From the critically acclaimed author of SIBA Okra Pick A Murder for the Books, Victoria Gilbert embarks with a new series for perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Juliet Blackwell.A book lover’s B&B in an idyllic waterfront village becomes the scene of a grisly murder–and a ruthless battle between treachery and the truth.Nestled in the historic waterfront town of Beaufort, North Carolina, … waterfront town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast is a reader’s paradise. Built in 1770, the newly renovated inn hosts a roster of special events celebrating books, genres, and authors. It’s the perfect literary retreat–until a rare book dealer turns up dead in the carriage house during a celebration of Golden Age mystery author Josephine Tey.
The victim’s daughter points the finger at forty-two-year-old widow and former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed, who inherited the B&B from her great-aunt Isabella. Charlotte is shocked to discover that the book dealer suspected Isabella of being a thief who founded Chapters on her ill-gotten gains. Charlotte has successfully learned the B&B business in a year, but nothing has prepared her to handle a death on the premises.
Armed with intelligence and courage and assisted by her vibrant older neighbor, a visiting author, and members of a local book club, Charlotte is determined to prove her innocence and to clear her great-aunt’s name. But the murderer is still at large, and equally determined to silence anyone who might discover the truth behind the book dealer’s death. Now, Charlotte must outwit an unknown killer–or end up writing her own final chapter.
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Good start to an interesting new series. It’s a little bit of a slow start, but I didn’t mind as the pace picked up later and the book came to a satisfying conclusion.
Cozy Mystery fans will enjoy this new series set in a B&B with a rare-books library.
Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
When you have a book with this title and the name of the B&B is Chapters I am hooked! This was such a fun read and one I rarely put down. And then there’s food. Charlotte inherited the B&B from her great aunt and has retained a long-time employee or maybe I should call her a fixture of the business. They clean and cook, and it seems as if Victoria Gilbert makes us read about every neat thing that is cooked or baked.
There are great characters here. Gilbert seems to be so good at describing them that they become a scene in your mind. And the who-dun-it part. You guess and you think you know and then, you don’t.
This is Book 1 in a new series titled “Booklover’s B&B Mystery”. Gilbert also has a popular series titled “Blue Ridge Library Mystery”. I guess the best way to describe how I felt about this is that I want another book in both series.
Booked for Death from Crooked Lane Books is the first book in a new series, “Book Lover’s B&B Mystery” by Victoria Gilbert.
Charlotte won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. She can be hard to take at times. She needs a boost to keep the B&B she inherited afloat as financially; the B&B isn’t pulling its weight yet. But murder isn’t what she had in mind. This leads her down a path that could result in her losing everything, including her life. The character of Ellen is easy to like; she isn’t what she seems and is willing to put herself in danger to save her next-door neighbor. Characters are interesting and will mature in future additions. I would like to see more about Ellen and Charlotte’s aunt, Isabella’s activities in the past. I feel this would enhance the series a great deal.
The location of a B&B mixed with North Carolina is an excellent place to set a new series. The literary part attracts many of us who enjoy these types of cozies. The actual location is beautiful and steeped in history.
The killing of Lincoln was predictable, as was the finger pointing at the B&B owner. The victim was not well-liked by anyone, including his family; he was underhanded and possibly a criminal. The resolution of the murder with suspects who all had a motive was a bit slow but ultimately worked out in Charlotte’s favor. Overall, I felt that Booked for Death was a good start to what hopefully will turn into a beautiful series.
This is a strong start to a new series. The setting of a book lover’s bed and breakfast is a dream vacation for a bookworm like me. The main character, Charlotte, is a likable, realistic, strong female. I look forward to seeing how her character develops over the series. The mystery is full of twists and turns and red herrings to keep the reader guessing whodunit until the big reveal. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way, I have been influenced by anyone.
Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert, the first in the Booklover’s B&B mystery series. What could be better than a B&B with a literary theme? The name is Chapters and it’s located in Beaufort, North Carolina. Charlotte Reed who inherited it from her great-aunt Isabella, who is pretty much a mystery to her, owns it. She runs the place with the help of Alicia Simpson, who came with the house, and does much of the cooking. This week they are in the midst of a Josephine Tey celebration for both guests and locals. There are plenty of secrets at Chapters as it is all so new and Aunt Isabella was so old that mostly no one is left who knew here well. Charlotte has one semi-permanent resident, Scott Kepler, who is an author and comes to Chapters for peace and quiet. Charlotte is still unpacking books from Aunt Isabella’s library, which includes many valuable entries. All is going well with Josephine Tey until there is a murder, and they are all suspects.
