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The Well of Ice by Andrea Carter [Book Review]

Posted on November 29, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Well of Ice

Author: Andrea Carter

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: November 10, 2020

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Inishowen Mysteries #3

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

A cold—and terrifying—Christmas holiday on the Inishowen Peninsula

December on the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal—and solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keeffe is working flat out before the Christmas holidays. While on a trip to Dublin to visit her parents, she runs into Luke Kirby—the man who killed her sister—freshly released from jail. On the surface he appears remorseful, conciliatory even, but his comment as she walks away makes her realize he is as evil as ever.

Back in Glendara, she finds chaos. The Oak pub has burned down and Carole Kearney, the Oak’s barmaid, has gone missing. And then, while walking the dog up Sliabh Sneacht, Ben and her partner, Sergeant Tom Molloy, make a gruesome discovery: a body lying face down in the snow. Another brutal attack in the small town and Ben plunges into full discovery mode.

Who could be behind this vicious attack on Glendara and its residents? And why disturb such a charming town at Christmas? As Ben delves in to find answers, she comes face to face with the reality that all this evil could be swirling around her as her past confronts her present—and future.

MY REVIEW

The Well of Ice is the third book in the Inishowen Mysteries series by Andrea Carter. Ben (Benedicta) O’Keeffe is a local attorney in Glendara, a small town in northern Ireland. She has been involved with a couple of mysteries, and is drawn into a new one in The Well of Ice.

Glendara is a very close-knit community, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. For instance, everyone seems to know about Ben and her “secret” boyfriend Sergeant Tom Molloy… so, it’s a surprise when no one knows anything about the local pub burning down and the missing barmaid. Fortunately, Ben has a talent for uncovering secrets and solving mysteries.

I recommend reading the first two books in this series (Death at Whitewater Church and Treacherous Strand) before this one. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.

An atmospheric mystery with an isolated and wintry setting. The Well of Ice has similarities with cozy mysteries – small town setting, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth, but it is darker than most cozies. Intriguing mystery that has me looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Inishowen Mysteries series:

Death at Whitewater Church
Treacherous Strand
The Well of Ice
Murder at Greysbridge
The Body Falls
Death Writes

The Housewarming by S.E. Lynes [Book Review]

Posted on November 25, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Housewarming

Author: S.E. Lynes

Publisher: Bookouture

Publish Date: October 23, 2020

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Everyone is going to the housewarming party.

All the same people who lived on the street the day Abi vanished…

Will her mother finally learn the truth?

Ava only left her daughter in the pushchair for five minutes. The buckle was fastened, and she was sure it was safe. But when she came downstairs, the door was open and Abi was gone – she walked down the road, past the Lovegoods’ house, and was never seen again.

A year later, the Lovegoods throw a housewarming party, showing off the results of their renovation. Ava doesn’t want to go. She can’t bear to look down that end of the road, to see the place where Abi vanished, and she doesn’t want to spend time with people who don’t share her grief. Her husband Matt persuades her: he’s worried about her. A night out might do her good.

But as her friends and neighbours chat, and the drink and gossip flows, Ava learns something new about the day she has re-lived a thousand times. A throwaway comment which could change everything.

Ava thought she knew every last detail of that day.

She’s about to find out she was wrong…

MY REVIEW

The Housewarming is an emotional and twisty mystery. A mother, Ava, leaves her young daughter in her stroller for a few minutes while she runs upstairs. When Ava comes back down, the front door is open and the child is missing.

A year after their daughter goes missing, Ava and her husband Matt attend a neighbor’s housewarming party. Ava does not want to attend, but Matt believes they need to get out and socialize more. During the housewarming, Ava realizes there is more to her daughter’s disappearance than she ever realized.

Told from multiple points of view, including Ava, Matt, and their neighbors. The different viewpoints add to the story, as does the alternating between past and present. While the beginning goes a little slow, the pace does pick up.

I have enjoyed other books by S.E. Lynes, so I was excited to read this one. The Housewarming didn’t disappoint, and I’m happy to say this author continues to write entertaining mysteries. Other novels that I have read by S.E. Lynes include Mother, The Proposal, The Women, and Can You See Her?.

