I love this series set in a library . It is one of my favorite new cozy series. This next in series has a Christmas time theme which adds to the fun of the story.
I highly recommend the entire series . This book can be read as a stand alone as the author does present the backstory for new readers to the series.
Thank you for the ARC for review. My opinion is my own.
In this next in series our savvy smart protagonist Carrie Singleton works at a small Connecticut library. She loves her work, has made friends and has a private ghost who has become a trusted friend -- Evelyn, who worked at the library years ago. When Carrie's father, a reformed jewel thief, returns unexpectedly, her quiet well ordered life quickly turns upside down. She soon is investigating a murder with the help of her boyfriend who is a insurance investigator while visiting old friends of Evelyn and running the library while preparing for Christmas.

I loved the holiday setting, as Carrie and staff prepared for Christmas. The romance between Carrie and Dylan is a nice part of the story and done just right without overpowering the story. The cat Smoky is a fun part of the story and delightful for all cat lovers as she is part of the solving of the murder. This is a well crafted sleuth, nice supporting charcters and a enjoyable cozy series. I look forward to the next in series.

Read and Gone was another enjoyable cozy from Allison Brooks and the perfect book to get you into the holiday spirit.

After a joint celebration for her birthday and housewarming, Carrie Singleton hopes to get a good night’s rest before she needs to gear up for all of the holiday programming at the library. To her dismay, her thief father appears in the middle of the night asking for Carrie’s help in locating his share of seven-million dollars’ worth of missing gems. When she refuses, he takes off only to call her when he’s accused of murdering Benton Parr, his accomplice in the gem theft. Determined to find the missing gems herself and clear her father’s name, Carrie begins her investigation only to find herself in the path of a killer who will do anything to find the gems first.

I enjoyed the mystery plot in Read and Gone quite a bit and think it was the best aspect of the book. The mystery surrounding the missing gems was interesting and millions of dollars worth of stolen gems certainly tempted a lot of people to get involved in finding them. I do wish we had learned more about how the gems were stolen though as that bit was never actually covered. Once we learn the killer’s motive, it made sense who the person was even if they weren’t at the top of my list of suspects.

Carrie did a bit of backsliding in terms of character development compared to the last book but she eventually got back on track towards the final third of the book. I think my issue with her was that she was a bit wishy-washy this time around and would sometimes change her mind three or four times on the same page. There was also a decent amount of relationship drama with her boyfriend Dylan, an insurance investigator looking for the gems, that I wasn’t expecting in a cozy.

One of the great things about the books in this series is the large cast of enjoyable side characters. I was happy to see more of Carrie’s aunt and uncle as she has a great parent-child relationship with them. Carrie’s friends at the library continue to provide a lot of entertainment and I enjoyed their helping Carrie solve the mystery. Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost returns to provide some Carrie with some great advice as well as some cryptic comments regarding the case. Smokey Joe, the library cat, makes quite a few appearances and continues to be as adorable as ever.

Overall Read and Gone was a fun, quick read and it’s clear The Haunted Library Mysteries books are shaping up to be a solid cozy mystery series. I definitely recommend these books for fans of book-centric cozies.

Incredibly well written cozy mystery that is an absolute must read for fans of the genre. I was absolutely hooked from page one unable to put it down as the story unfolded. The relatable characters, fabulous setting, and elaborate mystery all combine into this incredible novel with a library theme. The cute kitty is just icing on the cake. I totally love this series so I give it 5/5 stars.

Read and Gone by Allison Brook is the second book of the paranormal cozy The Haunted Library Mysteries series. Each book in the series contains it’s own mystery to be solved and could be read as a standalone. The series does however carry over character details from book to book so is best enjoyed as a whole.

Read and Gone begins with the main character, Carrie Singleton, celebrating the holidays with her new friends she’s made in her job as the library event coordinator. When the party is over however Carrie is awakened as her long lost felon of a father breaks into Carrie’s life again in more ways than one thus giving me the push to rename this one Daddy Issues.