Booked for Death is full of lying, misidentifications, cheating husbands, theft, and some surprises. The plot is one that takes explaining, as it is so complicated. The main characters are good and I look forward to spending more time with them. Gilbert has a hit on her hands. A definite plus are all the references to books you may have read, or may be tempted to read after immersing yourself in this book. My favorite cozies take place in bookshops or libraries and this certainly fills the bill. I recommend it.
I was invited to read an ARC of Booked for Death by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #bookedfordeath
Charlotte has inherited her great aunts Bed-and-Breakfast Chapters in Beaufort, North Carolina and I am not going to lie I would love be in Charlotte’s shoes (minus the murder that is). She hosts an array of literary events at the B&B and during the current event celebrating mystery author Josephine Tey, one of the guest ends up dead in the carriage house!
Lincoln Delamont an unscrupulous rare book dealer is the victim , and everyone at the B&B is a suspect including Charlotte as she had a conversation with him before he died that suggested her great aunt got her rare books in underhanded ways! With the help of Charlotte’s neighbour she is determined to clear her name and discover the true killer.
There is a whole host of characters and each one it would appear would have a strong motive to kill Lincoln, I was torn between two people being the killer and even when it was revealed I was still shocked.
Booked for Death was a great cozy mystery, and I would love to spend a week at the Chapters B&B. I can’t wait to read more in this series.
4 stars
Having read and reviewed all of the author’s previous books in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, I was excited for the opportunity to have an early look at this first book in a brand new series. I am always a complete sucker for bookish cozies and with a B&B setting, there was so much to enjoy.
Located along the North Carolina waterfront within historic Beaufort, North Carolina, Chapters Bed & Breakfast is the perfect literary retreat for readers. This newly renovated inn hosts all manner of special events celebrating books, and owner Charlotte is certainly excited to welcome guests for a salute to the Golden Age of mystery. However when a rare book dealer turns up dead after accusing Charlotte’s aunt of theft, Charlotte begins a quest to discover the truth behind not only the murder, but her own family’s history as well!
The pacing is nicely done, allowing both the suspense to build gradually to an unpredictable conclusion while also developing the characters in such a way that readers get to know them and their potential motives. The special events planned for the week continue despite the murder, giving Charlotte and her neighbor, Ellen, a chance to team up and really showcase their amateur sleuthing skills. The well plotted red herrings keep the twists coming and readers guessing until the very end.
Once again, the author has created a fascinating community that I look forward to returning to with future installments. This is definitely a solid introduction to a new series that will appeal to cozy fans and book lovers alike!
Many thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours and the author for providing me with an e-ARC of the book. This is my honest and thoughtful review.
You know how they say, “You can’t judge a book by its cover”? We do it anyway, and I’ll admit that I did it with Booked for Death! Just look at that gorgeous house and that adorable dog. Yes, I do read the synopsis of books too, but cute covers always draw me in. The synopsis of this book drew me in too. I love the water, and Chapters B&B is in an “idyllic waterfront village.” And Chapters is a reader’s paradise with bookish events and bookish rooms! Sign me up for an extended stay, Charlotte!
Charlotte runs this beautiful B&B thanks to her great-aunt’s bequest. And things are all well and good until someone is murdered during one of the B&B’s author celebration weeks. With so many suspects, and some of them still staying at Chapters, Charlotte feels the need to ferret out the murderer. As you follow the clues with Charlotte, you’ll be led down a lot of rabbit holes! I had an idea about who the culprit was, but I wasn’t positive of my guess until close to the end of Booked for Death. There’s another “mystery” hidden in the book, and it’s my favorite part of the story! No spoilers!
In addition to the beautiful setting and twisty mystery, Booked for Death has some great characters that are sure to show up in more books as the series progresses. My favorite character is Charlotte’s neighbor Ellen…that’s her dog on the cover by the way. I’m not too sure about Charlotte’s friend Julie yet, but she may grow on me. There are a couple of other characters that I really liked too, but I won’t tell you who they are since everyone’s a potential suspect! I’m ready to solve the next mystery.
I definitely recommend Booked for Death for all of you cozy mystery book lovers!
BOOKED FOR DEATH by Victoria Gilbert
The First Book Lover’s B&B Mystery
Upon her aunt’s death, Charlotte Reed inherited her literary themed B&B. Preparations are under way to celebrate famed mystery author Josephine Tey, including a themed dinner party. But being the hostess isn’t always easy, especially with a talented, but surly teenager and her volatile parents, one of whom is a presumptuous book dealer who questions how Charlotte’s aunt came to own such a valuable book collection under her roof. When he’s found dead in the carriage house, Charlotte begins to suspect everybody, including her employees and good friend. As she begins to look into her aunt’s past, she may find more than she bargained for. Will she find a murderer as well?
