I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading Death in the Margins by Victoria Gilbert.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

It is very interesting that the victim in this novel is not a popular character. From this point of view, the story promised to be interesting for me, and the icing on the cake is that the reader should not be short of suspects either. Amy's character is logical and likeable, the investigation has progressed in an interesting vein thanks to this. Likeable cozy mystery, I think I would definitely like to get to know the rest of the series as well. I recommend reading the publication Thanks to NetGalley!

I enjoy this series. The mystery kept me guessing and I like the characters. The relationship between the main characters is so supportive.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

It’s early summer, and Richard Muir and his dance partner, Karla, are preparing their new choreographic piece, based on folktales and the music of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Then dancer Meredith Fox is found dead backstage. Amy, Richard's wife, is propelled into a murder case that threatens the careers and lives of those she loves. After Amy teams up with Chief Deputy Brad Tucker and the sheriff’s department, they find that there’s many suspects. With Richard and Karla's help, and information gleaned from locals, Amy desperately tries to unveil the killer before the premiere. But is the murderer waiting for Amy in the wings?
This was a great story in this wonderful series. The surprise in the end was both heartwarming and scary because I hope it won't be the end of a series. I love Amy, her grandmother, and all of the other characters. Reading this series always makes me happy. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy.

I have enjoyed all of the books I have read so far in the Blue Ridge Library series. The characters are well developed and the mystery is always handled well. You are left guessing until the end as clues are sprinkled throughout the pages and there are the random twists and turns. I have loved getting to know Amy and her husband, Richard, as well as the other people in Taylorsford, Virginia. As is typical, there are some quirky characters and others that you come to love. They are all worth getting to know as you go on an adventure with the Blue Ridge Library gang.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ecopy of this book to review. It did not affect my rating.

Very cute cozy mystery and you don't need to read the books before, as it works as a standalone. Librarian, Amy Webber Muir, finds dancer Meredith Fox dead, with a fellow dancer standing over her body holding a knife. Suddenly Amy is helping the local Chief Deputy investigate the many suspects, as there are many since Meredith is really disliked, to help solve the murder. Did the dancer found holding the knife do it, even though he insists he is innocent or was it someone else.

This was a light fun, and quick read. I will definitely be picking up more by this author.

4/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Victoria Gilbert for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is the 7th book in this series. Although you do not necessarily have to read the whole series to read this book and to understand it, however it will help you understand some of the references and to love - or hate - the characters even more.

I enjoyed this story, this whole series really, immensely. The combination of dancing and books and art is really interesting and I love seeing the mix of the different arts. I love watching the mystery unfold and figuring things out kind of along with the main character.

I would definitely recommend this book and this series, especially if you enjoy cozy mysteries that surround fine arts.

This series is a must-read for me!
I love how the characters are developing as the series progresses, and I hope there are more to come!

This was full of believable characters and was a thorny mystery series. The author did a great job . It’s a great series and each one has its own unique feel to it. I couldn’t but it down. Would highly recommend this to those that love cozy mystery books

Death in the Margins

by Victoria Gilbert

Amy is the director of the Taylorsford Public Library which is a more than full time job as she has to fill in when one of her two part time assistants or volunteers is unable to work their shifts. She is married to Richard Muir, a contemporary dancer, choreographer, and instructor at Clarion University. The book starts out with action as Meredith Fox, Richard’s ex-fiancée and also a dancer, stirs up conflict at a rehearsal and soon after is discovered murdered.

Taylorsford is a smallish community where there are few secrets, lots of relationships, and rampant gossip. Amy doesn’t believe that the young man accused of the crime is guilty so she informally interviews local residents and uses her library research skills to discover other potential suspects. She reports back to the chief deputy who is allowed to only assist on the case because it is not in his jurisdiction. Other major threads that tie into the murder involve art theft, blackmail, and expensive horses. Meanwhile, Richard and his dance partner Karla are consumed with preparations for a presentation featuring younger students, university students, and some professionals. It will benefit the student dance program in the local school system.

Amy is highly observant but perhaps too trusting. I sometimes question why she would believe certain characters’ statements.
Often she changes her opinion about the individuals on her list of suspects based on what they say about their location at the time of the crime as well as their motivations and involvements with others in the community. Her trust endangers her on more than one occasion.

This is an all-round, solid, good cozy mystery with just the right amount of personal interactions between the characters. The dance classes include children who have various kinds of disabilities and a girl who is on the autistic spectrum. These students are minor characters, but I appreciate their being included. Kids just automatically love to dance when they are allowed to abandon themselves to music. I have a life-long love of libraries, dance, and children so this book appeals to me in a number of ways.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: Death in the Margins is #7 in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery Series. I have read some, but not all, of the books in the series and had no trouble enjoying this one as an “almost” standalone. As with most cozy mystery series, reading them all in sequence would probably be best. This is a good series which I recommend.

Publication: December 6, 2022—Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

“I would’ve dressed up a little if I’d known I could use my feminine wiles to extract more information out of him.” Kurt laughed. “Do you really think you have any of those, my dear? Don’t you know your charm lies in the fact that you’re so direct and lacking in what some would call feminine guile?”

I didn’t mind managing the library solo. It allowed me to indulge in one of my favorite fantasies—that the collection of books and other materials, as well as the comfortable, wellworn space, were all mine. My own private sanctuary, filled with light and enough reading material to keep me entertained and informed for years and years.

