A Deadly Clue

Hunter and Clewe #3

by Victoria Gilbert

Hunter and Clewe are back in the third Hunter and Clewe mystery, from acclaimed author Victoria Gilbert, when a closed case is reopened after another member of a prominent family is murdered.

Cameron Clewe and Jane Hunter, lovers of all things bookish, are slowly cataloging Cam’s private collection of first edition books acquired from the deceased patriarch of the wealthy Stewart family. When Jane finds a note from Kimberly Stewart Ward, one of the daughters of the Stewart patriarch—who supposedly committed suicide—she discovers someone was actually targeting her with the intention of killing her.  

Jane and Cam decide to look into the supposedly closed case, but their investigation becomes urgent when another member of the Stewart family is found dead from a drug overdose. The victim’s friends claim he’d been clean and sober for years and refuse to accept the cause of death. 

Believing both cases to be connected, Jane and Cam are determined to solve them before any other direct heirs of the family are targeted.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Cozy

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 13, 2026

About the author

Victoria Gilbert, raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountain, turned her early obsession with reading into a dual career as an author and librarian.

When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films, gardening, or traveling. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, son, and some very spoiled cats.

Victoria is a member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, and is represented by Frances Black of Literary Counsel, NY, NY.

Reviews

[Marta · Rating 2 out of 5]

4.5/10: 2.25⭐️’s

This book was a little on the boring side for me. It wasn’t bad, it just was a little too slow moving and maybe too cozy and proper for me? The narration was okay. Though I had a different mental image of Lauren because the narrator made her sound much older than she was referenced as being later in the book. Unless I missed something earlier.

I really enjoyed the Blue Ridge Library mystery series by this author, so it was a bit disappointing not to really be into this one. I did not read or listen to the first 2 books in the series, but that didn’t factor into how slow moving this book was for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for an honest opinion. All thoughts are my own. This book is out now.

Please read other reviews to see if others enjoyed this more than I did.

Rating and thoughts posted: 1/31/26

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Booklovers Cameron Clewe and Jane Hunter have solved a couple of mysteries since they met. Cam has purchased some first-edition books to add to his vast collection from the Stewart family, but the transaction was not completed before his contact, the patriarch of the family, passed away. He sends Jane to pick up the books, where she meets another interesting member of the wealthy family. When she returns with the books, she finds a note and the opening salvo of another mystery. The note was written by Kimberly Stewart Ward, a daughter who had been thought to have taken her own life, but this note tells a different story.

Soon after, the Stewart family suffers another loss. The man Jane met when she picked up the books has been found dead. The cause of death appears to have been a drug overdose. His friends don’t believe it. He had been sober for years. Jane and Cam are intrigued and think both deaths are connected. Their investigation begins. They just hope they can solve these mysteries before anyone else meets a similar fate.

I really enjoy how Cameron and Jane have become not only employer-employee but friends who care about each other’s well-being. Jane is working hard with him to face his fears and is not afraid to speak her mind when necessary. They also work great together when investigating mysteries. This time, Cam takes a major step out of his comfort zone. His assistant Lauren has true feelings for her boss, but in this installment, she has someone else in the picture, which ruffles Cam’s feathers. Jane’s landlord, Vincent Fisher, and his lady friend, Donna Valenti, are also around to use their contacts and skills to help with the investigation in any way they can. All of Ms. Gilbert’s core characters feel genuine and are truly good people inside and out.

In A Deadly Clue, we are introduced to a character who claims to have information about Cam’s birth father. We also get to learn more about his grandmother and great uncle. I find this subplot as fascinating as the mysteries contained in each book.

Those mysteries were true puzzles filled with twists, turns, and red herrings. A cleverly plotted story that tests her characters and her readers. Jane’s curious nature and determination are palpable. Jane Hunter is a force to be reckoned with, and I love everything about her. She takes a huge risk putting others before herself, but I expected no less from this awesome 62-year-old feisty librarian. I wish I could be more like her.

A Deadly Clue is a cozy mystery with layers and twists abound. The duo of Cam and Jayne works so well; the young man has his hurdles to climb, and the motherly Jane truly cares about him enough to push him when needed and back off when necessary. To see this relationship develop, I do recommend reading the series in order from the start. If you enjoy engaging dynamic characters and mysteries that will keep you on your toes, this book/series is for you.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Grandma Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane and Cam make an awesome sleuthing team. They compliment one another so well. There is no romantic entanglement between them, plus they are about 30 years apart. This is the third in the series. I enjoyed this book so much, I will listen to the previous two and hope more will be released. The narrator was wonderful. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of cozies.

