In DEATH AND THE LIBRARIAN, written by Victoria Gilbert, Amy Muir (library director of the Blue Ridge Library in Taylorsford, Virginia) schedules a true-crime author to speak at the library arts festival. The author is currently researching her next book, an anthology of various cold cases that occurred in small towns, and is looking to speak with Delbert Frye and Karl Klass. I don’t know what is going to happen, but I am curious and read on.

I enjoy reading about Amy and her family, especially about Ella and Nicky (her six-year-old twins). The plot is good but moves at a rather slow pace. I like that everything gets tied-up in the conclusion. I think the book lacks excitement. Despite that, I still look forward to reading the next book in the series. Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of DEATH AND THE LIBRARIAN.

I adore VIctoria's Blue Ridge mystery series. They are fun, light with characters who will feel like family. Amy is busy raising her twins, working as director of the library while Richard is preparing for a new dance show.. When a woman looking into a disappearance is found dead, Amy is drawn into doing research and investigate. Especially when several people close to her are possible suspects.

this was a strong ninth entry in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the previous entries. It had that mystery element that I wanted from this type of book, the characters felt like they were supposed to in this series and was glad everything flowed well. Victoria Gilbert has a strong writing style and I enjoyed getting into these characters. It left me wanting to read more from Victoria Gilbert and this world.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I love this series and while jumping ahead to now Amy’s family with 5 year old twins changes the storyline substantially from the focus of Amy as librarian sleuth to Amy as mom/librarian sleuth, the twins were whisked off when the plot needed to focus on the murder’s resolution. It will be interesting to see if this series continues as cozy mystery with family — somehow extra characters there without any real purpose IMHO. I did like that Kurt was a more prominent character in this installment as he’s just sketchy enough to always wonder should we like him, trust him, or will he turn out to be really dangerous at some point…no spoilers though!

This was a great entry in this cozy mystery series about a library director in Virginia. I enjoyed revisiting these characters.

I have always enjoyed this series, but I am starting to think it has run its course for me. I really find myself no longer liking and respecting the MC, Amy. I understand that being a mother doesn't limit you as a career woman or a person with outside interests. Amy, however, definitely puts her children on the back burner to pursue her dogged pursuit of murders. What is supposed to be just research and background checking never stays there. After getting threats to her about the safety of her family and friends, she continues her reckless pursuit, making a concession by sending her kids to stay with her parents for weeks and ignoring her husband's concerns. Even after her friend Amy is hurt and another threat left, she continues on, skips work, allows herself to be overheard spouting her theories in public and generally goes full tilt at a mystery that has no direct effect on her or her family. The reckless disregard for her family totally turned me off. One more thing that has developed in this series is her friendship with an old contact of her uncles that has a seriously shady past, that factors here again. This is always a dark influence in the stories to the point that she questions if he has committed murder yet still sees him alone and gives him access to her minor children. I just think for me, the good writing and interesting mysteries are overshadowed by the fact that I no longer like the MC. Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for an opportunity to read. #DeathandtheLibrarian #ABlueRidgeLibraryMystery #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

Summertime in Virginia and things are getting out of hand when murder darkens the annual arts festival. Library director Amy Muir has always been suspicious of wealthy art dealer Kurt Kendrick. When a visitor is to their small town is found dead after publicly accusing Kurt of committing a decades old murder. Amy is determined to prove Kurt didn’t kill anyone past or present. With all the fun and excitement of the art festival that features the premiere of Richard’s new dance company Amy faces challenging balance between and family life before her untimely demise indicates other wise. This was a very enjoyable story I really enjoyed reading. Great characters and story line to keep it going till the end.

There is a darkness to Victoria Gilbert's 'Death and the Librarian' that is underlying in the storyline that separates this from 'cozy' status in my estimation. Although I have read most of the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series I finally was able to hone in on the unrelenting undertones of unhappiness with most of the characters as I read this latest offering. I have come to prefer a little more joy and some humor in my mystery reading and none stood out for me in this addition to the series. It is a thoroughly crafted mystery, so if this is appealing it would be very satisfying. Just not for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Death and the Librarian is book nine in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. I haven’t read all the past books and had no problems reading this book. A writer visits town investigating an old disappearance and ends up murdered. As Library director, Amy Muir has investigated quite a few mysteries and dives into the library archives for the research into the cold case disappearance. Soon Amy receives a threatening letter and her friend is attacked and another threatening letter is left with her for Amy. Sending her children out of town, Amy doggedly keeps investigating until she finds danger and solves the case. The whodunnit twists so you cannot predict the ending. Even when you think you know everything, the author manages to blindside you with that little bit extra to keep everything interesting for an enjoyable cozy mystery. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Murder at the annual arts festival makes summertime in Virginia a scary time. This is the ninth book in the BLUE RIDGE LIBRARY series. As usual a cold case may be tied to the ongoing case which makes for a most exciting read. Have fun trying to guess who. Another hit from a fan favorite author! Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

"Death and the Librarian (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #9)" by Victoria Gilbert has Amy helping to dig through the archives about a cold case that a visiting author may have been made a victim over investigating. The police are curious if what she was more currently investigating or a past investigation might be the motive. So, who better to ask to investigate the investigation other than the local crime solving librarian.

