Agatha Award NomineeRight in time for the holidays, comes Allison Brook’s second Haunted Library mystery, a perfect present for readers of Jenn McKinlay and Leslie Meier. Twenty million dollars’ worth of missing gems bring Carrie Singleton’s long-lost and larcenous dad back into her life and it’s up to Carrie to clear his name.A devoted dad is as precious as diamonds, but Carrie Singleton … precious as diamonds, but Carrie Singleton wouldn’t know since her dad Jim’s been on the lam most of her life. In an unusual family reunion, she finds Jim breaking into her cottage in the middle of the night. The fun really starts when he begs her to help him recover his half of a twenty-million-dollar gem heist he pulled off with the local jeweler, Benton Parr. When she refuses, Jim takes off again.
Carrie finds her father again behind bars for the recent murder of Benton Parr. Who made the connection? Unbeknownst to her, Carrie’s boyfriend Dylan, an insurance investigator, has been searching for the gems. Determined to find the jewels herself, she starts examining every facet of Parr’s life. She turns up a treasure trove of suspects, one of whom bashes her on the head as she’s searching the victim’s country cabin.
Retreating to the quiet confines of the library where she works, Carrie watches as Smokey Joe, the resident cat, paws at a hole in the wall. Is he after the library’s ghost Evelyn, or something shinier? The second charming Haunted Library mystery by Allison Brook, Read and Gone will be a delight for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Leslie Meier.
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The second book from The Haunted Library Mystery series.
Carrie Singleton is settled in her new job and home and is enjoying life with a new boyfriend, but her estranged dad is now in her life. Her dad is accused of murder which memes their relationship.
I loved the second book in the series as much as I did with the first book. Easy to read and be hard to put down.
Though this is the second book in the Haunted Library series, it is the first one I’ve read. And I’m not sure I was at a disadvantage having not read the first book. I enjoyed the story and the characters. You are drawn into the mystery from the beginning and you find yourself guessing where the gems are hidden.
I enjoyed the story line and the characters. They were well developed and you felt an investment in their lives.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Interesting enough book but although I was entertained while reading I wasn’t itching to get back to it. It seemed to have some bits that didn’t seem relevant to the story and I wondered if I needed to read book one to feel more invested in the characters.
Read and Gone is the second installment in The Haunted Library Mysteries. In this book, we find a contented Carrie hosting a successful birthday/housewarming party with relatives, new friends and a boyfriend at her new cottage. She is in her element as the Programs and Events Director at the library in her new hometown of Clover Ridge and is literally basking in her happiness and contentment.
Unfortunately, her contentment is shattered when her father, Jim, a well-known thief, breaks into her house later that night and tries to enlist her help in finding his share of some stolen gems that he believes are hidden in Clover Ridge. Three murders ensue as Carrie realizes that more than just her father are hunting for the jewels, and is shaken to find her father is the main suspect in one of the murders. Consequently, Carrie sets out to find the jewels and return them to their rightful owner — and not to Jim.
This book has lots of twists and turns with no shortage of suspects. I found myself rooting for Carrie as she tries to maintain her newfound happiness, despite so many misgivings about her father, while at the same time, trying to solve the crimes and clear his name. With the help of friends and a charming library ghost, Carrie might just be able to solve the case and make things right again.
I enjoyed this book even though I had not read the first book in the series. Read and Gone can definitely stand on its own, however, it makes you curious to see what you missed in the first book, Death Overdue. This book’s characters are well-written, realistic, and for the most part, likable. I found the town of Clover Ridge to be charming, and the book’s mystery kept me guessing until the very end. The Haunted Library Mysteries make a great new series that I recommend without reservation.
I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.
This was a great read that I just couldn’t put done. Loved the main character and the fact she has a ghost that guides her.
Credit the Cat!
I join the men in Carrie’s life, feeling as if I’m watching a bad horror flick and shouting from the sidelines, “Don’t go into the house.” While she does seem to be coming to grips with some of her abandonment issues, Carrie tends to act without thinking through the consequences and, were she not narrating, you’d have expected her to be one of the first corpses. You can enjoy trying to solve the mystery (clues exist!) but the denouement is a result of . . . sorry–no spoilers! The series is sequential but this story stands alone.
