Death in the Margins

Hardcover
$28.99 US
| $37.99 CAN
On sale Dec 06, 2022 | 336 Pages | 978-1-63910-130-6
The theater is no place for murder—but a case of backstage betrayal drags library director Amy Webber into a case that could mean curtains in critically acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library mystery.

It’s early summer, and while Richard Muir and his dance partner, Karla, are preparing their new choreographic piece, Richard’s wife, Amy, is gathering the dance’s source materials. Based on folktales and the music of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the production is set to premiere at an old cinema that has been converted to a theater. But when dancer Meredith Fox—Richard’s former fiancé—is found dead backstage, Amy is once again propelled into a murder case that threatens the careers and lives of those she loves.
 
After Amy teams up with Chief Deputy Brad Tucker and the sheriff’s department to discover the killer, they find that there’s no shortage of suspects: Meredith’s wealthy ex-husband, several fellow dancers, a romantically spurned accompanist, and others whom the talented but haughty dancer dismissed or betrayed over the years.
 
With Richard and Karla's help, and information gleaned from locals who know a wealth of small-town secrets, Amy desperately tries to unveil the killer before the premiere. But she’s pursuing a ruthless murderer who’s willing to kill again—and who might just be waiting for Amy in the wings.
Praise for Death in the Margins:
“Pleasant . . . for fans who have become enamored of a town that evokes Disney’s Main Street, U.S.A.”
Publishers Weekly

“Believable characters and a thorny mystery.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Everything you love about the series, delivering charm, humor, lighthearted romance, and mystery.”
Seattle Book Review

“[An] entertaining cozy mystery by an expert in the genre.”
Midwest Book Review

“Another fun novel in this series.”
Red Carpet Crash

Praise for A Deadly Edition:
“Endearing characters are further fleshed out in the library director's fifth mystery.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Lively small-town characters, a well-paced plot, and dollops of fascinating art history help make this a winner.”
Publishers Weekly

“The well plotted and character driven story moves quickly  and has something for everyone...Highly recommended.”
Fresh Fiction

“Interesting characters and an easy to read story.”
Red Carpet Crash

“Gilbert skillfully weaves a rich tapestry of suspense, suggested guilt, and motive.”
Midwest Book Review

"Another win for the series...layered characters [and] a solid mystery."
—San Francisco Book Review

"Packed with enough twists and turns to keep even the most avid cozy mystery reader guessing."—MyShelf

"Fun characters, a mystery that makes you think, and a beautiful wedding make A Deadly Edition a very solid addition to the series."
—Escape with Dollycas

“What a great cast of characters.”
Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

Praise for Bound for Murder:
"Pleasant."
Kirkus Reviews

“The plot builds to a complex but satisfying conclusion. Cozy fans will hope Amy will return soon.”
Publishers Weekly

"Series fans will enjoy the ongoing shenangians...Newbies with an appreciation for small town politics (and an interlibrary loan mulligan) will have no trouble starting here."
Booklist

“Another deftly crafted mystery buff's delight by a true master of the genre.”
Midwest Book Review

“The murder mystery is both well plotted and clever enough to keep the most seasoned of mystery readers guessing.”
MyShelf
 
“A mystery that has suspense, surprises, and humor which makes for an addicting and delightful cozy read from beginning to end.”
Manhattan Book Review

Praise for Past Due for Murder:
"A fun tale of books and crooks!"
Woman's World

“Gilbert weaves a well-paced, engaging story with strong characters… Blue Ridge Mystery fans will love reconnecting with Amy and her Taylorsford compatriots.”
—NY Journal of Books

“What more could we want than to have our murder mysteries solved by an endearing librarian?”
—Appalachian Mountain Books

Praise for Shelved Under Murder:
“The arts are well represented by the painters and Richard’s work as a choreographer, adding a new level of interest to this small-town cozy series.”
—Booklist
 
 “Cozy fans will have fun.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
“Amy turns out to be as apt a student of art forgery as she is of everything book-related. Just the thing for readers whose pulses quicken when they read: ‘The way he looks at you sometimes…deserves an R-rating.’”
—Kirkus Reviews
Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. Victoria has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers and lives in North Carolina.

