Carrie Singleton is a librarian in charge of programs and events at the Clover Ridge Library. She becomes involved with group that is renovating a run down home to provide a daytime place for local homeless to gather safely and hopefully get needed help. Because many of the homeless are spending days at the library, and because of conflicts that arise, Carrie has become a little too involved. When an unpopular reference librarian is killed, Carrie can't resist investigating. Her "secret weapon" the ghost of the recently killed librarian helps/hinders the investigation. A noble idea that is tainted by the people involved, Carrie faces danger more than once!

While I liked the premise of the book, this was one book that seemed to go on forever. Several times Carrie promised to stop sleuthing, yet she continued. I like the ideas, the characters, and the possible realism portrayed. However it should ended at least 50 pages sooner to keep up the original level of interest. As it was, I was relieved when it was finally over.

I have to say I am thinking this is the last chance I am giving the series. I only finished it because I always finish the book I am reading. I had no interested in the characters, there wasn't even any true investigating going on. I appreciate Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley allowing me the opportunity to read the book, and the freedom to express my true thoughts.

Dorothy is the most unpopular employee at the library where Carrie Singleton works, so when Dorothy is murdered there are plenty of suspects. Carrie tries to stay out of it, but her ghost friend Evelyn (Dorothy's aunt) begs her to find out who murdered Dorothy.
At the same time Carrie is helping to promote a community center for the homeless called Haven House, but quickly learns that it may be used for illegal activities.
This book was a long read only because it repeated so much. I liked the main characters, but there were too many minor characters.

Just wanted to say that I received a free copy of this book from the folks at NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in return for an honest review. This is the first book I have read in the series and by the author and I had an enjoyable time with the book. I liked the beginning of the book, but as it went on I got rather perturbed with the heroine, Carrie, who works in the library and has a very good job but whom apparently has no computer or research skills. Having a daughter who is a professional librarian I felt the Carrie character just was unable to try and figure things out without the help of her friend, who is a ghost, and others. Some quick research on the library computer would have definitely given her a lot of the answers she needed. But, nonetheless, the book was well written and a fast read. I found it a bit a bit predictable but again not to the point where it took away from my enjoyment of the book. Even though I had not read the first 2 books of the series, that is not an impediment and you get enough details in this book to figure out who the characters are, as well as their background and motivations. A good book. Probably a 3.5*** for me.

This book was a really fun read. Fun storyline. I love when the past and the present are tied together. I love that the issue of homelessness and mental health/substance abuse are addressed. Very good book!

Have you ever wished that someone would just go AWAY? Maybe an annoying coworker, like Carrie Singleton's coworker Dorothy. Carrie is above that sort of thing being the quintessential Sunshine Delegate she goes and visits Dorothy in the hospital following bad fall on some ice. After recovering from the fall, Dorothy is involved in a fatal car accident. Or was it an accident? Dorothy is not short on enemies. The library's own ghost, former librarian Evelyn, and Dorothy's aunt who is only visible to Carrie, implores a little sleuthing on Carrie's part. Carrie is trying to help but is also having to deal with a few of the locals who are cold and homeless and without a place to spend their daytime hours. She finds herself on a planning board that is setting up a shelter that may or may not be the site of some nefarious dealings. Great story line and the solving of not one but two mysteries before the story is finished and who wouldn't like a story that has a library cat named Smokey Joe.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for providing a review copy of this eBook. The views expressed are my own.
Full-time librarian and amateur detective Carrie Singleton is prodded to investigate the suspicious death of a fellow librarian by the ghost of the victim's aunt. Dorothy Hawkins, the reference librarian in the Clover Ridge public library, is hated or feared by almost everyone in town. There's not much sadness when she is killed in a suspicious car crash that looks to be a deliberate attack on her. However, her death is soon deemed to be a murder. Her aunt, Evelyn, who also died in suspicious circumstances and now is a ghost living in the library, wants Carrie to investigate Dorothy's death. . Of course the local police are not pleased with Carrie's sleuthing, especially when she receives threats. Carrie perseveres, in due course identifying Dorothy's killer and bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion.
This is an enjoyable murder mystery story. It is easy to read and probably will not burden anyone's mental capability or upset their sensitivities. Even the presence of a ghost is OK, and a neat hook. The story has most of the characteristics of a cozy mystery, although it is grittier than some. Carrie as the protagonist (and narrator) is a realistic character, not cloying like some cozy detectives. Several bad guys are in plain sight and even some of the good guys come under a cloud of suspicion as Carrie investigates. There's plenty of red herrings to make things interesting.
It's the third in a series and can be read as a standalone. Events of the past from previous entries in the series are sufficiently described to aid in filling in the backstory.
A superior cozy mystery and recommended reading.

I am so excited about another Haunted library mystery!! The library ghost, Evelyn, is one of my favorite characters!!

In winter, the Haunted Library is a refuge for homeless townspeople. When a group purchases a vacant house to establish a daytime haven for the homeless, Carrie offers the library as a meeting place for the Haven House committee, but quickly learns that it may be used for illegal activities.

Carrie finds herself visiting her least favorite co-worker, Dorothy, after a slip and fall accident outside of the supermarket. It is then that she tells Carrie that her husband tried to kill her and that he murdered her Aunt Evelyn. Carrie is shocked and can’t believe it until Dorothy is murdered by being run off the road as soon as she returns to work. Evelyn implores Carrie to find her niece's killer, but that's no easy task: Dorothy had made a hobby of blackmailing her neighbors and colleagues.