Carrie’s dead beat dad shows up. Carrie admits that he is a flawed individual and that she is not happy he is there. Very mature and reasonable. Then she goes crazy and becomes incredibly stupid. Ultimately, she regains her sanity and the mystery is decent so I went from a mere ok to an almost like rating.
I liked the first book more and hope the next doesn’t go over the top in order to accomplish something. Not sure why the author felt the character had to respond as she did to the situation.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Read and Gone is a cozy library mystery with a splash of paranormal. Carrie is the local librarian who is beginning to enjoy her life– her new job, her new friends (including a friendly ghost in her library), and a new love. Just when things seem to be great, Carrie’s estranged father shows up and brings loads of trouble. A jewel thief, her father has returned for his half of the loot but he’s not the only one looking for the jewels. His partner in crime is murdered and her father is beaten as the secret jewels do not appear to be a secret any longer. A string of murders and a bunch of suspects that kept me guessing whodunit until the very end. All the elements of the story add up to a fast-paced, suspenseful cozy mystery cozy readers are sure to enjoy. A new author I will be sure to add to my to must read list. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley
READ AND GONE by Allison Brook
The Second Haunted Library Mystery
It may be Christmastime, but all is not jolly in Clover Ridge. Carrie Singleton is happy to be able to finally put down roots, having friends, family, a boyfriend, and a job she loves at the library. Everything changes when her absentee thief of a father shows us asking her to locate some gems that he helped steal. Now her relationship is on the rocks, a surprising amount of people know about the gems and are searching for them, and people are getting murdered! Will Carrie find the gems and send her father on his way, or will she become another victim?
The characters in this second Haunted Library Mystery have rich backstories which add depth to the novel. Carrie’s low self-esteem and abandonment issues drive her to act quite juvenile in regard to her relationships and her goody two-shoesness can be irksome. Still in all, she’s loyal and devoted to her job and Smoky Joe, although she really needs to get a cat carrier! I really enjoy her co-workers, well, Dorothy the sourpuss is a real pill and I wish the ghostly Eleanor made more appearances.
A pleasurable read, READ AND GONE is a well plotted enjoyable mystery focusing on family relations as well as murder!
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
As a book lover, how could I not enjoy a series that is set in a library and is haunted too?! Ok, so the haunting isn’t a scary haunting, but that is ok because Evelyn, the ghost, is caring and comical at the same time.
Family means a lot to Carrie and she was quite surprised when her father, Jim, showed up. Who could blame her since he wasn’t around much and he is a thief? I could see where it might be hard to have him around but at the same time want him around because he is family. I did like watching the progression of their relationship in this book.
So the big mystery is what happened to $7+ million in gems that were stolen by Jim and the local jeweler, Benton. Of course being a mystery somebody has to end of dead and Benton is the victim. But where are the gemstones? Carrie, of course, gets involved in this case. I’m not sure she would have if her dad wasn’t involved and wanting to find the gems, but not to turn them in and collect the reward but to fence them. The author throws quite a few characters into the mix as suspects and when the real killer is revealed I was surprised. This person wasn’t really on my radar! I thought this character could be the culprit but they were near the bottom of the list. I thought the mystery was well written.
Then there is the romance part of the story. Here is where Carrie got on my nerves a little bit. She started thinking different things about Dylan and why he was involved with her and perhaps he only wanted to use her to get to her dad. I thought it was kind of crazy for her to think this and why didn’t she talk to him about her thoughts? I didn’t remember that Dylan was in the insurance business but it has been a bit since I had read the first book.
