A Lighthouse Library Mystery Book 12
Author: Eva Gates
Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)
ISBN #: 9798892420440; 9798892242322
Crooked Lane Books
272 Pages
$22.80; $19.99; $14.99 Amazon
May 6, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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 desk 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. When Heather 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 catch the killer before the chapter closes on justice.
✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽
Lucy McNeil is happily married to Mayor Connor McNeil, and works at the Lighthouse Library. The employees are organizing an event to bring in young adult authors, and especially well-known author Todd Harrison. But the night of the meeting, which Lucy was unfortunately late to, Todd shows up at her house unannounced. He states he'd like to speak with her about him, and being a good host, she asks him to wait on the deck while she gets them some iced tea.
But when Lucy returns a short time later, Todd is dead...and whoever killed him is long gone. After telling the police that she only met him that day and didn't know why he was at her house, she thought would be the end of it. But it wasn't.
The widow was blaming her for the death, town teens are haunting the place where Todd died (her home) and her life has just been upended once more. Lucy is trying to stay out of the investigation, but things keep going wrong and she keeps getting pulled in. Will she find a killer or will she put herself in danger once again...
This is the twelfth book in the series, and I have read them all. I've come to grow fond of all the characters, and watched them change over time, which isn't a bad thing at all. This book was different in that it centered around Lucy and her relatives weren't in the book much, which is fine; there was enough action with the other characters to keep things interesting.
Lucy isn't happy that the teens are haunting her home, and even Connor is getting tired of cleaning up the 'tributes' to Todd. When Lucy finds out that it's not going to end, she goes into hyper mode to figure out who the true murderer is.
I really enjoyed this book, except for one part at the end, which I won't name here, but I was disappointed that it was even mentioned, much less added. Those who have read the book will discover what I am talking about (hopefully) and those who have not read it -- maybe it won't change your perception at all, since it is my own opinion.
Other than that, I liked the way the story came together, and the killer was definitely a surprise; still, no one knows what goes on in the mind of a murderer, right? It made the story more believable and gave it more push. I do enjoy Ms. Gates's writing, and I love this series especially. (I read other of her series as well and enjoy them as much). When you find a talented writer, you know it, and Ms. Gates fits the bill.
In the end, everything came together nicely, and gave us a look as to what is to come in the next book. I look forward to it immensely. Recommended.
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Eva Gates's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/eva-gates/