Death In The Margins
It’s early summer, and while Richard Muir, a famous dancer, and his 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 into a theater. But when dancer Meredith Fox, Richard’s former fiancé, is found dead backstage, Amy is again propelled into a murder case that threatens the careers and lives of those she loves. Was Meredith killed out of spite, jealousy, past relationships, or maybe an art theft? No matter the motive, Amy is sure the person accused is not the killer and determines it’s up to her to find the real killer.
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 whose willing to kill again and who might just be waiting for Amy in the wings.
The Details
Series: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery – Book #7
Author: Victoria Gilbert
Genre/Category: Cozy – Amateur Sleuth/Library
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
ISBN: 1639101306
Page Count: 336
Rating: 
The Review
Death In The Margins is the newest book in the “Blue Ridge Library Mystery” series. As with all of the books in this series, it centers on Amy, a librarian, and her famous dancer husband, Richard. The suspects are assembled from the cast of an upcoming performance, exes, and their families. Old rumors of art theft, an ex-husband near the crime scene, and the parents of dancers who have a problem with the victim all coalesce into a mystery worth reading. There is no shortage of suspects or motives, and Amy chases down every one of them to get to the truth and unmask the killer.
Richards’s ex-fiancé is found dead with a young dancer standing over her body. The police are confident they have their killer, but Amy doesn’t believe it. Searching through the victim’s background leads her to secrets of all kinds. Meredith’s ex-husband and his family come under scrutiny when she discovers they lost a great deal of money with the closure of Meredith and her exes’ dance group, and an art theft may be linked to Meredith’s murder. At least one of Richard’s dancers’ mother is a suspect and for a good reason. But in the end, it comes down to Amy stumbling on the truth and finding the killer; unfortunately, the killer is hot on her trail and determined to keep Amy from revealing their name.
There is nothing in Death In The Margins that detracts from the mystery or keeps readers from enjoying the story. I think Amy’s dancer husband is delightful, his dance partner always makes me wish I was taller, and Amy’s work at the library gives me the desire for more books and research. The art theft also gave me an appreciation for the magnificent paintings hanging on the walls of my home. I loved the ending, even though I saw it coming a mile away. The mystery is well written; the characters are lively, and there is enough action to keep readers turning the page. This is a well-done book and series. I look forward to future installments.
The Author
Victoria is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some spoiled cats. Contact Victoria on her website or via social media. Other books by Victoria readers may enjoy include, A Fatal Booking or A Deadly Edition.
Contact The Cozy Review
Leave a Reply