I was blessed with an audio ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an intriguing cozy mystery that pulled me in from the beginning.
Jane and Cameron have a comfortable work relationship and often help to unravel strange things when needed.
In this book, the mystery revolves around A death that happened years ago, and one that happens early in the book.
Jane and Cam are asked to look into the death, but others wish they'd stay out of it.
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and am pleased with the outcome.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read in this interesting series that seems like an updated Rex Stout. Instead of Archie pounding the NYC pavements to follow up on leads for his mostly housebound, wealthy, older, and rotund boss Nero Wolf (who is otherwise up in his conservatory tending his orchids), this series features the mature Jane Hunter (early 60s) who is the personal librarian and now crime-solving partner to the younger, socially awkward, and wealthy Cam Clewe, based in the SE. They make a good team, and he clearly benefits from her “been there, done that” attitude.

While Hunter, a single mother to a grown daughter, seems to have sworn off relationships, she likes to give Clewe advice whether he wants it or not. I appreciate having a smart, active female co-lead, but she regularly apologizes for her age, her body, her wardrobe, or her hair, rather than embracing her age and capabilities.

There’s a series story about Clewe finding his father which will continue into the next chapter. The story for this book is about a wealthy family beset by multiple tragedies (a fatal car accident, a suicide, an overdose), but were they self-inflicted or were they murder?
The narration is excellent and I appreciate that only the occasional character sports a southern accent and it isn’t overdone. 3.75 rounded up.

My thanks to the author, publisher, @DreamscapeMedia, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook #ADeadlyClue for review purposes. The book is currently available.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This case begins when Jane Hunter goes to the Stewart family home to pick up some books the man sold to Cameron. She went for ten books but came home with eleven. The extra book was a first edition but a marked up and battered copy. The only thing of interest was a note from Kimberley Stewart Ward - a daughter of the house - indicating that she felt she was in danger. Since Kimberley had died years earlier of an apparent suicide, Cam and Jane are puzzled and look to have discovered their next mystery.

The book must have been added to Jane's bag by a cousin of the family - a cousin who dies of a supposed drug overdose just days after Jane picks up the books.

Deciding to look into the two overdoses, Jane and Cam discover a family used to covering up secrets. After all, there was that mysterious car accident years earlier which killed a woman and child. There are questions about who caused it and who was driving that were covered up at the time.

I enjoyed this mystery. I like the characters of Cam and Jane. Jane is a no-nonsense former librarian who at age 62 is willing to tell Cam when she sees something she doesn't like. Cam is a wealthy young man who suffers from anxiety and some assorted mental quirks. He seldom leaves home and uses Jane as he representative to the world.

Fans of the series will want to read this one.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third installment in the Hunter & Clewe Mystery series. There is a resolution to the main mystery presented, so in that respect it can standalone, but there is an ongoing underlying storyline that carries throughout the series so far. If you want to follow along with that underlying arc, it’s best to start with A Cryptic Clue. The characters are interesting and the pairing of the main sleuthing duo is unique. The mystery is somewhat predictable but still engaging. This is an entertaining, light cozy mystery.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Deadly Clue” by Victoria Gilbert is the 3rd instalment in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series. I was hooked from start to finish, devouring the entire book in almost one day!

This entertaining page-turner is full of twists, turns, and surprises that kept me guessing. While I did figure out the killer's identity before Jane did, I still found this to be a fun, easy read.

I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book to catch up with Jane, Cam, and their friends. Highly recommended for all fans of cozy mysteries - a must-read!

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cameron Clewe asks Jane Hunter to head to the wealthy Stewart's place to pick up a first edition Cam has acquired from the deceased patriarch's collection.

Once Jane arrives, she meets an older man, Gabriel Neri, a cousin of the Stewart family, who clearly appears to have suffered some serious injuries in the past. He's friendly, and they seem to hit it off.

Once she returns, Jane discovers Gabriel slipped an extra book into her bag. The book contains a note from Kimberly Steward Ward, one of the dead patriarch's daughters who committed suicide years earlier, supposedly, after discovering someone was intending to kill her.

The note and the questions around Kimberly's death intrigue them, but they're immediately concerned when Gabriel dies the next day of an overdose. Jane and Cam are suspicious, and when the man's nephew asks them for help, the pair begin investigating in earnest.

Jane and Cam believe Gabriel's and Kimberly's deaths are connected, and possibly also connected to a terrible car crash years earlier, in which Gabriel was severely injured when he was a teen.

