Death on the Shelf

September 20, 2021
Brook’s captivating fifth Haunted Library mystery featuring Carrie Singleton, the head of programs and events at the Clover Ridge, Conn., library (after 2020’s Checked Out for Murder), finds Carrie looking forward to the marriage of her best friend and library coworker, Angela Vecchio. Toward the end of the bridal shower, hosted by Angela’s wealthy cousin Donna Harrington, two men show up: Donna’s husband, Aiden, “a drop-dead gorgeous doctor,” and Angela’s disruptive brother, Tommy, who wants Aiden to invest in his latest movie. Roxy Forlano, another wealthy cousin, takes an interest in Aiden. Later, after Aiden topples dead into the chocolate fountain at the wedding reception, Carrie, known for her sharp intuition, once again turns amateur sleuth. An unrelated subplot, in which Carrie agrees to help Evelyn Havers, the library’s resident ghost, reunite Evelyn’s estranged brother and troubled niece, provides a counterpoint to the crime solving. Well-drawn characters match the lively plot, and the culprit will surprise most readers. Fans of paranormal cozies will have fun. Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary.