CANR
WORK TITLE: A Killer Clue
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://victoriagilbertmysteries.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: CA 417
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married.
EDUCATION:B.A.; M.A. (library science); M.A. (liberal studies).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, novelist, and librarian. Has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director.
AVOCATIONS:Watching films, gardening, traveling.
MEMBER:Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Victoria Gilbert is a mystery writer who grew up near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Gilbert developed an early love of reading, which led her to a dual career as an author and librarian. Gilbert is the author of the “Blue Ridge Library Mystery” series. “My series is set in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia,” Gilbert noted in an interview with Mayor Sonni for the Readeropolis website, adding: “It just so happens that I grew up in a similar location—in fact, the town of Taylorsford is an amalgam of many of the small towns in the county where I was raised.” Gilbert has also started several other series.
“Blue Ridge Library Mystery” series
The series begins with the mystery A Murder for the Books, which a Publishers Weekly contributor called a “captivating first novel.” A Murder for the Books features librarian Amy Weber, who becomes involved in an investigation to solve a decades-old murder and clear the person accused of the crime. Amy was a librarian at Clarion University when she discovered that her boyfriend was cheating, leading her to cause a scene at a university reception. Humiliated and distraught, Amy leaves her job and home and moves to the historical mountain town of Taylorsford in Virginia, which is her ancestral family home, to live with her aunt. Taylorsford is a small, quiet town where very little that is sensational happens. Amy gets a job running the local public library, which needs careful oversight due to a lack of funding. The reader, along with Amy, soon meets many of the library’s eccentric patrons.
Then a new neighbor moves in next door to Amy and her aunt. Richard Muir is a classically trained dancer who now teaches dance in college. He inherited the farmhouse from Paul Dassin, who was his great uncle. The house, however, has a reputation in that many people in Taylorsford believe the original owner’s wife, Eleanora Cooper, poisoned him, resulting in a 1925 murder trial. The wife was not from Taylorsford, which made her the prime suspect. However, Eleanora was acquitted of the crime and soon afterward disappeared from town. Richard becomes intent on proving Eleanora’s innocence in honor of his beloved great uncle, who believed she was innocent and once wrote a book about the case. Richard also suspects that his great uncle was in love with Eleanora.
In his effort to prove once and for all that Eleanora was innocent, Richard ends up going to the library to do some research. Amy is not that interested in the case and is skeptical of Richard’s efforts but nevertheless agrees to help him with his research. Eventually, the duo start to discover some disturbing things about some of Taylorsford’s leading families, including Amy’s own family. It turns out that Amy’s grandmother, Rose Baker Litton, had claimed she witnessed Eleanora with recipes for herbal poisoning and, as a result, was a star witness for the prosecution. Meanwhile Doris Virts, who suffered from demential and is found shot to death in the library’s archives. Doris’s murder, which was probably the result of her being in the wrong place at the wrong time, send the townspeople into a state of fear nearing chaos.
Meanwhile, Amy finds the handsome Richard attractive but is wary because her former lover was also in the arts and had broken her heart. Over time, Amy becomes closer to Richard and her distrust dissipates as they try to solve both the decades-old murder and the new murder. Amy narrates the novel, which features “an intricate mystery, an interesting look at the past, and a clever and determined heroine,” according to a Kirkus Reviews contributor. Sue O’Brien, working for Booklist, remarked: “The mystery is nicely framed by details of library work and research.”
(open new)In Shelved under Murder, Amy and Richard find local artist Rachel LeBlanc’s body in her studio in the leadup to the town’s annual heritage festival, where Rachel’s work was to be auctioned to fundraise for the library. Chief Deputy Brad Tucker asks for Amy’s help after they find a hidden room in the studio filled with canvases. A contributor to Publishers Weekly reasoned that “cozy fans will have fun, but seasoned mystery buffs will identify the killer too easily.”
With Past Due for Murder, folklore student Lacey Jacobs goes missing. Richard and Amy’s ex-boyfriend, musician Charles Bartos, both become suspects after the latter appears in town after a lengthy absence. Lacey is found alive next to her professor and Amy’s friend, Mona Raymond, who was shot and badly injured. She had a public conflict with Charles, adding more suspicion onto him. A Kirkus Reviews contributor described it as being “a basic cozy-cum-romance that would have benefited from judicious pruning.”
In Bound for Murder, Amy and Richard are planning their wedding while butting heads with his mother and her grand plans for the affair. Meanwhile, Amy’s coworker, Sunshine Fields, is running for mayor. The discovery of a skeleton on her grandparents’ farm leads her to call off her campaign while Amy steps in to help with the investigation. A Kirkus Reviews contributor stated: “Historical research wins out over romance and mystery in this pleasant cozy.”
With A Deadly Edition, shady friend Kurt Kendrick’s party celebrating the upcoming wedding of Amy and Richard is upended when a body is found there. Art dealer Oscar Selvaggio’s poisoning is blamed on Kurt, but Amy believes there is more to the story than appearances and starts her own investigation. A Kirkus Reviews contributor pointed out that “endearing characters are further fleshed out in the library director’s fifth mystery.”
In Renewed for Murder, newlywed Amy agrees to help her Aunt Lydia after her close friend, Zelda Shoemaker, finds a dead body in her garden. Chief Deputy Tucker arrests Zelda on circumstantial evidence, but Amy suspects that a school choir’s fifty-year reunion may offer some clues as to what happened. A Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked that “the lovingly rendered characters continue to steal the show in the heroine’s sixth case.”
With Death in the Margins, Richard’s former dance partner and fiancé, Meredith Fox, is found murdered while she is directing the premiere of his Folklore Suite. A contributor to Publishers Weekly suggested that “this one’s for fans who have become enamored of a town that evokes Disney’s Main Street, U.S.A.” While with Murder Checks Out, Richard and Amy’s twins, Nicky and Ella, are appearing in his production of The Nutcracker. The town is also protesting against Wendy Blackstone’s real estate development plan, which ultimately leads to her murder and Amy’s involvement in the investigation. A Kirkus Reviews contributor observed that “Christmas cheer mixes with a mystery nearly overrun by hordes of suspects.”
“Book Lover's B&B Mystery” series
Booked for Death is based at Beaufort, North Carolina’s Chapters Bed and Breakfast. Owner and former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed loves to host literary related events. She is blackmailed by rare book dealer Lincoln Delamont, who claims that Charlotte’s great-aunt Isabella acquired some of her rare books illicitly. After Lincoln is found murdered, Charlotte must act quickly to clear her name. A contributor to Publishers Weekly insisted that “cozy fans and book lovers will be satisfied.”
Reserved for Murder finds popular romantic fantasy author Amanda Noble signing copies of her latest book at Chapters Bed and Breakfast. When the president of Amanda’s biggest fan club is found dead nearby, Charlotte starts digging for information, finding that many people had motives to want her dead. A contributor to Publishers Weekly opined that “well-rounded characters match the finely crafted plot.”
With A Fatal Booking, Charlotte hosts a book-club group at the B&B that is led by her friend, Lora Kane. She quickly learns that his book club’s members are constantly at odds with each other. When one of the members if found dead from cyanide poisoning in the garden, Charlotte finds out that some of the members have their own personal ties to Chapters and her great-aunt Isabella. A Kirkus Reviews contributor mentioned that “plenty of suspects, local color, and burgeoning romance add up to a charming cozy.”
Other Books
In A Cryptic Clue, Jane Hunter accepts a job from wealthy but socially awkward Cam Clewe to catalog and inventory his collection of classic mysteries so that others may take advantage of them. When his ex-girlfriend, Ashley Allen, is found dead at a fundraiser held at his mansion, Cam becomes the principal suspect. Cam asks Jane to help find out who killed Ashley, noting that there were many who may have wanted her dead. Jane’s investigation unveils numerous secrets of both Ashley and Cam. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that “an offbeat pairing of sleuths enlivens this new mystery series.”
Jane and Cam return in A Killer Clue, where bookstore owner Eloise Anderson hopes the pair can prove her late mother’s innocence in the murder of her father, for which she spent fifteen years in jail. Eloise’s father was found in her mother’s bookstore stabbed to death when she was only eighteen, leaving her mother as the only suspect. When the detective who investigated the murder is found dead in Eloise’s bookstore, Cam and Jane dig through lost rare books and dark secrets the bookstore held to find out who was responsible. Writing in Library Journal, Lesa Holstine called it “a traditional cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.”
