"Booked for Death" the 1st instalment in the "A Booklover's B&B Mystery" series by Victoria Gilbert. I think this is a great start to a new series. I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in almost one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I did guess the killer before Charlotte but I still found this to be a fun easy read.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters of Ellen, and the Sandberg sisters and I think Charlotte and her BFF Julie will grow on me as the series unfolds.

I can’t wait to read the next book and see how things are at Chapters B&B in Beaufort, North Carolina.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Booked for Death is the debut of A Book Lover’s B&B Mystery series. Charlotte Reed has been running Chapters for the last year since she inherited the bed-and-breakfast from her great-aunt, Isabella Harrington. I enjoyed the wonderful descriptions of Chapters with its extensive library (I want the library in this book). The author took the time to set the stage by giving us the background on Charlotte plus describing the bed-and-breakfast, the town and introducing us to secondary characters. I wish the author had given Charlotte more warmth and a little humor. Charlotte felt a little flat to me. Beaufort, North Carolina is a charming historic, harbor town with a variety of businesses. The two secondary characters are Alicia Simpson, the housekeep and cook, and Ellen Montgomery, the next-door neighbor with an interesting past. I connected more with Ellen than Charlotte. The mystery had some interesting components with multiple suspects and misdirection. Charlotte suspects all of her guests as well as a couple of locals who attended the party. There are good clues to help readers solve this whodunit. The secondary mystery of Charlotte’s great-aunt Isabella aroused my curiosity and had me speculating. I did find the pacing a little slow for my liking in the first half. I was glad there was more action later in the story. A little humor and quirkiness would have enhanced this cozy mystery. Booked for Death contains good writing with an interesting premise (who does not love a literary themed bed-and-breakfast). Booked for Death is a delight for literary lovers with a conniving victim, a surplus of suspects, a distraught daughter, costume chaos, a mysterious family member, and beloved books.

Victoria Gilbert has started a new series , a Booklover's B and B Mystery with Booked for Death. Chapters Bed and Breakfast in small town North Carolina i managed by Charlotte Reed as an event B&B. A very nasty rare book dealer tries to strong arm the owner and ends up dead. Suspects abound. Read and enjoy.

This one was a DNF for me but I do think some of my customers will like it so we will be carrying it in our store!

I love love love this book! One of my favorite authors! A superb beginning to a new series. An Inn, a murder, what's not to love. Love the characters, the setting, everything. Go buy this book!!!

This was a terrific start to a new series by Victoria Gilbert. I love her other series and was excited to read this book as I have visited the waterfront town of Beaufort, NC where this book is set. The literary themed Chapters Bed and Breakfast is a location that I would love to visit with its book themed events. In this book it is hosting a Josephine Tey celebration, focusing on her mysteries. Hotel guests and town residents are included in the events so there are several suspects when a body is found. There is also the mystery of her great aunt Isabella's past. She had owned Chapters and willed it to Charlotte when she died. Charlotte is determined to solve the crime and the mystery of her aunt's past. I liked how these two story lines were woven together. There were several characters that I suspected over the course of the story and the story had a satisfying conclusion. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

BOOKED FOR DEATH by Victoria Gilbert
The First Book Lover's B&B Mystery

Upon her aunt's death, Charlotte Reed inherited her literary themed B&B. Preparations are under way to celebrate famed mystery author Josephine Tey, including a themed dinner party. But being the hostess isn't always easy, especially with a talented, but surly teenager and her volatile parents, one of whom is a presumptuous book dealer who questions how Charlotte's aunt came to own such a valuable book collection under her roof. When he's found dead in the carriage house, Charlotte begins to suspect everybody, including her employees and good friend. As she begins to look into her aunt's past, she may find more than she bargained for. Will she find a murderer as well?

