Checked Out for Murder is jam-packed with relationship drama and genuine characters. When a new town resident is murdered, library event director, Carrie, investigates. She believes it might be related to an unsolved homicide from twenty years earlier. Or could it really be as simple as the victim’s abusive ex-husband taking his final strike?

In addition, Carrie’s less-than-loving mother, Brianna, is back in town. A movie is being made locally with Brianna’s much younger husband, Tom, in a major supporting role opposite his former fiancée, Ilana. Ilana has designs on rekindling her relationship with Tom. That, of course, doesn’t sit well with Brianna, which leads to fireworks on the movie set.

Movie-making, relationship drama, and murder! Checked Out for Murder is a delightful cozy mystery with authentic characters that feel like family by the end of the book. 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 4th book in this series and I’m loving it. Carrie works in a library and has a friend Evelyn, who just happens to be a ghost who lives in said library. Seriously, how cool is that? I love these folks who live in Clover Ridge. There were some new/returning residents who appeared in this book. I hope some will be sticking around. The story line is good and I enjoyed going through the various activities with the cast of characters. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

4.5 stars

This is the fourth book in the Haunted Library mysteries series by Allison Brook, Marilyn Levinson.

While Carrie’s mother and her much younger new husband are in town filming a movie, a stranger who has a history in the town is found dead. She had given a class on how to use their psychic abilities that she put on at the Library where Carrie works. Somehow all the stars of the movie have become suspects in this woman’s death and the story is off to the races.

I have to admit this was a bit of a convoluted plot with a lot (I mean a lot) going on. Then as a sidebar Carrie’s mom and her husband split up and Carrie is forced to have her mother live with her for awhile. This is something she never would have done in the past. Even Carrie’s father gets into the act and comes to town to support his ex-wife.

Even with so much going on, this story is really entertaining and easy to follow. I liked a lot of the movie cast and how they were portrayed. Definitely a good book to read if you need to distract yourself. You will have to put all your focus on this when reading it. Loving this series so far.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I first started reading the series after I was shown a copy of the first book in the series at the local library. After meeting Carrie's dad in one book and her mom in this one, Carrie has turned out well considering her role models. Carrie doesn't discover the bodies. Hardily any on screen violence. Another good book in the series. Looking forward to the next.

Carrie is enjoying her job at the library but rather dreading her mother’s upcoming stay in Clover Ridge. Her mother is coming to town because her mother’s husband Tom is an actor in a movie that is being filmed in Clover Ridge.
Daphne Marriott comes into the library wanting to do a program on psychic abilities. She and Carrie start to become friends, then Daphne is murdered. Carrie doesn’t want to become involved, but when one of the actors is murdered and her mother becomes a suspect Carrie does some looking around.
Daphne’s last name wasn’t Marriott. She was a Harper and was raised in Clover Ridge with a drunk abusive father who was murdered. Carrie wonders if the current events relate back to a twenty year old murder that was never solved.
There are lots of new to town characters added for this book. The author does a great job bringing all the pieces together. Along with probably everyone I suspected the film people but I didn’t catch the clues that lead to who was the real culprit.
This is the fourth Haunted Library Mystery. It is fun and well done. I enjoyed the character interactions and the growth in relationships. Sometimes the past does come back to haunt you.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review.

Checked Out for Murder is the fourth book in the Haunted Library Mystery series that takes place in Connecticut. Carrie Singleton is in her 30s and the event coordinator for the library. Evelyn is the resident ghost that helps Carrie investigate.

The attracting blurb is a lot of misdirection. There is more than one death to be investigated. The story gets a little confusing. I think there’s a lot going on, lots of misdirections, and plenty of suspects. The characters are developed, the victims are new to town, and we’re not sure if the deaths are related. Carrie is asked to investigate Daphne’s (the returned to town psychic) death by Daphne’s brother who knows Carrie from the gym.

The other death involves the movie crew coming to town. Carrie’s mother and much younger husband come to Clover Ridge to film a movie. Tom’s ex-fiance wants him back.

This was an easy read. At times, I felt there was too much going on for Carrie. I liked it once I plotted out the subplots so I could keep them straight.

It was good to see Carrie’s character grow.