With Schooled in Murder, mystery author Jenn Dalton directs Clarion University’s writing center. She finds a professor who had fallen to his death and wonders if it was murder, suicide, or an accident. When her favorite student, Mia Jackson, goes missing and becomes a suspect in the possible murder, Jenn decides to look into matters on her own. She enlists help from psychologist Zach Flynn as they dig into the history of the professor and his relationships with his students. A Kirkus Reviews contributor commented that “an appealing sleuth with an engaging love interest lights up this series debut.”(close new)
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 15, 2017, Sue O’Brien, review of A Murder for the Books; November 15, 2019, Susan Maguire, review of Bound for Murder, p. 28; June 1, 2022, Karen Muller, review of A Fatal Booking, p. 34; June 1, 2023, Susan Maguire, review of A Cryptic Clue, p. 38; October 15, 2023, Susan Maguire, review of Murder Checks Out, p. 27.
Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2017, review of A Murder for the Books; May 1, 2018, review of Shelved under Murder; December 1, 2018, review of Past Due for Murder; November 1, 2019, review of Bound for Murder; October 1, 2020, review of A Deadly Edition; April 15, 2021, review of Reserved for Murder; October 1, 2021, review of Renewed for Murder; April 1, 2022, review of A Fatal Booking; November 1, 2022, review of Death in the Margins; June 1, 2023, review of A Cryptic Clue; October 15, 2023, review of Murder Checks Out; September 1, 2024, review of A Killer Clue; December 1, 2024, review of Schooled in Murder.
Library Journal, May 5, 2020, Lesa Holstine, review of Booked for Death, p. 98; November 1, 2023, Lesa Holstine, review of Murder Checks Out, p. 43; June 1, 2024, Lesa Holstine, review of A Killer Clue, p. 86.
MBR Bookwatch, August 1, 2020, review of Booked for Death; February 1, 2021, Nancy Lorraine, review of A Deadly Edition; December 1, 2021, Nancy Lorraine, review of Renewed for Murder.
Publishers Weekly, October 23, 2017, review of A Murder for the Books; May 21, 2018, review of Shelved under Murder, p. 51; November 4, 2019, review of Bound for Murder, p. 43; April 20, 2020, review of Booked for Death, p. 51; April 12, 2021, review of Reserved for Murder, p. 53; October 25, 2021, review of Renewed for Murder, p. 67; October 17, 2022, review of Death in the Margins, p. 44; July 29, 2024, review of A Killer Clue, p. 39.
ONLINE
Bookish Indulgences, https://www.ddsreviews.in/ (March 19, 2020), author interview.
Pen In Hand, Words on Page, https://victorialkwilliams.blog/ (September 2, 2021), Victoria L.K. Williams, author interview.
Readeropolis, http://readeropolis.blogspot.com/ (March 26, 2018), Mayor Sonni, “Author Q&A … Victoria Gilbert: A Murder for the Books Book Tour,” author interview.
Ruff Drafts, https://debbiedelouise.com/ (July 19, 2018), author interview.
Victoria Gilbert website, http://victoriagilbertmysteries.com (December 29, 2024).
Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. She writes both traditional and cozy mysteries. She’s also written fantasy and science fiction.
Victoria has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films or TV, gardening, or traveling. She loves animals, chocolate, and all the arts.
Victoria is represented by Frances Black of Literary Counsel, NY, NY, and is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.
Victoria Gilbert
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Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. She holds a B.A. in Theatre, a M.A. in Library Science, a second M.A. in Liberal Studies, and is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America.
Genres: Cozy Mystery
New and upcoming books
September 2024
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A Killer Clue
(Hunter and Clewe Mystery, book 2)January 2025
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Schooled in Murder
(Campus Sleuth Mystery, book 1)July 2025
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Death and the Librarian
(Blue Ridge Library Mystery, book 9)
Series
Blue Ridge Library Mystery
1. A Murder for the Books (2017)
2. Shelved Under Murder (2018)
3. Past Due for Murder (2019)
4. Bound for Murder (2020)
5. A Deadly Edition (2020)
6. Renewed for Murder (2021)
7. Death in the Margins (2022)
8. Murder Checks Out (2023)
9. Death and the Librarian (2025)
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Mirror of Immortality
1. Crown of Ice (2019)
2. Scepter of Fire (2019)
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Book Lover's B&B Mystery
1. Booked for Death (2020)
2. Reserved for Murder (2021)
3. A Fatal Booking (2022)
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Hunter and Clewe Mystery
1. A Cryptic Clue (2023)
2. A Killer Clue (2024)
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Campus Sleuth Mystery
1. Schooled in Murder (2025)
Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now retired after over 30 years in the library field, she’s worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library director. Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library mystery series, the Booklover’s B&B mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Victoria lives in North Carolina.
Author Interview of Victoria Gilbert, Author of Shelved Under Murder, A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Posted on July 19, 2018
I’m pleased to have author Victoria Gilbert from North Carolina here to speak about her writing and new release, Shelved Under Murder, that is on blog tour with Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book.
Welcome, Victoria. Please tell us how long you’ve been published and what titles and/or series you write.
My first book, CROWN OF ICE, written as Vicki L. Weavil, was published in Sept. 2014. It is a fantasy – actually a fairytale retelling of H. C. Andersen’s The Snow Queen. I republished that title, as well as its companion title, SCEPTER OF FIRE – a “mash-up” retelling of Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling and The Steadfast Tin Soldier – as books one and two in the Mirror of Immortality Series in the spring of 2017 with my self-publishing co-op, Snowy Wings Publishing.
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I also had a YA scifi – FACSIMILE, written as Vicki L. Weavil — that was published in 2016, but that book is currently out-of-print.
My first mystery, which was written as Victoria Gilbert, is A MURDER FOR THE BOOKS. It was published in December 2017 by Crooked Lane Books.
Very nice. It’s great that you’re experienced writing different genres.
Tell us a little bit about your books — if you write a series, any upcoming releases or your current work-in-progress. If you have an upcoming release, please specify the release date.
The Blue Ridge Library Mystery series is a three-book series. (It may include additional books, but I’m waiting to hear about that).
Book One, A MURDER FOR THE BOOKS, was published in hardback and eBook by Crooked Lane Books on December 12, 2017. The audiobook version from Tantor Media released in April, and the paperback edition was published by Crooked Lane on June 12th.
Book Two, SHELVED UNDER MURDER, was published in hardback and eBook by Crooked Lane – along with the audiobook from Tantor – on July 10th. The paperback edition will release in Jan. 2019.
Book Three, PAST DUE FOR MURDER, will be published in hardback and eBook by Crooked Lane in Feb. 2019, along with its accompanying audiobook from Tantor. There will also be a paperback edition that will be published later.
These sound like great books. As a librarian and also an author of a series featuring a librarian, I think I’d enjoy reading these.
Describe your goals as a writer. What do you hope to achieve in the next few years? What are you planning to do to reach these goals?
I simply want to keep writing until the day I die. Hopefully that will include publication of all the books I write! Over the next few years I hope to develop, write, and publish additional cozy and/or light mysteries, as well as to continue my current series (if my publisher requests more books). To accomplish that goal, I plan to write at least two books a year, work on enhancing my promotional efforts, attend pertinent conferences and conventions, and keep improving my craft.
Those are great goals. I’d love to meet you at a conference one day.
What type of reader are you hoping to attract? Who do you believe would be most interested in reading your books?
As I am a very eclectic reader myself, I would be happy to attract anyone who enjoys reading.
As far as who might be most interested in my books, I would say anyone who likes cozy or light mysteries, anyone interested in a small-town setting in a mystery, anyone who enjoys some (clean) romance in their books, and anyone who likes historical mysteries mixed in with contemporary crime-solving.
Now I’m sure I’d be interested in your books.
What advice would you give other authors or those still trying to get published?
Experiment and try new things, especially if you are feeling “stuck” or unfulfilled with where you are now. I started out in one genre, and while I did get published in that genre, I discovered that my real strengths as a writer lay elsewhere. Experimenting with writing mysteries, a genre I always loved but wasn’t certain I could write successfully, opened up a new world to me. I learned that my style and interests fit the mystery genre – something I would never have known if I hadn’t attempted to write in a new and different genre.
That’s a great tip.
What particular challenges and struggles did you face before first becoming published?
To be honest, I faced more challenges AFTER being first published than before. I really don’t wish to go into details about that, but I will say that all my experiences have taught me a great deal about the publishing business, which I think is always beneficial.
I feel the same. You learn so much after you publish. It’s like on-the-job training compared to going to school.
Do you belong to any writing groups? Which ones?
I am a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. I am also involved in my local Sisters in Crime chapter, Murder We Write.
You belong to most of my own groups except for Mystery Writers of America and the Murder We Write chapter of Sisters in Crime. I joined the Guppie chapter because I don’t have an agent or large publisher yet. I may look into the Murder We Write chapter, too, if I’m eligible to be a member.
