The Stranger in the Library - (Lighthouse Library Mystery) by Eva Gates

About the Book

"When a traveling show of impressionist art comes to Nags Head, North Carolina, librarian Lucy and the staff at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library are inspired to create an educational display about art history. Their launch of the display is a huge success, but the morning after, they discover that a reproduction of a famous painting has gone missing. No one knows why anyone would bother stealing it: the picture is of no value--the real, priceless painting is under lock and key at the art show itself. Lucy gets an invite to the glitzy opening night for the real show, where she notices unusual tension among the show's organizers. Then, the man scheduled to give the welcoming speech fails to arrive, and a party-goer is discovered drowned in a fish pond. Meanwhile, Louise Jane is totally captivated by Tom Reilly, a handsome, charming art dealer lurking at the edges of the receptions on both nights. Tom slipped away from the party early, and he cannot be located by the police. Who, Lucy asks, is Tom Reilly, the shadowy figure threatening to break Louise Jane's heart?"--

Book Synopsis

Outer Banks librarian Lucy is working on an art show at the library when paintings-and people-start to go missing, in this 11th Lighthouse Library mystery from national bestselling author Eva Gates.

When a traveling show of impressionist art comes to Nags Head, North Carolina, librarian Lucy and the staff at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library are inspired to create an educational display about art history. Their launch of the display is a huge success, but the morning after, they discover that a reproduction of a famous painting has gone missing.

No one knows why anyone would bother stealing it: the picture is of no value-the real, priceless painting is under lock and key at the art show itself. Lucy gets an invite to the glitzy opening night for the real show, where she notices unusual tension among the show's organizers. Then, the man scheduled to give the welcoming speech fails to arrive, and a party-goer is discovered drowned in a fish pond.

Meanwhile, Louise Jane is totally captivated by Tom Reilly, a handsome, charming art dealer lurking at the edges of the receptions on both nights. Tom slipped away from the party early, and he cannot be located by the police. Who, Lucy asks, is Tom Reilly, the shadowy figure threatening to break Louise Jane's heart?

Something is afoot in Nags Head, and it's up to Lucy and her friends to get to the bottom of it before it's not just paintings being framed.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Stranger in the Library
"A neat package of art lore and murder set against the storied background of the Outer Banks."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Fans of the series will enjoy Lucy's new married state, and it's a treat to see Lucy researching the art, much like Delaney does in Paige Shelton's Scottish Bookshop series."
--Booklist

"A great premise and engaging characters, and you'll have fun following Lucy on another addicting mystery."
--Manhattan Book Review

"Once again proves [Gates's] total mastery of the cozy mystery genre."
--Midwest Book Review

"Readers cannot help but love this series."
--Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

Praise for the Lighthouse Library mysteries:
"Lucy is a delightful and engaging sleuth surrounded by a cast of intriguing characters in an original and unique setting."
--Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author of the Domestic Diva mysteries

"A smart whodunit . . . A likable heroine."
--Sofie Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of the Magical Cats mysteries

"A library in a lighthouse? And a cat? Sign me up! A fun read for all cozy fans."
--Laurie Cass, bestselling author of the Bookmobile Cat Mysteries

"Exceptional . . . Cozy queen Gates is at the top of her game."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"The writing is strong with good description, heavy tension, and a good location."
--New York Journal of Books

"Satisfyingly entertaining."
--Midwest Book Review

"Well-written [and] cleverly plotted."
--Seattle Book Review

"A sure bet for library-loving cozy readers."
--Booklist

"A rollicking good read that cozy fans will love."
--Suspense Magazine

"An engaging mystery . . . Readers who enjoyed Miranda James's 'Cat in the Stacks' mysteries will discover this series similarly entertaining, complete with a library, a cat, and a captivating location and sleuth."
--Library Journal starred review

About the Author

Eva Gates is a national bestselling author who began her writing career as a Sunday writer: a single mother of three high-spirited daughters, with a full-time job as a computer programmer. Now she has more than twenty novels under her belt in the mystery genre, published under the name Vicki Delany. She lives in Ontario. This is her ninth Lighthouse Library mystery.