ARC Review: Murder Checks Out by Victoria Gilbert

Murder Checks Out
Author: Victoria Gilbert
Series: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery (Book 8)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (November 14, 2023)

Description: It’s not all snowflakes and sugarplums when murder crashes Taylorsford’s first Winterfest in the eighth installment of the Blue Ridge Library series, perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Ellery Adams

Returning to her role as an amateur detective is the last thing library director Amy Muir wants. She’s already buried under an avalanche of responsibilities, including sharing the directorship of the local public library, parenting her holiday-obsessed five-year-old twins, and helping her choreographer husband, Richard, present The Nutcracker as part of the town’s festivities. With her frosty mother-in-law, Fiona, visiting for the holidays, Amy definitely has enough on her Christmas cookie plate.

But when the chair of the festival committee is found as dead as Dickens's proverbial doornail at the town’s ice rink, Amy is determined to uncover the real perpetrator to protect her brother-in-law, Ethan Payne, who was placed at the scene. The clock is ticking down as Sheriff Brad Tucker is equally sure that Ethan is guilty.

It's beginning to look a lot like the murderer hasn’t wrapped up his killing spree, and now, it might just be “lights out” on the holiday festivities—and on Amy’s life.

My Thoughts: It's nearing Christmas and Amy Muir is busy. Not only is the co-director of the Public Library but her five-year-old twins are very involved in the local production of The Nutcracker which her husband Richard is directing and dancing in. She is also prepping for a visit by Richard's mother.

When the chair of the festival committee is found dead on the skating rink, Amy needs to become an amateur sleuth again. After all, her brother-in-law Ethan was seen arguing with her shortly before her death. And now Ethan has disappeared...

Wendy Blackstone didn't make any friends in her role as the chair of the festival, but her real enemies come from her position as a property developer. She and her partner Tim have made many enemies at their other development projects and protesters are in town picketing her current project too. 

As a librarian, research is what Amy does and research is widening the pool of suspects who might have wanted Wendy dead. Even her mother-in-law Fiona is adding information since she knows others who are familiar with the Blackstones' other projects. Amy is getting threats telling her to back off which she'll be willing to do as soon as she clears her brother-in-law's name. 

This was another enjoyable episode in the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series. 

Favorite Quote:

Ask a group of people a random question and most of them will either shrug or toss off an answer, factual or not. But ask a librarian the same question and they'll research it until they can provide a definitive response.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.