I've always thought that you can't go wrong with a book set in or centred around a library, so when I saw #DeweyDecimated by Allison Brook available on #NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Even though the book is the sixth in a series that I am unfamiliar with, the pun of the title and book description drew me in.
Brook did not disappoint. The book's characters, including the library's resident and visiting ghosts, are complex, with strengths and flaws that are relatable to the reader. The cold case mystery of the identity of the body found in the old building being renovated and how he got there merges with the issues of land use development being faced by the town council at the same time, making the entire story intriguing and fascinating to read.
As well, more serious issues such as family estrangements and the importance of friends who can become family, are gently addressed within the pages.
Brook is a proficient writer who clearly researches her material to present a page-turner of a mystery.

Our favorite sleuthing librarian is back in action with the aid of her friendly ghost and an unwanted sidekick! This may be the best book in the series yet as much is going on with the expansion of the library, Carrie's engagement, starting on the town council, sharing her ghost seeing with her loved ones and of course a dead body or two to throw a wrench into her plans. This story was extremely well crafted as it kept you guessing as to who the murderer or murderers actually were, yet the reveal made absolute sense! I can't wait to read what comes next for these characters in the next book and hope the author doesn't keep us in suspense for too long!

This is the sixth book in the Haunted Library Mysteries series, and I think the best so far. My complaints about the series have been “a bit too chick lit”, and very little reason for the whole premise: the library’s ghost. This one, however, is a whole lot more balanced on the romance side (or, heavens forfend! I’m getting used to it?!), with Carrie’s woes over setting a wedding date only slightly irritating 😉 More to the point, the library is about to get a second ghostly visitor…!

Carrie is well settled into her new life since we first met her in Death Overdue. In fact, she’s been persuaded to join the town council, only to discover first hand how politics can be bent by personal interests, friendships – and enemyships! – and she’s less than impressed. But while one group is arguing over turning a nature preserve into a high-class retirement complex, Carrie has more to worry about with the library’s expansion into the building next door – even more so when the renovations uncover a mysterious corpse!

The pace rarely lets up in this instalment, aside from the regular ‘Carrie panics over her relationship’. It’s far more fun seeing her trying to shake off the local reporter from trying to set her up as the ‘town Nancy Drew’, and joining her to be ‘Rizzoli and Isles’, much to Carrie’s dismay on every level. The new ghostly presence in the library proves little use in solving his own murder, let alone when other town business turns deadly…!

I’m glad I stuck with this series. It’s still not my favourite, but as I’ve said before: tough times call for nice, easy reads, and this ticked the box happily.

Carrie Singleton works at the Clover Ridge Library and gets on well with everyone there, including the resident ghost, Evelyn, who is only visible to her and her niece, Tacey. Exciting times are coming for the library employees as work has just started on renovations to the adjoining building which will increase the services they are able to offer. In hardly any time however, everything stops when a body is found in the new basement. Shockingly it has been there for some time, although no one knows its identity, and the victim takes up residence in the library unable to leave until the killer is identified.

Now Carrie has two spirits to placate while finding her feet as the newest town council member with a contentious planning application to discuss at length. She also, unwillingly, becomes involved in the the murder investigation alongside an enthusiastic local tv reporter, but when a second person dies can they find out what actually happened so Carrie can send the anxious spirit into the next world or will everything remain even more complicated than usual?

This is the sixth in the Haunted Library Mystery Series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Carrie is fun, her everyday life far from straightforward and she looks after the library cat, what's not to like? The main protagonists work so well together and the investigation was in no way simple to solve. Add to that the ghosts, the secrecy surrounding Evelyn, and why she has not passed over, and you have an original quirky series to get stuck into.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. If you want to suspend reality for a while but still have a murder to solve then this comes highly recommended.

An intriguing and captivating story where the past meets the present with astounding results. Libraries are known for their many hidden secrets, deep within the pages of their books. But in this case, one has refused to stay hidden any longer, which tasked Carrie and the pushy reporter Julie in their investigation. As the truth comes to light slowly, a new restless ghostly entity has presented itself in the library. Carrie found herself in a pickle with the task of investigating and solving the mysterious murder case, but she must first accept the unsolicited help from Julie. With a ghost ready to go ballistic, time was of the essence.

