Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

This is another enjoyable cozy mystery from Gilbert. I like the setting of a B & B as we get to see the murder suspects in a variety of situations. Much of the investigation Charlotte, our amateur sleuth, does is by listening to conversations. Charlotte is a good investigative heroine too. She's nosy so pays attention to conversations others miss. I like her sidekick, Ellen. Next door neighbor and previous government agent during the cold war, she adds some spice and expertise to the work.

This murder plot revolves around authors and publishing and is quite informative. We learn about fandom and fan fiction. We also learn about the pressure bestselling authors are under to produce the next hot novel. We find out about ghost writers and how they come to an author's rescue when burnout occurs. And then there is the elephant in the room, plagiarism. As we find out in this novel, it can be deadly.

This is a good cozy mystery for readers who like an informative murder plot with engaging characters. It is the second in The Booklover's B&B series but reads very well on its own. You can read my review of the first in this series, Booked for Death, here.

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, 336 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.)