Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Death on the Shelf - Cozy Mystery Review

Goodreads:  Death on the Shelf (A Haunted Library Mystery #5) by Allison Brook

Rating: Really Liked It!
Source:   Publisher

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

Clover Ridge librarian Carrie Singleton is thrilled to attend her best friend Angela’s wedding, but Angela’s family can be a bit…much. Angela’s wealthy cousin Donna hosts an extravagant bridal shower at her resplendent home, but the celebrations turn to gossip as the guests notice Donna’s surgeon husband, Aiden, spending a bit too much time with Donna’s cousin Roxy. At the wedding reception, the sweet occasion turns darkly bitter when Aiden topples into the chocolate fountain–dead.

The suspect list is as long as the guest list, and as difficult to sort out as the seating chart. A few of the top contenders on Carrie’s suspect list are the flirtatious Roxy, emotionally unstable since her recent divorce; Angela’s grouchy brother, who feels Aiden betrayed him; and Roxy’s scorned ex-husband. Even Donna may have had reason to want her husband dead. And Aiden’s gossipy office manager has plenty to say about them all.

Then another member of Angela’s family is murdered, making Carrie more determined than ever to find the killer. Can library ghost Evelyn and library cat Smoky Joe help Carrie solve the murders before she becomes the next of Angela’s wedding guests to head to the grave?

Genre: Mystery - Cozy

Why I Picked This Book:  I love this series so of course I had to pick this one up.

My Impression: 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.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I absolutely love this series and always enjoying visiting Carrie, Dylan and the rest of the library crew.

Would I Recommend this Book? If you like cozies this is a series that shouldn't be missed.  The ghost is pretty lowkey so if you're not a big fan of paranormal don't let that stop you.

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

4 comments:

  1. This is a series I am really enjoying too. Good to hear this one is keeping up the standard. I am listening to them and will keep working towards this one.

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  2. I've heard good things about this series. I really need to try it out. Thanks for the reminder!

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  3. I'm looking forward to reading this one. I love the series.

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  4. This sounds really good! Sometimes wedding drama can be too much for me so I like that this one doesn't get too crazy (beside the dead body).

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