Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

I'm always on the lookout for cozy mysteries to read and since this one featured a librarian as the amateur sleuth it sounded like the perfect read.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

February 2019; Crooked Lane Books; 978-1683318743
ebook, print (304 pages); cozy mystery

Past Due for Murder is the third book in Victoria Gilbert's Blue Ridge Library series. I haven't read the first two but I want to read them now.

I didn't feel the murder of the professor and the missing student were the central focus of the novel. It felt like the story was more about the relationships between the various characters. Speaking of the characters, it's definitely a colorful bunch living in Taylorsford.

There are references to the previous mysteries Amy has been involved in, but only to convey details pertinent to the current story so in that respect, I don't think I really missed anything by jumping into the series with the third book.

What I do think I missed by not having read the first two books is possibly some of the character development. In this book, the characters felt well established: characters that would be known to readers. Kind of like when you go to a party where everyone has known one another for years - you can engage in conversation and enjoy yourself but you feel like you are on the periphery.

That being said, I enjoyed the characters and want to get to know them better which is why I want to go back and read the first two books.

Past Due for Murder is a light, easy read - the perfect fluff read for curling up under a cozy blanket on the days it is still winter or for laying in a hammock on the spring-like days.

There wasn't as much bookish referencing as I had hoped with a library mystery, but it was still an enjoyable read. If you are looking for a light read with interesting characters, then Past Due for Murder would be a perfect read.

Buy Past Due for Murder at Amazon


Here's another teaser from the ARC.

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Tonight's bed time reading is a cozy mystery that comes out next week - Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert. #bookstagram #bedtimestories #bookishlove #allthebooks

A post shared by Donna (@girl_who_reads) on Feb 6, 2019 at 5:22pm PST

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

This post is linked to First Chapter, First Paragraph at I'd Rather Be At the Beach.

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