Neither Jane nor Cam fully believe the story that was put out about the crash, but all police reports of the time exonerate the Stewart teen who was driving, as well as the other driver, who lost his wife and child in the accident.

As Jane and Cam dig, they know they're getting closer when Jane is threatened, and the Stewart family, as well as their longtime lawyer, get very upset with them.

At the same time, a reporter contacts Cam, saying she wants money to travel to Peru and find his biological father for him. Cam is already prickly about his biological as well as adoptive families, so this offer, and the feeling he and Jane get about the woman leave him reluctant to fund her effort.

This is another fast-moving mystery by Victoria Gilbert. Though the mysteries in this series are never really hard to figure out, I continue to enjoy this series because Jane is a no-nonsense, kind and intelligent person. And Cam has come a ways since he first showed up in book one. He's testing travelling off the grounds of the Clewe estate, and even having dinner at Jane's. And, he's beginning to realize how he feels about Lauren, his uber-competent assistant.

Carrington MacDuffie narrates again (I enjoyed this story in both prose and audio forms). Her Jane is great, and conveys that firm, smart attitude with her clear-eyed assessments very well. MacDuffie's Cam is prickly, tense and sometimes arrogant, but developing some softness in his social interactions with each book.

I enjoyed this entry, and hope there is more sleuthing to come in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and to Dreamscape Media for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

[Belinda (Belle) Witzenhausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Deadly Clue, (Hunter and Clewe #3) by Victoria Gilbert from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.

This third installment, A Deadly Clue, in the Hunter and Clewe series begins with a simple errand. Jane Hunter, a 62-year-old, no nonsense former librarian, travels to the Stewart family estate to collect a set of books for her employer, the wealthy and eccentric Cameron Clewe. She leaves with ten books but discovers an eleventh tucked away, a battered first edition containing a haunting note from Kimberley Stewart Ward. The note, written before Kimberley’s supposed suicide years earlier, claiming she was in danger.

When the man who likely slipped Jane the book, Kimberley’s cousin, Gabe dies of a suspicious overdose just days later, Jane and Cam realize they are looking at more than just a tragic family history. As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of cover-ups involving a fatal car accident years ago, and it becomes clear that someone will do anything to keep the Stewart family’s skeletons in the closet.

What truly makes this series shine is the dynamic between Jane and Cam. Jane is the perfect “Watson”, motherly yet sharp; she serves as the “boots on the ground” for Cam, who rarely leaves his home due to anxiety, OCD, and being on the spectrum. I love the respect they have for one another; Jane isn’t afraid to tell Cam when he’s unreasonable, and Cam relies on her intuition to navigate a world he finds overwhelming.
Cam grew up being raised by Nannies and staff and longs to belong, his staff at the mansion, Jane, Lauren, the assistant and Mateo the chef add a wonderful sense of found family giving him a sense of stability and belonging. In this installment, we also learn more about Cam’s family and the through plot of series regarding Cam’s birth father adding another layer to the series and in this entry we get to know his grandparents a bit better.

Victoria Gilbert has a talent for crafting “Sherlockian” puzzles with a fresh twist. Well written and engaging, I enjoyed this entry in the series with its twist, turns, and cleverly planted red herrings.
All in all, if you enjoy quirky characters, twisting plots, and a duo with an endearing bond, I would highly recommend this series. I can’t wait to see what the dynamic duo gets into next.

Highly Recommended for readers who love a modern twist to a bibliophile focused mystery.

[C.R. Comacchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook, narrated by Carrington McDuffie.

Well-known for her cozy mysteries, this is Victoria Gilbert’s third installment in her Hunter and Clewe series. I haven’t read the earlier books, but the author provides just enough background to allow for a satisfying stand-alone read.

As per ‘cozy mystery’ protocol, Jane Hunter and Cameron (Cam) Clewe—notwithstanding his surname—are amateur, almost reluctant sleuths, drawn into several interconnected mysteries as they go about their work. Both avid bibliophiles, the two enjoy a relationship based on their love of books but also on a mutual respect for their book knowledge. Retired from her career as a librarian, Jane is working for wealthy, reclusive, and somewhat quirky book collector Cam to sort and catalogue his latest acquisition, ten volumes from the library of the deceased head of the powerful Stewart family. But another family member, Gabe, helping Jane pick up the books, slipped in an extra that contained a disturbing note. One of the Stewart daughters, Kimberley, had committed suicide several decades before. The note suggests that her death might have been murder. Itching to investigate, the duo are then more or less propelled into reopening the case when another Gabe himself, supposedly a long-recovered addict, is found dead from a drug overdose.

