I did not read the first book in this series. So I can only speak for this book as if it were a stand alone. It was an ok story with an ok plot. Its a cozy mystery with the age-old romance thrown in. Overall it was well written and cute.

Small town librarian Carrie Singleton’s father Jim shows up in her life again after years of being on the lam, which she discovers when she finds him breaking into her home in the dead of night…with a jewel theft hanging over his head. When he asks her to help him recover his share of the 20-million-dollar heist from his partner, local jeweler Benton Parr, she refuses. And he disappears…until she discovers he’s been arrested for Benton’s murder.

And the murders don’t stop with Benton. As Carrie attempts to unravel a mystery from the past that is taking its toll in the present, she finds herself in danger…plus she’s at loggerheads with her insurance investigator boyfriend Dylan, who is hot on the trail of the original jewel thieves.

Add in the library’s resident ghost Evelyn and the library cat Smokey Joe and you have a full cast of characters in this light mystery read.

Really not for me. Didn't like the characters, didn't like the plot, heroine/detective/mystery solver in the too-stupid-to-live groove and came off as petulant and annoying. She's clearly got (or meant to have) a difficult backstory but the characterisation is so shallow it's hard to work up any sympathy for her. Never mind.

In this second book in The Haunted Library Mysteries, Carrie Singleton is the head of programs and events at the Clover Ridge Library. She loves her job, even though there is one employee who is a thorn in her side. She also has a special friend, the ghost of a former librarian, Evelyn who she is able to share her problems with as well as being a great sounding board. Carrie is gearing up for the holiday season at the library, as well as celebrating her birthday and house-warming with her new friends and family. When she is awoken at night by a sound, she finds her long-lost father in her home, begging her to help him. Jim Singleton is a thief who has spent time in jail and is a suspect in a multi-million dollar jewel heist. He tells her about the heist and the local jeweler who refuses to give him his share. Soon after, the jeweler is found murdered. Is her father a thief and a murderer? When her father is attacked, they are now on the hunt for the jewels and the murderer who is also after the jewels.

Read and Gone is an entertaining story. I like the setting of a small town library, especially with all the activities going on and the idea that is is the gathering place. I don't mind the ghost story, as Evelyn is a hoot and a very helpful ghost when it comes to sleuthing. Smokey Joe is the library cat, who belongs to Carrie and is loved by all, except of course, Miriam. Carrie is a great MC, she is smart, creative and feisty when necessary, but sometimes reacts negatively without thinking things through. Family is very important to her, so she agrees to help her father, even though he was not around much in her life. The mystery moved along at a nice pace, with plenty of investigation, suspects and twists. There was a lot of physical altercations in this story, much more than I expect in a cozy mystery. Carrie's relationship with Dylan was quite rocky in this story, with Carrie finally realizing that she really cares for Dylan and is ready to take the relationship to the next level. The final reveal had some surprises, but also a lot of what I had figured out was correct. I enjoyed this story, but not quite as much as the first in the series. I will continue to read this series to see what is next in store for Carrie, Evelyn and the library gang. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

A satisfying cozy of particular interest to book lovers. Nicely paced, interesting characters, and series potential.

Carrie Singleton is NOT a daddy's girl. Her dad is constantly running from the law and Carried avoids the situation at all costs. Carrie then find her father, behind bars again, this time for murder. Carrie decides she is the only one to clear her father's name. Carrie once again retreats to the comfortable library in which she works. But what is lurking behind the wall?

Read and Gone is the second book in the Haunted Library Mystery series. I got this via NetGalley and I want to thank you Allison Brook who is the author of this wonderful book. This was quite nice and cozy mystery with paranormal elements. It was my first book for this author and it made me want to read more. I hope that some day there I can read books like this also in Finnish, because this book was awesome and I think there was many parts where even my mother likes in her books, but the language is problem. So some day I hope that authors will also brings books like Read and Gone in Finland and Finnish markets or try to do some kind of contact that even one or two books will be translated. But the plot was awesome, any way and characters ok. Liked this book which was nice to read when was long holiday.

Read and Gone was one of the best mysteries I have read this year. I was engrossed in the story from the start. It was fascinating and fun to read.

This is the second book in the Haunted Library Series, and it's a hit! This book could stand alone, however I really loved the first book in the series and could not wait for the second book to be released. I laugh out loud at times reading Allison Brook's novels and I just adore Carrie Singleton, our heroine librarian. This cozy mystery has a lot of possibilities and really I didn't figure out the culprit till the end. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a great cozy mystery.

Another great installment in Allison Brook's Haunted Library series. It was a good, quick read. -

Cute, easy to read. If you like series cozies you'll find this one hits the spot with no great surprises but some interesting characters. A little heavy with a big information dump in the beginning but ignore that and the plot moves along.

I will not post a whole review as I didn’t finish the book. No major issue I just personally couldn’t get into it.

