Shot Through the Book: A Lighthouse Library Mystery

by Eva Gates

Overview

In the twelfth installment of the Lighthouse Library mysteries, Lucy McNeil is back on the case, but this time she’s on the case alone.

The upcoming YA book festival at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library is bringing in renowned authors from all over the world. When best selling author Todd Harrison unexpectedly visits librarian Lucy McNeil at her Outer Banks beach house after a meeting, she is puzzled by his presence, since they’re virtually strangers. After she steps inside to get him a drink, she’s shocked to discover that he’s been murdered on her deck in the few minutes she left him alone.

Not knowing why he wanted to meet with her in private, or how someone managed to kill him in the time it takes to make lemonade, Lucy is determined to help with the investigation and figure out what happened. WhenHeather Harrison, Todd’s widow, shows up in town, her motivations aren’t inspired by grief. She’s intending to use her husband’s tragic death to launch her candidacy for state senator and her first order of business is to go after the local police force–and Lucy herself.

Caught between an intrusive fan club mourning Todd, squabbling authors fighting for prominence in his absence, and a politically ruthless widow, Lucy must roll up her sleeves and and catch the killer before the chapter closes on justice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798892420440
Publisher:	CROOKED LANE BOOKS
Publication date:	05/06/2025
Series:	Lighthouse Library Series , #12
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Eva Gates is a national bestselling author who began her writing career as a Sunday writer: a single mother of three high-spirited daughters, with a full-time job as a computer programmer. Now she has more than twenty novels under her belt in the mystery genre, published under the name Vicki Delany. She lives in Ontario. This is her ninth Lighthouse Library mystery.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Shot Through the Book:
“The librarian and her quirky friends are always a hoot as they track down mysterious murderers in a charming locale.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Readers will look forward eagerly to the next installment.”
—First Clue

“Once you begin reading you are totally engrossed in the story and will not want to leave when you get to the end of the book.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

“[A] witty, very entertaining entry in the series.”
—Kings River Life

From the Publisher

2025-03-22
An Outer Banks librarian must deal with a murder whose scene is the deck of her home.

Lucy McNeil works at North Carolina’s Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, where she and her colleagues are planning a young adult author’s festival with a few local writers. The headliner will be Todd Harrison, a well-known YA author who’s just moved back to the area. Lucy is surprised when Todd turns up at the beach home she shares with her husband, Connor, the mayor of Nags Head, asking for a few minutes of her time. Leaving her visitor on the back deck while she goes inside to get tea, she returns to find him dead, an arrow in his chest. Lucy’s been involved in solving murders before, and she has a good relationship with the police. But Det. Sam Watson, her closest contact, distances himself when Harrison’s wife, aspiring politician Heather Harrison, starts spreading rumors about Lucy that might further her political ambitions. Lucy has no idea why Todd wanted to see her, and the library staff decides to go on with the festival. Since the two participating local authors hate each other, and each thinks she should be the leading light, the staff hopes to find a new headliner. Not only does Lucy have her hands full trying to solve the crime, but her home has become a shrine for Todd’s adoring teen fans, who leave flowers and invade the deck and house with candlelight ceremonies. There seem to be a number of people who might have hated Todd, but without a clear motive, it’s hard to pick out the killer.

The librarian and her quirky friends are always a hoot as they track down mysterious murderers in a charming locale.

Kirkus Reviews