Book Review: Death on the Shelf by Allison Brook
- Kristen Lewendon
- Nov 9, 2021
- 2 min read
The Haunted Library Mysteries Book 5
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?
My Review:
I love that the Carrie we first met, is a very different character from the Carrie we see today. She’s become more thoughtful and careful. I love how twisty and tangled the mysteries she gets involved in are. However, I think I just have to accept that for a series that’s supposed to be about a library and its resident ghost, it’s very food-centric. I had a lot of fun with this story. There was plenty going on that kept me from correctly guessing the villain at first, and also provided vast possibilities for a motive. Add to that, I really appreciate that we get to see growth and change in our leading lady. I’m still not completely sold on how much focus is placed on the food in this series, but I look forward to reading more about Carrie, her friends, and her family.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.
Other books in the series:
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