BOOKED FOR DEATH by Victoria Gilbert

"A Book To Die For"

Booked for Death

Genres: Mystery | Thriller Serial Killer

Posted: August 6, 2020

Widow Charlotte Reed is starting over in Beaufort, North Carolina. She has inherited her Great-Aunt Isabella’s bed and breakfast, Chapters, which focuses on all things books. Her first big week is celebrating author Josephine Tey. Charlotte needs this event to go well to give her a much-needed boost, both personally and professionally. Unfortunately, a guest who is a rare book dealer turns up dead in her backyard during an event. That same book dealer made some unsubstantiated claims regarding Charlotte’s aunt and how she was able to afford such a rare book collection. As guests start pointing fingers at one another, Charlotte finds herself having to not only defend herself but also try and figure out if a murderer is staying at her B&B. Charlotte turns to her elderly neighbor, and an old friend of her great-aunt, to try and make sense of both mysteries. As the killer waits in the wings to make their escape, Charlotte is determined to clear her name, untangle her aunt’s secret life, and put the murderer behind bars. Even if it’s the last thing she does.

BOOKED FOR DEATH is the start of a wonderful new series by Victoria Gilbert and it is full of mischief, mystery, and mayhem. There is a lot to unpack in this book; we have a murder to solve, allegations against Charlotte’s aunt, Charlotte’s personal history to discover, and learning who we can trust as everyone seems to be a suspect. It seems like a lot, but it is crafted brilliantly and each storyline builds on the others. The characters are each unique in their own way and easily relatable. The various plotlines flow together and create a solid foundation for (hopefully) a long-standing series. And let’s not overlook the location, Beaufort, North Carolina. The descriptiveness of the surroundings will have you feeling like you’re right there with Charlotte, sleuthing away.

BOOKED FOR DEATH is a must-read for all book lovers and cozy mystery fans alike. I will personally be adding this series to my must-read list and I am anxiously awaiting book two to see what predicament Charlotte and friends find themselves in next .

Book Summary

A book lover's B&B in an idyllic waterfront village becomes the scene of a grisly murder--and a ruthless battle between treachery and the truth.

Nestled in the historic waterfront town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast is a reader's paradise. Built in 1770, the newly renovated inn hosts a roster of special events celebrating books, genres, and authors. It's the perfect literary retreat--until a rare book dealer turns up dead in the carriage house during a celebration of Golden Age mystery author Josephine Tey.

The victim's daughter points the finger at forty-two-year-old widow and former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed, who inherited the B&B from her great-aunt Isabella. Charlotte is shocked to discover that the book dealer suspected Isabella of being a thief who founded Chapters on her ill-gotten gains. Charlotte has successfully learned the B&B business in a year, but nothing has prepared her to handle a death on the premises.

Armed with intelligence and courage and assisted by her vibrant older neighbor, a visiting author, and members of a local book club, Charlotte is determined to prove her innocence and to clear her great-aunt's name. But the murderer is still at large, and equally determined to silence anyone who might discover the truth behind the book dealer's death. Now, Charlotte must outwit an unknown killer--or end up writing her own final chapter.