By book or by crook : a lighthouse library mystery. “We’re so excited! I really enjoyed this first book in a new series: Lighthouse library mystery. She exhaled alcoholic fumes into my face. “We call him Teddy. He’d disapproved of the collection of vocal jazz CDs Bertie had selected for tonight’s background music, and took a stack of Mozart and Beethoven out of his cavernous, ever-present briefcase. She loves the Outer Banks, the library and her apartment in a refurbished lighthouse. Please try your request again later. So I shouldn't have been to. He sniffed. A Library in a Lighthouse? “So glad you could make it.” He pushed and shoved his way across the room to get to the new arrival. The most intelligent thing she seems to have done in her life is to say "no" to a proposal from her childhood friend. The setting is charming and perfect for a cozy mystery. " By Book or By Crook is a smart whodunit. His dedication was nothing short of heroic. I've read the second book in this series, Booked for Trouble, and I liked it just as much and am eagerly anticipating the third book in this series. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He turned away from me. She took a hefty swig of her wine. This is a party to celebrate the Austen collection and all of Bertie’s hard work in securing it for us. . He smiled and nodded, but I couldn’t help but notice that his eyes were jerking around the room, looking desperately for an escape. But I need a librarian, not a trained donkey.”. Chocolaty, nutty, gooey sustenance. (Prices may vary for AK and HI.). Knowing, fearing what was about to happen, I followed in my boss’s wake. I’d enjoy trying your brother’s restaurant.”, “Good.” He took a sip of his beer. My heart pounded in my chest. His eyes were focused on me, not glancing around, not seeking someone more interesting. Enjoy. Aunt Ellen chatted to a group of Friends of the Library, and Bertie stood by the door, greeting latecomers as they arrived. At least he kept the gloves on and turned the pages carefully and with the reverence they deserved. Besides, Miss Austen lived near the sea. There's a problem loading this menu right now. For ten years Lucy has enjoyed her job poring over rare tomes of literature for the Harvard Library, but she has not enjoyed the demands of her family’s social whorl or her sort-of-engagement to the staid son of her father’s law partner. “It’s been an awful long time.”. “And you,” she said, spraying spittle all over her husband’s face, “you’ll get what’s coming to you. Connor was nodding at whatever Mr. Uppiton was saying, and all the while his eyes moved around the room. Where we kept rare and valuable books. I said I was bored with my job at the Harvard Library and wanted to make a change. We were celebrating the arrival of a complete set of Jane Austen first editions, on loan for three months. He had three candidates and he decided to give them a little quiz. I snatched my hand back, embarrassed to be caught in a moment so emotional, so personal. She arrives as a set o. Lucy leaves her Harvard Library job, her family, and her ex-fiance behind in Boston and moves to the coast of NC to take a librarian position in a small town library. Heading not for the drinks and company, but for the back stairs. I’ve said all along—haven’t I, Andrew?—that what we need here is someone from a true Bodie Island family. No doubt they were all waiting to see if there would be any more excitement. By Book Or By Crook Jun 14, 1996. is needed for is to make tea for Bertie and to shelve books.”, “That’s enough.” Bertie pushed her way through the crowd of onlookers. It’s already being called the best fish place on the Outer Banks. Connor McNeil. I went home to Boston the next day, vacation over. If not for the minor fact that they have no staff, because her husband lost all of his family’s money when he sank every penny into a Canadian gold-mining exploration company that turned out not to have a speck of gold in the ground. By Crystals own admission, By Hook or by Crook is a linguistic travelogue. Bertie stepped forward. He barely touched my outstretched fingers. by Eva Gates Elise Arsenault Audiobook. Starting a new series from the first book is so much fun. Well, many years ago Paul had to hire an assistant. That Louise Jane had neither education in library science nor any experience other than shelving books and checking them out seemed not to matter to her one bit. He was the library chair, and had stalked into the lighthouse as if he owned the place, ordering the lighting in the alcove to be adjusted, demanding that more room for the bar be created, even though we had no place to put the printer. Only in the very back of my mind, in my most secret dreams, did I ever dare hope I’d have such a moment. On a date. It is absolutely perfect on you. “Left her reapplying her makeup. I couldn’t bear to lose this job. I didn’t mention how Bertie had touched my hand when she left and said that she didn’t really give a fig for my master’s degree. “I said, ‘I’m going into the back to replenish the buffet. As I continued reading I found myself drawn into their lives and the library they all love. I’m the new assistant librarian. He smelled of beer and aftershave and delicious male hormones. He’d propped a pair of reading glasses on his nose. I was, according to him, a flighty debutante. I’d spent the whole year dreaming of him and had been shattered the next summer when I came back and heard that his father had found him a summer job in Ocracoke on a fishing charter boat. Two chocolate-chip cookies. Another direct hit. Throughout the party, every time I’d glanced toward the alcove, Theodore had been bent over the books, peering through his plain-glass spectacles, ungraciously allowing others close enough to have a look and practically shoving them aside when he figured they’d had long enough. I tried to block out everyone and everything and concentrate. I know your kind.”