What are your hobbies and interests besides writing?
I love reading, of course. I also enjoy gardening, walking, traveling, drawing and painting, listening to music, attending theatre and dance performances, and watching films.
You have a nice variety of interests that I’m sure also help you with your writing.
What do you like most and least about being an author? What is your toughest challenge?
What I like most is the creative process and bringing my characters to life. I also enjoy developing plots and honing my words into something that can make me feel proud. (Even though my writing is never perfect and I am still learning). In addition, I love hearing from readers who have enjoyed my books.
My toughest challenge, and what I like least, is promotion. I am not a natural salesperson so dealing with the marketing aspects of the business are much more of a challenge for me than the creative side.
I think most writers feel the same. I know I do.
What do you like about writing cozy mysteries?
As someone who is not fond of reading books that include graphic violence, language, or sex, I enjoy writing in a genre that doesn’t include those things. I also enjoy being able to focus on characters and everyday life while still being able to include action and adventure. In addition, cozies are fun – something I think we need more of in this world.
I totally agree. As a librarian, even though I need to order books that contain the elements you mentioned, I steer away from them for my own reading because I find they detract from the plot.
Can you share a short excerpt from your latest title or upcoming release?
From: SHELVED UNDER MURDER by Victoria Gilbert:
The rest of the body was revealed as we stepped around the table. Crumpled on her side, with her knees drawn up in a defensive posture, was a middle-aged woman. Her eyes were closed and her thin face partially veiled by locks of curly dark hair. I gripped Richard’s fingers tighter. As my mind attempted to process the scene, I noticed that the fingertips of the artist’s other hand brushed a palette knife that glistened as if it had been soaked in the oil and wiped clean.
The woman lay there so quietly, it was as if she were merely napping. For a moment I could imagine her grasping the knife and rising to her feet to resume work on the canvas sitting on the easel. But the crimson stains blossoming like roses against her white painter’s smock told another story.
Rachel LeBlanc would not finish her latest work. In fact, she would never complete a painting again.
Intriguing excerpt. Thank you.
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you or your books?
I would like them to know that I am happy to engage with readers on social media or via my website contact form and would also love to talk to them if we meet at any conferences, signings, or related events. So readers – don’t hesitate to connect with me!
I’m adding your social media links below to help readers find you and also the rafflecopter link to your blog tour. Thanks again for the interview, and I wish you the best of luck on your new release and future books and series.
Website/blog: http://victoriagilbertmysteries.com/
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaGilbertMysteryAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VGilbertauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/VictoriaGilbert
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriagilbertauthor/
Rafflecopter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/02887792739/?widget_template=56d5f80dbc544fb30fda66f0
#Interview with @VGilbertauthor, #Author of Bound for Murder
March 19, 2020 Author Interview, Giveaway, Mysterious March
About the Author:
Check the Author's Amazon Page
Raised in a historic small town near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian.
Victoria’s Blue Ridge Library Mystery series is published by Crooked Lane Books. Four books – A MURDER FOR THE BOOKS, SHELVED UNDER MURDER, PAST DUE FOR MURDER, and BOUND FOR MURDER – are out now. Book five, A DEADLY EDITION, will be published on Dec. 8, 2020. The first two books in the series are currently under option with Sony Pictures Television.
Victoria is also writing a new cozy series, the Booklovers B&B series, for Crooked Lane. Set in historic Beaufort, NC, the first book in the series, BOOKED FOR DEATH, will be published on June 9, 2020 with book two releasing in 2021.
A member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime, Victoria is represented by Frances Black at Literary Counsel. She lives near Winston-Salem, NC with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats.
Victoria Gilbert on the Web:
Website * Facebook * Instagram * Twitter * Pinterest * Goodreads * YouTube
Interview with Victoria Gilbert
How did you come up with the idea for your current story?
My most release is BOUND FOR MURDER, book four in my Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. The series is published by Crooked Lane Books, and all four books are available in eBook, hardback, and audio wherever books are sold.
The idea for this series came from my own experiences as a librarian as well as growing up in a small town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Virginia. This is a traditional/cozy mystery series set in contemporary times, but with a historical mystery (or two) included in each book. I weave some of the history and folklore of the area into the stories, as well as my library knowledge, experience with living in historic small towns, and background in the visual and performing arts.
Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?
Yes, I have two completed adult scifi books – the first two books in a trilogy – that were the first two novels I ever completed. I doubt they will ever be published at this point, although I may revise them and self-publish when I have more time and money for “hobby” books.
Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
Not necessarily a quirk, but my protagonist, Amy Webber, is a library director – a job which was a major part of my thirty-year library career. So I do weave in a lot of my own knowledge and experience with library work into the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series.
Amy is also very curious and enjoys doing research, which I also love!
Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?
I’ve always been a voracious reader and, honestly, everything I know about writing I learned from reading.
One of my favorite authors, who I also believe influenced my style, is Mary Stewart, especially in her romantic suspense/mystery novels.
Many of my other favorite authors don’t write in my genre, so I’m not sure how much influence they’ve had on my writing, other than showing me what great writing can be. (Not that I’ve reached that level yet, but I do study their work to try to understand how they achieve greatness). Although this isn’t everyone, I must mention the following: Anne Tyler, John Crowley, Dorothy Dunnett, P.D. James, Dorothy Sayers, all the Brontes, John le Carre, and Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine.
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different genres, books for various age groups, or other things. Sometimes I think we aren’t the best judges of our own abilities, and we get stuck trying to write one specific type of book when perhaps our experiences, knowledge, and skills are better suited to another type. I certainly discovered this. I started out writing SF/F (which I do enjoy) but have found that my writing “voice” works better for traditional or cozy mysteries. I wouldn’t have known this if I hadn’t experimented with writing in a different genre.
What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?
I really don’t have specific choices for most of the characters in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, although my protagonist’s significant other, Richard Muir, would need to be an actor who can dance, or at least move like a professional dancer. I also think that Ted Danson would make a perfect Kurt Kendrick. (One of the major characters who appears throughout the series).
How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?
I like to read, of course! But I also enjoy traveling; gardening; attending music, dance, or theatre performances; and watching TV and films.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
I have traveled across the U.S. and through parts of Europe, but I haven’t yet visited England, Scotland, and Ireland. I would definitely like to do so – sooner rather than later!
Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
1. I used to sing in chamber choirs and choruses and even privately studied voice. I was a soprano, and could hit some seriously high notes! (Sadly, I can’t quite reach those anymore).
2. I majored in theatre as an undergrad, but focused on costume design and construction rather than acting or directing. After college, before I decided to get my Masters in Library Science, I did some work as a freelance costume designer.
3. I grew up in a very rural area, next to my grandparents’ small family farm, but have lived in many different types of locations in my life, including New York City.
What do you have in store next for your readers?
I have a new series coming out from Crooked Lane Books, called the Booklover’s B&B series. It is set in the historic harbor town of Beaufort, NC. Book one – BOOKED FOR DEATH – releases on June 9th. Preorders are already available at online retailers.
Book two of the Booklover’s B&B series (as yet untitled) will be released in 2021.
Also, book five in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series – A DEADLY EDITION – will be published by Crooked Lane Books this year (Dec. 8, 2020).
Meet Victoria Gilbert
On September 2, 2021 By Victoria LK Williams (Vicki Williams)In Uncategorized
Victoria Gilbert writes mysteries, but she has penned a few science-fiction as well. Her books are wide, published by Crooked Lane Books.
Victoria Gilbert
Where is your favorite vacation spot? Beach, Resort or Poolside?
I love traveling, and don’t have one place I would select over all others. I really prefer to explore new places and cultures rather than return to one spot over and over. But based on the list in the question, I would choose the beach.
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Everyone takes a tote bag with them when they head out for a day at the beach, what is in yours?
Water bottle, sunscreen, a couple of books, keys to my timeshare condo, a small bag of salty snacks, hand wipes, a coverup if I get too much sun, my cellphone.
What makes your books perfect for a beach read? The setting, the story or the characters?
My Booklover’s B&B series is set in coastal community near Atlantic Beach, NC, so the setting of that series is perfect for a beach read. My Blue Ridge Library Mystery series is set in the mountains, but the stories are full of adventure and fun, and the characters are endearing, so I think they also make for enjoyable beach reads.
NEW RELEASE!!
What advice would you give a new writer, someone just starting?
Don’t be afraid to experiment with new genres or age group classifications. I started out writing YA fantasy and scifi, and had books published in those genres. But after some issues with a former publisher, I switched gears and have ended up having a much more successful career writing in the adult mystery genre I wouldn’t have known I had that capability unless I had experimented with writing in a new genre and age category.
