Schooled in Murder

A mystery writer must solve a real murder case before an innocent girl is condemned in this series debut from acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Lorna Barrett.

Jennifer "Jen" Dalton is an author and educator at Clarion University in Virginia. She loves her job, but some of her petty coworkers look down on her for writing genre fiction. As members of the English department, they wish to encourage students to pursue higher literary aspirations. When a humiliating confrontation between an uppity professor and one of Jen’s students, Mia, escalates, no one thinks much of it. Until his dead body is found along with evidence incriminating Mia. 

Jen knows Mia couldn’t have killed him, but Mia’s suspicious disappearance might as well be a proclamation of guilt. With the sleuthing skills Jen has acquired writing murder mysteries, she’s determined to solve the case and clear Mia’s name. 

Along with the help of her fellow sleuthers—Christine Kubiak, a cafeteria manager; Zachary Flynn, the charming but annoying campus psychologist; and Brianna Rowley, a librarian—Jen must catch the real killer before there’s another murder on the books.
Praise for Schooled in Murder:
“An appealing sleuth with an engaging love interest lights up this series debut.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Wonderfully paced, brimming with great characterization, and with a terrific lead in Jen, this novel will appeal to many mystery readers, from cozy lovers to those just seeking a good, traditional read.”
First Clue

“Clever and witty . . . Victoria Gilbert earns top marks for crafting a clever story with a twisted premise—a murder mystery author who stumbles across a body and must see if she’s as good a sleuth in real life as her characters are on the page . . . Readers will enjoy this lively whodunnit.”
—Diane Kelly, award-winning author of the House-Flipper Mystery series

Schooled in Murder is a first-rate debut for a wonderful new series! Talented author Victoria Gilbert has crafted an intelligent and skillfully told mystery with plenty of twists to keep readers turning the pages. A cast of well-drawn characters and a touch of romance lend additional charm to the story. Highly recommend!”
—Marjorie McCown, author of the Hollywood Mystery series

“Filled with campus drama, Schooled in Murder is the perfect back-to-school mystery. Jen Dalton is an astute author and educator who finds herself in the middle of a real-life murder. Her deductive skills are put to the test in this series debut, and she passes with flying colors. An A+ mystery!” 
—Mary Angela, author of the Happy Camper cozy mystery series and Professor Prather academic mystery series
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 thirty 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.

About

A mystery writer must solve a real murder case before an innocent girl is condemned in this series debut from acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert, perfect for fans of Ellery Adams and Lorna Barrett.

Jennifer "Jen" Dalton is an author and educator at Clarion University in Virginia. She loves her job, but some of her petty coworkers look down on her for writing genre fiction. As members of the English department, they wish to encourage students to pursue higher literary aspirations. When a humiliating confrontation between an uppity professor and one of Jen’s students, Mia, escalates, no one thinks much of it. Until his dead body is found along with evidence incriminating Mia. 

Jen knows Mia couldn’t have killed him, but Mia’s suspicious disappearance might as well be a proclamation of guilt. With the sleuthing skills Jen has acquired writing murder mysteries, she’s determined to solve the case and clear Mia’s name. 

Along with the help of her fellow sleuthers—Christine Kubiak, a cafeteria manager; Zachary Flynn, the charming but annoying campus psychologist; and Brianna Rowley, a librarian—Jen must catch the real killer before there’s another murder on the books.

Reviews

Praise for Schooled in Murder:
“An appealing sleuth with an engaging love interest lights up this series debut.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Wonderfully paced, brimming with great characterization, and with a terrific lead in Jen, this novel will appeal to many mystery readers, from cozy lovers to those just seeking a good, traditional read.”
First Clue

“Clever and witty . . . Victoria Gilbert earns top marks for crafting a clever story with a twisted premise—a murder mystery author who stumbles across a body and must see if she’s as good a sleuth in real life as her characters are on the page . . . Readers will enjoy this lively whodunnit.”
—Diane Kelly, award-winning author of the House-Flipper Mystery series

Schooled in Murder is a first-rate debut for a wonderful new series! Talented author Victoria Gilbert has crafted an intelligent and skillfully told mystery with plenty of twists to keep readers turning the pages. A cast of well-drawn characters and a touch of romance lend additional charm to the story. Highly recommend!”
—Marjorie McCown, author of the Hollywood Mystery series

“Filled with campus drama, Schooled in Murder is the perfect back-to-school mystery. Jen Dalton is an astute author and educator who finds herself in the middle of a real-life murder. Her deductive skills are put to the test in this series debut, and she passes with flying colors. An A+ mystery!” 
—Mary Angela, author of the Happy Camper cozy mystery series and Professor Prather academic mystery series

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 thirty 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.