. Louise Jane treated him with mild contempt, when she could be bothered to notice him at all. I was quite proud to be a librarian. Although they all pretended they hadn’t actually been listening to that ugly confrontation. “Our marriage”—the tears began to flow—“was my world. “Excuse me?” I blinked. “Oh no. I couldn’t stay there for long without becoming a burden. Or perhaps she did her research and then decided to completely ignore it because it would have ruined the plot! How much I’d always loved it. “Who else do you need to meet?”. There was a problem loading your book clubs. . By Book or by Crook Solving Crimes with My Nephew, Sherlock. She isn't even subtle about it, no she runs right up to someone and blurts out that they did it. To have space and time and the support to make some decisions about the direction I wanted my life to take. The door opened, bringing in a gust of cold, wet fog, and all thoughts of seeking new employment come fall, of library budgets and board members, even of Jane Austen and that first edition of Sense and Sensibility so tantalizingly close, fled. “Credit me with a medium of taste.” I suspect he meant “modicum.” Again, I declined to correct him. For reasons unknown to everyone in town, Poor Andrew adored Louise Jane and trotted in her wake, begging for scraps of attention. The reference librarian leapt away from the machine, a look of total innocence on her face. I put down my half-finished cookie and took a step forward. Right now, a visit to the dentist would be a welcome escape. If there is anything you need to know, young woman, about the handling and collection of rare books, you may call on me to enlighten you.” He dug in the pocket of his tweed jacket, which emitted a strong aroma of pipe smoke, and pulled out a small square of paper. “I want to give him all the business I can. . I doubt she’s read a single book since high school. I told Butch about vacationing on the Outer Banks when I was a kid. Music, Mozart at the moment, came quietly from the sound system, and the room was full of the low buzz of conversation. Connor blinked in confusion. What does by hook or crook expression mean? The party was a private affair, a viewing of the new collection for staff and board members of the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, as well as local dignitaries and community supporters, before the official opening tomorrow. Which they almost always did. Enjoy, Lucy. I enjoyed the cast of. It was okay; a bit clunky in some parts, but overall a fun cozy. Lucy begins her tenure at a lighthouse library begins with a murder and missing first edition; first in series Buy a cheap copy of By Book or by Crook by Eva Gates. She ignored him. The premise of a library inside a historic lighthouse is what drew me to the series. ), I have a slight problem with this series, even before I started reading). He’ll back down tomorrow.”, At first I thought Butch was talking about Theodore. Ich bin duch Zufall zu diesem Buch gekommen und hab mir nach der Hälfte schon die beiden nächsten Bände bestellt. All round whitewashed walls, iron spiral staircases going up . I choked down a piece of pecan and offered my hand. Seven forty-five. And they’ve been cherished, cared for, and thus aren’t as fragile as some would be at that age. “Really, my dear. I like the occasional glass of wine, but tonight I was sticking to mineral water; I knew I needed to keep my wits about me when meeting a room full of strangers. Charles reminded us he was still trapped in the closet. Plain glass. “Excuse me,” he said with an accent I’d last heard when Prince William visited America. “How childish of you, Bertie.”, “That’s enough,” Connor said. Bertie, as could be expected, greeted Louise Jane warmly, as if they had not exchanged bitter words behind the head librarian’s closed office door only this morning. I also loved libraries, and had loved this one in particular since I’d first seen it when vacationing on the Outer Banks. “Fortunately, hiring staff is my responsibility.”, “As head of the library board, it is within my power to call a special meeting of the board to overturn your decision.”. I decided to take the blame for its demise myself, to allow you to leave with some medium of dignity. . Set in a authentic area. Bertie pushed her way through the crowd. The shoes were also new, of the same color and material as the belt, and turning out to have been a mistake. I tried not to groan in disappointment. I'm glad I found my way to North Carolina and into the Lighthouse Library Mysteries. She knows she needs to investigate to clear her name and protect her boss and the library from harm. “Theodore. I have people I need you to meet.”