“Why, Aunt Lydia, if I didn’t know better, I’d suspect you of watching some of those mob-inspired TV shows.” “I may have seen one or two,” she replied airily, “but also plenty of noir films from the forties. There’s sadly no time-frame limitation on crime and violence, you know.”

Another great installment to the Blue Ridge Mystery series - all the best of mystery, librarian, and now dancing and theater with Amy’s marriage to Richard. Bringing more of RIchard’s past into the series has added new characters and of course, a new murder to solve — always worth the read and looking forward to more of this series.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

3.5 upped to 4
Blue Ridge Library Mysteries is amongst my favorite cozy series but the last two instalments were not amongst my favorite.
I missed the library, the quirky usual cast of characters even if Karla is a well developed and interesting characters.
I love theatre and dance but i think there were moments when the mystery took the backseat.
Amy is a bit weird in this story: reckless, unable to be subtle or not tell anyone she's investigating.
The mystery is solid and it surprised me tille the end.
I hope that next story will be up to story I loved.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Princess Fuzzypants here: Excitement is all around as Amy’s husband Richard prepares for a dance performance of an original piece that will also use many of the young dancers being trained by his partner Karla. The prima ballerina is a former flame and it is pretty clear why he ended up with Amy and not the diva. She manages to insult and belittle everyone with whom she comes in contact so it is no surprise when she is “offed” early on. Unfortunately with so many “enemies” there is no shortage of suspects but the police focus on a young man in the troupe.

Amy is determined to find the real killer and as she sorts through the various candidates, she has managed to put herself in the crosshairs. She needs to be careful because there are not only one but two secrets and one is going to change her life forever. Four purrs and two paws up.

A backstage betrayal drags library director Amy Webber into a case that could mean curtains. While her husband Richard Muir and his dance part, Karla are preparing their new choreographic piece Richards wife Amy is gathering the dances source materials. The production is set to premiere at an old cinema that was converted to a theater. But when dancer Meredith Fox Richards former fiancé is found dead backstage Amy is involved again into a murder case that threatens the careers and lives of those she loves. With the help of the sheriff they find no shortage of suspects the wealthy ex-husband, and others whom the dancer dismissed or betrayed over the years. With the help of locals who know a wealth of information of small-town secrets Amy tries to unveil the killer before the premiere but could be the next victim. This was a great story I throughly enjoyed. I would recommend to everyone.

I really enjoyed this book in Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. I’m a big cozy fan to begin with, but this one was especially fun and compelling. Suspenseful, fast-paced, well-rounded characters – what more could you ask?

I have read a couple of other books in the series (out of order) and intend to read the rest. Death in the Margins is solid as a standalone book as A Murder for the Books and A Deadly Edition were.

The series starts with A Murder for the Books. Amy Webber leaves her university library job after a romantic relationship ends badly. She moves in with her elderly but vivacious aunt in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, taking a job running the town’s public library while she licks her wounds. She also meets the literal boy next door, Richard, a professional dancer also new to town.

By the time we get to Book 7, Death in the Margins, Amy and Richard are married, and Richard is rehearsing and choreographing an original production with his dance partner, Karla. Along comes Richard’s ex-fiance, Meredith, a woman so unpleasant that when she is found murdered, it seems that no one in town is without a motive to kill her.

When one of Richard’s young dance students is accused of the murder, it falls on Amy to clear his name and solve the crime.

I recommend this book for fans of cozies, lovers of libraries, and anyone who can use a little escape.

I received this Advanced Reader Copy of Death in the Margins from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #DeathintheMargins

Fantastic fun read. Lots of twists ad turns. Honestly had no idea who did it until the end. Loved the ending!

This is the first read in the series for me but I didn't fee like I had to read the one's before in order to figure out what was going on.. It's a cute and easy read.

Death in the Margins is the seventh book in this series and sees Amy yet again trying to help the Sheriff Brad find information into who may have been involved in Meredith’s murder. This isn’t an easy task, as Meredith is a truly unlikeable person, and there are many suspects. With several red herrings this book will keep you guessing!

I received this book as an ARC with NetGalley and appreciate the opportunity to be able to read this book and give a review.

I gave Death in the Margins by Victoria Gilbert 5 stars

The theater is no place for murder—but a case of backstage betrayal drags library director Amy Webber into a case that could mean curtains in critically acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library mystery.

It’s early summer, and while Richard Muir and his dance partner, Karla, are preparing their new choreographic piece, Richard’s wife, Amy, is gathering the dance’s source materials. Based on folktales and the music of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the production is set to premiere at an old cinema that has been converted to a theater. But when dancer Meredith Fox—Richard’s former fiancé—is found dead backstage, Amy is once again propelled into a murder case that threatens the careers and lives of those she loves.

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This is the seventh book in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. Same as the other books in the series, this was a five-star read for me. I really love this series and have enjoyed reading about Amy and all the other characters since book one. It has been a pleasure seeing how she developed more with each book. This book was no exception, and the ending made me happy, and I am now excited about the next book.

The mystery was great and the ending had me biting my nails. I also liked that it took place at Richard's place of work, so we got to know him better. If you haven't read this series yet, I really recommend picking it up!

This book comes out December 6.

Thank you Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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