AudioFile - JULY 2023
Carrington MacDuffie impressively presents this lackluster story, reminiscent of an English manor house mystery--except this is set in North Carolina. Listeners meet troubled 30-something Cameron Clewe and retired librarian Jane Hunter. Jane is hired to catalog Clewe's massive book collection, which is heavy on mysteries. Colorful descriptions of eccentric characters and Clewe's mansion, including hidey-holes inside and out, are well rendered. When Clewe's spoiled ex-girlfriend is found murdered after a gala, he's the main suspect. MacDuffie captures Jane's resourcefulness as she attempts to clear him, using her mystery knowledge. Sadly, the predictable story, slow pace, and unappealing characters aren't redeemed by MacDuffie's spirited presentation. Nonetheless, Agatha Christie and cozy mystery fans may enjoy this. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
From the Publisher
Praise for A Cryptic Clue:
WONDER WOMEN SIXTY'S BEST NEW COZY SERIES
“An offbeat pairing of sleuths enlivens this new mystery series.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Fans of Vicki Delany’s 'Sherlock Holmes Bookshop' mysteries will appreciate this new amateur detective team.”
—Library Journal
“A fun read that will fully engage and entertain the reader from first page to last.”
—Midwest Book Review, audiobook review
“The care taken in crafting the scenes, in describing the world, and in building the relationships between the characters, is impressive. While remaining inviting and fast-paced, A Cryptic Clue manages to offer the same tone as the classic mysteries it is clearly built upon. This is a modern example of the golden age mystery tradition done right.”
—The Strand Magazine
“Jane and Cam are delightful together . . . An enjoyable read.”
—Kings River Life Magazine
“A fun start to this new series.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“A successful series sure to delight traditional cozy readers for years to come.”
—First Clue
“Cozy lovers will NOT want to miss this grand new entry into the cozy literary world.”
—Wonder Women Sixty
“The mystery is well-plotted . . . Recommended.”
—The Nameless Zine
“A charming new series from the always-entertaining Victoria Gilbert! Librarian Jane Hunter is a force to be reckoned with, and I can't wait to see what mysteries she and her enigmatic boss Cameron Clewe investigate in the future.”
—Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of the Secret Staircase Mysteries
“A booklover's delight, A Cryptic Clue captivated me from the start. Credible characters, an absorbing mystery and fine writing make this a novel to put straight on your wants list.”
—Peter Lovesey, award winning author of the Peter Diamond series
“With an interesting new crime fighting duo, a nice supporting cast and wide suspect pool, this well-paced and well-plotted mystery is sure to entertain.”
—M.E. Hilliard, author of the Greer Hogan Mysteries
“A Cryptic Clue brings Golden Age style detectives into the twenty-first century with a manor house, a reclusive millionaire, a body in the library, and a gaggle of suspects. Agatha Christie has some stiff competition in this new traditional mystery series by Victoria Gilbert. Move over, Miss Marple—make way for Hunter and Clewe!”
—Joyce Tremel, author of The Brewing Trouble Mysteries
Library Journal
05/01/2023
The author of the "Blue Ridge Library" mysteries launches a new series, an homage to Sherlock Holmes and Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Jane Hunter is hunting for a job after being forced into retirement at the university library where she worked for 35 years. Then Cameron Clewe hires her to inventory and catalogue his library, beginning with his extensive collection of rare mysteries. When Jane meets her new boss, she's surprised to learn the owner of the Aircroft estate is only 33. He also has anxiety issues and doesn't do well in social situations—his argument with his latest girlfriend Ashley is evidence of that—so it's puzzling that he's holding a fundraising gala; it turns out he lets his friends use his house for events. Then he disappears. When Jane finds Ashley's body in the library the day after the gala, Cam is the prime suspect. He asks Jane to be his Watson, to help him find the real killer. It turns out a number of people might have wanted Ashley dead, including some family members. VERDICT Fans of Vicki Delany's "Sherlock Holmes Bookshop" mysteries will appreciate this new amateur detective team.—Lesa Holstine
July 2023 - AudioFile
Carrington MacDuffie impressively presents this lackluster story, reminiscent of an English manor house mystery--except this is set in North Carolina. Listeners meet troubled 30-something Cameron Clewe and retired librarian Jane Hunter. Jane is hired to catalog Clewe's massive book collection, which is heavy on mysteries. Colorful descriptions of eccentric characters and Clewe's mansion, including hidey-holes inside and out, are well rendered. When Clewe's spoiled ex-girlfriend is found murdered after a gala, he's the main suspect. MacDuffie captures Jane's resourcefulness as she attempts to clear him, using her mystery knowledge. Sadly, the predictable story, slow pace, and unappealing characters aren't redeemed by MacDuffie's spirited presentation. Nonetheless, Agatha Christie and cozy mystery fans may enjoy this. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2023-05-09
A librarian teams up with a wealthy young man to solve a murder.
Cameron Clewe has hired Jane Hunter to inventory and catalog his large collection of items relating to classic mysteries in order to make them available for study. Despite his apparently perfect life, Cam is socially awkward, perhaps because his wealth has never brought him love. Jane thinks that his assistant, Lauren Walker, has feelings for Cam, who’s recently broken up with wealthy, spoiled Ashley Allen. Cam often lets his beautiful estate be used for fundraisers, and when Ashley is found dead at the latest one, he naturally becomes a suspect. But there are plenty of other suspects, including Cam’s chef, whom Ashley had promised to back in a new restaurant before she changed her mind. She did the same thing with a local artist and had an ex-boyfriend who was none too fond of her. Since both Jane and Cam love to solve puzzles and are steeped in mystery lore, they band together to solve the murder. Even Ashley’s relatives don’t appear very sad about her death, maybe because she’d been slated to inherit a large family estate they could use themselves. Scrutinizing Ashley’s past, Jane learns that she was involved in a scandal when a member of the sorority of which she was president was badly injured in a hazing accident. In addition, she discovers that Cam has plenty of secrets in his own life while researching the family who used to own his estate. It takes a lot of digging to uncover the person who really wanted Ashley dead.
An offbeat pairing of sleuths enlivens this new mystery series.