This is pretty typical of this series. There ends up being a cold case that may or may nog be tied to a modern day case. I do have to say that Amy was almost there to figuring everything out when she makes a very rookie mistake that gets her in a scary reveal situation. However, I wasn't sure on how this one was going to go so it wrapped up with surprises for me.

It's spring, and there is an Arts Festival in town. The Library has a special speaker who is writing a book about unsolved police cases in small towns. She is particularly interested in a local case of a young man who went missing. She says she would love to talk with Karl Klass (who is currently known as Kurt Kendrick). Fortunately for Kurt, most folks don't know his former name. The next morning Aunt Lydia asks Amy, Elly, and Nickiy want to go to an art exhibit at the Inn and then to lunch. When they arrive at the Inn, they find that the speaker of the previous afternoon was found dead in her bed. Amy calls Brad, the local policeman, and he tells her she had been drugged before being smothered.

Before long, Amy realizes she is in danger as she has been trying to help Brad. Amy and Richard send the twins home with Amy's parents to get them out of danger. When Amy's close friend is hurt, she begins to worry. However, that doesn't keep her out of a very dangerous situation. Will she solve the case before she is murdered herself? This is a good addition to the series, and I can't wait for the next book!

I thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC so that I could read this book before publication.

Death and the Librarian is the newest in the Blue Ridge Mystery series. Co-library director, Amy Muir, has a lot on her plate. She has twins, a festival is taking place in her community, her husband is opening a new dance series, and her curiosity never ends. When an author ends up dead at the local inn after speaking at a library event, Amy finds that the past often links to the present. Amy finds herself in danger but her wits help to save her as well as a friend. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc.

Library director Amy Muir has always been suspicious of wealthy art dealer Kurt Kendrick. As a close family friend, the ties that bind them are strong, but his murky past is concerning, especially since he is the godfather to Amy and her husband Richard’s six-year-old twins. When a visitor to their small, historic Virginia town is found dead after publicly accusing Kurt of committing a decades-old murder, Amy is determined to prove that Kurt didn’t kill anyone, in the past or the present. But the evidence Kurt’s accuser sent to Sheriff Brad Tucker before her untimely demise indicates otherwise.

With Amy’s own aunt and other older town residents corroborating some of the details related to the first murder and a witness placing Kurt near the scene of the second crime, it seems Kurt is doomed to swift and severe justice. Amidst the fun and excitement of an arts festival that features the premiere of Richard’s new dance company, Amy faces her own challenging performance—balancing her work and family life while dancing on the edge of danger.

With family and friends harboring suspicions about Kurt and Amy bedeviled by her own wavering trust in his innocence, she must fight to uncover the truth before a hidden killer strikes again.

This was cozy and wonderful read. I love this series and can relate to some of the issues Amy has to deal with (lucky for me not the death part).

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC. I love cozy mysteries! This was just ok. I didnt care about the characters as much as I had hoped. I won't continue the series as my TBR pile is astronomical. But, if you want a quick, light read, this is for you.

Each one of the books of this series gets better and better all of the time. I love the family aspect of these books. You feel so close with all of them, and you really want to keep each one of them safe and sound. Amy and Richard are really the ideal couple, and I like that Richard finally got his dance studio up and running. The kids are great, and I especially love Amy's aunt.

Now if only there weren't mysterious deaths that keep happening in their little town. I loved that this one had a mystery inside of another mystery. It really gave my brain something to chew on. And just when you think you've got everything figured out? Well then, another brick falls into the wall and a new puzzle piece is formed.

Great book, great series, I highly recommend.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Victoria Gilbert for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

I can’t believe I finished this book because I found it so poorly written so imagine my surprise that the author has written a number of books. I know there are cozy mysteries but the writing was beyond bad-sophomoric is how I’d describe it. Not a recommend.

Once again Amy is involved in investigating the death of a woman who was in town inquiring about a cold case. When Amy starts asking questions and looking into the background of those who worked with the victim, she starts to receive threats. Will the threat of her family and friends stop Amy from finding answers?
A light, interesting plot the flows easily from scene to scene. I love these characters and all their banter. Great series, but this book can be read as a standalone.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review .

I really enjoy this series and my favorite character is still Kurt. He is really interesting character and I am tired of the narrative that crops up still that he is gonna harm Amy and her family some how. You made him god parent or something like that. Also, I love her relationship with Richard, it seems so loving and healthy. I thought that the mystery itself was interesting with reveal and ending. I really do feel for one of the murders actually. I just feel like Amy has to be a little TSTL at this point, right? Like we are 9 mysteries in, why would you dismiss the threats or very real fears her family and friends have for her. And Brad (the deputy), with his whole " We didn't know this would put her in danger", really dude??? She was fearful enough to send her kids away but not fearful enough to make sure that she wasn't alone. Honestly at this point I am surprised they haven't sewn air tags in to her clothing so they know where she is.

Oh something else I really like about this series, these murders don't all happen in like a year in a small town. In other series, all of these books might have happened over 2 years, this author uses time jumps other than just publication time frame to help further her story.

Unique I’ve never read anything like it. I enjoyed it was very new probably not somthing I’d pickup again but was good.