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dollycas's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
5.0
Dollycas's Thoughts
Wedding bells are about to ring for librarian Carrie Singleton's best friend and co-worker Angela Vecchio but their bridal shower venue suffered extensive damage in a fire. Angela's cousins, Donna and Roxy offer to help with everything including hosting the shower, something Angela isn't sure about but with no other options she acquiesces. The event has strange undertones and many guests notice Roxy's fawning over Donna's husband Aidan.
Following the wedding guests are treated to an opulent reception but the party takes a drastic turn when Aiden collapses right in front of Carrie and into the chocolate fountain. It is clear the man is dead and there is a room full of suspects.
Carrie has a few true suspects in mind; his wife Donna, the flirt, Roxy, Roxy's ex-husband, Angela's angry brother, Aiden's partner, and even Aidan's controlling office manager who seems to have the dirt on everyone.
Carrie is also dealing with a request from the library's friendly ghost, Evelyn. She wants Carrie to find her brother Harold so he can help another family member. The mayor has her in mind for another job too. So between hunting down a missing person, and deciding whether she wants to honor the mayor's request, she now has to find a murderer. Can she do it all? or will she be another causality and join Evelyn in the afterlife where the wardrobe appears to be vast?
____
Ms. Brook's characters continue to evolve in realistic ways. Carrie gets stronger in each story and people in the right places have noticed. She is actively participating in the library expansion planning and putting forth her ideas. The mayor has picked her for an important position in the city. Her relationship with Dylan is moving right along although Carrie believes he is keeping something from her. Dylan's business is growing. He already has brought Carrie's dad into the business and is now interviewing to bring in another investigator. Evelyn pops in often in this story and is putting pressure on Carrie to find her brother. We meet a plethora of new characters due to Angela's wedding and in Carrie trying to fulfill Evelyn's request. All the characters are skillfully created and have a purpose in the story.
Our protagonist is one industrious individual with two mysteries to solve in this book. They are expertly twisted together with all the other happenings that take place. Carrie finds a unique balance and I had a good time tagging along with her each step of the way. She was hindered by Angela's mother who begged her to prove all her family members innocent but Carrie had to follow where each clue led. One observation led to revealing all but put Carrie in a dire situation and made by heart race.
Death on the Shelf is a well-plotted cozy mystery with interesting characters. I was kept guessing throughout the entire story. The final chapter greatly piqued my interest to read the next book soon. Evelyn thinks "Clover Ridge is in for many changes". and I am excited to read all about them.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
4.0
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.
thegirlwithinthestacks's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
readwkatie's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Allison Brook for this advanced copy in return for my honest review! Death on the Shelf comes out on November 9, 2021!
Carrie Singleton is a librarian by day and an amatuer sleuth by night. When her best friend's wedding ends with police transporting a dead body to the morgue, Carrie springs into action to help her best friend find answers. Throughout the case, Carrie ties together other nefarious things happening in her town and makes some people very angry...maybe angry enough to cause Carrie physical harm.
I love a good cozy mystery and this being set IN a library is right up my alley. I read this one not having read the previous 4 books and I didn't feel like I had catching up to do, I was able to step right into the fifth book and follow along with ease. That being said, I would recommend reading books 1-4 prior to because it is clear that the author worked on character and relationship development and that is something I missed out on by starting at book five.
Carrie Singleton is a librarian by day and an amatuer sleuth by night. When her best friend's wedding ends with police transporting a dead body to the morgue, Carrie springs into action to help her best friend find answers. Throughout the case, Carrie ties together other nefarious things happening in her town and makes some people very angry...maybe angry enough to cause Carrie physical harm.
I love a good cozy mystery and this being set IN a library is right up my alley. I read this one not having read the previous 4 books and I didn't feel like I had catching up to do, I was able to step right into the fifth book and follow along with ease. That being said, I would recommend reading books 1-4 prior to because it is clear that the author worked on character and relationship development and that is something I missed out on by starting at book five.
booklovingmom_'s review
5.0
I received a copy of Death on the Shelf through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Death on the Shelf is the fifth mystery in the Haunted Library Mysteries series. In this cozy mystery, library event coordinator, Carrie Singleton, finds herself wrapped up in another search for the killer when a man dies right in front of her at her best friends wedding.
I have read every book in this series and I have really enjoyed them all, this book was no exception. I enjoy the setting of Clover Ridge, really like and connect with the characters in this series and love the friendly ghost in the library element. This book, and series, is definitely worth the read and I would definitely recommend this series. I really enjoyed Death on the Shelf and look forward to seeing what is next in this series.
Death on the Shelf is the fifth mystery in the Haunted Library Mysteries series. In this cozy mystery, library event coordinator, Carrie Singleton, finds herself wrapped up in another search for the killer when a man dies right in front of her at her best friends wedding.
I have read every book in this series and I have really enjoyed them all, this book was no exception. I enjoy the setting of Clover Ridge, really like and connect with the characters in this series and love the friendly ghost in the library element. This book, and series, is definitely worth the read and I would definitely recommend this series. I really enjoyed Death on the Shelf and look forward to seeing what is next in this series.
katreader's review
4.0
DEATH ON THE SHELF by Allison Brook
The Fifth Haunted Library Mystery
Angela, Carrie Singleton's best friend, is usually cheerful and calm. That is not the case in the weeks before her wedding. With the brother who tormented her through her childhood coming to town and the restaurant catering her bridal shower cancelling less than a week before the event, it's no wonder Angela's having a bit of a meltdown. Angela's cousin, Donna, steps in to save the day, hosting the shower in her home. Everything is going well, until Angela's brother makes a scene at the rehearsal dinner, angry that Donna's husband won't invest in his film. When the good doctor drops dead at the wedding reception Angela is certain that her brother is a murderer. Although confident that the police will solve the case, Carrie can't help but begin her own investigation. Is one of Angela's relatives really a murderer?
Love is in the air in the fifth Haunted Library Mystery. Weddings and reunions, friendships and family, illicit relationships and the pretense of love, all can be found here. Ultimately, DEATH ON THE SHELF is about family, love, and fitting in.
We learn quite a bit about Angela's relations in this book. Talk about a dysfunctional family! Kissing cousins, one-upmanship, and a hot headed violent brother make for a stressful wedding and plenty of motives for murder. I really liked the way the mystery developed, with characters showing very different faces as the story progressed. More than one person has some secrets going on! In fact, duplicitous characters really had me guessing and I wasn't sure who the murderer really was!
DEATH ON THE SHELF is a complex mystery that proves appearances can be deceiving, love can come in many forms, and acceptance is possible.
The Fifth Haunted Library Mystery
Angela, Carrie Singleton's best friend, is usually cheerful and calm. That is not the case in the weeks before her wedding. With the brother who tormented her through her childhood coming to town and the restaurant catering her bridal shower cancelling less than a week before the event, it's no wonder Angela's having a bit of a meltdown. Angela's cousin, Donna, steps in to save the day, hosting the shower in her home. Everything is going well, until Angela's brother makes a scene at the rehearsal dinner, angry that Donna's husband won't invest in his film. When the good doctor drops dead at the wedding reception Angela is certain that her brother is a murderer. Although confident that the police will solve the case, Carrie can't help but begin her own investigation. Is one of Angela's relatives really a murderer?
Love is in the air in the fifth Haunted Library Mystery. Weddings and reunions, friendships and family, illicit relationships and the pretense of love, all can be found here. Ultimately, DEATH ON THE SHELF is about family, love, and fitting in.
We learn quite a bit about Angela's relations in this book. Talk about a dysfunctional family! Kissing cousins, one-upmanship, and a hot headed violent brother make for a stressful wedding and plenty of motives for murder. I really liked the way the mystery developed, with characters showing very different faces as the story progressed. More than one person has some secrets going on! In fact, duplicitous characters really had me guessing and I wasn't sure who the murderer really was!
DEATH ON THE SHELF is a complex mystery that proves appearances can be deceiving, love can come in many forms, and acceptance is possible.
thisandthatwithkaren's review
4.0
"Death on the Shelf" the 5th instalment in the A Haunted Library Mystery series by Allison Brook. Librarian Carrie Singleton sleuths a murder at her best friend's wedding
I still have not read the first two books in the series but I did not have any trouble following along as the author did a wonderful job of retelling things without overloading you with the past books.
The protagonist Carrie is one of the librarians and Evelyn (ghost) was also before her untimely death. This time Evelyn wants Carrie to find her long lost brother. Plus things are heating up in the romance department with all the Angela wedding talk. I also loved the inclusion of the library cat, Smokey Joe into the story.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself right to the very end. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I still have not read the first two books in the series but I did not have any trouble following along as the author did a wonderful job of retelling things without overloading you with the past books.
The protagonist Carrie is one of the librarians and Evelyn (ghost) was also before her untimely death. This time Evelyn wants Carrie to find her long lost brother. Plus things are heating up in the romance department with all the Angela wedding talk. I also loved the inclusion of the library cat, Smokey Joe into the story.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself right to the very end. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
2.0
⭐⭐
I really have little to say about this one. I apparently read book one in this series (and forgot). Going back to my review of that book, I see I had a major issue with Carrie. That actually wasn't the case here. Carrie was fine. This time it was her annoying drama queen of a BFF (Angela) that brought my rating down. Obviously, this isn't the series for me.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
meezan's review
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Car accident, Drug abuse, and Murder
rants_n_reads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0