A Lighthouse Library Mystery Book 13
Author: Eva Gates
Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9798892424370
Crooked :Lane Books
304 Pages
$29.99; $14.99 Amazon
June 26, 2026
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While Lucy McNeil is enjoying her new job as the mother of twin boys and library director, new librarian Nichelle Gilchrest has just arrived at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, reporting for duty. But life throws a wrench on Nichelle's first day when she finds a body on the steps -- a body that bears a startling resemblance to her father, who disappeared on a fishing trip to the Outer Banks thirty-eight years ago.
Fingerprints confirm the dead body is indeed Nichelle's father, now living in Nags Head under the name Brian Saunders. Brian had been befriending older lonely women in exchange for money, but was he working alone?
Detective Rhonda Thomas is on the case, and the suspect list is only getting longer. Sorting through the wronged women and their relatives, Detective Thomas discovers Nichelle's own brother Brad had been in Nags Head a few days before the murder happened and has been lying about his whereabouts.
Hoping to clear her brother's name. Nichelle decides to investigate what happened. With seasoned sleuth Lucy's gentle encouragement for the amateur, Nichelle is in for an exciting and dangerous first week at the library.
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Once again we venture back to Nags Head, North Carolina and the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library. This time out, Lucy McNeil has a new job as director of the library, and there is a new librarian, Nichelle Gilchrest.
Nichelle is in her 50's and starting over with a degree in her pocket and her nerves on edge as to whether she'll fit in or not. That feeling doesn't change when she opens the library doors the next morning and finds a body on the doorstep. Moreover, that body could be her long-long father, who deserted the family thirty-eight years ago and presumed drowned at sea during a fishing trip.
Now the new detective, Rhonda Thomas, is warning Nichelle to stay out of it, and Lucy is trying not to get involved, with her new job and new twins taking over her life. But when Nichelle's brother becomes a sudden suspect, she's determined to find the truth, but doesn't know how to go about it.
With the help of Louise Jane, whose never-ending 'knowledge' of people and things in the Outer Banks, Nichelle is learning who might be responsible. But can she keep herself safe or will she walk into the arms of a killer?...
This is the latest book in the series, and I have enjoyed them. I love every time I get to visit the Outer Banks, and with Lucy and her friends. But this time out is different. Lucy is a side character, and the mystery seems to focus on Nichelle (as it should, since she is the new character) and Louise Jane (whom I have never been fond of). But I have to say that I cannot warm up to Detective Thomas. She's not likable, and doesn't seem to want to make friends of the residents, which I think she should do since it's a small community. You can be professional and still have friends that you deal with. Sam Watson proved that.
There is very little of the other characters that we've grown to love as well, so we're in new territory all around here. The way we keep Lucy in the story is the difference in which it is written. First person for Nichelle, third person for Lucy.
The mystery is written well, as always; and I enjoy Ms. Gates so much that I read her books straight through. This one is no different. The plot keeps you guessing, although I did figure out the murderer before Nichelle; but when she figures it out herself, there's more work to be done before the murderer can be apprehended.
There are clues throughout, and descriptions of the area aplenty which always add to the story. When the ending comes it is put together well, and I will read the next in the series. Recommended.
I was given an advance 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/
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