“‘Til death do us part” could be closer than the bride realizes in Victoria Gilbert’s tantalizing fifth Blue Ridge Library mystery.The pursuit to acquire a rare illustrated book turns deadly, and on the eve of her upcoming wedding, library director Amy Webber is drawn into a web of treachery and betrayal that could derail her happy day–and maybe just claim her life.Planning a wedding can be … life.
Planning a wedding can be murder–sometimes literally. At a party celebrating their upcoming nuptials, Taylorsford, Virginia library director Amy Webber and her fiancé Richard Muir discover the body of art dealer Oscar Selvaggio–a bitter rival of their host, Kurt Kendrick.
Both had been in a heated battle to purchase a rare illustrated volume created by William Morris’s Kelmscott Press, so suspicion immediately falls upon Kurt. Amy knows that Kurt has a closet-full of skeletons from his past–but she can’t believe he’s guilty of murder.
Amidst an avalanche of wedding preparations, Amy begins an investigation with the help of her aunt Lydia Talbot and the new mayor of Taylorsford, Sunshine “Sunny” Fields. Much to Lydia’s
dismay, her boyfriend, art expert Hugh Chen, becomes convinced of Kurt’s guilt and launches an investigation of his own. As the case hits painfully close to home, the stakes become impossibly high–and the danger all too real.
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Another great installment in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series. This series has great characters that I enjoy learning more about in each book and the mystery is always good too. In this book, Amy’s parents and her brother are in town for her engagement party and wedding. Richard’s parents are also in town for the big event. The mystery was complex with many twists and turns that kept me wondering. I really enjoy this series and how the characters have grown over the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Terrific book!! I love how the current day murder always seems to tie to something from the past. Amy and Richard are preparing for their wedding when an art dealer competing with Kurt Kendrick for a copy of a rare book is found murdered at the engagement party Kurt is throwing for them at his house. Kurt is a primary suspect and Amy’s brother, Scott, seems to also have a connection to the case. Aunt Lydia’s boyfriend, Hugh, has brought in another investigator and continues to investigate Kurt, which causes tension in their relationship. Amy starts to wonder just what exactly it is that her brother does for a living and suspects he is some sort of field agent. A fun and intriguing story that draws the past and present together in the world of art and drugs. Amy and Richard’s wedding was beautiful and I loved their surprises for each other. I hope that there will be more books in this great series!!
There was never any doubt that Amy’s wedding would have issues pop up, given her tendency to get involved in situations that lead to murder, but in A Deadly Edition, even she is surprised at what happens before the planning is done. Life is never dull, even at the library when Amy and Richard get together with family and friends, add in a rare book, parents, and a brother, as well as a few unexpected guests, and you have everything you need for a mystery that thrills.
The characters in this series have always been entertaining and highly likable. I adore Aunt Lydia and think an entire series could be created based on her. She may be a bit too stubborn, but she is endearing none-the-less. Other characters in this book are fun to learn about and spend a few hours investigating, mainly Sunny and Karen. Even with the wedding plans and her library duties, Amy still finds another body and danger. It’s personal when a friend is being accused of a crime, again. Suspects are all around and may even include members of her family. Amy, Sunny, and even Scott, Amy’s brother, waste no time launching into the investigation.
Suspects are easy to find, motives are as well. Yet, it isn’t always apparent who the killer is or if the motive is the rare book Kurt and the victim are fighting over. Evidence keeps pointing to various individuals but none more than Kurt. Yet, Amy knows Kurt isn’t guilty; she just has to prove it. The wedding preparations continue, as does Amy’s work at the library, which she uses in her investigation and leads to more questions than answers. Readers will love the complicated storyline, the animated characters, and the .result of the investigation when the killer is revealed.
Overall A Deadly Edition is a wonderful addition to the series. Who doesn’t enjoy library intrigue, the art world fascination with rare books, or people who are not always what they seem? Readers will get lost in this story and spend quality time with characters that get better with each new volume.
