theft of rare Jane Austen novels. Are the two connected?
The main character, Lucy the librarian who has escaped an unhappy relationship and life in Boston to take a job at the lighthouse library, is well-developed, as are the other characters. I also enjoyed the role that the cat, Charles, played in the book. Readers who like cozy mysteries, libraries, and cats will enjoy this series. A preview to the next edition is included in the back and looks just as good as the first.
This book starts out a little slow and it took me a while to keep all the characters straight but then I was drawn into the story and it became a page turner for me to see who committed the murder. I love books about libraries and cats so this was a fun read.
One of my favorite cozy mystery series – this is my go-to series when I’m traveling to the NC-coastline. The series is very atmospheric with the beach and the seasons. And it’s also so bookish. It’s set in a library and there’s lots of book talk.
I love the beach. I love the books. So this series is a slam-dunk for me in many ways and one I recommend quite often.
Enjoying this series
outer-banks, lawyers, law-enforcement, librarian, library, amateur-sleuth, family-dynamics, friendship, murder, murder-investigation, small-town*****
I’ve read books 5-8 and was happy when I could get the very first one on sale and in audio. I would have been better off getting it in print or electronic as the narrator was a drama queen who didn’t bother to research pronunciations. End of rant.
I wanted to see how it all began as well as see how the characters developed. The quality of the plot has remained good as the whole thing developed and I am really pleased to recommend the author’s work from beginning to current!
I was ready to look for a library in a lighthouse–a charming but unlikely concept.
It was good, however, follows the cozy mystery pattern and wasn’t too original.
By Book or By Crook is a light, cozy mystery. It’s easy on the suspenseful moments, but is still an entertaining mystery. Main character Lucy is endearing, though sometimes I wished she would speak up more. However, this is the first book, so maybe her gumption grows as the series does. I loved the inclusion of Jane Austen books and how much Lucy and her fellow librarians loved them. I thought the setting of a lighthouse library to be a great idea – Lucy’s little home in the upstairs of the library sounds positively cozy. The family aspect is fun, too, with secondary characters like Lucy’s aunt and uncle, and her cousin, Josie, who owns a popular bakery. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
A Great new to me series! Not only does Lucy get to work at a library (my dream job) but that library is in a lighthouse! That is pretty cool. My favorite part is she lives on top of the library (late night reading anyone?) with a cute as can be cat! I was wrong about who the killer was TWICE! UGH! Must. Do. Better. Next. Book.
This was a very good read. It was well written with interesting characters. It was a change of pace for me as I mostly enjoy thrillers but it was a very good story. I will read this author again.
I liked the references to Jane Austin and the way the writer incorporated her works into the mystery. A library based mystery series has good potential for further literary themed mysteries for further entries in this series. A library within a lighthouse is an imaginative setting and concept. The series seems to be incorporating the romance genre and the cozy mystery genre into one.
I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised by the depth of the story, expecting only a light mystery. The concept of a library in a lighthouse with an apartment for an employee was awesome and I am ready to move in anytime. The word stories by the author were great.
In this book, we head to Bodie Island located
in the Outer Bank, North Carolina.
Lucy Richardson has left her prestigious job
at Harvard library, her family and engagement
arranged by parents to go to visit her Aunt Ellen
and Uncle Amos.
Lucy discovers that a librarian job at the Bodie
Island Lighthouse is available with apartment
on the top floor. She takes the job.
But many of the native Outer Banks families
are not happy Lucy was hired even though
Lucy had all the library’s education.
The library is having a party for a sneak
preview of the Jane Austin first edition
collection.
During the party, the chairman of the library
board is murdered. Why? Who would benefit
from his death?
Lucy is determined to seek out the culprit.
Enjoyable read with information about the
Outer Banks area with well defined, relatable
characters and a hint of romance to develop
plus a few resident lighthouse ghosts.
Original and fun. Great characters. Immediately got the next books in the series.
Enjoyed the locale, learning about a lighthouse, and delightful characters. Great ideas for getting the public engaged with its libraries.
It has mystery as well as romance.
An entertaining read!
I enjoyed this because I am so familiar with the Outer Banks and I guess I’m going to have to keep reading the books to see who our character ends up with. Will it be the Mayor or the police officer?
I liked the characters and the way the author kept you guessing who did it!
Liked the setting of library in lighthouse and location on Outer Banks. Very descriptive.
Liked the characters except for the unpleasant ones!
Eager to read next books.