I've read several of Gilbert's Blue Ridge Library series and enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to checking out her new series.
I liked the premise and the inclusion of a neuro-divergent character who is portrayed sensitively. The mystery was intriguing. The only criticism I have is that the main character, Jane Hunter, seems a bit school-marmish. I think she has the potential to be a great character but in this book she just seemed very prone to judgment and wanting to correct people's behavior. Other than that, I enjoyed the story and would read the next book in the series.

This was definitely more of a slow burn, cozy mystery. It was cute for what it was, but it lacked pacing for me. I think I needed it to be a little more engaging than it was. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Take a retired university librarian, give her a job cataloging the collection of an eccentric rich guy, add in the suspicious death of a guest at a charity event in the mansion, and you have a winning formula to start off a new mystery series. Jane Hunter has the same given name as famous amateur sleuth Jane Marple, and it seems she might have some of the same success in finding unexpected clues. This Jane uses her researching skills to help out her socially awkward new boss when he becomes the prime suspect.

The annals of mystery adventures are full of dynamic duos, some of which are also odd couples. Matching Jane with an agoraphobic collector half her age seems a strange choice of characters at first glance, but it really works. Jane has the experience of life and relationships; Cam has the resources and they are both intelligent and determined. The fact that Cam was recently in a relationship with the deceased gives them both motivation to find other motives and suspects even as readers wonder if Cam is truly the culprit.

Fans who already enjoy Victoria Gilbert's Book Lover's B&B Mystery series and Blue Ridge Library Mystery series will be pleased to have yet another set of stories featuring characters who have a love of books and the determination to find the truth.

A mystery with likeable characters and an enjoyable plot. Some twists and turns along the way. I'm looking forward to more in this series, I hope it turns into a really long series.

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. This is the first in the series of “A Hunter and Clewe Mystery” series. A cozy mystery with likeable characters and an enjoyable plot. A quick read with some twists and turns before you can solve the crime. It starts off with us meeting Jane Hunter who is a sixty-year-old who was forced into retirement but wasn’t really ready. She finds another job working with Cam Clewe, a 33-year-old eccentric. He is looking to hire someone to catalog his collection of rear books and artifacts. Cam isn’t sure she is the right person but will try her out. Before she could even start, Cam’s girlfriend, Ashley Allen is found murdered in his library. The day before Cam and Ashley fought, so Cam is the number one suspect in the police’s eye. Cam asked for help from Jane and his personal assistant, Lauren Walker to help him figured out who killed Ashley before they can arrest him. Cam does present a few problems with the investigation because he has a slight case of agoraphobia (won’t leave the estate), rampant anxiety and limited social skills, so he doesn’t always say the right thing. Jane decides to take on this case and do some investigating on her own which given her challenge but also put her in some danger. Read and find out if Jane can prove Cam innocent of this murder.

Victoria Gilbert, author of the Blue Ridge Library mysteries, launches the Hunter & Clewe series with A Cryptic Clue. While all the action led me to suspect the perpetrator, the two main characters are delightful. I think we’re in for a fun version of Holmes and Watson, or, as Jane Hunter suggests, Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin.

Jane Hunter, the narrator, was forced into retirement as a university librarian where she worked for over thirty-five years. She was hired, sight unseen, to inventory and catalog Cameron Crewe’s rare books and related ephemera. She hadn’t been to Crewe’s Aircroft estate, and she’s surprised to find the collector is only thirty-three. It doesn’t take her long to realize Cam has anxiety issues, and he doesn’t do well in social situations. Lauren, Cam’s personal secretary says he suffers from anxiety, OCD, occasional depression, and a general lack of social awareness, all undiagnosed because he refuses to see a therapist.

So, why is he hosting a gala at his estate? Clewe would rather open his house for fundraisers, and allow his friends to act as hosts while he disappears after the event starts. But, Lauren predicts there will be trouble because Cam just broke up with another girlfriend, and Ashley’s family has money. She doesn’t want to let go, and she’s a guest at the gala. Jane Hunter is the one who finds Ashley’s body when she reports to her job in the estate library the day after the party. But, Cam knows he’s the prime suspect because of his breakup and public arguments with Ashley.

What is a wealthy man to do who is obsessed with unsolved real-life mysteries and crimes, and collects mystery books? He teams up with his new librarian who has “an unusually logical mind”. Cam hopes Jane can assist him by researching possible suspects, and interviewing them since he doesn’t often leave his house. It turns out there’s a wealth of possible suspects who had reasons to want Ashley dead, including her own family.

As I said, the actual perpetrator behaved oddly, but it was fun to follow Jane as she investigated. A Cryptic Clue kicks off the new series on a high note.

A Cryptic Clue is my first book by Victoria Gilbert, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's fun to discover "new to me" authors, especially those that motivate me to want to read their previous work, Ms. Gilbert did that with A Cryptic Clue.
Jane Harper, a recently retired librarian, is hired by Cameron Clewe, a wealthy, intelligent, sometimes insensitive young man, to inventory, catalog and organize his extensive book collection. Jane visits the Clewe estate on a Thursday morning for a meeting with Cam and a very basic orientation, where she overhears a rather contentious argument between him and a very attractive young woman. Cam's personal assistant, Lauren Walker, explains that he is arguing, breaking up with his latest girlfriend, Ashley Allen.
That weekend Ashley is murdered at a fund raising event hosted by two of Cam's friends, Naomi Wilt and Hannah McKenzie. Naturally as the ex-boyfriend Cam is a suspect. He asks Jane and Lauren to do some sleuthing to help clear him and find the murderer. Well hold on from there as there is no dearth of possible suspects. I am very pleased that A Cryptic Clue is book one in a new series as it is an intriguing and rewarding read. Looking for a book that will keep you guessing, I highly recommend A Cryptic Clue.
I did receive an ARC through NetGalley, that in no way impacted my review.

I really enjoyed this story and so glad it's first in a series. Who would think that a 60 year old librarian and a depressive odd wealthy business man joining up to be amateur sleuths could be so entertaining.? The cast of characters are eccentric and the writing is plot-driven. Looking forward to their next adventure.

As a big fan of crime and mystery stories, this was so much fun! Such a good story, really well written and kept me hooked all the way through!

A Cryptic Clue begins a new cozy series by Victoria Gilbert, featuring newly-retired librarian Jane Hunter and wealthy and reclusive businessman Cameron Clewe. In this first mystery, we get wonderful scenes of the two establishing their working relationship (with somewhat opposite personalities) along with background history into both characters while investigating the murder of Clewe's girlfriend. The search for answers becomes complicated once several minor characters' dislike of the victim becomes apparent, and the suspense rises as ulterior motives abound. A very enjoyable cozy mystery, with no loose ends and a nice sense of impending adventures for these two amateur sleuths by the end of the book. Recommended!

I admit the gorgeous cover art of A Cryptic Clue hooked me into reading the story description. The sixty-year-old protagonist sealed the deal to review the book. I love fictional characters who don't fit the usual molds, and I'm glad I chose to read this well-written cozy mystery. The book is filled with offbeat but relatable characters that don't seem like caricatures. The beautiful setting is clearly described, the dialogue flows naturally, and the pace kept me turning the pages.

A Cryptic Clue is the first in a new series, which makes this is the perfect time to discover Jane Hunter, a most likable amateur sleuth. She's clever, educated, and kind. A recommended read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

A Cryptic Clue is the first in a new series of cozy mysteries featuring Jane Hunter, a semi-retired librarian, and Cameron Clewe (a pun, ha-ha), a wealthy young recluse. Jane goes to work for Cam, inventorying and cataloging his collection of Golden Age mystery ephemera. On her first day of work, however, she finds Cam's ex-girlfriend dead in the library, killed by a candlestick. Since Came doesn't leave his estate, Jane becomes his eyes and ears in town, investigating the murder and looking to clear Cam's name. The mystery is fine, though the killer's motivation was a bit lacking. The pacing is good, though the writing is very heavy on dialog and minute description of the characters' actions. A good choice for fans of the easy-reading light mystery. 3.5 stars.

A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert drew me in with its book themed base. It features a retired-too-soon librarian who has found work archiving the private mystery collection of a wealthy collector.
The main character of Jane Hunter is relatable to older readers, but the character of her employer misses the mark. It is difficult to like Cam Clewe, the eccentric and anti-social employer, and with not much to like about him it is difficult to become fully engaged in the book. Gilbert does suggest some slight progress for the character, but it is very slight.
The mystery itself is complex, with a slew of suspects whose numbers make it difficult to keep track. The storyline progresses slowly, sometimes coming across as repetitive, and the secondary mystery, while leaving things open for a sequel, muddies the waters somewhat.
The book is technically well-written, but I found it difficult to get into.
I received an advance copy of #ACrypticClue from #NetGalley.

I enjoyed Victoria Gilbert's Blue Ridge Library Mysteries and the Booklovers B&B series, so I was excited to see another mystery from her. This is a fun and clever kick off to the series, serving as a great introduction to Jane and her friends. Jane's shifting her life into a new direction now that her daughter's off living her own life and this brings her into the life of Cameron Clewe. Her journey is rooted in the idea of starting a new chapter in life and finding new ways to have excitement, purpose, and joy in life. One dead body later and she finds herself deep in a mystery as she attempts to prove her boss's innocence. This introduces a variety of characters in Jane's life which gives a fun assortment of personalities with Cameron, Brendan, Kyle, Hannah, Tristan, and Dia. Each character has a well-rounded personality that makes them stand out from each other such as Brendan's past indiscretions that have brought bad memories to the surface and Cameron's struggles with anxiety, OCD, depression, and lack of social awareness. Jane is a fun character that is headstrong, curious, and clever which makes her a delightful sleuth that you want to solve mysteries with. Her relationship with her daughter is threaded throughout as an important part of her life and what grounds her during this chaos unfolding around her. Definitely recommend this for all mystery lovers and those looking to check out the genre!

A Cryptic Clue is a mystery novel which is written through the eyes of Jane Hunter, a sixty-year-old formerly retired librarian who is hired by Cameron Clewe, a thirty-three-year-old agoraphobic wealthy man, to do an inventory of his book collection. But as soon as Jane starts working for Cameron, she discovers the dead body of the new boss’s ex-girlfriend, which makes him a suspect. Therefore, Jane will investigate to help clear Cameron’s name, provided he’s innocent...

I like mystery books that are engrossing with a shocking ending. But A Cryptic Clue is not the kind of mystery book that makes you turn the pages fast, eager for more revelations. It’s more like the kind of book that you comfortably read in bed with a warm cup of tea. That’s probably why it’s not my favorite read of the year.
A Cryptic Clue is a cozy mystery with a rather slow pace considering the genre. I was not as invested as I would have liked, and I’ve been bored at times and I was glad when I finally finished the book. There was not enough tension in my opinion.
That being said, there are some things that I liked, the atmosphere for example. I feel like it would be a great experience to read it in an old library, surrounded by old books.
I don’t think I had ever read a book with an elderly woman as a main character before, so I enjoyed Jane as a main character.

A Cryptic Clue is a disappointing read for me but I don’t think that it is bad, it’s just not for me.

I was so thrilled to be able to read an advanced copy of this first book in a new cosy mystery series. I adore cosies, and would happily spend all day reading them.

It didn't long for the author to have me hooked on Jane Hunter and Cameron Clewe. Both characters are certainly endearing and engaging, and so different from each other. The author manages to write both characters very well, and they are believable, although I'd have to say Jane is the stronger of the two in this book. Their strengths and weaknesses play off each other well, and the book is also peppered with many other engaging characters, some I expect and hope will become regulars if this series continues.

The mystery plays out well in the story, and the pace is what I expect in a good cosy. I did enjoy the setting of the large house, and Jane's profession of a librarian. The cataloguing of the many collections of books interested me very much, and I would have happily read more scenes of Jane finding treasures in the collections.