Gilbert presents a tight, carefully structured story that, while not especially suspenseful, is nonetheless a solid, readable mystery. Her character development, especially where the two leads are concerned, makes the story engaging. Jane and Cam genuinely appreciate each other, never lapsing into a conventional employee-employee relationship. Their age difference hints at a mother-son element that also makes sense because of the mystery surrounding Cam’s biological parents. The secondary characters, who include Jane’s actress daughter Bailey, her boyfriend Taylor, Cam’s do-all assistant Lauren and even his chef Matteo, all find a place in the mystery. Narrator Carrington McDuffie admirably plays all of them, regardless of gender and age. The story is very well-written, but at times I felt it was a little too crowded by all its players and their own stories. But the ending neatly ties up loose ends while leaving enough open-ended to allow for a fourth Hunter and Clewe mystery.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deadly Clue by Victoria Gilbert is A Hunter and Clewe Mystery filled with different and interesting characters. Cameron Crewe is a wealthy businessman with a plethora of quirks, among which is mild autism and OCD. He works out of his home, disliking crowds but good with Zoom. He had three people working in his home: his assistant, Lauren; his librarian, Jane; and his chef, Mateo. All were familiar with his oddities and his temper. Cam had bough some books from a collector nearby and asked Jane to go retrieve them, as the man had died and he wanted to be sure he got them. There, Jane made the acquaintance of a man named Gabe, who looked far older than his years. When she got back to Cam’s mansion, she discovered and extra book. Gabe must have put it in the bag when he packed the others for her. It was not a valuable book, rather a novel with the name of the owner inscribed in the front and a note, which fell out as it was moved. It was an accusation of sorts and Jane was curious, Cam was not as curious but admitted it was strange. Thus began an odd journey.

An overarching mystery of the series is Cam’s search for his birth father. It is accompanied by some acrimony against his grandmother and great uncle whom he thought should have told him earlier. It explained so much, including many of Can’s personality traits. As Jan and Cam net the entire family, many things came to the fore, things both involving and not, a car accident that had happened years before. Several days later the news reached them that Gabe was dead. That made Jane very curious. Terrific characters with a lot going on, both personally and professionally. Interesting and yet so normal in many ways, with this odd avocation of investigating in their spare time. Everyone in the house was somewhat involved, although not as intricately. Well written mystery.

I was invited to read A Deadly Clue by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #VictoriaGilbert #ADeadlyClue

[Beau · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a book appears to be accidentally included in a bulk purchase from a private collection, Jane finds a note that will set her down a path that will unravel a family’s secrets. Meanwhile, Cam is dealing with the unraveled secrets of his own family when a suspicious character comes along claiming his biological father is in danger and only she can help.

There is a small part of me that wants to make this entire review just me going, “Cam... Why are you like that?” but not only do I know why he’s like that, I also owe Victoria Gilbert, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books a more thorough review than that. I can’t express in words how excited I was to be approved for an eARC of A Deadly Clue, book three in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series. So, just imagine a high-pitched screaming noise for a moment.

I adore every single book of Gilbert’s I have had the chance to read, and A Deadly Clue is no exception. I love the role Cam and Jane fulfill for each other—not just partners in crime solving, but two people who didn’t know they needed someone like the other in their lives. I love that Jane nurtures Cam in a way he’s never experienced while also needling him just enough that it encourages him to step outside of his comfort zone and grow as a person. Meanwhile, Cam provides the opportunity for Jane to satisfy her professional interests, her innate curiosity, her sense of justice, and her caring nature. I love getting to read about these two. I love that Jane is the badass of the duo, I love their dynamic, and I love that all of this happens in the background of a fun murder mystery. Although this story was, admittedly, a little sadder than usual, the book embodies exactly why I love the cozy genre so much.

Anyway, if you need me, I shall interchangeably be rubbing the bridge of my nose in exasperation at a certain main character and going “Aww” while making silly little heart eyes at him.

[boogleloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars: This Gilbert's third entry in the Hunter and Clewe series which is a Literary Cozy Mystery set in North Carolina. Featuring a retired librarian turned private librarian for an eccentric wealthy book collector. After finding a note predating the supposed decades old suicide of a wealthy family's daughter which stated that someone was targeting her with the intention of killing her, the two turn sleuth to investigate the decades old closed case only to be shocked when another family member dies suspiciously from a drug overdose. Now the pair most work fast if they're going to resolve the case before any more leaves off this prominent family's tree are pruned with malice.

