"But I know what I like!"
The second of a series, this story stands alone, but like many series offers a great deal more depth if you've met the main characters previously. Even without any background, you are introduced to a librarian whose analytical mind and research experience combine to make her an efficient accessory to crime solving. Her family and friends bring their own charm and varied knowledge to bear as well, creating an intelligent and compelling cozy mystery with a blossoming romance or two in the background. This story explores the world of art, forgery, a quick dip into Nazi contributions to missing masterpieces and a bit of gangsterism and international intrigue to round out the palette.

Fans of the first book will enjoy this well-paced cozy and the secondary characters continue to outshine the main characters. This is a good mystery, but one that is overshadowed by the cheesy romance. 3 stars.

I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. We get to learn more about dearly departed Uncle Andrew, which was interesting. Plus, the romance between Amy and Richard is so sweet. I'm glad the author is not going with the ever popular love triangle.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Great mix of art and mystery!

I really enjoyed this story and the art elements that were introduced. The mystery was entertaining and the characters were well written. I look forward to reading more by this author. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Shelved Under Murder is the second book in this series.
This is a fun, fast paced read with plenty of colorful personalities.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Shelved Under Murder is the second book in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series by Victoria Gilbert. This title is also my maiden voyage into the writings of Victoria Gilbert. As per usual, I come into the book with an open mind, hoping to find a new favorite author. While that did not happen, I did find Ms. Gilbert’s storytelling entertaining. In the beginning, I could not wait for this story to pick up speed. It seemed clunky and frankly, boring. I wondered if it was that I started at book two of the series? While I suspect that is the case, I did finally get hooked at about halfway through (luckily I stuck it out until that point).

So once I finally got intrigued and vested in the story, I really began to enjoy the storytelling.

Amy Webber is the library director for the Taylorsford library. While picking up items for donation to the annual library fundraiser, Amy, her boyfriend Richard and friend Sunny discover a body – that of locally renowned artist Rachel LeBlanc. I actually was moved during this scene (prior to discovering the body) as Amy is describing how she occasionally feels ‘sometimes’ when she is examining artwork. This truly caught my interest and hooked me:

“I stared at the painting for a few moments marveling, as I always did when studying works of this quality, at the magic of art. Someone – a human just like me – had used brushes and paint to create something from no more than what all other humans possessed – a brain, eyes, and hands. Yet the alchemy of their talent could take these tools and transform a blank canvas into something magnificent.

As I stepped closer to examine the brushstrokes, I felt a slight breeze, as if someone had stepped up beside me. A quick glance showed no one there, and I realized that it was just that feeling I got sometimes when visiting art galleries. While contemplating paintings, I’d occasionally experienced moments of disorientation. I described it as a slippage of time – a feeling that the artist was standing beside me.”

As Amy is trying to figure out ‘whodunit’, the tale twists and curves and takes on a life of its own… producing a whole list of potential suspects. Amy’s sleuthing is methodical and her logical assumptions are easy to follow, which is good considering at times it felt like a tangled mess when more than a few possible scenarios’s popped up. It was interesting following Amy’s logic in untwisting the mess.

Another component of cozy mysteries that I like is humor. And this story had that as well. And lest we forget – the cast of supporting characters. That in my mind is what truly makes the story robust. I loved the slow romance potentially blossoming between Aunt Lydia and art expert Hui Chen (Hugh).

The relationship between Amy and Richard was portrayed in a relatable manner, though at times it seemed like the relationship was flat. Though with a cozy, how much heat is acceptable? I for one would have like to feel more chemistry between the two. Their joint sleuthing had more heat than the romance aspect of their relationship. I was quite thrilled when her friends and family purchased tickets and sent Amy on her way to watch Richard perform… a nice romantic gesture.

Without saying too much (like who), I am glad that some of the bad guys are not really bad guys…well not totally anyways. For the most part, my suspicions of the actual killer were not confirmed until the end (which is how I like my cozy mysteries).

A successful foray into the writing of Victoria Gilbert. I look forward to reading the first book before going any further in the series.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Taylorsford, VA is gearing up for its annual Heritage Festival featuring local arts, crafts and history. While she loves the festival, the fall foliage and the people, Librarian Amy Webber is not looking forward to the library's fundraiser at the event. Things get worse when Amy and her assistant, Sunny, go to pick up artwork from a local artist and find Rachel Wynn dead, stabbed with a palette knife. Her scupltor husband is nowhere to be found. When forged artwork is discovered hidden away on the Wynn property, the case becomes much more than just a murder investigation. Because Amy has a degree in art history, she is pulled in to help with the case. Who killed Rachel Wynn? And is her murder related to the forged artwork?

I am enjoying this new cozy series. Partially because I live near the Blue Ridge Mountains...but mostly because I like the characters. Amy is an intelligent main character with a nice mix of determination, skill and feisty-ness. I enjoy all the side characters and the background theme of a library in a small VA town. This second book in the Blue Ridge Library cozy series moved along at a nice pace. The mystery was engaging and kept my attention the entire time. Plus, there is some good character development in this newest book, helping move the series forward.

Reading this enjoyable fall season cozy really put me in the mood for all the local festivals and county fairs that will be coming up soon! Plus pumpkin spice and apple flavored/scented everything! :)

I'm definitely going to keep reading this cozy series. The next book, Past Due For Murder, is set to come out in February 2019.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

If you look for mysteries that will have you in step with the character and falling in love with the setting, this is the book for you. Those that are passionate for the autumn season will find themselves as excited as I am after reading this book for the crisp air.

I loved the first book in this series and was so excited for this one! This series has so many of my very favorite things that it's hard to believe it's not written specifically for me. There's a librarian who does research, there's some art theft, there some mysteries and scandals from the past floating up, a dead body or two, and even a touch of romance. I really loved seeing more of Richard's work and just what a professional dancer/choreographer does. As well, I felt we saw a bit more of Aunt Lydia and got to know her past more. I also found the added element of the library fundraiser and the relationship between the library director (Amy) and the head of the Friends of the Library group really interesting.

The characters come alive from page one and the mystery had me invested early on. Amy's involvement did make sense given the art angle and the small town staffing limitations. I can't say the ending was a shock but I still enjoyed getting there. The pacing was fast, the characters were likable, and the mystery was thoroughly entertaining - what's not to love?

Shelved Under Murder is the second book in the A Blue Ridge Library Mystery series.

This enjoyable young series takes place in the small town of Taylorsford, VA in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Amy Webber is director of the local library. She lives with her widowed Aunt Lydia, whose late husband was an artist who didn’t live long enough to earn the fame he deserved. Richard, a dancer, and teacher at a nearby college lives next door to Amy and Lydia and is Amy’s romantic interest. Chief Deputy Brad Tucker is back, as is Sunny, Amy’s assistant and their interest in each other continue in this book. Also back are Zelda and Walt, longtime friends of Aunt Lydia.

Taylorsford is getting ready for their Heritage Festival and Amy is facing this with mixed emotions. She doesn’t get along particularly well with Mel Riley, the head of the Friends of The Library. Riley is expecting the library to have something special for sale to raise money for the library. Then a couple of days before the festival Sunny tells Amy the renowned artist and Taylorsford resident, Rachel LeBlanc has agreed to donate some of her work for sale by the library.

Amy, Sunny and Richard set out to pick up the pictures from LeBlanc. When they arrive at her home they see a young male running for the woods behind her home. When they enter her gallery/studio they find her body, she has been stabbed with a palette knife. Then some pictures were found hidden in the gallery that appears to not be recent paintings. Chief Deputy Tucker asks Amy to take a look at them as she had majored in Art History in college. Even though she’s not an expert, Amy feels that they are forgeries. The police ask for professional help and when that expert, Hui Chen arrives he agrees that they are forgeries. As the search goes on as to who painted them, it begins to appear that the road will lead back to Amy’s family.

Gilbert once again provides the reader with a well-plotted and told story with an interesting and enjoyable cast of characters.

