Booked for Death (Booklovers B&B Mysteries #1) by Victoria Gilbert

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 From the critically acclaimed author of SIBA Okra Pick A Murder for the Books, Victoria Gilbert embarks with a new series for perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Juliet Blackwell.

A book lover's B&B in an idyllic waterfront village becomes the scene of a grisly murder--and a ruthless battle between treachery and the truth.

Nestled in the historic waterfront town of Beaufort, North Carolina, Chapters Bed-and-Breakfast is a reader's paradise. Built in 1770, the newly renovated inn hosts a roster of special events celebrating books, genres, and authors. It's the perfect literary retreat--until a rare book dealer turns up dead in the carriage house during a celebration of Golden Age mystery author Josephine Tey.

The victim's daughter points the finger at forty-two-year-old widow and former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed, who inherited the B&B from her great-aunt Isabella. Charlotte is shocked to discover that the book dealer suspected Isabella of being a thief who founded Chapters on her ill-gotten gains. Charlotte has successfully learned the B&B business in a year, but nothing has prepared her to handle a death on the premises. 

Armed with intelligence and courage and assisted by her vibrant older neighbor, a visiting author, and members of a local book club, Charlotte is determined to prove her innocence and to clear her great-aunt's name. But the murderer is still at large, and equally determined to silence anyone who might discover the truth behind the book dealer's death. Now, Charlotte must outwit an unknown killer--or end up writing her own final chapter.    (Summary via Goodreads)

In Booked for Death, the first book in the Booklover's B & B Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert, Charlotte Reed inherits a Bed and Breakfast from her great-aunt in Beaufort, North Carolina and she moves in to run it.  Chapters, the Bed and Breakfast, hosts events surrounding books, authors and book lovers.  The property also included a beautiful garden and a carriage house.  The carriage house is occasionally rented by an author so that he can write and do research in peace.

Charlotte and her live-in housekeeper and cook, Alicia are getting ready to host a week long celebration of author Josephine Tey however before they can really get to know the guests and begin the celebration, one of the guests is found stabbed in the carriage house.  At this event there are not only the week long guests but Charlotte, Alicia, another cook, Damian, Charlotte's friend and bookstore owner, Julie, and a few other locals that belong to the bookclub that meets at the B & B.

Lincoln Delamont who was at the B & B with her wife and daughter is found stabbed in the carriage house during a costume party at the start of the week long celebration.  Charlotte finds herself eyeing all of the people who attended the party trying to uncover the person responsible.  While she is looking into the murder, she also comes across some cryptic letters and a journal that belonged to her great-aunt in the library.  Not knowing much about her great-aunt or the reason why Chapters was left to her, she decides to look into her great-aunts history.

Charlotte has a lot on her plate running Chapters and looking into her great-aunts history and now with one of the guests being murdered, she can't help but wonder if there is a murderer under her roof or if one of her friends could have done it.  She decides to enlist the help of her next door neighbor since she was around when her great-aunt was alive hoping she might be able to help.  Little does she know the can of worms she is opening by doing that.

While Booked for Death is in your hands, you will feel like Gilbert has cast a spell on you.  You will be whisked away to Beaufort, North Carolina withoug leaving your house.  You will also want to look into all of the guests staying at Chapters as well as the locals.  And when neighbor, Ellen, gives some insight into Great-Aunt Isabella's life, you will be all in !!  Gilbert provides the readers will a book load of likely candidates for wanting Lincoln Delamont dead but when the actual murderer is uncovered you will be quite shocked !!!!

Review by Missi M.