Whose Body in the Library: A Lighthouse Library Mystery

A new librarian's first day goes terribly wrong when she finds a dead body on the front steps of the library.

In the thirteenth installment of the beloved Lighthouse Library mysteries, a new character takes the reins.

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.

Author: Eva Gates
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Published: 06/09/2026
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.82lbs
Size: 8.54h x 5.78w x 1.02d
ISBN: 9798892424370


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/15/2026
Library Journal 04/01/2026 pg. 48
Booklist 05/01/2026

About the Author
Eva Gates is one of Canada's most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the United States. As Vicki Delany, she has written more than fifty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy.

She is a past chair of the Crime Writers of Canada and cofounder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. She is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. Vicki lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.