Does Dorothy’s death have anything to do with Haven house??

I love this series!! Do yourself a favor and read it!!

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Another great book in the series! The author's writing style is fabulous. The story was believable, interesting, and definitely kept me interested. The leading character is very likeable. An all around good book. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

Buried in the Stacks is a library mystery with lots of twists, that will keep you guessing until the end. The characters are well developed. Some you will deeply dislike and others you will love. The real hero of this book may surprise you.

I enjoyed the previous books in the series more than this one.
I felt the whodunit was secondary and not the main focus of the story.

When I realised that this was part of set of books, I was worried that I would not understand the plot. However, I was pleasantly surprised that although it referenced her previous involvement in other crimes, the story kept to the current plot very well.
I am uncertain that the police would use a civilian as much in their work, but it made for an interesting storyline.

This is a cute cozy mystery. I didn't quite get the connection between the crime and the title other than the main characters worked in a library. It has many components that will appeal to a wide audience. There is a ghost that helps librarian, Carrie, out. Carrie owns a cat that travels with her to and from work. And of course there is the boyfriend who is absent most of the time. I thought the middle of the book did drag some. It could have been just me wanting it all to end. If you're looking for a quick read that's clean in every sense of the word, check out this book.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley for an honest review.

Librarian Carrie has many projects going on at work when one of her colleagues is killed in a car accident and believed to be murdered. The library has a resident ghost who happens to be the dead woman's aunt. The ghost wants to figure out what happened to her niece, and it turns out that the murdered women had a secret life that would make her many enemies.

Despite the paranormal aspect of this, I did not feel that this was a true cozy mystery. It is more like an amateur sleuth story with a paranormal element. I felt like the story started too slow. Until the murder (which happened near the 25% mark), we basically just saw Carrie meeting with her friend, her hospitalized colleague, and working at her job (even though there were new aspects to her job). It just felt like too much setup, not enough actually happening. The writing is straightforward and clean. Even the idea that there is a ghost who is such an integral part of the story is treated in a no-nonsense manner. I feel neutral about this book; it was an okay read, but I'm not particularly looking forward to the next book (which I hope to do for any series that I start).

I have really enjoyed this series. Carrie has really grown as a character and I was somewhat pleased to see a character I did not like killed off. Though Carrie did find herself investigating and getting into a bit of trouble for it as well.

I did appreciate the issue of homelessness being brought up in this book. I know a lot of homeless and poor do use the library to stay warm or cool.

I could tell from the ending what the next book in the series will be based around! Looking forward to it.

I don't understand the less than appreciative reviews of 'Buried in the Stacks'. I know the A Haunted Library Mystery series has a resident ghost, and I accept that premise. The social issues of homelessness and mental health were addressed in a respectful manner to put the issue on the table. The characters are engaging, flaws and all. There is an expert mystery, a touch of humor and a lovely romance. I'm am looking forward to another in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Carrie is settling in to her job as head of programs and events at the Clover Ridge Library in Connecticut, close to her beloved Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bosco. She also is adjusting to her conversations with her ghostly friend, Evelyn Havers, a permanent (really permanent) resident of the library. But dealing with Evelyn's relatives is another story. Dorothy Hawkins, reference librarian, was extremely difficult to get along with, and even worse, stuck her nose in everyone's business, using their secrets as blackmail. But when she is injured, Carrie puts aside her personal feelings and sets out to help Dorothy. With this action, Carrie soon finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, one that may have ties to a local fundraising effort to help with the homeless problem that is plaguing the town and spilling over into the library. This is 3rd in the series and I like how they are fleshing out the main characters, including the relationship between Carrie and her boyfriend, Dylan. While this was a delightful cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns before finally revealing the culprits, it also highlights our current societal problem of homelessness, as well as mental illness that often goes unnoticed and untreated. Kudos to the author for including this problem and potential solutions in her story. Disclosure: I am voluntarily reviewing this book and all opinions are strictly my own.

I was hoping for more for this book after enjoying the first and being frustrated with some of the character development in the second. Unfortunately, its treatment of homeless people is appalling, particular how the ones who were middle class are ok but the rest - the ones with mental health or addiction problems - are not. The whole daytime haven thing and extravagant fundraising for it makes no sense - why isn't the priority getting them jobs or affordable housing and health care? The townpeople's reaction to homeless people in the library is to stop going or to stop taking their children so they won't be exposed. There's a distinct lack of compassion here for anyone.

This book of a classic example of someone who knows nothing about libraries writing about them. The way homeless patrons are talked about (it has librarians bad mouthing them in front of them) and treated in this book is horrible. The American Library Association has resources for library support for homeless patrons. They're very easy to find and the library manager/librarians should have known this.

The main character, Carrie, also keeps ignoring advice to stay out of things and to stay safe because a cranky ghost guilt trips her. It's tiresome. Troublesome Dorothy dies and everyone just moves on. Weak mystery, lack of research marks this as a major disappointment.

Just finished reading this book. It's a great read if you like a book that is based at a library that is haunted by a prior librarian.

Just not for me, I think. The writing was simple and the dialogue felt unnaturally formal and expository. But for people who want an easy read at a fairly low level of vocabulary and such (maybe 6th grande level?) and who like mysteries and ghosts, this might be a fit.