So I always say, if you find your career derailed or stalled, maybe try writing something different!
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I’ve completed 13 novels. Nine are published, two are permanently shelved, one was pubbed but is now out-of-print, and one is written but won’t be released until Dec. 2021. I also have four more books under contract for release in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
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I don’t have a favorite. That would be like having a favorite child!
What is the future for the characters? Will there be a sequel?
There will definitely be one more book (bk 3) in the Booklover’s B&B series and one more (bk. 7) in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. After that, who knows? That’s up to my publisher (based on popularity and sales of the previous books).I also have a new series, the Hunter & Clewe Mysteries. Those books don’t release until 2023 and 2024, but you can read more about them here: HUNTER AND CLEWE MYSTERIES (victoriagilbertmysteries.com)
How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?
I always have a multitude of ideas. The question is whether they are marketable or not.
My most recent idea involves a 30-something art historian and her first cousin who discover that their barely known, recently deceased, grandfather was an art thief. They attempt to return the stolen art pieces without involving the authorities, which of course results in adventure and shenanigans!
Do you have a library membership?
Of course! I worked as a professional librarian for over thirty years, so libraries are a major part of my life. I’ve been a research librarian, reference librarian, and a library director for a performing and visual arts university. Libraries and librarians are also featured in many of my books.
If you could tell your younger writing-self anything, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid of failure – give it a try and start a lot earlier! Although I always loved writing, I didn’t actually complete a novel until I was 56, and I was 58 before my first book was published. But I have made up some of the time by writing 13 novels over the last nine years. (But I still wish I’d started sooner).
Books by Victoria
Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Victoria. I have read several of your books, and I’m a fan! Keep an eye out for her newest release, Renewed for Murder, to be released on December 7th.
Shelved Under Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Victoria Gilbert. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-68331-595-7
In Gilbert's agreeable sequel to 2017's A Murder for the Books, Amy Weber, the director of the public library in Taylorsford, Va., is gearing up for the town's annual heritage festival, which will feature a sale of items to benefit the library, including two paintings donated by local artist Rachel LeBlanc. Amy and her boyfriend, the devastatingly handsome and charming Richard Muir, drive over to Rachel's farm to pick up the artwork. In Rachel's barn studio, they find her lying dead on the floor. Within minutes of the arrival of Chief Deputy Brad Tucker and his team, police discover a hidden room in the barn filled with canvases: "Morisot, Monet, de Chirico, Cezanne," according to Amy. Since Amy has an undergraduate degree in art history and is a good researcher, Brad asks Amy to lend a hand in the investigation. Art trafficking, small-town feuds, and another murder follow. Cozy fans will have fun, but seasoned mystery buffs will identify the killer too easily; Gilbert could use a few lessons in slipping clues seamlessly into the text. Agent: Frances Black, Literary Counsel. (July)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
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"Shelved Under Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 265, no. 21, 21 May 2018, pp. 51+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A541012602/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7a97c646. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria SHELVED UNDER MURDER Crooked Lane (Adult Fiction) $26.99 7, 10 ISBN: 978-1-68331-595-7
Virginia librarian Amy Webber's love of books is upstaged by two other art forms, painting and dance, in her second cozy.
The approach of Taylorsford's annual Heritage Festival promises a host of new experiences for Amy and her patrons, not all of them pleasant. Amy is apprehensive about sending Richard Muir, the dancer/choreographer/professor she met in her first brush with homicide (A Murder for the Books, 2017) off to New York, where he's suddenly needed to help Meredith Fox, the fiancee who ditched him, stage his dance Return. She's not eager to honor the request by Melody Riley, the new chair of the Taylorsford Friends of the Library, to ask her Aunt Lydia to donate some of the paintings by her long-dead husband, Andrew Talbot, for a yard-sale fundraiser. And she's not best pleased when her trip with Richard to pick up some paintings donated by better-known local artist Rachel LeBlanc ends with the discovery of the painter's corpse, stabbed with her own palette knife. Who could possibly have shattered the paradise of Taylorsford by committing such an outrage? A pillar of the community like gossipy ex-postmaster Zelda Shoemaker; a newcomer like Melody's son, Trey, who plans to reopen a shuttered winery; a missing party like Rachel's husband, artist/teacher Reese LeBlanc; or a confederate of the monstrous Quinn family, that notorious international gang of forgers? The hints of large-scale criminality are unconvincing, but Amy turns out to be as apt a student of art forgery as she is of everything book-related.
Just the thing for readers whose pulses quicken when they read: "The way he looks at you sometimes...deserves an R-rating."
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gilbert, Victoria: SHELVED UNDER MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A536571187/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=6d5241e9. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria PAST DUE FOR MURDER Crooked Lane (Adult Fiction) $26.99 2, 12 ISBN: 978-1-68331-874-3
A library director's past and present lovers are the leading suspects in a case of murder.
Amy Webber has been helping university lecturer and folklorist Mona Raymond research legends about fairies, missing girls, hidden gold, and mysterious lights from the Blue Ridge Mountain area, where Amy lives with her aunt. Mona is telling stories at a Girl Scout bonfire when Charles Bartos, a pianist, composer, and professor at nearby Clarion University who'd stolen Amy's heart and then dumped her, suddenly appears. Mona lashes out at him, accusing him of stealing her research for one of his compositions. Charles had recently returned to the house he built in the mountains after the woman who replaced Amy was killed in a hit-and-run. Now Lacey Jacobs, one of Mona's students, has suddenly vanished, and her friends are concerned. Amy's worried about her current love interest, Richard Muir, a talented dancer and choreographer who's suddenly become distant after working with Lacey in one of his classes. Richard was apparently the last person to see Lacey, who'd run from his office in tears. When the police look for Lacey, they find her in bad shape next to the body of Mona, who's in even worse shape after being shot. Amy, who has a good relationship with the police (Shelved Under Murder, 2018, etc.), can't believe that either Charles or Richard is a murderer. So she uses her sleuthing and research talents to determine who else might have it in for the two women. With Lacey in a coma and her relationship in danger, Amy uses every connection she can work and puts herself in mortal peril searching for the truth.
A basic cozy-cum-romance that would have benefited from judicious pruning.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gilbert, Victoria: PAST DUE FOR MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A563598560/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0bf1a2a9. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria BOUND FOR MURDER Crooked Lane (Adult Fiction) $26.99 1, 7 ISBN: 978-1-64385-243-0
Can a 50-year-old secret ruin an aspiring politician's campaign?
Amy Webber, Sunshine Fields' best friend and boss at the Taylorsford Public Library in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is engaged to Richard Muir, dancer, choreographer, teacher, and her next-door neighbor. Amy wants the wedding to be simple, but Richard's mother is determined that it will be a tasteful extravaganza. Meanwhile, Sunny's campaign for mayor is rudely interrupted when a skeleton is found on her grandparents' farm. P.J. and Carol Fields run Vista View as an organic farm, but for a while in the 1960s, it was a commune housing a motley crew of people with varying drug habits. Amy, whose research skills have helped the police solve several murders (Past Due for Murder, 2019, etc.), finds a 1965 newspaper article mentioning the disappearance of Jeremy Adams, a talented musician who'd lived on the commune but left to pursue his career. Chief Deputy Brad Tucker, Sunny's ex-boyfriend, asks Amy to do a little more research but to keep it quiet since the case could involve Sunny's grandparents, who Amy's sure are hiding information. Once they've given Amy a list of all the former commune members, she starts digging into their histories. One of them recently died in what seems to have been an accident. When the skeleton is identified as Adams', reporters stake out the Fieldses, but after a rough start, Sunny, encouraged by Amy, makes friends with handsome Daniel Dane, an investigative reporter digging deep into the past because his own aunt went missing from the area in 1964. When another commune alumnus is shot dead, Amy redoubles her efforts, searching the past for clues. A little help from her friends, including a former drug dealer who helped keep the commune mellow, sets her on the right track, prompting dire warnings from the killer.
Historical research wins out over romance and mystery in this pleasant cozy.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gilbert, Victoria: BOUND FOR MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A604119838/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=8ca741a6. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Bound for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery Victoria Gilbert. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-64385-243-0
The discovery of a body on the farm of mayoral candidate Sunny Fields's grand-parents propels Gilbert's diverting fourth Blue Ridge Library mystery set in Taylotsford, Va. (after 2019's Past Due for Murder). Since a scandal connected to Sunny's family wouldn't be good for her candidacy, her best friend, librarian Amy Webber, steps up to help. Amy proposes to use her research skills to try to clear the grandparents, who once ran a commune on the farm. When the skeletal remains, showing signs of foul play, are identified as those of a man who went missing from the commune back in the 1960s, the cold case starts to heat up. Amy's 66-year-old aunt, Lydia Talbot, is a good source of information, while Lydia's significant other, Hugh Chen, and Amy's fiance, Richard Muir, also assist in the sleuthing. The stakes rise with a second murder, but is it connected to the first one? The plot builds to a complex but satisfying solution. Cozy fans will hope Amy will return soon. Agent: Frances Black, Literary Counsel. (Jan.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 PWxyz, LLC
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"Bound for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 266, no. 44, 4 Nov. 2019, p. 43. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A606234557/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ac1f6fb8. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Bound for Murder. By Victoria Gilbert. Jan. 2020. 320p. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (9781643852430); e-book (9781643852447).
