Carrie is very happy with her life, she has a good job she enjoys and a boyfriend that she loves. Then her mother comes to town with her much younger husband. When Carrie's mother becomes a suspect in a murder case, Carrie starts to investigate.

I am enjoying this series and will continue with it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book.

Another solid installment in this series, I do love the play between Carrie and Evelyn. I enjoyed learning more about these character's backstories, and look forward to future installments!

Haunted Library Mystery 4
Carrie Singleton is the director of programs and events at the Clover Ridge Library and this leads to her meeting Daphne Marriott. Daphne comes in to ask about doing a psychic program explaining some of the different types. At the same time Carrie’s mother and her young actor husband are coming intown for a movie part.

I liked the book but I just didn’t love it. Solid mystery and a good edition to the series but not a favorite. Her mom really was unlike able for me.
4 out of 5 💫

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was just okay.

Book 4 in the series.

This series has everything I would normally love, a library, a ghost, a cat and a mystery. Unfortunately, it also has characters I don't love. The main character, Carrie, was especially annoying in this book, and the mystery was quite slow to unwind.

This may be the last book I read in this series.

Although not a book I would purchase in my professional role, it is a series that I will be recommending in my personal life! Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc!

This book is a solid cozy mystery. Alot of names changes, past and present murders. Held my interest throughout. I look forward to the next in the series. 5 stars. Thank you to Netgally and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of the book.

I spent a while reading this latest installment in the series. Carrie is a library director and when she's not planning programs for her patrons, she's busy not so solving crimes, as far as the local police chief is concerned. Her relationship with Dylan. Is still going dtrongy and now the latest is her mom and her boyfriend coming to town to act in a movie with a group of their peers.
Unfortunately, a coue of murders take place and peoe are.not who they claim to be. Carrie and her mom work past their past feuds when her.mom comes to stay for a bit when the boyfriend is questioned by the police and then Carries dad comes to town to add his touches to the drama. Carrie ends up teasing out the perp by asking tons of questions, being nosy , and hosting a couple of get togethers to get to know those in the circle better.
I enjoy this series. I love Carrie's aunt and uncle who took her in back in the beginning and love the resident ghost of the library.
Thank you NetGalley.and the publisher for letting.me preview and put my two cents in. All expressed thoughts regarding the title are mine solely.

Checked Out for Murder is the 4th Haunted Library mystery by Allison Brook. I enjoyed this book just as much as I enjoyed the previous three books. With each book, the reader learns more about the main character, Carrie Singleton, and the rest of the supporting characters. I love that we finally got to know a bit more about Carrie's mother in this one. The various mysteries within this one book were intriguing, especially since they were all connected. I actually never suspected who the killer turned out to be, which made the book so fun to read. I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series.

Note: I voluntarily read a free copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.

"Checked Out for Murder" the 4th instalment in the A Haunted Library Mystery series by Allison Brook. I still have not read the first two books in the series but I did not have any trouble following along as the author did a wonderful job of retelling things without overloading you with the past books.

The protagonist Carrie is one of the librarians and Evelyn (ghost) was also before her untimely death.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. I also loved the inclusion of the library cat, Smokey Joe into the story.

There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself right to the very end. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Daphne Marriott drops by and introduces herself to Carrie Singleton, library events planner. As a psychic, she’s setting up a business to give readings and wants to do a library presentation to introduce herself to the townspeople. Evelyn, the library ghost, remembers Daphne, whose father was murdered many years ago. Daphne fingered her brother for the crime. Still, the event goes smoothly except for one glitch when Daphne recognizes someone in the audience.

Carrie has a lot on her mind. Her mom, who now calls herself Brianna, and current husband are in town. Tom, an actor, has landed a substantial role in a movie being made right there in Clover Ridge. Brianna, an overbearing woman most of the time, is thrilled to be on set to watch filming every day. There’s a party on the commons so residents can meet the crew and actors.

Brianna’s happy until Ilana, the female counterpart to Tom’s role, blatantly flirts with Tom. The worst part is, Tom has a past with Ilana, and he’s falling for her again. It seems they were engaged, but Ilana called it off in order to pursue her career. Maybe Tom wasn’t as over her as anyone thought. Does Ilana want him back or just seeing if she can get him?

Meanwhile, Carrie’s significant other, Dylan, is out of town on business, just when she could use help refereeing her mom and Tom. Daphne had predicted the movie set would have problems. Is this what she meant?

Apparently there was more to worry about than flirting. Daphne is found dead, murdered. When another body is found, a missing person is located, a secret revealed, Carrie’s almost dizzy trying to keep up. Add in that Brianna has had enough of the flirting and invited herself to stay with Carrie. Poor Dylan, he no more than returns home than Tom asks if he can stay with Dylan. Smokie Joe, Carrie’s cat, is the only sane one left!

This is the fourth book in the series, all reviewed here. Carrie has changed a lot since she first arrived in town. She’s got a dream job, a dreamy boyfriend, and Smokie Joe who commutes with her to the library every day to work as the Head Library Cat. The special events allow for a revolving cast of additional characters while leaving the setting intact. This is a series I always look forward to reading.