I was given an advanced reader’s copy from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

We’re back with Carrie Singleton, head of events at Clover Ridge library – which just happens to be haunted by a friendly ghost, Evelyn, only Carrie can see and hear. When a self-declared psychic comes to town, Evelyn’s knowledge of the town’s past might prove invaluable. Even more so when when of the cast of the movie being filmed in the small town is found murdered.

Carrie may have sworn to stay away from the drama after her sleuthing put in danger in Death Overdue, Read and Gone, and Buried in the Stacks, but when her mother turns into the prime suspect she has no choice but to try to find the real killer.

Of all of my dabbling in the cosy mystery genre, this is one of my favourite series. Carrie is relatively sensible and comes across very well, and her relationship ‘dramas’ are kept more to the background that some in the genre. There’s something quite wholesome and healthy about her relationship with Dylan, making for a very pleasant change. Her relationship with her mother is a lot more strained, but again, there’s a sensible lack of melodrama – well, apart from the murder, the way everyone tries to involve Carrie, and of course the library ghost.

I still think the ‘haunted’ part of the series title is very underplayed, but otherwise this was a decent enough read. I like spending time with these characters, even when Brianna-nee-Linda is being a diva. But it suits me perfectly that the plot keeps focus on the mystery, with the personal aspects adding strength not overwhelming everything else.

I did find the ending just a little abrupt – I usually do with cosy mysteries, it seems – so a mark off for that. Otherwise, a sweet diversion of a read, and I’m all for that.

Great cozy mystery series. I haven't read this series before so I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series instead of this book, which is book number 4. Nice characters and setting. I really loved the town.

I am becoming a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre due to books like this. You can read this as an escape from the everyday in a weekend. A really good mystery.

Coming off of two fabulous fantasy novels, I was not sure how I would receive Checked Out for Murder. I should not have worried, however. Setting foot in Clover Ridge was a bit like coming home after too long away. It's such an idyllic place (with the exception of the murders, of course). I enjoyed visiting with Carrie Singleton, the library's head of programs and events, again, along with her sexy and smart boyfriend, her cat Smoky Joe, and, of course, Evelyn, the library's ghost.

In this fourth installment of the series, Carrie steels herself for her mother's visit. The two are not exactly close, but with her mother and stepfather in town for the filming of her stepfather's latest movie, they will likely be spending more time together than they have in years. The entire town is excited about the prospect of the movie being filmed in their community. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?

First the body of a local who had returned after years of being away is discovered and then one of Carrie's stepfather's costars is found murdered. The two victims appear to have no connection at all--could there be two murderers out there, or is there a connection no one is aware of? Carrie is especially torn up over the murder of the local woman, whom she had recently become friends with. The brother of the woman knows of Carrie's history of solving murders in town, and begs her to help, despite Carrie's reluctance. I mean, she did promise both her boyfriend and the chief of police she would not get involved in any more murder investigation. But, the woman was her friend . . . And then, with the death of a moviestar casting suspicion on Carrie's own mother and her stepfather, Carrie cannot exactly stay out of that investigation either. Especially when her mother and the other cast members ask her to get involved.

Checked Out for Murder was a lot of fun in terms of character interactions and seeing how everything would play out. Carrie takes initiative in talking to possible witnesses and suspects, and some of her contributions helped the investigation go in the right direction. She was much more careful this time around about not putting herself in harm's way. I really like her relationship with Dylan. It's obvious he cares about her and wants her to stay safe, but he also respects that she is going to do what she wants to do, and does not try to stifle her. Over the course of the novels, I have enjoyed getting to know Carrie and her backstory, seeing her relationship with her parents evolve.

I guessed early on the who even if the why took a bit longer. Not that it hurt my enjoyment of the novel. I very much enjoyed my time in Clover Ridge! Checked Out for Murder can certainly be read as a stand alone, but if you want more of the backstory, I do recommend reading the books in order.

Carrie Singleton is not sure what to expect when her mother (now called Brianna) and her younger actor husband Tom are coming to Clover Ridge to shoot an indie film. Tom's co-star Ilana Reingold is also Tom's ex-fiancee and the sparks start flying both on and off-set. Meanwhile, Carrie is approached by newcomer Daphne Marriott who wants to give a presentation and short psychic readings at the library. Carrie agrees and the event is a success until Daphne gets spooked by the appearance of her abusive ex-husband.

The next day, Carrie is shocked to hear that Daphne has been murdered. Carrie is then asked by Robbie Dowd, her gym trainer, to investigate. It turns out Daphne is his sister. There are a lot of secrets to uncover in the family's tragic history.

Then Ilana is found murdered in her hotel room and Carrie's mom becomes the prime suspect. Carrie soon finds herself busy trying to help solve two murders. Are the cases somehow linked?

This was another solid, entertaining entry in the Haunted Library mystery series.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

This was the fourth book in a series and I jumped into the series with this book, so perhaps that had some bearing on how I feel about it. The setting of Clover Ridge is lovely and makes me want to go and live there. And I really liked the residents. For those starting the series anywhere but the beginning just a tiny bit of backstory would help new readers to get to know the characters, especially ghost Evelyn. I didn't get much of a sense of her at all. There were a lot of characters too. All in all it is a nice, cosy mystery and everything wrapped up well at the end.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and the author for the review copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Checked Out For Murder is the fourth book in the Haunted Library Series. In a small town in Connecticut, Carrie Singleton is the events coordinator at her local library and has been able to solve a few murders in the past. When new people begin to arrive in Clover Ridge, one is found murdered in her apartment. Carrie wonders if this murder could be tied to a cold case from 20 years ago.

I have not read the other books in this series, but do not think it is necessary to do so in order to read this book. I found the mystery of this book to be just okay. Although the plot progressed, few clues were given to the reader. This made the reveal of the murderer anticlimactic. That being said, I liked this book for the setting and the main characters. I would consider reading another book in the series simply because of the town of Clover Ridge and Carrie.

Carrie, a library program coordinator, agrees to work with Daphne, a psychic, to put on an event but then, as cozy readers know, Daphne is murdered! Was it her brother? Was it someone else? Carrie has so much going on right now since her mother (who can be a pain) has turned up in town accompanying her younger husband Tom, who is filming in the area. Moms got troubles too since Tom's co-star Ilana is, well, something else. Luckily, especially since there's another murder, Smokey Joe the cat and Evelyn the ghost are there to assist and back Carrie when her boyfriend Dylan, a private investigator, has other things on his plate. Know that Evelyn is indeed a ghost but she's not a woo woo one and this isn't a paranormal cozy. It is a, however, a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't worry if you didn't read the first one- this will be fine as a standalone and then you, like me will be looking for the next one!

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and this book did not disappoint. The characters are engaging and the mysteries are always interesting and keep you guessing.

This is the fourth and my first novel in this series and now I shall have to go back and start from the beginning. However, although you should always start at book 1 and get to know the characters, it wasn't too hard to read this as a standalone and pick up quickly on the characters and their histories.

Carrie Singleton is an events coordinator in her local library in the little coastal town of Clover Ridge, Conneticut. She has previously helped the police solve murders, along with the friendly library ghost, Evelyn. In this episode Carrie's difficult mother and her husband Tom arrive in town where Tom is going to be starring in a rom-com movie. When two separate murders occur within a week, one connected with a library event and one with the movie, Carrie once again can't help using her sleuthing skills to look for the killer (or killers) and their motive.

This is an enjoyable cosy with a collection of well rounded characters (including a lively library cat) as well as an interesting plot.

Checked Out For Murder is the fourth book in the A Haunted Library Mystery series by Allison Brook.

Carrie Singleton is a librarian and in charge of special events at the Clover Ridge Library. One day Daphane Marriott asks if the library would be interested in offering physic readings for their patrons. She claims that following an accident, she has become physic. Carrie has an opening an agrees to have Daphane display her abilities. Shortly after Daphane leaves, Evelyn, the library’s ghost, materializes. Evelyn informs Carrie that Daphane used to live in Clover Ridge and left town soon after her father died, and her brother was convicted of his father’s murder. During Daphane’s presentation, it is interrupted by her ex-husband. Then the next day, Daphne is found dead.

