Carrie is the maid of honor for her best friend Angela's wedding and quickly learns how dysfunctional some of Angela's family is. When one of them dies right in front of Carrie and Dylan at the wedding reception, the suspect list turns out to be longer than anyone expected. Carrie is asked to help figure out who the murderer is, in order to clear the family name, but when another family member dies under suspicious circumstances, Carrie has to tread carefully.

This is book #5 in the Haunted Library series, and while I enjoyed it, I didn't care much for Evelyn this time around. She didn't seem to care that Carrie had to work at her paying job and had other responsibilities and plans beyond the investigation Evelyn requested. Aside from that, I liked the story, most of the characters, and the setting. One of my big complaints about this entire series is how he library where Carrie works always seems to have LOTS of money to throw around, much more than all of the public libraries I've dealt with over the years. Clover Ridge must be a very affluent town, judging by how many times Carrie and the others were able to enjoy lobster and champagne!

The mystery was well-done, with a lot of possible suspects but only a few serious ones. For a change, I actually suspected the killer before it was revealed in the book, and even guessed at the motive. I look forward to reading more about Carrie and the rest in the next book in this series.

Carrie's best friend, Angela is marrying her true love and the wedding is picture perfect. Until one of the guests, Angela's cousins husband, dies and falls face first into the chocolate fountain!

Angela is devastated, especially since her loathsome brother is a suspect, and wants to cancel the honeymoon. Carrie steps in and offers to help the police solve the murder if Angela will go on her honeymoon.

It's refreshing is a series to not have the police portrayed as bumbling oafs, and have the main character work with them, as opposed to against them.
I have loved this series since the very first book and will definitely keep with it!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison Brook for this advanced copy in return for my honest review! Death on the Shelf comes out on November 9, 2021!

Carrie Singleton is a librarian by day and an amatuer sleuth by night. When her best friend's wedding ends with police transporting a dead body to the morgue, Carrie springs into action to help her best friend find answers. Throughout the case, Carrie ties together other nefarious things happening in her town and makes some people very angry...maybe angry enough to cause Carrie physical harm.

I love a good cozy mystery and this being set IN a library is right up my alley. I read this one not having read the previous 4 books and I didn't feel like I had catching up to do, I was able to step right into the fifth book and follow along with ease. That being said, I would recommend reading books 1-4 prior to because it is clear that the author worked on character and relationship development and that is something I missed out on by starting at book five.

"Death on the Shelf" is a great continuation of Brook's "Haunted Library Mystery" series. The tone, characterization and relationships are consistent throughout the series, which can be particularly important to invested readers as this is the fifth installment. I will continue to recommend this series to patrons!

I made the mistake to pick up a fifth book in a series, and while I was unfamiliar with the main character and certain aspects this book was easy to get into. The atmosphere created in this book is exactly what I enjoy in a good murder mystery. Carrie is a witty and interesting main character and it was a pleasure to follow her throughout her investigation. The side characters, though a bit flat, were interesting enough and while I did figure out who did it, the story was interesting and kept me reading all night.

Now I want to read the previous books in this series, and I would recommend you start with the first book too, though this can be read seperately.

Carrie Singleton, along with the rest of the staff at the Clover Ridge library, is planning a wedding shower for her best friend and coworker, Angela Vecchio. But when there's a fire at the restaurant, they need a new venue, and fast. So Angela's cousin Donna steps up and offers her home -- even though Angela is against it. It seems while growing up, they weren't on the best of terms. At the shower, Donna's surgeon husband Aiden enters, and is immediately approached by Angela's other cousin, Roxy, and led away, leaving Donna piqued. But things escalate at the wedding reception, when Aiden, who is standing next to Carrie and her beau Dylan, collapses straight into the chocolate fountain and dies.

Angela wants Carrie to investigate, and gives her plenty of suspects, including her own brother Tommy, whom she accuses of the murder. While Carrie doesn't know what to think, Angela's mother also asks Carrie to investigate. As if being stuck in the middle of another murder investigation isn't enough, there's other things on Carrie's mind: her resident library ghost, Evelyn, asks Carrie to find her brother Harold.

But that's easier said than done. She does manage to locate Evelyn's niece, Harold's daughter, who is having her own troubles -- her husband leaving, losing her job, and in danger of being kicked out of her apartment. Carrie does what she does best, trying to help everyone. Then something else occurs and Carrie suddenly feels overwhelmed, including being asked a special favor by the mayor.

With her head swirling, and suspects surrounding her, how is Carrie supposed to figure anything out? Then when another member of Angela's family is murdered, the stakes are suddenly raised, and Carrie is betting everything she has to find a killer before they commit another murder, which could be her own...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have read them all. While I wasn't enamored of the first, the series has progressed nicely and I really enjoy it now. The characters are all fleshed out, and you can get a sense of who they are, including why Carrie has her insecurities, which are mentioned in this book. The action is ongoing, and the mystery is done very well. We have several things going on, and Carrie is doing her best to take care of them, along with her job at the library, about which she is conscientious also. It makes for one being grateful our lives aren't as involved (or at least mine isn't).

