Jenn Dalton was an author of mysteries, with ten books to her name. She also tutored writing students at Clarion University in Virginia and had many promising students under her care. When a professor, who frowned on "genre fiction", was found dead and one of Jenn's students was implicated in his death, she knew she had to find the killer to prove Mia's innocence. When she, Bri and Christine became amateur sleuths to solve the murder, and things began happening to Jenn, they knew they had the murderer worried. But finding out who it was, was something else entirely. And then there was Zach, psychologist on campus and all round irritating nuisance - could they solve the case between them?

Schooled in Murder is the 1st in the Campus Sleuth Mysteries by Victoria Gilbert and it was fun and entertaining. Meeting up again with Richard Muir of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series was great; it means the two series are loosely linked. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Jenn gets up to in the next book in the series. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

I love the idea of a cozy series set in the world of academia. It’s one that I haven’t come across as often so I was anxious to receive/read it. And I appreciated that it jumped right into the mystery. We’re instantly introduced to the protagonist Jenn & what will be her fellow sleuths, quickly & adeptly. I enjoy her having a team of other university employees aid in the detecting.

This is an excellent start for a new series. Jenn is a clever, relatable heroine & the supporting cast is top notch. The descriptions of the university setting are engrossing & really pulled me into the story. Loved the suspects & drama, it has really creative motives. I also really enjoyed the romance portion Jenn has, usually those are my least favourites angles in cozy mysteries, however this is handled beautifully & I found myself looking forward to those chapters.

This was such a great first book to kick off my year of reading. I hope another one follows swiftly. I highly recommend it 😊

✏️

Read if you like:
* Secret Bookcase series by Ellie Alexander
* The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan

As a fan of the author’s other cozy series Blue Ridge Library mysteries which I believe has two more books coming, I was pretty excited to realize this was set at the same college where Richard Muir, Amy's husband from that series was a dance instructor. And Jenn, the main character was living in Taylorsford. I loved all the name dropping and even the good sheriff Tucker got a mention. A character that was kinda minor and recurring ended up being a more featured character in this book as Jenn's landlady. When she was talking to Jenn about an information source, I just had a feeling I knew who she meant and now I can't wait to see if Jenn ever gets to meet the person.

This book drew me in from the first page and wouldn't let go until the very last page. What an awesome book hangover too! The showdown was tense and exciting with Jenn definitely getting the upper hand. I absolutely can't wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

4.5 stars
Jennifer Dalton is the director of the writing center at Clarion University in Virginia and discovers a body in a seldom used area of the library. The victim has no shortage of enemies, a few which are close to Jenn. She is determined to prove that a young woman she mentors is not guilty of the crime.

Jenn is a likable main character and I enjoyed her friendship with Christine, the cafeteria manager, and her potential romance with psychologist Zachary. I was able to guess the killer, but I still loved this fast-paced fun book and am already looking forward to the next "Campus Sleuth Mystery."

I received an advance copy of the ebook for review consideration from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Schooled in Murder is a great start to a new series, Campus Sleuth Mysteries, that has a connection to the Blue Ridge Library series. by the author The new series is centered around Clarion University that is visited from time to time in the prior series. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in the new book with reference to old friends. Jenn Dalton is the director of the Writing Center and a published author. When she finds the body of an English professor and Mia, one of her mentees, is the lead suspect, she and other colleagues set out to proof the student's innocence. Dr. Zach Flynn is a psychologist at the university and becomes a close friend and protector when Jenn runs into trouble. There are plenty of suspects and people who were not fond of the victim that makes the story interesting. I am looking forward to reading more in the series.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review and these are my thoughts.

Jen Dalton is the director of Clarion University’s writing center. While doing research at the campus library, she discovers the body of Prof. Doug Barth. Her mentee, Mia Jackson, is the primary suspect. Despite the professor clutching a paper of Mia’s in his hand, Jen doesn’t believe that Mia did it. Working with a reference librarian and a cafeteria worker, Jen delves into the mystery of the professor’s death, she realizes that more than one person disliked the professor. Soon, she gets death threats, gets attacked on campus, and someone cuts her brake lines. Who really killed the professor? Who will do anything to make sure that Jen doesn’t solve the mystery?

