Death Overdue

September 1, 2017

Twentysomething Carrie Singleton is ready to quit Clover Ridge, CT, when she's offered a job leading programs at the spooky local library-which happens to have its own ghostly librarian. Carrie's first event features retired homicide detective AI Buckley, who claims to know who fatally bludgeoned beloved library aide Laura Foster 15 years ago. As he invites audience members to share stories about Laura, AI suddenly collapses and dies. Convinced that the same person is responsible for both murders, Carrie and the spectral Evelyn do some sleuthing in order to uncover the dangerous and disturbing secrets that haunt Clover Ridge. Brook, who also writes mysteries as Marilyn Levinson, launches a spirited cozy series with two plucky and engaging protagonists and a well-drawn, small town library setting. VERDICT Readers of Miranda James, Jenn McKinlay, Carolyn Hart, Nancy Atherton, and Carolyn Haines will be delighted with this paranormal debut.--ACT

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 21, 2017
Free-spirited Carrie Singleton, the narrator of this whimsical first novel and series launch from the pseudonymous Brook, has no plans to remain long in charming Clover Ridge, Conn. But Carrie does love her temporary position as event planner for the local library, so when the library director offers her the permanent job as head of programs and events, she happily says yes. At one memorable library presentation, retired detective Al Buckley reveals that he has finally cracked an infamous cold case: the murder of local woman Laura Foster. But before he can name the killer, he’s poisoned by a lethal treat that someone slipped onto his plate. Carrie believes that whoever murdered Laura also killed Al, so she and Laura’s son set out to find new evidence about the case. With the help of the library’s resident ghost, the late librarian Evelyn Havers, who can only be seen by Carrie and a four-year-old named Tacey, Carrie discovers that Laura harbored dangerous secrets of her own. Fans of Jenn McKinlay will enjoy this series. And never fear: there is a cat. Agent: Dawn Dowdle, Blue Ridge Literary Agent.