Brook, also known as Marilyn Levinson, writes the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series (2, reviewed here), Twin Lakes mysteries (2, reviewed here), seven novels, and three novellas.

Another fun story in the Haunted Library mysteries. Author Allison Brook kept me on the edge of my seat with CHECKED OUT WITH MURDER. Every new chapter brought twists and turns knocking me off track. I didn't have this one figured out at all!

I had not read the previous books in this series, but the author was thorough enough to provide me with enough background that I was able to catch up to the series pretty quickly!

This was a fun read! I loved all the characters, especially the kitty. The story moved along with the benefit of a ghost character named Evelyn!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book!

While not my favorite book of the Haunted Library series, this mystery kept me guessing throughout. With multiple seemingly unrelated deaths, the hunt is on to find the culprit or culprits. The story had several twists and turns and the end was definitely a bit of a surprise. All in all, a fun read for a Saturday night at home.

A nice, solid whodunit filled with all the things cozy mystery readers love: sleuths, ghosts, books, and murder. This was my first introduction to Carrie the librarian. Carrie is level-headed, engaging, and has a knack for solving crimes. Her character is believable. While it lacks a bit of humor, it's topnotch cozy. I'll have to backtrack and visit this series from the beginning. The books don't necessarily need to be read in order, but there's character development I feel I've missed out on. Why miss out?

4.5 stars

I always enjoy spending time with librarian Carrie & librarian ghost Evelyn! Carrie is a layered, well-developed character who is instantly likable & engaging. Readers will be invested in the various events that unfold in her family relationships, friendships, and love life throughout the series, and each new book adds to the dimension that the author gives her protagonist.

In Checked Out For Murder, there’s a lot going on and poor Carrie is, of course, right in the middle of it. Carrie’s mom is in town (oh joy) and so is a movie crew with all the drama you might expect to be along for the ride. Adding to the tension is a young woman’s murder … and then another woman’s murder… and a whole host of suspects including Carrie’s mom & Carrie’s mom’s actor husband Tom. I really liked the twists and turns that the author wove throughout this story, including several that I didn’t see coming – not an easy thing to achieve as much as I read mysteries. It kept me guessing & easily held my attention from start to finish. I also appreciated how much more careful Carrie is in this book, heeding the pleas of her boyfriend Dylan as well as her close friend, the police chief, to not put herself in danger. Of course, danger finds her anyway (this is a cozy mystery after all lol) but she really is trying to be careful this time around haha.

Bottom Line: The Haunted Library Mystery series is a personal fave of mine and so is its heroine Carrie & her ghostly assistant Evelyn. I even like Smoky Joe the cat, which you know is saying something lol. Checked Out for Murder is every bit as delightful as its predecessors and I think it’s actually the most layered of the books so far. I enjoyed the relationship growth between Carrie & her mother, and the bevy of suspects had me stumped until the very end. A great plot, a great protagonist, and a great read!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

I found this to be a fast paced mystery with very interesting characters. I loved the idea of a library in a lighthouse and it was even better that the MC lived there. The mystery kept me guessing until the end and I was sorry when I reached the end because I was enjoying it so much. I hadn't read this author before but I didn't have any trouble not hav8ngnread any previous books. I highly recommend this book.

Checked Out for Murder is the fourth book in the Haunted Library Mystery series! We meet up again with Carrie Singleton who is dealing with her mother coming to town because her current husband is filming a movie in Clover Ridge. Of course, a few bodies turn up, and Carrie’s on the case!

I found this book to be my favorite one in the series so far! The mystery was just SO good. Very intriguing and suspenseful, and well-thought-out and plotted. There were so many twists and turns that I couldn’t stop reading. I devoured it in one sitting and was so upset when it was over. It was such a wild ride!

The only negatives that I saw were Carrie. She really annoys me sometimes. I hate when she rushes things or blurts things out when she should keep them to herself. Or when she gets an attitude with her friends for no reason and says some rude, smart/sarcastic comment. But hey, every MC needs flaws, right?

Overall, an excellent book, and I can’t wait for the next one.

I think this is a great addition to this beloved series.
It was great to catch up with the characters and I found them fleshed out and likable as usual.
The mystery is well crafted and solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next installment, recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Checked Out For Murder
The Haunted Library Mysteries, Book #4
Allison Brook
5 Stars

Synopsis:

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? (less)
GET A COPY

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well rounded. I was glad to see that Evelyn, the ghost, was in this book quite a bit, she was helping Carrie with her sleuthing. I really enjoyed getting to know Carrie’s mother better and the fact that her and her mom get closer. Carrie’s friends help her to figure out the clues, and of course, Smokey Joe helps her out too.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and those descriptions came alive in my mind’s eye. I felt like I was right there watching all of the action taking place.

The mystery was well plotted and there were a few suspects that could have done the deed. How is Carrie ever going to figure out who the actual killer was?

I would highly recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am sure that you will like this book as much as I did.


I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Carrie is one of those characters you can't help liking. She is inquisitive, intelligent, and wants to help whenever she can. In the latest book in the "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 her 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.