I really enjoyed this story and so glad it's first in a series. Who would think that a 60 year old librarian and a depressive odd wealthy business man joining up to be amateur sleuths could be so entertaining.? The cast of characters are eccentric and the writing is plot-driven. Looking forward to their next adventure.

As a big fan of crime and mystery stories, this was so much fun! Such a good story, really well written and kept me hooked all the way through!

A Cryptic Clue begins a new cozy series by Victoria Gilbert, featuring newly-retired librarian Jane Hunter and wealthy and reclusive businessman Cameron Clewe. In this first mystery, we get wonderful scenes of the two establishing their working relationship (with somewhat opposite personalities) along with background history into both characters while investigating the murder of Clewe's girlfriend. The search for answers becomes complicated once several minor characters' dislike of the victim becomes apparent, and the suspense rises as ulterior motives abound. A very enjoyable cozy mystery, with no loose ends and a nice sense of impending adventures for these two amateur sleuths by the end of the book. Recommended!

I admit the gorgeous cover art of A Cryptic Clue hooked me into reading the story description. The sixty-year-old protagonist sealed the deal to review the book. I love fictional characters who don't fit the usual molds, and I'm glad I chose to read this well-written cozy mystery. The book is filled with offbeat but relatable characters that don't seem like caricatures. The beautiful setting is clearly described, the dialogue flows naturally, and the pace kept me turning the pages.

A Cryptic Clue is the first in a new series, which makes this is the perfect time to discover Jane Hunter, a most likable amateur sleuth. She's clever, educated, and kind. A recommended read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

A Cryptic Clue is the first in a new series of cozy mysteries featuring Jane Hunter, a semi-retired librarian, and Cameron Clewe (a pun, ha-ha), a wealthy young recluse. Jane goes to work for Cam, inventorying and cataloging his collection of Golden Age mystery ephemera. On her first day of work, however, she finds Cam's ex-girlfriend dead in the library, killed by a candlestick. Since Came doesn't leave his estate, Jane becomes his eyes and ears in town, investigating the murder and looking to clear Cam's name. The mystery is fine, though the killer's motivation was a bit lacking. The pacing is good, though the writing is very heavy on dialog and minute description of the characters' actions. A good choice for fans of the easy-reading light mystery. 3.5 stars.

A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert drew me in with its book themed base. It features a retired-too-soon librarian who has found work archiving the private mystery collection of a wealthy collector.
The main character of Jane Hunter is relatable to older readers, but the character of her employer misses the mark. It is difficult to like Cam Clewe, the eccentric and anti-social employer, and with not much to like about him it is difficult to become fully engaged in the book. Gilbert does suggest some slight progress for the character, but it is very slight.
The mystery itself is complex, with a slew of suspects whose numbers make it difficult to keep track. The storyline progresses slowly, sometimes coming across as repetitive, and the secondary mystery, while leaving things open for a sequel, muddies the waters somewhat.
The book is technically well-written, but I found it difficult to get into.
I received an advance copy of #ACrypticClue from #NetGalley.

I enjoyed Victoria Gilbert's Blue Ridge Library Mysteries and the Booklovers B&B series, so I was excited to see another mystery from her. This is a fun and clever kick off to the series, serving as a great introduction to Jane and her friends. Jane's shifting her life into a new direction now that her daughter's off living her own life and this brings her into the life of Cameron Clewe. Her journey is rooted in the idea of starting a new chapter in life and finding new ways to have excitement, purpose, and joy in life. One dead body later and she finds herself deep in a mystery as she attempts to prove her boss's innocence. This introduces a variety of characters in Jane's life which gives a fun assortment of personalities with Cameron, Brendan, Kyle, Hannah, Tristan, and Dia. Each character has a well-rounded personality that makes them stand out from each other such as Brendan's past indiscretions that have brought bad memories to the surface and Cameron's struggles with anxiety, OCD, depression, and lack of social awareness. Jane is a fun character that is headstrong, curious, and clever which makes her a delightful sleuth that you want to solve mysteries with. Her relationship with her daughter is threaded throughout as an important part of her life and what grounds her during this chaos unfolding around her. Definitely recommend this for all mystery lovers and those looking to check out the genre!

A Cryptic Clue is a mystery novel which is written through the eyes of Jane Hunter, a sixty-year-old formerly retired librarian who is hired by Cameron Clewe, a thirty-three-year-old agoraphobic wealthy man, to do an inventory of his book collection. But as soon as Jane starts working for Cameron, she discovers the dead body of the new boss’s ex-girlfriend, which makes him a suspect. Therefore, Jane will investigate to help clear Cameron’s name, provided he’s innocent...

I like mystery books that are engrossing with a shocking ending. But A Cryptic Clue is not the kind of mystery book that makes you turn the pages fast, eager for more revelations. It’s more like the kind of book that you comfortably read in bed with a warm cup of tea. That’s probably why it’s not my favorite read of the year.
A Cryptic Clue is a cozy mystery with a rather slow pace considering the genre. I was not as invested as I would have liked, and I’ve been bored at times and I was glad when I finally finished the book. There was not enough tension in my opinion.
That being said, there are some things that I liked, the atmosphere for example. I feel like it would be a great experience to read it in an old library, surrounded by old books.
I don’t think I had ever read a book with an elderly woman as a main character before, so I enjoyed Jane as a main character.