There is so much to like about this new series. Charlotte is a fine protagonist who is not blind to the foibles of anyone, including her friends. She doesn't automatically exclude anyone from her suspect list merely because she likes them. I am so happy to find a capable, smart detective who is receptive to various theories. I especially appreciate that she's a strong female character and not a romantic lead for our protagonist. In fact, BOOKED FOR MURDER is filled with strong, competent women, making it fitting that a contemptible man is the victim.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the first Book Lover's Mystery is how it weaves mysteries from the past into the present. I loved the manner in which the author tied the golden age mysteries of Josephine Tey to the current murder. I enjoyed how Charlotte begins to uncover the truth about her mysterious aunt. Secrets abound and I love how their slow revelation adds more and more depth to the story. I also appreciate the portrayal of older women. Septuagenarians can be savvy too. Plus, they have lots of experience to draw upon.

BOOKED FOR DEATH is a smart no nonsense mystery filled with capable characters with interesting back stories. Victoria Gilbert delivers a well plotted mystery whose ending provides the perfect segue to future books in the series.

Booked for Death: A Booklover’s B&B Mystery
By Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane Books
August 2020

Review by Cynthia Chow

Widow Charlotte Reed is starting her life over with a new adventure by opening Chapters, a book-themed bed-and-breakfast in Beaufort, North Carolina. For a week-long literary event honoring Golden Age mystery icon Josephine Tey, Charlotte thought it would be perfect to host a costume dinner party in honor of Tey’s renowned novel, “The Daughter of Time.” While locals are also invited to attend, the War of the Roses-themed event is specifically for the guests of Chapters and its tea services. The night is off to a rocky start when wealthy guest Lincoln Delamont not only invades Charlotte’s late great-aunt’s highly valued library collection, he makes barely veiled accusations over the source of Aunt Isabella Harrington’s wealth. Charlotte’s hope to brush his threats off is impossible when neighboring author Scott Kepler finds Lincoln Delamont dead, stabbed to death on B&B property. With the victim’s daughter declaring that Charlotte committed the crime, it’s not long before she’s forced into investigating and using her vast knowledge of the mystery genre to help her track down motives and follow-up on alibis. It’s a very long and regrettable list, including but not limited to her best friend, Lincoln’s daughter and his betrayed wife, and Chapter’s talented but temperamental chef.

Still in love with her beloved husband and mourning his death, Charlotte doesn’t display much patience when interrogating her suspects. She’s more than a little blunt when questioning and slightly judging her bookstore-owning friend Julie Rivera, who managed to get herself into an inappropriate online and nearly in-person inappropriate relationship. The most intriguing element to this first in a new mystery series is Ellen Montgomery, a well-traveled former location scout who is the executor of the Harrington estate and trust. One of the few who knew Isabella and her mysterious past, Ellen has a rather fascinating history of her own that promises to draw Charlotte into more adventures and escapades. Readers enamored of the works of Josephine Tey will have a heads up on solving this mystery, which eerily relates to the themes of the great writer’s works. A complex puzzle, cleverly written characters, and a very realistic and relatable heroine make this a compelling introduction to a book-centric cozy mystery series.

Prose (Story): Book one in Victoria Gilbert's new Booklovers B&B Mystery series, set in Beaufort, North Carolina, follows Charlotte Reed - new owner of Chapters, a B&B specializing in bookish themes she inherited from her quirky (even mysterious) great-aunt Isabella - who, during a weekend of festivities celebrating the life/work of mystery writer Josephine Tey, finds herself under suspicion when a rare book dealer (and guest) at Chapters, having hinted at some dark dealings in Isabella's past, is found stabbed to death during a party.
Don's (Review): Gilbert expertly fills her B&B with plenty of worthy suspects - including Chapters's long-time cook/housekeeper, Charlotte's fill-in chef, and even her bookstore-owning best friend; all characters you expect to return in future installments, so long as they not have committed murder here! This adds a nice layer of insecurity as Charlotte begins nosing into whodunnit it, and herself can't even trust anyone completely, as she is so new to the scene, herself! Another plus that's a bit more rare in cozies is a full-on "B" storyline, featuring Charlotte's great-aunt Isabella, that at times is as intriguing to guess at as the primary murder mystery itself; I really liked how Gilbert seamlessly wove the two plots together right up to the end, almost making Isabella (who, being deceased, is never "on-camera") as much a character as anyone else in the book. The mystery is well-developed, pacing spot-on as Charlotte's investigation brings her closer to the killer, and without giving spoilers I also like Gilbert's fresh/different take on the usual cozy finale, where normally the amateur sleuth and villain would just have a one-on-one, with the sleuth clearly at the disadvantage. Well-done, and looking forward to book two! 4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

I am becoming a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre due to books like this. You can read this as an escape from the everyday in a weekend. A really good mystery.

