By Book or By Crook

Lighthouse Library Mystery #1

by Eva Gates

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 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....

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Audiobook, Books About Books, Adult

371 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2015

About the author

Eva Gates is a pseudonym of Vicki Delany.

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Jane Austen. My literary idol. So close."

Lucy has hit a bit of a rough patch.

She spent over a decade at the Harvard Library, fulfilling her love for literature...but then an engagement rears its ugly head and family pressure from all sides...she takes off.

She retreats to the Outer Banks and is quickly hired as a Lighthouse Librarian. Everything is going great, at first...but she quickly learns just how much simmers below the surface of small towns.

She spoke as if "librarian" were another word for "ax murderer."

/blockquote>Someone is hell-bent to get her job.

Someone is after the rare Jane Austen editions being housed at the library.

And someone else just turned up dead.

Ahhh yes. This was the perfect little cozy mystery I needed in my life.

I really loved the concept of having a library in a lighthouse (and I'm eternally disappointed that this particular lighthouse library is not a real thing!).

I'm also a huge fan of Jane Austen, so I loved this little literary twist to the mystery.

As with most cozies, there's some bits that are over the top and others are way over the top. But, throughout all of it, I did enjoy my time between these pages.

All in all, I'm a huge fan of book-themed cozies and this one was no exception.

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[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley got me hooked on this series and through them I read books 6,7 and 8, so of course I have had to go back to the beginning and see how it all started. A library in a lighthouse is such a beautiful idea. Totally impractical in reality of course but it makes for a great story.

In this first book in the series the main character, Lucy, has just arrived to start her new job at the Lighthouse Library. Not only does she work there she also lives in a small apartment above the library and looks after the library cat, Charles. He plays a very important part in the story. Everything revolves around a visiting display of Jane Austen first editions, a murder and a series of thefts.

I enjoyed meeting all the characters as though for the first time because they have all developed a lot by the time you hit book 6! I certainly now intend to continue reading the books in order until I have completed the series.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a long-time fan of Vicki Delany and her multiple cozy mystery series. I wanted to catch up on most of her current ones (now accomplished) before taking on the Eva Gates' books, and this week, I began with the first book in the Lighthouse Library Mysteries, By Book or By Crook. Lighthouses have enamored me since I was a child, as well as books and mysteries and small towns. By all accounts, this should've been one of the first series I began reading but fate had led me elsewhere.

Lucy moves to a small island town off the coast of North Carolina where her aunt and uncle live. She's close with her cousin and becomes friends with the Head Librarian at a new library built in a lighthouse. Rich with history and architecture, the building is a beauty, and they're having a huge event with some Jane Austen first editions. Then a few are stolen, and at the party, one of the library board directors is murdered. The person had been quite difficult and rude, as well as several of the other employees. Someone else wanted Lucy's job, and it's caused a great divide. Thankfully, Lucy has a friend on the police force as well as the mayor himself. She knew them years ago and suddenly, both seem like suitable suitors for her too.

I enjoyed the book. It definitely suffers from "first in series" syndrome, but I always expect that. It takes a while for a character's personality to settle, and we need the download of history. I did feel like this one was a little much and resulted in me not rushing to read it at night. The story is well plotted, and the setting is fabulous, but I'm not too keen on the characters yet. I suspect, given how wonderful of a writer Gates / Delany is, by book 2 or 3, this will be incredibly stronger. I am continuing with the series yet ended up with 3.5 stars on this one, rounded up because of the overall hope for the series and generally good writing.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this first in a new series to me-the setting was terrific as it is one of my favorite places to stay and I have visited the Bodie Lighthouse before. The idea of it as a library and being able to live/work there too would be a fantasy come true! I enjoyed the cast of characters and hope to read more of them in the next book!

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story gets 4 stars but the editing barely deserves 1 star. Some of the worst big-publisher editing I've seen, with a slew of errors. Great story and characters, though and a very well-plotted murder. The author got screwed on this one.

Full review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/116962...

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a Lighthouse.

Now...

Imagine a Library within a Lighthouse.

Imagine you not only get to work at this Lighthouse, but you get to live here, too.

Of course...

Even though the Lighthouse was based on a real one (Bodie Lighthouse in the Outer Banks of North Carolina), the author explained that she chose to fictionalize the possibilities of what could be contained in it.