I’m looking forward to my next visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains

Victoria Gilbert delights fans with another Blue Ridge Library mystery in Shelved Under Murder. Librarian Amy falls over another body during preparations for a yard sale. Red herring suspects abound. Amy discovers further discrediting news about her deceased beloved uncle. Whodunit? Are all the art masterpieces fakes? Her romantic squeeze Richard supports her efforts to untangle the puzzle. Outstanding cozy.

4.5 STARS

It’s October in Taylorsford, Virginia, and the town is crowded with visitors who are there for the changing autumn leaves. However, a lot of them are there for the Heritage Festival. It is a celebration of the town itself with local artists, craftsmen and craftswomen, as well as winery tours and historic homes.

Amy is not only the librarian in town, but she is very knowledgeable in art as well. She has always had a sensation when visiting art galleries that she felt the artist standing beside her, but she usually only gets that feeling from artists who are dead. So, she felt like it was odd to feel that with Rachel LeBlanc, an artist in town when she arrives at her farm. She soon realizes that it wasn’t just a fluke when she and Richard find her body. When it is discovered that the case involves art forgery, the sheriff asks for Amy’s assistance because of her background in art history. As more clues surface, a connection to her Uncle Andrew emerges, and she knows she has her work cut out for her to solve this mystery.

This is a mystery with lots of twist, turns, and secrets. It isn’t just a cut and dry mystery as readers will see as they read more of the book. I liked learning more about Amy’s background in art history. I was also intrigued by the forgery storyline. While this was a mystery, the author continues to build Richard and Amy’s relationship, adding some light romance, which I loved.

There was a great cast of secondary characters as well. One in particular intrigued me, Kurt Kendrick, and I’m very interested in which direction Gilbert will take him in. If you are looking for a witty mystery with a great cast of characters, and just the right amount of romance, I suggest giving this series a try!

This is the second book set in the Blue Ridge Library in fictional Taylorsford, where residents are gearing up for the annual Heritage Festival. Amy, local librarian, stumbles across the body of a well known local artist when she arrives at the artist's studio to pick up a donated item for the festival. Amy is drawn in the international art world and art forgeries. On her personal front, her boyfriend is out of town dancing with his ex-partner and her aunt is embarking on a romance with an art forgery expert called in as a subject matter expert. The book was well-paced, and while the romance was a little saccharine, it didn't overwhelm the mystery. I was a little irritated when Amy locked the front door of her house at a crucial moment and it was clearly contrived as a plot device. More irritations: the author used the phrase "bubble of laughter" to describe Amy's inappropriate reaction to stress at least three times, and Amy "shoved her fist to her mouth to stifle a burst of nervous laughter" several times as well. I rolled my eyes every time Amy did one of these actions. But the book was pleasant summer time reading, and did take place partly in December. I'd grade it a C, with a possibility to move up to a B if Amy can lose some of her annoying habits.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and the publisher. This was a good book and although you do not need to have read the 1st one I felt that I wished I had read it before reading this one. It was a quick cozy read though and kept me guessing! I'm looking forward to the next one...after I have gone back and read #1!!

3.5 stars

Taylorsford, Virginia library director Amy Webber and her assistant Sunny Fields are preparing for the town's Heritage Festival. Amy, Sunny, and Amy's boyfriend Richard Muir go to a famous artist's house who lives nearby to pick up paintings she donated for the festival. However, when they look for Rachel to get her paintings, they find that she has been murdered in her studio with her own palette knife. Sunny's boyfriend, the police department's deputy chief, asks Amy for some help with the portion of the case dealing with artwork. However, Amy ends up more deeply involved and in more danger than she ever imagined.

"Shelved Under Murder" is the second book in the Blue Ridge Library series. It's the first I've read, and I didn't have any trouble catching up. The book has several strong points, but other parts drag it down. The end of the book has some exciting scenes, but earlier parts of the book unfold at a slow pace. I like a little romance in a cozy mystery, but the whole subplot with Richard going out of town to perform in a charity dance was unneeded. Amy's feelings that a deceased artists is standing beside her when she's looking at one of his/her paintings didn't fit in with the rest of the book at all.