Dear old dad, Jim, has returned to ask his daughter for her help in finding out what happened to his share of a former heist. Of course Carrie turns him away only to end up with her father in jail for suspicion of murder in which she’s certain he’s innocent of. Carrie ends up investigating the missing gems and trying to catch the murderer which brings turmoil into her new safe life.

With this second installment of the series my rating has slid back a little from 3.5 stars to only 3 this go round. I’m still a bit disappointed that the resident ghost doesn’t stand out more but rather just blends in with the other characters. And with this go round we had relationship angst that I’m not a fan of in romantic books where it belongs let alone a cozy. But really the story just seems a bit bland and lacking any cozy quirkiness that would make me really love them and instead are just OK reads to me instead.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Carrie Singleton just celebrated her 30th birthday and is feeling pretty good about herself being back in a small town near her favorite great-aunt Harriet and uncle, a boyfriend, Dylan, who also functions as her landlord for her comfortable little cottage, and a peach of a new job with the local Clover Ridge CT Library where she is now head of Programs and Events. She has a kitty, Smoky Joe, who adopted her and a ghost named Evelyn Havers, who haunts the library.

However, her long-absent father, Jim, just snuck back into her life. The man, a thief who has spent a stint in the slammer, would like his daughter to help him retrieve the jewels he and an accomplice stole some time back. Almost immediately, he is found beaten and ends up in the hospital where Carrie agrees to let him stay at her cottage until he is on his feet again (while looking for the jewels of course).

There were a number of things I enjoyed about this novel. The library, the small town feel with Christmas spirit, her loving relationship with her aunt and uncle. Smoky Joe, the kitty, functioned much the same as a therapy dog. The paranormal inclusion of Evelyn, the ghost with the never-ending wardrobe and personal hair stylist was fun. The search is on (sorta) for the gems and meanwhile the first victim shows up.

However, there were some rubs. First, I didn't see a well-developed protagonist, assumed she was fleshed out in book 1. Her boyfriend was more a denounced sleaze than lover. The library has lots of employees and all kinds of events and programs for small town stacks. Smoky Joe is allowed in to eat in her office--where his litter box is also located--and where she often takes a lunch break. (Gag) And the kitty hunts for library mice which he nails in the library coffee shop. (Gross)

The plot moves along at a typical cozy pace and does keep engagement. I liked the ghost but couldn't get into Carrie's shoes and the antagonist was pretty obvious early on. Still, it is entertaining for those who appreciate the cozy mystery genre, felines with their felonies, and amateur women sleuths. I appreciated the opportunity to read and review from the publisher and NetGalley.

Read and Gone is the second book in the Haunted Library Mystery series. Carrie Singleton works at a small Connecticut library. She loves her work, has made friends with several coworkers, and even has a ghost friend -- Evelyn, who worked at the library years ago. When Carrie's father, a reformed jewel thief, returns unexpectedly, her life is up-ended ... especially since her boyfriend is an insurance investigator who specializes in theft cases. When there is an unexpected murder, Carrie works to solve the mystery.

This is my second read in this series. I enjoyed both books, Death Overdue and Read and Gone, and look forward to future reads in this series. The details of Carrie's life unfold in both books, and I would recommend reading them in order.

There is just so much that I enjoyed about this cozy mystery. I loved the holiday setting, as Carrie and the library staff prepared for Christmas. I like the continuing romance between Carrie and Dylan; they are so well matched and their scenes together are great. I also loved the glimpses of Carrie's family, especially her dad, Jim.

Evelyn continues to be a delightful character. I have pictured her a bit like Aunt Clara in the Bewitched TV series, popping in as a very properly dressed older lady. I found the way that Evelyn sent Carrie to visit her senior citizen friend in a nursing home very touching.

And of course I loved that kitty, Smoky Joe. He even played a part in solving the mystery!

The mystery itself was well plotted and had enough possible suspects to make this a very enjoyable read.

I highly recommend Read and Gone to fans of cozy mysteries, especially for readers who enjoy holiday mysteries and library settings.

