Widow and former school teacher Charlotte Reed inherits Chapters, a B&B located in historic Beaufort, North Carolina, from her great aunt Isabella. After a year learning the business, Charlotte is now hosting special events celebrating books and authors. Golden Age mystery author Josephine Tey is the celebrated author this week. Things are going well until rare book dealer Lincoln Delamont is found stabbed in the carriage house during a costume party. His daughter accuses Charlotte of the murder and claims Lincoln suspected Isabella of being a thief who bought Chapters using her stolen goods.

With the help of neighbour Ellen and members of a local book club, Charlotte is determined to clear her name and find out more about Isabella's past.

This was a good start of a new series by the author.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review..

This novel is the first in a new series from Gilbert. It is a fun cozy mystery. It takes place in an historic B & B named Chapters, a place for book lovers with its huge library and special events centered around books and authors. A murder occurs and Charlotte, the owner, is working to find out who did it.

I liked the characters and how their stories are revealed. There is a bit of another mystery surrounding her aunt, from whom she inherited the B & B, that Charlotte wants to solve. That story was a bit far fetched but made a fun addition to the main plot. There are a few clues and a whole slew of suspects. I really liked the allusions to mysteries and books in general. Gilbert did a good job of helping us get a sense of the Beaufort, NC, location and the history of the area.

Charlotte makes a good amateur sleuth, aided by her interesting and insightful neighbor. I'll be looking for more in the series.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Booked for Death is the first book in Victoria Gilbert's new Booklovers B&B Mystery series.

Ms. Gilbert is an established author who can do no wrong. From the first page this story grabbed me.

I love the premise as it happens in a B&B while celebrating Geraldine Tey's works.
Charlotte Reed is a former school teacher who has inherited her great aunt's B&B. To promote her establishment and entertain her guest, book lover Charlotte hosts different themed parties for her guests and her book club members.
At one of her parties, her guest greatly disliked old book dealer ends up dead. It turns out that several of her guest knew the victim and what is more, they had a reason to want him dead. But to make matters worse, Charlotte is one of them as he has threatened to expose her great aunt as a thief.

Charlotte together with her next door neighbor and friend starts to investigate into the matter. Along the way she will put herself in danger and risk a lot to figure out the truth.

This is a very good start of a new series. The setting is ideal for cozy mysteries and whodunnits.
Charlotte is likable, level headed woman who has experienced a great tragedy and decided to change her life. Side characters were well portrayed.
I loved that there is a mystery within the mystery even though it is a bit predictable, it is entertaining nevertheless.
I found Charlotte's and her best friend's Julie's relationship not as close as it was first implied, as Charlotte often thought about Julie's possible involvement.
There was a lot of thought process as main characters went through the possible suspects, motives and opportunities. It made the pace of the book considerably slow moving and not so entertaining.
I really liked how the whole book club got together at the end. It gave it an old fashioned mystery fee.

Very good start of a new series, looking forward to reading more.

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.

I was so excited when i saw author Victoria Gilbert had a new release! I adore her Blue Ridge Library series so I couldn’t wait to find out what she’d do next. Wow! Just wow! This book was awesome i simply can’t believe how quickly she drew me into her latest endeavor and frankly I thank her and can’t wait to return. This is nothing like her library mysteries outside of the genre and bookish theme. The main characters are more mature (yes, read older!) The book starts off softly, building steam quickly, until it ends with a deep rumble of a not quite filled stomach. I wanted more, I still had questions. I wasn’t ready for the book to end! Questions about her aunt, the friends, her future. Yeah, 5 stars all the way when a book leaves you clamoring for more and re-reading the arc three time in one week! You know you’ve read something amazing and I can’t wait for book two! Ms. Gilbert, I thank you, in a time when so much is going on and we seem to be pulled in so many different directions for a time your story picked me up and whisked me away to a not so quiet waterfront town In Beaufort, North Carolina. I loved my vacation and can’t wait to return!