Amy Webber, the library director in Taylorsford, Virginia, and her fiance, Richard Muir, are planning their upcoming wedding. While at a party hosted by Kurt Kendrick, Amy and Richard discover the body of a man who was going up against Kurt for a rare book. Amy is pulled into the investigation doing research and things soon heat up.
I’ve loved this series and this book is no exception. It’s well-written with wonderful characters you’ll enjoy getting to know and it expertly captures small town life. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and kept hooked while the mystery kept me guessing. I’m really looking forward to more from this series. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
#5 in the Blue Ridge library series, A Deadly Edition is the best one yet! (Though I say that all the time) As the countdown begins on the last month before the happy event, many things are in the works— including a murder. The sense of community, wonderful characters, and fast paced plot work together to produce the type of story I love to read. Don’t miss this series.
It FINALLY happened! The wedding ! I cried . I had a couple of doubts about a few people actually letting the wedding happen but I was wrong. (Thank you author) Amy didn’t even let a murder stop this wedding so I shouldn’t have doubted. Kurt just broke my heart and I think I might remember him the most out of all these amazing characters. I LOVED every page and since I borrowed this series, I’m thinking very hard about buying my own set.
Amy and Richard are finally getting married. Kurt throws them a party. All their family and friends are there as well an acquaintance/business rival of Kurt’s named Oscar Selvaggio. When Oscar is found dead, there is no dearth of suspects. This is a twisted plot. Lots of people wanted Oscar dead. Amy fears this will cause havoc with her wedding, so she decides to do a little “research”.
This is an entertaining read. There are mysteries within mysteries in this one. It is easy to read and the characters are fun.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my honest opinion.
A wedding, criminal art, murder, and a library in an idyllic setting; can a book get any more perfect?
Amy and Richard are finally getting married but before they can say I do Amy must deal with a killer. Will Amy meet Richard at the end of the aisle or will she meet her maker?
I was hooked from page one as I have been with all the books in this series and did not want to stop until the last page. I really liked how we got to know Amy’s brother, Scott, more. Between Amy and Scott, their poor parents are always kept on their toes.
Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. The author does great in giving enough background of the characters to catch you up.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert is book five in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries. It can be read as a stand alone.
Amy and Richard’s wedding is here. During the rehearsal dinner at Kurt’s estate, an univited guest is found dead in a garden shed, When it is discovered, he was murdered, Amy knows she needs to find answers so the wedding can go on with no questions or suspicions hanging over the guests. This includes Amy’s brother who is in town supposedly only for the wedding or is he.
This well written story has plenty of plot twists and suspects in a lovely setting. You also get possible break ups, maybe new romances, family, friends, humor, secrets revealed, and a wedding.. I didn’t want to put it down,
I was given an ARC from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an honest review.
Amy Webber is hiding. Not from danger, though. Amy’s hiding until she knows she can face her future father-in-law without shouting him down. Amy, her fiancé Richard, and a whole host of people are at Highview, a home owned by a friend of the engaged couple. Kurt Kendrick, owner of Highview, is a wealthy man and has thrown this party to celebrate the engagement of Amy and Richard. Kurt is also an art gallery owner, art collector, and at the time of Amy’s hiding, cornered by Amy’s future father-in-law. The discussion revolves around the decline of the arts in society. Kurt is an expert in the topic; James Muir is not. Amy retreats to the pantry to get her emotions under control. Eventually she is found by her best friend Sunshine “Sunny” Fields and returns to the party.
Before Amy can rejoin Richard, she has a couple of unusual encounters. The first is with Adele Tourneau, Richard’s former dance coach. Amy catches Adele in a small pantry. Adele is pouring some type of liquor into a tumbler but stops when she hears Amy’s approach. After some small talk, Amy leaves Adele, and Adele’s odd behavior, in the pantry.
In the main hall, Amy meets up with Sunny, but before they can join the others, they are waylaid by a stranger. He introduces himself as Oscar Selvaggio, a friend of Kurt Kendrick’s. However, when Kurt hears Selvaggio is present, Kurt isn’t pleased. Selvaggio, it turns out, had turned up unexpectedly and Kurt invited Selvaggio to stay.
