At a party hosted by Kurt Kendrick, Amy Webber, her fiancé Richard Muir and many of their friends and family were happily engaged in eating, drinking and chatting. The stranger who arrived was apparently there to see Kurt – but within a short period of time he was dead. Once again, Amy and Richard were embroiled in murder and with their wedding only a few weeks away, they didn’t need the distraction that hunting for a killer would bring.

Amy was director of the Taylorsford library and along with her best friend Sunny Fields and some volunteers, the library ran smoothly. Amy had access to the archives and her research abilities were second to none, so soon she had information on all the players in this latest murder. With Amy’s brother Scott on the scene – he was a government IT specialist – for the wedding, and Amy’s Aunt Lydia as her sounding board, events started coming together. But the past had a long reach and although she didn’t know it, Amy was in danger. Would she survive to see her wedding day?

A Deadly Edition is the 5th in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries by Victoria Gilbert and once again I thoroughly enjoyed it. This episode had the usual players, plenty of action, many ‘bad’ guys, plus the upcoming nuptials blended in. A Deadly Edition is a highly entertaining cozy mystery which I recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an 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.

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.

Librarian Amy Webber is balancing work and planning her wedding to fiance Richard Muir when she gets involved in solving another murder. This time the victim is a rival of family friend Kurt Kendrick. It seems the victim and Kurt were both trying to purchase the same rare book.

I wanted to read A Deadly Edition because I love this cozy mystery series. I was especially intrigued by the rare book storyline, since I sell vintage books.

There is so much to enjoy about this mystery and the rest of the Blue Ridge Library series. I love the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains setting, Amy, Richard, and their friends and family, and there are even lovable cats!

The rare book details, like the following description (eBook location 847) are wonderful:

"I opened the Kelmscott Chaucer facsimile one more time. Staring at the beautifully decorated title page reminded me of something I’d just typed into my notes— a quote from a letter Edward Burne-Jones had sent to Charles Eliot Norton in 1894: Indeed when the book is done, if we live to finish it, it will be like a pocket cathedral … And it had been exactly that— a magnificent edifice captured on paper, a work that captured the soul of two great artists. Something rare and wonderful."

Amy is one of my favorite amateur detectives. She is smart and has a great deductive instinct. I enjoyed watching her solve the mystery and following the turns before the killer was revealed.

I recommend A Deadly Edition and the rest of this series for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for anyone who enjoys small-town locales and library settings.

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!

This is the 5th installment in the Blue Ridge Library mystery series. Amy Weber the director of the Taylorsford Library and is engaged to her next door neighbor Richard Muir and their wedding is just weeks away. Kurt Kendrick the elusive art dealer is hosting an engagement party for them at his Highview Estate and there is an unexpected guest. Oliver Selvaggio, is a rival of Kurt’s for a rare book called the Kelmscott Chaucer that is to rumored to be coming on the market. Later that evening as Richard and Amy are taking a breather from the party outside they see people outside and then hear a crash in the woods. As they investigate they find the dead body of Oliver. Kurt becomes the prime suspect and Amy does believe Kurt is capable of many dangerous things she does not believe he is responsible for this murder. Her brother Scott is in town and she has always suspected that he works for some sort of governmental agency and he is in town for the next few weeks up to the wedding in this a coincidence. Amy and her best friend Sunny begin to do some investigating in the Kelmscott Chaucer and learn that there are connections to others who were at the party as well as her late Uncle Andrew. I liked that Amy kept the bulk of her investigation to library research and really did not take any crazy chances that could impact her wedding. The relationship in this series is what makes it and I love the relationship of Richard and Amy as well as with all their friends. This series is a winner and I highly recommend.

A Deadly Edition features Amy and Richard, a dead body discovery duo. The sleuthing primarily falls to Amy, head librarian, who uses her researching skills to get involved. Having read the entire series so far, I appreciate the fact that Amy does actually turn over all the information she finds to the police. This story’s plot was a little confusing, but the author does a great job with the storytelling so I didn’t lose interest. This story is completely standalone so you don’t necessarily need to read the previous books to understand it, but I recommend it so you can read Amy and Richard’s love story. This is definitely one of my most favorite cozy series. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is another cozy mystery from a seasoned author. Part of a series, we are entertained with wedding planning and an unwelcome murder. The plot is a bit complex, involving the sale of an antiquarian edition of Chaucer. At one point, one of the characters says, “There are more layers to this than you can possibly imagine.” I agree. Who had the old book and sold it or didn't sell it or wanted to sell it or wanted to buy it turned out to be a complicated mess.

This is a book for female readers, I would think. There is quite a lengthy section with women picking out bridal party attire. The interest for some readers may decline there, as did mine.

