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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Having read book 9 through Netgalley and being the obsessive compulsive reader I am, I just had to start this series at the beginning. A typical cozy mystery, where you fall in love with the characters and just enough adventure to keep you hooked though you know that it will end well.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What else do you need? Cozy mystery with an interesting setting and a big fluffy feline.
This is the first book I have read by Eva Stone, and it was such fun. The cover attracted me first, with its lighthouse and seaside view--- what a treat to find it is the library! The light mystery involves investigations into property losses/ thievery, and a murder. Lucy, the new assistant librarian, has the perk of living on the top floor of the lighthouse/library and she has access to Jane Austen rare books. Those who enjoy lighthearted mystery are sure to enjoy this selection. There are three more books in this series that I intend to catch up with.
NGL here, I put off reading Eva Gates' [b:By Book or By Crook|22927960|By Book or By Crook (Lighthouse Library Mystery #1)|Eva Gates|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1409170310l/22927960._SY75_.jpg|42497320] for quite some time because my track record with cozy mysteries as of late has been...well, for lack of better words, a literal dumpster fire. That said, I enjoyed this one. It did take me a few chapters to warm up to the characters and pacing; but I enjoyed it enough where Book 2 is a definite possibility in my future.
Lucy Richardson has spent a decade working at the prestigious Harvard Library, but when she's proposed to by a guy she's not head over heels for, leading her to decline, her wealthy family flips, and she decides that change is needed in her life - pronto! Packing her bags, Lucy resigns from her position, and retreats to the Outer Banks - a charming small town that she summered at as a child. There she connects with her Aunt Ellen, and cousin Josie, hoping to clear her head, and drown her sorrows in calorie-laden confections from Josie's bakery. Though only expected to be a short stay, when Lucy is offered a position at the Bodie Lighthouse Library by head librarian Bertie, she immediately accepts and elects to turn her vacation destination into her permanent home. But not everyone on Bodie Island is thrilled about Lucy's arrival - or insta job offer.
Enter Louise Jane. With no college education to back her, it would be impossible to hire her on as a librarian; but she is convinced that no one deserves the job more than her. In fact, in her eyes, Lucy stole the position from her; therefore, Louise Jane will stop at nothing to take it back - including manipulating the library board to see things her way. Despite knowing that Louise Jane and the library board are out for blood, Lucy refuses to back away from her newly secured post - especially since Bodie is currently hosting a Jane Austen exhibit featuring a slew of rare and expensive first editions. It is during the big reveal party of this exhibit to friends of the library that disaster strikes in the form of the chair of the library board being discovered dead. And Bertie being the prime suspect for his murder.
Given the fact that the deceased was one of Lucy's greatest naysayers, and felt as if her position should be eliminated, and Bertie was one of Lucy's biggest supporters has placed Lucy in a bit of a bind. Feeling as if she is to blame for Bertie's arrest, she resolves to do a bit of amateur sleuthing to uncover the real killer, and clear Bertie's name. But as Jane Austen first editions begin disappearing from the locked exhibit while under Lucy's watch, she finds herself being viewed by some as a thief, and realizes that if she doesn't find the true culprit quickly, she may be the next one behind bars - or worse...dead.
As with most cozy mysteries, By Book or By Crook does not come without its share of flaws. For one, many of the characters are difficult to warm up to. While I loved the children's librarian, Ronald, along with the free-spirited Josie; I found both Bertie and research librarian, Charlene, hard to like. For me, Charles, the library cat, was the true star of the book; though he didn't get nearly as much page time as the love triangle involving Lucy, Connor, and Butch - of which I am grossly uninterested in. Additionally, the relationship between Louise Jane and Poor Andrew is incredibly...odd, and something that comes off as very juvenile - circa middle school or high school.
All of that said, there were times when I really enjoyed Lucy, and felt that her personality resonated with mine - enough so that I will take book two, [b:Booked for Trouble|24452987|Booked for Trouble (Lighthouse Library Mystery #2)|Eva Gates|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425318924l/24452987._SY75_.jpg|44044774], for a spin. I only hope that we see more of Charles and Josie in the next installment.