The biggest disappointment in the book is that although the main character is a library director, books are seldom mentioned. Amy and Sunny do talk about helping patrons in the library but only in general terms. Instead, the plot focuses on art forgery which is interesting, but not what I expected. Amy is able to use the knowledge she gained in college about art and research important facts about art forgery, but as she interacts with several of the suspects, she is slow to pick up on clues that will be obvious to readers. I was able to guess much of what unfolded regarding the murder and the art forgery, but there are some unexpected revelations at the end and Amy surprises me with a decision she makes.

For me, what brings this book up from a 3 to a 3.5 is the number of characters that aren't all good or bad. Characters that seem to be the "good guys" make errors in judgement and mistakes and the villains show they can love and show compassion for others. The added layers make these characters more human and their actions less predictable, which results in a more interesting story.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Crooked Lane. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Shelved Under Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
By Victoria Gilbert
Crooked Lane
July 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

Taylorsford, Virginia’s tourist season kicks into high gear very October, when leaf-peepers descend to admire the autumn foliage and the Heritage Festival celebrates history and local artists. In fact, one of their most famous artists is donating three of her paintings to the Friends of the Library sale, so Library Director Amy Webber volunteers to drive to Rachel LeBlanc’s gallery to pick them up. The timing proves to be unfortunate though, as Amy has the bad luck to find the artist dead, stabbed to death with her own palette knife.

Although they identify the man seen fleeing the scene as the boyfriend of Rachel’s troubled daughter, an unexpected discovery within the art studio complicates the situation. Amy’s aunt is quick to believe that shady art dealer Kurt Kendrick must be involved, but Amy begins to have doubts as they learn of her uncle’s role in past events. Amy’s college degree in art gives her an entry point into the investigation, which quickly leads into the complicated and profitable worlds of art collections, fraud, and theft. That doesn’t mean that she won’t have time for a trip to New York City, where for the first time Amy sees her boyfriend Richard Muir excel in his element. Watching the brilliantly talented ballet dancer and choreographer perform brings out some of her deepest held insecurities though, forcing her to decide just how committed a relationship they will have. She’s not alone in dealing with the reassessment of relationships though, as Aunt Lydia must also decide whether her first love will be her last, or if she is finally ready to move on.

One of the many joys of this series is seeing the development of the relationship between Amy and Richard, especially as the more we learn about his character, the more we love. While they may face some stumbling blocks in the near future, readers will become fully invested in seeing their story progresses. This second in the series expands on characters introduced in the first novel, revealing unexpected facets to their personalities that make them very realistically complex and morally ambiguous. The author’s love and knowledge of the inner workings of libraries cannot be overlooked, emphasizing Amy’s dedication to her job and her love for her profession. The occasional complications that occur when dealing with the Friends of the Library comes in to play as well, especially when it becomes personal between their president and Amy’s family. While book and library lovers will of course adore the setting, the enjoyable characters, exploration of the art world, and intricate plotting are what will truly attract mystery fans to this delightful series.

This book might just be better than the first book, which I also loved. I do recommend that anyone who hasn't read the first book yet, read it before this one. You will be much happier if you do!

Amy and Sunny were getting ready for the Heritage Festival where the library would have a table of products to sell, most of which were donations. Amy and Richard stumbled onto the body of a dead local artist, the same artist they were going to talk to about donating a couple of her paintings. A local drug dealer was suspected but he swore he saw someone else running from the scene. While helping the police with the investigation--yes, Brad actually asked Amy to help since she has art history as a background--Amy found some unsettling information that may or may not have involved her uncle in the world of art forgery. Maybe this murder was something bigger than what it looked? Amy and Richard must be careful investigating this case or they could both end up dead.

I liked how both of these books so far have used an older case which ties in with the contemporary case being worked on. A new character, Hugh Chen, was introduced as an art forensics expert from the state of Virginia and Lydia may just have found herself a new male companion. Knowing Lydia, she will take it slowly since she adored her husband, Andrew. Someone else had adored him as well and closure for that ties in, in sort of a bittersweet way. I love that Amy and Richard are getting closer in their relationship. The regular characters, Walt and Zelda, were more comfortable and open with their relationship as well. I just love those two! The temporary characters weren't especially memorable, only Hugh and I do hope he comes back for a visit or tries to make a distance friendship with Lydia work out.