Overall very enjoyable and can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
Read and Gone by Allison Brook is the second novel in A Haunted Library Mystery series. Carrie Singleton is the head of Programs and Events at Clover Ridge Public Library and has settled into her new life quite nicely. Tired after hosting a combination birthday and housewarming party, Carrie drifts off to sleep. She is awakened in the middle of the night when someone breaks into her cottage. It turns out to be her estranged father, Jim Singleton. Jim has been gone most of Carrie’s life making a living as a thief. He needs Carrie’s help in recovering his half of $7 million dollars in jewels from his last heist. His partner, local jeweler, Benton Parr is holding the goods and not responding to his queries. Carrie, of course, refuses and Jim disappears into the night. Benton Parr gives a lecture at the library that evening and the next morning Carrie receives a call from Lt. John Mathers. Benton Parr was found dead in his shop by an employee and Jim Singleton just happened to be there trying to get into the safe. Turns out that Carrie’s boyfriend, Dylan Avery is the insurance investigator tasked with tracking down the stolen gems (oh dear). Carrie sets out to find the gems and Benton Parr’s killer. Someone, though, is not happy with Carrie’s sleuthing and attempts to take her out of the game (they do not know Carrie very well). Will Carrie be able to wrap up the case before Christmas?
Read and Gone may be the second book in A Haunted Library Mystery series, but it can be read alone. The author provides all the information a reader needs on Carrie and what occurred in Death Overdue. Read and Gone can be confusing in the beginning as the author overloads readers by introducing them to numerous characters (it gets easier after the party). I do like that the author has taken the time to establish Carrie as a character. However, Carrie was on a pity party in this book regarding her father and Dylan which made her unappealing. I believe therapy would be beneficial. Read and Gone has a charming small-town, friendly characters, a frisky feline, and an elderly ghost. Carrie’s great aunt and uncle are sweet, caring people. Carrie needs to spend more time with them (establish a family dinner night). Evelyn Havers, the ghost, is my favorite character. I wish she had been included more into the story. I would like to see Evelyn be Carrie’s partner in crime solving. The Clover Ridge Public Library is a place where I would like to hang out. It is wonderful that they have so many activities for their patrons, but I am baffled how a small town can afford such a large staff. The mystery begins with Jim, the jewels and the dead jeweler. The corpses begin to stack up as more people begin digging around for the elusive gems. I would have appreciated a good twist since I accurately identified the killer very early in the story. It is a good thing that Smokey Joe is getting exercise at the library chasing those mice considering the amount of food he has been eating. I was worried the little fellow would ingest tinsel from Carrie’s tree (tinsel and cats are not a good combination). If you are looking for an entertaining cozy mystery with friendly characters and an adorable cat, then look no further than Read and Gone.
Read and Gone by Allison Brook is the second in the Haunted Library series. I had not read book one but, that was fine, there is enough of book one sprinkled throughout so you can catch up
Christmas is coming and Carrie is busy running the programs at the library. When her father shows up, in the middle of the night, after being out of her life looking for millions of dollars of gems she knows it won’t be smooth sailing.
When the local jeweler is found dead, the first suspect is her father. She knows he couldn’t have done it or could he. Carrie sets out to find out and has a few adventures of her own. The story keeps you guessing until the end.
The story flows and has a good cast of characters, some humor, romance, a touch of ghostly visits, and a library cat.
Though set at Christmas, it is a good read anytime.
I received an ARC from Crooked Lane books and Netgalley for an honest review.
Second in The Haunted Library cozy mystery series, Read and Gone is a satisfying read during the Christmas holidays and bring a year-round breath of fresh air to those who love libraries and cozy mysteries. Carrie is preparing the library for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and getting in the Christmas spirit. This very well-written novel explores the bond women have with their fathers, even those more absent than present, and how one can honor their father while being true to oneself. This reader is delighted to see the special bond we have with our beloved pets, in this case a cat, Smoky Joe.
Carrie, the new head of Programs and Events at the library and former Goth girl, is keeping up with various holiday events. Carrie’s father, a thief, has been a continual source of shame to her. Her mother, who admits to not being maternal, is remarried to a younger guy and living in Hollywood.
Carrie’s father Jim comes to visit. He finds a lock easy to bypass and wakes his daughter up after 3 AM. She wasn’t excited to see him as Jim had been in and out of her life. She was even less excited when learning he wasn’t there to see her. He and Benton Parr, the local jeweler, had done a heist a year or so ago; Parr put all the stones in a safe place. Jim is ready to go to retire and Parr won’t let go of his share of gems. He wants to get his share so he can retire in comfort.
Parr ‘s full-time assistant, Christ, found him murdered one morning in his store before it was time for it to open. Jim was also in the store. He claims Parr wanted to meet him before the shop opened and he came in to find him already dead. He was in the store trying to find the gems, then ran before the police arrived. He didn’t have any stolen merchandise, but he is a murder suspect. Carrie is torn; should she help her father find the gems, maybe help him find the real murderer? Her boyfriend, Dylan, is an investigator for an insurance company. Was he only acting sweet on her to get to her father?
I enjoy the folks in this novel, especially Carrie and Angela, best friends who feel free to be honest with each other. Carrie’s aunt and uncle are the most loving people who nurtured her when her parents were unable to. Each character is effectively defined. I felt the well-defined emotions of Carrie, not wanting to believe the worst of her boyfriend or her father, trying to determine which to be loyal to. The bond between a father and daughter is strong, yet Carrie wants to see if Dylan is really the one.
This story pulled me in from the start and kept me eagerly turning pages. I enjoy the late librarian Evelyn’s secret visits to Carrie; her calm direction helps Carrie think things through. Even though I read the first book in the series, I would have liked to see a little bit more of the backstory of Carrie. There are fascinating plot twists that shine a light on new suspects while eliminating others. I struggled between two people who could easily be the bad guy/ gal and sure enough…I was still surprised, as the author is excellent in creating breath-taking scenes! I was very satisfied with the plot, the characters, the small-town setting, absolutely the library, and how characters change as circumstances call for them to. I highly recommend this cozy mystery as a “not-to-be-missed” novel for any time of year!
From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this book from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Read and Gone is Allison Brook’s second Haunted Library mystery.. This is an interesting series with librarian Carrie Singleton in the premier role. She has recently returned to her childhood home of Clover Ridge, Connecticut. First living with her great aunt and uncle, then on her own in a lovely little cottage, Carrie is resurrecting her life from the nowhere she came from. As director of programs and events at the city’s library, Carrie and her cat, Smoky Joe, have earned their place as special people in the library and community.
With a very special celebration for Carrie’s birthday the present she never expected was the appearance of her father later that evening. Her dad, Jim, always seemed to be on the wrong side of the law. Having been an absent parent and served time for his misdeeds, Jim is now back in Clover Ridge searching for the lost gems his partner in crime Benton Farr has hidden away. However, when Benton turns up dead, followed by two other Clover Ridge residents, with the suspected gems still missing, we have a major mystery.
Although this book did not capture me at first, I was soon roped in to a wonderful twisty turny mystery that kept you guessing right up to the final chapters. I very much enjoyed this book and do recommend it!
Read and Gone by Allison Brook is the second book in Ms. Brook’s Haunted Library series. This book can easily stand alone as most of the characters are re-introduced in this book.
The plot is smoothly paced with a few twists to keep the reader guessing as the murder victims begin to increase as the hunt for several million dollars in stolen jewels becomes more well known throughout the town. The relationships in this one was very complex as Carrie’s estranged father returns and causes rifts between her and her boyfriend, Dylan. Then there are the relationships between the Parr family members which show the family to be equally dysfunctional as Carrie’s family. There was a scene in the book in which I thought Carrie went off the rails while talking to a couple of suspects which I didn’t think really added anything to the plot. It seemed like it was there more to add drama than to move the story along.
I was disappointed that the ghost, Evelyn, was only in a couple of scenes in this book. She added so much insight into the first book in this series and I had hoped she would be there for Carrie in this one, too. All in all, it was an easy cozy mystery to read in an afternoon.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
This is the second book in the Haunted Library Mysteries and a wonderful read. We have Carrie the librarian, a cat and some town secrets. Carries father has been away most of her life and jail was one place.
With Carrie, her father and Dylan looking for the gems there is no telling what is going to happen.
The mystery is great and keeps the reader on their toes. The ghost was more like another character and no really paranormal per say.
The romance between Dylan and Carrie is really not much just a hint. Would like to see more there or have her find someone else.
The author did a great job with the plot and kept enough humor to keep the story moving nicely.