The evening doesn’t turn out well for anyone when Oscar Selvaggio’s body is discovered in a shed on Kurt Kendrick’s property, bringing a gruesome end to the party.
After Oscar’s death, suspects abound. The investigation into Oscar’s death casts a wide net, disrupting relationships and upsetting those Amy cares about the most. She’s determined to help with the investigation, but the killer or killers are determined to leave their crime unsolved, even if it means more murder.
Recommendation
It took me a bit to get into this story, but I’m glad I kept on. Eventually the story pulled me in. The story is a tangled one, but all the threads are neatly tied up by the end of the book. Recommended.
Wedding bells are getting ready to ring foe Amy and Richard. In just four weeks they will tie the knot and both families are on hand to celebrate the big day. All seems fine with the only questions on Amy’s mind are which three flavors of cake will be at her wedding reception and what dress alterations might be needed. With a month to go, not a problem. The problems show up when a killer makes an appearance at a party thrown for Amy and Richard, family and some friends. Their host, Kurt, is a charmer but has many secrets of the unsavory variety. Art theft is a nasty business – is Kurt guilty of such crimes? Many people are interested in a rare edition of Chaucer illustrated and published by the great William Morris and one of them is Kurt. He is in competition with a man who turns up at the party uninvited. He soon leaves but not in the usual way via the front door. The killer makes sure of that. When the police focus on Kurt, Amy finds that she has an investigation to juggle along with the cake choices and the dresses.
It was fun to get to know more about Amy and Richard’s families. Amy’s mysterious brother, Scott, shows up for the big event but it’s out of character for him to have so much time on his hands that he’s staying the month. What interest might he have in Kurt, the rare book, the dead man, etc.? As for the mystery, it’s complex with lots of twists and turns and some red herrings. It was a great reading escape.
My thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
A DEADLY EDITION by Victoria Gilbert
The Fifth Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Preparations for her wedding are keeping librarian Amy Webber happily busy. Several people have some to town to celebrate in the weeks before the wedding, including her younger brother and a colleague of her aunt’s beau. Other newcomers have appeared in town as well including a shifty looking man, an inquisitive tourist, and a business rival of the enigmatic Kurt Kendrick. Taking a breath of air at a party in their honor, Amy and Kurt stumble across the body of Kurt’s rival. With several party goers acting suspiciously, Amy can’t stop from doing a little research. Was the man’s death the result of a competition for the purchase of a rare book? Or is something more going on? Planning her wedding won’t stop Amy from doing some digging on her own, but will she be digging her own grave?
A DEADLY EDITION combines all of the items from the Old English rhyme about weddings into the plot of its mystery. There’s something old (the past of many of the characters), something new (new characters are introduced), something borrowed (pain, guilt, revenge, to name just a few), and something blue (emotions from some characters). These concepts are seamlessly blended into this engaging story.
I love the characters, their diversity, their uniqueness, and their ability to see beyond it all to come together, protect each other, and ultimately, love each other. While I caught onto one aspect of the mystery fairly early on, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story, and still left me some surprises at its conclusion.
A DEADLY EDITION is a heartwarming and ultimately uplifting mystery that proves that while the past may shape you, love will triumph.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
I fell in love with this book!! It starts with an engagement party for Amy and Richard where she is attempting to get along with his parents. This comes with a surprise visit from her mysterious brother as well. The party is going well until the couple hear a noise outside and when they go to investigate find one of the guests dead in an old shed out back. As proven in the past Amy cannot ignore a good mystery so before it is even announced as a murder she starts her research. Wedding planning may derail her for moments at a time but her determination also sends her back to looking into things. This makes for a fun time following her clues while also getting closer and closer to the wedding. It becomes a question of whether she will solve it in time to walk down the aisle. A perfect blend of sleuthing, life, and wedding fun that will keep you captivated until the sweet end that will almost have you in tears of happiness. A must read for cozy fans. I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In just a month library director Amy Webber and her fiancé, Richard Muir will be walking down the garden aisle. Their friend, Kurt Kendrick has brought family and friends together to celebrate the upcoming event. But the party is crashed by one of Kurt’s business associates. Oscar Selvaggio, an art dealer, and Kurt are both trying to purchase a rare edition of a book from William Morris’s Kelmscott Press. He allows the man to stay for the party and plans to discuss the book with him later. But before the gentlemen can meet Mr. Selvaggio is found dead and Kurt is the prime suspect in his murder. Amy wants the killer caught and Kurt’s name cleared before her wedding so she enlists the help of her BFF and new Taylorsford mayor, Sunshine “Sunny” Fields, along with her Aunt Lydia to find who killed the art dealer and why.
The wedding brings Amy’s parents to Taylorford along with her brother. Amy is surprised because her brother is usually wrapped up in his job and rarely visits but she is thrilled he is going to stay in town until the wedding. He does become a significant player in the story and it was great to get to know him. Amy and Richard keep working right up to their big day and Amy uses some of her time to research the deceased and his connections along with Sunny. Sunny and Amy’s friendship is so realistic and true to life. In fact, all of Ms. Gilbert’s characters are realistic as are their relationships.
The mystery this time was very complex with a lot of players and interactions and history. At times I was a little confused and had no idea how the author was going to bring everything she set up together. I was trusting and patient and was rewarded by several aha moments and an exciting climax. I will admit I was a little bit more excited by all the wedding plans and the dress shopping and actual wedding that solving the mystery at times. Ms. Gilbert did a great job entwining both plotlines. Her descriptions of the garden, the ceremony, and the fun reception made me feel like an invited guest.
Fun characters, a mystery that makes you think, and a beautiful wedding make A Deadly Edition a very solid addition to the series. I do recommend reading the series from the start because they do build on each other. A very enjoyable escape!
A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert has Amy Webber just four weeks away from her wedding to Richard Muir when they stumble upon a dead art dealer in Taylorsford, Virginia. Oscar Selvaggio was a rival of their friend, Kurt Kendrick. They both were after the very rare Kelmscott Chaucer. When Kurt becomes a prime suspect, Amy works to clear his name. A Deadly Edition has mystery, romance, intrigue, and humor. I thought A Deadly Edition was well-written with a multifaceted plot. There is quite a bit going on in this cozy mystery. In addition to Amy and Richard finishing the last-minute preparations for their upcoming nuptials, they both must continue working at their jobs. They also have Amy’s parents visiting for a few days and her brother has decided to stay in town until the wedding in four weeks. This is unusual for her brother and Amy is curious about his true reasons for being in town. She wonders if his job is a front for something covert. A coveted manuscript is for sale and Kurt Kendrick wants it. Unfortunately, so do other people including Oscar Selvaggio. Oscar ends up murdered with Kurt at the top of Chief Deputy Brad Tucker’s suspect list. Amy decides to do a little research as well as some snooping (in between dress fittings and cake tastings). The mystery was complex which I just loved and I enjoyed the dramatic reveal. There was intrigue and drama which keeps the reader engaged. I enjoy a twisty whodunit. It depends upon the number of mysteries you have read on whether you solve this mystery before the reveal or not. The ending will have readers smiling. A Deadly Edition is the 5th novel in A Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone, but a new reader may be a little confused at the very beginning until the background details are provided. A Deadly Edition is a captivating cozy mystery with a matchless manuscript, scrumptious cake flavors, a deceased art dealer, shifty suspects, an infuriating soon-to-be-in-law, and wedding wonder.
Victoria Gilbert has another winning story to add to the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series. This story has a happy beginning with the occasion celebrating the upcoming wedding of Amy Webber and Richard Muir at the home of friend, Kurt Kendrick. The two met as neighbors in a small mountain town of Taylorsford, Virginia and fell in love. Amy, local library director and former university librarian, lives with her Aunt Lydia and Richard lives next door in a house once owned by his Uncle Paul’s and is a professor of dance at Clarion University. Amy has a way of stumbling into trouble, naming murder. This time it happens when an uninvited guest appears at the dinner party. The art dealer, Oscar Selvaggio, is a rival of Kurt’s and both are after a rare book. Unfortunately, Oscar’s body is found by Amy and Richard in an outside shed.