About

The theater is no place for murder—but a case of backstage betrayal drags library director Amy Webber into a case that could mean curtains in critically acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert’s Blue Ridge Library mystery.

It’s early summer, and while Richard Muir and his dance partner, Karla, are preparing their new choreographic piece, Richard’s wife, Amy, is gathering the dance’s source materials. Based on folktales and the music of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the production is set to premiere at an old cinema that has been converted to a theater. But when dancer Meredith Fox—Richard’s former fiancé—is found dead backstage, Amy is once again propelled into a murder case that threatens the careers and lives of those she loves.
 
After Amy teams up with Chief Deputy Brad Tucker and the sheriff’s department to discover the killer, they find that there’s no shortage of suspects: Meredith’s wealthy ex-husband, several fellow dancers, a romantically spurned accompanist, and others whom the talented but haughty dancer dismissed or betrayed over the years.
 
With Richard and Karla's help, and information gleaned from locals who know a wealth of small-town secrets, Amy desperately tries to unveil the killer before the premiere. But she’s pursuing a ruthless murderer who’s willing to kill again—and who might just be waiting for Amy in the wings.

Reviews

Praise for Death in the Margins:
“Pleasant . . . for fans who have become enamored of a town that evokes Disney’s Main Street, U.S.A.”
Publishers Weekly

“Believable characters and a thorny mystery.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Everything you love about the series, delivering charm, humor, lighthearted romance, and mystery.”
Seattle Book Review

“[An] entertaining cozy mystery by an expert in the genre.”
Midwest Book Review

“Another fun novel in this series.”
Red Carpet Crash

Praise for A Deadly Edition:
“Endearing characters are further fleshed out in the library director's fifth mystery.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Lively small-town characters, a well-paced plot, and dollops of fascinating art history help make this a winner.”
Publishers Weekly

“The well plotted and character driven story moves quickly  and has something for everyone...Highly recommended.”
Fresh Fiction

“Interesting characters and an easy to read story.”
Red Carpet Crash

“Gilbert skillfully weaves a rich tapestry of suspense, suggested guilt, and motive.”
Midwest Book Review

"Another win for the series...layered characters [and] a solid mystery."
—San Francisco Book Review

"Packed with enough twists and turns to keep even the most avid cozy mystery reader guessing."—MyShelf

"Fun characters, a mystery that makes you think, and a beautiful wedding make A Deadly Edition a very solid addition to the series."
—Escape with Dollycas

“What a great cast of characters.”
Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

Praise for Bound for Murder:
"Pleasant."
Kirkus Reviews

“The plot builds to a complex but satisfying conclusion. Cozy fans will hope Amy will return soon.”
Publishers Weekly

"Series fans will enjoy the ongoing shenangians...Newbies with an appreciation for small town politics (and an interlibrary loan mulligan) will have no trouble starting here."
Booklist

“Another deftly crafted mystery buff's delight by a true master of the genre.”
Midwest Book Review

“The murder mystery is both well plotted and clever enough to keep the most seasoned of mystery readers guessing.”
MyShelf
 
“A mystery that has suspense, surprises, and humor which makes for an addicting and delightful cozy read from beginning to end.”
Manhattan Book Review

Praise for Past Due for Murder:
"A fun tale of books and crooks!"
Woman's World

“Gilbert weaves a well-paced, engaging story with strong characters… Blue Ridge Mystery fans will love reconnecting with Amy and her Taylorsford compatriots.”
—NY Journal of Books

“What more could we want than to have our murder mysteries solved by an endearing librarian?”
—Appalachian Mountain Books

Praise for Shelved Under Murder:
“The arts are well represented by the painters and Richard’s work as a choreographer, adding a new level of interest to this small-town cozy series.”
—Booklist
 
 “Cozy fans will have fun.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
“Amy turns out to be as apt a student of art forgery as she is of everything book-related. Just the thing for readers whose pulses quicken when they read: ‘The way he looks at you sometimes…deserves an R-rating.’”
—Kirkus Reviews

Author

Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. Victoria has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers and lives in North Carolina.