This is a pretty good cozy mystery. I learned a bit about buying and selling antiquarian books and art. It will especially appeal to readers who like details of a wedding preparation.

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

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.

Librarian Amy Webber is in the final stages of wedding planning when a guest turns up dead at the party thrown for the couple by the enigmatic Kurt Kendrick. His shady past isn’t quite a secret and yet shrouded in mystery. So when the dead man turns out to be a rival art dealer, with both men bidding for the same ultra-rare book, there’s one obvious suspect.

But that isn’t the end of the tangled web, with some dodgy strangers in town, and tensions between Kurt’s sort-of supporters and the friends and family who seem involved in investigating him. One of these is Amy’s brother, who might or might not be hiding his real career working for the government!

I’ve enjoyed this series to date, finding the writing flows well and the main character’s involvement in the crimes not too ridiculously far fetched. It’s a bit less cheesy than some cosy mysteries, too. This latest volume shares those strengths, but adds a few weaknesses for me.

First off is really just a personal disinterest in weddings, so as that’s the main sub plot and a large amount of background padding, it’s already got me a bit inattentive. And secondly, there was a weird feel of trying to draw together a whole pile of past loose ends – is the author trying to tie up the series? So there’s plenty of mentions of Amy’s uncle, Andrew, and the drugs ring that appeared a few books back, and of course all the characters we’ve had to date. I think it was meant to create a familiar tone, but it felt more like a slightly shallow ‘greatest hits’ effort that didn’t quite capture my attention.

Still, it’s a pleasant enough read. Peril is present, and happy endings abound – no spoiler, as that’s just how the genre works!

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.

This is the fifth in the series. I always enjoy visiting Taylorsford, Virginia. Amy & Richard are preparing for their wedding when things don’t go as planned. Amy, while planning her wedding is involved in a murder investigation to clear Kurt Kendrick.

I enjoy MS Gilbert’s books. They are descriptive, inventive, and entertaining. The pace is good and the redirections are great.

I highly recommend this series and this book.

I was given an ARC copy by Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

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

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Deadly Edition was my introduction to this series. I found the book to be interesting, but I had some difficulty to get involved into the story. I was merely reading on the surface at first. It fortunately did not last, and I was able to really enjoy this book. The mystery is interesting, as are the main characters. The fact that the story has something to do with a book makes this even more interesting.

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 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.

An art dealer gets murdered at Amy and Richard's engagement party. While Amy has a few last minute items to take care of before her wedding, finding a killer wasn't on the list. Several people are implicated in his murder including Kurt, Richard's former dance couch, and Amy's brother. Amy finds the killer right before her wedding. It will be interesting to see what direction the series will take now that Amy and Richard are married.

This is book 5 in the Blue Ridge Library mystery series and can be read as a stand alone. Amy is busy planning her wedding to Richard and while attending a gathering find a book collector dead. He is a rival to local book dealer Kurt who becomes the prime suspect. A good mystery to solve and some insight into the rare book world. Aunt Liddy and Sunshine are back to help with the investigation. The library takes a back seat in this book with the wedding. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Library Manager Amy and dancer Richard are getting married! However, a pre-wedding reception at art gallery owner Kurt’s house is tragically interrupted when Kurt’s rival art collector, Oscar, is found murdered in the yard.

Intrepid amateur detectives Amy and her best friend and library employee Sunny, of course, try and find the murderer. Could Oscar have been murdered over an upcoming purchase of a rare Chauncer illustrated manuscript? Will the investigation interrupt the wedding in unexpectedly humorous ways?

There is a special enjoyment in finding a cozy mystery with such engaging and genuine characters when the first book is released and reading each subsequent entry as they are published. While I recommend reading this series in order to see the characters’ story arcs in full, you can jump in at this point and enjoy the mystery too. However, you might want to set aside some time to read the rest of the series afterwards.

As I mentioned above, I love the characters within this series. It is looking increasingly like we won’t be able to see our real-life families this holiday season, so it is nice to spend some virtual time with Amy, Sunny and Richard again. I feel like I’m catching up with old friends.

The mystery within A Deadly Edition is a real puzzler. With plenty of suspects and some twists along the way, Amy and Sunny have their work cut out for them, as do you, armchair detectives! With the wedding providing a hilarious backdrop to all the serious sleuthing, A Deadly Edition is highly recommended and a favorite read! 5 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

At her engagement party, a librarian (Amy) and her fiance (a choreographer) discover the body of an art dealer. Several people are implicated in his murder, and Amy sets out to solve the case. This is part of a series that involves this small town librarian, as well as the art and dance world. It's entertaining, and an easy read.