With plenty of twists and turns, Gilbert has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Additionally, there's an overarching plot involving an investigation into the MMC's missing father. Heartfelt and humorous, Gilbert's writing and character work are brilliant; the main character's well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable with a great secondary cast that are well crafted and uniquely voiced.

• Features a sleuthing duo made up of the 60-something FMC and a MMC who's is his 30s.
• Includes an overarching series plot.
• MMC has anxiety, a slight case of agoraphobia and untreated OCD.

Gilbert touches on some sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, A Cryptic Clue.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Deadly Clue by Victoria Gilbert is the third book in the Hunter and Clewe series and is every bit as good as the previous two books were. This investigative duo complement each other in their personalities and how they accomplish their sleuthing.

This time Jane Hunter and Cameron Clewe investigate a cold case as well as a recent death, all involving the power Stewart family. Was Kimberly Stewart Ward’s death many years ago at the age of 26 really commit suicide or was she murdered? Did Gabe, a relative of the Stewarts, relapse on drugs or was he murdered? There is a lot of murdering in the Stewart family, if they were indeed murdered.

As they snoop into these deaths, they become acquainted with Malcom Stewart, son of the head of the family, who becomes interested in Lauren, Cam’s assistant. As I read about Lauren’s unrequited love for Cam for about five years, I wonder why she waited for so long. Kind of crazy, I think.

There is a side story of Cam searching for his birth father, who is missing, and the relationship he is forging with Lily and Gordy Glenn (grandmother and great uncle). There are bumps along the way and you can see why as they didn’t make themselves known when he could have used family when he was younger.

The final setting of the dinner party when everything is revealed is a great ending to the story with the killer being revealed. This series has great characters and the setting seems like a lovely place to live. I like Jane’s landlord/friend and his girlfriend, and Jane’s daughter’s blossoming relationship with Taylor is sweet. I like how Jane is patiently working on Cam to bring him out of his awkwardness. I don’t think he’ll ever not be awkward, but he has his moments.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Hunter and Cameron Clewe are sleuthing again in this exciting book. Jane is back home after a visit to her daughter in NY. Cameron asks Jane to get some books he had purchased from Mac in the wealthy Stewart family before Mac's sudden death. When she arrives at the Stewart home she in directed to the Library. She sees a pile of books, and finds all 10 in the pile match her list. Then she sees Gabe Neri there, and he packs up her bag for her. The next morning, she finds that someone has packed up an additional book in her bag which was a well used copy of a Daphne de Maurier book. A note in the back says that says someone wants to harm her but supposedly she died of suicide. Maybe someone did kill her. They then find that Gabe Neri has died unexpectedly. Was Gabe sending a message to Jane and Cameron with the book? Jane later hears from Malcolm that he believes Gabe was murdered.

Meanwhile, Cam is still trying to find his father, and a woman who had claimed she knew where he was wanted a lot of money to find him. As Cam and Jane continue their sleuthing about the Stewart family, Jane gets warnings from from a man who tells her to stop interfering in other people's business. Cam and Jane still go to talk to the lawyer who "helped" with a law case about a car accident many years before. He is not helpful! As the book nears the end, the Stewart family invites Cam to dinner and he can bring three guests. The dinner is to bring Malcom back into the family and he suggested they invite Cam. Malcolm has invited Lauren, so Cam will take Jane, Bailey, and Taylor. Things get a little dicey from here, but it's very exciting.

I thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books the ARC so that I could read the book before publication.

[Stephanie Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Jane Hunter visits the Stewart family home to pick up some rare books purchased by her employer, Cameron Clewe, they find themselves drawn in to investigating a cold case that turns hot with another suspicious death.

The Hunter and Clewe mysteries give us an unusual duo of investigators. Cameron Clewe is a wealthy young recluse, social inadept and likely somewhere on the spectrum, while Jane Hunter is a retired librarian hired by Cam to catalog his extensive collection of books. Along with the mystery de jour we continue to delve into the interpersonal relations of our characters. Cam is interested in his assistant, Lauren, but unsure how to address it, Jane is insistent that she is not interested in romance but really, I’d like to see something more between her and the antique dealer, David Benton. Side characters are also interesting from Cam’s assistant Lauren, Jane’s daughter Bailey, Jane’s landlord, Vince and Cam’s estranged biological family. We make a bit of, maybe, progress in the ongoing story thread of the search for Cam’s biological father, or possibly it is a scam being run by the shady Vanessa. In this case, while the specific murderer was not clear cut (but, boy. did I dislike the character who turned out to be guilty) the reasons for all the deaths was fairly clear from the beginning. The denouncement seemed a bit rushed but made sense in who the guilty party/ies were.

I am enjoying these mysteries. To a degree they are reminiscent of the Nero Wolfe mystery series which, now that I think of it most younger readers are unlikely to be familiar with, with a “lead detective” who rarely leaves their house and an assistant who does the leg work. I look forward to the next installment of this series. Recommended.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a good solid mystery; A whodunnit that uses brain power and research, then continue on!
3rd in the series and the first time for me on audio.
Able to be read as a standalone (in my opinion.)

Jane and Cam are the cold case mystery solving duo in our story. Alongside a few cohorts of assistants, friends, family and a former newspaper reporter. The case begins with Cam sending Jane to retrieve some purchased books from the Stewart family. A member of the family had sold the books to Cam but unfortunately passed away right after. During her visit she is introduced to a cousin of the family who gently brings Jane into the death of his cousin Kimberly. Some of her family members deem the suicide ruling as incorrect. But it's hard to argue when money does most of the talking.

We continue to dive a little more into Cam's personal life and his caring (not romantic) relationship and friendship with Jane as the work to resolve what ends up as 2 mysterious deaths and the side story of finding Cam's biological father.

A good January read as that is when the story takes place.

The writing in this series and the character building has improved since the first book.
The narrator, Carrington MacDuffie, has an interesting voice. The voice in my head reading the first 2 books doesn't match with MacDuffie. But it does fit the character.

4 stars for a very good solid mystery with a bit of a thrilling ending! Looking forward to reading more of this series and highly recommend it.

Thank you #netgalley and #DreamscapeMedia for providing an early release of the audio for #ADeadlyClue in exchange for an honest review.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series, and the newest addition is no exception. Jayne and Cam are really interesting and wonderful characters, they each have their own baggage and assets, and it adds to the realness of who they are! The fact that they have come to respect and care for each other really add an extra dimension to our stories. In this case, Cam asks Jayne to go to the estate of a fellow book collector and pick up some books he had recently purchased from him before the man passed. Jayne meets a family member who appears to be trying to tell her something before he is interrupted. When Jayne gets to catalog the new purchases, she realizes that an extra book had been given to her in the bag. Inside, she finds a well loved first edition of a book owned by a young woman from the family of the original collector who had committed suicide, as well as a note asking for help. When the gentleman who helped her gather the books at the estate soon turns up dead, can Jayne and Cam just let the coincidences go? What is going on here? What history is the family trying to hide? This was an interesting mystery, Cam is also trying to deal with new information about his family, and Jayne's daughter may actually get "that" part, all this contributes to a really good read! I found the solution a little contrived, but that didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the book! Thanks to #Netgally, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for an opportunity to read! #DeadlyClue #HunterandCleweMysteries #VictoriaGilbert #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years prior, a dreadful car accident occurred, involving members of the prominent Stewart family. With Cameron (Cam) Clewe and Jane Hunter cataloguing Cam's library collection, and Jane heading to the Stewart home to pick up more books that Cam had ordered and paid for, she was struck by something strange. Gabe, one of the family members, was aged beyond his years, and Jane, although meeting him for the first time, liked him. When he slipped her an extra book, it was the beginning of a new investigation for the pair of sleuths, especially when Gabe was discovered dead, apparently from a drug overdose.

With Kimberly Stewart Ward's suicide a few years prior, Cam & Jane wondered if the two deaths were connected. And if perhaps they weren't suicide, and an overdose. Then another person died...

