When Eloise Anderson, a local book seller is accused of killing the detective who investigated a murder case in the past that found her mother guilty of killing her father, Cameron Clewe decides to investigate. Jane Hunter is a sixty something woman who is cataloguing his book collection but also helps him solve crimes on the side. This book feels like an old manor mystery but set now. It was an okay story but I felt the characters needed to do more. It felt like all their clue solving was too cerebral. Everything was them discussing everything and then ta-da, they discovered the answer. Because of that, it dragged on a bit for me. I am not sure I would choose to read more in this series. I didn't feel the need to continue sometimes other than it was a NetGalley read and I do feel compelled to read them because they are given to me. This author does have quite a few books written so maybe someday I might read a backlist to see if I like them better. But I am sorry that I didn't enjoy this one more.

I found this piece to be exceptionally well-crafted, and I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve into more works by this author. Given its potential popularity among our library patrons, we're certainly looking forward to adding it to our collection

Initially hired to catalog wealthy Cameron Clewe’s extensive library collection, librarian Jane Hunter has become a part time PI helping the highly reclusive Cam solve cold cases, sort of like Archie Goodwin to Nero Wolfe. They’re expecting something similar when Eloise Anderson wants to hand deliver a book Cam has ordered, especially since her mother recently died in prison, serving time for the murder of her husband – Eloise’s dad. Eloise does ask for their help given some new information she’s found. However, the cold case soon becomes an active case when Eloise is found holding a knife over the body of the detective in her mother’s case, eerily echoing the earlier crime scene.

I enjoyed this book, especially the characters. There are numerous instances that could become a bit cliché, but Ms. Giilbert keeps them more open and realistic. I really like that relationship between Jane and Cam isn’t romantic and how the people around Cam work to help him overcome his reluctance to leave his home and how this reluctance actually manifests itself – not just something he says. The main plot had some nice twists in it as well, and the over arching subplot likewise had some nice advancements.

Highly recommended! While this the second book in the series, it works well as a standalone.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.com that I voluntarily chose to review.

Hunter & Clewe #2 centers around two murders that occurred in the same bookshop decades apart. Eloise's mother spent a life in jail for a murder her daughter is sure she didn't commit, but when a second murder occurs in the same location Eloise is charged with that murder. Like mother like daughter? Jane and Cam believe she is innocent but can they prove it? A mystery that centers around books has to be good and this one does not disappoint. Jane in particular is a very relatable character that we enjoy sleuthing with. A great second story in an ongoing series.
Thank you to #NetGalley#AKillerClue#CrookeLaneBooks for the EARC

This time Jane and Cameron are trying to solve a cold case. Eloise's mother has recently died. She was convicted of killing her husband. But when going thru her effects evidence is found that points to her innocence. A compelling read. Great characters. Good story plot. This is the second book in the series. Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

series, librarian, bookseller, reclusive, wealthy, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, multiple-deaths, cold-case, local-law-enforcement, locked-room-mystery*****

Since her forced retirement from the university library, middle aged Jane has taken a new job in the private library on the Clewe estate. Her employer is the thirty something wealthy and reclusive Cam Clewe. Jane's landlord (a retired journalist) is there to rather stridently urge her on to extricate the clues to the murders and more.
Eloise Anderson operates a rare books store and when she delivers Cam's latest purchase, she asks him to investigate a cold case. Her mother recently died in prison for killing Eloise's father and Eloise wants Cam and associate Jane to help clear her mother's name. Shortly thereafter, Eloise is arrested for the murder of the lead detective from her mother's case with the cases being eerily similar. The story held my interest with it's fast pace, engaging characters, and surprising twists. Great!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

The Next Outing..
The second in the Hunter and Clewe mystery series and a new case is on the horizon following an unusual request for help from the owner of an antiquarian bookshop. Rather than a bookish query, this particular request has murder at its root. Let the sleuthing begin. Another hugely entertaining and enjoyable instalment with a pair of likeable and unique amateur sleuths, a firm sense of time and place and a well plotted, solid mystery at its very heart

Victoria Gilbert’s second Hunter and Clewe mystery brings back the unusual detecting duo in a traditional mystery, A Killer Clue. Red herrings, a cold case, a current case, and stolen books all add up to an interesting story for book lovers. Gilbert throws in some Mary Stewart for those of us who enjoy Gothic suspense.

Jane Hunter narrates the latest case for the pair. She’s sixty-one, a librarian who now works for Cameron Clewe, a wealthy book collector who lives at Ashcroft, a North Carolina estate. Cam suffers from anxiety, struggles with social skills, and doesn’t like to leave his house or go out in public. But, Jane has learned to work with her young boss.

When Eloise Anderson, owner of Last Chapter Bookshop, insists on hand-delivering Cam’s latest purchase, both Jane and Cam are surprised by her request. After fifteen years of incarceration, Eloise’s mother just died in prison. Although her mother never wanted her case reopened or reexamined, Eloise wants them to prove her mother didn’t murder her father. When Eloise was eighteen, her father was found stabbed to death in the bookstore, and her mother was the only one in the store at the time. Eloise still doesn’t believe her mother was a killer.

But, history might repeat itself. Jane makes a trip to meet with Eloise at the bookshop, only to find the retired detective, Bruce Parker, who handled the case, dead on the floor. He’s been stabbed, and Eloise is the only one in the bookstore. Naturally, she’s also the primary suspect. But, Cameron uses all of his resources to hire a good attorney, and provide a refuge at Ashcroft for Eloise. It isn’t long, though, before Jane suspects Eloise is keeping secrets.

Along with the murder investigation, there are several other curious cases lurking in the background. Years ago, the heir to Ashcroft died when he fell off a nearby cliff. Accident or murder? The truth has never come out. Then, there’s the puzzle about Cameron’s own identity. Who is his real father? Gilbert manages to include clues to all the cases in the carefully paced mystery.

I like the Hunter and Clewe mysteries. Gilbert, a librarian, understands rare books and library collections. And, her detecting duo of an older woman and younger man, are not involved in a romance that sometimes gets in the way of a good crime story. Looking for an interesting traditional mystery? You might want to try A Cryptic Clue, followed by A Killer Clue.

Eloise Anderson only knows Cameron Clewe thru her rare books store., but she delivers his latest purchase to ask him a favor. Her mother recently died in prison for killing Eloise's father and Eloise wants Cam and his employee and associate Jane to help clear her mother's name. Not too long after requesting their help, Eloise is arrested for the murder of the lead detective from her mother's case. Too many secrets and lies are found before Cam and Jane can sort thru it all and finally arrive at what is true and what is false.

Interesting murder mystery with very engaging characters. Well written and it kept my interest. I would read a future book from this author. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this book for review consideration. #AKillerClue, #CrookedLaneBooks, #NetGalley.

This was a great second book in the Hunter and Clewe mystery series, it had that element that I was looking for. It did everything that I was hoping for based on the first book. The characters felt like they were supposed to and enjoyed the feel of the story going through this. It left me wanting to read more in this universe and from Victoria Gilbert.

What a great adventure this read was! I was eager to read this after finishing “a cryptic clue”. This book has fantastic character development and the dialogue between the characters was engaging and enjoyable. I look forward to the next book in this mystery series.

Having enjoyed Victoria Gilbert's first Hunter and Clew book, I knew I needed to look out for the next ARCs in the series. Sometimes you love a mystery for the detectives and can't wait to spend time with them again. I feel this way about retired librarian, Jane Hunter, and her employer Cameron Clewe. They have such a lovely cross-generational friendship. Cam is very wealthy and needs Jane to catalogue his huge rare book and ephemera collection. Still, he struggles with social skills and agoraphobia and relies on Jane for her friendship and steady personality. Gilbert, also a librarian, sprinkles the books with book references (Mary Stewart this time!). .
Oh, and they solve mysteries together! This mystery involves a cold case murder of a rare bookseller and there are lots of suspects. It's not an edge-of-your-seat type of mystery. This is the type of mystery that you settle into with a nice cup of tea. I'm excited for the next book in the series - it's all set up at the end of A Killer Clue.
Gilbert also writes two cozy mystery series: Booklover's B&B and Blue Ridge Library Mysteries which have the whole cozy mystery-type covers and punny titles. I want to try the first Booklover, set in a Josephine Tey celebration. Thank you to #netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.

Story by Victoria Gilbert ⭐⭐⭐

This is my first time hearing of this author or series.

It took me a while to get into this book. I found the pace of the book quite slow so my liking but I really enjoyed Victoria Gilbert's writing and the premise of this story. I think personally for me I would have enjoyed this more in the audio format. So for that reason I've purchased 'A Cryptic Clue' in audio.

