The name Victoria Gilbert probably rings a bell if you are a reader of mystery books. She is the author of the Blue Ridge Library mysteries, the Booklover's B&B mysteries, and the Hunter and Clewe mysteries. I first came across her books while searching for mysteries that featured libraries and found her stories of librarian Amy Webber and the quiet town of Taylorsford where she takes over as head librarian in the public library. After trying that series, I branched out into the Booklover's B&B stories with Chapters Bed and Breakfast in Beaufort, North Carolina as the center for book-related events and local mysteries. Then came the Hunter and Clewe mysteries with a retired university librarian hired as the archivist for an eccentric 30-something collector, and both of them being pulled into mysteries.
And now - a new series set on a college campus within commuting distance of Taylorsford, with some characters from the Blue Ridge Library stories crossing over. Besides familiarity with the author's other series, I was attracted to this book because my sister is an English professor at a small college and one of her good friends runs the campus writing center. When I read the description and saw that this book was set on the Clarion campus (where character Amy Webber's husband is a dance instructor) and that the protagonist was the director of Clarion's writing center, I couldn't resist.
I appreciate the way multiple characters are given plausible motives for the deaths that occur. I hate when a book points the finger of guilt too clearly at the culprit and there really is no mystery to the story. That didn't happen here. The first victim has stepped on far too many toes on campus and around the area. Between students, coworkers, campus administration, and his personal life - there are plenty of suspects. And I also enjoyed how Jen Dalton, the protagonist, used her background knowledge gained from being a successful mystery writer to help her sort through the situation. There is also added chemistry between Jen and Zachary Flynn, a psychologist who works with students through the campus health center. It is a bit of a mystery how their relationship will evolve, but that is also fun to try and figure out. And when a second death occurs, the tension ratchets up even more.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries, mysteries or stories in general that are in an academic setting, or if you already know you like the style of Victoria Gilbert's writing - then you should try this one. It just came out in January and should be the start of another great series.
I read an advance copy provided for review purposes, but I was a little slow on posting a review.
No comments:
Post a Comment