3,5* rounded to 4
I usually like the books in this series but this one wasn't a favorite as I found it a bit too confusing and disjointed.
There's plenty going on, a lot of characters and the mystery took the backside. I liked the mystery but it was only a part of the story.
I enjoyed it, it's not recommended if you didn't read the previous books.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This story wasn’t bad, although I have to say, Carrie’s reaction to two mature people making out, to be a bit over the top. I also thought the ghost Evelyn was a tad bit too demanding. This cozy mystery was entertaining with a bit of romance, intrigue, and captivation.

This is book 5 in the series, unfortunately as I hadn’t read the other books I wasn’t up to date on what had happened in the previous books. It was a real shame as what I did read was enjoyable. It has made me look into purchasing the other books in the series however.

Allison Brook continues her Haunted Library series with Death on the Shelf. Librarian Carrie Singleton is helping out with her friend Angela's wedding when a relative of the bride drops dead after the wedding. Carrie is drawn into investigating her friend's relatives as she seeks to find the murderer. Other problems pop up along the way. Evelyn, the library ghost, gets her involved in a family affair. Relationships are tricky and Carrie finds out all is not like it seems. Excellent cozy for a winter evening's read.

Carrie Singleton, librarian, is helping with the final preparations for Angela's (her BFF) wedding (she's the maid of honor). First, the venue for the bridal shower has a fire and Carrie has to find another place to hold the party so when Donna, Angela's cousin, offers her home, Carrie snaps it up, not knowing that Donna is not one of Angela's favorite people. But they get through the shower and the wedding day arrives - beautiful weather and happy couple except for an obnoxious brother of the bride and a BIL that dies face down in the chocolate fountain. Carrie has some fires to put out to get Angela to leave on her honeymoon as well as finding the murderer, hoping it is not a family member. At the same time, Carrie has been tasked to find the brother of the Library's resident ghost, so that the brother can help his daughter who abandoned 15 years ago.

Things were definitely hopping in Clover Ridge and Carrie along Dylan, her boyfriend, had a lot to find.

Fun mystery, great characters

The wedding reception of Carrie’s best friend is spoiled when a guest keels over dead into the chocolate fountain. Soon Carrie is hip deep in trying to determine which, if any, of her best friend’s family did him in. She also has a mission from the library’s resident ghost to find the ghost’s missing (living) brother and thus help his daughter.

This is a pretty typical cozy mystery with a paranormal bent, pleasant characters, a cat, a ghost, a supportive boyfriend and some family drama for the main character. Events from prior books are alluded to but not really explained so there is some lack of understanding of Carrie’s feelings on some issues. The ghost, at least in this one book, seems just sort of tacked on for the paranormal twist and really does not play much of a role in anything. A quick pleasant read but not enough to hook my interest that I feel compelled to look for others in the series.

This was a fun read! The story line involving a murder at the wedding of Carrie's best friend was interesting especially with the twists and turns the story takes from there. The secondary mystery was excellent as well and added a great additional layer to the story. Can't wait for Carrie's next case!

I received this book through NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

In this fifth in the series we’re welcomed back to Clover Ridge where there are always more mysteries to be solved. Unfortunately the happy occasion that Carrie’s best friend Angela’s wedding day should be is marred by one of the guests dropping dead during the reception. You just know it’ll have been murder! Everyone seemed to love the good doctor. Well someone obviously didn’t. Carrie will have her hands full balancing work, romance, family, finding a missing person and solving not one, but two, murders.

The mystery was engaging and there are so many likable characters in this series. Sometimes I feel like there is a little too much filler with the amount of detail on daily activities and what people are eating and drinking. I do enjoy the series and the growth that Carrie has shown since the beginning is a definite plus. I’m looking forward to the next visit to Clover Ridge.

Another visit to Clover Ridge, CT with Carrie and all her friends was an especially good one. Angela got married and got a new husband, but all Carrie got out of it was a new murder case and an assignment from Evelyn her ghost friend.

Despite a couple of dead bodies throughout the book, there were plenty of amazing things going on that involved the assignment from Evelyn and Carrie's dad (separately though.) I kept wondering if Evelyn's request and what Carrie found out for her might eventually be connected to the murder. You'll just have to read it yourself and find out, I don't want to spoil it. The showdown was good, and I was proud of Carrie for being resourceful.

The very ending was so perfect and semi-expected but still just about the sweetest thing ever! I can't wait to read the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Death on the Shelf is the 5th book in the Haunted Library Mystery series. This is the second book I have read in this series and I was happy to dive straight in. Allison Brook did a fantastic job providing some backstory, making this a great standalone read. I was sold from the very beginning, with its solid characters, great writing and a marvellous mystery that provided a good sprinkling of clues to satisfy even the most painstaking and diligent armchair detective.

The author has drawn a lot of great characters in this fabulous cozy mystery. I particularly liked librarian Carrie Singleton who works in the local haunted library building. Her best friend, Angela Vecchio is getting married and the wedding is taking place on a day in June. Beforehand Angela's rich cousin, Donna hosts a lavish bridal shower at her and her husband Aiden's home.

Set in a small Connecticut town - Clover Ridge - Carrie has a lot going on in this book and there is a side mystery as an added bonus. I enjoyed how Carrie handled both investigations and there were a reasonable number of suspects as to who might have caused Aiden's mishap and death with the chocolate fountain. Carrie must make a decision at the end of the book, and readers are left with a marvellous ending to a belter of a story. I am looking forward to returning to Clover Ridge with Carrie on a future occasion to read the earlier books in the series! So entertaining and engaging, Death on the Shelf is definitely well worth the time invested.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my own request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

You’re invited to a wedding! In Death on the Shelf, Angela and Steve have decided to make it official. Hopefully, Angela’s best friend Carrie, who is organizing the wedding and bridal shower, will be able to pull off both events without a hitch.

But then Angela’s hated brother appears, and a wedding guest dies in a spectacular manner. What can Carrie do but solve the crime with the help of her private investigator boyfriend, Dylan. Hopefully, Evelyn, the library ghost that only Carrie can see, will help out too.

I adore the one-big-family feeling I get from this cozy mystery series! Carrie’s relationships with Angela and Dylan feel real and genuine. Everyone acts true to their nature.

The mystery is intriguing and challenging. Is the murderer the disgruntled movie producer? The cuckolded wife? The disappointed mistress? Or someone else? Clues and red herrings are sprinkled freely but can you tell which is which? Death on the Shelf is great for armchair detectives like me. 5 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Great Escapes Book Tours, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook is a cozy mystery, taking place in and around a library in Clover Ridge. Angela is about to be married but there are last minute hiccups. The latest is the loss of the site for the bridal shower. As on of the hostesses, Carrie is working overtime to find a new location. During the process of making calls to the guests, Angela's cousin volunteers her house and more. Angela is not happy, but goes along with the plan. Donna is married to a doctor and so enjoys a lavish lifestyle, which is borne out the day of the shower. Toward the end of the party, her husband Aiden, and Angie's brother, Tommy put in an appearance. My, Aiden was handsome. The wedding came of handsomely and it was not until the reception that Carrie noticed that Aiden didn't seem well. In fact, he was swaying and all of a sudden he fell to the ground. Carrie and her boyfriend, Dylan, were closest to him and ran to his aid, but he was dead. It thrust a pallor over the party and evoked some odd behavior from several of the guests, including Angle's other cousin, Roxy. Several days later it was determined that he had been poisoned and his death was, indeed, murder.

This small town has been Carrie's salvation. Her great aunt and uncle lived there and had always been available to her when her very odd family was not. Things were better now. Her mother was in Hollywood with her actor husband, and her criminal father had served his time and now was working, successfully, with Dylan's company as an investigator. She had Dylan, how was not only her landlord, but her boyfriend, and marriage flitted through her mind occasionally. Angela was marrying a good man and they had bought a condo and were busy furnishing it. Things could not be better. Brook has developed a solid core for her books. This one had a good plot, the guilty parties being so far from the center of the story that it was only at the end that they became obvious. It was a good story with plenty of subplots to fill in the holes. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Death on the Shelf by Crooked Lane Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #crookedlanebooks #allisonbrook #deathontheshelf

“Librarian Carrie Singleton sleuths a murder at her best friend’s wedding in Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook’s fifth Haunted Library mystery.”


Carrie’s best friend Angela just got married. At her wedding reception, a man suddenly drops dead in front of the chocolate fountain. There are plenty of potential suspects to choose from, including members of Angela’s family. Despite warnings from the local police chief, Carrie begins sleuthing, placing her own life at risk. Of course, if she stayed out of it, we wouldn’t have this delightful cozy mystery!

A subplot involves Evelyn, the always well-dressed ghost who occasionally hangs out in the library where Carrie works. This ghostly relationship is interesting and is likely explained in earlier episodes.

Death on the Shelf is fifth in a series, though I didn’t know that when I requested the book. There was just enough background that I was able to enjoy this story without having read the previous four. I recommend this book and I look forward to getting to know these interesting and engaging characters better by reading the previous books in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved this series since the beginning, each one being better than the last! This talented author shares a great setting in Connecticut, where some of our favorite characters work at the library. Reading this is like visiting old friends. There is a light paranormal element, the ghost of a murdered former librarian. It was quite a challenge to guess whodunit.

Angela, Carrie’s best friend and co-worker, is getting married in a few days, and they are tying up loose ends. Tommy, Angela’s older brother and in need of a serious attitude adjustment, is in town. He arrived early to find investors for his next movie project and has been speaking with relatives and acquaintances. He made Angela’s childhood miserable with his harassment.

One of Angela’s cousins, Donna, provided her home for Angela’s shower. Another cousin, Roxy, will help, as well as the ladies from the library. Donna’s husband Aiden is a personable, highly respected surgeon. Roxy had just divorced her physician husband and Aiden’s best friend. The shower was a success. Carrie and the others met Aiden, who might provide some backing for Tommy’s next movie.

Carrie is my favorite. She grew up in unusual circumstances, and with the love of her great uncle and aunt, Bosco and Harriet, made several positive changes in her life, including excelling at her job at the library. Evelyn, the resident ghost, is a delightful lady who can only be seen and heard by Carrie and her cousin’s four-year-old daughter. Carrie has helped solve several murders in town, including Evelyn’s cold case. Many good things have been happening for her, including having good friends, dating a special guy, and her father being back in her life after leaving a life of crime to work to help catch thieves. The mayor wants her to run for a vacant seat on the town council.

Evelyn came to Carrie for help. Her brother Harold had been in trouble years ago, disappeared, and was not seen again. Evelyn heard someone talking about Harold’s daughter Michelle, who could use the love of a father. Her husband left with all their money right after she was downsized out of a job. She was extremely depressed, and her neighbor is worried she might do something foolish. Could Carrie possibly find Evelyn’s brother and get him and his daughter in touch?

Angela and Steve’s wedding was beautiful, and the reception incredible. Carrie noticed that Aiden acted as if overtired, stumbling and blinking his eyes. Carrie was behind him at the chocolate fountain when Aiden began to fall. He was dead when he hit the floor.

The lab tests showed that Aiden was poisoned. The main suspects included his wife, Donna, Tommy, whose movie Aiden decided not to back, and even Roxy, who had set her cap for Aiden and was rebuffed. Angela’s mother begged Carrie to find whodunit, as she couldn’t stand having her family being accused of murder. I had a rotating list of suspects, but when whodunit was revealed, could honestly saw I never saw it coming! There are stunning surprises at the end; I am looking forward to the next one! I highly recommend this, and the rest of the series, to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries that include endearing characters, humor, and library settings.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Haunted Library Mystery series #5. Carrie Singleton's best friend/co-worker, Angela Vecchio is getting married. Final details are off to a rocky start when Angela's wedding shower is moved to her cousin Donna's posh house even though their relationship is not the best. To add to her wedding tension Angela's black sheep and not always honest brother Tommy shows up. The wedding goes off OK until Donna's husband keels over and dies at the reception. Of course Angela seeks Carrie's help in finding Aiden's killer. Another murder, a search for the niece of Evelyn, the library ghost and enough plot twists keep Carrie involved until the unexpected ending. Good addition to to series. 4. stars. Given this title by Net Galley in exchange for a review .

I love this series and this latest one did not disappoint. I've read several cozies lately where a side character gets married and turns into an absolute monster. I was so glad that Angela didn't. While she was stressed about her wedding she isn't terrible and the wedding happens early in the book. Her main stress comes from dealing with her brother who is a bit of a nightmare and has a reason to be responsible for the Angela's cousin's husband dropping dead in the middle of her wedding reception.

This is such a fun mystery series with a great community of characters. I love what Evelyn adds to the mix and that she never provides Carrie with answers but instead acts as a sounding board or encourages her or every once in awhile gives her a bit of an investigative nudge. The mystery was intriguing with a load of suspects all with motive and opportunity. I enjoyed trying to guess the who and the why and really wasn't sure until the very end.

If you enjoy a good cozy with a great mystery and solid enjoyable mysteries this is not a series to be missed! This is a series you could jump into where you wanted but like most it is better if read in order.

We first met librarian Carrie Singleton in Death Overdue, where she met the library's ghost, got tangled up in a murder, and then solves it - with a little help.

Life is going pretty well for Carrie, which is a nice place to start a cosy mystery. However, helping her best friend Angela organise her wedding, Carrie is soon caught up in family drama a-plenty - and when a wedding guest winds up dead, there are no shortage of suspects. Given neither Angela nor her fiancé can be excluded from that list, Carrie is soon back to sleuthing to clear her friends' names.

This series, while not the strongest of my book-related cosy mystery reads, has improved as it continued, and there's a lot to like here. For one, there's the lack of annoyingly contrived obstructions: most of the characters are supportive of our heroine. 

I also really liked that the mystery element is kept at the forefront. As with any cosy, it does wrap up a little too abruptly, but up until that point there's a large suspect pool and plenty to keep you guessing.

On the downside, the wedding topic didn't really capture my imagination, and the supporting cast is rather unmemorable - although the flip of that is that they do feel quite 'real' rather than two-dimensional with some 'quirk'. I do think the library ghost who gives the series its name deserves a bigger role, though ;)

Overall, this was a sweet story, a nice light read, and a great continuation of the series.

Carrie Singleton is busy preparing for Angela’s wedding where she is one of the bridesmaids. Angela is getting nervous as the big day approaches. Angela’s brother, Tommy is arriving, and they have a contentious relationship plus little problems regarding the wedding keep cropping up. On a lovely June day, Angela is married, and everyone heads off to party at the reception. In the dessert line ahead of Carrie, a doctor cousin-in-law of the brides falls face first into the chocolate fountain. Dylan checks for a pulse and finds none. Angela’s mother asks Carrie to do a little sleuthing because the death has thrown Angela for a loop. Carrie soon finds herself with a lengthy suspect list and soon another related death. Can Carrie with help from Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost, solve the case before the killer strikes again? Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook is the 5th A Haunted Library Mystery. Death on the Shelf can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I thought Death on the Shelf was well-written with engaging, developed characters. The story moved along at a good pace and the storyline will have you quickly turning the pages. Carrie’s life is in order with a job she loves, good friends, family, and a sweet boyfriend. I love Evelyn, the ghost that inhabits the library. She is a sweetie and helps Carrie with her sleuthing. This time, though, Evelyn needs some assistance in locating a relative. Evelyn’s niece, Michelle needs help and Evelyn believes the girl’s father is the answer. Carrie has her hands full with two murders, locating a missing person, and her job at the library. The mystery had several good suspects along with red herrings. If you pay close attention, you will find the clues needed to solve the crime. There was a twist or two along the way that keep things lively. I love that Dylan, Carrie’s boyfriend, supports her sleuthing as well at Lt. Mathers. The ending was delightful, and it has me looking forward to the next A Haunted Library Mystery. Death on the Shelf is a wild ride with wedding woes, a spirited request, a bothersome brother, curious cousins, a chocolate fountain catastrophe, and an inquisitorial librarian.

Wedding bells are ringing for Carrie's BFF, Angela and family and friends have gathered for the festivities. Unfortunately there's a killer in their midst. Donna is Angela's wealthy cousin, married to Aiden, a surgeon who has a roving eye. By the time the reception is in full swing Aiden drops dead in the chocolate fountain. With a list of suspects as long as the guest list and another murder, Carrie has a lot to sort out.
I enjoy the assistance Carrie gets from Evelyn, the resident ghost and her relationship with the police while they all work to uncover the killer. Family, friends and various locals are all on hand making for a chance to spend time with characters I have come to like very much. I would advise reading the series in order but then I prefer reading in order. If you are new to this great series this entry works as a stand alone. The mystery kept me engaged to the final page and the twists and turns kept me guessing wrong several rimes.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Death on the Shelf is the fifth book in The Haunted Library Mysteries series by Allison Brook.

Carrie is busy getting ready for her BFF and co-worker Angela’s wedding shower when she learns that the restaurant where they were going to have the shower has had a fire and will be unable to host the gathering. Carrie begins calling the people who were coming of the change in plans. When she reaches Angela’s cousin Donna she offers her home for the shower and will get cousin Rozy to help her. Angela is upset when Carrie tells her of Donna’s offer. The cousins grew up wealthy and beautiful and were prone to showing it, and Angela had difficulty dealing with it. While at the shower, Carrie notices that Roxy is spending a lot of time with Aiden Harrington, Donna’s husband, and appears to be hanging all over him. Carrie also witnesses a heated argument between Donna and Roxy. Also, a dispute between Angela’s brother Tom and Aiden. This argument was about Aiden’s deciding not to provide monies for the movie Tom wants to produce.

Angela and her husband, Steve, have a beautiful wedding will head for their reception. Once more, Roxy monopolizes Aidens time, and Tommy continues to berate Aiden for reneging on providing monies for his film. Guests are lining up at the chocolate fountain; Aiden is in line in front of Carrie and her boyfriend, Dylan, just behind him. Aiden suddenly collapses and soon dies. It is soon ruled that Aiden died from poisoning.

When Tommy becomes the prime suspect, his mother asks Cariie to do some investigating on her own to find the killer of Aiden. As Carrie gets into her investigation, she sees no shortage of possible suspects. Rumors abound that Aiden was having an affair with Roxy. Possibly, either Roxy or Donna might have done away with him. Another is a business partner who wants to open a second office, which Aiden is against. It appears that there may be some insurance fraud going on at the office. Maybe the person guilty of this feels that Aiden was on to them.

A subplot in the story involves Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost. Evelyn wants Carrie to find her brother, who had left town some fifteen years ago. His daughter and Evelyn’s niece, Michelle, needs help. Her husband has left her and cleared out their bank accounts. In addition, she has recently lost her job and is sure to be kicked out of the apartment, as she has no money to pay the rent.

It’s always enjoyable to visit with the folks in Clover Ridge. The residents are exciting, believable, and well-developed. The book is beautifully written so that you feel you are with them. There were plenty of twists and turns that I was kept guessing until the end of the book to learn who the killer was.

I will be watching for the next book in this enjoyable series.