Lucy Richardson has spent a decade working at the prestigious Harvard Library, but when she's proposed to by a guy she's not head over heels for, leading her to decline, her wealthy family flips, and she decides that change is needed in her life - pronto! Packing her bags, Lucy resigns from her position, and retreats to the Outer Banks - a charming small town that she summered at as a child. There she connects with her Aunt Ellen, and cousin Josie, hoping to clear her head, and drown her sorrows in calorie-laden confections from Josie's bakery. Though only expected to be a short stay, when Lucy is offered a position at the Bodie Lighthouse Library by head librarian Bertie, she immediately accepts and elects to turn her vacation destination into her permanent home. But not everyone on Bodie Island is thrilled about Lucy's arrival - or insta job offer.
Enter Louise Jane. With no college education to back her, it would be impossible to hire her on as a librarian; but she is convinced that no one deserves the job more than her. In fact, in her eyes, Lucy stole the position from her; therefore, Louise Jane will stop at nothing to take it back - including manipulating the library board to see things her way. Despite knowing that Louise Jane and the library board are out for blood, Lucy refuses to back away from her newly secured post - especially since Bodie is currently hosting a Jane Austen exhibit featuring a slew of rare and expensive first editions. It is during the big reveal party of this exhibit to friends of the library that disaster strikes in the form of the chair of the library board being discovered dead. And Bertie being the prime suspect for his murder.
Given the fact that the deceased was one of Lucy's greatest naysayers, and felt as if her position should be eliminated, and Bertie was one of Lucy's biggest supporters has placed Lucy in a bit of a bind. Feeling as if she is to blame for Bertie's arrest, she resolves to do a bit of amateur sleuthing to uncover the real killer, and clear Bertie's name. But as Jane Austen first editions begin disappearing from the locked exhibit while under Lucy's watch, she finds herself being viewed by some as a thief, and realizes that if she doesn't find the true culprit quickly, she may be the next one behind bars - or worse...dead.
As with most cozy mysteries, By Book or By Crook does not come without its share of flaws. For one, many of the characters are difficult to warm up to. While I loved the children's librarian, Ronald, along with the free-spirited Josie; I found both Bertie and research librarian, Charlene, hard to like. For me, Charles, the library cat, was the true star of the book; though he didn't get nearly as much page time as the love triangle involving Lucy, Connor, and Butch - of which I am grossly uninterested in. Additionally, the relationship between Louise Jane and Poor Andrew is incredibly...odd, and something that comes off as very juvenile - circa middle school or high school.
All of that said, there were times when I really enjoyed Lucy, and felt that her personality resonated with mine - enough so that I will take book two, [b:Booked for Trouble|24452987|Booked for Trouble (Lighthouse Library Mystery #2)|Eva Gates|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1425318924l/24452987._SY75_.jpg|44044774], for a spin. I only hope that we see more of Charles and Josie in the next installment.
I’m so over these clueless female “sleuths”. She might as well have discovered the answer on accident. She was so unaware of what was going around her. Everything in the story just happened to her. She didn’t really even do anything to help solve it. Okay read. Cringey cops too.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
First of all the Jane Austen novels were not stolen in the order in which they were written. They were stolen in publication order, discounting Austen’s juvenilia her first completed novel was Northanger Abbey.
Secondly, the character descriptions for women were occasionally off putting. The obvious physical jealousy over her cousin Josie was odd and it created a very judgemental interaction when first meeting her. The description of Diane as not aging gracefully was unnecessary. And the description of the female cop as being shorter and rounder than she probably would have liked was so unnecessary it was clearly just cruel.
Secondly, the character descriptions for women were occasionally off putting. The obvious physical jealousy over her cousin Josie was odd and it created a very judgemental interaction when first meeting her. The description of Diane as not aging gracefully was unnecessary. And the description of the female cop as being shorter and rounder than she probably would have liked was so unnecessary it was clearly just cruel.
It’s fine. It’s a cozy mystery. It’s another women running from someplace to another place so she can start afresh and forget the old life. She has two suitors. A death happens and she’s implicated. The chief detective doesn’t like her for some reason. People don’t think she can do her job. Other people comment on how she looks. It’s all very done but some people do better than others in retreading the old tropes. Gates didn’t succeed that well for me. Again it’s fine. It’s a cozy. It just didn’t compel me.
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced