Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert is the 1st book in the Booklovers B&B Mysteries series, and it's off to a good start. Charlotte Reed has inherited a B&B in Beaufort, North Carolina from her great aunt Isabella. The B&B is called Chapters, which caters to special events celebrating books. When a book dealer turns up dead and Charlotte is the main suspect, the sleuthing begins. Once I started this book I could not stop reading it. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I look forward to the next book in the series. I recommend this book for all cozy mystery book lovers, you will not be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is exactly my kind of cozy mystery, the mix of lovers of books, twists, and a little bit of local history. BOOKED FOR DEATH is the first book in Victoria Gilbert's A Booklover's B & B Mystery. Charlotte Reed is the owner of a Victorian Bed and Breakfast, Chapters, where she hosts a variety of literary themed events. During her War of the Roses dinner, one of her guests is murdered and all in attendance are now suspects.

I look forward to reading subsequent books in this series. If I were to name a criticism, it would be the number of characters introduced (29). I realize Ms. Gilbert is building a back story for Charlotte Reed, but I had to keep a list of the characters and provided information to keep up with all of them - even though some of them were only mentioned the one time in the book.

I WILL be highly recommending this title and appreciate the opportunity to review it prior to publication.

Former school teacher Charlotte Reed didn't expect a lot of things. To be a widow before forty, to inherit her great-aunt's book-themed B&B in a North Carolina beach town, and to have a guest murdered at her first major event. When the unpopular book dealer is found dead, fingers start being pointed at the other guests--all of whom seem to have had a good motive for murdering him. But, to Charlotte's horror, accusations are even being flung at her after the book-dealer hinted that her great-aunt Isabella's extensive library may not have been obtained through honest means. Now Charlotte needs to clear her name and save the reputation of Chapters before she loses the new life she has started for herself.

As a great lover of Gilbert's "Blue Ridge Library" series, I was intrigued to see how this new cozy mystery series--with it's new location, new cast of characters, new mysteries, and new secrets--would compare. I was delighted to see how well Gilbert's writing transfers to a completely new everything with her signature twists and turns, while simultaneously presenting a brand new world. Charlotte is an amazing protagonists, and I look foward to returning to Beaufort for more mysteries and the new guests at Chapters who bring them.

This is the first book in the Booklovers B&B mystery new series by Victoria Gilbert. Readers are introduced to Charlotte Reed, a 41 year old widow and owner of the bed and breakfast, Chapters, a book themed B&B in lovely Beaufort, North Carolina. The mystery begins when a guest is found stabbed to death in the guesthouse during the Josephine Tey themed banquet. Overall, this cozy mystery is a satisfying read with charming characters, a quaint setting, and a puzzling whodunit mystery. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Victoria Gilbert is a new author to me, so I was very excited to read BOOKED FOR DEATH. I enjoyed this mystery and the way the author kept keep me guessing through the twists and turns. Just when I thought I had the answers, I realized I took a wrong turn. In the end, I was surprised with the outcome. I would love to read the next book in the series and see what mystery author Gilbert will take me through next.

Cozy mysteries have been my comfort food during these past few months, especially the ones that are in the 4th book and beyond. I can’t visit friends in person, but I can visit them on the page!

Who wouldn't want to live in a historic Victorian B&B. To top it off a library full of antique books.
A murder might put a damper on things.
Charlotte runs the bed and breakfast. She is hosting a booklovers event.
Turns out more suspects than you'd think.
Great setting, good murder mystery, great characters

I haven’t read anything by Victoria Gilbert before, but the title intrigued me and I enjoy a good murder mystery! Where I thought the beginning took a little longer than necessary to get to the murder, once that happened, I was really guessing up until the murderer was revealed. It was very well written, quick paced, and I do look forward to other books in the series! Glad I got to read book 1!!

Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert is the story of a widow, Charlotte who inherits a B&B in North Carolina from her elderly aunt, Isabella. Every week sees a new group of visitors who are there to enjoy a week of fun activities based on a literary work, book discussions and murder? A not so nice book seller is staying this week along with his wife and daughter. He won't be going home. He has made various trips to the area before and made enemies along the way so it seems that just about everybody had a reason to want him dead. There is not a shortage of suspects. As his secrets come out the list shortens but not before you are privy to some of Isabella's own secrets and her elderly neighbor's as well. This is the first book of a new series. I am excited to read the next one!
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Thoroughly enjoyed this little story. It was perfect for something bookish and comforting and I know cozy mystery readers and readers who love books about books will love it. The literary B&B setting was perfect and it made me want to find this place and book a room ASAP! (once I'm allowed of course). This was perfectly charming and I can't wait to read more in this series.

