Death Overdue: A Haunted Library Mystery
by Allison Brook

An edge on your seat read that you will be filling the pages to find out what happens.
~Babs Book Bistro

This book is full of characters that the reader will both root for and hate as they jump off the page.
~Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Oh how I love a good cozy mystery especially one that has a library and it haunted. This book has all the makings for the start of a good new series.
~A. Holland Reads

A quick paced read with its humorous moments just in time for my favorite holiday season.
~Laura’s Interests

I was excited when I saw the launch of a new library-based cozy series—and doubly so when I discovered there’s also a ghost! Ghosts and old libraries go together as comfortably as either one does with cozy mysteries. Combining the three is a surefire way to get my attention.
~The Bookwyrm’s Hoard

The mystery in this case was decently constructed, and the writing solid, so that it was a quick, enjoyable read…
~The Ninja Librarian

What a charming supernatural mystery with a cast of characters that you will instantly love!
~Moonlight Rendezvous

I love the premise of the series. Being a librarian myself, I’m always happy when my cozy series either has a librarian as the main character and/or takes place in a library.
~Valerie’s Musings

Great characters, intriguing subplots & back stories, and just enough romance & humor to satisfy every type of reader.
~Reading is My SuperPower

The ongoing activities at the library during the Halloween setting is the icing on the cake in an already delightful debut.
~Melissa’s Mochas, Mysteries and Meows

DEATH OVERDUE was fast paced, fun read…The mystery elements were very well done, and kept me guessing throughout the book.
~Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Death Overdue: A Haunted Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2017)
Hardcover: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1683313861
E-Book ASIN: B06XW3MGZC

Carrie Singleton is just about done with Clover Ridge, Connecticut until she’s offered a job as the head of programs and events at the spooky local library, complete with its own librarian ghost. Her first major event is a program presented by a retired homicide detective, Al Buckley, who claims he knows who murdered Laura Foster, a much-loved part-time library aide who was bludgeoned to death fifteen years earlier. As he invites members of the audience to share stories about Laura, he suddenly keels over and dies.

The medical examiner reveals that poison is what did him in and Carrie feels responsible for having surged forward with the program despite pushback from her director. Driven by guilt, Carrie’s determined to discover who murdered the detective, convinced it’s the same man who killed Laura all those years ago. Luckily for Carrie, she has a friendly, knowledgeable ghost by her side. But as she questions the shadows surrounding Laura’s case, disturbing secrets come to light and with each step Carrie takes, she gets closer to ending up like Al.

Now it’s due or die for Carrie in Death Overdue the delightful first in a new cozy series by Allison Brook.

About The Author

Allison Brook is the pseudonym for Marilyn Levinson, who writes mysteries, romantic suspense and novels for kids. She lives on Long Island and enjoys traveling, reading, watching foreign films, doing Sudoku and dining out. She especially loves to visit with her grandchildren on FaceTime.

Author Links

Website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com

My Amazon page: http://amzn.to/K6Md1O

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/

Purchase Links

Amazon   B&N

The setting of the story in a library really intrigued me. I worked at our public library for fifteen years. The author describes the workings of a library with excellent details. The different programs offered at the library were fun to read about and I was reminded of happy memories of working at my dream job.

Carrie has been staying with her aunt and uncle for awhile and working at the public library in the quaint town. When she gets promoted she is thrilled and also a bit nervous at the same time. She knows that she has a big responsibility to help make the library a fun place to visit. It seems that whatever job you take, there is always that one person who doesn’t like you. No matter what Carrie tried Dorothy took a dislike to her right away. I laugh as I write her name because I had a “ Dorothy” at the library I worked at. Dorothy was mean to Carrie and tried everything to sabotage her job. I had a soft spot for Dorothy though because she had a self esteem problem and wanted to be successful at something.

The story moves at a great pace and we find Carrie in the midst of two unsolved murders. One happened right in the library in front of people attending a program. I can’t imagine having to deal with something like that. An unsolved murder from years ago takes center stage again and I had my list of suspects written down. The author does an excellent job of creating doubt in readers mind as there were so many suspects to choose from. I don’t want to say much more but I will say that I enjoyed this book so much. It is definitely one of my top picks for cozy mysteries of 2017.

I have to mention Dylan. He plays a pivotal part in the story and I thought he was a perfect character. He was mysterious and became protective of Carrie that really made me love his character. There are so many wonderful character throughout the book and I would love to have an aunt and uncle like Carrie has. They are sweet, caring and so welcoming to everyone. Nit to be overlooked are the two brothers in the story. I won’t spoil it for readers so I’ll just say that they act like spoiled  brats . One last character is well , should I tell you about the ghost in the library? I will leave that for you to discover. I was a bit surprised at who ended up being the killer but I think I might have cheered a little also. I can’t wait to read the next in this series. I hope it comes out soon. I have questions that need answers.

I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

October 14 –  Babs Book Bistro  – REVIEW

October 14 –  Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers  – SPOTLIGHT

October 14 –  A Blue Million Books  – INTERVIEW

October 14 –  Island Confidential  – GUEST POST

October 15 –  Books a Plenty Book Reviews  – REVIEW

October 15 –  Laura’s Interests  – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 15 –  Celticlady’s Reviews  – SPOTLIGHT

October 15 –  A Holland Reads  – REVIEW

October 16 –  The Bookwyrm’s Hoard  – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 16 –  Valerie’s Musings  – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

October 16 –  The Ninja Librarian  – REVIEW

October 16 –  Moonlight Rendezvous  – REVIEW, GUEST POST

October 17 –  Reading Is My SuperPower  – REVIEW

October 17 –  The Pulp and Mystery Shelf  – INTERVIEW

October 17 –  Mochas, Mysteries and Meows  – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 17 –  Lisa Ks Book Reviews  – REVIEW, INTERVIEW

October 18 –  Texas Book-aholic  – REVIEW

October 18 –  Varietats  – REVIEW, GUEST POST

October 18 –  Socrates’ Book Reviews  – REVIEW

October 18 –  Read Your Writes Book Reviews  – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 18 –  StoreyBook Reviews  – REVIEW

October 19 –  Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews  – SPOTLIGHT

October 19 –  Bea’s Book Nook  – REVIEW

October 19 –  The Book’s the Thing  – REVIEW,

October 20 –  Back Porchervations  – REVIEW

October 20 –  Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf  – REVIEW

October 20 –  A Cozy Experience  – REVIEW

October 20 –  That’s What She’s Reading  – GUEST POST

A StRANGER AT FELLSWORTH by SARAH E. LADD

I really enjoyed the historical time period and the beautiful setting of the story . The story moves at a quick pace which I really liked. Annabelle was a great character. I loved her spunkiness and determination. After finding out that the family is in financial trouble, her brother schemes to get her married off. I was shocked at how violent her brother was towards her. I would have slapped him back and had him thrown out of the house.

I loved the school that Annabelle decides to teach at and bringing her “friend “ with her was a great idea. Margaret has been with her for awhile so there was no way Annabelle was leaving her behind to live on the streets. The school is interesting and at times very strict. A chance encounter with Owen Locke will prove to benefit Annabelle during the story. I loved the intrigue in the story and learned a bit about poaching. The author does a great job of bringing characters to life with vivid details and raw emotions. I loved how some characters were not as trustworthy as readers first think. Who will betray Annabelle ? Will her brother find out where she has gone. Can Owen keep Annabelle safe? These are some of the questions that keep the story so action packed and hard to put down. I applaud the author for a story that held my attention and at times made me really think about true friendship. Learning to trust is not easy and Annabelle will have to decide who she can rely on.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

A REBEL SPY by ANNE GREENE

What a wonderful story filled with so many historical facts. The author sweeps readers away to the 1860s where war was rampant and food was sparse. I loved Sophie because she was gutsy, smart and loved her country. I was pleased to read that she had a secret that people would be shocked at. It wasn’t easy during this time period to get word to Generals unless someone was brave enough to soy on the enemy and report back. Who would guess that a young beautiful woman would be a spy?

Major Brent was brave, handsome and quite suspicious of Sophie. He is captivated by her charm but can she be trusted? He knows that Sophie has been warned about spying and he wants to keep her safe. Sophie knows that danger is close by and wants to heed the warning of being caught. Her punishment would be hanging and she certainly doesn’t want that to happen. Will she do one more job or say no to keep herself alive?

The story is short but filled with adventure , danger and secrets that kept me intrigued till the end. Will Sophie get caught? Will Major Brent keep Sophie safe or turn her in? This is a must read for everyone that loves historical fiction and anyone looking for a great story with great characters and a secret hidden among the pages.

I received a copy of this book from TBCN and the author. The review is my own opinion.

Decades of loss, an unsolved mystery, and a rift spanning three generations Hazel DeFord is a woman haunted by her past. While berry picking in a blackberry thicket in 1943, ten-year old Hazel momentarily turns her back on her three-year old sister Maggie and the young girl disappears. Almost seventy years later, the mystery remains unsolved and the secret guilt Hazel carries has alienated her from her daughter Diane, who can't understand her mother's overprotectiveness and near paranoia. While Diane resents her mother's inexplicable eccentricities, her daughter Meghan-a cold case agent-cherishes her grandmother's lavish attention and affection. When a traffic accident forces Meghan to take a six-week leave-of-absence to recover, all three generations of DeFord women find themselves unexpectedly under the same roof. Meghan knows she will have to act as a mediator between the two headstrong and contentious women. But when they uncover Hazel's painful secret, will Meghan also be able to use her investigative prowess to solve the family mystery and help both women recover all that's been lost? Learn more and purchase a copy. About the author: Kim Vogel Sawyer is a highly acclaimed, best-selling author with more than one million books in print, in several different languages. Her titles have earned numerous accolades including the ACFW Carol Award, the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Kim lives in central Kansas with her retired military husband Don, where she continues to write gentle stories of hope and redemption. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters and grandchildren. Find out more about Kim at http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/.      It’s been awhile since I have read a book with this much emotion that had me crying so much. It is so beautifully written you can’t help but devour each word. It’s funny that I could relate to each character at some point. I saw myself in Hazel as a small child. She was so despondent over something that happened she couldn’t forgive herself. It hurt to read that her parents blamed her and to carry that guilt over the years broke my heart. I thought she was a warm and loving person. The author writes her character with a strong faith in God. I loved how she wanted to mend her relationship with her daughter and solve a mystery that has kept her a prisoner for so long in her mind. Diane and her mother have not had a great relationship. She blames her mom for being overprotective and not allowing her to ever do anything. Diane was very stubborn and I had to laugh when she shows up at her mom’s house at the same time as her daughter Meghan. There is a strain you can feel between Hazel and Diane. I loved how Hazel stood her ground and tried many times to get through to her daughter. I saw a pattern forming as they each shared their childhood and how they felt smothered by their mother. My children will tell you I am a very overprotective mother. I wanted to keep them safe and was so afraid to let them out of my sight. Diane experienced that as she grew up and that has made her bitter towards her mom. Meghan decides to visit her grandmother when she needs to recuperate from a car accident. I loved how the author showed a soft side to Meghan and how much she wanted her mom and grandmother to mend their relationship. The bond between grandmother and granddaughter was so moving and I could feel the closeness they shared. I loved the mystery the author wrote into the story and when it is revealed it will explain a lot about why Hazel has carried guilt for seventy years. The story has so many good things in it I didn’t want to put the book down. I cried so many tears because for me it brought back memories that are painful for me while growing up. I connected so well to the storyline about mother and daughter relationships. The book is rich in history and takes readers on a journey of forgiveness, mending relationships, finding faith and experiencing unconditional love. I have to say this has been one of my favorite books of 2017. With such gripping emotions and connecting with characters, the story was written with such passion I could feel the author laboring over each word. Don’t miss the story of three generations and a mystery that will have you crying and cheering at the same time. I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion. Landing page:http://litfusegroup.com/author/ksawyer Blog Tour Schedule: 9/28 Angela | A Holland Reads Debra | 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! Jalynn | A Simple Life, really?! chantal | This Chattanooga Mommy Saves Stacey | Books,Dreams,Life 9/29 Margaret | The World As I See It Chastity | Chas Ray's Book Nerd Corner Joan | Book Reviews From an Avid Reader 9/30 Billy | Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer Dianna | Savings in Seconds Joy | Splashes of Joy Gayle | BOOKS REVIEWs ETC Karen | Karens Korner Jennifer | Jen Around the World DEBI | 2014 AND BEYOND! Connie | Gccbookworm Corinne | Corinne Rodrigues Carla | Working Mommy Journal 10/1 Amy | A Nest in the Rocks Becky | Christian Chick's Thoughts Amanda | Inklings and notions Rachel | Rachel L Miller.com Lady | LittleLadyPlays.com 10/2 Andrea | The Young Girl Who Loved Books Jenna | Hello babybums Ashley | Bringing Up Books Kathleen | Reviews From The Heart 10/3 Joy | Deco My Heart Paphapin | Feeling in Red Nancy | SUNNY ISLAND BREEZES Lori | Red Headed Book Lady Linda | Mocha with Linda Jessica | A Baker's Perspective Julia | Christian Bookaholic 10/4 Hallie | Book by Book 10/5 Carole | The Power of Words Annie | Just Commonly Jill | I am believing God 10/6 Kristie | Moments Michelle | Let's Talk About Books Sherry | My Journey Back Leah | As We Walk Along the Road Megan | Pursuing Intentional Living 10/10 Becky | Living Outside the Lines Sarah | Running Through The Storms Leslie | Did YOU Hear About the Morgans? Denise | Rejoice in the Little Things 10/11 Veronica | Veronica's 'Views Lena Nelson | A Christian Writer's World Britney | Buzzing About Books Connie | Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting Sarah | Fiction, Faith, and Fun 10/12 Marissa | The Review Stew Sydney | Singing Librarian Books Rachel | EmpowerMoms Wendy | Life at Rossmont 10/13 Stephanie | Have A Wonderful Day Alison | NOVA Frugal Family Amy | Pause for Tales 10/14 Cindy | All Things Are Possible 10/15 Deana | Texas Book-aholic Denise | The Help Meet Wife Vera | Chat With Vera Janice | Janices book reviews 10/16 Andrea | Two Points of Interest Barbara | i'm Hooked on Books Wendy | Wall-to-wall books Beth | For The Love of Books Maureen | Maureen's Musings 10/17 Mackenzie | Spreading His Grace Lisa | Seeking with All Yur Heart Amanda | The Talbert Report Mindy | A Room Wihtout Books is Empty 10/18 Lydia | Noveltea Bethany | The perfect beginning Sue | Thoughts from Mill Street Leslie | Edits and Reviews by Leslie Katiria | Kati's Bookaholic Rambling Reviews Suzanne | Clicking Her Heels Vicky | Walking in Grace