Dewey Decimated by Allison Brooke - Book Review & Blog Tour

 

Today I’m re-featuring author Allison Brook. You may have met Brook from book review of Buried in the Stacks in 2019. This post features her newest book in The Haunted Library Mystery Series. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway! (Ends 15 September)

 

Here’s a bit about the book

Book title: Dewey Decimated

Series: Book 6 in The Haunted Library Mystery Series

Genre: Paranormal cozy mystery

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publishing date: 6 September 2022

ISBN-10: ‎ 1639100903
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1639100903
Digital ASIN: ‎ B09N6M1SNP

Synopsis:

Librarian Carrie Singleton is back on the case, alongside library ghost Evelyn, in the sixth installment of Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.

Carrie Singleton is just off a hot string of murder cases centered around the spooky local library in Clover Ridge, Connecticut. She could really use a break—but no such luck, as she; Smoky Joe, the resident cat; and Evelyn, the library’s ghost, are drawn into another tantalizing whodunit.

First, a dead body is found in the basement of the building attached to the library, and it turns out to be Carrie’s fiancé’s Uncle Alec, who Dylan hasn’t seen in years. But Alec has no intention of truly checking out, and his ghost makes itself at home in the library, greatly upsetting the patrons. 

Carrie and Evelyn work hard to keep Alec out of sight, but what was he doing in Clover Ridge to begin with? And why was he killed? 

Meanwhile, the town council, of which Carrie is also a member, is embroiled in a hot-headed debate over the fate of the Seabrook Preserve, a lovely and valuable piece of property that runs along Long Island Sound. Turn it into an upscale park? Sell it to a condo developer? Or keep it as protected land?

As the dispute rages, there’s another murder, this time involving a council member. Could the two murders be connected? And could Carrie be next on the hit list?

Book Review of Dewey Decimated

 

‘Trish came bursting through the door, her face alive with excitement. “Guess what? They found a body in the old building next door.”’

Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook is the 6th book in The Haunted Library Mystery Series. It’s my second read for both Brook and the series. My first read in this series was book 2, Buried in the Stacks.

When Carrie Singleton, head of programs at the Clover Ridge Library, learns of a dead body in the building the library recently acquired for expansion, she says she won’t be looking into it.

Carrie has racked a reputation for solving crimes in her local community. And everyone expects her to take part in this investigation.

“Why all the questions? Are you planning to look into the case?”

“Just natural curiosity. I want no part in this investigation.”

“Music to my ears.”

It is not clear why but Carrie can see ghosts. Including Evelyn whom she met in the library when she first joined a year earlier. Together, Carrie and Evelyn solve murders one book after the other. 😊

Despite her supposed-disinterest in the murder, Carrie is slowly dragged into it. The victim turns out to be her fiancé’s distant uncle.

But that’s not the only problem. Soon it’s not just Evelyn that Carrie can see but there’s a second ghost with no recollection of who he is or how he died.

Bit by bit, Carrie is dragged into solving the murder. Add in a nosy reporter who is dying to break a story and feature Carrie in it.

“Why aren’t you afraid of me?”

I laughed. “Because Evelyn’s a ghost, and she’s a good friend of mine.”

Dewey Decimated welcomes a few familiar faces and names and adds more people to The Haunted Library Mystery Series cast.

In addition to the murder mystery, Carrie is now part of her town’s council. And though they are just 5 people, there’s much debate over a major project in the town. Carrie soon discovers that there are politics and money at play in the council.

And as soon as she solves one mystery, a new one emerges with the death of a council member.

Dewey Decimated is a fun and calming read from Allison Brook. One of my problems with Buried in the Stacks was the amount of repetition Carrie had to do to tell the different people what has happened. While this remains a part of Dewey Decimated, it’s much less than Buried in the Stacks.

“The last thing I needed was a ghost having a meltdown in my office.”

The only thing I didn’t get about the book was the title ‘Dewey Decimated.’ But that could just be me.

In terms of imagery, there wasn’t a lot of it but that didn’t bother me. I also love the book covers in this series.

Overall rating for Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook: 4 stars

 

About Allison Brook:

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook, she writes the Haunted Library series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series and the Twin Lakes series.

Her juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Children's Choice. And Don't Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards.

Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids.

Connect with Allison via her website, Facebook page, Twitter, Goodreads, and Bookbub.

Buy Dewey Decimated via Amazon  Penguin Random House    B&N    Kobo    Google Play 

Keep up with the rest of the blog tour featuring spotlights, book reviews, author interviews, and character interviews.

6 September: Spotlights via Ruff Drafts, Brooke Blogs, and The Book Diva's Reads

7 September: Spotlights via Celticlady's Reviews and Maureen's Musings and a book review via Baroness Book Trove

8 September: Spotlights via Angel's Guilty Pleasures and The Mystery Section and a book review and author interview via I Read What You Write

9 September: Book reviews via View from the Birdhouse and Cozy Up With Kathy and a character interview via Read Your Writes Book Reviews

10 September: Spotlights via I'm All About Books and #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog, along with a book review via eBook Addicts

11 September: Book review via Nadaness In Motion and spotlight via FUONLYKNEW

12 September: Book reviews via Christy's Cozy Corners and Books a Plenty Book Reviews

13 September: Spotlights via Sapphyria's Book Reviews and Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers and a character interview via Ascroft, eh?

14 September: Book review via Reading Is My SuperPower and spotlight via Literary Gold

15 September: Book review via MJB Reviewers, spotlight via Socrates Book Reviews, and an author interview via Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book