I had trouble getting into this book. For the first in a series, it doesn't spend enough time introducing the main characters or setting. Then I got overwhelmed by the number of names and wasn't sure who would be a recurring character and who wouldn't. I didn't particularly care for the main character either. The book starts with her thinking about how busy she is and tired, but she has someone who does all the cooking and cleaning and was planning to take a mid-day nap. She also walked into the kitchen and stood there talking instead of helping. I don't think I will read more in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

cozy-mystery, murder-investigation, bed-and-breakfast, widow, amateur-sleuth, friendship, family-dynamics, small-business, small-town, North Carolina
The murder mystery was excellently done with all its twists and red herrings, and there was no problem identifying the probable victim who was too obnoxious to avoid his just desserts. But I was more drawn to the parallel investigation into the history and more of the great aunt who left her home and business to Charlotte. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

4.25 Stars

This is the first book in the Booklovers B&B mystery series by Victoria Gilbert.

This book has a charming cast and setting. Everything about it is on point. The mystery / whodunit is nice. It kept my interest the entire way through. There are appropriate things going on in the plot like people threatening the protagonist in order to ruin their lives but I just didn’t connect too well with the overall story. I am not sure why or what was missing. I guess it is just that elusive ‘it’ factor. It could just be me and I am overthinking the whole thing.

The basic premise: During a literary retreat, a man is killed. He was a rare book dealer who didn’t seem quite on the up and up. I kept waiting for him to come and steal Charlotte’s Aunt Isabella’s rare book collection. Instead he bought the big one. Of course, he didn’t leave this big blue marble without threatening to reveal Charlotte’s aunt’s secret… whatever that was. Charlotte had no clue. Lots of old time revelations here. Lots going on in the past that effects the future here. At least four characters had hidden agenda or was living a sort of double life.

I mean, it really was an interesting story and concept. I am looking forward to reading more books as the series progresses.

If you want to read a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Gilbert has launched a great series based on a B & B in North Carolina, based on books. Charlotte inherited the business from her great-aunt, who had some intriguing secrets in her past. When one of her guests hints at her aunt improperly acquiring some of her book stock, then is murdrered, Charlotte investigates. Her neighbor Ellen sheds some light on her past. I loved the setting, loved the books. I liked all the main characters. It's a great beginning for the series.

Booked For Death is the first book in a new cozy mystery series by Victoria Gilbert. I really enjoyed her Blue Ridge Library series so I was excited to read this book. It started off a little slow to introduce the characters and Charters B&B. Charlotte inherited the B&B from her Great Aunt Isabella at a time when she needed a change. She is hosting a mystery week about author Josephine Tey. She includes some people from town as well as the B&B guests. There are quite a few people to keep track of but the author helps the reader follow along. An unpopular guest is found dead. Almost everyone at the event is a suspect. The characters become more interesting as the story unfolds. I guessed the suspect but wasn't sure until the end. This was a very enjoyable cozy mystery!

Fun premise. The week retreat is focusing on murder mysteries, especially the works of Josephine Tey, and there has been a murder among one of the guests which makes book discussions of different murder mysteries interesting and fun as the guests suspect one another

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of Booked for Death. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
An entertaining cozy with more than one mystery in the story.
I felt the author added a lot of information that perhaps she felt was needed as background for the new series. However, I felt it was tedious and unnecessary.
But those who enjoy reading about B&B’s, small towns, interesting characters with a touch of suspense and murder will enjoy this new series and hopefully the second book will be as enjoyable, if not more.

Booked for Death was a fun and entertaining first book in a new series. The plot and mystery was was technically well crafted and there was plenty of suspects and interesting characters. I would love to read more books in this series.

3.5 stars

Debut in the Booklovers B&B series, set in Beaufort, North Carolina. Young widow Charlotte Reed inherited her great-aunt's old Victorian B&B and is running it as a literary destination called Chapters. Her latest event is a celebration of vintage mystery author Josephine Tey, but the week's festivities are interrupted when one of the attendees is found stabbed to death on the grounds.

The victim had been seen arguing with at least 3 people that night, and had alienated several others over the years so there are plenty of suspects to go around. But one of them is Charlotte -- the victim threatened her with exposing old secrets of her great aunt's that might harm her business and reputation.

Charlotte teams up with Ellen, an old neighbor and friend of her great aunt's, to try and solve the murder. She finds out a few intriguing family secrets along the way. Lots of local color and a nice starting cast of characters. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This series debut is a serviceable cozy set in a North Carolina book themed B&B that celebrates books of all types and genres. The murder takes place during a celebration for Josephine Tey's The Daughter of Time, the murder victim being a smarmy book dealer who claims to have damaging information about inn owner Charlotte's deceased aunt who left her Chapters.

The mystery is technically well done and there is no shortage of suspects. I felt Charlotte was a bit difficult to connect to, and, though, there was plenty of action, for this reason, I do not feel a strong pull to continue with the series. Perhaps book #2 will change my mind.

Full Disclosure--NetGalley and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.