The Housewarming is a slow-burning mystery. It combines secrets, lies, and a gut-wrenching loss of a child. Fans of S.E. Lynes other novels are sure to enjoy this one too.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by S.E. Lynes:

Valentina
Mother
The Pact
The Proposal
The Women
The Lies We Hide
Can You See Her?
The Housewarming
The One to Blame
The Baby Shower
The Ex
The Summer Holiday

A Page Marked for Murder by Lauren Elliott [Book Review]

Posted on October 28, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: A Page Marked for Murder

Author: Lauren Elliott

Publisher: Kensington

Publish Date: October 27, 2020

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #5

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

A murder and a missing book have Addie Greyborne running around her Massachusetts town trying to read the clues…

January isn’t the season for the seaside, but the big Fire and Ice festival is keeping bookstore owner Addie busy. Amid the plans for a fireworks display and an ice-carving competition, she’s also dog sitting for a friend in the hospital. When Addie goes to her friend’s house to gather supplies, she notices an interesting item on the nightstand which belongs to her shop assistant, Paige: a very valuable copy of the beloved children’s book The Secret Garden.

But Addie’s blood runs cold when she finds something else: a dead body behind the bakery next door to her shop. Martha, the bakery owner, has no alibi—and has been seen in a heated argument with the victim. And the next thing Addie knows, that first edition has gone missing. Is there a connection between the body and the treasured tome? If there is, it’s up to Addie to find a killer with a motive as hidden as Frances Hodgson Burnett’s famous garden . . .

A Page Marked for Murder by Lauren Elliottt

MY REVIEW

Addie is back with another murder mystery in the quaint town of Greyborne Harbor. In addition to a murder to solve, Addie also looks for a stolen book.

A Page Marked for Murder is the fifth book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series by Lauren Elliott. I have read the other books in this series, and reviewed Book 3 (Murder in the First Edition) and Book 4 (Proof of Murder) on this blog .

I’ve enjoyed each book in this series, and was happy to see Addie was back for another mystery. The small town setting is great, and I especially enjoy Addie’s bookstore. The characters are wonderful and a joy to read about. A series worth checking out for fans of cozies.

An entertaining cozy mystery. Well paced, delightful, and fun.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery Series:

Murder by the Book
Prologue to Murder
Murder in the First Edition
Proof of Murder
A Page Marked for Murder
Under the Cover of Murder
To the Tome of Murder

Bending the Paw by Diane Kelly [Book Review]

Posted on October 28, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Bending the Paw

Author: Diane Kelly

Publisher: St. Martin

Publish Date: October 27, 2020

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Paw Enforcement #9

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Make way for the long paw of the law as police officer Megan Luz and her K-9 partner Brigit investigate a baffling new mystery in Bending the Paw, by Diane Kelly.

A MURDER WITHOUT A BODY IS LIKE A DOG WITHOUT A BONE

A bloodbath is a shocking new challenge for Megan and Brigit when Detective Audrey Jackson calls them to the scene of what could only be a brutal murder. But the one thing the nightmarish scene is missing is a victim. The frantic homeowner’s husband is gone, seemingly without a trace—and so is the money he was holding. Has a vicious killer committed what might just be the perfect crime?

Meanwhile, it’s hailing cats and dogs all over Fort Worth, and roofing contractors have descended on the city in droves. With plenty of damage and continuing storms, work delays are building up like so much runoff, but Megan is suspicious that one roofer may be a scam artist. Determined to leash every lawbreaker she and her K-9 partner find, Megan is building a case for prosecution, all while Brigit has her nose to the ground for a murderer…

MY REVIEW

Bending the Paw is the ninth book in the Paw Enforcement series by Diane Kelly. Officer Megan and her K-9 partner Brigit investigate a possible murder. The crime scene contains more blood than a person could survive losing, but there is no body.

