Renewed for Murder - (Blue Ridge Library Mystery) by Victoria Gilbert (Hardcover)

About the Book

Amy Webber and her new husband Richard Muir are settling into married life - and a new project. Richard is choreographing a suite based on folk music and tales, while Amy scours the library's resources for background information on the dance's source material. But the mellifluous music comes to a halt when an unknown woman's body turns up in Zelda Shoemaker's backyard gazebo. Chief Deputy Brad Tucker puts Zelda at the top of his suspect list, thanks to a blackmail letter he finds in the dead woman's pocket but Zelda's best friend, Amy's aunt Lydia Talbot, begs Amy to use her research to clear Zelda's name. But the task is confounded by Zelda's refusal to reveal why the victim might have blackmailed her.

Book Synopsis

Librarian Amy Webber dances with death in this sixth Blue Ridge Library cozy mystery by critically acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert.

"An intricately plotted library whodunit that both cozy readers and librarians will love!" --Amanda Flower, author of the Magic Bookshop Mysteries

August in Taylorsford, Virginia finds library director Amy Webber and her new husband, dancer Richard Muir, settling into married life--and a new project. Richard and his dance partner, Karla, are choreographing a suite based on folk music and folk tales, while Amy scours the library's resources to supply background information on the dance's source material. But the mellifluous music comes to a jarring halt when an unknown woman's body turns up in Zelda Shoemaker's backyard gazebo.

Chief Deputy Brad Tucker puts Zelda at the top of his suspect list, thanks to a blackmail letter he finds in the dead woman's pocket. Zelda's best friend, Amy's aunt Lydia Talbot, begs Amy to use her research skills to clear Zelda's name. But the task is confounded by Zelda's very out-of-character refusal to reveal why the victim might have blackmailed her.

Complicating matters further, Amy unearths records of a long-ago tragedy that casts doubt on Zelda's innocence. She enlists hubby Richard, Aunt Lydia, art dealer Kurt Kendrick, Mayor Sunny Fields, and sundry other quirky townsfolk in a quest to exonerate Zelda. But will revealing the truth end up forcing Zelda to spend the rest of her life behind bars?

Meanwhile, the killer is still out there. Amy had better be fleet on her feet, because death is on her dance card, and her number may be up.

Review Quotes

Praise for Renewed for Murder
"The lovingly rendered characters continue to steal the show in the heroine's sixth case."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Well-drawn characters."
--Publishers Weekly

"Highly recommended for community library "Mystery/Suspense" collections, [and] cozy mystery lover."
--Midwest Book Review

"Victoria Gilbert does a brilliant job . . . writing is rich in details that paint vivid visuals."
--Seattle Book Review, 5-star review

Praise for the Blue Ridge Library mysteries:
"Spunky librarian Amy will delight readers...A captivating cast of secondary characters and a dollop of romance add spice to this promising debut. I can't wait for the next in the series."
--Laura DiSilverio, bestselling and award-winning author of the Readaholics Book Club series

"An intricately plotted library whodunit that both cozy readers and librarians will love!"
--Amanda Flower, Agatha Award-winning author of the Magic Bookshop mysteries

"A perfect cozy setting with eccentric locals, a handsome neighbor, and a wise, determined librarian who turns detective to solve a decades-old murder. Great fun!"
--Julia Buckley, author of the Writer's Apprentice Mysteries

"Gilbert delivers an entertaining mystery with a sizzle of romance, a dash of history and a scintillating hint of the supernatural. Cozy readers will find all the right elements to curl up and have fun."
--Victoria Abbott author of the award-winning Book Collector Mysteries

"Endearing characters."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Series fans will enjoy the ongoing shenangians...Newbies with an appreciation for small town politics (and an interlibrary loan mulligan) will have no trouble starting here."
--Booklist

"Lively small-town characters, a well-paced plot, and dollops of fascinating art history help make this a winner."
--Publishers Weekly

"The well plotted and character driven story moves quickly and has something for everyone...Highly recommended."
--Fresh Fiction

"Another win for the series...layered characters [and] a solid mystery."
--San Francisco Book Review

"Another deftly crafted mystery buff's delight by a true master of the genre."
--Midwest Book Review

"A mystery that has suspense, surprises, and humor which makes for an addicting and delightful cozy read from beginning to end."
--Manhattan Book Review

"A fun tale of books and crooks!"
--Woman's World

"Gilbert weaves a well-paced, engaging story with strong characters... Blue Ridge Mystery fans will love reconnecting with Amy and her Taylorsford compatriots."
--NY Journal of Books

"What more could we want than to have our murder mysteries solved by an endearing librarian?"
--Appalachian Mountain Books

About the Author

Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. Victoria has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers and lives in North Carolina.