Checked Out For Murder

September 08, 2020

Checked Out For Murder

Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery
by Allison Brook

About Checked Out for Murder

Checked Out for Murder: A Haunted Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (September 8, 2020)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 164385447X
ISBN-13: 978-1643854472
Digital ASIN: B082738ZNV

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?

A word from Smoky Joe...

Hello, Everyone. My name is Smoky Joe. I'm a cat—all gray with a bushy tail. Quite handsome, if I must say so myself. I live with Carrie Singleton, who is the head of programs and events at the Clover Ridge Library in Clover Ridge, Connecticut. I'm also the library cat since Carrie takes me to work every day.

I was born on a farm in Connecticut, through the woods and beyond Carrie's cottage. Many other cats were living in the barn, along with the cows and other animals. My siblings were always squabbling over the few available scraps of food since there was never enough to eat. I decided it was time to leave. I wanted to live a more exciting life and not have to fight for every meal.

One fall morning when I was barely six months old, I set off on my adventure. I walked straight through the woods until I reached a lawn and a cottage beside the river. A young woman appeared. She was about to get into a car. To make a long story short, I jumped in her car and she carried me into the library where she works. That was Carrie, if you haven't figured it out by now.

I love my job, which is more like playtime than anything else. I visit with the library's patrons and let them pet me. Often the older ones tell me things they probably don't tell their family or friends. I especially like going to the children’s room. The kiddies make a big fuss about me and Marion, the children’s librarian, gives me the best treats. Carrie tells people not to feed me because she gives me plenty to eat. I’m so glad no one listens to her.

The library is more exciting than you'd imagine. For one thing, someone was actually murdered in front of an audience! For another, the ghost of an older lady haunts the place. Evelyn Havers used to work here when she was alive. Only Carrie and her little cousin Tacey can see Evelyn. I can’t see her but I get this cold and creepy feeling whenever she visits Carrie. I wish Evelyn would stop coming around. She’s supposed to help Carrie solve mysteries, except she's always leaving out stuff that's important. I suppose she has her own share of secrets she doesn’t want anyone to know.

I don't like to boast, but I played a big role in solving a mystery. That's well documented in Read and Gone. You'll have to read the book to find out what I did. Carrie is always helping people, which is how she gets involved in solving murders. Life with Carrie is never dull. I like it that way.

About Allison Brook

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook she writes the Haunted Library series. DEATH OVERDUE, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Author Links

Website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com

Amazon: http://bit.ly/Amazon_MarilynLevinson

Facebook: http://bit.ly/MarilynLevinson_Facebook

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/Goodreads_MarilynLevinson

Twitter: @MarilynLevinson; @AllisonBrookML

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/allison-brook

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilev4/

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