Author: Victoria Gilbert
Series: Blue Ridge Library Mystery (Book 9)
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (July 9, 2025)
Description: It’s summertime in Virginia, but things are about to get out of hand when murder darkens the annual arts festival in this ninth installment of the critically acclaimed Blue Ridge Library mystery series, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Miranda James.
Library director Amy Muir has always been suspicious of wealthy art dealer Kurt Kendrick. As a close family friend, the ties that bind them are strong, but his murky past is concerning, especially since he is the godfather to Amy and her husband Richard’s six-year-old twins. When a visitor to their small, historic Virginia town is found dead after publicly accusing Kurt of committing a decades-old murder, Amy is determined to prove that Kurt didn’t kill anyone, in the past or the present. But the evidence Kurt’s accuser sent to Sheriff Brad Tucker before her untimely demise indicates otherwise.
With Amy’s own aunt and other older town residents corroborating some of the details related to the first murder and a witness placing Kurt near the scene of the second crime, it seems Kurt is doomed to swift and severe justice. Amidst the fun and excitement of an arts festival that features the premiere of Richard’s new dance company, Amy faces her own challenging performance—balancing her work and family life while dancing on the edge of danger.
With family and friends harboring suspicions about Kurt and Amy bedeviled by her own wavering trust in his innocence, she must fight to uncover the truth before a hidden killer strikes again.
My Thoughts: When a visiting author of true crime books is murdered while attending a local arts festival, Library Director Amy Muir finds herself doing some research for the local police and getting herself in danger when she comes too close to the murderer.
Maureen Dryden has capitalized on the success of her first true crime story and is planning her second book which will be a succession of stories from small towns. She wants to look into the disappearance of Edward Jaffe who disappeared in 1967. While the newspapers barely mentioned the disappearance, Amy's aunt and her twin's godfather may have some information they've never shared about the disappearance. And Kurt, the twin's godfather, was seen at the inn where Maureen's death occurred.
Amy finds herself juggling her research for the police with the care of her children and the preparation for her husband's launch of his new dance company. As she looks into the case described in Maureen's first book, she learns that enemies were made who might be involved in her death.
This was an engaging story filled with interesting characters and a fast-paced plot. I enjoyed catching up with Amy and her circle again in this ninth book in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries.
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