The fourth Blue Ridge Library mystery (after Past Due for Murder, 2019) finds Taylorsford Public Library director Amy Webber once again involved in a murder investigation. But this time, she has Chief Deputy Brad Tucker's blessing, at least at first. Jeremy Adams lived in Carol and PJ Fields' Vista View commune during the 1960s until he supposedly left to pursue a music career in LA. His disappearance was never investigated seriously back then (he was a hippie and a drug user and African American), but when a body is found on the farm, identifying Jeremy's remains is the least of the mysteries. Webber uses her access to the archives to aid the police, then starts an unofficial investigation by talking to the few remaining ex-communers still in the area-including the Fields, whose granddaughter, Sunny, is Amy's best friend. Series fans will enjoy the ongoing shenanigans around Amy's upcoming wedding to the dashing dancer, Richard, who rescues a cat named Fosse, and newbies with an appreciation for small town politics (and an interlibrary loan mulligan) will have no trouble starting here. -Susan Maguire
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 American Library Association
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Maguire, Susan. "Bound for Murder." Booklist, vol. 116, no. 6, 15 Nov. 2019, p. 28. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A608183673/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7c59c6f4. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
ooked for Death: A Booklover's B&B Mystery
Victoria Gilbert. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-64385-307-9
The action of this charming series launch from Gilbert (the Blue Ridge Library mysteries) takes place mainly at Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast, an inn in Beaufort, N.C., that hosts literary events. The owner, former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed, recently inherited the place from its founder, her great-aunt Isabella Harrington. In the library, during a celebration of mystery author Josephine Tey, Charlotte runs into rare book dealer Lincoln Delamont, who tells Charlotte that he's unearthed a family secret--Isabella, a former maid, purchased rare volumes for the B&B with ill-gotten gains. He implies that he'll reveal the secret, which is news to Charlotte, and cause a scandal unless she sells him valuable books for next to nothing. When Delamont's body is later discovered in the carriage house, the book dealer's 16-year-old daughter is certain Charlotte killed her father to silence him. Charlotte sets out to clear her name, ably abetted by a neighbor with her own intriguing past. The stakes rise as more suspects and another big secret come to light. Cozy fans and book lovers will be satisfied. Agent: Frances Black, Arts Counsel. (June)
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"Booked for Death: A Booklover's B&B Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 267, no. 16, 20 Apr. 2020, p. 51. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A623444673/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=826cefd9. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria. Booked for Death. Crooked Lane. (Booklover's B&B, Bk. 1). Jun. 2020. 320p. ISBN 9781643853079. $26.99. M
Charlotte Reed inherits her great-aunt Isabella's bed-and-breakfast, Chapters, in Beaufort, NC, a historic inn known for its special events that celebrate books and authors. The Josephine Tey event is spoiled by the murder of a book dealer who had insinuated to Charlotte that Isabella's money and famed book collection were procured illegally. As Charlotte tries to protect herself and her aunt's reputation, she uncovers stories about the man's affairs, his attempts to ruin others, and his physical abuse of women. She also uncovers the truth about Isabella and the years she disappeared. But, while Charlotte researches the past, a killer is still trying to keep their own secrets, and the widowed B&B owner is learning too much for a murderer's comfort. VERDICT Gilbert ("Blue Ridge Library" mysteries) introduces an intelligent, mature amateur sleuth, and a shrewd elderly sidekick in the first in a character-driven cozy series. The leisurely paced mystery offers complex characters with well-developed backgrounds and motives. Readers of Ellery Adams's "Book Retreat" mysteries will appreciate this new series.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Holstine, Lesa. "Gilbert, Victoria. Booked for Death." Library Journal, vol. 145, no. 5, May 2020, p. 98. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A622556114/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0fd27c0c. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Booked for Death
Victoria Gilbert, author
Crooked Lane Books
34 W. 27th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001
www.crookedlanebooks.com
www.dreamscapeab.com/audiobooks
9781643853079, $26.99 HC, $12.99 Kindle, 312pp
https://www.amazon.com/Booked-Death-Book-Lovers-Mystery/dp/1643853074
Charlotte Reed, inheritor of Chapters, a Beaufort, NC Bed and Breakfast, delights in organizing special book themed events at her historic location, built in 1770. In the process of running a special Murder themed retreat on Josephine Tey, Charlotte finds herself forced to defend her great aunt Isabella of being a thief, and building Chapters with her ill-gotten gains.
Even worse, Charlotte must deal with the death of one of her guests, a suspect rare book dealer. Armed with the stable assistance of her older friend and neighbor, plus several members of the local book club, Charlotte must solve the murder mystery and prove the innocence of Isabelle, or lose her credibility as a year-long bed and breakfast operator.
Twists and turns make the plot clearer and darker by turns, and the real danger element Charlotte confronts is not minimized. A hostage scenario risks Charlotte and her friend Ellen Montgomery's lives while they bravely proceed to solve the mystery and comfort the possibly justified killer, in another turnabout.
"Booked for Death" holds reader interest from the first pages to the last with a mixture of family history, legend, duplicity, stealth, and audacity. Cozy mystery lovers, book lovers, and southeast coast history buffs will love "Booked for Death" and this author's new series.
It should be noted by community librarians that "Booked for Death" is also available as a complete and unabridged audio book (Dreamscape Media, 9781662008856, $22.99, CD).
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Midwest Book Review
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Lorraine, Nancy. "Booked for Death." MBR Bookwatch, Aug. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A634670747/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=731c091d. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria A DEADLY EDITION Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $26.99 12, 8 ISBN: 978-1-64385-476-2
A long-planned wedding is threatened by murder.
Blue Ridge Library director Amy Webber is about to marry the love of her life, dancer Richard Muir, when she becomes involved in yet another mysterious death, this time at a party Kurt Kendrick is hosting to celebrate the upcoming nuptials. Although Kurt's been a good friend to Amy, his activities have frequently skirted the law. Among the guests is art dealer Oscar Selvaggio, who’s vying with Kurt for a rare William Morris handmade volume of Chaucer’s poetry. When Oscar is fatally poisoned, Kurt is a suspect, but there are plenty of others who might have wanted Oscar dead. Amy’s brother, Scott, is on hand to provide computer expertise, but she suspects he also does field work for a government agency and that her wedding is only part of the reason he's in town. Throw in a private detective who romances Amy’s bestie, an inquisitive stranger who gives a large donation to the library, and members of Amy's own family with secrets to hide, and Amy soon finds herself struggling to find answers. Her research skills are certainly up to the task, but will they keep her alive long enough to say “I do”?
Endearing characters are further fleshed out in the library director's fifth mystery.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gilbert, Victoria: A DEADLY EDITION." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2020. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A636727103/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=57a0d18b. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
A Deadly Edition, A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Victoria Gilbert, author
Crooked Lane Books
34 W. 27th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10001
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781643854762, $26.99 HC, $12.99 Kindle, 359 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Blue-Ridge-Library-Mystery/dp/1643854763
"A Deadly Edition" is the fifth title of the Blue Ridge Library mystery series by beloved author Victoria Gilbert.
This Southern Book Prize finalist has created a librarian's world in Taylorsford, Virginia, where library director Amy Webber confronts the dual challenges of her upcoming nuptials with fiance Richard Muir and the murder of art dealer Oscar Selvaggio, a rival with a jagged relationship with neighbor and wedding cohost, Kurt Kendrick.
Amy enlists the help of her beloved Aunt Lydia Talbot and friend/mayor/ coworker, Sunny Fields to get to the bottom of the mysterious murder.
Avalanches of innuendo, crossplots, and intrigue entangle while the heart of the furor revolves around competition for a rare illustrated volume by William Morris' Kelmscott Press. Author Gilbert skillfully weaves a rich tapestry of suspense, suggested guilt, and motive by association around the principals, which challenge Amy to us her top shelf detective skills in both librarianship and life.
"A Deadly Edition" combines mystery, suspense, romantic sentiment, and danger with a colorful locale and beloved cast of recurring characters in this heady mix of love and logic so familiar to readers of the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries.
