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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
A good cozy mystery. A murder in a library, complete with a cat and set in my favorite place in the world: Outer Banks, North Carolina.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a great start to a new series (new to me at least). A library in a lighthouse set in the Outerbanks, is an amazing setting for a cozy. The mystery was great, I didn’t see the ending coming. Louise Jean drove me up a wall. I was really hoping that she would have a come to Jesus moment and be likeable but that was too much to ask. I love Birdie and the rest of the library crew. I can’t believe that it’s the first in a series and not a stand alone. I can’t wait to keep reading this series.
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book had so much potential: a great setting - the OBX, a lighthouse converted into a library, and a pretty decent murder mystery. But then we are introduced to our main character who squeaks when she talks and doesn't have the backbone to stand up to at least 3 other characters who are horribly condescending and mean. I will not be continuing the series.
This first installment in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series is super fun! I don't know how realistic a lighthouse library really is, but the idea is certainly cozy and appealing. Lucy's tip-top apartment sounds especially inviting. Speaking of our heroine, she's likable, although she's not all that original or memorable. Her colleagues are interesting enough. Plotwise, the story starts with a bang (a stabbing, actually) and keeps up the tension throughout. It never gets boring. I had the killer identified about halfway through the novel, but I don't think their identity is overly obvious. On the downside: I'm not a fan of love triangles, so I already find the one developing between Lucy, Connor, and Butch annoying. Also, I don't know how rare original copies of Jane Austen's books are, but I can't imagine them being as big a sensation as they are in the book. That didn't feel true-to-life to me. Regardless, I quite enjoyed BY BOOK OR BY CROOK. I definitely plan to keep going with the series.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.
By Book or By Crook by Eva Gates is the first book in the Lighthouse Library Mystery Series. Recently I received the fourth book in the series via an Instagram contest on @writing_fun and enjoyed this clever storyline. This inspired me to attempt to read the first three. I was happy to find out that my local library offers copies via Overdrive.
Lucy leaves her dream job, family and ex-boyfriend, back in Boston to move to a small community in the Outer Banks where she takes a job as Assistant Librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Not everyone is happy that Lucy got the librarian job. During her first week, the library chairman is found dead in the library. He has been murdered and there are many suspects. Lucy can’t help herself and tries to help the investigation. Her help soon shines a spotlight on her and she becomes a suspect herself.
This is a light and fun read. I love that the characters are relatable and the story straightforward and entertaining. Great read!
Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews.
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Lucy leaves her dream job, family and ex-boyfriend, back in Boston to move to a small community in the Outer Banks where she takes a job as Assistant Librarian at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. Not everyone is happy that Lucy got the librarian job. During her first week, the library chairman is found dead in the library. He has been murdered and there are many suspects. Lucy can’t help herself and tries to help the investigation. Her help soon shines a spotlight on her and she becomes a suspect herself.
This is a light and fun read. I love that the characters are relatable and the story straightforward and entertaining. Great read!
Follow me on Blogger @ http://guylous.blogspot.com or on Instagram @twodogsandabook to see my latest book reviews.
🔹
🔹
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #book #books #booklover #bookish #bookreview #bookworm #bookaholic #reading #ilovebooks #bookaddicted #bookishcanadians #bybookorbycrook #evagates #fiction #mystery
A cute "cozy" mystery about an academic librarian who leaves New England to move to the Outer Banks and work at the (invented) library inside the (real) Bodie Island Lighthouse. There are the standard oddball locals, a library cat, and not one but TWO love interests for our heroine. Plus the mystery involves rare first editions of Jane Austen. This was absolutely the perfect read for a recent beach trip to North Carolina with librarian friends.
Fun cozy mystery about a fictional lighthouse library in the Outer Banks. The series has been popular here, as are most books with any ties (fictional or non) to the region. Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series!
Not great but not bad. A fun cozy little mystery. I’ll give book two a chance.
Solid cozy mystery. It was a fun read. It did have some frustrating characters but it wasn't frustrating enough for me to stop reading the book.