A Killer Clue: A Hunter and Clewe Mystery

In Gilbert’s dependable second cozy featuring North Carolina book collector Cam Clewe and his librarian friend, Jane Hunter (after A Cryptic Clue), the pair juggle two intertwined murder investigations. Knowing that Cam and Jane moonlight as gumshoes, Chapel Hill bookseller Eloise Anderson comes to Cam with a request. Eloise’s mother, Abigail, has recently died in prison while serving time for her husband’s murder—but Eloise maintains her mother’s innocence and wants to clear her name. Cam and Jane agree to help out, but their inquiry grows complicated when Eloise is arrested for the murder of former police detective Bruce Parker, who spearheaded the investigation that put Abigail behind bars. Now, Cam and Jane are either caught in the web of a murderous mother-daughter duo or facing down a killer with a vengeance against the Anderson women. To find out which, they take a closer look at the police on the case and Eloise’s peers in Chapel Hill. Along the way, their knowledge of vintage books—including a rare copy of Alice in Wonderland—helps them crack the case. Gilbert stacks the proceedings with solid suspects, convincing red herrings, and a treasure trove of trivia about mid–20th century mystery authors. Golden Age whodunit fans will have fun. Agent: Fran Black, Literary Counsel. (Sept.)