Victoria Gilbert knows a thing or two about writing a cozy with literary learned characters. What a novel idea to have a B&B located in beautiful Beaufort, NC which caters to those who love mysteries or reading in general. It is the perfect backdrop fbook-relatedlated event that becomes more real than surreal as one of the guests becomes the vict and one of the event attendants becomes the suspect. As this story draws you in it gives you not one mystery but two. There is a mystery which takes place at the B&B and there is the mystery surrounding it's very vibrant previous owner Isabella. Charlotte Reed, Isabella's great niece, and heir to the B&B will stop at nothing to learn about Isabella's past while working to clear herself and those she cares about off of the suspect list. There are many secrets surrounding not only the guests but also some of the locals and Charlotte is not sure who she can truly trust. Finding an allie close by might just help her on both fronts. This was a great start and I can say that without a doubt, you get the feel of Beaufort while reading this story. I am encouraged to get back to holding murder mystery dinner parties and live action Clue nights thanks to this story.

I really enjoied this cozy mystery. It reminded me of Agatha Christie because you had to figure out who was where doing the murder and basically everyone had a motive. And those motives were believable as well.
A very well done mystery.
I also loved the setting at a bookish gathering in a B&B.
The only thing I found a bit weird was the reaction of the protagonist when she first heard there’s been a murder. Kind of non-chalance. But the rest was great. Highly recommend!

An excellent debut for a new cozy mystery series. It's highly enjoyable and engrossing.
I loved the setting, the quirky and likeable cast of characters and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next instalment, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I ended up absolutely loving this book! I thought it started out a little slow, but about 1/3 through the book, the action and the characters heated up! From that point on, I could not put it down! This book has everything I could want in a mystery: great plot, characters that I either loved or hated, a B&B, and an innkeeper I could identify with!

The story confused me a little in the beginning, but I soon was reading to find out who the killer was and why. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this mystery.

I absolutely loved this series debut. Everything about it was perfect, from the characters to the plot to the beautiful setting. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!

Booked for Death
Victoria Gilbert
Ch 32
Pg 314
Series A booklovers B&B Mystery
Genre cozy mystery
Rating 3 stars
Publisher crooked lane books

Charlotte Reed runs a bookish bed that she inherited from her great aunt. She enjoys hosting bookish events. However she never expected an event to lead to a murder. Now she’s got to clear her name and that of her friends and neighbors before she or one of them becomes the next victim.

This was a quick cozy read that added a bookish spin that doesn’t involve libraries or bookstore. Even though it wasn’t my favorite cozy I do plan on reading the next book in the series. I do recommend this book and author to fans of the cozy genre.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Charming setting - check. Bed and Breakfast with a book theme - check. Strong female characters who team up to be a great investigating team - check. A well plotted, complex mystery to engage the reader - check. This new bibliomystery series be Victoria Gilbert hits every note just right. I had already read her previous series, The Blue Ridge Literary Mystery and enjoyed them very much so I was eager to read this one. I hope it has a long run.
Charlotte spent eighteen years teaching high school english and now, after inheriting her Great Aunt Isabella's bed and breakfast called Chapters, she is reaching the one year mark with the help of her great aunt's capable staff. Now she is putting on a week long literary event focusing on Josephine Tey. There are six guests in residence - Todd and Kelly Rowley, Scott Kepler and the Delamont family. On the night of the costumed dinner event, open to members of the local community, Lincoln Delamont, a book dealer, is found dead in the carriage house. Was the killer under Charlotte's roof as a guest or was it somebody from outside? Or was it one of her employees? With the list of suspects all too close to home, Charlotte gets together with her neighbor, Ellen, to uncover the killer. Along the way another puzzle crops up. It appears there was another, secret side to dear great-aunt Isabella.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Widow and former school teacher Charlotte Reed inherited a B&B called Chapters, from her great aunt. Located in the historic waterfront town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Chapters is a book-themed B&B, where guests and locals can enjoy book clubs and special events celebrating books and authors. When one of her guests is murdered during an event, Charlotte, her staff, and her other guests all become suspects. She teams up with her next-door neighbor to solve the murder.

