Checked Out for Murder - Cozy Mystery Review

 

Goodreads:  Checked Out for Murder (Haunted Library Mystery #4) by Allison Brook

Rating: Really Liked It!
Source: Publisher

Description:  Daphne Marriott strolls into Clover Ridge and informs librarian Carrie Singleton that she's a psychic. But had she foreseen what fate awaited her, Daphne would have steered clear of the quaint Connecticut town. Evelyn, the library ghost, tells Carrie that there's more to Daphne than she lets on.

The mysterious woman grew up in Clover Ridge with her no-good dad, who apparently met his end at the hands of Daphne's brother, Billy. Still, Daphne proves a welcome distraction when Carrie's overbearing mother hits town. Mom's much younger husband, Tom, is in a movie that's lensing locally, and she's there to keep an eye on him: Tom's costar, sultry Ilana Reingold, is also his ex-fiancée, and there's no denying the chemistry is still there. Soon after mingling with the moviemakers at a meet-and-greet, Daphne is found dead.

Carrie and Evelyn investigate, assisted by bushy-tailed library cat Smoky Joe. But the suspect list could overflow the library shelves. Has Billy killed another relative? Is their long-missing mother involved? Or Daphne's mean ex-husband? Carrie's sure she knows who committed the crime, but can she bind together the clues before the culprit Dewey-decimates the town?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoy this series and how can I resist a mystery set in a haunted library?

My Impression:  I so enjoy this series and each book has just confirmed my love for it!  I think I'd be on board regardless because no part of me can resist a haunted library.    Luckily, I also enjoy the characters and the mysteries too!  What really sells me on this series are the characters and their relationships.  I appreciated that Carrie's feelings towards her mother were complicated.  She was frustrated by her frequently and annoyed by her regularly but she was also protective of her at times and couldn't just write her off even if the woman was being awful to her.  As well, I liked that Carrie listened to Dylan's concerns about the danger of getting involved in a murder investigation and Dylan was also willing to listen to Carrie's reasoning.  

The mystery is a bit of a slower start in this book.  We do get a lot of the threads that lead to the murder and mayhem but it takes a bit to fully come together.  I didn't mind that as I enjoyed watching it all unravel and then come together and as I mentioned earlier I really love the characters.  

If you're looking for a fun bookish cozy mystery with a tiny touch of supernatural this is a series that can't be beat!

Would I Read More of this Series/Author?  Definitely!  I'm already looking forward to the next book!

Would I Recommend this Book?  If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is a series I think you would enjoy.  While you can easily start here I think it would be even better if you start from the first book.

* I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *