Cam and Jane make an unusual team. He is the super rich employer who works with her in his hobby of trying to solve cold cases particularly ones that pertain to the estate where he lives. He depends on her to venture into a world in which he does not fare well. A cold case in which they are involved turns blisteringly hot when a young woman is discovered bloodied in a room with the stabbed detective who convicted her mother of murdering her father. Eloise’s family is not the only dysfunctional one in the story. In fact, the entire tale has family secrets and intrigues woven throughout.

Cam believes Eloise is innocent and uses his considerable resources to help her. His confidence is shaken somewhat as new information comes to light. There seem to be a number of people who think she is guilty. Whether they are trying to deflect from their own guilt is an ongoing question and as it turns out, it might be right. But the people doing the deflecting may be surprising to some. The big question is whether Cam and Jane can discover the truth before they become the next victims.

It is an enjoyable mystery with lots of twists and turns. I do like Cam and Jane. They are quirky enough to add an extra element of fun. Five purrs and two paws up.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery where a woman sets out to find the real killer of her father. Her mother was falsely accused and prosecuted for the crime, at least that's what Eloise thinks. She wants her mother's name to be cleared even though she's dead. I loved the banter between the two MCs and enjoyed the story overall. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

Cameron Clewe is approached by Eloise Anderson, the owner of an antiquarian bookshop, who wants his help clearing her mother's name of murder. Eloise's mother was accused of murdering her husband years earlier, and has just recently died in prison.

Jame Hunter is dubious, but Cameron acquiesces to Eloise's request. When Jane makes her way to Eloise's store for more information, she's shocked to find the detective who arrested Eloise's mother murdered in the shop and Eloise shocked horrified.

Cameron decides to continue to help Eloise, and brings her to stay at Aircroft, with both Jane and Lauren (his business manager) uncomfortable with the arrangement. At the same time, Cameron is beginning to look for his actual father.

Jane and Cam begin to think that the original detective's murder is tied to the older murder case, and to an antique, first edition book that would fetch a significant price if it could be found.

There are a lot of twists as Jane does much of the legwork and questioning, as Cam is a little afraid of leaving the safety of his home.

The two cases are interesting, with greed and secrets revealed. Cam gets his answers, while both cases involving Eloise come to a successful conclusion.

I think Jane Hunter is what brings me back to this cozy series. She's sensible, forthright, insightful, and kind, balancing out Cam's inability to read others' social cues.

Though not a standalone story, one can read this and still understand the personal relationships established in book one, as author Victoria Gilbert delivers necessary exposition adroitly. It's a light, entertaining story, and sets up the next entry nicely.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Jane and Cam return for another cosy mystery, this time with an even more bookish theme, with both a cold case and a fresh, warm murder taking place in an antiquarian bookshop.

I would read A Cryptic Clue first, for the main character background, but you don’t technically need to as the story does stand alone well.

Both the mystery plot and the character development are done well here, and I really enjoyed reading the developing familial and friendship relationships slowly building through the series so far.

One small quibble I had this time was that there was absolutely no way I could have worked out whodunnit and why without the big reveal, as there seemed to be a lack of physical evidence, with most of the information delivered in the dialogue.

This was still a very enjoyable cosy mystery read, however, and I am very interested to see where the longer-running story goes with the mysterious Aircroft past and the woman in the picture, so I would definitely recommend this book (and the previous) for those looking for a more modern Watson and Holmes or Miss Marple.

This was just as wholesome and great as the first book - loved it just as much! Sorry it took so long though...

Too young to be able to retire but forced into early retirement by her university anyway, sixty-year-old librarian Jane Hunter found employment for the thirtyish eccentric book collector Cameron Clewe. Together they not only continued to inventory his enormous collection of artifacts and ephemera, they also solved the murder of a man killed in Cameron’s 1920’s estate home. Their reputation for crime solving is why antiquarian bookshop owner Eloise Anderson has come to them in the hopes of hiring them to prove her late mother innocent of murder. While Abigail Anderson died in prison, Eloise never believed that her mother was capable of murdering her husband, Eloise’s father Ken Anderson. Cam’s stepfather – who until recently was believed to have been Cam’s father – did business with the Anderson’s Last Chapter Bookshop in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which also happened to have been where Abby was discovered standing over her murdered husband’s body. The locked room mystery fascinates the mystery and detective-book obsessed Cam, which is why he and Jane agree to at least begin to look into the bookseller’s case.

While Cam only occasionally – and very reluctantly – leaves the historic Aircroft estate, Jane ventures out to question rival book sellers as she investigates the 15-year-old crime. The threat level is escalated when Eloise is found standing over the body of Bruce Parker, the detective who initially investigated her mother’s case. Cam may be OCD and rather anti-social, but his attractiveness and wealth has led him to enter into a number of romantic relationships that are as varied as they are brief. His infatuation and protectiveness of Eloise is hampered only by the arrival of Jane’s actress daughter Bailey, on hiatus from a performance of Les Misérables and who has a weakness for handsome, wealthy, and admittedly damaged men.

There have been many variations of the Sherlock Holmes/Watson team dynamic, but what stands out here is how Cam and Jane are both a bit off the spectrum and uniquely brilliant. Since the series debut they have also been investigating Cam’s mysterious past and attempting to track down his biological parents. Jane herself continues to be presented as a strong, fully-formed character, one who escaped an emotionally abusive marriage and has a refreshingly healthy relationship with a daughter who is the opposite of Jane in every way. Despite a number of men displaying interest in Jane, she now believes that she is asexual and no longer looking for a romantic partner. The introduction of a first edition novel worth millions will delight bibliophiles and those looking for mysteries with a bookish twist, while Sherlock Holmes fans will enjoy this latest twist on the classic detective novel. The prolific author of a number of book-themed mystery series continues her success at delivering entertaining plots filled with engaging, extremely relatable characters.

I normally am not the biggest fan of cozy mysteries and I found this one to be a bit of a slow starter. Luckily Gilbert is able to give enough of a backstory between the two characters (which Clewe as a name made me chuckle) that I did not feel the need to read the first book. It was a nice nod to Sherlock and Holmes' dynamic with a nice wrapped up mystery.

This is the first book by this author that I have read. I didn’t realise it was a modern cozy mystery when I requested it. I always read historical ones. In saying that, I did enjoy the mystery. The characters were quite different to my usual read being of very different ages. I found that the age difference worked well. The mystery flowed well and kept me guessing and being more than one mystery added to the enjoyment. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

A Killer Clue is #2 in the Hunter and Clewe mystery series. I enjoyed book #1, A Cryptic Clue. In my review I wrote that I enjoyed Jane and Cam's awkward interactions. Unfortunately this time I wasn't as entertained by them. Jane actually came off as quite condescending at times when letting Cam know when he was being rude in Jane's eyes. I didn't enjoy the addition of Jane's daughter, Bailey. The mystery was okay but a lot of things felt repetitive and it was a slower burn than I would have liked because it didn't really hold my interest. Overall, I would recommend to anyone who absolutely loved book 1 and would like to continue the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I am absolutely loving having an older main character as the primary amateur sleuth. Add in a multigenerational cast of friends and family that help with the investigations as well as bring a wealth of personal experiences to the plot and you have a must-read series! The plots are well woven with breadcrumbs spread throughout to lead you to the right conclusion as long as you don't get hung up on the red herring suspects that are reasonable options to latch onto, but alas if you pay attention, you'll follow your way to the conclusion that the sleuths draw as well. I love sinking into the stories in this series, but this one was exceptionally well written with a meaty plot and multiple investigations that overlapped. I am going to be anxiously awaiting the next story in the series to see what is happening in the lives of the cast as well as the next mystery to unravel.

I enjoy the fact that Cameron Clewe is trying to correct parts of his behavior without compromising who he is. I enjoy the fact that he allows Jane freedom to tell him whatever she is thinking, but that she does not take advantage of it.

The continuation of their investigation of Cameron’s father is still present in the novel. However, it is not the immediate mystery. It is the theme that connects the series, and I will always appreciate a continued theme. The present mystery, however, is very similar as that it is considered a closed but cold case that is brought screeching to the present.

While I did not expect the new clues for Cameron’s personal life, I did figure out the killer rather quickly. There was a single discovery that I did not know, and I will admit made me angry on Cameron’s behalf.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

What a perfect book! Love the fact that the amateur detectives are of different ages, backgrounds and personalities. Author does a great job of creating an original story with interesting plot, characters and setting. Only thing missing was a better book title.something that reflected the story. Looking forward to third entry in this series. Thanks to #NetGalkey and #AKillerClue for advanced digital copy.

Dollycas's Thoughts

The word is out that retired librarian Jane Hunter and eccentric collector Cameron Clewe have solved some mysteries. This brings Eloise Anderson, the owner of an antiquarian bookshop, to Aircroft with a special non-bookish request. With her mother's recent death, she wants their help to prove her mother was wrongly accused and convicted of killing her father. While the case has gone cold, Eloise has found new information in her mother's belongings. That convinces Jane and Cam to look into the matter but then Jane finds the original detective in charge of the investigation stabbed to death in Eloise's shop. The murders have to be connected but the police have now set their sights on Eloise as their #1 suspect.

Can Cam and Jane follow the clues to find the real killer so that Eloise can be cleared and her mother can rest in peace? Or will another innocent woman serve time for a murder she didn't commit?

____

All the characters I enjoyed in A Cryptic Clue are back! Jane Hunter and Cameron Clewe are more comfortable with each other and make a great team. Jane is good for Cam. Not only is she cataloging his collections and helping him investigate, but she is also working with him to interact and communicate better with others. She travels out and about following clues while he works the case from the comfort of Aircroft. His assistant Lauren is always nearby to help him in any way she can. Jane’s landlord, Vincent Fisher, and his lady friend, Donna Valenti are focused on one mystery they are anxious to solve. They are a cohesive group committed to finding the truth. All are well-crafted as are the characters brought in for this current story, like Jane's daughter who came for a visit and several suspects.

This story contains three mysteries entangled together with a skillful hand, two regarding Eloise and the third a personal project for Cam. All had twists, turns, and surprises. Everything captured my interest. My armchair detective self was on full alert. I had a terrific time following each lead and clue right along with the characters.  I appreciated all the snippets about the collectible books mentioned throughout the story too.

Ms. Gilbert's words set each scene wonderfully. Aircroft is a huge place and the grounds are filled with gardens and such a view. I felt like I was right there for the exciting showdown listening to confessions and conclusions and witnessing the frightening takedown. I had a theory that was partially right but so much was a total surprise.

A Killer Clue is an intricately plotted whodunit with strong dynamic characters sure to entertain all mystery lovers.  I am excited for this series to continue.

What a refreshing Mystery. I really liked that the viewpoint is from the 61 year old librarian cataloging the book and paper collection of a younger rich man. I enjoyed the fact that there was friendship and respect and no sexual tension. Wel written and entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Killer Clue, (Hunter and Clewe #2) by Victoria Gilbert from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

… a well written, fun cozy mystery with an intriguing plot, quirky, endearing characters and it keeps you engaged to the very end…

A Killer Clue the second entry in author Victoria Gilbert’s Hunter and Clewe series. After the events of book one Librarian Jane Hunter is still working for the wealthy reclusive Cam Crewe cataloging his extensive book collection. Cam has also elicited Jane to help him investigate cold cases. In the second installment of the series, there are three mysteries in play. Eloise Anderson, a bookseller Cam knows, seeks their help to clear her recently deceased mother who was wrongfully convicted of murdering her father. When a second murder occurs, the death of the officer who arrested her mother Eloise becomes the prime suspect, complicating the investigation. The third hits close to Cam and his family estate, a nameless portrait of a beautiful woman that connects to Cam and holds clues to Cam’s paternity and a suspicious death/suicide from years prior.