READ AND GONE by Allison Brook
The Second Haunted Library Mystery

It may be Christmastime, but all is not jolly in Clover Ridge. Carrie Singleton is happy to be able to finally put down roots, having friends, family, a boyfriend, and a job she loves at the library. Everything changes when her absentee thief of a father shows us asking her to locate some gems that he helped steal. Now her relationship is on the rocks, a surprising amount of people know about the gems and are searching for them, and people are getting murdered! Will Carrie find the gems and send her father on his way, or will she become another victim?

The characters in this second Haunted Library Mystery have rich backstories which add depth to the novel. Carrie's low self-esteem and abandonment issues drive her to act quite juvenile in regard to her relationships and her goody two-shoesness can be irksome. Still in all, she's loyal and devoted to her job and Smoky Joe, although she really needs to get a cat carrier! I really enjoy her co-workers, well, Dorothy the sourpuss is a real pill and I wish the ghostly Eleanor made more appearances.

A pleasurable read, READ AND GONE is a well plotted enjoyable mystery focusing on family relations as well as murder!

I read the first book in this series and knew that I had to read this book. Carrie is a delightful sleuth who has great helpers in a library cat and a ghost. This book is set around Christmas time, lost gems, and a long lost father. There is a lot going on in this book besides the mystery and it is all weaved together wonderfully I highly recommend this book

As a book lover, how could I not enjoy a series that is set in a library and is haunted too?! Ok, so the haunting isn't a scary haunting, but that is ok because Evelyn, the ghost, is caring and comical at the same time.

Family means a lot to Carrie and she was quite surprised when her father, Jim, showed up. Who could blame her since he wasn't around much and he is a thief? I could see where it might be hard to have him around but at the same time want him around because he is family. I did like watching the progression of their relationship in this book.

So the big mystery is what happened to $7+ million in gems that were stolen by Jim and the local jeweler, Benton. Of course being a mystery somebody has to end of dead and Benton is the victim. But where are the gemstones? Carrie, of course, gets involved in this case. I'm not sure she would have if her dad wasn't involved and wanting to find the gems, but not to turn them in and collect the reward but to fence them. The author throws quite a few characters into the mix as suspects and when the real killer is revealed I was surprised. This person wasn't really on my radar! I thought this character could be the culprit but they were near the bottom of the list. I thought the mystery was well written.

Then there is the romance part of the story. Here is where Carrie got on my nerves a little bit. She started thinking different things about Dylan and why he was involved with her and perhaps he only wanted to use her to get to her dad. I thought it was kind of crazy for her to think this and why didn't she talk to him about her thoughts? I didn't remember that Dylan was in the insurance business but it has been a bit since I had read the first book.

Overall very enjoyable and can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

This is the second book in the Haunted Library series. It works well as a standalone. The first book, Death Overdue, spans the holiday season from Halloween through Thanksgiving, and this book is set during the Christmas season.

In the second installment, the main character, Carrie, is thrown into a new mystery when her charismatic father, Jim, who been absent for a good bit of her life, pops in for a visit and brings trouble with him. Jim is a thief who can charm almost anyone. Things go rapidly downhill after a fellow bad guy, who has cheated Jim out of stolen diamonds ends up dead. I like the originality of a young woman trying to rise above her father’s reputation and prove her worth in a town where her father’s antics are well-known. The author does a nice job showing the struggle Carrie feels because she does care about Jim.

The same characters show up again, including the ghost of a former library employee, who has endless wardrobe choices in the afterlife. There are some people who are likeable and others not so much which always makes for a nice mix in fiction books. It’s been enjoyable getting to know them through this series.


Sex is mentioned a few times, and the main character, Carrie, invites her boyfriend to spend the night taking their relationship to the “next level”.

