EXCERPT: My thoughts spiraled - dead body. There's a dead body in the library. The room meant to be my workplace is now a murder scene.

ABOUT 'A CRYPTIC CLUE': A retired librarian gets back to the books—and into a devilish murder case—in acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s new series, the perfect literary adventure for fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.

Sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, forced into early retirement from her job as a university librarian, is seeking a new challenge to keep her spirits up and supplement her meager pension. But as she’s about to discover, a retiree’s life can bring new thrills—and new dangers.

Cameron “Cam” Clewe, an eccentric 33-year-old collector, is also seeking something—an archivist to inventory his ever-expanding compendium of rare books and artifacts. Jane’s thrilled to be hired on by Cam and to uncover the secrets of his latest acquisition, a trove of items related to the classic mystery and detective authors. But Jane’s delight is upended when a body is discovered in Cam’s library. The victim, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, was the last in line of Cam’s failed romances—and now he’s suspect number one.

Cam vows to use his intelligence and deductive skills to clear his name—but with a slight case of agoraphobia, rampant anxiety, and limited social skills, he’ll need some help. It comes down to Jane to exonerate her new boss—but is he truly innocent?

MY THOUGHTS: A Cryptic Clue is a moderately paced cosy mystery that kept my interest throughout.
I liked Jane - she has no illusions about herself - she is kind and keeps an open mind about people. Her thought processes are well ordered and she isn't inclined to jump to conclusions.
Cam is a bit of a conundrum. He is highly intelligent and almost OCD in his habits. He doesn't relate well to people but seems to have taken a liking to Jane who seems to understand him quite well.
There are a number of characters who feature in the storyline other than Cam and Jane: a housekeeper, a chef, a personal assistant, four house guests, Cam's girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend.
The story is easy to follow despite the number of characters, and contains some satisfying twists. I was way off base with both my suspect and motive.
A satisfying read and I will definitely be reading more in this series.

⭐⭐⭐.8

#ACrypticClue #NetGalley.

I: @victoriagilbertauthor @crookedlanebooks

T: @VGilbertAuthor @crookedlanebks

#contemporaryfiction #cosymystery #crime #friendship #murdermystery

THE AUTHOR: Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountain, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian.

When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

A Cryptic Clue is the first book in the Hunter and Clewe series.

Jane Hunter has been recently forced into early retirement from her job as a librarian.

Cameron “Cam” Clewe, is eccentric collector, is looking for someone to inventory his collection of rare books and artifacts. Jane is excited to hired by Cam. But Jane is surprised to find a body in Cam’s library. Cam and Jane will work together to try to clear his name.

I wasn't as excited after starting this one. I felt like I was reading an episode of "Murder She Wrote". It is more of a cozy mystery, and it is very wordy with a lot of dialogue. Unfortunately, I had difficulty staying engaged.

This is the first in a new series by this author whose other books I have already enjoyed.

We meet retired librarian Jane Hunter who is looking for work to keep herself active as well as to help out financially. She gets herself a job archiving the book collection of Cam Clewe, a young, wealthy man who has a few personality issues! He and Jane quickly recognise a shared love of detective work so, when Cam's ex girlfriend is found murdered in his house, they work together to solve the case before Cam himself is arrested.

I enjoyed the fact that the two main characters can never be attached romantically however long the series lasts. Romance between main characters can be great but it is nice to have a change. The mystery was well done and I was surprised by the eventual exposition of the culprit.

I will look out for more episodes of Hunter and Clewe.

A Cryptic Clue is the first book in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series.

Jane Hunter has been forced into retirement from her job as a university librarian due to a so-called reorganization. Jane needs work to supplement her meager pension.

Jane soon finds a position with Cameron(Cam) Clewe, for who she will be cataloging his extensive collection of books and artifacts. Cam inherited his historical estate, Aircroft, from his father, who was also a collector of books and artifacts. Om Monday, Jane’s first day of work, she meets the housekeeper, the chef, and Cam’s personal assistant, Lauren. After meeting the staff, Jane heads for the library to begin her first day at work. But that will have to wait as a young lady's body is on the floor. Lauren identifies the young lady as Cam's former girlfriend, whom he had broken up with during a gala at Aircroft the previous weekend. Cam will become the primary suspect in the murder of the young lady.

Jane will offer to help Cam clear his name. Cam is a recluse. He is knowledgeable but has difficulty being away from his home and dealing with strangers. Jane will interview possible suspects away from Aircroft while Cam researches on his home computer, something he is very adept at. Jane soon finds that there are several suspects that she needs to investigate.

