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Checked Out for Murder by Allison Brook

Sep. 10, 2020


Checked Out for Murder by Allison Brookfive-stars
Checked Out For Murder by Allison Brook
Series: The Haunted Library Mysteries #4
Genres: Cozy Mystery

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-fianc�e, 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?


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I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review


Carrie is a rather unique sleuth in that she has a ghost who helps her solve crime. It is a cute take on the cozy mysteries. Carrie’s mother and her younger second husband, Tom, are in town for the film he is staring in. Right away you know something is off between the couple. This makes an already strained relationship between Carrie and her mother even more strained. If all of that isn’t enough Carrie’s own boyfriend needs to go out of town and there’s a murder to solve! I mean what’s a crime solving librarian to do?

This was one of those feel good cozy mysteries (for everyone except the dead physic of course) where you will fall in love with the characters and the town. I really enjoyed that I couldn’t figure out who had done until the very end. There are plenty of clues but there are plenty of false leads as well. All in all this was a good read and a series I wouldn’t find visiting again.

five-stars

About Allison Brook

Allison Brook is the pen name for Marilyn Levinson.

Website | Goodreads

Category: Review Tags: NetGalley

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Veronica Lee says

    September 10, 2020 at 8:02 am

    Sounds like a great addition to my Fall TBR. Love the adorable cover.

    Reply
  2. heather says

    September 10, 2020 at 2:51 pm

    Sounds like a great Fall read and I think the cover is super cute.

    Reply
  3. Kelly Kimmell says

    September 10, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    Sounds like it would be a good story to read in October.

    Reply
  4. Marisela Zuniga says

    September 10, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    I enjoyed your review, I need to read this!

    Reply
  5. Jenn says

    September 10, 2020 at 7:23 pm

    You had me at library! Libraries are just so cozy to me – I love that it is mostly a feel-good story too.

    Reply
  6. Victoria Alexander says

    September 10, 2020 at 11:24 pm

    Thanks for sharing your review, I added this one to my TBR!

    Reply
  7. Lisa says

    September 11, 2020 at 12:30 am

    Ooh, library ghost? Interesting. It reminded me of Harry Potter for second there.

    Reply
  8. Barrie says

    September 11, 2020 at 12:40 am

    I love that part of this sleuth team is a ghost! Sounds like a busy and fun read!

    Reply
  9. tiffany dayton says

    September 11, 2020 at 10:53 am

    Sounds like a book I would read.

    Reply
  10. bn100 says

    September 11, 2020 at 11:32 pm

    sounds interesting

    Reply
  11. Louise craney says

    September 13, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    Fab

    Reply
  12. Jeanette Jackson says

    September 14, 2020 at 1:03 pm

    This sounds like a story I would enjoy reading

    Reply
  13. Emily Gibb says

    September 15, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    Thank you for your review! Sounds like something i would love! <3

    Reply
  14. Jeryl M. says

    September 15, 2020 at 10:16 pm

    This sounds like a good book.

    Reply
  15. Sarah L says

    September 16, 2020 at 1:04 am

    That looks like a fun cozy to read this Fall. I like that you couldn’t figure it out until the end.

    Reply
  16. Judy Thomas says

    September 28, 2020 at 7:24 am

    Great review, I loved the cover too.

    Reply
  17. Bonnie says

    October 11, 2020 at 9:47 pm

    What a great book for October! I enjoy books set in haunted libraries and Evelyn sounds like a very interesting character.

    Reply
  18. Gigi says

    October 17, 2020 at 6:58 pm

    It sound so interesting

    Reply
  19. Linda says

    October 19, 2020 at 7:52 pm

    I’m always up for a cozy mystery and I haven’t read this author yet. Thanks!

    Reply
  20. Betty Curran says

    October 20, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    You have just added a new series to my must read list. Now to just find enough time to start reading.

    Reply
  21. Dandi D says

    November 18, 2020 at 7:52 am

    This looks like it would be a fun and interesting read!

    Reply
  22. Antoinette M says

    September 24, 2021 at 10:53 pm

    Sounds like a great cozy! I love the cover & title.

    Reply
  23. Eva Millien says

    February 4, 2022 at 1:02 pm

    Checked Out for Murder sounds like a great mystery for me, thanks for sharing your review and have a spectacular weekned!

    Reply
  24. Bea LaRocca says

    July 14, 2022 at 7:32 pm

    Thank you for sharing your review of Checked Out For Murder, this sounds like a great cozy mystery book and series and I am looking forward to reading all of the stories

    Reply
  25. Adriane says

    January 11, 2023 at 2:39 pm

    This really sounds like a book I’d enjoy!

    Reply
  26. Maria Malaveci says

    March 23, 2023 at 6:43 am

    This sounds like an excellent read that I would very much like!

    Reply

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into Boone Windsor at that bar. I wouldn’t have gone home with him, ready to drown my sorrows in a
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