October in Taylorsford, Virginia means it’s leaf peeping season, with bright colorful foliage and a delightful fresh crew of tourists attending the annual Heritage Festival which celebrates local history and arts and crafts. Library director Amy Webber, though, is slightly dreading having to spend two days running a yard sale fundraiser for her library. But during these preparations, when she and her assistant Sunny stumble across a dead body, Amy finds a real reason to be worried.
The body belonged to a renowned artist who was murdered with her own pallet knife. A search of the artist’s studio uncovers a cache of forged paintings, and when the sheriff’s chief deputy Brad Tucker realizes Amy is skilled in art history research, she’s recruited to aid the investigation. It doesn’t seem to be an easy task, but when the state’s art expert uncovers a possible connection between Amy’s deceased uncle and the murder case, Amy must champion her Aunt Lydia to clear her late husband’s name.
That’s when another killing shakes the quiet town, and danger sweeps in like an autumn wind. Now, with her swoon-inducing neighbor Richard Muir, Amy must scour their resources to once again close the books on murder.
Victoria Gilbert has done it again and I want more and more (please Ms Gilbert!), the way local people and local history are combined to make a cohesive whole is wonderful. This second book in the series start gently and then WHAM murder hits Taylorsford again, putting Amy slap bang in the middle (am I allowed to give 11 out of 10 for a book?).
It all seems like just another quiet day when Sunny, Amy and Richard go to pick up a couple of pictures from a local, well renowned painter to add to the fund raiser for the library. When they arrive the painter isn't around, so assuming she lost track of time and was busy in her studio they head in there, only to find her stabbed with her own palette knife! As if that wasn't bad enough they discover a stash of paintings that look like forgeries. With her background in Art History Amy is asked to do some research before an Art Expert arrives.
With Hugh (the art expert) staying with Amy and Lydia, Richard away dancing with his ex fiancee and another death ... oh and the theft of one of the replacement paintings (done by her late Uncle, Lydia's deceased husband) Amy has her plate well and truly full, can she figure out the forgery problem, solve a tricky situation left by her late Uncle, reconcile Kurt and Lydia AND keep the festival running? (oh and work out who the killer is?), not a problem for THIS young lady :D
Thanks so much for participating in the blog tour and for the lovely review!
BTW, book 3 -- Past Due for Murder --is already written and will be released on Feb. 12, 2019. It is already up for preorder at Amazon, B&N, and many other sites. It even includes a new character -- Zoe, the kitten!
Posted by: Victoria Gilbert | 07/16/2018 at 12:59 PM