Any way you look at it the setting is charming and perfect for a cozy mystery.

And...

The mystery was good with plenty of suspects and clues.

If you're a Jane Austen fan (you will find out why when you get the book), a library fan, and a lighthouse fan, this is the cozy for you!

I think I will look into mystery #2.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucy leaves her Harvard Library job, her family, and her ex-fiance behind in Boston and moves to the coast of NC to take a librarian position in a small town library. She loves the Outer Banks, the library and her apartment in a refurbished lighthouse. She arrives as a set of Jane Austen first editions arrives for display at the Bodie Lighthouse Library. Just as the events showcasing the priceless books begin, the president of the library board is murdered in the lighthouse and the loaned Austen books start disappearing one by one. Lucy finds herself a suspect in the thefts and her boss the primary suspect in the killing. She knows she needs to investigate to clear her name and protect her boss and the library from harm.

By Book or By Crook is the first book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. There are four books in total so far.

While I truly love the idea of a library in a lighthouse (especially a lighthouse in NC where I live...I love the OBX area!), I have a slight problem with this series, even before I started reading). Bodie Lighthouse is an actual lighthouse located near Nag's Head on the Outer Banks of NC. I've been there -- love it! It is black and white, as depicted in the book. BUT.....Bodie Lighthouse is only big enough for the spiraling stairs that wind their way to the top observation platform. There is not room for an apartment....a library....not even a broom closet. While the author does explain that she took liberties with the site for her story, I think it would have been better to create a fictional lighthouse in the same region, rather than use an actual site and change it so fundamentally. There is the former caretaker's house nearby that is a giftshop/museum that might have been used as the library location if Bodie Lighthouse had to be the specific site. I just couldn't get all the way into the story because the location was so fundamentally off from it's real design. Very cool idea.....I just wasn't too happy they took one of my favorite places and changed it that much.

The general story and mystery were ok....I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. The ending was a bit lackluster for me, but not annoyingly so. There was some melodramatic dialogue that had me rolling my eyes a bit a few times....but cozies with touches of romance here and there tend to get a bit Lifetime Channel-esque at times.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. Elise Arsenault narrated. I was a bit disappointed with her performance for several reasons. Her attempt at North Carolina or southern accents for the characters was terrible.....completely wrong. And at one point she attempted a Scottish accent for some side characters visiting the library. Also terrible. Her reading pace and voice in general was good, but her NC characters came off sounding like a mix of Louisiana and Texas. lol. Someone who doesn't live in NC wouldn't know, but it pulled me completely out of the story. First Bodie Lighthouse is 10 times it's real size.....and then atrocious southern accents. lol. I just had a rough time with this book. I am going to finish the series....I like reading books set here in NC. And Eva Gates is a pen-name used by Vicki Delaney. I have enjoyed other books by her, so I'm going to give this series time to grow on me.

Just reading about OBX makes me want to drive to Nag's Head! The pier, the dolphins, the lighthouse! :) Love it!

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery, and this is the first book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. I have read all the books in this series, and I have reviewed most of them. I have to say most of the time I find it hard to get into the first book in a series because it is just a lot of getting to know of the characters. This book was so great because there was a really good mystery going on with the meeting the characters. I also feel that this book was not pushing the meeting all the characters on you. It was written very well. I also really enjoyed all the characters. The mystery was keeping me guessing, and I have to say I did not see the ending happening like it did. I felt the fact the library happening in a lighthouse was so cool. I grow up on the Outer Banks, and I know about the places the book talked about which made the book could to life for me. This has became one of my favorite cozy mystery series. If you love Cozy Mystery series you should give this series a chance.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably supposed to be charming; really just annoying.

Round rooms don't have corners, but she keeps looking in them.

Louise Jane clearly doesn't like Lucy, but Lucy keeps biting on the baited hooks Louise dangles for her.

Determined not to go down without a fight, then backs off when the opportunity to do something presents itself? Saved by a cat? Then why not pay attention when the cat exhibits hostility in the first place?

Maybe I'm not a mystery reader.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Two of my favorite things, libraries, and lighthouses, so when they are combined it really gets me excited.

Lucy Richardson is the newest librarian at The Bodie Island Lighthouse Library but her hiring has some people quite twitterpated. One thought the job should have been hers, others didn’t think the position was necessary, and even the head of the library board wants to get rid of her. The head librarian and the staff at the library are thrilled to have her join them, especially with the Jane Austen exhibit and programs starting.

An event took place for friends of the library to see the exhibit before it was opened to the public. Just as Bertie, the head librarian, is ready to announce a special addition to the exhibit the head of the board is found dead. Because of his position to get rid of Lucy, she becomes a suspect but Bertie is the one that leaps to the top of the police’s list. Then one of the Austen novels goes missing.

Did Bertie remove the book to throw suspicion away from herself? Or is the real killer a thief too? Or are there 2 criminals on Bodie Island? Lucy hopes to close the book on the case by answering all those questions.

First, the author starts the book saying there would not be enough space in a real lighthouse to include all the books, staircases and rooms she has written into this book, so on the basis of the library’s structure the reader must suspend reality and I was fine with that. I just imagined a huge lighthouse, bigger than I have ever seen. Think of it – each level has a special purpose. The main floor for the usual adult fiction and non-fiction with a special alcove and program areas. The next floor is filled with children’s books and programs. The third level for rare books, maps, etc. And the fourth floor a unique living space where Lucy has made herself at home. There is also a working lamp at the top. What a glorious setting with wonderful views! I would love to suspend the reality far enough to take me there.

Ms. Gates introduces us to fine characters. The library staff is made up of Bertie, Lucy, Ronald, the children’s librarian, Charlene, research librarian, and Charles, the library cat in residence. Lucy’s aunt, uncle, and cousin, along with the mayor, a nice detective and a not so nice detective round out what I assume will be the regular supporting cast. We also meet some unique friends of the library. Some were easy to like, others took some warming up and others were written to be not very likable. The author did a great job with this cast.

The murder mystery was not easy to solve. There was an entire room of suspects with an opportunity to commit the crime. The missing book mystery was also difficult because it could have been anyone from library regulars to someone off a bus that brought tourists in for the Austen exhibit. The library really should have had some kind of security person watching over the priceless items, but I don’t think there ever imagined the number of people that would pass through their doors for this event. I had a certain library patron at the top of my list but it was just a feeling. As the proof was all revealed I was surprised I actually was right.

I enjoyed everything about this story. Thee characters were very engaging, the mystery was very well written, and the setting was to die for.

I am late to the party on this series, but I am going to get all caught up before the fourth installment, The Spook in the Stacks, comes out on June 12.

[Christa Maurice · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was awful. So very awful. The setting is a small town library with 4 librarians and, for a time, a helper. One of those librarians worked at the Harvard library, another at the Bodleian at Oxford. And that was the sound of my suspension of disbelief snapping. But it got worse. The library is hosting an event with first printings of Jane Austen novels. This amazing event draws TOUR BUSES. The library staff has a meeting to decide on events AFTER the books are put on display. When the books start being stolen it's revealed that these very valuable books are sitting in an unlocked case in a library that has a key hidden outside in case anyone gets locked out. Honestly, my Star Trek collectibles are more secure. In fact, my socks are more secure.

Now to the "mystery." A man is murdered on the day the books are unveiled. Everybody hated him so there's no end to suspects, but for some reason, not the sleuth even though he threatened her job (because apparently, she'll never be able to get another one with Harvard on her resume.) Also not immediately suspected when the books start being stolen. I mean, she only lives in the library giving her 24-hour access, and is aware of the value of the books.

The author is trying to rip off a bunch of cozy mystery series and doing it badly. The real mystery here is why did this book ever get published and why is it the first in a series? I finished it, but only because it was such a train wreck. I never did figure out the solution because the solution made no sense.

[Mystery, She Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🌟

Mood/Seasonal Reading: summer

A great setting even though it’s not realistic. The main character is likeable but not my favourite. I didn’t find her annoying which is a win. I did, however, find that she was pretty naive especially in the final chapters of the novel.

The introduction of the love triangle was a nice treat. I had a favourite which made it harder to want to read on when I could guess who she was going to end up with (I may have cheated and looked ahead at other book descriptions).

The spooky aspect was unexpected but not unwelcome, although I found it was a tad separate from the mystery itself. Almost as if it was meant to throw readers off the track.