This was a fun cozy mystery! I haven't read any of the previous books in the series and I didn't feel lost, but I think I might go back and do that, to get a little bit more of the backstory between Dylan and Carrie, and her colleagues, and the ghost of the library.

I quite enjoyed the flow of the story and how the mystery of the body in the building adjoining the library progressed, how he was connected to the characters, and how everything was resolved. Quick and really enjoyable! Mystery, intrigue, a little romance, and it kept me guessing the entire way. She really got me with this one - I didn't guess who-dunnit until just before the big reveal (and I'm usually a lot quicker on the draw with clues given by other authors)! Very, very well done.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a great cozy mystery, especially one that keeps you guessing the whole way through!

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books and this is my honest feedback - thank you!

I received an advanced copy via NetGalley.

<i>Dewey Decimated</i> is the 6th book in the Haunted Library Mysteries, set in modern Clover Ridge, Connecticut. Carrie is a librarian and town council member, and she can also see ghosts--and has a reputation for solving murders as well. I hadn't read any previous books in the series, but I had no problems getting into the groove. The premise of the book seems straightforward at first: the library has acquired the long-abandoned building next door to expand their space. A man's body is found on the premises, dead for many years--and his bewildered ghost begins haunting the library. Things become more convoluted as the dead man is identified as the uncle of Carrie's fiancée. A local reporter puts heavy pressure on Carrie to get back to her amateur-sleuthing ways, and she can only resist the urge for so long...

The setting here is incredibly fun, and I loved how the mundane library work was paced into the plot. Carrie is a great character, realistic and compassionate, and her romance with Dylan is quite sweet. The pacing of the mystery, though, didn't work for me in major ways. The ghost that the action centers around has amnesia, and only remembers things in perfect timing with the rest of the plot. It annoyed me in how it felt so contrived. I'd been excited to see how ghosts would be used in the plot and it was a big disappointment to find them integrated in such a clunky way. So many other aspects, like the local political drama and the ambitious local reporter, worked well, too.

<em>Dewey Decimated</em> is the sixth in the series of the Haunted Library series and it’s another trip to the small town library with the big town budget. Clover Ridge Library has acquisitioned the building next door and hired a contractor to refurbish the building for the library’s needs. Carrie Singleton has her heart set on a room with stadium seating for 320 people for her events.

The builders are off to a bad start when they find a corpse in the basement. This does not stall the work much as the police come to collect the corpse soon enough. Next thing, the builders (I really should use air quotes with that) break through an ajoining wall, unscheduled and in the wrong place.

The builders put up some tarp and clear up the rubble and continue their work. What? No! The construction work should be shut down until a proper investigation into the incident is done: how did this happen? Is it likely to happen again? And was the structural integrity of the building damaged? (i.e. is it still safe for patrons to use the library?) Breaking through a wall unscheduled is not a “oopsy” event and should not be misnomered a “mishap”.

This is not my only eye-rolling moment at how local government in Clover Ridge works. I’m not sure how Carrie got on the local counsel (it seems she was asked rather than elected, but I guess that’s properly explained in a previous book), but it seems the counsel holds meetings all over the place and never ever is there someone present to take minutes. Then how are the citizens of Clover Ridge to check that their local counsel is working in the best interest of the town?

Such technicalities do detract from the main mystery.

Because there is a main mystery. It turns out the corpse is the body of Carrie’s fiancé Dylan’s uncle. An uncle he hasn’t seen in at least eight or ten years. An uncle who’s ghost is now also hanging out at the library. While Carrie is determined to let the police handle it, another ghost at the library, a reporter that’s harassing her and finally the murder of fellow counsel member and contractor for the library, pull Carrie in to find out the truth.

I never really got into this story. The technicalities bothered me. I didn’t really care about either dead man and who had killed them. I didn’t care much about Carrie either.

And can Carrie please put up a visitor’s chair in her office so people can have a seat without her assistent vacating the room?

The Haunted Library mysteries are charming cozies with likeable characters that you enjoy spending time with.

