This is the first book by this author that I have read. It was quite different from my usual cozy mysteries. I enjoyed the storyline and the mystery with the ghosts. It kept you reading to see how things work out. An enjoyable read. I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

Dewey Decimated is the 6th book in the Haunted Library Mystery series. This is the third book I have read in this series and I was happy to dive in. Allison Brook incorporates some backstory, making this an ok standalone read. I was sold from the beginning, with its solid characters, great writing and a marvellous mystery that provided a good sprinkling of clues to satisfy any diligent armchair detective.

The author has drawn a lot of great characters in this fabulous cozy mystery. I particularly like librarian Carrie Singleton who works in the local haunted library building. The library is expanding into the neighbouring building and a body is found, the victim being her fiancé, Dylan's estranged Uncle Alec.

Set in a small Connecticut town - Clover Ridge - Carrie has a lot going on in this book including selecting a wedding date and nuptials planning and there is another dead person found. I enjoyed how Carrie handled the investigations and there were a number of suspects. Readers are left with a good 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 puzzling and engaging, Dewey Decimated is definitely well worth the time invested.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley.

Alison Brooks continues to bring us an exciting, fun and a bit unusual type of cozy mystery with her latest installment of the Haunted library Mystery series, Dewey Decimated.

The library has obtained some new property, and while doing renovations, a body is found. Carrie is just off of a string of murder cases around town, and could really use a break. Those of us who have gotten to know her know that is the last thing she is going to do. The identity of the body is soon discovered, and a new ghost takes up residence. This one hits close to home for Carrie is bound and determined to find out what happened to the mystery surrounding this man that happened years ago.


I have not read every book in the series, but I do love that I can jump in at any point and know what’s going on. Carrie is an amazing sleuth, even if she has no formal training. I love the paranormal aspect of this series and the fact that, not our normal characters got to first-hand experience a touch of the paranormal as well. Allison Brooks is an amazing author and I love that she keeps the series fresh, interesting and makes you want to read more adventures of Carrie and her ghostly friends.

Librarian Carrie Singleton is excited about the library’s expansion into the neighboring building. But then a body is found in the building and after the workers accidentally put a hole in the connecting wall a ghost, with amnesia, comes crashing through the hole and into the library. Carrie and Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost, promise to help the ghost find out who he is and who killed him but things start to get complicated when it turns out the dead man is Carrie’s fiancee’s uncle and that he seems to have been the victim of a scam involving several important and prominent local citizens. Add in an over zealous TV reporter, a second murder, constructions delays and a contentious issue facing the city council, of which Carrie is the newest member, and Carrie has her hands full with time running out.
This is a typical “cozy mystery” with no gore, really likeable characters and a pleasant small town setting. Carrie is engaged but a bit hesitant to actually plan the wedding due to her parents dysfunctional marriage. She puts clues together to get to the truth but there are no particularly unrealistic actions on her part while getting to the solution. The characters actual show believable growth from book to book. This is a thoroughly delightful series and I can’t wait for the next one. Recommended

This book is very easy to read. I am glad she shared her ghost seeing ability with other people. Waiting to see how that effects future stories.

You've had a guest that wouldn't leave? How about a ghost who won't "crossover"? Librarian, Carrie Singleton, Evelyn (the library's resident ghost) and Smokey Joe (the library cat) have their work cut out for them in trying to figure out what's keeping the unwelcome guest stuck in the library. Problem is, if they find out what's going on, they may be stuck in the same situation - forever!

Carrie is one of my favorite cozy characters. Readers have grown with her over the years from a young rebel to a savvy and professional librarian and city council member and now a bride-to-be! I love the mystery surrounding Dylan's Uncle Alex and it was fun to see more of Evelyn. Just as much as the entertaining mystery, the author has woven a story of a character's personal growth which makes Carrie "come alive" on the pages and someone we can relate to - though I've never seen a ghost...yet!

If you're a long-time reader of the series, you'll love this book and if you're a first time reader, I'd encourage you to start at the first book and settle in for a mysterious reading adventure!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in review are my own.

I want to thank Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Dewey Decimated. All opinions presented here are solely mine.

Generally, if you read a cozy mystery out of order, you're not really missing anything. You may have missed a few details, but there are enough context clues to help you get caught up. But with this book, that isn't the case. I will admit, it is my fault that I decided to read this book without having read the previous five books.

Overall, the story was enjoyable, besides the backstory I didn't have. The characters are well written, and the setting is easy to picture while reading.

So why only 3-stars? Because it just didn't wow me. Your experience may be different.

Dewey Decimated is the 6th book in The Haunted Library Series and further supports why this is one of the best cozy series out there!