Nancy Lorraine
Senior Reviewer
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Midwest Book Review
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Lorraine, Nancy. "A Deadly Edition, A Blue Ridge Library Mystery." MBR Bookwatch, Feb. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A654014815/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e6a73be2. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Reserved for Murder: A Booklover's B&B Mystery
Victoria Gilbert. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-64385-590-5
Gilbert's captivating sequel to 202()'s Booked for Death finds former teacher Charlotte Reed hostirig famous romantic fantasy author Amanda Noble at her inn, Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast, in Beaufort, N.C., where Amanda is doing a signing at the local bookstore. The event has drawn a large crowd, including Lisette Bradford, the head of Amanda's biggest fan club. When Lisette's body is pulled from the water near the Beaufort docks, trauma to her head indicates she was murdered. The prime suspect is Lisette's ex-husband, who's been stalking her, but inquisitive Charlotte asks around and soon realizes several attendees might have had a motive for murder. Charlotte and her neighbor, retired spy Ellen Montgomery, join forces to uncover the truth. A tantalizing subplot involves Ellen's mysterious visiting "cousin," Gavin Howard, who's actually a spy on a mission, and the growing attraction between Charlotte and Gavin provides some romantic heat. Well-rounded characters match the finely crafted plot. Cozy fans will want to see a lot more of Charlotte and friends. Agent: Frances Black. Arts Counsel. (June)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 PWxyz, LLC
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"Reserved for Murder: A Booklover's B&B Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 15, 12 Apr. 2021, p. 53. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A659340658/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=3fa1edab. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria RESERVED FOR MURDER Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $26.99 6, 8 ISBN: 978-1-64385-590-5
A literary-themed North Carolina B&B hosts a famous author and a possible murderer.
Charlotte Reed inherited Chapters, the lovely Beaufort home-turned–B&B, from her great-aunt, a spy for U.S. intelligence whose handler was her neighbor Ellen Montgomery. Ellen is less than thrilled to be hosting a visit from her cousin Gavin Howard, who Charlotte suspects is not actually her cousin. Amanda Nobel, whose romantic book and television series have made her rich and famous but apparently not happy, has come to town as part of her latest book tour. Charlotte's other guests are Tony Lott, the marketing manager for Amanda's tour; Lisette Bradford, head of a large Amanda Nobel fan club; and Harper Gregg and Molly Zeleski, two fans who won a contest to stay at Chapters. It’s soon clear that all is not well. Charlotte picks up hints that Amanda’s newest novel was ghostwritten by someone who got the gig by stealing another writer’s work. Lisette has an ex-husband stalking her. When she’s murdered, he’s a prime suspect but far from the only one. Gavin, who works for the same agency that Ellen once did, has come to keep an eye on someone who was innocently involved in an operation years ago. As they investigate the murder, Charlotte finds herself liking him more than she wants to.
Plenty of mysterious circumstances and quirky characters are spiced with a romance that hints at future complications.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gilbert, Victoria: RESERVED FOR MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A658194490/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7f3d3e71. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria RENEWED FOR MURDER Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $26.99 12, 7 ISBN: 978-1-64385-786-2
A present-day murder in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains is rooted in a high school feud.
Taylorsford, Virginia, library director Amy Webber is basking in the warmth of her recent marriage to respected dancer and choreographer Richard Muir. Amy's research skills have helped uncover several killers, and Richard is dismayed when she has to call on them again because her Aunt Lydia's lifelong friend Zelda Shoemaker has found a dead woman in her garden. Zelda has little to say about the murder except that she didn't commit it, but their friend Chief Deputy Brad Tucker is forced to arrest her based on circumstantial evidence, including a pair of gardening gloves and the fact that the gun Zelda's late husband owned has gone missing. The dead woman is Claudia Everhart, whose high school choir tied with the local Leeland High choir in a competition half a century ago. Many choir alumni are back in town for a group celebration. Ever since dropping out of choir halfway through her senior year, Zelda's been hiding some secret about her experiences back them. Amy, who's delighted to use her research skills to track down anything unusual from that time, finds information about a schoolmate who almost died from a peanut allergy and another who was killed in a car accident. These seemingly unrelated incidents don't seem like a motive for murder, but as Amy and her friends investigate it looks more and more likely that one of them triggered someone to kill.
The lovingly rendered characters continue to steal the show in the heroine's sixth case.
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"Gilbert, Victoria: RENEWED FOR MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Oct. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A677072965/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=325bdad4. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Victoria Gilbert. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-64385-786-2
Gilbert's solid sixth Blue Ridge Library mystery (after 2020's A Deadly Edition) finds library director Amy Webber Muir and her dancer/choreographer husband preparing for a weekend arts festival at Leeland High School in Taylorsford, Va. Among those attending are former members of the school's chamber choir, who are gathering for a 50th reunion performance. When an unknown woman turns up shot to death in the gazebo of Zelda Shoemaker, a former choir member, Chief Deputy Brad Tucker views Zelda with suspicion, since the victim was seen visiting Zelda the day before and Zelda doesn't want to talk about her visitor. A blackmail letter found in the victim's pocket also points to Zelda's culpability. Amy and her Aunt Lydia, who's been a friend of Zelda's since elementary school, are determined to clear her name. Tenacious Amy uses her library research skills to delve into Zelda's past, but what she uncovers only makes her question Zelda's innocence. Well-drawn characters make up for the somewhat diffuse plot. This isn't the place to start for newcomers. Agent: Frances Black, Literary Counsel. (Dec.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 PWxyz, LLC
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"Renewed for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 268, no. 43, 25 Oct. 2021, pp. 67+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A681539213/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c2150a7a. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Renewed for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Victoria Gilbert, author
Crooked Lane Books
34 West 27th Street, Floor 10, New York, NY 10001
www.crookedlanebooks.com
9781643857862, $26.99 HC, $13.99 Kindle, 345 pages
https://www.amazon.com/Renewed-Murder-Ridge-Library-Mystery/dp/164385786X
"Renewed For Murder" is the latest title by Victoria Gilbert in her popular Blue Ridge Library Mystery series of cozy mysteries. A familiar cast of characters include sleuth/library director Amy Webber and dancer husband Richard, along with Amy's friends and relatives including Aunt Lydia Talbot, art dealer Kurt Kendrick, mayor and sleuth sidekick Sunny Fields, long time friend Zelda Shoemaker, who is the innocent accused for a strange murder of an old classmate and lookalike group vocalist, Claudia.
Set in the historically colorful town of Taylorsford,, Virginia,, against an impending August school reunion that uncovers a deadly chain of secrets including blackmail, previous injuries and death, "Renewed for Murder" boasts a twisting plot that challenges Amy to use her considerable history/research/sleuthing skills to help clear her Aunt Lydia's friend Zelda of the courage of murder.
Familiar repeating characters include Chief Deputy Brad Tucker, local townspeople, and adorable cats Loie and Fosse, who complete Amy and Richard's newlywed family.
A complex pattern of past grudges, blackmail, social climbing, and shadowed successes dogs Amy's desperate efforts to untangle clues to clear her accused friend Zelda of the charge of murder.
Fans who have followed the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series will recognize recurring characters and underlying plot hints and threads. "Renewed for Murder" is engrossing, challenging, and intriguing, with believable, lovable characters and vivid settings for just the right amount of danger, spice, and thrill.
Highly recommended for community library "Mystery/Suspense" collections, cozy mystery lovers will want to give "Renewed for Murder" their fullest attention to figure out the final turn of the screw in the plot.
Nancy Lorraine
Senior Reviewer
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Midwest Book Review
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Lorraine, Nancy. "Renewed for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery." MBR Bookwatch, Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A706319104/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d6c1dfa7. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria A FATAL BOOKING Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $26.99 6, 7 ISBN: 978-1-64385-914-9
Thieves, spies, and book lovers mix with startling results at a literary-themed bed-and-breakfast.
Charlotte Reed has come to love Chapters, the North Carolina B&B she inherited from her great-aunt Isabella, who was a thrower of star-studded parties and retired spy. After a cancellation, she considers herself lucky to land a book-club group hosted by her old teaching friend Lora Kane, who's planning the events herself. But it doesn't take long for Charlotte to notice discord among the guests. Jewelry store owner Stacy Wilkin, who's not staying at Chapters because she lives in nearby New Bern, has managed to antagonize several members of the group and even a local charter boat captain. Oddly, Arnold Dean, one of the guests, attended some of Isabella's parties in his youth and was also a college friend of Charlotte's next-door neighbor Ellen Montgomery, Isabella's handler and trustee of her estate. Tensions escalate at the Mad Hatter-themed tea party, and soon afterward Charlotte finds Stacy dead in the garden--from cyanide poisoning, Ellen assures her. Charlotte, who's had some unfortunate brushes with sudden death, is more than ready to assist the police. When her romantic interest, Gavin Howard, a spy who's interested in seeking safer employment, arrives in town, they find that past doings may offer a clue to present danger.