Told using multiple points of view, including Megan and Brigit. Megan is likable, hardworking, and quick witted. Brigit is a delightful dog with amusing viewpoints.

Bending the Paw is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. That said, I recommend reading the books in order to better understand the characters. Reviews for book 6 (Enforcing the Paw) and book 8 (Paw of the Jungle) can be found on this blog. I’ve read all of the books in the series, and it’s a enjoyable lighter mystery series.

A fun mystery. An enjoyable addition to the series. Humorous, cozy, and entertaining.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Paw Enforcement Series:

Paw Enforcement
Paw and Order
Laying Down the Paw
Against the Paw
Above the Paw
Enforcing the Paw
The Long Paw of the Law
Paw of the Jungle
Bending the Paw

Silent Bite by David Rosenfelt [Book Review]

Posted on October 28, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Silent Bite

Author: David Rosenfelt

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: October 13, 2020

Genre: Crime & Detective

Series: Andy Carpenter #22

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Andy Carpenter and his golden retriever, Tara, are finding that all is not calm or bright in Silent Bite, the latest Christmas mystery in this heartwarming series from bestselling author David Rosenfelt.

Lawyer Andy Carpenter can finally take a breath; he’s back on dry land after a family Caribbean cruise forced on him by his wife, Laurie, to get into the Christmas spirit. Of course the family’s first stop is to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that has always been Andy’s true passion.

But when Andy arrives, his partner, Willie Miller, needs his help. Willie’s old cellmate, Tony Birch, has been arrested for murder. Andy doesn’t necessarily believe in Tony, but Willie does. And Andy believes in Willie, which is why Andy decides to take the case.

Once again David Rosenfelt puts readers in the Christmas spirit in a tale that is equal parts mystery and holiday cheer.

MY REVIEW

Silent Bite is the 22nd book in the Andy Carpenter mystery series by David Rosenfelt. Andy is a defense attorney, and semi-retired. He’s not looking for any new cases, but Willie asks Andy to defend his friend and former cellmate accused of murder. Willie is Andy’s friend and business partner – they started the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue organization. Andy isn’t thrilled about the case, but he decides to take it on.

This is a series I enjoy, and I’m always excited to read the latest addition to it. I recommend reading the series in order, but this book can be read as a standalone.

A fast-paced mystery with interesting characters and a gripping plot. Recommended for fans of legal thrillers and books featuring dogs. Complex, humorous, and exciting.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Andy Carpenter series:

Open and Shut
First Degree
Bury the Lead
Sudden Death
Dead Center
Play Dead
New Tricks
Dog Tags
One Dog Night
Leader of the Pack
Unleashed
Hounded
Who Let the Dog Out?
Outfoxed
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas
Collared
Rescued
Deck the Hounds
Bark of Night
Dachshund Through the Snow
Muzzled
Silent Bite

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell [Book Review]

Posted on October 13, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Invisible Girl

Author: Lisa Jewell

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: October 13, 2020

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Young Saffyre Maddox spent three years under the care of renowned child psychologist Roan Fours. When Dr. Fours decides their sessions should end, Saffyre feels abandoned. She begins looking for ways to connect with him, from waiting outside his office to walking through his neighborhood late at night. She soon learns more than she ever wanted to about Roan and his deceptively perfect family life. On a chilly Valentine’s night, Saffyre will disappear, taking any secrets she has learned with her.

Owen Pick’s life is falling apart. In his thirties and living in his aunt’s spare bedroom, he has just been suspended from his job as a teacher after accusations of sexual misconduct—accusations he strongly denies. Searching for professional advice online, he is inadvertently sucked into the dark world of incel forums, where he meets a charismatic and mysterious figure.

Owen lives across the street from the Fours family. The Fours have a bad feeling about their neighbor; Owen is a bit creepy and suspect and their teenaged daughter swears he followed her home from the train station one night. Could Owen be responsible? What happened to the beautiful missing Saffyre, and does her disappearance truly connect them all?

MY REVIEW

A series of attacks on young women, a missing teen, and plenty of secrets.

