Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert
Series: A Blue Ridge Library Mystery, #2
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publication Date: July 10, 2018
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publication Date: July 10, 2018
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN-10: 1683315952
ISBN-13: 978-1683315957
ISBN-13: 978-1683315957
E-Book File Size: 4606 KB
ASIN: B075QJHPR9
Amazon | B&N | kobo | BAM! | IndieBound
October in Taylorsford, Virginia means it’s leaf peeping season, with bright colorful foliage and a delightful fresh crew of tourists attending the annual Heritage Festival which celebrates local history and arts and crafts. Library director Amy Webber, though, is slightly dreading having to spend two days running a yard sale fundraiser for her library. But during these preparations, when she and her assistant Sunny stumble across a dead body, Amy finds a real reason to be worried.
The body belonged to a renowned artist who was murdered with her own pallet knife. A search of the artist’s studio uncovers a cache of forged paintings, and when the sheriff’s chief deputy Brad Tucker realizes Amy is skilled in art history research, she’s recruited to aid the investigation. It doesn’t seem to be an easy task, but when the state’s art expert uncovers a possible connection between Amy’s deceased uncle and the murder case, Amy must champion her Aunt Lydia to clear her late husband’s name.
That’s when another killing shakes the quiet town, and danger sweeps in like an autumn wind. Now, with her swoon-inducing neighbor Richard Muir, Amy must scour their resources to once again close the books on murder.
The Guest Post
Lemon Meringue Pie!
If there’s one dessert that I connect with my childhood, it’s pie.
I grew up in an area very similar to the setting for The Blue Ridge Library Mystery series and pies were a staple in my rural community. Fortunately, I come from a long line of excellent piemakers. My grandmother, who along with my grandfather managed a small family farm, could whip up several pies in the time it took most people to brew a cup of coffee. She had a marble-topped table that sat beside her stove that she used to roll out the pastry dough. I remember watching her roll the dough and expertly flip it into pie pans with graceful ease.
Her pies were delicious too. She made all kinds—apple and blackberry were favorites, but she also made lovely pecan and custard pies. My mother learned the art of piemaking from my grandmother, then passed these skills down to me.
Currently I don’t make a lot of pies, simply because most of the people in my family are trying to avoid excess sugar and calories. However, every now and then I will make a pie to mark a special occasion. One recent Easter I created a lemon meringue pie from scratch and was happy to see that I hadn’t lost my touch!
In the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, I mention Aunt Lydia and Amy baking pies but I don’t actually include any recipes, so I thought it would be fun to provide one for this book tour.
Lemon Meringue Pie
1 9” baked piecrust: (Make ahead and let cool).
For the Piecrust:
1/3 cup plus 1 TBS shortening (like Crisco)
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
1 TBS granulated sugar
2 to 3 TBS milk
Cut shortening into flour, salt, and sugar until particles are the size of small peas.
Sprinkle in milk, 1 TBS at a time, tossing with a fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl. (1 -2 more TBS milk can be added if needed).
Gather pastry into a ball, then flatten into a round on a large piece of lightly floured waxed or parchment paper.
Roll pastry with flour-dusted rolling pin – 2 inches larger circle than inverted 9-inch pie pan.
Gently tip pastry circle into pie pan, dough side down, then peel away the waxed paper.
Press pie dough circle firmly against bottom and side of pan.
Roll top excess to form rim around top of pie pan. Crimp top edges.
Prick bottom and sides of pastry in pan with fork.
Bake at 475 degrees F until light brown, (8-10 min.)
Cool.
For the Lemon Filling:
1 ½ cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup plus 1 TBS cornstarch
1 ½ cups water
3 egg YOLKS, slightly beaten
Grated peel of 1 lemon
½ cup fresh lemon juice
3 TBS butter or margarine
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar and cornstarch. Stir in water gradually.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
Boil and stir for 1 minute.
Gradually stir at least half of the hot mixture into the bowl holding the beaten egg yolks.
Blend this mixture back into hot mixture in saucepan.
Boil and stir for another minute.
Remove from heat
Stir in lemon peel, lemon juice, and butter or margarine.
Pour into baked piecrust.
For the Meringue:
3 egg WHITES (use reserved egg whites from earlier)
¼ tsp cream of tartar
6 TBS granulated sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
In small bowl, with mixer at high speed, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy.
Gradually sprinkle in sugar, continuing to run beaters all the while until sugar is incorporated into the egg whites.
Beat until whites stand in stiff peaks.
Beat in vanilla
Spread over pie filling, making sure to seal all edges of the piecrust. Swirl points with back of spoon to make a pattern.
Bake at 400 degrees F for approx. 8-10 minutes or until golden. Cool away from drafts.
Refrigerate pie once meringue is cool.
The Author
About Victoria Gilbert
Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian. She has worked as a reference librarian, research librarian, and library director.
When not writing or reading, Victoria likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers, and is represented by Frances Black at Literary Council, NY, NY.
Victoria lives in North Carolina with her husband and some very spoiled cats. This is her second Blue Ridge Library mystery.
Find Victoria on the web at
Follow the tour, to read other Guest Posts, plus Interviews and reviews!
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
July 9 – The Ninja Librarian - REVIEW, GUEST POST
July 9 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
July 9 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 10 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
July 10 – Curling Up by the Fire – REVIEW
July 10 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 11 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
July 11 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
July 11 – Varietats – SPOTLIGHT
July 12 – Texas Book-aholic – REVIEW
July 13 – Cozy Up With Kathy - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 13 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 14 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
July 14 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
July 15 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW
July 15 – 3 Partners in Shopping Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
July 16 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW
July 16 – My Reading Journeys - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 16 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
July 17 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
July 17 – That's What She's Reading – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
July 17 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 18 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
July 18 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
July 19 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
July 19 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
July 19 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 20 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
July 20 – Island Confidential – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
July 20 – Brooke Blogs – GUEST POST
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