Perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Jenn McKinlay, acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert is back with more devious clues and deadly secrets as Hunter and Clewe take on a new case in the second Hunter and Clewe mystery.
When Eloise Anderson, the owner of an antiquarian bookshop, arrives at the grand Aircroft estate to ask retired librarian Jane Hunter and eccentric collector Cameron Clewe for help, Jane and Cam expect a bookish inquiry. But the bookseller has a different sort of assistance in mind—clearing her mother’s name of a murder Eloise is convinced she didn’t commit.
Eloise’s mother has just died after spending many years in prison for allegedly killing Eloise’s father. Armed with new information found in her mother’s effects, the bookseller is determined to uncover the true killer so her mother can rest in peace, even though the case is now colder than ice. When Jane tracks down the original detective from the investigation and discovers him stabbed to death in Eloise’s bookshop, Jane and Cam are sure this murder is connected to the cold case. They think it’s the same killer, but the police unfortunately have their own prime suspect, and this time around it’s Eloise.
Cam and Jane’s cold-case sleuthing turns urgent—find who committed the murders or watch another innocent woman rot in jail as a cold-blooded killer walks free.
Praise for A Killer Clue: “Gilbert stacks the proceedings with solid suspects, convincing red herrings, and a treasure trove of trivia about mid–20th century mystery authors. Golden Age whodunit fans will have fun.” —Publishers Weekly
“The finely drawn characters are the stars in this complex batch of mysteries.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Red herrings, missing books, and charming detecting duo . . . For fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.” —Library Journal
“Gilbert balances the two mysteries with a deft hand.” —Booklist
“Gilbert is one of the best mystery writers working today. Her mastery of the cozy mystery genre continues.” —Midwest Book Review
“A pleasant read, with interesting characters.” —The Nameless Zine
“Sure to keep armchair detectives on their toes.” —Wonder Women Sixty
“An intricately plotted whodunit with strong dynamic characters sure to entertain all mystery lovers.” —Escape with Dollycas
Praise for A Cryptic Clue: “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
“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
“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
“A successful series sure to delight traditional cozy readers for years to come.” —First Clue
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.
Perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Jenn McKinlay, acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert is back with more devious clues and deadly secrets as Hunter and Clewe take on a new case in the second Hunter and Clewe mystery.
When Eloise Anderson, the owner of an antiquarian bookshop, arrives at the grand Aircroft estate to ask retired librarian Jane Hunter and eccentric collector Cameron Clewe for help, Jane and Cam expect a bookish inquiry. But the bookseller has a different sort of assistance in mind—clearing her mother’s name of a murder Eloise is convinced she didn’t commit.
Eloise’s mother has just died after spending many years in prison for allegedly killing Eloise’s father. Armed with new information found in her mother’s effects, the bookseller is determined to uncover the true killer so her mother can rest in peace, even though the case is now colder than ice. When Jane tracks down the original detective from the investigation and discovers him stabbed to death in Eloise’s bookshop, Jane and Cam are sure this murder is connected to the cold case. They think it’s the same killer, but the police unfortunately have their own prime suspect, and this time around it’s Eloise.
Cam and Jane’s cold-case sleuthing turns urgent—find who committed the murders or watch another innocent woman rot in jail as a cold-blooded killer walks free.
Reviews
Praise for A Killer Clue: “Gilbert stacks the proceedings with solid suspects, convincing red herrings, and a treasure trove of trivia about mid–20th century mystery authors. Golden Age whodunit fans will have fun.” —Publishers Weekly
“The finely drawn characters are the stars in this complex batch of mysteries.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Red herrings, missing books, and charming detecting duo . . . For fans of Kate Carlisle and Jenn McKinlay.” —Library Journal
“Gilbert balances the two mysteries with a deft hand.” —Booklist
“Gilbert is one of the best mystery writers working today. Her mastery of the cozy mystery genre continues.” —Midwest Book Review
“A pleasant read, with interesting characters.” —The Nameless Zine
“Sure to keep armchair detectives on their toes.” —Wonder Women Sixty
“An intricately plotted whodunit with strong dynamic characters sure to entertain all mystery lovers.” —Escape with Dollycas
Praise for A Cryptic Clue: “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
“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
“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
“A successful series sure to delight traditional cozy readers for years to come.” —First Clue
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.
