A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert Narrator: Amy Melissa Bentley
Series: Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #1
Published by Tantor Audio on April 17, 2018
Genres: Mystery
Length: 11 hours, 12 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Fleeing a disastrous love affair, university librarian Amy Webber moves in with her aunt in a quiet, historic mountain town in Virginia. She quickly busies herself with managing a charming public library that requires all her attention with its severe lack of funds and overabundance of eccentric patrons. The last thing she needs is a new, available neighbor whose charm lures her into trouble.
Dancer-turned-teacher and choreographer Richard Muir inherited the farmhouse next door from his great-uncle, Paul Dassin. But town folklore claims the house’s original owner was poisoned by his wife, who was an outsider. It quickly became water under the bridge, until she vanished after her sensational 1925 murder trial. Determined to clear the name of the woman his great-uncle loved, Richard implores Amy to help him investigate the case. Amy is skeptical until their research raises questions about the culpability of the town’s leading families... including her own.
When inexplicable murders plunge the quiet town into chaos, Amy and Richard must crack open the books to reveal a cruel conspiracy and lay a turbulent past to rest in A Murder for the Books, the first installment of Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library mysteries.
Read It, Rate It and Record
A short review to update challenges
I saw this Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series on a friend’s blog. The main character works at the library so there is a bit of book talk and some romance. The primary focus is on the small town history with its older families and a murder mystery.
A Murder for the Books has the quirky characters and circle of friends I expect from this genre. It was fun but nothing was really unexpected. The villains were a bit cliche in being nasty and uncaring about others. Of course, that allows them to do whatever they like. There were some shades of people doing the wrong thing accidentally or unknowingly, too.
I liked Amy’s personal growth in her new job, her new town living with her aunt and learning more family history. She has developed some friends who I’ll be happy to see in future installments as well as a new friendship with the local sheriff, Brad.
Narration:
I enjoyed the narration at my usual 1.5x speed. I have listened to her before and thought her voices for all the characters had the right tone, both male and female.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Amy Melissa Bentley
I am a New York/Connecticut based actor with training in: theater performance, film acting, vocal performance and improvisation.
I spend my time doing voice over work, performing on stage and actively pursuing any and all film/televsion projects.
I am a proud member of SAG-AFTRA!
Recent Notable Work:
AudioFile Earphones Award Winner (The Education of Dixie Dupree)
The Murder Pact -Lindsey (Lifetime Movie Network)
The Crickets Ate the Moon (YIPAP at Yale JE Theatre)
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2019 Audiobooks
- 2019 Library-Love
- BTB 2019
- COYER Hunt
Glad you enjoyed this, Anne. Lovely review? Is this more a cozy mystery?
Yes this is definitely more cozy mystery. There are a lot of them. It had lots of good aspects; I just prefer the darker mysteries which are more intense and less quirky?.
A cozy about a library? How can I resist. Fun review and I’ll be adding the series to my wish list. I’m thinking I’ll go audible with this too.
I hope you enjoy it.