The mystery keeps you guessing with multiple crimes and accusations. The killer wasn’t obvious but I did guess it about halfway through the book which I’m proud of. The motive was a tad weak in my opinion but not awful.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read but I won’t be crawling for the next book in the series right away. I will eventually pick it up I think. I laughed a handful of times and felt the cozy atmosphere from the outer banks setting.

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished this back in June, so some details are fuzzy.

Lucy previously worked at the Harvard Library and is now a new librarian at Bodie Island's public library, which is housed inside a lighthouse. There are a few folks who aren't thrilled that she got the job, but for the most part Lucy loves her new position. She's particularly excited about the Jane Austen first editions the library currently has on loan. That excitement turns to dismay and horror as one of the first editions goes missing and the chairman of the library board is found murdered.

I tend to be drawn to book and library-themed cozy mysteries, so I snatched this one up when I spotted it in a used bookstore. Unfortunately, it turned out to be terrible.

The author's bio doesn't mention any sort of library background, although she thanks a librarian in her acknowledgements, so I assume she spoke to that person as part of her research. Either her research wasn't very thorough or she didn't ask the right questions, because this book was filled with mistakes and difficult-to-believe details.

Cozy mystery authors seem to be fond of 30-year-old librarians who somehow already have 10 years of librarian experience under their belts. Library experience would be believable, but becoming a librarian by age 20 would really be pushing it, particularly a librarian at the Harvard Library. You need a bachelor's degree first (approximately 4 years), and then a Master's in Library Science (or Library and Information Science, depending on the school), which can take 1-2 years depending on what sort of course load you can handle. Lucy would have had to graduate early in both high school and college in order to be a librarian by age 20.

But what really bothered me was the author's glaring lack of knowledge about library security. On page 129, there was this discussion between one of the library's employees and a police officer:

"'I don't suppose y'all have security on the door?'

'I do some crowd control,' Charlene said.

'Stopping little old ladies from stepping on each other's sensible shoes. I meant like a bar-code detector. Alarm. Things like that.'

'This is a library. Not a jewelry store. And we're in the Bodie Island Lighthouse, not the Bronx. No, we do not have alarms.'"

There's so much wrong with this passage that it's hard to know where to start. Yes, there are lots of small libraries out there that don't have much in the way of security - but those libraries would never be loaned a collection of Jane Austen first editions for a temporary display. And libraries that don't have any sort of security systems in place likely don't have them because they can't afford them, not because they think they don't need them - all libraries, even ones in small towns, are better off with some sort of security system in place (alarms, security gates, panic buttons, etc.), for the safety of their users and staff as well as to reduce the likelihood of theft. Charlene saying that this was "the Bodie Island Lighthouse, not the Bronx" struck me as both naive and potentially racist. Also, library security gates are not called bar-code detectors - I'll forgive that one because it was the police officer character who said it.

If I remember right, the above passage occurred after the first book went missing. That left five books and a notebook that could still be stolen. In addition to keeping the books locked up and only removing them when a staff member could be on hand to make sure it stayed safe, I'd have bought a webcam or two off Amazon and set them up. Instead, library staff felt that keeping the books locked up as much as possible (with the key easily accessible in the head librarian's unlocked office) was good enough. Considering how the story progressed (more thefts!), the continued library security issues were maddening.

Although I was able to figure out the murderer's identity a little early, I did think the murder mystery aspect was decent. It's too bad that everything was overshadowed by the glaringly awful library security details. No one in their right mind would lend a library like this anything even remotely rare and valuable. I very much agreed with the cop who said this: "I wouldn't want y'all guarding my doghouse." (226)

Sometimes terrible cozy mysteries can be at least somewhat saved by their characters. That wasn't the case here. Lucy annoyed me. Her views on books and library struck me as being old-fashioned, and she seemed to be very judgmental of everything from other people's tastes in recreational reading to the kind of music they listened to. Her two potential love interests (yes, there's already a love triangle in the works) were both bland and uninteresting. I'm assuming Connor (the guy Lucy had a crush on as a teen, and who is now the mayor) is being set up as the guy who appears to have the best chance with Lucy, while Butch (a local cop) is the guy Lucy's actually going to end up with. If she ever ends up with anyone.