Told using multiple points of view – Saffyre, Cate, and Owen. Saffyre’s POV is told in the past, while the others are told in the present. In the present, Saffyre is missing. Saffyre is a teen girl and former patient of Roan, a therapist. Cate is married to Roan. Owen lives in the same neighborhood as Cate and Roan. The characters are well-developed and interesting to read about.

Intriguing characters and a twisty plot combine in this suspenseful psychological thriller. Invisible Girl is a great novel for fans of this genre. Complex, dark, and captivating.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Lisa Jewell:

The Third Wife
The Girls in the Garden
I Found You
Then She Was Gone
Watching You
Invisible Girl
The Night She Disappeared
None of This Is True

Don’t Look for Me by Wendy Walker [Book Review]

Posted on October 5, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Don’t Look for Me

Author: Wendy Walker

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publish Date: September 15, 2020

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

They said she walked away. But what really happened to Molly Clarke?
From the bestselling author of All Is Not Forgotten comes a compelling and emotionally powerful story of a daughter’s desperate search to find her mother before it’s too late.

They called it a “walk away.” The car abandoned miles from home. The note found at a nearby hotel. The shattered family. It happens all the time. Women disappear, desperate to start over. But what really happened to Molly Clarke?

The night Molly disappeared began with a storm, running out of gas, and a man offering her a ride to safety. But when the doors lock shut, Molly begins to suspect she has made a terrible mistake.

A new lead brings Molly’s daughter, Nicole, back to the small, desolate town where her mother was last seen to renew the desperate search. The locals are sympathetic and eager to help. The innkeeper. The bartender. Even the police. Until secrets begin to reveal themselves and Nicole comes closer to the truth about that night—and the danger surrounding her.

MY REVIEW

Molly Clarke has disappeared. The police say she walked away from her family and life, but her daughter, Nicole (Nic), doesn’t believe that. Nic travels to the town where her mother was last seen, and searches for answers.

Told with the alternating points of view of Molly and Nic. Molly is struggling with things from her past and present. She is feeling unloved by her family, but they don’t believe she would walk away from them. Nic has her own struggles, and believes something has happened to her mother. A new lead sounds promising, and Nic goes in search of her mother. The characters are intriguing and the story is suspenseful.

Don’t Look for Me is a tense thriller that captured my attention right away. Captivating, creepy, and twisted.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by S.E. Lynes:

Four Wives
Social Lives
All Is Not Forgotten
Emma in the Night
The Night Before
Don’t Look for Me

The Body from the Past by Judi Lynn [Book Review]

Posted on September 28, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Body from the Past

Author: Judi Lynn

Publisher: Lyrical Underground

Publish Date: September 22, 2020

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Jazzi Zanders #5

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

A closed room in her newest fixer-upper leads Indiana house-flipper Jazzi Zanders to reopen a chilling cold case involving a high school girl . . .

Jazzi, her cousin Jerod, and her husband Ansel are preparing to renovate a charming house that reminds her of an English manor. Before purchasing it, they had inspected the house for structural issues, but now when they do a more thorough walk-through, they discover a teenage girl’s bedroom that clearly hasn’t been touched in years. Dust covers the pink canopy bed, clothes still hang in the closet, and a hope chest remains full of journals and memorabilia. They’ve stumbled on a shrine to a dead girl.

They learn Jessica was killed in the middle of her high school graduation party. The murderer was never identified, but the brother-in-law of Jazzi’s friend, who went to school with Jessica, was suspected and never lived it down. He implores Jazzi to review the cold case and finally prove him innocent. Now it’s up to the house-flipper to nail a killer who will do anything to close the door on the past . . .

MY REVIEW

Jazzi is back for the fifth book, The Body from the Past, in the Jazzi Zanders mystery series. Jazzi, her husband Ansel, and her cousin Jerod renovate homes. The house they are working on has a locked door that hasn’t been opened in years. When they get into the room, they discover it belonged to a teenage girl who died. The girl’s murderer was never found. Jazzi is curious about the case, and looks into finding who killed the girl.

This book is part of a series. I’ve read the previous books, and recommend reading this series in order. That said, this can be read as a standalone. I have some reviews for earlier books on the blog – The Body in the Wetlands (book 2), The Body in the Gravel (book 3), and The Body in the Apartment (book 4).

The Body from the Past is an enjoyable cozy mystery. Jazzi works as a house flipper, and sometimes finds herself with a mystery to solve. The reason I like this series is because I enjoy reading about the remodeling jobs the crew take on. The mysteries are light, and the characters are likable. A good read for fans of cozies. Delightful and fun.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Jazzi Zanders Mystery Series:

The Body in the Attic
The Body in the Wetlands
The Body in the Gravel
The Body in the Apartment
The Body from the Past
The Body in the Beauty Parlor
The Body in the Trench
The Body in the Buick
The Body in the Wheelbarrow
The Body in Someone Else’s Bed

Three Perfect Liars by Heidi Perks [Book Review]

Posted on September 26, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Three Perfect Liars

Author: Heidi Perks

Publisher: Gallery Books

Publish Date: August 18, 2020

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Laura has returned to work at Morris and Wood after her maternity leave, only to discover that the woman she brought in to cover for her isn’t going anywhere. Despite her close relationship with the agency’s powerful CEO, she feels sidelined—and outmaneuvered—as she struggles to balance the demands of work and motherhood.

Mia was only supposed to be a temporary hire at Morris and Wood, but she’s managed to make herself indispensable to everyone. Everyone, that is, except Laura. If people only knew why she was so desperate to keep her job, they might not want her to stay.

Janie gave up everything to support her husband and the successful agency he runs. But she has her own dark secret to protect…and will go to any lengths to keep it safe.

With her signature “chilling, captivating” (Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author) prose, Heidi Perks weaves another bone-chilling and unputdownable thriller in the vein of Watching You and The Couple Next Door.

MY REVIEW

Three women, one fire, and plenty of lies.

Three Perfect Liars is told using multiple points of view – Laura, Mia, and Janie. Laura has recently returned back to work at an advertising agency. Mia was the temp hired to fill her position while Laura was on maternity leave. Janie is the wife of the man who runs the agency. Each woman has her own struggles and ambitions. When the advertising agency burns, the mystery of who caused it slowly unravels.

Three Perfect Liars is a gripping domestic thriller. Great read for fans of this genre. Slow-burning, dramatic, and clever.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Heidi Perks:

Beneath the Surface
Her One Mistake
Come Back For Me
Three Perfect Liars
The Whispers
The Other Guest
For the Last Time

The Day I Disappeared by Brandi Reeds [Book Review]

Posted on September 15, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Day I Disappeared

Author: Brandi Reeds

Publisher: Lake Union

Publish Date: August 25, 2020

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Three months after four-year-old Holly Gebhardt was kidnapped, she was inexplicably returned to the same park from which she’d vanished…with no memory of the ordeal. Though a local handyman was convicted, suspicion also fell on his friend—Holly’s mother, Cecily. The troubling doubts about her involvement shattered the family, forever driving a wedge between mother and daughter.

Twenty years later, another girl goes missing under eerily similar circumstances. It’s just the latest in a series of kidnappings that Detective Jason Guidry thinks Holly can help solve. Though Holly has tried to move on with her life, a young girl’s life hangs in the balance. All she has to do is try to remember…

With her memory still mostly blank, Holly is missing vital pieces of the puzzle, and she believes her mother can put them in place. In desperation and fear, Holly and her mother come together again. But in a chilling rush toward the past, Cecily still has secrets she’s yet to share with her daughter. Should she dare to breathe a word, she could lose Holly all over again.

MY REVIEW

As a child, Holly was kidnapped and returned home a few months later. She’s an adult now, and has no memory of what happened during the time she was kidnapped. Twenty years later, another child is missing, and Holly may be able to help solve the case if she can remember her past.

Told with alternating points of view – Holly and her mother. Holly wants to know about her kidnapping, and her mother may know a lot more than she has led on.

