Checked Out for Murder
A Haunted Library Mystery
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4.6 • 13 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
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?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Brook's overly intricate fourth mystery featuring Carrie Singleton, the head of programs and events at the Clover Ridge, Conn., library (after 2019's Buried in the Stacks), Carrie must contend with her distant mother and movie actor stepfather, who are visiting, as well as self-proclaimed psychic Daphne Marriott, who befriends Carrie and has a troubled past. That past apparently catches up with Daphne when someone strangles her. Meanwhile, quite a few people have changed their names for one reason or another, which gets confusing, and some of them are connected to the local Harper family. Years earlier, the abusive Chet Harper was murdered by his son, Billy Harper, and Carrie learns that she knows Billy under another name and that Daphne was his sister. After a second present-day murder occurs, Carrie; her PI boyfriend, Dylan Avery; and the Clover Ridge police chief, John Mathers, set out to find the killer. Evelyn Havers, the library's resident ghost and Carrie's sleuthing confidante, has little to do. This cozy is strictly for existing fans.
Customer Reviews
Allison Brook’s Checked Out for Murder
Carrie Singleton lives in Clover Ridge,
Connecticut. She is the head of programs
at the local library. The library is haunted
with a resident ghost whom only Carrie
is able to see and communicate.
A lot is going on in town, a movie is set
to be filmed. Carrie’s mother and new
husband who has a part in the film will
be with the movie crew. The library is
featuring a woman to speak about the
different types of psychic abilities.
The peaceful town is then turned upside
down when first the psychic woman then
one of the movie crew end up dead.
Also Carrie will find herself involved with
an old cold case of a man turning up
dead then his son went to jail but the
son was released after evidence proved
the son not guilty. The mother disappeared
after the man’s murder leaving her children
behind.
Carrie with the help of the library ghost and
her bushy tailed cat named Smoky Joe
start investigating. Carrie’s significant other
Dylan who runs a private security agency
finds his way to keep Carrie safe is to join
her investigation.
The mysteries were well written. I loved that
the past secrets came to light with the current
inquiries unfolding.
An array of interesting characters with distinct
personalities, quirky traits and interesting
backstories.
This story is so well written you will feel as if
you are right there in the midst of the action.
The story gripped me from the start until the
final word. It provided me with drama, tension,
twists, turns, some shenanigans and even a
touch of romance.
This is book # 4 in the Haunted Mysteries
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
The author provides enough past with the
present effortlessly.
I volunteered to read Checked Out for Murder.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew
for the opportunity. My opinion is voluntary
and my own.
Fully enjoyed this mystery
Checked Out for Murder is the fourth in the series, but I had not read the others. The author, however, did such a fantastic job of describing the characters that I was able to fully enjoy this edition despite not having read the others. The main character is a librarian who has the help of a ghost that lives in the library she works at. I am a big fan of cozy mysteries that have ghosts in them, and though this ghost was not a major factor in the story, the mystery was done well enough that the small amount of paranormal contact was not discouraging. I would have liked to have had more of the ghost, but the other characters in the story made up for it in leaps and bounds. I especially loved the best friend, and coworkers. The love interest was well done, but I think I may have to read the previous ones to be more attached to their relationship, as by this book, it is well established. Not a bad thing, just if one is looking for a little love interest, this book does not have much romantic tension between the two.
I was very happy, however, with the plot and the who-done it aspect. The mystery lead me in many directions, and though I normally have cases solved before half the book is done, this book took me on a few red herrings that made me not realize who did it until close to the end. In the meantime, I enjoyed the ride as the main character, Carrie Singleton, tried to find out who killed two people, while possibly linking those deaths to a death years ago. It all takes place as her mother, and her mother’s husband are in town to film a movie; and two people are murdered back to back. Her mother is suspected at one point, which leads Carrie to ignore her first instinct to stay out of the murder. As others pull her into the investigation, she finds that the clues are falling one by one in her lap for her to find the killer.
I will have to say that I am very much wanting to go back and read the others in the series, not only to see the beginnings of her love interest, but also because the author’s writing was so well done, and I enjoyed this story so much.I feel I need to relive the fun in another book. Highly recommend this book for those who like this author, and for others looking for a new cozy mystery. This one is a winner!