Jane’s neighbor, a retired newspaper reporter, wants to write about the history of Aircroft and a suspicious death before the Clewe family purchased the estate.

Hopefully, Jane can solve these mysteries before any more deaths, including her own.

The book was very well written, plotted, and descriptive enough that I felt I was there with Jane. The characters are all quite interesting and believable. They are well-developed, but I would like to learn more about Jane and Cam.

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

This is the first in a new mystery series Hunter and Clewe. Jane Hunter is a sixty-year old librarian who has been forced into an early retirement and still needs a job. She begins to work for Cameron Clewe a thirty something reclusive millionaire who wants to catalog his massive library and rare book collection. Jane soon learns Cameron is lacking in social skills but is highly intelligent and has a few secrets. When Jane finds Cameron’s ex-girlfriend Ashley dead in the library after a charity event he soon becomes the prime suspect. Jane, Cameron and Lauren his assistant begin an investigation to clear his name. There is no shortage of suspects as Ashley has many enemies. I liked how Jane learned to navigate around Cameron’s eccentricities as she works to clear his name as they solve this murder. Good new series.

Jane Hunter, a former academic librarian, is recruited by the eccentric Cameron Clewe to undertake the inventory and cataloging of his recently acquired assortment of mystery and detective novels. As she delves into the task, an unexpected turn of events plunges them into their own enigmatic journey when a young woman is mysteriously murdered within the confines of the Clewe mansion.

As a retired librarian, I was immediately drawn to the narrative due to its portrayal of Jane Hunter, who shares my professional background. The author's keen attention to intricate details, particularly those pertaining to cataloging, provides a delightful connection for fellow librarians throughout the course of the book.

Evoking shades of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, with Clewe embodying the former and Hunter the latter, "A CRYPTIC CLUE" marks the promising debut of an enthralling new series. I eagerly anticipate delving into its pages in the near future.

3 Stars
One Liner: Good premise but needs better execution

Jane Hunter, a sixty-year-old retired university librarian, finds a job as an archivist in a nearby small town. With forced retirement, little pension, and no social security, Jane is hopeful that the temporary job will last long enough for her to stabilize her finances.
Cameron “Cam” Clewe is a thirty-three-year-old collector, scholar, and businessman (who hired Jane). He loves solving mysteries and puzzles but has severe anxiety issues and agoraphobia (and is possibly neurodivergent), which makes him sound rude and arrogant.
Jane decides she can get on with her job, no matter Cam’s attitude. However, she discovers a dead body on the first day of her job. When Cam is the primary suspect, the best option for them is to team up and solve the case before Cam is arrested by the police.
The story comes from Jane Hunter’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
As a fan of cozy mysteries, I’m always happy to try new books in the genre (especially series). The intriguing premise and the cover (which somehow doesn’t exactly fit the book) pulled me in.
The book has a decent pace and moves fast for me (though it drags in the middle). Being the first in the series, it introduces the main characters and sets the stage for readers to know them better.
Apart from the central mystery, there are a few other threads (past mysteries) that will possibly be solved in the coming books. There’s no major cliffhanger in this one. The case is solved, and there’s a lead for the next.
Jane and Cam are the main characters, though I see Lauren soon joining the list. It’s interesting to have 60 yo and 33 yo employee-employer duo as amateur sleuths. It’s a refreshing change from common tropes. The characters also have intriguing backstories, and we get enough hints to understand their behavior.
However, I’m not sure Jane’s first-person POV was the right choice for the story. Sure, it gives us her thoughts, ideas, opinions, feelings, etc. But it’s still hard to connect with her or the other characters. A third-person POV would have worked better, with a few chapters focusing on Cam. Writing a neurodivergent character is hard, and without enough material, it becomes difficult to not let Jane’s impression become the reader’s impression.
The book also suffers from over-explanation in quite a few instances. People (suspects) simply share loads of information with little prompting. This, combined with very few details about the actual job of cataloging and archiving, creates an imbalance in the narrative.
Also, the police are hardly there. They seem more like ghosts, hovering around passively while the duo solves the case. I’d have liked a more active role from the police. Heck, I don’t even know the name of the detective assigned to the case.
The climax and reveal are underwhelming. There are a few twists, red herrings, and attacks that make the plot feel dangerous, but it is quite low-key. Though I guessed the killer, the reasons weren’t clear. I hoped the reveal would help, but it fell flat. All I could do was sigh and wish it was better. The ending is quite good by comparison.

To summarize, A Cryptic Clue is a decent start to a new cozy mystery series with an unlikely sleuthing duo. I might read the second book if it deals with the cold case.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book

Well, I tend to choose books that don't work for me. I liked the premise of the book. The title and the cover are interesting. It starts well but, considering the genre, it seemed slow. Too many characters, too many unnecessary conversations. I was confused about the setting. The most disappointing thing was that I didn't care about the characters. I didn't want to know what was going to happen.

A Cryptic Clue is an interesting beginning to a new cozy mystery series featuring a 60-year-old retired librarian who teams up with a 33-year-old millionaire to solve a murder, after he hires her to inventory his books and papers. I enjoyed the mystery and the large cast of characters. The pacing was a little slow at times, likely to give us the background for the characters/suspects, so I'd expect the next book to pick up in this regard. I'll definitely read the next one! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance digital copy!

After being forced into retirement from her job as a university librarian, 60 year old Jane Harper finds a new beginning in a nearby town when she is hired by Cameron “Cam” Clewe to inventory and catalog his latest acquisition of rare books and artifacts related to classic mystery and detective authors. Jane and Cam soon find themselves investigating a mystery -a murder- themselves. It's refreshing for the lead character to be an older, intelligent, capable woman. The story is well plotted with interesting characters and lots of suspects, a solid start to what looks to be a new series.

I enjoyed every moment with Victoria Gilbert's A CRYPTIC CLUE, following the well-paced, deeply characterized story of a forcibly retired college librarian attempting to create a new career in organizing and researching libraries and collections. The protagonist is the smart, agile, and surprising Jane Hunter, sixty years old and learning to use her intelligence, heart, and life experience to investigate and exonerate her much younger employer Cameron Clewe. Throughout the story, the great detective and mystery stories of the past and present day play a strong undercurrent to the wonderful story of reinventing yourself and discovering much more than you bargained for. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

A Cryptic Clue is the very first installment in Hunter and Clewe series by Victoria Gilbert.

I liked the premise of an older sleuth who is an retired librarian encountering murder and mayham. She was very likeable, steady and intelligent and it was a pleasure to read about someone relatable and solid.
The reason for investigating was reasonable yet in my opinion came too fast and too easy. I would have liked a bit more drama around that.
The story was well presented, characters were nicely portrayed and the pacing was steady. It was an easy book to read.
And while this all sound intriguing in reality it was a pretty standard representation of cozy genre. It simply blended with so many others and there was nothing distinguishable about it.

It is a good read for cozy mystery beginners.

When retired librarian, sixty year old Jane Hunter, was interviewed for the job of an archivist to inventory his rare books, among other things, she was gratified when she was hired, with her new boss, Cam Crewe, asking her to start on Monday. But when Jane arrived at work and made her way to the vast library where she was to be working, she was horrified to find a dead body on the floor. It was the body of Cam's ex-girlfriend, and there had been a gala the previous night, with many attendees - the police had a big job ahead of them, but Cam was top of their suspect list.

When Cam asked Lauren, his secretary, and Jane, to help him clear his name, Jane set to with asking questions, and talking to friends and family of the victim. Soon, Jane was getting threats - was she getting too close? Would they discover who the killer was before the wrong person went to jail or someone else was murdered?

A Cryptic Clue is the 1st in the Hunter & Clewe series by Victoria Gilbert and I enjoyed it, and am looking forward to #2. It was fun, entertaining and fast paced, and I found the characters all quite different. I've been a fan of the author's Blue Ridge Library series, so was sure I'd like this one - and I did! Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Hunter retired librarian has agreed to work for Cameron Clewe to help catalogue his library. Cam is a unique individual, I suspect a fellow neurodivergent. He's seen fighting with his ex-girlfriend Ashley Allen at a gala at his estate. The next day Jane finds a dead body. Cam's ex. Then Cam, Lauren and Jane investigate.

I thought the premise of the book sounded good. But I had a hard time connecting with the characters and feeling vested in the book.

A Cryptic Clue By Victoria Gilbert

A retired librarian; Jane Hunter is hired to catalogue a personal library of an eclectic and odd millionaire Cameron (Cam) Clewe. On her first day, she stumbles across a dead body in the library. The deceased is Cam’s ex-girlfriend and he seems to be the prime suspect. Cam asks Jane to help him discover the murderer which is a tall task since Cam had a party at his house the night before the murder. With suspects piling up and family secrets coming out, can Jane find the real killer before it’s too late for Cam?

This is a true cozy mystery, think of Agatha Christie, Miss Marple, Miss Fischer’s Murder Mysteries or any of the Hallmark mystery movies. It had a very intriguing start and it grabs the reader’s interest immediately. The pace gets a little slow in the middle (it felt like there might be too many suspects honestly) and picks up again near the end (I was shocked by who the culprit was!). Overall, I really enjoyed reading it and I can’t wait for more in this series.

Release Day: 7/11/23

Jane is retired and returning to the world of books, a subject she likes.
Cataloguing a vast collection of detective and mystery books from decades past
is a job she envisaged she likes doing. She did not expect a boss, young and
rich and abrupt with no empathy or filters when he did talk. (reminded me of
Sheldon in BBT).

It was a small household in which Jane worked, but there were under currents
from the first instance. When Jane discovers a dead bodyon her first day of
work, she is drawn into detective mode acting as a private investigator where
her boss cant go, simply because he is the prime suspect. Jane likes this role
as Watson to her boss's role as Sherlock but she is not very sure whether her
boss is totally innocent in the first place. Till very much into the story, Jane
is unsure whether she is actually helping to cover up a murder.

Unravelled slowly, this was nice detective work.

I liked this enjoyable mystery featuring an older woman with the wisdom of living life paired with a wealthy and intelligent young man who lacks in social skills. Jane, the older woman, is a well developed character. We see how the hurt from an abusive husband and the responsibility of raising a daughter on her own has given her a seasoned outlook on life. The character of the younger Cam is much less well developed. He is a reclusive individual, heavy on unrevealed inner thinking with little meaningful interaction with others. We see a possible change in him near the end of the novel.

The plot of the mystery is good with several suspects presented. The murdered woman had made many enemies in her short life. The villain did not come as a complete surprise. There were some hints. However, the crucial information needed for the identification is not given until the villain does, in fact, confess. We readers did not have that information ahead of time nor did Jane so there was no way to solve the mystery before the final reveal. I missed that feeling of, right, of course, it makes sense now.

This is an entertaining mystery as the beginning of a new series. Relationships are established and it looks like there might be future investigations featuring this unlikely pair. I'll be watching for them.

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

Jane Hunter has been laid off from her university librarian job, but the university's loss is Cam Clewe's gain. He has recently acquired some rare mystery novels and needs someone to catalog them so that researchers can have access to the collection. When Jane discovers a dead body on her first day of work she may be gaining more than a cataloging job.

I've read a few of Victoria Gilbert's Blue Ridge Library Mysteries and while I've enjoyed them, I think her new series Hunter & Clewe will be my favorite series. I really liked A Cryptic Clue. I would read large chunks of the novel without even realizing it.

Jane is in her early 60s though Cam is several decades younger. Cam inherited an estate (as well as considerable wealth) that is much like the real-life Biltmore Estate. These characters are great. Jane is down-to-earth with real-life experience. Cam has a more than few quirks - he has OCD and is agoraphobic to name a couple. They really work well together. There are a few secondary characters and they add an interesting dynamic. I think there is something suspicious about Cam's personal assistant Lauren.

There is the main mystery of the murder victim. It was a good way to get to know the characters but I thought it was wrapped up a little too suddenly at the end. There are a couple of mysteries involving Aircroft, the estate Cam owns, and Cam himself that I assume will be the overarching mysteries of this series. And I'm really looking forward to delving into them more in future books.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/07/a-cryptic-clue-by-victoria-gilbert.html

Meet Jane, a retired librarian who looking for a new challenge and a way to supplement her small pension applies for a job to archive eccentric collector Cam Clewes collection of rare mystery and detective novels.

And a challenge is exactly what Jane gets. When she finds a body in Cam's library, and Cam immediately comes under suspicion of murder.

However, Cam is determined to prove his innocence, believing his vast intelligence and deductive reasoning can easily solve the case.

Only with limited social skills, anxiety and a touch of agoraphobia. It's not quite as easy as he thought.

So, Jane steps in determined to find the killer. But to do that she has to ask tough questions and face the possibility that her new boss may actually be a killer after all.

And with a nice amount of mystery and likable characters. This was an enjoyable if a little slow paced read. That I'm sure fans of cosy crime will love.

A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert is the first in a new cozy mystery series and a few bibliophiles may find this setting to be right up their alley.

The mystery is well plotted with a smoothly paced plot, a limited suspect pool and quite a few twists as Jane Hunter and Cam Clewe feel that they must hunt for a murderer before Cam is arrested. Since this is the first in a series, Ms. Gilbert spent several pages introducing the atmosphere of Cam's estate and the fleshing out the main protagonists as well as several supporting characters. The suspects were also deftly described which added to their suspect status. This was not what I would call a riveting read for me but the mystery held my attention and the reveal of the villain took me totally by surprise. All in all, a satisfactory reading experience.