I really enjoy this series it reads like a refreshing take on a very “Sherlockian” style mystery featuring an older woman playing an almost motherly version of “Watson.” Although this one felt a little slow at times it is a well written, fun cozy mystery with an intriguing plot, quirky, endearing characters and it keeps you engaged to the very end . I highly recommend it to readers who love a modern twist on Sherlockian style mysteries.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series and couldn’t wait to get back into it.

Jane and Cam are so different – in age, temperament, social skills, social class…and just about every other category you can think of – but work together so incredibly well that they have become one of my favourite amateur sleuthing duos. Their opposite natures bring them together and their experiences and skills complement each other very well.

This mystery was full of twists and turns and for most of the book I was continually guessing at who the murderer was. The final reveal was really satisfying and definitely not exactly what I was expecting, which always makes mysteries more fun.

Aside from the satisfying murder mystery, I also enjoyed some of the supporting characters we met in the first book becoming more involved. There were some new characters introduced, including a possible love interest for Jane.

But at the heart of this series is the growing respect and friendship between Jane and Cam. I’m really liking how they work together and Cam is becoming a better person with Jane’s influence. You can see the respect and care growing between the two, even though they maintain a very professional relationship. It’s such a unique pairing amongst all the cozy mysteries I read and is a standout one.

Aside from the two murders in this book, there was also the long-overarching mystery behind Cam’s family history that has carried over from book one. It doesn’t get completely resolved in this book either, but that just leaves more intrigue for next time!

*** Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an e-copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.

Eloise, owner of an antiquarian bookshop is on a mission. A recent discovery amongst her mothers effects convinces Eloise, that her mother imprisoned till her death and convicted of her fathers murder, is actually innocent. She seeks the help of two people who could help - a retired librarian and a collector.

Whilst the investigation is in progress and because the case is so old and closed, Eloise looks for the detective who was originally in charge of the case. When he is found murdered in Eloise’s own bookshop, detectives start looking at Eloise as their chief suspect.

How to speed up the investigation and link the clues leading to the conviction of the murderer is Eloise’s aim along with the very reclusive Cam and more intrepid Jane.

Surprising end and leading to the next book (I hope).

A Killer Clue is book #2 in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series and had no trouble reading it as a standalone book. Jane and Cameron are investigating a cold case murder and the twists kept me guessing. Then there was a current day murder. The police don’t believe they are related, but were they? This was an enjoyable afternoon read. I bought the first book to be caught up when the next book comes out.

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A excellent second in series by a wonderful cozy author. I do recommend reading the first in series to truly understand and enjoy the series.
The author writes fascinating well crafted mysteries.. Thank you to the publisher , to Net Galley and to the author for the opportunity for review. My review opinions are my own.

.In this next in series our protagnist is investigating two murders while continuing her task of cataloging Clews book collection. They are friends and worked on a previous murder case together. Clew is a agoraphobic and does not leave his house. With two murders to solve they have to put their investigative skills to work utilizing the red herrings and clues that abound in both cases.

I enjoy the author's writing and her unique multi faceted characters. The suspense builds with the sleuth and the conclusion was a surprise to this reader. I look forward to the third in series at the next release. A very charming enjoyable mystery

This is the second book in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series. Due to the ongoing background story arc of searching for the mystery woman in old photos and the search for the identity of Cam’s biological father, in my opinion it’s best to start with the first book - A Cryptic Clue.

In this installment Jane and Cam are approached by Eloise Anderson (the book shop owner who often procures rare books for Cam) to prove that her mother was not a murderer. Before their investigation even begins the police detective who helped convict Eloise’s mother is found dead in the same bookstore where Eloise’s mother allegedly killed Eloise’s father. Jane and Cam must figure out how the past and present murders are related and whether they were committed by the same person.

The investigative team in this series is rather unusual for the cozy mystery genre, which adds a unique element and is rather refreshing. The primary mysteries are well done and interesting, but the continued investigation into Cam’s family history is equally intriguing. I can’t wait to see how that plays out!