Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert is the first book in the NEW “Booklovers B&B” cozy mystery series, coming August 11, 2020.
A book lover’s B&B in an idyllic waterfront village becomes the scene of a grisly murder–and a ruthless battle between treachery and the truth.
Nestled in the historic waterfront town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast is a reader’s paradise. Built in 1770, the newly renovated inn hosts a roster of special events celebrating books, genres, and authors. It’s the perfect literary retreat–until a rare book dealer turns up dead in the carriage house during a celebration of Golden Age mystery author Josephine Tey.
The victim’s daughter points the finger at forty-two-year-old widow and former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed, who inherited the B&B from her great-aunt Isabella. Charlotte is shocked to discover that the book dealer suspected Isabella of being a thief who founded Chapters on her ill-gotten gains. Charlotte has successfully learned the B&B business in a year, but nothing has prepared her to handle a death on the premises.
Armed with intelligence and courage and assisted by her vibrant older neighbor, a visiting author, and members of a local book club, Charlotte is determined to prove her innocence and to clear her great-aunt’s name. But the murderer is still at large, and equally determined to silence anyone who might discover the truth behind the book dealer’s death. Now, Charlotte must outwit an unknown killer–or end up writing her own final chapter.
Dru’s Musing:
What an enjoyable and fresh new drama from a prolific author. This well-written and fast paced drama had me completely immersed in all aspects from meeting the protagonist and her friends to the murder to the investigation to a few surprising twists and to the reveal of the killer’s identity. The author knows how to tell a multi-plot story where nothing is left to chance with a nice pool of suspects and an abundance of secrets, okay, clues, for me to decipher. I liked that we got to know a little bit of each character’s backstory – just enough to want to know more in future stories. Boasting a great cast of characters, engaging dialogue, a perfect setting of a B&B, and a small-town atmosphere, this is delightfully charming series and a welcome addition to the cozy genre.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher.