Another great story in this series! Loved how Carrie's family came together during the crisis. Really interesting story! A few twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. Love this series!

Checked Out for Murder is the 4th book in a series featuring Carrie Singleton a small-town Connecticut library worker. I haven't had the pleasure of reading the first 3 mysteries, but it was not necessary to connect with Carrie and her world. The story has two main plots, the introduction of a woman named Daphne Marriott who comes to Carrie at the library to set up a seminar where she can display her psychic abilities. She has come to town after leaving an abusive relationship and immediately connects with Carrie. The other plot involves a hollywood production that is filming in town featuring Carrie's estranged mother's new husband. Carrie has not been close with her mother for many years and her being in town is cause for anxiety.

The mysteries begin when both Daphne and someone related to the film turn up dead. Carrie is asked to try and find out who may be involved and if one or both murders is related to the stabbing of Daphne's abusive father years ago. She works with her boyfriend Dylan, who is a private investigator and local law enforcement to bring justice for the crimes. She also has help from Evelyn, a ghost who lives in the library! This was the most "cozy" element of this mystery and to be honest it shouldn't put you off reading it if you're used to more traditional female driven mysteries. The supernatural touches were very subtle.

The whodunnit had many layers that kept the reader entertained and even if I had an idea of the killer before the big reveal, the why remained a mystery until the very end. I enjoyed it!

This is another good addition to the Haunted Library series. I have read the previous books, but you could start with this one and not feel lost. I like how the characters have developed over the series and within this book they experience some more personal growth. Carrie is involved in a mystery because her mother is in town with her actor husband, filming a movie. One of the actors is killed. I thought the mystery played out well, it kept moving at a good pace and a surprise at the end. For once I didn't have it figure out by chapter 4! This was a great rainy afternoon book.

Surprisingly good! My very first Cozy Mystery and I really liked it. After an intense series of hardcore mysteries and thrillers, "Checked Out for Murder," was the perfect respite. The book is entertaining, yet has enough mystery to keep the reader engaged in the story. I couldn't wait to find out "whodunnit."

"Checked Out for Murder," is the fourth book in the "Haunted Library Mysteries." I didn't read the first three, but now I can't wait to read them in order.

There's no carnage and violence. It a pretty "clean" read that I found to be well written. The only thing that I wasn't particularly fond of was the presence of a ghost. But that really didn't deter my enjoyment of the book.

Four stars -- I really liked it. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Carrie Singleton lives in small-town Clover Ridge, Connecticut, and is the director of library events and programs. When a woman strolls into her office and claims she's a psychic and wants to give a talk to people, Carrie is skeptical. But when Daphne Marriott seems to know things about Carrie, and even senses Evelyn, the library ghost, nearby, Carrie agrees. After spending time talking with Daphne, Carrie also thinks they may even become friends.

Also on Carrie's agenda is the fact that her mother Brianna (who changed her name from Linda), is going to be in town because her husband Tom is filming a movie there. Carrie's relationship with her mother has been strained for many years, since Brianna left Carrie and her brother Jordan; and wouldn't even allow Carrie to live with her for awhile when she needed someone.

But when Daphne is murdered, and one of the cast members of the film is killed - Tom's ex-fianceé, and Carrie's mother is a suspect, Carrie is finding things aren't going the way she expected them to: her mother temporarily moves in with her, Carrie's personal trainer Robby Dowd has a secret of his own to confess; and her father Jim, a reformed ex-thief, turns up to give Brianna moral support, Carrie's life is definitely becoming confusing. But when she's asked to help solve both murders, she's in a quandary: she's promised both the police and her boyfriend Dylan, a private investigator, that she'll stay out of both of the murder investigations. But with her mother's life on the line, and discovering that both murders might just be connected to an old cold case, she knows that she has to do the right thing...even if it means putting herself in the sight of a cold-blooded murderer...

This is the fourth book in the series and I'm glad that I stuck with it. I wasn't terribly impressed by the first, but as I'd hoped, the author has managed to allow her characters to develop over time, and that made this a pleasant book to read. I also like the fact that now Smoky Joe is being put in a carrier for safety and an indoor cat. (They tend to be healthier and live much longer).

The mystery was very interesting, as it not only contained two separate murders that should have had absolutely nothing to do with each other, but managed to add a twenty-year-old cold case of a man who was stabbed to death -- Daphne's father -- and bring it into view again of the police. Watching Carrie connect the dots on the three cases was a plus, as was watching her try to surreptitiously ask questions, and this time report her findings to the police instead of going off on her own.

It was also delightful to see that while last time she managed to come to terms with her father's past and finally put it at peace and become not only friends but rather close to him; and this time out, even though for the most part her mother is selfish and self-centered, there was a place in her heart for Carrie, and we watch as they work to make something of each other.