5*Stars

What do you get when you mix murder and international espionage with a seaside resort town’s Bread and Breakfast? One answer is Victoria Gilbert’s Booked for Death.

It began simply enough - a costume party held for the members of Chapters’ (a local Bed and Breakfast) book club and current B&B guests. Tonight, the club was going to discuss the work of Josephine Tey, a Scottish mystery author from the early 1900s. That was the plan. But by the end of the evening, the discussion would focus on the unexpected death of Lincoln Delamont in the old house’s carriage house.

The author has carefully crafted a cozy mystery that lays out enough clues that a careful reader might discover the murderer before the truth is revealed in the final chapters. There were times that this reader thought that some of the plot would not fit well with the story. In the end all the pieces fit together nicely. I enjoyed the book - others will as well.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

As a book lover, the idea of a literary-themed B&B sounds amazing! What a great place to stay for a vacation. Of course, this is a cozy mystery, which means we don’t get far into the story before a body drops. This time it’s an obnoxious book dealer who has upset a lot of people. This wasn’t an easy mystery to solve – there were a lot of leads, misdirections and suspects – and I was kept guessing until the end.

I found the pace hummed along quite well and I enjoyed the main character. Because the setting is a book-themed B&B, I think it will be very easy for future books to stay interesting since there will always be a new inn full of guests (victims and suspects galore!) and different literary themes to celebrate.

The main character, Charlotte Reed is a widow and has quit her job as a high school teacher to run the B&B that her great-aunt Isabella left her. She’s very adept at handling tense situations (probably all that teacher training) and has become a pretty good innkeeper in a short amount of time.

Alongside the colourful personalities of the guests, the staff at the B&B keep things interesting and they make up a good support system for Charlotte. This includes Alicia, the housekeeper and cook who has been running Chapters for over 35 years, Damian, the talented young part-time chef with a quick temper, and Ellen, executor of Isabella’s estate and manager of the trust that maintains the B&B. Also included in Charlotte’s “support circle” is Julie, Charlotte’s friend who is a voracious reader and owns a bookstore.

Plus, there’s a book club and lots of local townspeople who are more than happy to get involved in trying to solve the murder. I’m sure we’ll see more of them in future stories (I love getting to know characters as a series develops!)

One interesting aspect that I really appreciated was the police officer who was involved in the case. So many of the cozy mysteries I read have either strong, arrogant, jerky police, or gorgeous, helpful police (who usually end up being a love interest), that something (anything) different is a refreshing change. Detective Johnson is a described as a tall, regal woman who is competent and open-minded. She tolerates Charlotte’s investigating while maintaining a professional and competent attitude.

But my favourite characters in the story were definitely Charlotte and Ellen. They get along so well and trying to figure out Ellen’s secret and how it was connected to Isabella’s past was definitely a highlight of the story for me. I won’t say anything more about it because it’s a really satisfying subplot to the main mystery and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. Let’s just say that I can’t wait for this dynamic duo to face their next case together!

*** Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This one was a little uneven. The characters sometimes felt flat and unrealistic. Also the very clear clue to whodunit was presented pretty early and then repeated multiple times before Charlotte picked up on it which made her seem kind of oblivious.

A personal pet peeve for me is that the victim was an awful person. I have a really hard time getting into a mystery if I don't care who the killer is and when the victim is completely terrible, I don't care if the killer is caught.

I adore Bed and Breakfast mysteries and this was an absolute classic. Charlotte was a delightful heroine that felt like a breath of fresh air to this reader. She was smart and I loved how she handled things as a retired school teacher. Booked For Death is the first book in a brand new series and I’m so excited to see where this goes from here.

First in a new series. When this was offered by Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to try another series by the author. I’m a fan of her Blue Ridge Library Mystery series.

Charlotte Reed has had a rough year. Her husband died three years earlier & she still is dealing with the tremendous loss, a great aunt passes away and leaves her a Bed & Breakfast in Beaufort, North Carolina, a death on the premises of the B & B, and being a suspect to this death.

