Thank you netgalley for letting me review this book.

I love reading books about books. I found the cat to be funny.

There were times when I wish I could have hopped in the book to help solve the crime.

The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.

I did enjoy how the story ended.

I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

Dollycas's Thoughts

The expansion of the library in Clover Ridge, Connecticut was underway until a dead body was found in the basement. At first, no one knows who the man is but it is soon learned he was Alec Dunsmore, Dylan's uncle whom he hadn't seen in years. But Alec hasn't left this realm, his ghost has taken up residence in the library and he isn't a quiet ghost like Evelyn. His energy when he is upset causes disturbances that are distressing to the patrons of the library. They don't understand why papers are flying or things are falling so Carrie enlists Evelyn's help to keep Alec away from the main areas of the library while she tries to find out why the man was in Clover Ridge and why he had been killed.

Carrie has also filled an opening on the town council and they need to decide if the Seabrook Preserve that runs along the Long Island Sound will remain a protected nature area or if it is time to sell the land to a condo developer or turn it into upscale park. It is a real hot-button issue with the council and the community. Soon after the decision is made one of the council members is killed. Are the murders connected? Is the library expansion or the preserve designation catalysts to the deaths? Is Carrie in danger?

____

In this installment of the Haunted Library Mysteries, we have two ghosts instead of one. It was fun to see Evelyn have her hands full. Instead of just popping in to see Carrie and issuing orders or talking about murders, she had to help ghost Alec through a scary time. At first, he didn't know who he was, he had no memory of anything that happened, and later he was frustrated being stuck in the library. He was a handful for good reason. We learned more about Dylan's family and their issues with the ghost's appearance.

Carrie is juggling a lot in Dewey Decimated. She is the point person on the library expansion and in addition to a dead body, other issues arise that must be addressed. Being new to the town council she has a lot of reading to do so she is informed about the topics under consideration. Then there are the murders to investigate and a ghost loose in the library. Oh, I can't forget, she has a wedding date to set and a wedding to plan. Ms. Brook's characters are always entertaining but there were even more so in this story.

The mystery put forth by the author was complicated. The body had been in the basement for several years, making it a cold case, but some suspects emerged with the deceased memories slowly coming back. Carrie is uncomfortable with some assistance that is thrust upon her. Assistance that put her in a dangerous situation when the killer was revealed. I had the person on my radar but I was stunned by the way the showdown occurred.

Dewey Decimated is an exceptional addition to this series. With a spirited plot and dynamic characters, including a wonderful library cat, this story kept me completely captivated. Ms. Brook never disappoints. She has written another Perfect Escape!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I had really wanted to try a cozy mystery, but it really wasn’t the type of book that I enjoy reading even though I did finish this one

"Dewey Decimated" by Allison Brook is the sixth installment in the Haunted Library Mysteries series, featuring librarian Carrie Singleton and her adventures with library ghost Evelyn. While Carrie's ability to communicate with ghosts in the library adds a unique twist to the series, the limitation of this ability to the library setting can feel repetitive and somewhat restrictive as the series progresses.

The novel opens with a murder mystery involving Carrie's fiancé's Uncle Alec, whose ghost becomes a part of the library's ghostly inhabitants. Carrie, along with Evelyn and her cat Smokey Joe, navigates the challenges of hiding Alec's presence while investigating his death. Amidst the murder investigation, the story also delves into town politics, adding layers to the plot.

One aspect that stands out is the dynamic between Carrie and Evelyn, which adds charm and depth to the narrative. However, some readers may find Carrie's romantic relationship with Dylan a bit awkward or unconvincing, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Despite these minor drawbacks, "Dewey Decimated" remains an engaging read with its blend of mystery, ghostly encounters, and small-town intrigue. Fans of cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist will likely appreciate the book's cozy atmosphere and compelling storyline.

