Past Due for Murder:
A Blue Ridge Library Mystery
by Victoria Gilbert
About the Book
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Crooked Lane Books (February 12, 2019)
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1683318749
ISBN-13: 978-1683318743
Digital ASIN: B07D2GYM25
Has a curse fallen on the small town of Taylorsford, Virginia? After a young woman goes missing during a spring bonfire, library director Amy Webber must wade through the web of lies only to find a truth that she may not want to untangle.
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—but spring takes on a sudden chill when a university student inexplicably vanishes 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 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. Blessed with her innate curiosity and a librarian’s gift for research, Amy may be the only one who can learn the truth in Past Due for Murder, Victoria Gilbert’s third charming Blue Ridge Library mystery.
About the Author
Raised in a historic small town in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian.
Victoria’s first cozy mystery series, the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, garnered her a three-book deal with Crooked Lane Books, which has since been expanded to five books. The first two books in the series have been optioned by Sony Pictures Television, and the first three were or will be produced in audiobook by Tantor Media.
Victoria also just inked a two book deal with Crooked Lane for a new cozy series, the Booklovers B & B series, set in historic Beaufort, NC. A member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime, Victoria is represented by Frances Black at Literary Counsel. You can connect with Victoria Gilbert through her website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.
![Past Due for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery by [Victoria Gilbert]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61F3ytIhp0L._SY346_.jpg)
Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert has us journeying to Taylorsford, Virginia. Amy Webber is the director of the Taylorsford Public Library and is hosting an event for the local Girl Scout troop. Professor Mona Raymond, a folklorist, is sharing folktales and local legends from the Blue Ridge Mountains with the girls. Amy has been assisting Mona with her research and learned about the fairy lights, two women who disappeared in 1879, and missing gold. Two of Mona’s students who are assisting at the event ask if Amy has seen their fellow student, Lacey Jacobs. No one has seen or heard from Lacey since the previous day. Lacey’s disappearance leads investigators to Richard Muir, choreographer, dancer and Amy’s boyfriend. Lacey was seen leaving his office in tears the day she disappeared. Amy knows that Richard would not harm Lacey, but she must admit that he has been acting odd recently. Lacey is finally found in the woods with Mona Raymond dead nearby. Lacey is in a coma and cannot assist investigators. Amy puts her natural curiosity and knack for research to use. She finds several people with motive for harming Mona and Lacey. Now she needs to ask questions to narrow down her suspect list and identify the killer. This killer, though, is not about to go quietly. 
![Murders and Metaphors: A Magical Bookshop Mystery by [Amanda Flower]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51meQ17M0YL.jpg)
Past Due for Murder will be out on February 12. It can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Indie Bound and Google Play. The first two books in A Blue Ridge Library Mystery series are A Murder for the Books and Shelved Under Murder. Now for the giveaway details. To win a signed hardcover copy of Past Due for Murder, click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below. Be sure to leave a comment for an extra entry. Visit the other stops on the tour for author interviews, guests posts, reviews and character interviews (schedule below). Thank you for joining me today. Next time I am showcasing Murders and Metaphors by Amanda Flower. It is the third A Magical Bookshop Mystery. I hope you have a harmonious day. Take care and Happy Reading!
My Thoughts
Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert has us journeying to Taylorsford, Virginia. Amy Webber is the director of the Taylorsford Public Library and is hosting an event for the local Girl Scout troop. Professor Mona Raymond, a folklorist, is sharing folktales and local legends from the Blue Ridge Mountains with the girls. Amy has been assisting Mona with her research and learned about the fairy lights, two women who disappeared in 1879, and missing gold. Two of Mona’s students who are assisting at the event ask if Amy has seen their fellow student, Lacey Jacobs. No one has seen or heard from Lacey since the previous day. Lacey’s disappearance leads investigators to Richard Muir, choreographer, dancer and Amy’s boyfriend. Lacey was seen leaving his office in tears the day she disappeared. Amy knows that Richard would not harm Lacey, but she must admit that he has been acting odd recently. Lacey is finally found in the woods with Mona Raymond dead nearby. Lacey is in a coma and cannot assist investigators. Amy puts her natural curiosity and knack for research to use. She finds several people with motive for harming Mona and Lacey. Now she needs to ask questions to narrow down her suspect list and identify the killer. This killer, though, is not about to go quietly.
Taylorsford is all atwitter as they prepare for the newly reinstated May Day festivities. Past Due For Murder begins by delving into the folk stories and legends of the area. There are a variety of tales that include the disappearance of two women over a century ago, the strange lights that arise from the forest floor that are attributed to fairies, and missing gold. Professor Raymond has spent the last few months in the library’s archives doing research with Amy’s assistance. Past Due for Murder is the third book in The Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, and I recommend reading the series in order. Past Due for Murder begins with a relaxed pace as we are eased into the multifaceted cozy mystery. In Past Due for Murder, there is the missing Lacey Jacobs, the murdered Mona Raymond, Amy worried about her relationship with Richard, the old tale of the two missing women and gold that vanished around the same time. The book starts off with the disappearance of Lacey and the murder then occurs a third of the way in. Amy uses her skills to investigate Mona’s death. She has several viable suspects and tension builds as Amy’s deductions lead her to the guilty party. The storylines all come together for a satisfying conclusion. I wish, though, that the whodunit had been harder to solve. Amy’s relationship with Richard is prominent throughout Past Due for Murder along with her past association with musician, Charles Bartos. There is a cute kitten, Loie in the story that has a perilous introduction. I especially enjoy the time spent at the Taylorsford library and their amazing archive room. The romantics will especially love the ending in Past Due for Murder. Past Due for Murder has fairies, May Day festivities, a cuddly kitten, a missing coed, romantic entanglements and a slain professor. Join Amy Webber on her latest adventure in Past Due for Murder.
Past Due for Murder will be out on February 12. It can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Indie Bound and Google Play. The first two books in A Blue Ridge Library Mystery series are A Murder for the Books and Shelved Under Murder. Now for the giveaway details. To win a signed hardcover copy of Past Due for Murder, click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below. Be sure to leave a comment for an extra entry. Visit the other stops on the tour for author interviews, guests posts, reviews and character interviews (schedule below). Thank you for joining me today. Next time I am showcasing Murders and Metaphors by Amanda Flower. It is the third A Magical Bookshop Mystery. I hope you have a harmonious day. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
Tour Participants
February 11 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
February 11 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
February 11 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 12 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
February 12 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
February 12 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
February 13 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
February 13 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
February 13 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 14 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
February 14 – Rae’s Books and Recipes – SPOTLIGHT
February 14 – The Montana Bookaholic – SPOTLIGHT
February 15 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
February 15 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
February 15 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
February 16 – Laura`s Interests - REVIEW
February 16 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 16 – That's What She's Reading – REVIEW
February 17 – StoreyBook Reviews - SPOTLIGHT
February 17 – Curling Up by the Fire – REVIEW
February 18 – The Bookwyrm's Hoard – REVIEW, GUEST POST
February 18 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
February 19 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
February 19 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
February 20 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 20 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT
February 21 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
February 21 – The Book Diva's Reads - CHARACTER GUEST POST
February 22 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
February 22 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
Thanks so much for featuring my book during the blog tour and for the lovely review!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your review on "Past Due for Murder" by Victoria Gilbert and for being part of the book tour.
ReplyDeleteLove the cover! So cute with the kitty batting at the flying mail. Also love the library theme. Can't wait for the opportunity to read this book.
2clowns at arkansas dot net