Armed with a strong supporting cast, Charlotte is going to get to the bottom of the current murder if only to clear her name. She’s only been at the B & B for about a year. The staff and her are still finding their way in working together.

This mystery has plenty of suspects along with twists and turns. I enjoyed finding out about the characters and the secrets they have.

I liked that the B&B’s has a literary theme. It's the perfect place for a literary retreat. It is a newly renovated inn that hosts special events celebrating books, genres, and authors.

I believe this is a strong start to the new series. I am waiting on the next installment.

I was given an advanced reader’s copy from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

Booked For Death is the first book in the Booklovers B&B Mystery series.

Charlotte Reed, a widow, and former schoolteacher inherited her great-aunt Isabella a year ago. She has renovated the 1770 home and has opened a B&B. The house features a rather extensive library and she plans on host theme-related events at her B&B. The guests for the first one, featuring Josephine Tey, are about to begin and the guests have arrived.

When Charlotte enters the library to finish readying the room for the day’s program she finds one of her guests, rare-book dealer Lincoln Delamont, on one of the library ladders checking out the books on the shelf. She explains that guests are not permitted on the ladder. He replies that many of the books in the library had been illegally obtained. As people are gathering for the evening's War of the Roses dinner, Delamont gets into an argument with his wife, daughter, and other guests. After dinner, everyone heads to the patio to talk and have drinks. Charlotte notices that they are running low on ice and leaves to head for the store for more ice.

When she returns she is passing her carriage house when the resident, a visiting author, informs her that Delamont’s dead body is inside.

Charlotte seeks out her elderly neighbor, Ellen Montgomery to help her sort out the events at Chapter’s B&B. Ellen was great-aunt Isabella's closest friend and she handled Isabella’s accounting and is the administrator of the trust set up for Chapters. There is no shortage of suspects for the killing of Delamont. Just about everyone that was around that evening is, at first, will be considered a suspect, even Charlotte’s housekeeper/cook and a part-time cook.

In a bit of side story, Ellen will share with Charlotte some of Isabella's life and what she did for a living. Hopefully, we will learn more about her past and Ellen, as they had very interesting lives.

This is a great start to a new series. The story is well-written and plotted. The characters are well-developed and very believable. The story progresses at a nice pace. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this interesting series.

A Real Time Murder.....
A Bed and Breakfast for booklovers in a beautiful waterfront location providing relaxing and fascinating literary themed weekends - sounds idyllic? It most certainly does. That is, until it becomes a murder scene. This, the first in a new series - A Booklovers B&B Mystery - finds B&B owner, Charlotte, in the middle of a real time murder rather than lost in murders of the Golden Age of crime which should have been the focus of her first literary weekend. Hugely enjoyable with a likeable protagonist and a colourful cast of characters, a desirable backdrop and so well themed. Ideal escapism.

A nice start to a new series! Charlotte inherited the Chapters B&B a year ago. She left her job as a teacher and spent time learning the inn business as well as about the people in her town and who work for her, like Alicia. She's excited to host a weekend highlighting Josephine Tey but then.....Lincoln Delamont, an unscrupulous book dealer is found stabbed to death in the carriage house. Cozy readers know that Charlotte is not the only one who did not like him but his daughter Tara is convinced she did it. OF course, Charlotte must investigate to clear herself and she does so with the able assistance of Ellen, an older neighbor who knows more about the townspeople (and town) than she does. These two make a fun pair. This is an intro novel so the characters, especially the supporting cast, aren't totally fleshed out yet- which leaves lots of room for more in the series! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

I loved loved this Cozy Mystery!! I read in one sitting because I could not put down!! Now to wait for next one!!

This murder mystery will definitely keep you guessing. Located in a small, quiet town, a Bed and Breakfast Owner finds herself in the middle of a real life mystery. She takes on the task of solving it herself to protect her business and her life.
As the reader, I had my guesses which were partially correct, but in the end there was still a twist to the plot! If you like the game of “Clue” with the butler and the candlestick in the library, then you will enjoy this book. It is suitable for all ages and readers.

Set in Beaufort, NC, Chapters is a bed and breakfast inherited by Charlotte from her great aunt. Charlotte runs book themed weeks attended by a variety of people. This week is Josephine Tey. When one of the attendees is murdered, Charlotte becomes involved to protect her name and her aunt’s. She enlists the older lady next door who is surprising a better help than she hoped for.

I enjoyed this book. It’s the first in a series so there’s lots of introductions and explanations. I look forward to more in this series.

This is the first book in a new series by Victoria Gilbert. Her Blue Ridge Library Series is wonderful, so I wanted to give this one a try. Charlotte Reed is now the owner/operator of her late aunt's B&B known as Chapters. It is a book-themed Inn and she is hosting a group in town for a week of celebrations honoring author Josephine Tey. One of her guests is a rare book dealer, who seems to have an issue with Charlotte's late aunt. Not only does Charlotte find him on the ladder checking out very rare books in the library, but he intimates that her aunt was a thief who acquired much of her collection illegally. Shortly thereafter, he is found dead in her carriage house. Who killed him, and why?

Charlotte was a great protagonist. She is smart, resourceful and friendly. Her neighbour and friend Ellen is the same. Ellen was Isabella's friend and Charlotte was anxious to learn more about her aunt from Ellen. As more is revealed, it was quite interesting, but I will not say more about that. All the guests add to the story, as well as Charlotte's local friends. It reveals a great setting and atmosphere. The guests at Chapters had secrets that gradually get revealed, dropping clues and red herrings along the way. The reveal was well done, with a bit of suspense thrown in. I really enjoyed the way this story was plotted and the mystery revealed and solved. I look forward to what Victoria Gilbert has next in mind for Charlotte and Ellen. I definitely recommend this one to cozy mystery lovers, especially if you like the addition of books/libraries/bookstores etc.

What an amazing start to a very promising series! I loved the main character and fell in love with her life and the town itself. I can’t wait to read more in this series.

Booked for Death is the first book in Victoria's new Book Lover's B&B cozy mystery series. Charlotte Reed, the proprietor of Chapters B&B inherited the majestic inn from her great aunt, Isabella. During a Golden Age-themed costume party, one of the B&B's guests is found dead in the carriage house. Before his death, Lincoln Delamont spent a good part of the prior chapters alienating himself, Charlotte, and other guests. He even threatened to expose a scandal involving Charlotte's Aunt Isabelle.

The author created a masterful murder mystery with plenty of suspects who have ample amounts of means, motive, and opportunity. Charlotte is forced onto the list of suspects when the supposed scandal involving Isabella is brought out into the open. In order to figure out what really happened, Charlotte begins investigating all of her B&B guests, those who attended the party, her support staff, as well as Isabella. She's suspicious of everyone, especially since she could be housing a murderer in her B&B or encountering the person in her day-to-day activities.

I enjoyed Charlotte's character and getting to know her throughout the book. Her backstory contributed to her development, as did the progression of the mystery. She isn't as bubbly as other cozy mystery heroines I read about but that's okay. Her personality offers a nice change of pace. She's competent and willing to go the extra mile to protect herself, her great aunt's legacy, and her friends. Ellen was a great sidekick and sounding board to Charlotte and I had fun working as an amateur sleuth with them.

Booked for Death is a great first book in the new series by Victoria Gilbert and I can't wait for the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book for review but the thoughts, opinions, and ratings are my own.

A wonderful cozy, centered around a book discussion themed week of events at a charming bed and breakfast. Sounds wonderful! I love the extra aspect of the b&b in this book, the first in a new series. A bit Agatha Christie-ish, with the captive group of suspects, which differs from other cozies.