The first in the Blue Ridge Library cozy mysteries series, and also apparently the author’s debut, the story is narrated in first person, past tense, by our heroine, one Amy Webber. A former academic librarian, she’s lucky to have been hired the town’s library director in Taylorsford, VA, the small town where her maternal aunt lives, after a rather unfortunate personal crisis morphed into a professional debacle.

A few months later, Amy has settled well enough into town life, until she and Richard, a recent neighbor and new library patron, stumble upon the body of a former library volunteer.

Beware: a librarian who wears cotton gloves to handle old books (see footnote 1); whiff of paranormal elements; some copaganda; internalized fatphobia; dementia; mention of suicide; casual slut shaming.

Before getting into the story itself, I must say I’m surprised this is Ms Gilbert’s first published work, as the narrative voice is more engaging, and indulges in far fewer extraneous details, than in A Cryptic Clue. There’s some exposition, but it feels appropriate, as Amy and Richard embark on their quest to learn more about the past, which involves a rather large number of people, and seems to center in the history of their two adjacent properties, and the people who’ve lived and inherited the houses over the last nine or so decades.

The novel deals with a number of mysteries, which–to no one’s surprise–turn out to be closely related to each other, despite the time gaps between them.

One, of course, is the present-day murder of Doris Virts, a former library volunteer who was suffering from dementia, and who may have known some unsavory things about several of the town notables, pertaining a number children’s deaths at a small orphanage sometime in the 1950s, and for which the woman hired to care for them, who also died, had been blamed. Then there’s the question of whether Eleanor Cooper was indeed guilty of poisoning her husband; even though she had been acquitted by a jury at a nearby town back in 1925, her disappearance shortly thereafter cemented her presumed guilt in the town consciousness forever.

The town in question, Taylorsford, VA, has quite a long history, having been founded and continuously inhabited since before the U.S. was an actual country, with several of the most prominent families having ties to the area for many generations. In the present, it is not quite a one-horse town, but not too far from it either; partly due to geography (too narrow a valley to allow for unbridled expansion), part history (most of the property in the hands of a few families), and partly simple economics: not enough money or industry in the region for many years to sustain a bigger local population.

At about a thousand residents, there’s not enough revenue in the town coffers to pay for most of the things that the town needs–from a new roof in the historic Carnegie Library building to installing proper sidewalks, or extending water and sewer lines to a proposed new housing project in the oldest side of town, which would theoretically house wealthier commuters from D.C. Of course, once those new residents are locked in, the town would likely see an influx of tax and other monies.

Or at least, those self-same prominent families, still owning so much of the land in question, would see that influx of money.

But of course, there is some resistance from other long-time residents, who would have to deal with a lot of the drawbacks from increased population density in a place already plagued by poor infrastructure.

The other prominent plot thread in the novel is the romance, which is much more prominent here than it is in most of the recent cozies I’ve read this year.

Amy is thirty two, and her inner dialogue was mostly refreshing in its realness. She has the occasional unkind thought about people around her, including people she likes, especially when she’s cranky for other reasons, even as she acknowledges she’s being unfair or catty or what have you. In other words, she’s a good person, but not unrealistically so.

I was not as enamored with her constant admonishments not to acknowledge her attraction for Richard, who is clearly, from the moment he’s introduced, attracted to her. While Amy’s reticence is a natural enough reaction to her long-term boyfriend cheating on her, and she struggles with internalized fatphobia (and some of her body-image issues also stem from that previous relationship), the author has her attention linger a bit too much and too often on Richard’s physique, and about as much noticing his own eyes linger on her face and body.

Aside from that, I do wonder whether librarians will find her portrayal realistic or lacking–I myself cringed at the mention of cotton gloves to handle fragile old documents.

Because of the first person narration, most of the other characters aren’t as well developed as Amy herself, and what is there is filtered very clearly through her feelings for them; in some cases it’s instinctive dislike or distrust, in other her affection for, or personal relationship with, them.

Curiously, even though Richard is her love interest, both her Aunt Lydia and her friend Sunny are slightly better fleshed out.

I did appreciate that the author took pains to address several weighty issues, especially for a cozy mystery. Racism and the risks a Black teen or man would face being friendly, let alone romantically involved, with a white woman. The somewhat aggressive insularity of isolated communities. The health and body image issues that plague society, but especially performing arts.

The mystery aspect of the story was pretty interesting, as different layers of history come to light, setting the stage for the circumstance that spur the murders in the present. However, I didn’t much care for the whole “crazy person did it, only they looked so normal”; there were enough logical reasons for a sane and amoral person to indulge in a spot of murder, and for the situation to escalate out of their control into the current mess.

Still, I read the book in one long session, and was entertained enough, and intrigued enough by the dangling sequel-bait plot threads involving Aunt Lydia and the mysterious neighborhood millionaire, so look forward to the rest of the series.

A Murder for the Books gets a 7.50 out of 10

A Murder for the books is the first in a series. I recommend that the reader reads these books in the order of publication.

This is the first book in the Blue Ridge Library series and Amy Webbers moves to her aunt’s hometown in order to heal. She takes the job as the library director. She doesn’t plan on getting involved in a murder. Even if it is decades old. But she wants to help her neighbor clear his great uncles name. Since this was the first book in the series it was a little slow with the buildup. And creating the setting and characters. But I did enjoy that the first mystery in this one was a cold case. And I look forward more books in this series.

Great book, love this author and how they can keep my attention to the end! The plot is well developed, characters are believable and they obviously paid attention to detail to make the story worth your time to read.

A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

I put down the book several times and it took me about 4 days to finish, so while I thought the mystery was nicely complicated, this book isn't one I'd recommend right off the bat. The characters have potential though I thought the romance between Amy and Richard was a bit forced. However, I'm going to read Shelved Under Murder (bk. 2).

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

The story has a lot of spots where it drags with all of the descriptions of all the things that are happening, that have happened, or are about to happen. There are a lot of subplots that make it very easy to get confused with what's going on in the story. Amy seems to be intelligent but she is lacking any sort of wisdom. The mystery isn't really solved, instead at the end of the book the killer is the one to explain what happened. I won't be reading anymore books in this series and I'm not sure if I will read any other books by this author.

RATING: 4 STARS
2017; Crooked Lane Books

I really enjoyed A Murder for the Books, the first novel in the Blue Ridge Library mystery series. Amy Webber moves in with her aunt, Lydia in a quiet, historic mountain town in Virginia, after her boyfriend leaves her for another woman. She now manages the city library, with her best friend, Sunny employed as Library Assistant. In a small town where every quirky character is known by one another, a woman suffering from dementia is found dead in the Library's locked archive room. While the library is closed she gets closer to her new neighbour, dancer/instructor, Richard Muir. He is looking in his great uncle's pet project, of a murder in 1925. As Amy tries to help Richard, while avoiding any romantic entanglement, she is also on the lookout for a murder in the present day. This cozy mystery has a bit more depth in the plot, in the sense that the story is a bit more complex. Yet, it also has the light humour and quirky characters that cozies are known for. I am definitely in for the rest of the series (four books so far) and will be trying her newest series as well.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

A Murder for the Books is a wonderful cozy / mystery / romance book... Really, I don't want to put it on just one genre because it has even a bit of paranormal on it!
The murder of an elderly woman on the grounds of the Blue Ridge Library triggers a series of mysterious events that drag our Library Director Amy Webber to get involved in the investigation of the case, putting her life at risk as she tries to rebuild her love life...

I have to admit. I did judge the book by its cover with A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert but my expectations were met so I’m glad I requested this book. It also has a very catchy title for me since I love books and mysteries always catch my attention. The characters have very strong set of characters and the events don’t happen in a fast-paced manner but it’s good for a cozy read. Overall, I enjoyed this book.

Amy Webber is new to town. After leaving a horrid relationship, she moves in with her aunt in a small town in Virginia. Taking a job as the town librarian, she meets some of the town’s quirky neighbors. New to town, Richard Muir has inherited his great-uncle’s farm. In 1925, his great-uncle was rumored to have been poisoned by his wife. Wanting to solve the case and clear the woman’s name Richard enlists the Amy to solve the mystery. As the two look into the town’s past and uncover hidden secrets, the case takes on some connections to a current murder. Can Amy and Richard solve the case? Who really killed Richard’s great-uncle? The story is credible and entertaining. The plot is well-structured and full of twists and turns. The characters are quirky, unique, and draw the reader into the story. Although the dialogue needed a little help, the overall story was well worth the read. Fans of cozy mysteries, librarians, and romance will enjoy reading this book.

This was just an OK cozy mystery for me. Amy lives with her aunt in the Blue Ridge Mountains and works at the local public library. When a body is found in the Archives she sets out to solve the murder. Her new neighbor is also interested in solving a historical mystery. The book started off strong and I really liked the contemporary and the historical mysteries. Since this is the first book in the series a lot of characters are introduced. I liked the characters and the southern setting. The mystery however was weak, it was very easy to solve and the solution did not make sense. The romance overshadowed it. Since I liked the characters and setting I will read the next book. It was a quick easy read.

I really enjoyed this one, but of course, I'm a sucker for books set in libraries! This was another fun addition to this series. While the mystery wasn't super complicated, it was very entertaining. Just what I'm looking for in a cozy series!