As long as Allison Brook writes new books in The Haunted Library Mysteries series, I'll read them...even if I have to read the from beyond the grave, like Evelyn! This series quickly became a favorite and I've become significantly invested in the characters, particularly Carrie and Dylan.

This time, Carrie has to help a ghost that is nearly a relative--Dylan's Uncle Alec, who disappeared years ago. What was he doing in the basement of library? Who had killed him? Why? As if there wasn't already enough going on for Carrie between the town council and wedding plans, now Carrie has another murder to solve! And what she really needs is a vacation.... Alas, a vacation is not in the cards, but another murder is! Is it connected to the murder of Alec?! Carrie and Evelyn work hard to figure out exactly what is going on and try to prevent a third murder in the process!

I really enjoyed reading Dewey Decimated. This series gets better with each new book that comes out. It was interesting having two different murders that Carrie had to investigate, though I felt it was a little too much going on at times. Still, the mystery was very cleverly written and kept me guessing until the very end. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the books I have read in the Haunted Library series. The characters are well developed and I love the setting of the story in Clover Ridge. Of course I am going to love a book set in a library. And the fact that it is “haunted” adds a little intrigue. The murder mysteries … yes there are two! … are well done and have you guessing throughout the pages as to who is the guilty party. And there are a lot of people you suspect could have done it. The relationships of the characters are delightful and even though the investigative reporter, Julie, gets on Carrie’s and my everlasting nerve, it does provide some entertaining moments. There are a lot of twists and turns and clues that pop up to keep you guessing. I have already started reading the next book in the series, Overdue or Die, and can’t wait to see what situation Carrie gets herself into next. This is one of my favorite series and I can’t wait to continue growing to know the delightful people of Clover Ridge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Allison Brook is always amazing with her cozy mysteries. You just want to curl up with a cup of while the whodunit unwinds.

Dewey Decimated is a delightful cozy mystery in a series. It is the fourth book. I recommend this book to all readers of cozy mysteries

Great story and w fun characters and love it. It’s a fun read and I would recommend it to friends and family

This is the sixth book in the Haunted Library series, and I've read them all! This story is about Clover Ridge CT librarian Carrie Singleton, who is a local amateur sleuth who has solved several murders in her small town. In this installment, a vacant building next door to the library is being renovated into its newest wing. Carrie is eager to have the construction completed, because as the activity librarian, the new space will open up many new wonderful opportunities for programs.

A body was discovered in the basement of the old building, and it turned out to be Carrie's fiancée's Uncle Alec. Dylan has many fond memories of his uncle from when he was a child, however Alec had lost touch with Dylan years ago. After a remodeling mishap, which left a gaping hole in the library, the ghost of Uncle Alec finds his way to Carrie. Carrie can see ghosts, and along with the help of the library's resident ghost Evelyn, decides to find Alec's killer.

I enjoyed this book and I liked having another ghost involved in the story. I thought that the story's resolution was a good one and I was surprised at the identity of the killer. Evelyn in this book fell a little flat to me, and it seemed like she was irritated with Carrie and dealing with Uncle Alec's ghost.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a ghost story thrown in. I am looking forward to the next book in the series - will Dylan and Carrie finally hear wedding bells?

This was a fun cozy mystery set in a library. Carrie Singleton is just off a hot string of murder cases centered around the spooky local library in Clover Ridge, Connecticut. She could really use a break—but no such luck, as she; Smoky Joe, the resident cat; and Evelyn, the library’s ghost, are drawn into another tantalizing whodunit.
When the body of Carrie's fiancé's uncle is found in the library basement, and his ghost has no plans to move on, Carrie and resident ghost Evelyn, along with Smokey Joe (the cat) have to work to find out who killed him. This was a nice quick read and great for anyone that likes a little mystery without the gore.

I absolutely adore this cozy mystery series. Carrie Singleton, small town librarian and amateur sleuth can talk to ghosts and solves mysterious deaths in clover ridge. In this book, Carrie try’s to solve the death of an unknown person by interviewing the victims ghost. If you’re a fan of cats, libraries and mystery’s this series is definitely worth checking out.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review. I love some cozy mysteries but this was not one of them. The characters were just ok and I did not connect well with them. The writing is very repetitive so I skimmed a lot. I will probably not read anymore books in this series.

Off the bat, let me state, I love a cozy mystery. I was very happy to be approved for the ARC. I've read other books in the series and have enjoyed them very much. The characters are quirky and the situations were interesting. All in all, this was a fun read.

#deweydecimated #allisionbrook #NETGALLEY

Dewey Decimated
A Haunted Library Mystery, Book #6
Allison Brook
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Librarian Carrie Singleton is back on the case, alongside library ghost Evelyn, in the sixth installment of Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.

Carrie Singleton is just off a hot string of murder cases centered around the spooky local library in Clover Ridge, Connecticut. She could really use a break—but no such luck, as she; Smoky Joe, the resident cat; and Evelyn, the library’s ghost, are drawn into another tantalizing whodunit.

First, a dead body is found in the basement of the building attached to the library, and it turns out to be Carrie’s fiancé’s Uncle Alec, who Dylan hasn’t seen in years. But Alec has no intention of truly checking out, and his ghost makes itself at home in the library, greatly upsetting the patrons. Carrie and Evelyn work hard to keep Alec out of sight, but what was he doing in Clover Ridge to begin with? And why was he killed?

Meanwhile, the town council, of which Carrie is also a member, is embroiled in a hot-headed debate over the fate of the Seabrook Preserve, a lovely and valuable piece of property that runs along Long Island Sound. Turn it into an upscale park? Sell it to a condo developer? Or keep it as protected land?

As the dispute rages, there’s another murder, this time involving a council member. Could the two murders be connected? And could Carrie be next on the hit list?

Review:

The characters are well rounded, well developed and three dimensional. Carrie has her hands full doing all of her librarian duties.and they are demolishing a building for the library expansion. When they find a body in the old building there is another murder to solve. And when it turns out that the body is her fiance’s uncle, it becomes even more important. And not only does she have Evelyn to help her, she also has the ghost of uncle Alex creating chaos. What could possibly go wrong?

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and throughout the book I felt like I was right there watching all the action taking place. The mystery is well plotted and not easily solved. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider and you need to put on your thinking caps to try to solve it.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I really enjoyed this book, as well as the others in the series.

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

This is the sixth book in the Haunted Library series. Featuring librarian Carrie Singleton, the only one who can see and speak with library ghost Evelyn (other than Carrie's niece), and a lovely complement of friends, family, co-workers and her finance Dylan, and of course the library cat Smokey Joe.

Determined to avoid any more murder and mystery, Carrie has her plate full with library work, wedding planning and her new seat on the community council. But the best laid plans are waylaid when the construction to expand the library into the building next door reveals a body in the basement and a new ghost.

This was an entertaining cozy mystery, with a cute cast of characters and a fun plot.


With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for my honest review.

The sixth in the series, but I didn't read the first five, so unfortunately I'm only looking at it as a standalone. I'm excited to read the other books!
This cute cozy mystery is great for when you're in the mood to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate, talk to the ghosts in the library and solve a whodunit in a small town. Definitely worth the read!

Carrie Singleton is one of my favorite armature sleuth's and cozy mystery main character. Allison Brook has done an excellent job building Clover Ridge along with a phenomenal amount of character development.

We follow Carrie on another "behind the scenes' investigation as she tries to uncover the murder of Dylan's uncle, Alec. Have I mentioned the deceased comes back as a ghost, with zero memory of the night he was murdered?

Along with solving this cold case, Carrie finds herself in a town council battle, fight for the perfect library expansion, and unwavering news reporter who won't stop begging Carrie for help solving the case.

I am already looking forward to the next installment of A Haunted Library Mystery series. PLEASE TAKE US BACK TO CLOVER RIDGE!