The Day I Disappeared has a complex mother-daughter relationship and a suspenseful mystery. This was a fast-paced and entertaining thriller. Gripping and dramatic.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Brandi Reeds:

Trespassing
Third Party
The Day I Disappeared

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard by Ellen Byron [Book Review]

Posted on September 14, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Murder in the Bayou Boneyard

Author: Ellen Byron

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: September 8, 2020

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Cajun Country Mystery #6

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Maggie Crozat has the Halloween heebie-jeebies in USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron’s howlingly funny sixth Cajun Country mystery.

Maggie Crozat, proprietor of a historic Cajun Country B&B, prefers to let the good times roll. But hard times rock her hostelry when a new cell phone app makes it easy for locals to rent their spare rooms to tourists. With October–and Halloween–approaching, she conjures up a witch-crafty marketing scheme to draw visitors to Pelican, Louisiana.

Five local plantation B&Bs host “Pelican’s Spooky Past” packages, featuring regional crafts, unique menus, and a pet costume parade. Topping it off, the derelict Dupois cemetery is the suitably sepulchral setting for the spine-chilling play Resurrection of a Spirit. But all the witchcraft has inevitably conjured something: her B&B guests are being terrified out of town by sightings of the legendary rougarou, a cross between a werewolf and vampire.

When, in the Dupois cemetery, someone costumed as a rougarou stumbles onstage during the play–and promptly gives up the ghost, the rougarou mask having been poisoned with strychnine, Maggie is on the case. But as more murders stack up, Maggie fears that Pelican’s spooky past has nothing on its bloodcurdling present.

MY REVIEW

Murder in the Bayou Boneyard is the sixth book in the Cajun Country Mystery series by Ellen Byron. Maggie Crozat and her family and friends are back in another delightful book. When mysteries happen in Pelican, LA, Maggie, a B&B owner in Cajun Country, is quick to help investigate and find the guilty party.

In this book, Halloween is coming up, and some local B&B owners put together the “Pelican’s Spooky Past” package to draw visitors to town. The package included fun events for the visitors. It’s all good until someone spots a rougarou. More sightings start scaring off the visitors. Then someone dressed as a rougarou stumbles onto stage during a play… and dies. Maggie jumps in to solve the mystery.

I have read all of the books in this series, and have enjoyed each one. A couple of my reviews are on the blog – Mardi Gras Murder (book 4) and Fatal Cajun Festival (book 5). The mysteries for each book are standalone stories, but the personal events happening with the characters is a continuing storyline.

Quirky characters in an inviting setting. I love the Southern charm of Pelican and its residents. An entertaining read for fans of cozy mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in the Cajun Country Mystery Series:

Plantation Shudders
Body on the Bayou
A Cajun Christmas Killing
Mardi Gras Murder
Fatal Cajun Festival
Murder in the Bayou Boneyard
Cajun Kiss of Death

Checked Out for Murder by Allison Brook [Book Review]

Posted on September 14, 2020January 16, 2024 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Checked Out for Murder

Author: Allison Brook

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: September 8, 2020

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: The Haunted Library Mysteries #4

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Carrie Singleton and Evelyn the ghost sleuth the slayings of a starlet and a star-crossed psychic in Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook’s fourth Haunted Library mystery.

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?

MY REVIEW

Checked Out for Murder is the fourth book in The Haunted Library Mysteries series by Allison Brook. In this latest book, Carrie sleuths to solve two murders. There is also some family drama when Carrie’s mother comes to town.

I’ve read the previous three books in this series and have enjoyed each one. My reviews for Read and Gone (book 2) and Buried in the Stacks (book 3) are on this blog. I recommend reading this series in order, since it helps to know everyone’s backstory. Still, this could be read as a standalone if you don’t get the chance to read the previous books.

Charming setting with the haunted library and plenty of quirky characters. Recommended to readers of cozy mysteries. Delightful and fun.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books in The Haunted Library Series:

Death Overdue
Read and Gone
Buried in the Stacks
Checked Out for Murder
Death on the Shelf
Dewey Decimated
Overdue or Die