I don't plan on reading more of this series.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Nichole · Rating 2 out of 5]

By Book or By Crook was book one in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. It was okay; a bit clunky in some parts, but overall a fun cozy. I had no problems suspending disbelief at the notion of transforming real-life Bodie Lighthouse into a public library because author Eva Gates did provide a note addressing the issue. Also, her writing was convincing enough for me to buy into the idea.

A promising series, started in 2015. I will definitely do some catch-up reading.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is based mostly around Lucy, a former Harvard librarian who is determined to start a new life away from her "high society" responsibilities and a lifeless, meaningless relationship. She moves to her favorite place in all the world, the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Lucy is excited when she finds a job as the librarian at the iconic Bodie Island Lighthouse Public Library. Living in a lighthouse, working with such nice people and mostly, escaping her life in Boston is exactly what she wanted and needed. Just when things were going well a priceless Jane Austen first edition book is stolen and the chairman of the library board is murdered.

I don't often read cozies, but this book was recommended and handed to me by my sweet little cozy mystery loving neighbor. She said that it lived up to all she had hoped and more....and knowing that anything that contains a single drop of blood will have her hyperventilating and running for the hills...I was, shall we say... skeptical...but, this time, she was mostly right.

The storyline was the typical straight forward, what you would expect of a cozy murder mystery, the characters were a bit too "vanilla" for me but very...I believe "relatable" adequately describes them. The biggest plus for me of the entire book was Charles, the library cat, who in my opinion deserves his very own book! Cozy mystery lovers will...well, love it.

[Julie Askins · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book (unintentionally) reads like a cross between a mystery and Harry Potter, where there is a lighthouse that appears normal from the outside, but expands to fit a few thousand extra square feet once you enter its magical doors. Its fine to set a mystery at a popular summer resort area, to appeal to beach readers. But then to completely ignore the setting you've chosen is ridiculous. The author's note admits that the lighthouse could not house the library, except in her imagination. So why not create an imaginary lighthouse? Why refer to stone walls when describing the brick Hatteras lighthouse? The setting, characters, and plot were extremely improbable. It feels like the author had a story written, her editor or agent suggested she write a seashore mystery, and add a little Jane Austen twist to appeal the rabid Austenites, and she wrestled this story into the requested bounds. Very disappointing, and I won't be reading any more of Eva Gates's work.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting a new series from the first book is so much fun. The idea of a library housed in an old lighthouse appealed to me. The setting is charming and perfect for a cozy mystery.

Our amateur sleuth is Lucy Richardson. She recently fled Boston after her boyfriend wanted to take their relationship to the next step and she didn’t want to. In fact, he really didn’t want to either. Their wealthy parents were the ones who really wanted the marriage and Lucy had no intention of giving in. She heads to Bodie Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where she gets a job as a librarian. Her first assignment is setting up an exhibit to showcase a set of Jane Austen first edition novels.

Lucy is stunned to find that so many people in town despise her. In fact, one person who made his feelings publicly known is the head of the library board. He states quite loudly for all to hear that he intends to get rid of her. So, when he is found murdered in the library, all fingers point to Lucy and her boss. When the Jane Austen books are stolen – one by one – everyone is all too ready to put the blame on Lucy and run her right out of town. She has no intention of sitting quietly by and letting that happen.

It took me a little time to warm up to the characters in this book. Most of the supporting characters weren’t very likeable, but I did like Lucy and the people she worked with at the library. Although her boss, Bertie, took me some time to like. Did I mention the library has a cat named Charles (named after Charles Dickens, of course.)

I have to admit, I knew who the killer was rather early in the book. It didn’t ruin anything for me as there were several different possibilities so I could really have bought any of them being the culprit. I’m already reading the second book in the series.




FTC Disclosure: The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Nora-adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a bit of a hard time getting into this new series. The characters were fine but by page 20 I really wanted to smack one or two of them. As I continued reading I found myself drawn into their lives and the library they all love. I'm most definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it arrives in September of 2015.

