Past Due for Murder

In Victoria Gilbert's Past Due for Murder, the 3rd installment in the Blue Ridge Library Cozy Mystery series, this gripping tale has everything you ever wanted in a cozy mystery. For Amy Webber, she's the director of the Blue Ridge Library, and came across another mystery under her nose. First it started with the disappearance of Lacey Jacobs. While they searched for her, she dealt with her ex-boyfriend Charles Bartos popping out of nowhere and who wanted to make amends. He's grieving the loss of his recent girlfriend Marlis Dupre, though she didn't want anything to do with it or with him. Then she planned to talk to a local resident about the legend of fairy lights with Professor Mona Raymond, who never turned up for the meeting. Later, she discovered a letter about the legend of two disappearing girls, Ada Frye and her friend Violet, and the shocking truth behind the mystery behind it. She also dealt with her new boyfriend Richard's strange behavior and his parents coming in town. When Mona turns up dead, Amy's suspicious turn to her ex and then to a graduate student. As she had thought she had figured it out, the turns have been turned to her as she would have to fend for herself for justice to be served.

This was a compelling and fascinating read. I loved how it was set in and around the library and to have Amy as a librarian. I cared about her and how she loved her job in the library, how she defended Richard to his parents, and how she helped fellow patrons at the library. I did think Richard was an interesting character and Charles was a simple nuisance. I did love the backdrop of Taylorsford Virginia with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the folklore tale of the fairy lights with mesmerizing scenic settings and eye-catching locations. This would keep you hooked on every page and keep reading with non-stop action, plenty of drama, intense suspense, and sparks of mystery.

Will you be there to check out Past Due for Murder tonight?