Member Review

A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert is the third A Booklover’s B&B Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I enjoyed reading this charming cozy mystery. I thought it was well-written and engaging. I did find A Fatal Booking to be a slow starter as we are introduced to the characters. The pacing increased towards the halfway mark. I find Charlotte Reed to be a great main character. She is realistic and relatable. I like Charlotte’s inquisitive mind. I also like her neighbor, Ellen who was a spy before she retired. There is a great mix of personalities in this story which makes it more interesting. I also like the diversity of the characters. I just love the descriptions of Chapters. A literary themed bed and breakfast is just the place for booklovers to stay while on vacation. I would love to live in this gorgeous home. The library (of course) is my favorite room. The mystery was well-plotted with a handful of suspects and a red herring. It seems the victim had crossed every member of the book club at one time or another as well as a someone who lives nearby. I had a good time solving this whodunit. I like a mystery that is out of the box. There are clues to help readers solve the crime before the reveal (if you are paying attention). Charlotte comes across helpful information and notices clues. I did feel that Charlotte dropped the ball a couple of times. Charlotte would notice something, but she did not follow up. I like that she enlists the help of her friends and Charlotte does share information with the detective on the case. There is romance in the story as well. Charlotte’s spy boyfriend, Gavin is back. I think they are a nice, compatible couple, and I hope they get to spend more time together in the future. The author combined interesting characters, a curious crime, a touch of romance, some suspense, and hints of humor into one engaging cozy mystery. I am curious what is going to happen in the next A Booklover’s B&B Mystery. A Fatal Booking is an inviting Southern cozy mystery with an argumentative book group, an open attic door, missing mementoes, murdered rumormonger, curious clues, and an inquisitive innkeeper.