Death and the Librarian is book 9 in Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. I’ve only read one previous book in the series, book 8, Murder Checks Out, and I found it to be a good mystery, so I was happy to be approved for an advanced copy of this book. I love cozy mysteries based around libraries and books for whatever reason so this series is right up my alley.
Amy Muir is a library director in a small town in Virginia where she lives with her husband Richard, a professional dancer, and their six-year-old twins. When an author investigating a cold case involving the disappearance of a young man in the 1960s is murdered, Amy is asked to assist with research into the old case to see if it has anything to do with the author’s death.
I really like the characters in this series, I especially love the relationship between Amy and her husband Richard. They are so supportive of each other, and although they are not perfect, they are able to rationally work out their problems together, it’s nice to see such a healthy relationship reflected in a book.
I also enjoyed the aspect of the mystery that made Amy struggle with how to handle the possibility of family being involved, if not in the present day murder, then in the cold case of the young man’s disappearance.
As with most mysteries, there was no lack of suspects to choose from, and Amy had her work cut out for her to narrow down the suspect pool.
If there was one problem I had with the novel it was that Amy sometimes would delay telling people important information. I know at times it was probably to make things a bit more suspenseful and that just made it all the more unbelievable because Amy is a smart woman, so it seemed against her character.
This was an entertaining mystery, and I look forward to reading more books in the series. I hope I have time at some point to read the previous books, because I believe they show how Amy and Richard got together, and I would like to see the progression of their relationship across the course of the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Death and the Librarian will be available on July 8 2025.
Life, Tea, and Everything 