The plot is well developed, engaging, and full of twists and turns. The characters are well rounded, likable, and realistic. The building up of the mystery draws the reader into Jen’s world. Readers who like light-hearted mysteries, strong female PIs, and cozy mysteries will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

I love a good cozy mystery and schooled in murder delivered. The book follows an author Jennifer who is absolutely in love with her job and her students. All that changes when a confrontation between a student and professor occurs resulting in a dead body. The plot thickens when the suspect disappears but Jen decides to sleuth and solve the murder case. Thrilling, great characters and a great plot.

When cozy mystery author and educator Jen Dalton went searching the Clarion University’s library archives, she never expected to find a dead body of an overbearing English professor. One of Jen’s favorite students jumps to the top of the suspect list. Believing that Mia is innocent, Jenn teams up with a university librarian, the cafeteria manager, and a psychologist to find the real killer.

I typically enjoy Victoria Gilbert’s cozy mysteries, but I just could not get into SCHOOLED IN MURDER. The only “evidence” the reader has that Mia is innocent is Jen’s opinion that her student couldn’t possibly have murdered anyone no matter the motive. Mia herself barely makes an appearance in the book, and the couple glimpses of her made her appear even more suspicious/guilty. By the end of the book, I still had no idea exactly Jen does at Clarion University other than that she works in the writing center. The others were cardboard characters except for the psychologist/love interest. Zach comes across as a total narcissist and creep. Up until the big reveal, I hoped he was the killer just so that he would be forever removed from the series. Sadly, Zach is probably here to stay. The book was well written, and the mystery was intriguing. The characters just could not engage my interest.

While I've enjoyed other books by this author, this one wasn't for me. I think the idea for the series and this particular mystery are very interesting, but I just couldn't connect with the characters and didn't really care what they did, so I DNF'd at 26%. I would try the second in the series, however, as I know that in first books it can be challenging to introduce all of the characters and their backstories, setting, etc. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance digital copy!

Schooled in Murder is the first book in a new series by Victoria Gilbert. I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and the storyline flows smoothly. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. I especially liked the banter between the main character, Jenn and a psychologist, Zach. Their interactions made me smile and even chuckle.

Jen is a mystery writer that runs the campus writing center at Clarion University. One of the students that she mentors is accused of murdering a professor at the university. Jen is positive that the student didn't do it. A couple of her friends on campus agree with her and decide to investigate and help clear the student's name. I look forward to the next book and getting to know the characters more.

I like this author, I find her books entertaining. Sad to say it took me a bit to figure out it was set in the same area as the author's previous series.
This just made me like it more however. The mystery kept me guessing. I look forward to more in the series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good, cozy read! This is #1 of Victoria Gilbert’s Campus Sleuth Mysteries.
The main character is Jenn, a successful mystery author and head of the Writing Clinic at Clarion University. The story begins with Jenn finding a dead body at the campus librar;y. The victim is a professor who was not liked by many. The main suspect is Mia, a student who has worked often with Jenn at the Writing Clinic. Jen spends most of the story trying to prove Mia’s innocence. Along the way, Jenn recruits friends at the university to help her solve the murder. This is one of those stories that the sleuth is allowed to work alongside lawyers, police and others involved in solving crime. We also meet Zach, the psychologist on campus, who initially meets with Jenn more as a clinician than a friend. Their friendship grows as the story goes on, but honestly, I still can’t figure out how that even happened. Zach was very unlikeable for a good part of the book, and I’m not sure why Jenn continues their relationship. I will definitely pick up #2 in the series to see what happens with Jenn and Zach, and maybe my opinion of him will change!
3 1/2 rounded up to 4 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I know Victoria Gilbert from her previous mystery series, The Blue Ridge Library Mysteries. This is the first in a new series of cozy mysteries. Jen Dalton is a member of the English department at Clarion University. She is also a successful published mystery writer having written ten books under a pen name. When she discovers a body on campus it turns out to be another professor. When one of Jen's students becomes the prime suspect she decides to use her amateur sleuthing skills she has learned from her novels to find the real culprit.

The previous series centered on a librarian who everyone in town seemed to confide in which helped her solve mysteries. Here Jen is more actively seeking out people to talk with, finding out what they know. There is a side story of the beginning of a love interest in Zach Flynn, a campus psychologist. With cozy mysteries part of the fun is following the main characters as they progress in their lives while they solve crimes. This has a good start with a few people I assume will become regulars. I usually need to read a couple books to decide if I’m committed to the series. So I will be on the lookout for the next in the Campus Sleuth Mysteries. (3.5 Stars)

"Schooled in Murder," the first book in the "A Campus Sleuth Mystery" series by Victoria Gilbert, is a fantastic beginning to a new series. The plot revolves around a mystery writer who must solve a real murder case to save an innocent girl from being wrongfully convicted.