Librarian Carrie Singleton moved back to Clover Ridge Connecticut where her great aunt and uncle live. After an iffy start as a Goth girl going through a rough patch, she's settled in the town and loves her job as head of programs, family and the man in her life. In the past year, she has a new job, a fiancée and a spot on the town council. And of course, a number of murders to solve (this is the sixth book in the series) with the help of Evelyn, the library's resident ghost who is only seen and heard by Carrie and her young cousin.

The library is renovating a building next door to the library for a much-needed addition. And on the first day of construction a body is found in the old building. It appears the body had been there for five to eight years, and Carrie is intent on not getting involved in this mystery.

Unfortunately, the ghost of the murdered man wanders into the library when a common wall is broken down. He doesn't remember his name or how we came to be in the building. So, Carrie decides to help him by doing some sleuthing. And then she discovers he has a connection to someone dear to her.

The ghost's memory comes back in dribs and drabs and Carrie discovers why the ghost was in town and wha happened to him. But there is a second murder that also needs to be solved before the ghost can move on.

A well plotted mystery that I would recommend. Not sure why the issue of the Seabrook Preserve was featured as it didn't add much to the mystery.

I received an ARC from the publisher but the opinion expressed is my own.

Another haunted library installment, and the bodies are piling up. Some new, one that has been there for years, and with a close personal connection to Carrie.

Pro- a lot of what makes the series great, we find out more about Evelyn.

Con- drags a bit, still makes fun of Carrie being a “former goth girl”- this really bothers me I don’t know why she can’t just be herself. One scene even has her putting on all beige which screams boring old woman. Not enough smoky joe.

I was a bit disappointed that they didn’t get to Halloween in the book because planning for it was mentioned a lot.

I am still interested in the series but I do wish Carrie would be more herself and less fitting in to what everyone else wants her to be.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I read the previous book as an ARC and still have not found the time to read the first four books, but when I saw I might be able to read this one as an ARC, I jumped at it and was allowed to read the book!

I am starting to like paranormal cozies more and more and what is great about this one is that you ease into it. There is a friendly resident ghost called Evelyn and Carrie is the only one (next to her niece) who can see Evelyn. Together they solve the cases, but Evelyn is not a huge part, but more one who hands tips and ideas. I really love it. In this installment the library finally gets an extension. The work is going quite well until a body is found hidden away in the basement of the extra space.

Even more surprising is that Carrie now sees a second ghost in the library, the ghost of the person whose body was found. There are many, many questions and even more when the identity of the ghost has been discovered. When a second murder happens, Carrie, with some help of local reporter Julie Theron, goes to find answers and solve the case.

Even though the book started a little slow, when the body was found it picked up and I had a hard time putting it down! I had no idea who did it and why until it was revealed. I really need to read the first 4 books as this series is really, really good!!

Fun and catchy storyline. The main character Carrie is known as the woman who can solve murder. She has help from a special friend.
In the most recent death they need to find the identity of this unknown body they found in the building next door to the library. Many questions surround this puzzle of who is he, who killed him, and why?

I wish to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a really delightful murder mystery set in a small Connecticut town’s library. Carrie, the librarian, has an adorable cat that has become the library cat and is one of the characters in the book. Carrie is able to see and communicate with two ghosts who befriend her. A body is discovered in the adjoining property that is being renovated as part of the library. The police are trying to discover who the victim was and the details about the case. Carrie is a sleuth herself and she get involved in trying to solve the mystery. I did not realize that this is the sixth book in the series until after I read it. But the fact that I had not read the others did not impact my enjoyment. I will go back and read some or all of the others.

I think the author did a great job of making all the town citizens suspect until the case narrowed down. There is action, fun and romance throughout the book. The story is not a deep one but one that is very entertaining for all age groups. I think anyone will enjoy this story

I have read this Haunted Library cozy mystery series from the beginning and I usually enjoy them, but this one felt flat to me. This is book 6 and most readers will probably not want to pick up this one if they have not read the others. I struggled to finish it and hope it won’t mark the demise of the series. It just felt simplistic with a plot revolving around Carrie joining the town council and voting on what to do with some land. There is also a not very likable ghost whose demise needs to be solved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

Obligatory I have not read any other of the books in this series, and this is the sixth one in the Haunted Library series. This book is very spooky! There’s ghosts! There’s a complicated web of interpersonal politics! There’s an appropriately slow start! There’s a resident ghost! There’s a cat named Smoky Joe! There’s A MURDER (which results in a ghost, obviously). There’s a cop and his name is John and the entire Clover Ridge Police Department is involved, and there’s an INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER who wants to TAKE DOWN the police department because they’re INCOMPETENT. And she’s RIGHT. We stan Julie in this house. Honestly, the quote on the front of the book is “all my favorite cozy things’”, and this book does deliver (library? cat? murder? perfect), but I wish there was less Police Drama and also I wish there were more dessert-based descriptions. Or some recipes! Four stars. You’ll probably like it. Bookshop link here.

Do you enjoy fun mysteries that are set in a haunted library? If so, you might check out the latest installment of the Haunted Library Mystery series by Allison Brook. In Dewey Decimated, the town’s public library is expanding. Unfortunately, while tearing down a building next to the library, a body is discovered! The individual is Alec who happens to be Dylan’s uncle. Dylan is Carrie’s fiance. Carrie (who is a librarian and has solved several mysteries) along with resident library ghost, Evelyn try to figure out who murdered Alec. In the meantime, Alec in the form of a ghost is disturbing the patrons in the library. In addition, Carrie has just recently started serving on the town council. Unfortunately, the council members are having heated debates over what to do about the Seabrook Preserve and then one of the council members is murdered. Now there are two murders to solve!

Dewey Decimated is another fun installment in the Haunted Library Mystery series. Readers will enjoy reading about Alec and his antics along with Carrie and how she is going to solve not one but two murder mysteries.

I got this book without knowing that this is the sixth book. Some parts like the library ghost was hard to fully understand but most of the other parts totally contributed to the cozy mystery. Loved it and i am going to go to the first book

A cozy, light, murder mystery.

The plot centers on the discovery of the body of an unknown man, which may or may not are related to a later murder. Carrie is, for her, rather uninvolved in the investigation, her days being full of library business and her slowly dawning realization that husband-to-be Dylan and she still have things to learn about each other. Such as who he is related to. There are also several side stories, ranging from Angela's search for the "perfect dog" to the dimensions of the proposed auditorium to be built in the added building. It was interesting to see how Carrie, a new member of /Clover Ridge, Connecticut, cautiously but effectively worked her way into the city board and all the decisions it is ultimately responsible for making. She even deals with a pesty, ambitious reporter in the process.

The sub-plots and other characters add to the beautiful canvas that Brook wants to portray of a cozy town with its many local dramas. Overall after a bit of a slow start I found this book very enjoyable

Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook is the sixth mystery in the Haunted Library Mystery series. In this mystery, when a long dead body is discovered in the building next to the library when the library expansion is starting, Carrie Singleton finds herself on the case to find out who the missing person is and who murdered them.

I have been reading this series from the beginning and was very glad to see that a new mystery was coming out. I was not disappointed with this new mystery, which fit into the series perfectly. I really enjoy following Carrie as she uncovers the clues that lead to solving the mystery. The addition of Evelyn the library ghost is always a welcome one that makes me love this series even more. Overall this was a good read and I would recommend it to cozy mystery lovers.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this mystery!

Carrie Singleton is just off a hot string of murder cases centered around the spooky local library in Clover Ridge, Connecticut. She could really use a break—but no such luck, as she; Smoky Joe, the resident cat; and Evelyn, the library’s ghost, is drawn into another tantalizing whodunit.

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. Carrie and Evelyn work hard to keep Alec out of sight, but what was he doing in Clover Ridge, to begin with? And why was he killed?
With this installment of this series, we find Carrie doing the same old same old. She is wrapped up in solving this crime and it again hits close to home with it being her fiancée's Uncle it's funny but Dylan is able to see and communicate with his uncle and help set him at ease. The turns this book took were crazy I have to say I never knew who the killer was I thought it was not right and I was shocked when I found out.