Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery (A Haunted Library Mystery, #4)

by Allison Brook

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?

• ISBN10: 164385447X
• ISBN13: 9781643854472
• Publish Date: 8 September 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Crooked Lane Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781643854472

Reviews

[Mystereity Reviews]

I just found this series a month or 2 ago and loved the first book, so I saw this up on Netgalley Read Now and grabbed it. There's so much for cozy mystery fans to love about this series; quaint small town setting, a lovely community of people and great plots that keep you guessing.

There was a lot packed into this book; a woman, Daphne, comes to town claiming to be a psychic and requests a slot to do a program about psychic readings at the library. Carrie is happy to sign her up and finds herself enjoying the woman's company and starts a friendship. At the same time, Carrie's mother is coming to town with her actor husband, who will be filming a movie in Clover Ridge. Carrie is dreading the drama her mother brings as well as the hustle and bustle that a Hollywood movie filming will bring. The last thing on her mind is a murder, but when Daphne is found murdered and then the movie's leading lady is also found dead, Carrie begins to connect the dots, past and present, to find a killer.

Like I said, a lot going on this book, which kept the plot moving very quickly. This was one of those books that made you think you knew whodunit, only to change your mind with each new chapter. I like seeing how Carrie has 'grown up' so much, from an angsty girl at the start of the first book to an engaging, professional woman in such a short time. The other characters are just as endearing, from Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bosco to Police Chief Mathers to Dylan, Carrie's art theft investigator boyfriend. The dramatic ending was icing on the cake, and left me both satisfied and wanting more.