I thought the murderer was well-hidden, and we were given a workout to find the killer, which is always a good thing. While it came as a bit of a surprise, it was worth the read to discover their identity, and the reason for the murder. I've come to enjoy this series, and I will definitely read the next one. Recommended.

Such a great outing! I loved this cozy because it was a refreshing departure from some of the usual formulas and yet familiar too.
Carrie is the event coordinator for the library and sleuth on the side. When her estranged mother and her actor husband come to town to shoot a new movie, murder seems to follow. Carrie finds herself in the middle of a mystery dating back twenty years.
Light hearted and sweet, I loved the pace of this book and the whodunnit will keep you guessing right till the end.

I picked this book for all it's fun elements - library, small town, murder, cat and ghosts, what's not to love. This is a quick and easy mystery read with a small-town sleuth who speaks to ghosts, hosts a psychic at the the library event she organizes, throws amazing dinner parties and solves multiple murder mysteries with the help of her ghost friend while maintaining a healthy committed relationship and dealing with her parents' crazy love lives - whew! While it's a stretch that librarians see ghosts and solve murders, it felt fun and not out of place - I enjoyed this cozy mystery.

When a psychic, a movie cast and crew, Carrie's Mom & her actor husband, secret identities being exposed, a long ago murder and present day murders envelop. Carrie and her ghostly friend Evelyn - a fast-paced adventure is sure to follow! Add in the fact that Smokey Joe, the library cat, has Spring fever and you have a mystery you won't be able to stop reading!

Carrie is coming into her own in this book, maturing as a person as well as a sleuth. There are so many levels to the book - the murder mystery, Carrie's evolving relationship with her "distant" mother, the partnership (romantic and professional) between Carrie and Dylan and her respect for the local law enforcement officials developing as she becomes more serious about her sleuthing. I enjoyed seeing her father appear in this mystery as well as the library regulars. The physical description of the library, the programs and patrons makes the reader feel as if they were sitting in a comfy chair, in the cafe, reading and having a cup of coffee!

I'm looking forward to the my Haunted Library mystery!

I received an ARC from NetGalley. All the opinions expressed are my own.

Ghosts, murder, a library and a cat! All the things needed to create a wonderful cozy mystery.
Carrie is a fun character, and her relationship with Evelyn adds a fun twist to the story.

I enjoyed the characters and smokey joe in this book, they all come across as likeable, easy to know people. It's well-paced and interesting with all the characters. The murders turn out to be all connected to one killer which is surprising but I thought the ending, the reveal of the murderer was anti-climatic, basic. I enjoyed the rest of the book. #CheckedOutforMurder #NetGalley

This is such a great book in a fun series. A ghost in the library, 2 murders, a cold case, and plenty of twists and turns. I found this book highly enjoyable.

Checked Out for Murder by Allison Brook was another totally engaging addition to this series.

Ms. Brook's descriptive writing continues to provide more depth to Clover Ridge, Connecticut and the characters in this series that I've come to love. It was interesting to "meet" Carrie's mother in this installment as she has only been someone that I've heard about. I found Carrie's personal growth to be very satisfying in the book as she comes to terms with her relationship to her mother.

A swiftly paced plot, two murders plus a cold case, twists and red herrings that kept me guessing throughout the book. I really enjoy this series and look forward to each release.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the clean nature of this novel. I've read book 1 in this series so I was familiar with the characters. I have shared my 4 star review on goodreads, instagram, facebook and Twitter. Thank you for the opportunity to review it.

Carrie Singleton works at the Clover Ridge library and arranges all of the adult programs, so when a woman asks to host a session on psychic abilities, she books a date. The seats fill up fast as the locals are interested in learning more. But it is the resident library ghost, Evelyn, that alerts Carrie to the young woman’s true identity as a former resident of Clover Ridge whose father was murdered 20 years ago.

There’s also a movie being filmed in town and Carrie has a front row seat since her Mother’s new husband, Tom, has a role in the film. Turns out Tom’s co-star is his former fiancé who is flirting heavily with him right in front of his wife, who slaps her and threatens the hussy. It’s going to be a few tense weeks of filming, as if things weren’t already tense between Carrie and her Mother.

Carrie is blindsided when her new friend, the psychic is found murdered. Who would kill her? It’s not like anyone else knew who she really was. But when Tom’s flirty co-star is murdered as well, Carrie begins to look into who did the deed, as she wonder if these two murders are connected to the murder 20 years ago. But will Carrie find one murdered or three? Or will she become the fourth victim?

A well written series with family dynamics that everyone can relate to. A solid whodunit with enough suspects and red herrings to keep you guessing right until the very end.