Overdue or Die has so many of my favorite things...mystery in a small town, library, a ghost, cute kitty and light action scenes. I always love reading cozies in between my other reads and this is such a fun series.

If you enjoy the faves I listed as well, then this is perfect for you too. I sincerely appreciate the author and NetGalley for the review copy.

This novel is a must read for all of those cozy mystery readers that keep running out these quick reads especially as Fall and Winter are upon us!

"Overdue or Die" by Laura Gail Black is an amusing ride through the world of bibliophiles and overdue library books, though it didn’t quite leave me breathless. The premise is fun—who doesn’t love a good library heist?—but the execution felt a bit like a book returned without a bookmark: scattered and not entirely cohesive.

The characters are quirky enough to hold your interest, but some felt a bit one-dimensional, like they were plucked from a cliché shelf. The humor is present and occasionally lands a solid punch, but there were moments I wished for sharper wit and a tighter plot.

Black has a knack for crafting engaging scenes, yet I found myself wishing for a bit more tension and intrigue. It’s an okay read if you’re in the mood for something light and easy, but it might not stick with you once you close the cover.

If you’re looking for a cozy mystery to pass the time, "Overdue or Die" could fit the bill. Just don’t expect it to linger in your memory like a beloved library classic; it’s more of a quick checkout than a timeless treasure.

Overdue or Die by Allison Brook is a delightful and suspenseful cozy mystery that keeps you turning the pages! Librarian Carrie Singleton is back, and this time she’s investigating a murder tied to a long-lost treasure. Set in the charming Clover Ridge library, the story blends an intriguing mystery with a touch of the paranormal, as Carrie communicates with a friendly ghost who helps her unravel clues. The characters are well-developed, the small-town setting is full of charm, and the plot has enough twists to keep you guessing. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a dash of the supernatural and a strong, determined heroine. A must-read for any cozy mystery lover!

Book number seven starts out with a trifecta of turmoil. A heart attack, a verbal attack, and a physical attack and that’s before we even get to murder. Gallery owner Martha Mallory is murdered followed by the unfortunate accident of Emily Fielding. Was it the accident of an unsteady older lady or an intentional pushing down the stairs??? Carrie just can’t leave this one alone but she also has to find time to work on her wedding plans with Dillon. Will she ever be able to settle on the venue? More information comes to light regarding Martha’s business practices as well as her shady past. There are plenty of suspects from art collector Victor Zalinka; Leroy Gum who has mob family ties, finally there is Martha’s past associations. Carrie’s friend and police detective John is under pressure to find the murderer(s) and resident ghost Evelyn is pushing Carrie to work harder to get to the bottom of who killed Martha. The case becomes even more complicated with the killing of Denny, the son of the mobster who Martha was involved with and subsequently sent to jail. So many murders and clues are being left that point to Victor who denies any involvement in the crimes other than some poor romantic judgement involving Martha. Victor hires Dillon to prove his innocence and asks Carrie to do what she does best next to being a librarian, solve the murders and free him from suspicion. This story has so many layers you need to write it all down to keep track. Carrie certainly has her work cut out for her, thankfully she has supportive family, friends, and finance. The herrings are plentiful as are the clues so you can’t put this one down until you get to the end. The only thing that I thought was missing from this entertaining cozy, was the recipe for Carrie’s double chocolate brownies, those sounded amazing. I am looking forward to the next Haunted Library Mystery and the wedding of Carrie and Dillon.

REVIEW: Overdue or Die by Allison Brook

Overdue or Die by Allison Brook is a delightful, captivating, cozy mystery blends intrigue, charm, and just the right touch of the supernatural. When you step into Clover Ridge Library with Carrie Singleton, you’re in for a treat that’s hard to put down.

The intrepid librarian and amateur sleuth, Carrie is as endearing as ever, bringing warmth and intelligence to every page. Her latest mystery is packed with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end. Brook masterfully crafts a story filled with red herrings and unexpected revelations, making this a truly engaging read for any mystery lover.

One of the novel’s highlights is the setting of Clover Ridge, which feels like a character in its own right. The library, with its cozy corners and ghostly residents, adds a unique atmosphere that makes the story all the more enchanting. The interactions between Carrie and Evelyn, the friendly ghost who assists her in solving the mystery, are a delightful mix of the paranormal and the every day, adding a fun and distinctive layer to the plot.

Brook’s writing is smooth and engaging, with well-paced storytelling that balances suspense with moments of humor and heart. The supporting cast, from Carrie’s colleagues to the quirky townsfolk, are well-developed and add richness to the narrative, making Clover Ridge a place you’ll want to visit again and again.

Overdue or Die is the perfect cozy mystery for fans of the genre. It offers a mix of suspense, endearing characters, and a setting that feels like home. Allison Brook has once again delivered a story that’s as charming as it is thrilling, making this installment in the Haunted Library series a must-read.

Thank you, Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

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 Overdue or Die 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 Clover Ridge Library addition is almost complete and Carrie Singleton is excited about all the new events and programs the library will now offer. Art collector Victor Zalinka has committed to display several of his paintings in the new art gallery. He has invited Carrie and her fiancé Dylan to his opulent home to select the paintings that will be part of the exhibit. She and Dylan are trying to find the perfect venue for their upcoming wedding. Victor's home seems to check all the boxes of what they are looking for but they don't know him well enough to ask. Dylan grows pensive when he sees a forgery prominently hanging in his home.

Martha and Ron Mallory own the local Gallery on the Green and Carrie's assistant Susan Roberts is an amazing artist who has been showing her work at their gallery. Carrie knows she will someday lose Susan to her art but she hopes it isn't soon. Then Martha is murdered and Carrie, the library ghost Evelyn, Dylan's office manager, and her cat Smoky Joe find themselves in the middle of her murder investigation and it's a doozy. And it's dangerous!

Will Carrie catch the killer? or will the killer catch her?

______

Carrie and Dylan are finally starting to concentrate on their wedding while handling the trials and tribulations of their lives and now another murder is thrown into the mix. Dylan is trying to wrap up his uncle's assets following the events in the previous book and his short trip doesn't go as planned adding extra drama to their lives. Both characters are resilient and keep pushing forward in everything they do. They work and play well together. It is so much fun to tag along with them each step of the way. It was so cute how Dylan treated Carrie as they were looking for a wedding venue. All he wants to do is make her happy.

Readers are introduced to Emily Fielding, an older woman who claims she still owns the building now housing the library addition. Sadly, she is dealing with dementia. Her niece did her best to keep track of her aunt but Emily must have witnessed something she shouldn't have because she becomes another victim of the killer. My heart broke for the woman and her niece.

Again, Ms. Brook has written a very complicated mystery with multiple suspects and deaths. Could there be more than one killer on the loose? Carrie keeps digging proded on by library ghost Evelyn who just gives her little snippets of information. Two others ask for her to investigate too. And investigate she does. She uncovers secrets and lies and eavesdrops to get to the truth. She also finds herself in a dicey situation but gains some information. Like Carrie, I had pared down my suspects but we were both surprised when the killer came into focus. I love it when that happens. Carrie had one of the moments, that truly lasted several minutes when I wanted to jump into the book and stop her. Okay, I may have jumped in and gone with her but one of us had to be smart. But she surprised me.  I have to give Carrie props. She didn't do what I thought she would but the showdown was still very exhilarating.

Overdue or Die was chock-full of entertaining characters, twists, turns, and surprises. Ms. Brook just continues to top herself with each new entry in this series. Booked on Murder will be released on August 6 and I can't wait to read it!

Carrie is planning her wedding and overseeing the library events. She has more than her share to deal with and now she is worrying that the local art gallery is trying to steal her assistant. When one of the owners of the art museum is found murdered Carrie gets asked to help clear one of the suspects. Can Carrie solve the murder and keep her wedding planning on track?

I love this series. What could be more fun than a haunted library and a ghost librarian? The characters are likable and interesting. The mystery is well-plotted with plenty of twists and turns.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, I have not been influenced by anyone.

This book has quite a few things going on - wedding planning, a mystery, and tedious details. I do love the additions of the cat and library ghost. It would be nice if everything was not described in such minute detail. The mystery was interesting enough for me to overlook the flaws.

The author knows how to weave a great story that is captivating.

Really enjoyed reading Overdue or Die.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Allison Brook

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Overdue or Die was a great addition to the Haunted Library series. The relationship between Carrie and Dylan is a great part to every mystery. I do wish that there were a little more of the haunted part of the library in each book but overall I found this mystery to be an enjoyable reading experience.

I really enjoyed Overdue or Die. I'm glad that the author has made Carrie get over her commitment-phobia and she's full steam ahead on wedding plans. The murder mystery was cleverly written and kept me guessing until the very end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

A delightful cozy mystery! I enjoyed it very much. If you enjoy mysteries or stories with an amateur sleuth, and do not need the graphic reality with descriptions of gore and violence, this is a good choice. You can follow the clues to solve the mystery without any threat of nightmares.

A fast read.
I enjoyed the character’s dynamic that focuses on the importance of family.
There are a lot of things going on, but the plot is easy to follow and gets the perfect cozy mystery vibe.
Would love to read more from this author.

I loved the haunted library setting. I was not familiar with this series before this book, so I am excited to backtrack through the first six books! I loved following along with Carrie and can't wait to read about her some more.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is the 7th book in Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.

In this book Carrie Singleton and Dylan Avery are planning their wedding. Carrie is program director at Clover Ridge Library and Dylan is a private detective specializing in art fraud detection.

Martha Mallory and her husband own a local art gallery. Martha is found murdered in the back room of her gallery.

One of Dylan’s clients is a person of interest in the murder. Now it's up to Carrie and Dylan to identify the real killer. Evelyn, the resident library ghost, was a good friend to Martha in life so she helps with much of the background of the many people involved.

#OverdueorDie

This is my first book by this author. Allison Brook. it was amazingly written kept my attention till the end of the book. Purely enjoyable and relaxing. Even though I didn't know the characters I picked up on all of them just reading, It was a very easy read that I could follow and capture what's going on, i suppose in the next book will be about Carrie's wedding and I suppose a murder. Waiting for the next read.

I enjoy this series. The mystery kept me guessing and I like the characters. Things move forward in each book.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, the narrator and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review