A Cryptic Clue is a disappointing read for me but I don’t think that it is bad, it’s just not for me.

I was so thrilled to be able to read an advanced copy of this first book in a new cosy mystery series. I adore cosies, and would happily spend all day reading them.

It didn't long for the author to have me hooked on Jane Hunter and Cameron Clewe. Both characters are certainly endearing and engaging, and so different from each other. The author manages to write both characters very well, and they are believable, although I'd have to say Jane is the stronger of the two in this book. Their strengths and weaknesses play off each other well, and the book is also peppered with many other engaging characters, some I expect and hope will become regulars if this series continues.

The mystery plays out well in the story, and the pace is what I expect in a good cosy. I did enjoy the setting of the large house, and Jane's profession of a librarian. The cataloguing of the many collections of books interested me very much, and I would have happily read more scenes of Jane finding treasures in the collections.

With a good cosy, we know the characters must play a central role, and the characters don't let this story down. There was one difference in this book to many other cosies I've read, and I found it refreshing. In many cosies, the protagonist has a friend, or relative, or some sort of close connection in law enforcement, and uses that to gain inside knowledge of mysteries. In this book, the main protagonist does not have an "in" like that, but Cameron does in a roundabout way. Having the mystery play out without that angle into law enforcement made this seem different to many cosies, and gave the mystery a bit of an edge. It makes the author work harder to reach a satisfactory conclusion, and I enjoyed that in the book.

I'm certainly looking forward to more in this series, and I hope the next case also ropes in Jane's landlord, and other assorted characters who made this book so enjoyable.

Thank you to the publishers, the author, and Netgalley, for providing an e-Arc of this novel for an honest review.

I've enjoyed all the books in Victoria Gilbert's other two mystery series, the Blue Ridge Library series and the Book Lovers B&B series, so I wasn't surprised that I enjoyed this first book in her new Hunter & Clewe mystery series.

This is a series debut with a lot of potential. Jane Hunter is a 60-something retired university librarian who goes to work for Cameron Clewe, a 30-something reclusive, wealthy businessman. Her job is to do the inventory and work on cataloging Cam's extensive collection of books, including his many murder mysteries.

This being a mystery, Jane and Cam quickly turn towards working together in solving a murder that took place at a fundraiser on Cam's property.

The mystery was interesting and this is a great cast of characters. I loved the bookish, analytical approach that Hunter and Clewe took towards solving the crime.

I'm looking forward to a long run for this series and intend to read any additional books from this author.

Highly recommended!!

This first book in a new mystery series pairs Jane Hunter, retired university librarian, and Cameron Clewe, young and wealthy businessman, as amateur sleuths. Cam has hired Jane to inventory and catalog his collections, especially his collection of murder mystery stories and author artifacts. When a fundraising gala at his mansion ends up with Cam's ex-girlfriend dead in the library, Jane and Cam team up to investigate all the potential suspects and find the murderer.

An enjoyable read, with plenty of red herrings and interesting side characters who will likely show up again as the series progresses.

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

A retired librarian with a need to work takes up amateur sleuthing to help a poor rich young recluse. A return to the ‘older’ style with the female detective making use of her contacts to help solve the murder where over half the cast have a possible motive. A quick and pleasant read but as a fan of the cryptic crossword I wasn’t able to solve this with any of my usual approaches. Thanks to @netgalley for the copy to review ahead of publication and to the publisher.

A Cryptic Clue was an enjoyable, thrilling and satisfying read.

60-year-old Jane Hunter is forced into early retirement and applies for a job as a cataloger to support her meagre pension. Seeking a challenge to keep herself proactive, she finds herself amidst a murder mystery. 33-year-old Cam Clewe is a hermit who prides himself on his rare books and artifacts collections. When an heir to a pharmaceutical fortune is found dead in the Aircroft Estate, surrounded by secrets and mystery, all eyes turn to Cam. The tip of the iceberg is that the victim was Cam's ex-girlfriend. Can Jane hunt the culprit and their motive before it is too late?

The Yaays: Victoria Gilbert delivers a well-executed plot and a great mix of characters. Jane Hunter is friendly, sturdy and kind. She compliments Cam Clewe exceptionally well; their banter and conversations are well-written. Cam Clewe is a refreshing character - a welcomed one, especially among the dominating alpha/arrogant millionaire male characters. His awkwardness, straightforwardness and tactlessness conjure a mix of emotions. You certainly feel for this character when his past is unveiled. I appreciate how some questions remain unanswered and open the door to a promising series. I also loved the pacing and finished this book in one sitting.

The Nays: The execution of the ending. If you're a Sherlock while reading, it is impossible to guess the motive. While my suspect list was growing and I had a few suspicions, the critical information was revealed in the last 25% of the book. It would have been interesting if breadcrumbs were spilled across the book.

Verdict: If you're a fan of a cosy mystery with well-informed & endearing characters, do not skip this read. I look forward to reading more of the author's work.

Thank you, NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books, for giving me an e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

A story about academically minded people , a young woman who has more money than sense , a rambling old building & a Murder among other mysteries within it's walls . Clewe who owns said Mansion & Hunter who comes to work for him start sleuthing to solve them all! I've only given the Book three stars because it didn't grip my attention in such a way that I couldn't put the Book down . Nonetheless it was quite an enjoyable read.#NetGalley, #GoodReads, #FB, #Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/358a5cecda71b11036ec19d9f7bf5c96d13e2c55" width="80" height="80" alt="100 Book Reviews" title="100 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.I do have friends who I know will enjoy this so I will recommend it to them .

This was a murder mystery with lots of suspects and an old house with as many secrets as the people staying within.

Jane was a nice "old lady detective" character, while Cam came across as aloof and Sherlock-esque.

While the book itself was easy to read I struggled with the narrative voice. The characters were very passive, and even in some scenes or reveals where you'd expect a fiery reaction, they fell flat and weren't believable.

Jane, our protagonist whose eyes we see everything through, also details all her thoughts in conversation so there are no clues for you to put together. For example:
*Clue*
Jane: "This makes them suspicious because X, but I could also rationalise this by Y. I will bear this in mind during my research."

I'm never really a fan of "baddie reveals all in a monologue" and that happened frequently here. Even suspects who were not guilty of the crime came up to Jane and confessed their secrets. And because there were so many characters, there was a lot of repetition.

I didn't like the ending. I didn't feel there were enough clues to allow you to jump to that conclusion yourself, and it came across very left field.

BUT, I read this very quickly as it was so easy to read. I love locked house mysteries, and the ending sets this up very nicely for a sequel

first-in-series, new-series, librarian, library, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, country-estate, entitled-attitude, mental-health-awareness, mental-health-issues, reclusive, wealthy****

The new librarian found the body in the library and the candlestick is missing.
It was the Monday after a fundraising gala on the estate and Jane Hunter's first day at her new job on the Clewe estate since her forced retirement from the university library. An unlikely alliance is formed between middle aged Jane, her employer the thirty something Cam Clewe, and Jane's new landlord (a retired journalist) to extricate the clues to the murder and more. Very good start to a promising new series by an excellent author of cozy mysteries!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

A new mystery that I hope will turn out to be a series! Jane Hunter has been forced into early retirement from her long time job as a college librarian. To supplement her modest pension, she takes a freelance job with the town's well-known wealthy young, eccentric recluse, Cameron Clewe, organizing his personal library. On her first day of work at the mansion, a body is discovered in the library. Now, Jane is called upon to use her library research skills to help clear Cameron's name -- but she's not completely sure he is innocent. Great story that I look forward to recommending.

What is this about?
The first in a new series sees Jane Hunter take on a new position for an eccentric collector and find herself solving a murder mystery — one in which her boss seems to be the main suspect.

What else is this about?
An introduction to Hunter and Clewe in essence.

There’s much to like about A Cryptic Clue: a 60-year-old main character that is investigating a murder, and I don’t often see characters of a certain age like this as the main character investigating anything. Jane is finding her feet after retirement, and that takes her to Cameron Clewe, a collector of rare books.

He hires her to catalogue his collection, and along the way Jane and readers discover more about Cam, about his life, his family — and his dating habits when his most recent ex is found dead in his library.

Cam, Jane and his assistant Lauren begin investigating Ashley’s murder, pretty much to clear Cam as the main suspect.

Thing is, I just wish I liked this more. I asked for this on Netgalley because it read like a cozy mystery, and a retired librarian? I’m there! And while, it hits all the right beats, I couldn’t help but compare it to the Tita Rosie series and Flight Risk, which were the most recent cozy mysteries I read. Both were funny and filled with characters I was eager to follow through the mystery and wanted to know more about.

I feel terrible comparing it to those titles, because I understand they are very different — perhaps I have just discovered my tastes in cozies. They’re my palate cleansers, an absolute counter to the darker thrillers I tend to read and A Cryptic Clue didn’t quite do that for me.

What’s your favourite type of cozy?

This mystery shows the beginning of amateur-sleuths in the making mystery Jane Hunter, a mid-sixties former librarian with a secret past who has recently gone to work for Cam and Cameron "Cam" Clewe thirty something genius billionaire who hires Jane to catalogue his extensive art and book collections who deals with multiple mental illnesses. Just as Jane begins her new job they find themselves in the middle of a murder and with Cam as the prime suspect, Jane and Cam decide to investigate themselves.

I loved that the main character was an older woman and this did not hold her back, in fact she used what she knew from past experiences to aid her with being a detective. Also I loved that Cam wasn't the typical Sauvé rich guy, instead he was awkward and not altogether likeable but you still do route for him especially as you find out more about him. Overall it was just a nice quick cosy mystery, although it was slow in parts it is an easy read.

Thank you NetGalley for this book. Jane Hunter is starting a new job archiving a collection. She is excited to get started but on her first day she discovers a body. What a fun read this was. It kept my interest in the characters as well as the mystery. I look forward to the next book.