As wedding plans go on, so does the investigation into who murdered Oscar. A few strangers show up in town to add to the suspect pool that includes Kurt and others. Amy’s elusive brother is acting strange and appears on the list. Even though he is secretive about his job it is thought to be in intelligence. Local lawman Brad Tucker calls on Amy’s research from time to time and this is another time he needs her help.
This is a great addition to the series that is always like stepping back into a familiar quaint town with interesting characters, suspense, danger, and mystery. It has a lovely, joyous ending that will bring a smile.
I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
Who ever thought a book could be so deadly! Who will end up with the coveted copy of the Kelmscott Press edition of the works of Geoffrey Chaucer? Who would have thought such a tangled web could be weaved even if you are trying to help a friend. Loved this story line and the characters working, living and loving together. This is a great series and I can’t wait for the next one. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
A Deadly Edition is the fifth book in the A Blue Ridge Library Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert.
Amy and Richard’s wedding day is just days away, and they are looking forward to joining in holy matrimony. Amy is so happy to learn that her brother has arrived will be spending some time with the family.
The story starts with a pre-nuptial party at the home of Kurt Kendrick. When an uninvited guest, Oscar Selvaggio, arrives at the party, Amy can see the surprise and displeasure on Kendrick’s face. It’s learned that Selvaggio is also an art-dealer and that he Kendrick has had dealings in the past. And they are both currently vying for a rare and valuable book. The party is going well until it announced that Selvaggio had been found dead.
Amy realizes that she doesn’t have the time to get involved in solving a murder, but with her brother showing up on the suspect list and even though Kendrick isn’t a close friend, she doesn’t believe that he the killer. So, Amy, Richard, and Sunny will set out to find the killer.
I love this series. The books are well-written and plotted, and there were enough red herrings that kept me guessing until the end. Most of the characters from the previous books are back once again to offer Amy support. They are all well-developed and believable. I would like to be a resident of Taylorsford and call them my friends.
I will be watching for the next book in this enjoyable series.
A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert is a Blue Ridge Library Mystery featuring Amy Webber as the librarian, and in this case, the bride. It is a rollicking good time opening with an engagement party given by Kurt Kendrick, a family friend of all concerned. Her father-in-law is currently expounding upon, “I don’t know anything about art, but I know what I like,” and Amy has taken a break. Her fiancé, Richard, was simply gritting his teeth, used to these sorts of outbursts by his father. Kurt is a collector and is currently trying to buy a historic copy of Chaucer when a rival for that purchase arrives, uninvited, into this situation. Interestingly enough, Oscar Selvaggio, ends up dead just moments later. The investigation begins, with a focus on Kurt.
This is an interesting book. Normally everyone involved with the sleuth is pristine, but Kurt has a shady past, and there seem to be no shortage of people into town investigating him. Amy is 35 and, Richard, 37, so they are not must off the farm, and yet they seem to take Kurt with a grain of salt. It is an entertaining read for that reason alone. Being older, they both have pasts and plenty of people populating those pasts, so it makes getting to know those people extremely entertaining. It is all very interwoven, which makes it a challenge to work out, but also gives the police, the various investigators, and Amy plenty to unravel. This is an enticing read, one I recommend highly.
I was invited to read a free ARC of A Deadly Edition by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #adeadlyedition
Another ok entry in this series. I kept checking to see how far I was, thinking the end was near, nope 40%, 50%, 60% and at 70% I started changing pages faster to force myself to read faster. I knew who it was before the half way mark this time.
So, while the mystery had a ton of twists and turns, knowing who was responsible took the fun out of it and I was wishing the characters had deduced it sooner as well. I will say the wedding was the nicest, most practical and believable I’ve read. OK, maybe not the necklace.
The author continues to give a nod to the LGBTQ community with a tertiary character falling into that category. Kudos for the person falling into a less well known orientation.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.