There is so much to like about this new series. Charlotte is a fine protagonist who is not blind to the foibles of anyone, including her friends. She doesn’t automatically exclude anyone from her suspect list merely because she likes them. I am so happy to find a capable, smart detective who is receptive to various theories. I especially appreciate that she’s a strong female character and not a romantic lead for our protagonist. In fact, BOOKED FOR MURDER is filled with strong, competent women, making it fitting that a contemptible man is the victim.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the first Book Lover’s Mystery is how it weaves mysteries from the past into the present. I loved the manner in which the author tied the golden age mysteries of Josephine Tey to the current murder. I enjoyed how Charlotte begins to uncover the truth about her mysterious aunt. Secrets abound and I love how their slow revelation adds more and more depth to the story. I also appreciate the portrayal of older women. Septuagenarians can be savvy too. Plus, they have lots of experience to draw upon.
BOOKED FOR DEATH is a smart no nonsense mystery filled with capable characters with interesting back stories. Victoria Gilbert delivers a well plotted mystery whose ending provides the perfect segue to future books in the series.
Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert is the first in the A Booklover’s B&B Mystery series.
This is an easy and quick read cozy that has a great setting and equally great characters. You get plenty of plot twists and suspects. that will have you guessing until the end.
This is a great start to a new series.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest opinion.
How much fun would it be to go to a B&B for a week and have all kinds of literary events planned out for you. Sounds like a great plan to me and Beaufort, N.C. sounds like a wonderful place to hang out. I may have to agree with Alicia about some of the food, but I would give it a try. Charlotte may have her hands full this week’s guests and friends. There are enough secrets, deceit, surprises and suspects to go around for sure. Loved these characters and the storyline. I think you may enjoy finding out some of the secrets that become known. I think they may play into the next visit with Charlotte and company. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Victoria Gilbert is a new author for me and I’ve really enjoyed reading Booked for Death.
Charlotte Reed inherited her Great Aunt’s Chapters Bed & Breakfast after her aunt died. It was a great time to move to Beaufort, NC since Charlotte’s husband had died in a tragic accident a couple of years back. Charlotte was a High School teacher and this was no help preparing her for running a Bed & Breakfast! While hosting a Tey Celebration one of the guests ends up dead and Charlotte is trying to find out of one of her guests is a killer.
Victoria Gilbert did a wonderful job of writing this story and the characters were well written. It was a great Cozy Mystery read.
This was a great read. I really liked the setting. Beaufort sounds like an beautiful place to visit. Charlotte and her crew are fun and the premise of a B&B devoted to books is very intriguing. This is the first in a new series and I would definitely read another. There were lots of suspects and there was a bit of a mystery in a mystery and Charlotte tries to figure out how her Great-aunt acquired the money to buy Chapters, the B&B. I had a guess of who the murderer might be, but there were twists along the way and a very surprise ending.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and offer my honest opinion on this book.
cozy-mystery, murder-investigation, bed-and-breakfast, widow, amateur-sleuth, friendship, family-dynamics, small-business, small-town, North Carolina******
The murder mystery was excellently done with all its twists and red herrings, and there was no problem identifying the probable victim who was too obnoxious to avoid his just desserts. But I was more drawn to the parallel investigation into the history and more of the great aunt who left her home and business to Charlotte. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of Booked for Death. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
An entertaining cozy with more than one mystery in the story.
I felt the author added a lot of information that perhaps she felt was needed as background for the new series. However, I felt it was tedious and unnecessary.
But those who enjoy reading about B&B’s, small towns, interesting characters with a touch of suspense and murder will enjoy this new series and hopefully the second book will be as enjoyable, if not more.
Lovely Beaufort, North Carolina makes a quaint setting for a new bed and breakfast cozy. The story contains many surprise twists which I didn’t expect and really added to my enjoyment of the plot. Cozy readers, like myself, will embrace the Booklovers B&B Mystery series.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc for NetGalley and Crooked Lane. Thank you.
Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert is a new cozy mystery series by Ms. Gilbert set in Beaufort, North Carolina at Chapters, a book themed Bed & Breakfast. I’ve enjoyed every one of Ms. Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library series and was eager to read this book.
The lead character, Charlotte, has inherited Chapters from her great aunt Isabella and has been learning the bed and breakfast business for a year. I confess that I had a hard time connecting with Charlotte at the beginning of the book; but as I continued to read I began to like her more. My favorite character in this one is Charlotte’s neighbor, Ellen. For me Ellen stood out on the page from her first appearance.
The plot is smoothly paced, the characters are beginning to develop, there were only a few suspects regarding the murder and the secondary mystery regarding Charlotte’s great aunt Isabella was intriguing.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.