Carrie Singleton tackles yet another murder, this time the victim being fiance Dylan's estranged Uncle Alec. Alec is found in the dilapidated old building currently being remodeled as an addition for the library. On top of all of this new town council member Carrie is caught in the midst of a debate over what should happen to the local wildlife preserve, if anything, and unfortunately, one of the council members is murdered just after the vote is taken on what to do with the highly desired property. Of course Carrie feels compelled to help solve Alec's murder and when the second murder happens, she begins to wonder if they are connected in some way. Carrie has a lot going on in this book - choosing a wedding date, the new addition to the library, and her new role on the town council. But even in the midst of her hectic life, she uncovers clues to the murder of Uncle Alec, allowing him to 'move on' from the dilapidated old building in which he was murdered, as well as the mystery surrounding her fellow council members.

It is always pleasurable spending time in Clover Ridge with Carrie, Dylan, Carrie's family, library ghost Evelyn, the library staff and of course library cat Smokey Joe.

When you pick up a book in this series you can count on learning more about Carrie, Dylan, Evelyn, and life in Clover Ridge, experiencing a complex and puzzling mystery to solve, and having aha moments as the story twists and bends in many ways finally revealing who committed the crime. Dewey Decimated is a particularly clever mystery as it at first appears that the two murders could in no way be connected. Ms. Brook carefully and masterfully reveals the unexpected connections, weaving the different story lines into a satisfactory ending.

One must make sure there is plenty of time to read when you sit down with this book, as you will want to read it in one setting, it pulls you in from the start! I highly recommend Dewey Decimated, and the entire series, and will impatiently await book 7! Thank you Ms. Brook for an entertaining, well written, puzzling mystery!

Loved going back to this town to visit the characters. It sounds like a great town (other than the murders). Carrie is working to find out who killed the person whose body was found in the building being renovated for the library expansion. The ghost hangs out at the library and causes more of a disturbance that the regular ghost Evelyn.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been with this series from book one, and it’s one of my fave cozy mystery series. I haven’t missed an installment yet, and I don’t plan to. I love everything about it – the characters, the setting, the plots, and of course Smokey Joe the library cat. But the highlight for me in every book is the interactions between Carrie the librarian (with the best name) and Evelyn the resident library ghost. Their friendship, unconventional though it may be, adds warmth as well as a unique twist to the mystery solving process.

In Dewey Decimated, Carrie and Evelyn receive some unexpected (and not necessarily welcome) additions to their sleuthing team – an overly eager investigative reporter who sees Carrie as her ticket to fame & a murder victim who’s still sticking around as a frustrated & amnesiac ghost. These new characters keep Carrie and Evelyn on their toes and I enjoyed watching them juggle the shifting dynamics – though I will also be happy when it’s back to just the two of them.

The juggling continues for Carrie with the pressure to start wedding plans, problems with the library renovations, and her new role on the city council. Each element fleshed out the characters even more and also filled in any down time where the dual murder mysteries were concerned. Clover Ridge is a charming small town that I’d love to visit in real life, and I laughed at one character’s comment that, with all the recent murders, they didn’t want to become known as the Cabot Cove of Connecticut. Loved that nod to the quintessential & fan favorite cozy mystery small town.

Bottom Line: I’ve come to expect smart plots, charming characters, and intriguing twists from this series, and Dewey Decimated fit right in. The author took all the things I’ve loved from the previous books and added some fresh layers to enhance the continued character development and give readers more insight into the characters’ lives. I once again thoroughly enjoyed my time in Clover Ridge, and I also appreciated the new dynamics that the author introduced. Already looking forward to my next visit with Carrie and Evelyn and Dylan and Smokey Joe – and all the regular supporting characters. A must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, libraries, and friendly ghosts.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

"Dewey Decimated" continues the adventures of Carrie the librarian, as she and her staff contend with construction workers and planning for a new addition to the library utilizing an old building next door. . During the construction, a body turns up in the building. While law enforcement investigates, Carrie engages with Evelyn, her local library spirit, and the spirit of "Charlie" the deceased individual. They try to find out more about who "Charlie" might have been in life. Carrie also deals with a nosy news reporter and members of the town council as they decide the fate of a community nature preserve.

Although I do not usually read books featuring supernatural characters, the spirits in this novel were friendly and lovable, not at all scary or fierce. The characters are described in detail and the plot features enough red herrings to keep most mystery readers interested. This is a clean novel, without any swear words, overt violence, or descriptive intimacy. Although part of a series, the book worked as a stand alone novel.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is book 6 in the Haunted Library series. Carrie is hoping for a rest and no murders in small town Clover Ridge, Connecticut. First, a dead body is found in the basement of the building attached to the library, and it turns out to be Carrie’s fiancé’s Uncle Alec, who Dylan hasn’t seen in years. But Alec has no intention of truly checking out, and his ghost makes itself at home in the library, greatly upsetting the patrons. With the help of her cat Smoky Joe and her resident ghost Evelyn she narrows down the list of suspects. Then murder #2 of a council member happens and they think the two are connected. Can be read as a stand alone. An enjoyable quick read.

