Carrie needs some help from her friendly resident ghost to help solve a current murder that is likely tied to a murder decades earlier. Her mom and her mom’s actor husband are in town filming a movie. It should be an exciting and happy time, however, murder in this quiet town has everyone on edge. Of course, Carrie can’t help but get involved. Even a threatening note fails to deter her. Cozy mystery readers who like a bit of a ghost story mixed into the mystery will enjoy this delightful tale. ( )

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.

Checked Out For Murder, by Allison Brook, is available at booksellers on 9-8-2020. Unfortunately this is book 4 of 4 in Ms. Brooks A Haunted Library Mystery. I so enjoyed the plot and characters that I'm wishing for more. It's time to start at the beginning with book 1. Checked Out For Murder is intended as a stand alone story in a series but I think coming in at the end left questions. I can't believe I'm saying this but a little more background would have helped. Library or bookstore murder mysteries are my favorite, I'm a former librarian. Our heroine works in a library to die for, it's big and has all kinds of programs. A book lovers dream. Her boyfriend is perfect, if only he was real. The whole small town is written as friendly and everyone knows everyone. Kind of like Mayberry and a place I'd like to live. This was an enjoyable weekend read.

#AllisonBrook #CheckedOutForMurder #AHauntedLibraryMystery #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks ( )

Checked Out for Murder by Allison Brook is the 4th book in The Haunted Library Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to this series. I thought Checked Out for Murder contained good writing and developed characters. My favorite character is Evelyn Havers, the ghost who lives at the library. She is delightful. I liked that we saw more of Evelyn in this book. Two murders take place in this story. We all know Carrie will investigate despite being told repeatedly by boyfriend, Dylan Avery and Lt. John Mathers to stay out of the case. There are multiple suspects and a variety of clues to aid in readers in solving the crimes. Evelyn provides good insight and intel that helped Carrie’s investigation (and John’s). Carrie certainly has her hands full in Checked Out for Murder with her work, Smoky Joe feeling spring fever, her mother, Dylan traveling, two murders, and her father’s surprise visit. Carrie will need a long weekend away after her mother leaves town. Mother and daughter have different personalities which can lead to clashes. They get a chance to do some bonding in this tale and maybe Brianna will change her ways (or not). I do want to let you know that the story does contain some mild foul language. I hope Dylan will be more open to Carrie’s investigating in the future. He needs to realize that a leopard does not change its spots. Checked Out for Murder is an entertaining whodunit with a temptress thespian, a manipulating mother, a fugitive feline, a perished psychic, a troubled beau, and a curious Carrie. ( )

Daphne Marriott, a psychic, shows up at Clover Ridge Green Library and befriends Carrie Singleton, the head of Programs and Events. Before the women's friendship can go any further, Daphne ends up dead. As the case is being investigated it comes to light that Daphne's father was killed 20 years earlier where her brother was tried and sent to prison for a crime he did not commit.

In the meantime, Carrie Singleton's mother and much younger husband Tom is in town. Tom is an actor who is staring in a movie in Carrie's town. Then when Tom's costar Ilana Reingold was found dead, the police are convicted that murders are not connected and are bad for the town's reputation. Carrie steps in against the wishes of her investigator Dylan Avery and with her faithful companion Smokey Joe to see how and if the murders are connected or if one or both of the murders connected to the cold case from 20 years earlier.

I received a digital advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my review. ( )

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. ( )