Bound for Murder: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery

Bound for Murder by Victoria Gilbert is the 4th A Blue Ridge Library Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Amy Webber’s friend and fellow library employee, Sunny Fields is running for mayor which is a relief to many of the citizens who dislike the incumbent. Sunny receives a call from her grandparents, Carol & P.J. Fields that the county dredging crew found a skeleton buried by the creek on their organic farm. They ran a commune on the grounds back in the 60s and it looks like one member never left. Amy is not going to let this derail Sunny’s campaign for mayor. She starts digging in the archives and visiting members of the commune who still live in the area. Can Amy find the answers that are needed, or will she be the next individual to become plant fertilizer? Bound for Murder is well-written, and the story moves along at a stable pace. Amy Webber is a librarian with attention to detail and a whiz at research. Her skills at unearthing information in the archies are the most valuable to her investigations. Amy and Richard have been a engaged a couple of months which has people offering unsolicited advice and asking questions about the wedding that Amy is unprepared to answer. Amy is especially tired of her soon-to-be mother-in-law, Fiona’s high brow suggestions. She is happy to escape into the investigation. I liked that the mystery took us back to the 1960s. We get to see how the suspects have changed from their hippie days to now. I found the suspects to be a diverse group who each have something they would prefer to remain hidden. Unfortunately, someone is unhappy with Amy’s digging. She is warned off several times by various methods and one of her suspects is removed from the list permanently. It will depend on your sleuthing level on whether you find this whodunit a puzzler or a cinch to solve. I liked how all the details of the mystery were wrapped up and I enjoyed the ending. Bound for Murder is a charming cozy mystery with a dredging disaster, misplaced persons, a charismatic journalist, a hippie homicide, campaign commotion, and revealing research.

Bound for Murder is book four work in the Blue Ridge Library mystery series. Lies, politics, racism, murder and revenge! These are just a few of the subjects that Ms. Gilbert deftly weaves into a amazing murder mystery. A man went missing from a commune in the 60s or did he? Amy, Sunny and a host of Lydia’s friends set out to find the truth after a body is found at the local organic farm. This book pulled me in from the beginning. I loved the pacing of the story and the authors simple but descriptive take on sensitive subjects including drug use and forgiveness versus revenge. How one well meant decision can derail or even end a life full of potential. A great addition to what has become a favorite series. I highly recommend this book. Can be read as a stand-alone mystery but for ultimate relationship enjoyment, please read in order. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my ARC.