Allison Brooks' second book in the Haunted Library Mystery series is Read and Gone. Carrie is happy with her job at the library and her visits from the library ghost Evelyn. She gets a Christmas surprise when her often absent father Jim returns. It would be a good thing if he was in town to see her and not track down his share of stolen jewels. When Jim's partner Benton is murdered, Jim is the first suspect. Despite his treatment of her, Carrie is determined to track down the gems and clear her father. I did not read the first book in this series, but I had no trouble keeping track of the characters. The mystery was strong with several likely candidates for the guilty party. I loved that Evelyn was a serious part of the book rather than a silly addition. I look forward to catching up on the first book and reading future ones in the series!

Read and Gone offers a good story, a good mystery with multiple murders and a great main character named Carrie which is stuck in the middle trying her best to figure it all out. To tell you the truth I really enjoyed the story all except for one thing that I was missing and this is why I gave Read and Gone 3 stars. The resident library ghost was just about nonexistent in the story and for a series that is called The Haunted Library, it left me disappointed. So, even though I found this a good solid mystery as a reviewer I have to look at all the aspect of the story.

I enjoy this series. The small town library setting draws me in.
Filled with the perfect Cozy elements Christmas, a small town library, a resident cat, some great characters including a ghost; and a mystery that will keep you turning the pages.

Read and Gone is filled with twists and turns and alot crime from jewelry heists to murder.

All this keeps Carrie scratching and rubbing her head when she is assaulted will trying to find clues.

If you love a good Cozy Mystery you'll want to give this one a try.
A perfect sit by the fire and Christmas tree read.

I enjoyed it. I think you will too.

I received a complimentary copy.

Read and Gone by Allison Brook is the second novel in A Haunted Library Mystery series. Carrie Singleton is the head of Programs and Events at Clover Ridge Public Library and has settled into her new life quite nicely. Tired after hosting a combination birthday and housewarming party, Carrie drifts off to sleep. She is awakened in the middle of the night when someone breaks into her cottage. It turns out to be her estranged father, Jim Singleton. Jim has been gone most of Carrie’s life making a living as a thief. He needs Carrie’s help in recovering his half of $7 million dollars in jewels from his last heist. His partner, local jeweler, Benton Parr is holding the goods and not responding to his queries. Carrie, of course, refuses and Jim disappears into the night. Benton Parr gives a lecture at the library that evening and the next morning Carrie receives a call from Lt. John Mathers. Benton Parr was found dead in his shop by an employee and Jim Singleton just happened to be there trying to get into the safe. Turns out that Carrie’s boyfriend, Dylan Avery is the insurance investigator tasked with tracking down the stolen gems (oh dear). Carrie sets out to find the gems and Benton Parr’s killer. Someone, though, is not happy with Carrie’s sleuthing and attempts to take her out of the game (they do not know Carrie very well). Will Carrie be able to wrap up the case before Christmas?

Read and Gone may be the second book in A Haunted Library Mystery series, but it can be read alone. The author provides all the information a reader needs on Carrie and what occurred in Death Overdue. Read and Gone can be confusing in the beginning as the author overloads readers by introducing them to numerous characters (it gets easier after the party). I do like that the author has taken the time to establish Carrie as a character. However, Carrie was on a pity party in this book regarding her father and Dylan which made her unappealing. I believe therapy would be beneficial. Read and Gone has a charming small-town, friendly characters, a frisky feline, and an elderly ghost. Carrie’s great aunt and uncle are sweet, caring people. Carrie needs to spend more time with them (establish a family dinner night). Evelyn Havers, the ghost, is my favorite character. I wish she had been included more into the story. I would like to see Evelyn be Carrie’s partner in crime solving. The Clover Ridge Public Library is a place where I would like to hang out. It is wonderful that they have so many activities for their patrons, but I am baffled how a small town can afford such a large staff. The mystery begins with Jim, the jewels and the dead jeweler. The corpses begin to stack up as more people begin digging around for the elusive gems. I would have appreciated a good twist since I accurately identified the killer very early in the story. It is a good thing that Smokey Joe is getting exercise at the library chasing those mice considering the amount of food he has been eating. I was worried the little fellow would ingest tinsel from Carrie’s tree (tinsel and cats are not a good combination). If you are looking for an entertaining cozy mystery with friendly characters and an adorable cat, then look no further than Read and Gone.

