I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook Series: The Haunted Library Mysteries #6
Published by Crooked Lane Books on September 6, 2022
Genres: Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Amateur Sleuth, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Cozy / Animals, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths
Pages: 336
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
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?
Obligatory I have not read any other of the books in this series, and this is the sixth one in the Haunted Library series. This book is very spooky! There’s ghosts! There’s a complicated web of interpersonal politics! There’s an appropriately slow start! There’s a resident ghost! There’s a cat named Smoky Joe! There’s A MURDER (which results in a ghost, obviously). There’s a cop and his name is John and the entire Clover Ridge Police Department is involved, and there’s an INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER who wants to TAKE DOWN the police department because they’re INCOMPETENT. And she’s RIGHT. We stan Julie in this house. Honestly, the quote on the front of the book is “all my favorite cozy things’”, and this book does deliver (library? cat? murder? perfect), but I wish there was less Police Drama and also I wish there were more dessert-based descriptions. Or some recipes! Four stars. You’ll probably like it. Bookshop link here.
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