[beachbum bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start with saying I rate my cozy mysteries different than all other genres of books I read. I still use a five star rating system (or with cozies I like to think instead of stars how many cups of coffee/tea.….which is my idea of cozy). The following is how I rate my cozies:
1 cup of coffee- did not finish or will not continue on in series.
2 cups of coffee- this book has potential, but on the fence whether I will read the next book.
3 cups of coffee- good- will definitely continue series, but did have some issues
4 cups of coffee- great- will definitely continue series- minor issues
5 cups of coffee-EXCEPTIONAL!
What I think about when I give my ratings:
1.) There called cozies for a reason, and that being said I know they are not for everybody. I love them. Therefore the first thing I think about is how cozy/cheesy are they? The more cheese the better for me…lol. The horrible puns in the titles…LOVE THEM. Yes…if you’re wondering I am the person who loves laffy taffy jokes.
2.) Characters/ and relationships with secondary characters
3.) Setting
4.) The mystery

I really enjoyed the first book in what I hope is a great series! I got a chuckle out of the title...so that was a plus for me. The setting appealed to me. I like any avid reader (im assuming) love libraries...and I thought it was a cool idea to have a library in a light house.
I liked all the characters and their relationships to each other...even Louise Jane (lol). I do hope (like I have said in most of my recent reviews) that the author does not fall into the love triangle trap.
Overall a great read! I will definitely continue on in the series.

[Linda Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the idea of a lighthouse being used as a library. If you're a Jane Austen fan, a library fan, and a lighthouse fan, this is the cozy for you!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. The setting was fabulous.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author says right at the beginning of this book that the idea of a lighthouse being big enough to house a fully operational library with separate living accommodation is a fantasy so that really sets the tone for the book right from the start. So I shouldn't have been too surprised by the woeful lack of research about the first editions of Jane Austen's novels. Or perhaps she did her research and then decided to completely ignore it because it would have ruined the plot!

But I still gave it 5 stars....because I loved it and I also learnt a lot about Jane Austen on the way. Not from the book you understand but because it made me want to find out more. I'll certainly be reading more of this series.

[Emmalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m super conflicted on this book. For the longest time I hovered between a 2.5-3 stars. The book has promise, but Lucy, Lucy, Lucy 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️ sigh. The CAT is smarter than Lucy 😒, no really, the author wrote the CAT smarter than her NC, who is an Ivy League, master degreed, Assistant Librarian 🤦🏾‍♀️ I mean where do you go from there? You take a woman who took her destiny into her own hands, broke away from family expectations, the humdrum of of life and a dead end relationship to strike out on her own and literally dumb her down the rest of the book!!! WHY????? The mystery had promise, Lucy came across as weak and pitiful, ughhhhh - sigh. I hope she did better with the second book

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

My pet peeve is books about libraries that are clearly written by someone who knows nothing about libraries and this one takes the cake: a major part of the plot hinges on a group of public librarians leaving several literally priceless books, which are on loan to this tiny library in the middle of nowhere, in an unlocked display case with zero security because the head librarian trusts their patrons not to steal the books. I can't suspend my disbelief for any part of this, it is genuinely the dumbest thing I've read in a long time.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I like to keep up with new series in the "cozy mystery" genre, but I was running low, so at my last trip to Barnes and Noble I picked this up because I liked the premise and cover. I'm glad to say that this book lived up to my expectations and even more!

The characters were great! Some were likeable, some not so much, but they were all realistic. There were no absolutely perfect characters in this book. However, by the end of this book the author seems to setting up a love triangle. I sincerely hope she doesn't go through with it. Love triangle seem to muddle up mysteries.

The mystery was good, plenty of suspects and clues, and the ending left me pleasantly surprised. The setting was also nice, it was very similar to Ellery Adams' Books by the Bay Series.

Overall a pleasant series that will b added to a favorites shelf. I hope the next book lived up to this one.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start to this series.

[Sarah Hendricks · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Pedantic Part of the Review

To start, I'm a librarian who has worked at a small independent library in a small town before (and currently works at a slightly bigger one). Because of this experience, and my love of cats, I felt like I was the target audience for this cozy mystery. However, comparing this book with my real, lived experience meant that it might as well be classified as magical realism, because Lucy's library life and the Lighthouse Library and its circumstances push the bounds of reality just too far for me. The same goes for the book's use of Gothic Victorian literature. I am, again, the exact target market for Wilkie Collins references! Yet, I found so much of the literary talk of this book painful. By the end, I kind of felt like I'd read one long Mary Sue (self-insert) story that just also happened to have a murder mystery included.

The list of things in this book that made me roll my eyes is extensive, but here are just a few:
-The way the library's budget and funding works is every librarian's dream--but it's just that: a dream
-The fact that a small town library in NC would have a Victorian lit book club in the first place, let alone that it would be well attended, is just way too niche. She considers using Bleak House at some point in the future. What?! I barely made it through that one in Graduate School, and I 1) love dense Victorian books and 2) was obligated to write a major paper on it.
-The fact that the head of the library never communicates with the lending library regarding the possible theft of their books is insane.
-Lucy just casually ends up working at the Harvard library. (What, like it's hard?)
-Finally, I struggled to even get behind the premise, because a teeny tiny, local museum, where no one has been formally trained, would not get the first editions and personal journal of JANE FREAKING AUSTEN.

I get it. This is a cozy mystery that I'm probably taking way too seriously. But I check all of the boxes of someone who may want to pick up this series, yet I found it infuriating at every turn. So who is this book even for?

The More Reasonable Part of the Review

Even when I put aside my own irritation at the larger details of this story, I found problems that were hard for me to look past. The top issues were that everyone in this book sounds the same, the main character makes unforgivably dumb decisions, and almost everyone in this book is unlikable.

Breaking it down a bit, the author writes in a slightly overwrought way. To give an example, when Lucy's young, college football-playing cousin stays right at the front alcove of the library instead of venturing to some more comfortable place inside, he explains, "Well, I'm to be watching the books." It's such a small quirk of language, but because everyone in the book speaks in an overly formal way, it really tripped me up while reading.

The language makes the characters annoying enough, but everyone is such a caricature that they become even more irritating. Characters that we are supposed to like are incredibly boring and flat, and characters we aren't supposed to like are ridiculously obnoxious. For instance, two different characters are described as talking in fake British accents to sound smart, and the woman vying for Lucy's job is like an over the top 4th grade bully but everyone just kind of shrugs their shoulders at her behavior or, worse, play directly into it. The one most guilty of this is Lucy. It's a running theme that this woman tries to convince Lucy that the lighthouse is haunted so she won't want to live and work there. It's such a ridiculous premise, and the stories are so cheesy, but Lucy always finds herself freaked out "against [her] better judgment."

This is only the tip of the iceberg of Lucy's dumb choices, which also includes ignoring obvious, present danger and threats to her safety throughout the mystery. She goes to the police with every single whisper of a tip she can think of, but when she's in an incredibly suspicious and scary situation she decides not to call. Give me a break. Her unreasonable choices only double on top of the Mary Sue problems, making her a protagonist that I just don't like.

To sum up, this review is looking far too deep into a book that isn't meant to be that complex in the first place. But I have rarely been so annoyed by something that was, ostensibly, written with people like me in mind. It failed utterly. It gets 2 stars because I couldn't guess the killer, so the mystery is in tact.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another of those really great cozies that just hook you right from the beginning. I've had it downloaded on my Kindle for a while, and thought, why not? I'm glad I did.

I love Jane Austen, and Pride and Prejudice particularly. I loved the idea of the Lighthouse library hosting a special event with first edition books- how I would love to see that in real life! I can see why it caused such a buzz around the town. The actual setting is made up for this series, as there is no library located at the real Bodie lighthouse, but it was such a great idea that it didn't matter to me. Real or fake, this is definitely one of my favorite settings so far in cozy mystery!

The actual murder and solving of both the crimes was well thought out and although I had my suspicions, there were enough clues to keep the reader going. I LOVED the cast of characters too, and although there is the usual love triangle, there is enough difference in the men and their lines of work to keep the idea fresh. I'm still not sold on either though, and I can't wait to find out more about them with Lucy. It looks like there is quite a few books in this series by now too, so I have plenty to catch up on!

A really great cozy, one of my favorites among the sea of them that I read! Five stars.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a fun light mystery that definitely kept me guessing. Lucy is a likable heroine even if she does struggle with occasionally needing to summon all her courage to speak her opinions (as evidenced by a boyfriend who thought he knew her well enough to propose and then got a bad surprise). I liked how she struggled with missing her family and yet didn’t want to involve them because of their overbearing, overgenerous ways.

The mystery is definitely light with only a brief scene with a body and then a series of thefts.

I really appreciated the lack of profanity and vulgar language. This would be appropriate for teens as well as adults.

Content: drinking wine/beer/etc