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?

Librarian Carrie Singleton is excited about the library’s expansion into the neighboring building. But then a body is found in the building and after the workers accidentally put a hole in the connecting wall, a ghost, with amnesia,  comes crashing through the hole and into the library. Carrie and Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost, promise to help the ghost find out who he is and who killed him but things start to get complicated when it turns out the dead man is Carrie’s fiancee’s uncle and that he seems to have been the victim of a scam involving several important and prominent local citizens.  Add in an overzealous TV reporter, a second murder, constructions delays  and a contentious issue facing the city council, of which Carrie is the newest member, and Carrie has her hands full with time running out.

This is a typical “cozy mystery” with no gore, really likeable characters and a pleasant small-town setting. Carrie is engaged but a bit hesitant to actually plan the wedding due to her parents’ dysfunctional marriage. She puts clues together to get to the truth but there are no particularly unrealistic actions on her part while getting to the solution.  The characters actually show believable growth from book to book. This is a thoroughly delightful series and I can’t wait for the next one. Recommended ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

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