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A Cryptic Clue

Part of A Hunter and Clewe Mystery

Author Victoria Gilbert
Paperback
$22.99 US
| $28.99 CAN
Crooked Lane Books
On sale Mar 05, 2024 | 320 Pages | 9781639106417
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A retired librarian gets back to the books—and into a devilish murder case—in acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s new series, the perfect literary adventure for fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.

Sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, forced into early retirement from her job as a university librarian, is seeking a new challenge to keep her spirits up and supplement her meager pension. But as she’s about to discover, a retiree’s life can bring new thrills—and new dangers.

Cameron “Cam” Clewe, an eccentric thirty-three-year-old collector, is also seeking something—an archivist to inventory his ever-expanding compendium of rare books and artifacts. Jane’s thrilled to be hired on by Cam and to uncover the secrets of his latest acquisition, a trove of items related to the classic mystery and detective authors. But Jane’s delight is upended when a body is discovered in Cam’s library. The victim, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, was the last in line of Cam’s failed romances—and now he’s suspect number one.

Cam vows to use his intelligence and deductive skills to clear his name—but with a slight case of agoraphobia, rampant anxiety, and limited social skills, he’ll need some help. It comes down to Jane to exonerate her new boss—but is he truly innocent?
Praise for A Cryptic Clue:
WONDER WOMEN SIXTY'S BEST NEW COZY SERIES

“An offbeat pairing of sleuths enlivens this new mystery series.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Fans of Vicki Delany’s 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop' mysteries will appreciate this new amateur detective team.”
—Library Journal

“A fun read that will fully engage and entertain the reader from first page to last.”
—Midwest Book Review, audiobook review

“The care taken in crafting the scenes, in describing the world, and in building the relationships between the characters, is impressive. While remaining inviting and fast-paced, A Cryptic Clue manages to offer the same tone as the classic mysteries it is clearly built upon. This is a modern example of the golden age mystery tradition done right.”
—The Strand Magazine

“Jane and Cam are delightful together . . . An enjoyable read.”
—Kings River Life Magazine

“A fun start to this new series.”
—Red Carpet Crash

“A successful series sure to delight traditional cozy readers for years to come.”
—First Clue

“Cozy lovers will NOT want to miss this grand new entry into the cozy literary world.”
—Wonder Women Sixty

“The mystery is well-plotted . . . Recommended.”
—The Nameless Zine

“A charming new series from the always-entertaining Victoria Gilbert! Librarian Jane Hunter is a force to be reckoned with, and I can't wait to see what mysteries she and her enigmatic boss Cameron Clewe investigate in the future.”
—Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of the Secret Staircase Mysteries

“A booklover's delight, A Cryptic Clue captivated me from the start. Credible characters, an absorbing mystery and fine writing make this a novel to put straight on your wants list.”
—Peter Lovesey, award winning author of the Peter Diamond series

“With an interesting new crime fighting duo, a nice supporting cast and wide suspect pool, this well-paced and well-plotted mystery is sure to entertain.”
—M.E. Hilliard, author of the Greer Hogan Mysteries

“A Cryptic Clue brings Golden Age style detectives into the twenty-first century with a manor house, a reclusive millionaire, a body in the library, and a gaggle of suspects. Agatha Christie has some stiff competition in this new traditional mystery series by Victoria Gilbert. Move over, Miss Marple—make way for Hunter and Clewe!”
—Joyce Tremel, author of The Brewing Trouble Mysteries
Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now retired after over 30 years in the library field, she’s worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library director.

Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, the Booklover’s B&B Mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Victoria lives in North Carolina.
Victoria Gilbert View titles by Victoria Gilbert

About

A retired librarian gets back to the books—and into a devilish murder case—in acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s new series, the perfect literary adventure for fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.

Sixty-year-old Jane Hunter, forced into early retirement from her job as a university librarian, is seeking a new challenge to keep her spirits up and supplement her meager pension. But as she’s about to discover, a retiree’s life can bring new thrills—and new dangers.

Cameron “Cam” Clewe, an eccentric thirty-three-year-old collector, is also seeking something—an archivist to inventory his ever-expanding compendium of rare books and artifacts. Jane’s thrilled to be hired on by Cam and to uncover the secrets of his latest acquisition, a trove of items related to the classic mystery and detective authors. But Jane’s delight is upended when a body is discovered in Cam’s library. The victim, heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, was the last in line of Cam’s failed romances—and now he’s suspect number one.

Cam vows to use his intelligence and deductive skills to clear his name—but with a slight case of agoraphobia, rampant anxiety, and limited social skills, he’ll need some help. It comes down to Jane to exonerate her new boss—but is he truly innocent?

Reviews

Praise for A Cryptic Clue:
WONDER WOMEN SIXTY'S BEST NEW COZY SERIES

“An offbeat pairing of sleuths enlivens this new mystery series.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Fans of Vicki Delany’s 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop' mysteries will appreciate this new amateur detective team.”
—Library Journal

“A fun read that will fully engage and entertain the reader from first page to last.”
—Midwest Book Review, audiobook review

“The care taken in crafting the scenes, in describing the world, and in building the relationships between the characters, is impressive. While remaining inviting and fast-paced, A Cryptic Clue manages to offer the same tone as the classic mysteries it is clearly built upon. This is a modern example of the golden age mystery tradition done right.”
—The Strand Magazine

“Jane and Cam are delightful together . . . An enjoyable read.”
—Kings River Life Magazine

“A fun start to this new series.”
—Red Carpet Crash

“A successful series sure to delight traditional cozy readers for years to come.”
—First Clue

“Cozy lovers will NOT want to miss this grand new entry into the cozy literary world.”
—Wonder Women Sixty

“The mystery is well-plotted . . . Recommended.”
—The Nameless Zine

“A charming new series from the always-entertaining Victoria Gilbert! Librarian Jane Hunter is a force to be reckoned with, and I can't wait to see what mysteries she and her enigmatic boss Cameron Clewe investigate in the future.”
—Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of the Secret Staircase Mysteries

“A booklover's delight, A Cryptic Clue captivated me from the start. Credible characters, an absorbing mystery and fine writing make this a novel to put straight on your wants list.”
—Peter Lovesey, award winning author of the Peter Diamond series

“With an interesting new crime fighting duo, a nice supporting cast and wide suspect pool, this well-paced and well-plotted mystery is sure to entertain.”
—M.E. Hilliard, author of the Greer Hogan Mysteries

“A Cryptic Clue brings Golden Age style detectives into the twenty-first century with a manor house, a reclusive millionaire, a body in the library, and a gaggle of suspects. Agatha Christie has some stiff competition in this new traditional mystery series by Victoria Gilbert. Move over, Miss Marple—make way for Hunter and Clewe!”
—Joyce Tremel, author of The Brewing Trouble Mysteries

Author

Raised in a historic small town at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian. Now retired after over 30 years in the library field, she’s worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and university library director.

Victoria writes the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, the Booklover’s B&B Mystery series, and the Hunter and Clewe traditional mystery series for Crooked Lane Books. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Victoria lives in North Carolina.
Victoria Gilbert View titles by Victoria Gilbert

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