Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery by Allison Brook
About Checked Out for Murder
Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery 4th in Series Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (September 8, 2020)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 164385447X
ISBN-13: 978-1643854472 Digital ASIN: B082738ZNV
Carrie Singleton and Evelyn the ghost sleuth the slayings of a starlet and a star-crossed psychic in Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook's fourth Haunted Library mystery.
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?
Review: This is my first haunted library mystery and I have to say I really enjoyed it. I always love going to a cozy mystery after reading a rather heavy book.
Its got a bit of a paranormal twist with a ghost in the library, kind of like a Casper type ghosts who helps Carrie along with her sleuthing.
Carrie is dealing with her mother and step father who are in town making a movie. Plus her stepfather is staring in the movie with his ex fiancee. So there's a lot of drama there.
Two deaths occur during the making of the movie, one a recent arrival to town and the other one of the films stars.
I was really shocked by how little sleuthing Carrie actually did and how well the murders were connected as the book went on and for awhile how almost everyone was a suspect.
It was also interesting to see Carrie's relationship with her mom and her new husband. I have to say these are people I wouldn't want to claim as relations to me at any point.
I have to admit there was one character that I really wanted to be the killer buy wasn't.
The ending was definitely a twist especially in how the killer was related to one of the victims.
It was a light and enjoyable read.
Rating 4 flowers
About Allison Brook
A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook she writes the Haunted Library series. DEATH OVERDUE, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.
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