Victoria Gilbert always takes murder seriously in her Blue Ridge Library mysteries. That doesn’t mean she can’t celebrate the Christmas season with “The Nutcracker”, Winterfest, Christmas trees, food, and family in Murder Checks Out.

It’s a busy holiday season for Taylorsford’s library director Amy Muir, with her five-year-old twins in her husband Richard’s production of “The Nutcracker”, and her mother-in-law coming to stay for a week. But, the town’s first Winterfest will kick off the celebrations. No one seems happy that Wendy Blackstone is the festival chair. She’s demanding. And, she’s unpopular in the community because her company is planning a new development in town. Wendy’s seen arguing with environmental advocates protesting the development. She slams Amy. Amy’s brother-in-law, Ethan Payne, owns the property that backs up to the planned site. He argues with her. When Wendy is found dead the next day, why is Ethan the primary suspect?

Amy disagrees with Sheriff Brad Tucker, so she capitalizes on one of her greatest assets, her research skills as a librarian. When she digs into Wendy’s past, she discovers two other communities who opposed Blackstone’s development. Amy finds family problems in Wendy’s past, as well as strange stories of deaths associated with other developments. The Environmental Advocates group of protestors also have a history with Blackstone. But, when Ethan disappears, everyone suspects he has a reason to run.

Murder Checks Out is another enjoyable mystery for fans of Jenn McKinlay’s Library Lover’s Mysteries. Gilbert always gets small-town libraries right, with the volunteers and the interesting patrons. But, in this one, she also gets the spirit of Christmas right with family and atmosphere. It’s a charming mystery in a series that emphasizes community.

Victoria Gilbert’s website is https://victoriagilbertmysteries.com/

Murder Checks Out by Victoria Gilbert. Crooked Lane Books, 2023. ISBN 9781639105205 (hardcover), 272p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley through NetGalley to review for a journal.