In this first book in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series we meet librarian, Amy Webber. She has left the University, where she worked as a research librarian, after a disastrous love affair. She has moved in with her aunt, who has recently had an injury, in a quiet Virginia town in the mountains. Things are pretty lax at the library with a research annex where patrons are left alone to do their own research. Richard Muir is a dancer, choreographer and teacher at the same University where Amy worked. He has recently inherited the farmhouse next door to her aunt. He is researching a death from years ago, of the previous owner. It was rumoured that his wife poisoned him, but she was found not guilty. Shortly after that she disappears. When Richard asks to do research, Amy is unable to find the key to the annex. She leads Richard to the room and finds the dead body of a local resident with alzheimers. Who would want to kill her? Why was she in the annex hiding? Amy and Richard know something is going on and their search for the killer as well as trying to untangle information from the past, sets them on a road to discovery and danger.

I enjoyed this story and the characters. Amy is a great protagonist with her research skills and tenacity. She only wants to find the answers and do what is right, but others do not have her morals. There are quirky small-town characters, and a possible love interest in Richard. There is a killer who is determined to do whatever is necessary to keep old secrets, secret. The setting is wonderful with a run down library that needs updating, and a small town with a lot of history. The plot includes a cold case and a new murder that blend together nicely and are well paced. There are a few suspects and enough twists to keep me guessing. The final reveal and chase are well done and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. Over all, this is a well-written cozy mystery with a great plot and some meat to it. I find that I enjoy this type of cozy much more than the "fluff" ones. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy the cozy genre and I plan to continue reading this series by Victoria Gilbert.

As a fellow librarian in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I had to read this one. I liked Amy right away, and I couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of her opinions. Gilbert definitely gets Virginia and its strong importance of family history. I liked watching Amy solve this mystery, and can't wait for the rest of the series.

I received this free from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
This is the first in a series. Amy is running away from a disastrous love affair that left her confidence in tatters. Taking a job as the librarian she hopes to recover only to find herself embroiled in a murder. Who would want to kill a harmless old woman with dementia? And why would she be in the archives at the library? This is a twisty mystery with roots in the past. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to read the next in the series.

I have read quite a few cozy mysteries over the past fifteen years so I’m always pleased when one takes me by surprise. This book definitley caught my attention. The mystery portion was really well done and ended up including three different cases that spane over several generations. Even with the various characters and storylines, I had no problem following along and keeping everything straight. The author did a fantastic job of slowly pulling all three together while equally keeping you intrigued as you gathered clues.

However, my favorite part about this cozy was the main character. Amy Webber has recently moved to town to live with her aunt and become the head librarian. What set her apart from other protagonist is she came across as rather mature and educated!! I loved her enthusiasm for research and how she used that skill to her benefit.

“I’d become a librarian primarily due to my love of books, but also because of my lifelong compulsion to find answers to questions or mysteries. Even as a child, whenever I’d heard or seen something I hadn’t understood, I’d run to my books to research an answer or at least gather information.”

Finally a sleuth who doesn’t just stumble onto certain situations, but actually uses research and reasoning to solve things!! Amy was also incredibly relatable. She suffers from some insecurities about her body due to a previous relationship. This was handled in the most positive manner with the love interest. I adore Richard. He’s charming, a professional dancer and just wait until you hear about the meaning behind his most famous choreographed piece. The chemistry between the two was absolutely perfection. I also enjoyed Aunt Lydia and Sunny!!

This is the first book in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries and was definitley a great start to a new series. I look forward to reading the sequel, Shelved Under Murder!

I enjoyed this book, the first in a new series. I found the story engaging from the first few pages with a great mystery and interesting characters. It was easy to read and hard to put down. I thought that this was an interesting twist and solving a murder from the past. I'm looking forward to the next ones in the series.

Reading this book was a wonderful way to fill the Labor Day weekend. This is the first book that I have read by Victoria Gilbert, and I plan to start the second book, Shelved Under Murder, tomorrow. I liked Amy, Sunny, Aunt Lydia and Richard and the way that they interacted with each other and supported each other in this book. The small town of Taylorsford, Virgina sounds like a wonderful place where the people join together to help their neighbors when they need it. I was surprised by who had committed the murders, but understood their motive once the person was revealed. I liked that way that Amy used her research skills as a librarian to help solve the mystery from the past, and the way that Sunny, Aunt Lydia and Richard helped her dig for clues. I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Amy and Richard get drawn into solving a historic murder related to both of their families.
Throughout their investigation they end up with another murder to solve; being attracted to each other; and needing to navigate the intriguing, sometimes lovable, occasionally nasty or even reprehensible town folk.

An easy to read cozy mystery beginning a new series.