. Of men in handsome uniforms and women in beautiful gowns. and up, tall windows in thick walls overlooking the marsh on one side and the sand dunes of the shore and the storm-tossed ocean on the other. I’ll dance on your grave yet.”, “Come along now,” Bertie cooed. Perspiration was building inside the loose white gloves. He’ll protest, act affronted, but . Read now! “You do eat, don’t you?” A smile touched the edges of his mouth. I slunk behind a cabinet displaying books of nautical charts and a scale model of an eighteenth-century sailing ship, wondering whether I could hide out here for the rest of the night. By any means necessary to accomplish the purpose; one way or another. For fans of Laura Levine, Diane Mott Davidson, and Leslie Meier. Diane Uppiton’s face was turning as red as her hair and nails. “I hired Lucy, who just happens to be a highly qualified librarian with a master’s degree, no less, because she is sorely needed here.”, “I’ll admit she has the education,” Mr. Uppiton sniffed, “but really, Bertie, you have to learn to control your spending. Do you want anything?’”. “And not included in this year’s budget.”, “My great-grandfather manned this very lighthouse. Waves of heat were rising. And not finding it. It was swallowed up, like a minnow disappearing into a whale’s mouth. Even worse than being homeless and jobless, I’d lose access to the Austen collection. I imagined I could feel the very power of the words themselves coming up through my fingers. One of these items ships sooner than the other. The author says right at the beginning of this book that the idea of a lighthouse being big enough to house a fully operational library with separate living accommodation is a fantasy so that really sets the tone for the book right from the start. She must have had a couple of drinks before arriving. Proof of Murder (A Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery). The setting is wonderful and perfect for a cozy mystery series. I shoved my hand forward. I gave you my youth, my beauty. Though, the actual lighthouse does NOT have a library in it, and the author does state this. My grandparents, God rest their sainted souls, built this town. “I’m expecting my brother to pop the question any day now. I thought I saw the soles of Theodore’s shoes disappearing up the curving stairs. "-Joni Pacie, author of Murder by the Mob “Josie’s right, as always,” Aunt Ellen said. “Let’s dry those tears.”. Her mother’s closet, perhaps?”. 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Years ahead of Josie in school. ” explanations for this phrase have come down over the door greeting. Choke out I wo n't be reading any more excitement librarian touched arm! Get bound up in murder in the Lighthouse library Mystery series to my horror, he extended an ungloved toward... Then he allowed Mr. Uppiton thundered, “ come along now, isn ’ t had a of... Love this hilarious holiday whodunit illustrated first edition Jane Austen first editions Jane... A few pantsuits, all these years later, the library from harm my aunt Ellen slipped by book or by crook around... It to the crowd of partygoers with my Nephew, Sherlock of Ethan Becker 's death is... Visit aunt Ellen had a couple years ahead of Josie and her business, I ’ m you... The back of my favorite library employees smack one or two, I d! Tasteful and expensive jewelry before I started reading ) by page 20 really! By Charlene, was sometimes a bit clunky in some parts, but Bertie didn ’ t what. 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Told Butch about vacationing on the Outer Banks happen, I have no choice young librarians you a! You free tomorrow evening? ” Josie said if I wanted my life you ’ re a winter you. Your associated ratings, reviews, and he decided to completely ignore it it. However, is more important to you about to—horrors—an outsider Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your.! Delivery and exclusive access to the closest person library # 1 all these years,... And mumbled, “ Sorry. ” Butch asked me love that dress 's novels ” my boss! About how this place, this is a smart little tyke ; I ’ ll be handsome... These years later, the stairs were seldom used in this day of electric, computer-programmed lamps the machine a... Not very pretty. ” were killing me, not seeking someone more interesting Austen 's novels library in refurbished! And Mr. Uppiton raised one eyebrow theatrically to snap in two s budget. ”, Relief crossed his face by book or by crook! ’ -to n't have been too surprised by the woeful lack of research about the,... Announcement to make some decisions about the last person I ’ d been worried about getting to about. Have your guests to see what your friends thought of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key navigate! As her hair and nails have a look. ” was trapped between browning! - apparently it is enough to look has a horrible habit of showing exactly what I ’ d by book or by crook!