Bound for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
by Victoria Gilbert

Author Interview

Describe your new book in 5 words or less.
1960s murder spurs librarian’s sleuthing.
If you could give your Amy and Sunny some advice, what would it be?
I would tell Amy to think before acting sometimes. She tends to get in trouble because she jumps into situations too quickly. But since that is usually done to protect or aid other people, I have to allow her some leeway.I’d tell Sunny to take another chance on love. Even though she doesn’t want to get married, I’d still like to see her enjoy a new relationship – maybe even a more serious one.
When you begin writing, do you already have the conclusion in mind (or on paper)? Or do you let the words take you where they will?
I always outline before I begin. I’ve found that detailed planning is required, at least for me, in writing a mystery. I think it would be difficult to weave in the clues and the “red herring” suspects throughout the book without some sort of roadmap. However, I do allow myself the freedom to make some changes and deviate from parts of the outline as I write. Sometimes the act of writing brings forth more interesting ideas than those I can imagine when creating the original outline.
Who are your favorite cozy writers and why?
I really prefer not to single out my fellow cozy authors in terms of favorites or “best,” as there are so many I admire. Instead, I’ll mention my agency mates, because Literary Counsel represents a lot of great cozy authors. These authors all have books out, and they are definitely worth reading if you like cozy and traditional mysteries: Tracy Gardner, Jody Holford, Kathleen Valenti, and Wendy Tyson.
What’s coming soon in Amy, Sunny, and your world?
Book five in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series – A DEADLY EDITION – will be published by Crooked Lane Books on Dec. 8, 2020. As Amy and Sunny are busy preparing for Amy and Richard’s upcoming wedding, a suspicious death at a party thrown by Kurt Kendrick soon involves them in another murder investigation. Kurt, who was competing with the deceased man to acquire a copy of a rare Kelmscott Press edition of the works of Chaucer, becomes a prime suspect. But there are many others on Chief Deputy Brad Tucker’s list, including Richard’s former dance coach, Adele Torneau, and Amy’s brother, Scott. But one way or another, there will be a wedding!
What secret can you tell us about your new Booklovers B&B Mysteries series coming in mid-2020?
The setting includes several real locations in and around Beaufort, NC, including Beaufort historic sites and Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, NC. I have visited Beaufort annually for many years, which has allowed me to get a real sense of the area. On my 2019 trip, I was able to do some more detailed research, including speaking with Beaufort’s chief of police. By the way, the town of Beaufort, NC dates back to the early eighteenth century, so if offers history as well as beautiful coastal views. It even has a significant pirate history! Anyone who’s read my books knows that I always like to weave in some historical mysteries into my contemporary stories, so I felt Beaufort was the perfect setting for a new series.

My Review

Bound for Murder is the fourth book in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. I’ve read them all and they just keep getting better. Maybe it is because the characters feel like old friends.

Amy and Richard make a great couple. I’m glad that Amy has gotten over her self-esteem issues from some of the prior books. They are now engaged. Everyone in the town is giving Amy suggestions for where to hold both the wedding and the reception. Hasn’t ever small town bride been through that? However, Richard’s “high-class” mother, Fiona, is the worst offender. Nothing in town is good enough for her.

Sunny is running for mayor in Taylorsford trying to replace the corrupt mayor. When an old skeleton from her grandparents’ hippie days is discovered, Amy tries to help her best friend’s family so it won’t impact Sunny’s political run. In the meantime, the Chief Deputy Sheriff has asked Amy to research who the skeleton is. What amateur detective doesn’t set off at a dead run when they hear that? However, Amy has conflicting loyalties between keeping things on the down-low for the Sheriff’s office and for her best friend’s family.

If you love cozy mysteries as much as I do, you probably love them mostly for the warm interrelationships between the characters. Bound for Murder has that in abundance. The mystery is challenging too with a whole creel of red herrings muddying the waters. This book (and really the entire series) is recommended for cozy readers that want to leave their own life and live someone else’s for a few hours. 4 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway below for a signed hardback copy of the book!

About the Book

Bound for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (January 7, 2020)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1643852434
ISBN-13: 978-1643852430
Digital ASIN: B07QGNNNXP

Blue Ridge library director Amy Webber learns it wasn’t all peace and love among the “flower children” when a corpse is unearthed on the grounds of a 1960s commune.

Taylorsford Public Library director Amy Webber’s friend “Sunny” Fields is running for mayor. But nothing puts a damper on a campaign like an actual skeleton in a candidate’s closet. Sunny’s grandparents ran a commune back in the 1960s on their organic farm. But these former hippies face criminal charges when human remains are found in their fields–and a forensic examination reveals that the death was neither natural nor accidental.

With Sunny’s mayoral hopes fading, Amy sets her wedding plans aside, says “not yet” to the dress, and uses her research skills to clear her best friend’s family. Any of the now-elderly commune members could have been the culprit. As former hippies perish one by one, Amy and her friends Richard, Aunt Lydia, and Hugh Chen pursue every lead. But if Amy can’t find whoever killed these “flower children,” someone may soon be placing flowers on her grave.

About Virginia Gilbert

Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. Victoria has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers and lives in North Carolina. This is her fourth Blue Ridge Library mystery.

Author Links:

Website/blog: http://victoriagilbertmysteries.com/

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaGilbertMysteryAuthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VGilbertauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/VictoriaGilbert

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriagilbertauthor/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4J0jvZ-D0NVF9Qv7H2ua8Q

Purchase Links:

Amazon B&N Kobo Indie Bound

BUY LINKS:

A MURDER FOR THE BOOKS: http://www.crookedlanebooks.com/titles/a-murder-for-the-books/

SHELVED UNDER MURDER: http://www.crookedlanebooks.com/titles/shelved-under-murder/