Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

 Past Due for Murder (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #3) by Victoria Gilbert - 301 pages

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Spring has sprung in quaint Taylorsford, Virginia, and the mayor has revived the town’s long-defunct May Day celebration to boost tourism. As part of the festivities, library director Amy Webber is helping to organize a research project and presentation by a local folklore expert. All seems well at first―until a university student inexplicably can't be found during a bonfire.

The local police cast a wide net to find the missing woman, but in a shocking turn of events, Amy’s swoon-worthy neighbor Richard Muir becomes a person of interest in the case. Not only is Richard the woman’s dance instructor, he was the last person to see her on campus, and he also doesn’t have an alibi for the night the student vanished―or at least not one he’ll divulge, even to Amy.

When the missing student is finally discovered lost in the mountains, with no memory of recent events―and a dead body lying nearby―an already disturbing mystery takes on a sinister new hue. 

I'm still just as hooked on this series as I was after reading the 1st book. One thing I really like about this book (and others in the series) is that she weaves past events into the story. It adds a little more depth.

Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert

 Shelved Under Murder (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #2) by Victoria Gilbert - 330 pages

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October in Taylorsford, Virginia means it’s leaf peeping season, with a fresh crew of tourists attending the annual Heritage Festival which celebrates local history and arts and crafts. Library director Amy Webber, though, is slightly dreading having to spend two days running a yard sale fundraiser for her library. But during these preparations, when she and her assistant Sunny stumble across a dead body, Amy finds a real reason to be worried.

The body belonged to a renowned artist who was murdered with her own pallet knife. A search of the artist’s studio uncovers a cache of forged paintings, and when the sheriff’s chief deputy Brad Tucker realizes Amy is skilled in art history research, she’s recruited to aid the investigation. It doesn’t seem to be an easy task, but when the state’s art expert uncovers a possible connection between Amy’s deceased uncle and the murder case, Amy must champion her Aunt Lydia to clear her late husband’s name.

That’s when another killing shakes the quiet town. Now, with her swoon-inducing neighbor Richard Muir, Amy must scour their resources to once again close the books on murder.

I really love this series! The mysteries are intriguing and full of different twists I didn't see coming.

A Murder for the Books by Victoria Gilbert

 A Murder for the Books (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #1) by Victoria Gilbert - 336 pages

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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.

A few pages into this book, I was completely hooked (and finished it in only four days). I love the characters, and the mysteries keep you engaged until the end.