Review
The Seventh Haunted Library Mystery
After a trying renovation, the new addition to the library is finally opening. In addition to providing much needed programming space, the library is also kicking off an art exhibit with paintings on loan from the debonair Victor Zalinka. With the grand opening overshadowed by a woman claiming the building actually belonged to her and worry that one of her employees is about to be poached by a local art gallery librarian Carrie Singleton barely has time to plan her wedding to Dylan. But when Dylan spots a forgery among Victor's paintings and gallery owner Martha Mallory winds up dead, murder becomes Carrie's main concern.
Art forgery, affairs, and one rotten family dominate the seventh Haunted Bookshop Mystery. I love how Dylan's expertise marries with Carrie's as they work to solve the mystery together...along with the Sheriff, of course. I also really like how Carrie has grown since her arrival in Clover Ridge. And honestly, I'd be as possessive as she is about the new library wing.
There were plenty of people to distrust and dislike in OVERDUE OR DIE, with a crime boss even making an appearance-and he was a character I liked! The plot skillfully weaved around art fraud, murder, and wedding preparations with some characters proving to have more depth than I'd originally thought. The ghostly Evelyn didn't make much of an appearance in this entry, but never having cared for her, I didn't miss her, although the haunted library wasn't very haunted.
With overlapping crimes OVERDUE OR DIE is an engaging and entertaining mystery that will keep you on your toes!
***********************************************************************
Overdue or Die (A Haunted Library Mystery) by Allison Brook
About Overdue or Die
Cozy Mystery 7th in Series
Setting - Connecticut
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2023)
Hardcover: 304 pages
Carrie Singleton has a wedding to plan, a killer to catch, and a conspiracy to uncover in this charming seventh novel of Agatha Award-nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.
Carrie Singleton has more than her fair share on her plate: her job at the Clover Ridge Library, preparing for her wedding to Dylan Avery, and hoping that the local art gallery doesn’t steal away one of her part-time employees. Her fiancé Dylan accompanies her to the beautiful home of Victor Zalinka—art collector and successful businessman—to select paintings for an art show at the library. While Carrie muses that Victor's home would be the perfect wedding venue, Dylan spots a forgery among the paintings in Victor's collection. Then Martha Mallory is found murdered in her art gallery. With the assistance of Evelyn, the library ghost; the resident cat, Smoky Joe; and the office manager of Dylan’s private investigation company, Carrie comes up with a suspect list long enough to rival the size of an encyclopedia. During her investigation, Carrie stumbles across a terrible truth: Martha’s murder was part of something far bigger and more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. And it all leads back to the art gallery. How far will Carrie go to find the killer and uncover the truth? If the killer finds her first—will Carrie finally be taken out of circulation?
About Allison Brook
A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries 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.
Her juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Children's Choice and has recently come out in a new edition. And Don't Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards.
Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids.
Author Links:
Website and Sign Up for My Newsletter: http://www.marilynlevinson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson; https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook
My Amazon Page: http://amzn.to/K6Md1O
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/
Purchase Links : Amazon B&N Bookshop.org Kobo Penguin Random House (has links to many sellers)
Sounds like a great book.
ReplyDelete