Things are finally going well for Carrie Singleton. She has a new job at the library, a new boyfriend, Dylan, and even a devoted cat named Smokey Joe. Smokey Joe has become the resident library cat and is a hit with all the local patrons in the small town of Clover Ridge, Connecticut. In fact, for the first time in her life, she feels a part of a family.

It’s Christmas time in Clover Ridge when someone breaks into Carrie’s house. Suddenly she’s not feeling so safe anymore. She’s even more stunned when she learns the man who broke in is her estranged father. A man who has shown no interest in her life since she was a child. Now he’s back and asking for a favor. Not a small favor, but a huge one. He had been involved in a gem heist, worth in the multi-million dollar range, and his heist partner is hiding the gems. He wants Carrie to help find the stolen goods.

Then, her father’s partner turns up murdered and her father is the prime suspect. He may not be perfect but Carrie doesn’t believe he’s a killer. She’s determined to find the real killer and the gems as well. When she learns her new boyfriend is actually an investigator hired to find the gems, she’s hurt and confused. She vows to prove her father’s innocence and make everything right.

Read and Gone is the second book in the Haunted Library series. If you haven’t read the first one, there’s plenty of background information throughout this one.

The characters are well rounded - both the main and secondary characters are vividly portrayed. I found myself really caring about Carrie and her family, especially Smokey Joe - cat lover that I am :) There’s a resident ghost in attendance but she’s not a huge part of the story. She does add a bit of charm to the series, though.

The author does an amazing job of bringing this small town to life. It was a quick read for me. The storyline is filled with mystery, adventure and romance mixed into one captivating read. The ending took me by surprise. I hope there will be more books in this series.

Interesting enough book but although I was entertained while reading I wasn't itching to get back to it. It seemed to have some bits that didn't seem relevant to the story and I wondered if I needed to read book one to feel more invested in the characters.

Carrie is settling into her new job at the library. Being the holiday season, naturally there are many special events. She also has parties to attend in her personal life.
After a party she is sleeping quite soundly when she has an unexpected visitor - her estranged father, Jim. Where Jim goes, trouble follows. It seems trouble also arrived BEFORE Carrie's father.

It was a rude awakening earlier in her life when she learned her father was away because he was in prison. Although he claims he wants to remain on the proper side of the law, he has unfinished business to settle. That business involves several million dollars worth of stolen gems that it seems EVERYONE knows about and is seeking.

The search for these gems is tangled up in many other aspects of life around Clover Ridge.
The greed is motive enough for physical damage and murder.
With help from her cat and a kindly spirit, Carrie goes about solving some of the clues and figuring out what to do about her father and her on-again, off-again (sometimes in the same day) boyfriend.

There is a lot going on in the second book of The Haunted Library Mysteries by Allison Brook. Having worked in a library recently, I was attracted to the story and the main character, Carrie Singleton, who happens to be the head of Programs and Events at Clover Ridge Public Library. Carrie is juggling a relatively new job, with a very new boyfriend, the ability to see the ghost that haunts the library, and the return of her father who has a felony or six in his past.

When a library patron, recent host of a library event, and local shady jeweler Benton Parr pops up dead, there are more suspects than Carrie ever imagined. A betrayed wife, a mistress hiding more than just infidelity, an irate husband, scorned "business" partners, and a neglected daughter are just a few of those that may have taken Benton's life. When the bright light of suspicion is cast on her father, Carrie gets drawn into the mystery. It doesn't help that there are millions of dollars worth of questionably obtained jewels on that line. With another murder and several serious injuries, tracking down a murder has never been more dangerous or vital.