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In the latest Haunted Library Mystery, construction has begun on the building behind the library so that the two buildings can be attached to give the library more space. During a renovation nothing goes totally as planned, but this renovation has big problems when a dead body is found in the basement. Carrie doesn't plan on getting involved in this mystery, but then has no choice when a new ghost shows up in the library. I enjoyed learning more about Dylan's family and liked how he started opening up to Carrie more about his family and his childhood. The ties to the past strengthened this story and there was no shortage of suspects in the mysteries. This was a very good addition to this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Carrie Singleton, head of Programs and Events at the Clover Ridge library could really use a break, but it doesn’t look likely when a dead body is found in the basement of the building attached to the library. It turns out to be Carrie’s fiancé’s Uncle Alec, who Dylan hasn’t seen in years. But Alec has no intention of truly checking out until the mystery surrounding his death is solved. Meanwhile, the town council, of which Carrie is a member, is embroiled in a debate over the fate of the Seabrook Preserve, a lovely and valuable piece of property that runs along Long Island Sound. As the dispute rages, there’s another murder, this time involving a council member. Could the two murders be connected? And could Carrie be next on the hit list?
This cozy mystery was great to read during the season prior to Halloween, it really got me in the mood. Reading about the new ghost’s antics gave a little comedic relief, and this story never became too scary. Carrie is a great sleuth, but I missed the interplay and subplot of her relationship with Dylan. All in all, it’s a very good mystery, and I can’t wait until the next installment in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. I chose this book because this hits so many of my buttons: mysteries, library cats, and ghostly assistance. However, I did not realize that this is the 6th book in a series, and it needs to be read in order. There were so many references to past cases and adventures that I spent a good chunk of the book feeling left out and behind.
As a mystery, this was a fairly standard cozy. It was cute, fairly sweet, and not especially memorable. I enjoyed it, but I probably will not pursue the rest of the series.

Dewey Decimated (Haunted Library 6)
by Allison Brook


Yay! It’s September in New Haven. We’re back in joining Carrie and her ghostly helper Evelyn Havers. If you’ll remember Carrie is an events coordinator at Clover Ridge Library and new on the town council. She’s also engaged to Dylan Avery, a successful investigator.
The library is being connected to a new purchase of a late 1700s building next door. On the first day of the new construction, Carrie sees Sally the library director is arguing with the foreman about patron parking. Later that morning a body was found in the house, and we’re off! From chapter three forward with few exceptions, we’re in a race to solve the crime and keep Carrie from joining her ghostly friend Evelyn!


I have gifted and read every book in this series. This series is a favorite that never disappoints. Ms. Brooks does a wonderful job with her characters in terms of personal progression. I would not think twice about letting 6th grade and higher read this series. A good solid mystery from a talented writer! 5*****



Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Fictional librarians are a favorite read for me, a retired librarian and Allison Brook’s stories are so good I can get passed the ghost character. But having 2 ghosts was just annoying. Also annoying is another example of a book title having absolutely nothing to do with the story.Nevertheless I recommend the book because the plot, setting and other characters are well written. Thanks to #NetGalley and #Dewey Decimated
for advanced digital copy.

This sixth book in the Haunted Library Mysteries was set in early fall so it was just perfect for my start of fall. I have read other books in this series before and have enjoyed my visits to fictional Clover Ridge, CT, and it’s librarian Carrie who can communicate with the library’s resident ghost Evelyn which gives her and decided advantage over the police when solving crimes from the past. This book starts out with a new ghost appearing - a body has been found in the old building next to the library now that it’s undergoing renovations to be an addition to the library. Who is this body and the connected or disconnected ghost who appeared in the library at the time the body was discovered …
Each of the books in this series can be read as a standalone, but, as with any series, the reading experience is so much more enjoyable when starting from the beginning, Carrie, the sleuth has come a long way since the first book and her personal growth is fun to observe and cheer on.
All the characters, both human and ghostly, are well developed and likable. The library setting adds a nice touch that I appreciate a lot. This book ends up having two murders one from five years ago one current and the strands that connect them or potentially connect them, the multiple suspects and red herrings keep you wondering and trying to solve the mystery.

It is the first mystery in the Haunted Library series that I read and it was a good one, easily readable as a standalone too. I enjoyed the overall small town ambiance with its town council drama; and the presence of actual ghosts in the library makes it a great choice to get into the Halloween spirit.

It’s a well written whodunnit with a cast of relatable characters. Recommended!