Plenty of suspects, local color, and burgeoning romance add up to a charming cozy.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Gilbert, Victoria: A FATAL BOOKING." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A698656073/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=c7a239bf. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
A Fatal Booking.
By Victoria Gilbert. June 2022. Crooked Lane, $26.99 (9781643859149); e-book, $13.99 (9781643859156).
Formerly a teacher, the widowed Charlotte Reed now runs Chapters, a B&B in Beaufort, North Carolina, which she inherited from her somewhat mysterious Aunt Isabella. At the request of Lora, a former teaching colleague turned artist and jewelry designer, Charlotte and her small staff are hosting a week-long gathering of a book club focused on classic childrens literature. According to Lora, the six members have little in common, as they range from a retired lawyer to a twenty-something art teacher. The week kicks off with a Mad Hatter's tea party in the garden, all the guests coming in costume. At the party, Stacy, who runs a jewelry store, is found poisoned. Charlotte and her neighbor, former spy Ellen Montgomery, seem to have the local detective on speed dial. The pair share what they learn about the remaining guests, but that doesn't stop the killer from going after Charlotte after she learns too much about the hidden connections among the book club's members. The skillful combination of seaside-resort ambiance, literary allusions, and engaging continuing characters makes this a delightful third addition to the series.--Karen Muller
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 American Library Association
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Muller, Karen. "A Fatal Booking." Booklist, vol. 118, no. 19-20, 1 June 2022, p. 34. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A708840605/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4dacdb54. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Death in the Margins: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Victoria Gilbert. Crooked Lane, $28.99 (336p) ISBN 978-1-63910-130-6
Gilbert's pleasant seventh Blue Ridge Library mystery (after 2021 's Renewed for Murder) finds Amy Muir, the director of the Taylorsford (Va.) Public Library, excited that her husband, Richard, and his dance partner will soon premiere their Folklore Suite at a theater in nearby Smithsburg. Mixing the region's Blue Ridge Mountain folktales and music to create the dances should be an enjoyable project, but diva Meredith Fox, whose genius for creating enemies rivals her talent for dancing, is making the production a nightmare for everyone, especially her former dance partner and fiance, Richard. After Amy discovers Meredith's body backstage, she partners with Chief Deputy Brad Tucker to investigate. Amy digs into the many ways--berating fellow dancers, spurning lovers, and committing darker deeds--Meredith enraged those around her. The dead woman's possible involvement in the unsolved theft of a valuable painting from a wealthy local family adds suspects to an already busy plot. Indeed, with so many people with so many motives, readers will struggle to keep them all straight. This one's for fans who have become enamored of a town that evokes Disney's Main Street, U.S.A. Agent: Frances Black, Literary Counsel. (Dec.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 PWxyz, LLC
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"Death in the Margins: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 269, no. 43, 17 Oct. 2022, p. 44. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A724346082/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a0e71d25. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria DEATH IN THE MARGINS Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $26.99 12, 6 ISBN: 978-1-63910-130-6
When an unpopular dancer is murdered, an amateur sleuth sets out to find the killer.
Dancer Richard Muir, the husband of library director Amy Muir, is staging a production featuring local talent. Though the performers range from children to professionals, Richard's only real problem is Meredith Fox, whose excellent dancing abilities are undermined by her abrasive personality and her jealousy of other dancers. In the past, she'd dumped Richard to enter into a disastrous--and short-lived--marriage with the wealthy dancer Nate Broyhill, and now she's insulted an autistic child, and she's had bad relationships with plenty of others. When Amy finds young dancer Conner Vogler standing over Meredith's body clutching a bloody knife, she doesn't assume he's guilty, but the police do. Fortunately, Chief Deputy Brad Tucker is an old friend who's willing to at least listen to her doubts. Knowing her sleuthing abilities, he encourages her to poke into other possible motives. Nate's mother had married into the wealthy Lance family, which put up money to finance his failed dance company, leaving him at odds with his half brother, whose interests are strictly equestrian. Nate becomes a suspect when Amy recalls that she'd seen him loitering outside the theater. But he's far from the only one who hated Meredith. Amy's researching abilities stand her in good stead as she methodically investigates possible motives.
Believable characters and a thorny mystery.
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"Gilbert, Victoria: DEATH IN THE MARGINS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A724445584/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=26776620. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria A CRYPTIC CLUE Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $26.99 7, 11 ISBN: 9781639102525
A librarian teams up with a wealthy young man to solve a murder.
Cameron Clewe has hired Jane Hunter to inventory and catalog his large collection of items relating to classic mysteries in order to make them available for study. Despite his apparently perfect life, Cam is socially awkward, perhaps because his wealth has never brought him love. Jane thinks that his assistant, Lauren Walker, has feelings for Cam, who's recently broken up with wealthy, spoiled Ashley Allen. Cam often lets his beautiful estate be used for fundraisers, and when Ashley is found dead at the latest one, he naturally becomes a suspect. But there are plenty of other suspects, including Cam's chef, whom Ashley had promised to back in a new restaurant before she changed her mind. She did the same thing with a local artist and had an ex-boyfriend who was none too fond of her. Since both Jane and Cam love to solve puzzles and are steeped in mystery lore, they band together to solve the murder. Even Ashley's relatives don't appear very sad about her death, maybe because she'd been slated to inherit a large family estate they could use themselves. Scrutinizing Ashley's past, Jane learns that she was involved in a scandal when a member of the sorority of which she was president was badly injured in a hazing accident. In addition, she discovers that Cam has plenty of secrets in his own life while researching the family who used to own his estate. It takes a lot of digging to uncover the person who really wanted Ashley dead.
An offbeat pairing of sleuths enlivens this new mystery series.
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"Gilbert, Victoria: A CRYPTIC CLUE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 June 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A751049906/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d6b9eb29. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
A Cryptic Clue. By Victoria Gilbert. July 2023.320p. Crooked Lane, $29.99 (9781639102525); e-book (9781639102532).
When librarian Jane Hunter is forced into an early retirement, she takes a job with young, wealthy Cameron Clewe, cataloging his collection of papers from Golden Age mystery writers. Cam doesn't like to leave Aircraft, his estate, but he often opens the house to charities and friends. On Jane's first day of work, following a gala at Aircraft, she discovers a body in the library. It's Ashley Allen, Cam's newly ex-girlfriend, and all the evidence points to Cam as the one who hit her with a candlestick hard enough to kill her. Jane isn't sure who to trust, but she agrees to help Cam prove his innocence, and soon she discovers that a lot of people had a reason to dislike Ashley. But who would want her dead? Retired librarian and crime writer Gilbert starts a new series, Hunter and Clewe, featuring an intrepid, bibliophile heroine; her secretive, wealthy boss, and a cast of interesting characters, none of whom are above suspicion. Gilbert leaves open a secondary mystery about an old photograph found at Aircraft. Fans of bibliophile cozies will enjoy this.--Susan Maguire
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
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Maguire, Susan. "A Cryptic Clue." Booklist, vol. 119, no. 19-20, 1 June 2023, p. 38. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A754223056/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=dcb45da5. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria MURDER CHECKS OUT Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $29.99 11, 14 ISBN: 9781639105205
In the Blue Ridge Mountains, Christmas is nigh, and so is murder.
Library director Amy Muir is extremely busy getting ready for Christmas both personally and professionally. Her husband, renowned dancer Richard Muir, is mounting a new production of The Nutcracker and the cast includes their twins, Nicky and Ella. They're also expecting an unusual solo visit from Richard's mother, who's always been critical and prickly. The winter festival is on, and so is picketing against Wendy Blackstone's real estate development plan. When Wendy is found dead at the bottom of a steep slope at the festival, Amy, who's helped solve a surprising number of murders, can't help but get involved. Her brother Scott Webber's husband, Ethan Payne, is high on the suspect list since he'd had a nasty verbal altercation with Wendy. Of course, there are plenty of other suspects, including the members of the environmental group opposing the development; Wendy's sleazy partner; and Wendy's daughter, who wants to run the company. When Ethan vanishes, however, the sheriff assumes he's on the run. Since research is Amy's specialty, she delves into the checkered past of Wendy's company; its developments have left behind any number of disgruntled people who could be out for revenge. Still juggling Christmas activities, Amy gets help from several friends and even her mother-in-law. When she starts getting threatening messages, she knows she's hit a nerve.
