Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert

This novel is the first in a new series from Gilbert. It is a fun cozy mystery. It takes place in an historic B & B named Chapters, a place for book lovers with its huge library and special events centered around books and authors. A murder occurs and Charlotte, the owner, is working to find out who did it.

I liked the characters and how their stories are revealed. There is a bit of another mystery surrounding her aunt, from whom she inherited the B & B, that Charlotte wants to solve. That story was a bit far fetched but made a fun addition to the main plot. There are a few clues and a whole slew of suspects. I really liked the allusions to mysteries and books in general. Gilbert did a good job of helping us get a sense of the Beaufort, NC, location and the history of the area.

Charlotte makes a good amateur sleuth, aided by her interesting and insightful neighbor. I'll be looking for more in the series.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

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 is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers and lives in North Carolina. You can find out more at http://victoriagilbertmysteries.com/ .

Crooked Lane Books, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)