To add to this, Carrie’s estranged mother has arrived in town with her much younger husband, Tom. Tom is the lead in a movie that is being filmed in Clover Ridge. Carrie soon perceives tension between her mother and Tom. Her mother informs Carrie that the female playing the lead opposite of him is his ex-fiance, Ilana, and she seems to be putting the moves on Tom, and he doesn’t seem to be saying no to her advances.

When Ilana’s body is discovered, severely beaten to death, Carrie’s mother and Tom become the main suspects. Even though Carrie has promised police chief and her boyfriend, Dylan, not to get involved in any more investigations, she can’t help but clear her mother’s name. When another member of the filming crew is murdered, and Carrie learns that another member of the team is originally from Clover Ridge, she starts thinking that the three murders might in some are related.

I enjoy this series, as I find the stories to be well-written and plotted with the character being well-developed and very interesting. There were enough red herrings that kept me guessing until the end.

I will be watching for the next book in the series.

Carrie's mother and her husband, Tom, are coming to Clover Ridge to shoot a movie in which Tom has a leading role. Carrie's relationship with her mother is strained, and she's not looking forward to the extended visit. As if that isn't enough, a woman claiming psychic abilities runs out of the program she's presenting at the library, and is found dead soon after. It turns out that the psychic has a local connection, and Carrie is determined to figure out it that connection has anything to do with her death.

This is book #4 in this series, and I have come to enjoy each installment a little more than the previous book, although the library didn't have much to do with this particular book. Earlier in the series, Carrie's actions were rash and got her into more than one dangerous situation. In this book, she takes her findings and concerns to the police, and she involves Dylan, her private investigator boyfriend, in her quest. I like the town of Clover Ridge and the way its residents look out for one another, and it's been fun watching relationships grow and develop as the series progresses. The mystery was good, and I was surprised by the identity of the killer. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Checked Out for Murder was another fantastic installment in the Haunted Library Mysteries series with an intriguing plot.

Librarian Carrie Singleton thought she'd seen it all while working at the Clover Ridge library, but then a psychic shows up and Evelyn, the library ghost, tells Carrie there's more to Daphne Marriott than it appears. Daphne actually grew up in Clover Ridge and her abusive father was murdered when she was younger in a case that's still unsolved. As far as Carrie is concerned, the mysterious Daphne is a welcome distraction from dealing with her mother who is in town with her actor husband to film a movie. But after a meet-and-greet with the movie stars, Daphne is found dead and Carrie feels it's her duty to find the person responsible.

The plot in this book was interesting with Daphne's murder, her father's unsolved murder, and a second seemingly unrelated murder shortly after Daphne's. As far as Daphne's death is concerned, Carrie is convinced it is somehow related to her father's death and investigates both simultaneously. I found the idea the two could be connected decades apart to be an interesting theory and Carrie's investigation definitely uncovered evidence that led weight to the theory. The second murder in present day only adds to the complications of the case as you're unsure if it has anything to do with the previous murders. I will say I found the second murder to be the more interesting of the two due to the victim's identity, but I overall enjoyed both cases. I was ultimately surprised by the identity of the killer as I had someone else in mind for most of the book. One thing I will say is that the scene where the killer is caught wasn't particularly suspenseful and I wish the ending had played out differently.

Carrie continues to improve as a main character as well as an investigator with each subsequent book in the series. She's much better now about keeping the police chief informed and she doesn't put herself in unnecessary danger. It's a nice change of pace compared to the first couple of books. I liked that she was open with her boyfriend Dylan about what she was doing and that he actually helped her out a lot in her investigations. As a private investigator, Dylan has access to tools that Carrie doesn't, so it was great to see her be able to explore different avenues in the investigation due to his help.

Overall I really enjoyed Checked Out for Murder and I'm looking forward to future installments in the series. I highly recommend this series for those newer to the cozy mystery genre.

Librarian Carrie is less annoying in this new volume as she was in the previous three volumes of the Haunted Library Mystery series. Hollywood comes to small town Clover Ridge, Connecticut, when Carrie's mother and stepfather/actor arrive to make a movie. Newcomer Daphne offers a library program in psychic abilities, right before she is murdered. The two threads come together during the investigation that Carrie and library ghost Evelyn undertake. I enjoyed spending time with Carrie and her friends and family in this fun cozy mystery series. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC.