Checked Out for Murder
Daphne Marriott strolls into Clover Ridge and informs librarian Carrie Singleton that she’s a psychic. But had she foreseen what fate awaited her, Daphne would have steered clear of the quaint Connecticut town. Evelyn, the library ghost, tells Carrie that there’s more to Daphne than she lets on.
The mysterious woman grew up in Clover Ridge with her no-good dad, who apparently met his end at the hands of Daphne’s brother, Billy. Still, Daphne proves a welcome distraction when Carrie’s overbearing mother hits town. Mom’s much younger husband, Tom, is in a movie that’s lensing locally, and she’s there to keep an eye on him: Tom’s costar, sultry Ilana Reingold, is also his ex-fiancée, and there’s no denying the chemistry is still there. Soon after mingling with the moviemakers at a meet-and-greet, Daphne is found dead.
Carrie and Evelyn investigate, assisted by bushy-tailed library cat Smoky Joe. But the suspect list could overflow the library shelves. Has Billy killed another relative? Is their long-missing mother involved? Or Daphne’s mean ex-husband? Carrie’s sure she knows who committed the crime, but can she bind together the clues before the culprit Dewey decimates the town?
Series: A Haunted Library Mystery – Book #4
Author: Allison Brook/Marilyn Levinson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Library
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Page Count: 320
Rating: 
Carrie is one of those characters you can’t help liking. She is inquisitive and intelligent and wants to help whenever she can. In the latest book from “A Haunted Library Mystery,” Checked Out for Murder, we find her once again involved in an investigation. Evelyn, the library ghost, and Smokey Joe, the library cat, are there to help most of the time. Not to mention Carrie’s mother, who may not help, but at least she doesn’t get in the way, and maybe she and Carrie’s relationship is maturing.
A haunted library is a wonderful setting for a cozy. This story involves all the things I enjoy: an afternoon read, ghosts, lots of books, and intrigue. This time Carrie has two murders to solve, technically three. It doesn’t take her long to build a suspect list and dig up evidence. Putting it all together is a different matter. It takes her some time to figure out what happened, when, why, and to whom, but in the end, she solves the cases and helps catch the killer. Granted, she puts herself in danger again and has to wiggle her way out, but she does not disappoint.
Checked Out for Murder is a fast read with engaging characters, lovely settings, and twists and turns that will keep readers flipping the page. It isn’t necessary to have read the other books in the series to understand who does what or the background of each character. The library ghost, Evelyn, brings humor and information to the story, and as haunted as the library may be, she doesn’t go around deliberately spooking the patrons. Smokey Joe makes himself unforgettable and keeps readers wishing their library had a cat to entertain them and make them laugh. This is a terrific story that readers will enjoy, with an ending that will keep them smiling.
Other great librarian-based and haunted cozies I recommend include Jenn McKinlay’s thrilling “A Library Lover’s Mystery” or Eva Gates’ hauntingly good “A Lighthouse Library Mystery.”
About the Author:
A former Spanish teacher, Allison Brook, writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for young readers. She loves traveling, reading, knitting, doing Sudoku, and visiting with her grandchildren, Olivia and Jack, on FaceTime. She lives on Long Island with Sammy, her feisty red cat. She also writes under the name Marilyn Levinson.
Contact Allison/Marilyn: https://www.marilynlevinson.com/
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