With a good cosy, we know the characters must play a central role, and the characters don't let this story down. There was one difference in this book to many other cosies I've read, and I found it refreshing. In many cosies, the protagonist has a friend, or relative, or some sort of close connection in law enforcement, and uses that to gain inside knowledge of mysteries. In this book, the main protagonist does not have an "in" like that, but Cameron does in a roundabout way. Having the mystery play out without that angle into law enforcement made this seem different to many cosies, and gave the mystery a bit of an edge. It makes the author work harder to reach a satisfactory conclusion, and I enjoyed that in the book.

I'm certainly looking forward to more in this series, and I hope the next case also ropes in Jane's landlord, and other assorted characters who made this book so enjoyable.

Thank you to the publishers, the author, and Netgalley, for providing an e-Arc of this novel for an honest review.

I've enjoyed all the books in Victoria Gilbert's other two mystery series, the Blue Ridge Library series and the Book Lovers B&B series, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed this first book in her new Hunter & Clewe mystery series.

This is a series debut with a lot of potential. Jane Hunter is a 60-something retired university librarian who goes to work for Cameron Clewe, a 30-something reclusive, wealthy businessman. Her job is to do the inventory and work on cataloging Cam's extensive collection of books, including his many murder mysteries.

This being a mystery, Jane and Cam quickly turn towards working together in solving a murder that took place at a fundraiser on Cam's property.

The mystery was interesting and this is a great cast of characters. I loved the bookish, analytical approach that Hunter and Clewe took towards solving the crime.

I'm looking forward to a long run for this series and intend to read any additional books from this author.

Highly recommended!!

This first book in a new mystery series pairs Jane Hunter, retired university librarian, and Cameron Clewe, young and wealthy businessman, as amateur sleuths. Cam has hired Jane to inventory and catalog his collections, especially his collection of murder mystery stories and author artifacts. When a fundraising gala at his mansion ends up with Cam's ex-girlfriend dead in the library, Jane and Cam team up to investigate all the potential suspects and find the murderer.

An enjoyable read, with plenty of red herrings and interesting side characters who will likely show up again as the series progresses.

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

A retired librarian with a need to work takes up amateur sleuthing to help a poor rich young recluse. A return to the ‘older’ style with the female detective making use of her contacts to help solve the murder where over half the cast have a possible motive. A quick and pleasant read but as a fan of the cryptic crossword I wasn’t able to solve this with any of my usual approaches. Thanks to @netgalley for the copy to review ahead of publication and to the publisher.

A Cryptic Clue was an enjoyable, thrilling and satisfying read.

60-year-old Jane Hunter is forced into early retirement and applies for a job as a cataloger to support her meagre pension. Seeking a challenge to keep herself proactive, she finds herself amidst a murder mystery. 33-year-old Cam Clewe is a hermit who prides himself on his rare books and artifacts collections. When an heir to a pharmaceutical fortune is found dead in the Aircroft Estate, surrounded by secrets and mystery, all eyes turn to Cam. The tip of the iceberg is that the victim was Cam's ex-girlfriend. Can Jane hunt the culprit and their motive before it is too late?

The Yaays: Victoria Gilbert delivers a well-executed plot and a great mix of characters. Jane Hunter is friendly, sturdy and kind. She compliments Cam Clewe exceptionally well; their banter and conversations are well-written. Cam Clewe is a refreshing character - a welcomed one, especially among the dominating alpha/arrogant millionaire male characters. His awkwardness, straightforwardness and tactlessness conjure a mix of emotions. You certainly feel for this character when his past is unveiled. I appreciate how some questions remain unanswered and open the door to a promising series. I also loved the pacing and finished this book in one sitting.

The Nays: The execution of the ending. If you're a Sherlock while reading, it is impossible to guess the motive. While my suspect list was growing and I had a few suspicions, the critical information was revealed in the last 25% of the book. It would have been interesting if breadcrumbs were spilled across the book.

Verdict: If you're a fan of a cosy mystery with well-informed & endearing characters, do not skip this read. I look forward to reading more of the author's work.

Thank you, NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books, for giving me an e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.