Carrie is on the case trying to clear her father's name after he's connected to a murder in her small town. Do the answers lie in her own library?

This was fun. It wasn't like mind-blowing or something I'll think about forever, but I did enjoy it and had a good time reading it. It did what I wanted it to do, it entertained me and kept me interested. I haven't read many cozy mysteries, but I really did enjoy this one. I liked the plot of this one and the characters were interesting, and I was interested in seeing where this lead up to. Plus having this take place in a town where the main character works in a haunted library was fun! Overall highly recommend if you're looking for a fun cozy mystery.

This was just as good as the first in the series! I enjoyed learning more about Carrie's father and am interested in seeing where Dylan and Carrie's relationship goes. Plus who couldn't love reading about Smokey Joe and Evelyn?

Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

I loved this book. The mystery is so much more than just the ghost that likes to help. It is well written and easy to read. Interesting mystery and twists and turns that kept me guessing until late into the night. This was a book that I hated to put down! Now I need to go back and read the first one in the series!

$20 million in stolen gems, 3 murders, an absentee father who by the way just happens to be a thief, a handsome boyfriend who is also an insurance investigator, a friendly library ghost that only Carrie Singleton and her niece can see and communicate with and of course Smoky Joe, Carrie’s Cat and also the library feline. Christmas is just around the corner and all of the aforementioned is going on right in the midst of the Holidays. Can Carrie find the jewels and the murderer before she herself falls victim?

Allison Broom has written a wonderful Christmas Cozy Mystery. The story keeps you guessin* 7 til the very end as to who the real culprit is..

Great story, easy to read. I highly recommend this story as a to be read!

This was a fun mystery, with a lot of probable suspects and a few red herrings to boot. When Carrie Singleton's dad shows up, her life goes every which way. Jim is rarely around to be much of a dad, and she is immediately conflicted with how much she should help him with a little task that may be slightly on the sketchy side. I enjoyed Evelyn's gentle presence at the library and how many of the characters are coming into their own. I was a bit surprised by the time I got to the end, but it was definitely a good read.

3.5 stars but rounded up instead of down.

I've not read this author before but was intrigued by the series so requested it from Netgalley (thank you for a copy in exchange for an honest review) Carrie is a librarian who recently moved back to the area where she grew up fresh off of solving a previous murder. Her father, a known thief, is back in town and wanting her to help him find some jewels that he stole so he can fence them and have enough money to run away to South America. The problem with that? These jewels are the worst kept secret in town and everyone is looking for them so they can collect a $500,000 reward. Dead bodies are turning up everywhere and Carrie of course thinks that she can solve the case.

I struggled with this book. I enjoyed the plot but thought that Carrie was the most immature and obnoxious person that I've read about it in a long long time. She's more upset that her boyfriend, an insurance investigator, is investigating her father for the theft of the jewels (which he did help steal) and is upset that he has the nerve to want to get the jewels and return them to their rightful owner. She's an atrocious detective, alienating most everyone at some point and I just couldn't get over it. I think my jaw actually dropped when she said she was 30. I think the series has potential but REALLY hope that Carrie grows up....and gets some therapy....in the future books.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2566286913

Carrie does not really know her dad as he has always been running from the law for as long as she can remember. She feels so disconnected from him that she calls him Jim and not dad. When she catches him breaking into her cottage she doesn't know whether to hug him or call the police. She really doesn't know what to do when he asks her to help him recover some stolen gems from the local jeweler and library board member, Benton Parr. Shortly after her refusal to help him, Parr is found dead and her father the main suspect. Now it is up to Carrie to prove her father is innocent and find the real killer before the killer strikes again. Will Evelyn, the resident library ghost, be of help in Carrie's latest quest?

I've been surprised how much I have enjoyed this series being that it is of the paranormal theme with having a library ghost of a past librarian. Evelyn, the library ghost, is a great to help Carrie whether learning her way around the library or finding a killer. The second book starts a bit slow but picks up quickly. It really picks up when Carrie is torn between her dad and the love of her life, insurance man, Dylan. You find yourself having a hard time deciding who to be mad at, her dad or Dylan. Poor Carrie goes through every emotion. Luckily Smokey Joe, her cat, is there to comfort her.

I am curious to know if Carrie's dad, Jim, will be a regular character or one who visits from time to time. He adds some interest to the story with his questionable background but I can see he may be a nuisance in the romance between her and Dylan.

I like that this library is trying to evolve with the times by mentioning a coffee shop inside and having so many programs. Our main library has recently allowed you to bring in drinks. Yes, it scares me to think of how many books could be damaged but we bring the books home and we know we all read as we eat lunch or are drinking a cup of tea. Allowing drinks gives you the option to stay longer and take advantage of the library offerings such as programs like a Christmas carol singing. I know myself I wish I could visit Carrie's library and pet Smokey Joe and have a cup of tea while reading.

I received a complimentary copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.