There is so much crammed into this book that one single topic or character doesn't stand a chance to be truly explored. I think some of the storylines that aren't central to the story should have been ignored or pushed to a later book. Still, not a bad sophomore offering for the series, the mystery itself was fantastic, and I can't wait to read the third book!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Read and Gone is the second book of The Haunted Library Mysteries series written by Allison Brook (pseudonym for Marilyn Levinson). This is my first foray into her writing. While I began the series at this second book, I did not find that a hindrance. The book reads as a stand-alone. There are vague references to which if I had read the first book, I might have known, but there was enough coverage of past “important” facts to make this a wonderful read all on its own. The introduction of the other cast of characters was well done and right at the beginning of the story.

At times, I quite enjoy reading cozy mysteries with a bit of romance involved and Read and Gone did have a love connection between Carrie and Dylan. However, in my opinion it appeared to be a bit lackluster – if I am to be totally honest. Hopefully in future books the romance part can have more of a spark between the two characters, or maybe Carrie should move on to someone else?

The protagonist, Carrie Singleton, is a fairly new resident of Clover Ridge, having come to stay in Clover Ridge last spring and staying with her great-aunt (Harriet) and -uncle (Bosco) until she found a lovely cottage to rent. Carrie obtained the position of the head of Programs and Events at the local public library. Carrie had even started dating the handsome Dylan Avery. Life was good. The story begins at Carrie’s birthday party where everything in Carrie’s life is great…at least for now. And then her absentee father shows up…Jim Singleton is a career criminal, usually on the lam. So why has he shown up at Carrie’s doorstep? We find out that Jim is looking for some jewels that he and Benton Parr stole previously and Benton was keeping them safe.

I liked that there was honour with Jim…you know…honour among thieves and all. He has standards, his own code of conduct, if you will. He would never kill anyone. Jim is very charismatic. The growth of Jim and Carrie’s relationship was heartwarming and probably just what Carrie needed to be at peace with who her father was (and is).

“My father was a thief, but he believed in good clothes and good manners.”

Smoky Joe – a great cat. He got to hang at the library when Carrie went to work. He occasionally went after the mice that lived in the library but mostly he just hung out with the kids.

There are a few storylines within the story and I found all of them engaging. Of course – murder is the primary storyline. Benton Parr is murdered and as time progresses, there seems to be no shortage of suspects – including Jim. As Carrie (and the police of course) wade through the myriad of suspects and clues…. the waters seem to get muddier and muddier. But eventually the mystery is solved. Definitely kept me guessing to the bitter end – just the way I like it.

Our protagonist is occasionally visited by a helpful (with respect to solving mysteries that is) ghost – though it would have been more engaging if she had more than a couple of appearance’s throughout the story:

“Evelyn Havers, a former library aide, had died six years ago. Dorothy discovered, to her dismay, that her aunt’s ghost often visited me in the library.”

Read and Gone is filled with just more than a mystery… a look at dysfunctional family life… the beginnings of a new love relationship… starting over in a new town … all in all a well rounded cozy mystery. And did I mention – LOVE the cover -> books and a Christmas tree.

I can say with utmost certainty that I shall go back and read book one of this series as I have already placed a hold on the book at my local library! Pick it up and read…you won’t be disappointed if cozy mysteries are your thing ☺.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Review: READ AND GONE by Allison Brook
(The Haunted Library Mysteries #2)

READ AND GONE is the second entry in a new series, The Haunted Library Mysteries. Enterprisingly plotted, the mystery certainly had me guessing throughout. There's a couple of really wonderful older characters: one is a former library aide who lovingly haunts the expansive Clover Ridge Library, who is/was about 60 (she's a delightful ghost) and the other is a ninety-year-old man, her former neighbor, just as sweet as can be.

However, a few of the other characters really got on my bad side, and unfortunately, their roles are pretty prominent. Granted my reaction is probably a matter of personal viewpoint, but I thought that protagonist Carrie could have developed more spine and eased off on the doormat tendencies.

READ AND GONE was definitely a mystery I couldn't puzzle out ahead of time. With several possible suspects, and a number of characters with unpleasant personalities and behavior, I couldn't latch on to just one to identify the culprit.