Librarian Jane Hunter works for wealthy Cam Crewe cataloging his book collection. As a side gig they investigate cold cases together. Eloise Anderson approaches them to ask for help clearing her mother’s name. Her mother has recently died in prison, convicted of murdering Eloise’s father. But before they can do much investigating Eloise is accused of murder and they now turn their investigation to proving whether or not she is guilty.
Our amateur sleuths are an odd pair. Jane is a sixty-something year old retired librarian while Cam is a young, wealthy reclusive businessman so the usual cozy mystery trope of the two main characters flirting with romance is not a side focus for these mysteries. Cam appears to be somewhere on the spectrum showing a dislike of leaving his house or dealing with strangers while also having a healthy interest in pretty young women. Jane, as she makes clear to her adult daughter, is not interested in romantic relationships. Another difference from most cozy mysteries is no one has a pet. That said the two main characters work well together with Jane acting as a sort of Archie to Cam’s Nero Wolfe. The mystery moves along at a steady, if slow, pace and while I suspected who the murderer was it was pleasant getting to the denouncement. Two secondary investigations that have continued from the first book - the identity of Cam’s real father and the truth of a long ago suicide - are partially solved while we have ongoing questions about one of them for the next book. Overall this is a pleasant read, with interesting characters I look forward to learning more about. Recommended

Wow, what a great mystery! The second book, in the Hunter and Clewe series, was just perfect - just like the first book. This mystery finds Jane and Cam trying to solve a cold case murder. Eloise Anderson, a local antique bookstore owner, is accused of killing the detective who sent her mother to prison for killing her husband. Jane and Cam take the case and become targets of a murderer determined to remain free.

Crime solving duos have always been a favorite. The team of Jane and Cam pairs a research librarian and a wealthy young entrepreneur who lives in a fabulous estate, rarely leaving the grounds and Jane a mature research librarian. Their life experiences are vastly different but their desire to help people make them the perfect mystery duo. Jane is a bit of matchmaker for the reserved Cam (he's the age of her daughter) and encourages him to be more outgoing.

A wonderfully written mystery about characters who are relatable, kind and have a knack for crime-solving.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Book Two in the Hunter & Clewe mystery series is set deep in the world of rare books. Jane Hunter a retired librarian works for Cameron Clewe cataloguing his book collection. In A Killer Clue, the two become involved in an investigation when Eloise Anderson, owner of a bookshop Cameron uses to obtain rare books, becomes the prime suspect in a murder. Everyone including Eloise is keeping secrets and Jane has to dig deep to get answers. I really enjoy the secondary characters in the series especially Cam's hard working assistant. There are lots of red-herrings as well as action. The story kept me hooked until the end.

I received an arc from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for my honest review.

This is another book in the Jane Hunter and Cameron Clewe mystery series, and a future best seller in my opinion. Jane is a Librarian, originally hired by enigmatic millionaire Cameron Clewe, to catalogue the collection of books he owns. But between the two of them, they also do a side trade-in looking into cold cases. And this is how this book starts when a young bookshop owner, Eloise Anderson, comes to them to look into the wrongful (in her mind) conviction of her Mother, in the death of her Father a decade and a half before. Her Mother had died in prison, and Eloise wanted them to look into who killed her Father. But from there on, more deaths, accidents and threats follow Jane and Cameron as they try to uncover the truth.

I knew when I took up the book that it was part of a series, but I wanted to see if the author could make me still enjoy the book without having read the first. And Gilbert did just that. I would always recommend starting at the beginning, but as a stand-alone, this good is great. You get some hints of the past that are easily explained, and the mystery is fun.

Go read it!

A Killer Clue is a fun whodunit. This is the second book in the "Hunter and Clewe" series.
Jane and Cam make a great team. A socially awkward wealthy introvert and an older librarian- what could go wrong? Murder, mayhem, and a rare book- this story was right up my alley.
This mystery was engaging and I didn't have it figured out until the end.
Enjoying this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for an early copy for review.

A Killer Clue is the second book in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series. Having reviewed book 1 in the series, I was anxiously awaiting book 2. I wasn't disappointed.

Jane Hunter is a librarian who has been employed by reclusive, mysterious, and wealthy Cameron Clewe to catalog his massive collection of books. In book 1, we learned most of the back story behind Clewe, his family and his North Carolina mansion. But there were still some blanks to fill in. First, there was the "Mystery Woman". Jane had found a photograph and a drawing. Who was she? And was Calvin, the heir to the estate, murdered or did he die by accident?

Jane is pondering these questions when a more serious situation emerges. While visiting a local rare book store, she comes across the body of a police detective who had investigated the murder of the original owner of the bookstore. Near the body was the daughter of the murdered man. Had she, like her incarcerated mother, been a murderer?

Jane and Cameron set out to solve the mystery. Aided by her landlord and his wife, along with her daughter, Bailey. who is taking a break in her acting career, Jane conducts her investigation despite danger to herself.

I really love this series. The writing is crisp. The plot is well thought out and involving. The characters are engaging. I strongly recommend this book and the series.