This series has quickly become one of my favorite new series and I'm so anxious for the next book to come out. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

3.75 stars

Small town librarian Amy Webber is a likable protagonist in this second Blue Ridge Library mystery. Amy's uncle died years ago without ever having gained much recognition as an artist. But old secrets and questions about art forgery are cropping up after the murder of a local artist and disappearance of her husband.

Amy, who like most cozy stars stumbles over more than her share of bodies, is soon involved and she can't not use her librarian research chops to start investigating. This is a pleasant ensemble of characters, including Amy's widowed Aunt Lydia, Amy's boyfriend Richard, and various other small town friends. Better than average character development and an interesting setting.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

Well, this was most certainly fun to read. To begin with it has a little art culture and of course a library and being a retired librarian I love to read about libraries. Truthfully there is very little about books or a library here; it is rather just a setting of the atmosphere. But this is a small, nice and of course, nosy town with good people and bad people; like mysteries should have. And they are right in the middle of planning their Fall Harvest Festival. Every small town has a festival right? But does every small town have a murder, a stolen painting, and the mob sneaking around? I’m not actually sure. Mine always seemed to have some sly characters and this one sure did too.

“Shelved Under Murder” is the 2nd book in a series titled “Blue Ridge Library Mystery”. It has really identifiable characters, most of which you will love… most. Victoria Gilbert did a great job of adding plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Don’t get me wrong, she never once makes this confusing. It is an enjoyable well-written cozy. I think this book can definitely stand alone as far as reading it. The only reason I was disappointed by not reading Book 1 first is that this was good and now I’ll have to go back and read the first one.
I notice all of the books in this series have good reviews. There is also now a third book out. Definitely an author worth checking out.

***This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Kathy Allen
Bookaholic
ourtownbookreviews.com

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We are back in Taylorsford just in time for the Heritage Festival. The library is hosting a yard sale fundraiser and a famous local artist has agreed to give some of her work to the sale. When Amy, her assistant Sunny, Richard, now her boyfriend arrive at the artist’s studio they make a horrible discovery. The artist dead on the floor. When police arrived on the scene, their search finds a hidden room filled with what appear to be forged paintings. With Amy’s background in art history research Chief Deputy Brad Tucker asks her to assist him by checking out the paintings. When the state’s art expert arrives Amy assists him too. Until he finds that her uncle, now deceased, may be connected to both the forgeries and the murder. When someone else is killed Amy knows she has to help find the killer, all the while hoping to clear her uncle of any wrongdoing.

Being a librarian means more that shelving and checking out books. That is why degree, usually a master’s in Library Science is required for head librarians. The ability to navigate and manage information is a huge part of the job. With Amy’s minor in Art History, she is the perfect person to assist the police in find provenance for these found paintings and any other information to help the police solve the case. The author has written a very complex mystery and Amy plays a key role in solving it. Not knowing much about paintings like those in the story it was so much fun following along with Amy and all the revelations that were found throughout the story. I always enjoy learning something new when reading. This time I highlighted quite a few items I plan to research further.

The main characters are continuing to develop nicely. The supporting cast, Zelda, Walt and Aunt Lydia are great too and have many humorous moments. There is one character that is hiding something. We got some major hints in this story and I am sure we will learn more in the next.

The romance between Amy and Richard played a big part in this story. She is still recovering from her break-up and her confidence is a little shaky. Richard is the perfect man for her. He understands her insecurities and he really loves her. They have quite a moment near the end of the story that was so heart-warming and genuine.

Again, Ms. Gilbert has written a mystery with great substance and allowed her characters to shine. She also brings the setting to life with her words. I enjoyed this book from the first page to the last.

Shelved Under Murder is a fantastic addition to this series. I think I loved it more than the first book in the series, A Murder for the Books. Book #3 Past Due for Murder comes out on February 12, 2019. I can hardly wait.