Booked for Death

April 1, 2020
Historic Beaufort, North Carolina, is the beautiful backdrop for an ugly murder. High school teacher Charlotte Reed has inherited Chapters, a big, literary-themed B&B, from her great-aunt Isabella just in time to get a fresh start after the tragic death of her husband. She's planned a special week for her guests featuring the work of British mystery writer Josephine Tey, so she's deeply disturbed when one of those guests, the obnoxious book dealer Lincoln Delamont, hints that Isabella got the money to buy Chapters by nefarious means. When Delamont is found stabbed to death in Chapters' carriage house, leaving behind many suspects, Charlotte decides she'd better look into Isabella's past. Charlotte's friend Julie had mentioned a secret boyfriend who, much to Charlotte's dismay, turned out to be Delamont, whose wife had endured years of his bad behavior. Then Delamont's teenage daughter accuses Charlotte of killing him because of what he knew about Isabella. After Charlotte finds a diary written in code among her aunt's belongings in the attic, she approaches her neighbor Ellen Montgomery, a friend of Isabella's who's reluctant to say much about her history. Even if the answer to the mystery lies buried in the past, it may not be the past Charlotte's exploring. A mystifying debut featuring a clever, sympathetic heroine and oodles of local color.

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April 20, 2020
The action of this charming series launch from Gilbert (the Blue Ridge Library mysteries) takes place mainly at Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast, an inn in Beaufort, N.C., that hosts literary events. The owner, former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed, recently inherited the place from its founder, her great-aunt Isabella Harrington. In the library, during a celebration of mystery author Josephine Tey, Charlotte runs into rare book dealer Lincoln Delamont, who tells Charlotte that he’s unearthed a family secret—Isabella, a former maid, purchased rare volumes for the B&B with ill-gotten gains. He implies that he’ll reveal the secret, which is news to Charlotte, and cause a scandal unless she sells him valuable books for next to nothing. When Delamont’s body is later discovered in the carriage house, the book dealer’s 16-year-old daughter is certain Charlotte killed her father to silence him. Charlotte sets out to clear her name, ably abetted by a neighbor with her own intriguing past. The stakes rise as more suspects and another big secret come to light. Cozy fans and book lovers will be satisfied. Agent: Frances Black, Arts Counsel.

May 1, 2020

Charlotte Reed inherits her great-aunt Isabella's bed-and-breakfast, Chapters, in Beaufort, NC, a historic inn known for its special events that celebrate books and authors. The Josephine Tey event is spoiled by the murder of a book dealer who had insinuated to Charlotte that Isabella's money and famed book collection were procured illegally. As Charlotte tries to protect herself and her aunt's reputation, she uncovers stories about the man's affairs, his attempts to ruin others, and his physical abuse of women. She also uncovers the truth about Isabella and the years she disappeared. But, while Charlotte researches the past, a killer is still trying to keep their own secrets, and the widowed B&B owner is learning too much for a murderer's comfort. VERDICT Gilbert ("Blue Ridge Library" mysteries) introduces an intelligent, mature amateur sleuth, and a shrewd elderly sidekick in the first in a character-driven cozy series. The leisurely paced mystery offers complex characters with well-developed backgrounds and motives. Readers of Ellery Adams's "Book Retreat" mysteries will appreciate this new series.--Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2020
Charlotte Reed inherited Chapters, a B&B in coastal Beaufort, North Carolina, from her somewhat mysterious Aunt Isabella. A widow, Charlotte has thrown herself into creating literary-themed events, like the weekend inspired by Josephine Tey's classic mystery, The Daughter of Time, featuring a book discussion and a War of the Roses-themed costume party. Things get a little too thematic when one of her guests is found dead. It turns out almost everyone had a reason to dislike the philandering, criminally dishonest Lincoln Delamont, and Charlotte has a hard time not looking at guests and friends alike with suspicion. Aided by her elderly neighbor, who knew Isabella better than Charlotte did, she untangles the threads of Lincoln's deceptions, only to discover that her late, eccentric aunt harbored secrets, and Lincoln might have been somehow involved. Gilbert (Bound for Murder, 2020) kicks off the Book Lovers B&B Mystery series with all of the hallmarks of a cozy: a small town with lots of history; a gently paced plot; sympathetic, book-loving characters; and even a little dog.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)