Murder Checks Out

Murder Checks Out by Victoria Gilbert takes us back to Taylorsford, Virginia for the holidays and the town's first Winterfest. I was a little confused when I began the story. In Renewed for Murder, Amy is married to her neighbor, Richard and she is the director of the Taylorford Public Library. Fast forward five years, Amy and Richard have a pair of energetic fraternal twins who will be appearing in Richard's modern dance version of the Nutcracker (no ballerinas). Amy is co-director of the library with her best friend, Sunny (you will have to read the book to find out the other changes). For those new to the series, you may find yourself confused by the onslaught of characters and all the activities. I have read all the books, and I had trouble adjusting to the time jump. Amy's life is full with the twins, work, the holidays, Winterfest, and the upcoming visit of her mother-in-law, Fiona. Just thinking about Amy's schedule wore me out. The chair of Winterfest, Wendy Blackstone, is murdered and Amy's brother-in-law, Ethan, is Brad Tucker's prime suspect. Amy swaps out her Santa hat for a deerstalker cap and sets out to prove Ethan's innocence. The crime can easily be solved. There is a tense reveal where all final puzzle pieces fall into place. We get to enjoy the holidays with Amy and her extended family. Murder Checks Out is a bustling book with spirited twins, a murdered committee chair, development disputes, a slew of suspects, and a happy holiday.