I was completely captivated by the story and nearly finished it in one sitting. It was entertaining, packed with twists and turns, along with some unexpected surprises. While I figured out the identity of the killer before Jen did, I still found it to be an enjoyable and easy read.

I’m eagerly looking forward to the next installment to see how Jen, Zach, and her new friends are faring. I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery-loving friends.

This was my first cozy mystery, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read it as an ARC. I apologise for taking so long to write this review, I have been struggling with my health so reviews took a backlog. Such a cozy feeling for my first cozy mystery!

3.5 stars

This is a nice start to the series. The mystery was well done and engaging. Characters were well developed. I loved the school setting. It's fun to sleuth along with Jennifer as she plays amateur detective. There is a romance angle, but is not overpowering, thankfully. Overall, this is an enjoyable cozy mystery.

I really enjoyed this series starter, and the mystery writing protagonist combined with an academic setting and all the drama of academia was entertaining. There are great characters in this one, and I look forward to more crime solving escapades from them.

Jen Dalton is a writer in the fiction genre and a professor at a university. Most of her coworkers look down on her for her writing genre. One of Jen's students has a run in with a snooty professor and no one thinks much of it until the professor turns up dead and then the student, Mia, disappears. Jen is determined to find out the real killers identity and uses the help of her fellow amateur sleuth's to do it.

Schooled in Murder is the first book in the brand new Campus Sleuth Mystery series. In this book, we meet, Jenn Dalton, who is the head of the campus writing center at Clarion University in Virginia. Jenn is also a published author of eight successful Mystery novels.

This title starts with Jenn searching for a particular journal in a mostly deserted section of the library for research purposes. She then has the misfortune of coming upon the dead body of a university professor, Doug Barth. When she learns that one of her students, Mia, was seen arguing with Professor Barth shortly before his tumble over the railing of the mezzanine above, Jenn decides it's time to put the sleuthing skills of her mystery series characters to the test to ensure that Mia cleared of murder.

I really enjoyed that this book started from the very first sentence with the mystery of who killed Professor Barth. I also enjoyed getting to know Jenn's friends, Bri and Christine, along with her love interest, the campus psychologist, Zach Flynn and her landlady, Emily. I found the mystery to be engaging and kept me guessing "whodunnit" throughout the entire story. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of this series and finding out what happens in the next book!

Thank you to the author and #NetGalley for allowing me to read #SchooledinMurder and offer my honest opinion.

Jen is a mystery writer who also works in a college writing center. When one of her students is the main suspect in the murder of an English professor, Jen attempts to investigate other possible suspects. This puts her in some danger, and also partners her with the school's psychologist and other school employees. A couple of the peripheral characters in the book are characters from the author's library series, but it really doesn't matter if you've not read that series, as they really don't play a big role. The plot and the characters were about what one would expect from a cozy mystery. I found the developing romantic interest between Jen and the psychologist to be the most interesting part of the book, however. There was also a fairly big flaw in the whole "campus lockdown" part of the book: if the campus is in lockdown, the people who work there shouldn't be moving all around the campus, as Jenn (and others) appear to do. They should stay where they are until given the all clear. Otherwise, a fairly good cozy mystery.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Literary Cozy Mystery featuring a Virginia mystery author and university educator who teams up with a cafeteria manager, the campus psychologist and a librarian to find a professor's killer.

5/5 stars: This is the first entry in Gilbert's Campus Sleuth Mysteries series which is a Literary Cozy Mystery that takes place in Virginia and features a mystery writer and university educator who finds herself teaming up with a cafeteria manager, a librarian and the campus psychologist to track down who killed an uppity professor. When one of her students is implicated, she and her fellow sleuthers race to catch the real killer before there’s another murder on the books. With plenty of twists and turns, Gilbert has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Gilbert's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Jen's great and I really love her colleagues, friends and her fellow amateur detectives Christine and Brianna. And I look forward to seeing where Jen and the charming but annoying reluctant sleuth Zach's relationship goes... so cute. Additionally, her landlord, Emily, is a hoot and a half. Oh and Jen's got a sweet and snuggly fluff-ball rescue gray cat named Ash. This is an excellent start to a new series; Highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.