A Deadly Clue is the 3rd in the Hunter & Clewe series by Victoria Gilbert (somehow I missed #2 but at $31+ for an ebook, I won't be bothering!) and I enjoyed it immensely. Jane (in her 60s) and Cam (in his 30s) have a great relationship, with Jane always speaking her thoughts, and jollying Cam along. I'd love to see Cam's library!! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Brea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Deadly Clue is the third installment in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert, and it delivers a thoughtful, bookish mystery that works both as part of the series and as a standalone. When retired librarian Jane Hunter travels to collect rare books purchased by her employer, wealthy collector Cameron Clewe, she uncovers a cryptic note tucked inside one volume—one that suggests a decades-old suicide within the powerful Stewart family may have been murder. What begins as an academic curiosity turns serious when another family member dies, pulling Jane and Cam into a cold case layered with family secrets, past tragedies, and quiet motives. The mystery unfolds at a measured pace, relying more on logic, research, and character insight than high suspense, which suits the cozy tone well. Jane and Cam continue to shine as a respectful, intelligent sleuthing duo, supported by a strong cast of secondary characters that give the story depth and continuity.
The audiobook, narrated by Carrington MacDuffie, is especially well done. Her narration makes it easy to distinguish characters, and she captures Jane’s steady intelligence and Cam’s prickly, socially awkward nature with nuance and consistency. The audio production enhances the experience, making this an easy and engaging listen.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
⭐ 4–5 stars
A solid, intelligent cozy mystery—especially recommended for readers who enjoy mysteries about books, cold cases, and thoughtful amateur sleuths.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It looks as if murder stalks the Stewart family.
After being forced into retirement from the university library at 62, Jane Hunter took a position in the private library on the Clewe estate owned by the rather reclusive and phobic thirtysomething Cam Clewe and rents a garage apartment from retired journalist Vince Fisher who abets Hunter and Clewe in their investigations.

Clewe has ordered ten books from the Stewart estate. When Hunter goes to pick them up, she meets more than one family member and finds that she has inadvertently picked up an extra one which contains a note written by a family member who had evidently died by suicide several years ago. But the note is one of frustration that no one believes her insistence that someone was out to murder her. Hmm. In a few days, one of the family members is dead and ruled a suicide. Clewe doesn't believe in that decision and initiates a complex and frustrating investigation. Expect the author's usual fast pace, engaging characters, and really surprising twists. Great!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected review galley from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Preorder for Jan. 13, 2026.
#ADeadlyClue by #victoriagilbertauthor #HunterandCleweBk3 #crookedlanebooks
#mysterybooks #mysterybookstagram #hunterandclewemystery #preorder #netgalley #familydrama #familydynamics

[Bree Dumont]

This is the third installment of the Hunter and Clewe series and I highly recommend you read the previous books for a richer understanding of where the current relationships between characters stand. Jane is a retired librarian who now works for Cameron Crewe, cataloging his vast collection of mystery novels - many rare. They have also begun an investigation service and while they try their best to avoid murder, it has a way of finding them. Cam sends Jane to the Stewart family to collect books he purchased from the patriarch of the family who has recently passed away. While there she meets Gideon, a cousin of the family who helps her collect the books she is looking for, however there is an additional book in the bag, one that belonged to Kimberly Stewart Ward, the daughter who committed suicide. When Jane finds a note in the book, she begins to wonder what really happened to Kimberly all those years ago, and becomes further suspicious when she is told Gideon has died as well. When the black sheep of the Stewart family asks them to look into Gideon's death, they can't turn it down. Despite threats, Jane and Cam investigate the Stewart family and an accident from decades before that might just be the key to it all. Along with their friends, they end up at a Stewart dinner party but when the weather keeps them from leaving, will the dinner prove deadly?

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the author’s Hunter and Clewe cosy crime series featuring retired librarian and archivist Jane Hunter and her employer Cam Clewe, who owns a large collection of valuable books. They have a reputation as amateur sleuths so when a member of the wealthy Stewart family dies the day after Jane met him to collect some books for Cam, they become suspicious, especially when he slipped her a clue about a cold case involving his family.

Jane is a very likeable 62 year old who is smart, sensible and fearless. Cam is a complex character who is antisocial and not good at dealing with people. They have become good friends and Jane has been able to get him to be more sociable. There are a number of interesting secondary characters including Jane’s actress daughter Bailey, her boyfriend Taylor and Cam’s personal assistant Lauren, who all add flavour and interest to the novel.

Their investigation into the Stewarts becomes quite complex with a list of people suspected of a cover up and two ‘suicides’. Fortunately Jane is very good at uncovering family secrets and determined to discover the culprits.

With thanks to Crokked Lane Books via Netgalley for a copy to read.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deadly Clue is book #3 in the Hunter and Clewe Mystery series by Victoria Gilbert. Audiobook narrated by Carrington MacDuffie.

Cameron had purchased first edition books from the patriarch of the Stewart family who is now deceased. They found a note in one of the books from a member of the Stewart family who had supposedly committed suicide. Cameron and Jane decide they need to look into this closed case and see if it really was suicide.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting and intelligent. It was an interesting case since they were not sure that there was even a crime to investigate. They had to figure out who would have been targeting her. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great addition to the series.

I was given the opportunity to both review the book and the audiobook. The book was easy to read, and the narration on the audiobook made it very easy to distinguish the characters and follow along. I would listen to other books narrated by Carrington MacDuffie.

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) and of this book and the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) of the audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In A DEADLY CLUE by Victoria Gilbert, the next book in the Hunter and Clewe series, Jane Hunter works for Cam (Cameron) Clewe at the Aircroft estate in North Carolina as Cam’s librarian responsible for cataloging his book collection. After Mac Stewart (a friend and rival of Cam’s grandfather) dies, Jane retrieves books from Mac’s collection. My curiosity is piqued when Jane becomes privy to information while visiting her neighbor/landlord, Vince Fisher. One of Mac’s daughters committed suicide, and I want to know more.

Victoria Gilbert does a good job describing the essential characters from the series, so I feel comfortable recommending this book as a standalone. The first two chapters also introduce a lot of new people to keep track of. Cam is an interesting main character, and I want to know more about his relationship with his personal assistant, Lauren. Once things get rolling, the plot moves along at a good pace. I look forward to reading future books in the Hunter and Clewe series. Thank you, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy.

[Shawnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Deadly Clue" is the 3rd book in the Hunter and Clewe series. While I did not read the first two books, I had no issues jumping in and getting to know the main characters as well as the over arching mystery in the series. The author does a wonderful job giving life and depth to all of the characters - even their quirks and personality challenges. The main character, Jane, is no-nonsense and has a great ability to empathize with those around her and uses these strengths to positively influence situations and emotional turmoil.

Unlike a lot of mystery books, I feel like we were truly given a snapshot into the entire life of the main characters during the events of the book without just focusing on the "main mystery." There were a lot of different stories and circumstances happening, and the timeline of the events felt realistic. There were times it felt like the story got bogged down a little because of this - it's hard to keep that many threads moving forward! - but it was still a very enjoyable, cozy mystery!

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[dnsyl57 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Deadly Clue" is book #3 in the "Hunter And Clewe" series by Victoria Gilbert.

Jane and Cam are investigating a cold case and a more recent death involving the same wealthy family. Coincidence or is there something more sinister going on?

Meanwhile a journalist approaches Cam, claiming she has a lead as to where his missing father Rafe may be - but she needs money to fund the expedition to Peru to find him. Truth or scam? Cam is also still struggling to deal with the news that Lily is his grandmother and Gordie is his great uncle. His anxieties and stress aren't helping.

I was sure of what had really happened with the cold case but the current case with the wealthy family was a bit more complicated. I wavered between who was responsible but wasn't overly surprised at the outcome.

As for the journalist? I was as dubious as Cam and Jane. At the same time, it's hard not to feel for Cam and his struggles with trust, anxiety and social norms.

Of course there were some awkward moments for various characters, a couple of threats and a dangerous situation for several core characters before charges were laid.

Overall, an interesting cozy mystery.

[Tarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I needed was about 2 seconds to glance over the cover of this book, and promptly decided I liked what I saw, with all the antique elements and gold embellishments. It was a good call to judge a book by its cover this time. I have been totally invested in this mystery ever since! With a lowkey, studious vibe, it has multiple mysteries unfolding. I'm all in! Found out that this was book 3 in the "Hunter and Clewe Mystery" series, so I'm ready to go back to book 1 to see how it all started.

Herein we have a 62-year-old female as a main character, working with her boss three decades her junior. And what a perfect sleuthing team they make together. This story takes place in modern day North Carolina. If you'd enjoy a book ABOUT books, this is a great one. I love how it features Daphne du Maurier's My Cousiin Rachel.

I highly recommend this cozy read. And I appreciate that the author keeps the content clean enough.

Has similar vibes to the Scottish Bookshop Mysteries.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been enjoying this series by Gilbert. Especially because of the main characters, Jane and Cameron. Because they are so well-developed. Each of these characters have their quirks, fears, and curiosity to solve cold cases. Jane is a retired librarian that works with Cameron to catalog his rare book collection. Cameron is an intelligent and wealthy young man who has a fear of leaving his house. Cameron asks Jane to pick up some books that he purchased. The owner has died, and Cameron wants to make sure he receives the correct editions of the books. Then Jane and Cam are asked to investigate a recent death and a death that happened many years ago. When they start to investigate, they find out that others don’t want them involved and danger is lurking around every corner. You will find plenty of action, twists and so much more in this book. I highly recommend this series and book and hope that you will pick up a copy. Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in Exchange for an honest review