Reserved for Murder

More bloodshed at a bibliophiles' bed-and-breakfast as Victoria Gilbert's delightful series continues.

Meeting your favourite author in the flesh can be the chance of a lifetime. But for one unlucky fan, her plum place in line at a book signing will lead to her untimely demise.

Beaufort, North Carolina, is home to Chapters Bed and Breakfast, owned and operated by former schoolteacher Charlotte Reed. This historic 18th-century inn draws in voracious readers from far and wide with its lovingly curated special events celebrating a host of genres and authors.

On this sunny July weekend, a visit by one of the biggest names in romantic fantasy attracts throngs of admirers to the quaint coastal village. That's not ideal, as the author retreated to Chapters to get away from it all for a while. No matter—she'll appease her fans with a "Tea and Talk" meet-and-greet at the B&B, celebrating her bestselling series (starring a devilishly dashing, time-travelling pirate), follow that up with a quick book signing at Bookwaves, the hip indie bookstore across town, and spend the remainder of the weekend in delightful repose.

But when the president of the reclusive writer's fan club is found dead in the harbour by the Beaufort docks—done in by a blunt-force blow to the head—it's up to Charlotte Reed, her neighbour Ellen, and Ellen's trusty Yorkshire terrier to sniff out the killer. Because if they can't, a spectacularly successful book series—and its author—may come to a sudden, lethal conclusion.

Reserved for Murder by Victoria Gilbert is an intricate tale that promises to capture your imagination and immerse you in the charming yet mysterious world of Chapters Bed and Breakfast.