Christmas cheer mixes with a mystery nearly overrun by hordes of suspects.
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"Gilbert, Victoria: MURDER CHECKS OUT." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Oct. 2023, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A768633689/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=fb058612. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Murder Checks Out. By Victoria Gilbert. Nov. 2023. 272p. Crooked Lane, $30.99 (9781639105205); e-book (9781639105212).
The Blue Ridge Mountain town of Taylorsford is celebrating the holiday season with Winterfest, but all is not jolly on the morning after the event, when a womans body is found nearby. Real estate developer Wendy Blackstone was hardly a beloved member of the community, and there are many suspects: her business partner, her estranged children, the environmental activists opposed to her newest project. Despite a busy schedule (wrangling five-year-old twins and a choreographer husband, not to mention the impending arrival of her prickly mother-in-law), library director Amy Webber Muir can't help but look into the crime, relying on a combination of research skills and town gossip. She has a vested interest in solving it since her brother-in-law, firefighter Ethan, was seen arguing with Wendy before she died. Then Ethan goes missing, and the sheriff is sure he's guilty. Full of small-town charm and a large cast of recurring characters, the eighth Blue Ridge Library mystery (after Death in the Margins, 2022) captures the hectic nature of the holidays while serving up a compelling crime story.--Susan Maguire
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 American Library Association
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Maguire, Susan. "Murder Checks Out." Booklist, vol. 120, no. 4, 15 Oct. 2023, p. 27. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A770323841/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=56c04dcf. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria. Murder Checks Out. Crooked Lane. (A Blue Ridge Library Mystery, Bk. 8). Nov. 2023.272p. ISBN 9781639105205. $30.99. M
Library director Amy Muir has a busy holiday season ahead. Her five-year-old twins are in her husband's production of The Nutcracker, her mother-in-law is coming to stay for a week; and Taylorsford, VA, is celebrating its first Winterfest--but all is not jolly. Blackstone, the company owned by festival chair Wendy Blackstone, is planning a new development in town, and the company has a bad reputation with environmentalists. A group called Environmental Advocates protests at Winterfest, Wendy is snippy to Amy, and she argues with Amy's brotherin-law Ethan, whose property backs up to the planned development. When Wendy is found dead the next morning, the sheriff looks at Ethan, while Amy uses her research skills to dig into Wendy's history and finds two problem communities, trouble with family members, and other questionable issues in Blackstone's past. When Ethan disappears, the sheriff moves him to the top of the suspect list. Now Amy has to juggle holiday preparations with a search for her brotherin-law, and the truth. VERDICT Fans of Jenn McKinlay's "Library Lover's Mysteries" will enjoy Gilbert's follow-up to Death in the Margins. The charming story balances Christmas and family with a mystery with environmental themes.--Lesa Holstine
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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"Murder Checks Out." Library Journal, vol. 148, no. 11, Nov. 2023, p. 43. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A773380687/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=4d5026e7. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria. A Killer Clue. Crooked Lane. (Hunter & Clewe, Bk. 2). Sept. 2024.310p. ISBN 9781639106431. $30.99. m
Jane Hunter is responsible for cataloging Cameron Clewe's extensive collection of rare crime novels, and she's protective of her boss. Cameron suffers from anxiety, doesn't like to leave the house, and struggles with social skills. But he's always intrigued by a mystery, and he and Jane have solved several cases. When bookstore owner Eloise Anderson insists on delivering Cam's latest purchase, she also brings an unusual request. Her mother has just died in prison, where she spent 15 years. Eloise wants Cam and Jane to prove that her mother did not murder her father. When Eloise was 18, her father was found stabbed to death in the bookshop, and her mother was the only person around. It looks like history is repeating itself when Jane finds Eloise alone in the bookstore with the body of the retired police detective who investigated the earlier murder. Jane and Camerson soon discover links to lost rare books and secrets about the bookshop. VERDICT The sequel to A Cryptic Clue, with its red herrings, missing books, and charming detecting duo, is a traditional cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Holstine, Lesa. "Gilbert, Victoria. A Killer Clue." Library Journal, vol. 149, no. 6, June 2024, p. 86. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A797499118/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=dc04b9f6. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
A Killer Clue: A Hunter and Clewe Mystery
Victoria Gilbert. Crooked Lane, $30.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-63910-643-1
In Gilbert's dependable second cozy featuring North Carolina book collector Cam Clewe and his librarian friend, Jane Hunter (after A Cryptic Clue), the pair juggle two intertwined murder investigations. Knowing that Cam and Jane moonlight as gumshoes, Chapel Hill bookseller Eloise Anderson comes to Cam with a request. Eloise's mother, Abigail, has recently died in prison while serving time for her husband's murder--but Eloise maintains her mother's innocence and wants to clear her name. Cam and Jane agree to help out, but their inquiry grows complicated when Eloise is arrested for the murder of former police detective Bruce Parker, who spearheaded the investigation that put Abigail behind bars. Now, Cam and Jane are either caught in the web of a murderous mother-daughter duo or facing down a killer with a vengeance against the Anderson women. To find out which, they take a closer look at the police on the case and Eloise's peers in Chapel Hill. Along the way, their knowledge of vintage books--including a rare copy of Alice in Wonderland--helps them crack the case. Gilbert stacks the proceedings with solid suspects, convincing red herrings, and a treasure trove of trivia about mid-20th century mystery authors. Golden Age whodunit fans will have fun. Agent: Fran Black, Literary Counsel. (Sept.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 PWxyz, LLC
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"A Killer Clue: A Hunter and Clewe Mystery." Publishers Weekly, vol. 271, no. 29, 29 July 2024, p. 39. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A803782778/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=516d1e42. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria A KILLER CLUE Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $30.99 9, 24 ISBN: 9781639106431
A wealthy North Carolina man and his personal librarian make an odd but effective detective team.
Cameron Clewe has been searching for the identity of his birth father with no luck. Brought up by a stepfather who left him the beautiful Aircroft estate and a great deal of money, Cam finds life joyless without knowledge of his biological father. Jane Hunter, who handles his library, and personal assistant Lauren Walker somehow keep him on track until Eloise Anderson, an antiquarian bookseller from Chapel Hill, arrives to ask Cam and Jane, who've already solved one mystery, to help prove that her mother--who recently died in prison--was innocent of murder. The sleuthing duo take on the case even though Eloise may be hiding things that make her mother look guilty. When Eloise herself is arrested for the murder of Det. Bruce Parker, who was in charge of her mother's case, few believe that she's innocent. But Cam pays her bail, hires a lawyer, and takes her into his household while he and Jane search for another suspect. Parker had been looking for a book in Eloise's storeroom, a book that may provide a motive for murders now and in the past. Jane is also searching for the identity of a woman whose photo was found in Aircroft's attic along with a drawing of her. A servant who never knew her last name identifies her as Lily, the love of Calvin Airley, son of the estate's former owners. Both the real motive for murder and the identity of Cam's father are shrouded in secrets from the past.
The finely drawn characters are the stars in this complex batch of mysteries.
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"Gilbert, Victoria: A KILLER CLUE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A806452809/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=9cca5776. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.
Gilbert, Victoria SCHOOLED IN MURDER Crooked Lane (Fiction None) $29.99 1, 7 ISBN: 9781639109234
A mystery writer must solve a real-life murder or face unpleasant consequences.
In addition to writing mysteries, Jennifer Dalton is the director of the campus writing center at Clarion University. Heading to the library to do some research, she discovers a body fallen from the mezzanine with a C-minus paper nearby. Was it an accident, suicide, or was he pushed? Jenn decides to poke around after Mia Jackson, one of her favorite students, can't be found, and becomes the leading suspect in the death of the man, Professor Doug Barth, who'd just humiliated her in class over that C-minus assignment. The provost sends psychologist Zachary Flynn to see if Jenn needs counseling, but Jenn, who'd had a bad prior interaction with him, refuses his ministrations. Zach doesn't give up, though, and eventually Jenn, accepting his help with her trauma and her sleuthing, finds him more simpatico as they work together. Together with a few helpful friends, Jenn digs into Barth's past and present life and discovers more than one person who dislikes him, including his wife and several of his colleagues in the English department. When someone on campus pushes her to the ground and whispers a threat against her, Jenn realizes that her detective work is upsetting someone, very likely the killer. Despite more warnings, she refuses to waver and becomes even more determined when another Clarion faculty member is murdered.
An appealing sleuth with an engaging love interest lights up this series debut.
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"Gilbert, Victoria: SCHOOLED IN MURDER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A817945936/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=7e463317. Accessed 10 Dec. 2024.