I did like how everything progressed, and how Carrie began to put the pieces together, while examining her own life and needs. She uses this time to figure out what she really wants to do with her life, and if the roots she's set down are permanent or not. It makes for an interesting read, and we follow along watching to see what she's going to decide.

When it comes toward the end, we are just as surprised as Carrie, which is what it is supposed to be; and the murderer is revealed and the motives are just as old as time itself. Things will never change. But there is an added bonus, if you will, that makes reading this book all worthwhile, and I eagerly look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

Wedding festivities can be murder as Carrie and her bestie, Angela, discover when one of the hosts of Angela's bridal shower falls dead into the chocolate fountain. Why? Who could have wanted this man dead? There seems to be no end of possible suspects. Carrie will have to work hard to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Red herrings, intriguing suspects, and an interesting mystery...this cozy mystery had it all and kept me thoroughly entertained. I enjoyed meeting Carrie, Angela, and all the fun cast of characters. It's book five in the A Haunted Library Mystery series, but the first I've read. I might have missed some of the backstory but I think I did ok following along. I plan to check out the previous books in the series.

Many thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

In the fifth book of Allison Brook's Haunted Library Mystery series, Death on the Shelf, Carrie Singleton gets involved in solving a couple of murders. The first murder occurs at Carrie's best friend Angela's wedding reception where the victim keels over right in front of her. The second murder occurs later in the book. Carrie believes the two murders are related. Of course Carrie's following of suspects results in interesting clues. I really enjoyed reading along as Carrie helped solve the case. The two main characters, Carrie and her significant other, Dylan Avery are very likable characters. It's fun reading about them.

Carrie Singleton is celebrating of her best friend, Angela. In the midst of the wedding festivities, the husband of one of the Angela’s cousins takes a nose dive into the chocolate fountain. Who killed the beloved doctor? Was it the spouse? Was it the angry business partner? Was it an angry lover? Carrie will find out!

The setting of Clover Ridge is idyllic. The small town is beautiful, Carrie’s cottage is adorable, and the library is full of character. Carrie is easy to sympathize with and her friends at the library are charming, especially the library ghost Evelyn. There were lots of red herrings that kept me guessing, and in the end I was very surprised. I highly recommend this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

What fun, that Evelyn is a treat isn't she! She has a supply of clothes and a social life too. But she wants to make peace with her brother. So Carrie is helping her. But there is then the dead body at the wedding. What a disaster for Angela. The death is no accident and Carrie is on the case. Love her ability to weed out the truth. I like the pace of the book. Lots of interesting characters. I like the mystery and the bit of romance. Made for an interesting story.

Carrie Singleton is excited that her BFF Angela is finally getting married. Angela is stressed when her bridal shower has to be moved to her cousin’s house. She’s stressed her brother is in town. When her cousin’s husband dies at her wedding, she tries to cancel her honeymoon. Carrie persuades Angela to go on her honeymoon, so she can get to the bottom of this mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Whenever I read too many gory thrillers and gut-wrenching mysteries, I pick up a few cozy mysteries to hit refresh and laugh a little. Crooked Lane Books have yet to disappoint me and this kept with the tradition. A quick whodunit, you will want to pick up the rest of the series as well.

Thank you #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for giving me the opportunity to read this.
#DeathontheShelf

This is the fifth book in the Haunted Library cozy mystery series. It stars Carrie Singleton who is a librarian at the Clover Ridge Public Library in charge of event planning. She also solves murders.

In this episode, Carrie is busy helping her best friend get ready for her up-coming wedding and things aren't going well. The venue for the wedding shower has a fire making it necessary to find a new venue ASAP. When one of the bride's cousins offers to host, it look like things are better. Than Carrie learns that the cousin is not a favorite of the bride's because she wasn't kind to her when she was a child. But things go well and Carrie gets a chance to see the dynamics in the family.

But then the cousin's husband dies a suspicious death at the wedding reception and Carrie is on the case to find out who killed him. There are lots of suspects. The bride's brother was seen arguing with the victim and is a known hot-head who bullied the bride as a child. There also might have been troubles in the victim's marriage leaving the wife as a possible suspect. Or maybe there was trouble at the victim's work. Carrie does discover some possible financial chicanery there.

Meanwhile, the library ghost wants Carrie to find her missing brother because his daughter is in financial difficulties and possibly suffering from depression after her husband wiped her out financially and deserted her. And the town mayor is pressing Carrie to take a seat on the town council. And, after her father announces his engagement, Carrie's friends are putting pressure on her to marry her boyfriend Dylan which is frightening the commitment-shy Carrie.

Lots of things are going on in this episode. There are tons of characters to keep track of. The story is told in the first person and I found the writing style to be a little flat. Exciting things happen but the writing doesn't reflect that for me.

Fans of the series will want to read this one to know what happens next at the Haunted Library.

This was a enjoyable 5th release in the fun cozy series "Haunted Library Series" by cozy author Allison Brooks. I have read the entire series and find it a charming fun series.

In this next in series our protagnist Carrie is involved in the wealthy wedding of her friend Angela when a murder occurs. Suspects abound as Carrie investigates another murder and soon secrets of the victim come to light within the guests. This is a fun who done it with a lot of clues for the reader to conclusion. I always enjoy this delightful series with rich charcters and a fun sleuth.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

I had a pleasant visit with librarian Carrie, library ghost Evelyn, and all the citizens of Clover Ridge, Connecticut, in this 5th volume of A Haunted Library Mystery series. Carrie and beau Dylan are caught up in the wedding plans of Carrie's BFF Angela and Angela's family dramas. When Angela's cousin-in-law, and prominent doctor, keels over dead into the chocolate fountain at the reception (what a great visual!), the sleuthing is on. At the same time, library ghost Evelyn asks Carrie to find her long-lost brother to try to help his deeply depressed daughter. The two storylines converge as Carrie continues her amateur detective ways. This is an entertaining and fun cozy mystery read. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first meeting with a novel from this series, while it was still okay to pick up on the side characters, I'll admit it would've been a much enjoyable experience if I had read the prior novels. Regardless, I enjoyed this piece and have plans to read from the very beginning of the series in hopes to have a better experience.

Death on the Shelf is the 5th entry in Allison Brook’s Haunted Library Mysteries series. Carrie Singleton is attending her best friend Angela’s wedding. When one of Angela’s family members ends up dead, Carrie, the library ghost, and the library cat are on the case.

Connecticut is a new setting for me and I like the town of Clover Ridge. Characters are well developed and engaging. Plenty of actions, with a great flow. Even though this is the 5th book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. You might find yourself inspired to go back and read the first 4 books. I recommend this book to all cozy readers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for and advance digital copy in exchange for an hones review.

This series is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I really enjoy the story arc of Carrie Singleton as she makes a life for herself in the town of Clover Ridge. This entry in the series focuses on a murder at a wedding and weddings are a central theme in the book. It was enjoyable reading to hear Carrie's inner monologue as she questions whether she might be ready to consider such a next step with her boyfriend Dylan.

Unlike previous books, there isn't as much of Uncle Bosco and Aunt Harriet, which makes sense as this book focuses on Carrie's best friend Angela (the bride) and her family. It's fun to see how Carrie and Police Chief John Mather work together. I wasn't too keen on the danger Carrie puts herself in as the book hit its climax, but the tension kept me up late into the night because I needed to know what happened next.

Once again, our library ghost, Evelyn seems shady and secretive with her requests for help from Carrie. She is a ghost of mystery. I like that Carrie continues to remain suspicious about Evelyn and her motives. I wonder how the library expansion will affect ​Evelyn?

Overall this was a solid entry in this Haunted Library series. I'm looking forward to Carrie's next adventures!

4 Stars!
#DeathontheShelf #NetGalley

I love this series! It has likable characters, humor, romance, and an interesting paranormal cozy mystery. Death on the Shelf is the 5th book in the Haunted Library Mystery series by Allison Brook. (AKA Marilyn Levinson). Although it is paranormal it is a minimal part to the story. Carrie Singleton is the events coordinator at the local library. A former employee Evelyn is a ghost who is only seen by Carrie and her little niece. Evelyn pops into Carrie's office to offer advice or when she hears information around the library or needs help. In this book, Carrie is in her best friend Angela's wedding. When Angela's family member dies at the reception right in front of Carrie and her boyfriend Dylan, things get interesting. Everyone wants Carrie to find out who killed the family member. Later on, another family member dies. On top of that, Evelyn wants Carrie to find her brother. Carrie's Dad Jim visits and of course she spends time with her boyfriend Dylan. It all keeps Carrie very busy. The ending wasn't really a surprise but I didn't guess who the culprit was. The book was very enjoyable and had a wonderful ending! #NetGalley #DeathOnTheShelf #AllisonBrook #CrookedLaneBooks

This is the fifth book in the Haunted Library Mysteries by Allison Brook. <Death on the Shelf</i> brings back all of the characters that have made this series a lot of fun to read as a cozy mystery fan.

First, I need to say that I read the first one in this series earlier this summer, and then plowed my way through the other four books. When I saw the review opportunity pop up for the fifth book, I jumped at the opportunity. If you like this series, then you're going to thoroughly enjoy the fifth book in the series. If you're new to this series, I recommend going back to Book 1 and working your way through the series.

Second, Clover Ridge librarian Carrie Singleton is back and this time with a dead body on her hands and missing person to find. Thankfully, the whole cast of delightful characters that create the Clover Ridge community are there to help her get to the bottom of both cases.

Last, I want to thank the author/publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication. Even though I am grateful, the comments in this review are 100 percent mine. I wouldn't say I liked a book if I genuinely didn't enjoy it.