Booked for Death is the first book in Victoria Gilbert's Booklovers B&B Mysteries. I absolutely love her Blue Ridge Library Mystery series so I was really excited to read this book, and I have to say, it did not disappoint. This is an enjoyable and entertaining read, with a charming setting, fun characters, and a mystery that will keep you on your toes. The plot moves along nicely, and the author provides plenty of red herrings in a bid to throw readers off the scent. But in the end, I stuck to my theory and was completely right about the killer's identity and motive. There's also a fun second mystery about Charlotte's aunt that really adds to the story. The protagonist, Charlotte, is believable, easy to like, confident. I look forward to solving more mysteries with her and Ellen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this great start to a new series! The characters are engaging and well-defined through conversations and actions. The Atlantic coast setting sounds gorgeous, and the B & B is one I would want to visit. The mystery was a challenge, although I did finally “get” whodunit a couple steps ahead of our protagonists.

Chapters is a B & B that was established over 30 years ago, when Charlotte’s great-aunt Isabella was bored. Isabella was at an age that many people would think about retiring. She wanted a new challenge, converted her home into a B & B, and ran it until her death at age 92. Included is Isabella’s vast, renowned library that includes many rare and collectible tomes. Charlotte, a middle-aged widow, inherited the B & B about a year ago, and is still learning how to run it as Isabella did.

This weekend is the Josephine Tey celebration. Only a few have planned to attend the party or book discussions. There are six guests at Chapters, with only 5 attending. Several local literature lovers will join them. I appreciated the great mix of ages, from a teen to several ladies in their 70’s.

On Saturday, Charlotte found rare book dealer Lincoln standing on the library ladder, which she had asked the prior evening that nobody use. Charlotte placed all rare and fragile books on the uppermost shelves and would get them down on request only. Lincoln had scattered several valuable volumes on the desk. He suggested that Isabella had some secrets in her past that could cost Charlotte the B & B should the secrets get out. He asked how a young woman, a maid in someone’s home, could get enough money together to buy such a home and library. It sounded as if he wanted to purchase some of the books cheap in exchange for his silence!

That evening, Charlotte left the party to get more ice after their machine was damaged. When she returned from the ice run, Scott, the author renting the carriage house apartment while doing local research, was outside. When he returned from a prior engagement, he found Lincoln dead, stabbed, in the carriage house.

There are several suspects, including even Charlotte’s best friend, the housekeeper/ cook who had worked for Isabella for decades, the man’s wife, and his teenage daughter. The local police want all guests staying at the B & B to remain for the next week as they investigate. It can be tiring to wonder if the killer is in one’s home, but even more so to think one’s best friend could be the culprit!

Charlotte is determined to find whodunit and get things back to normal. She had the help of Ellen, the septuagenarian next door who is the trustee for Isabella’s trust. Charlotte also seeks information about her great-aunt to find out if there is something unsavory in her past.

I would have definitely enjoyed Isabella! I like Charlotte and Ellen best; their personalities suit their growing friendship. The mystery was quite a puzzle. Plot twists increased the suspects, then slowly took at least a couple away. I finally suspected the real whodunit even though I hadn’t learned the motive yet – and when I did, it all clicked. I highly recommend this delightful, thoughtful tale to all who enjoy bookish, well-written cozies that with unique B & B’s, both middle-aged and mature sleuths, and a mystery that keeps one guessing!

From a thankful heart: I received an advance reader copy of this from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

A new series with a solid mystery to solve. This one caught my eye due to it's bookish angle. It was good. The mystery had several twists and turns and the characters were intriguing. That being said, I feel like it was missing something. Even though the mystery held my attention, I didn't feel gripped by it like I normally would. Maybe it was me, I have no idea. I just didn't love it although it seems like one I normally would. I will continue with the series and see what happens in book two.