by: Allison Brook
Series: A Haunted Library Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: October 10, 2023
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Carrie Singleton has a wedding to plan, a killer to catch, and a conspiracy to uncover in this charming seventh novel of Agatha Award-nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mysteries.
Carrie Singleton has more than her fair share on her plate: her job at the Clover Ridge Library, preparing for her wedding to Dylan Avery, and hoping that the local art gallery doesn’t steal away one of her part-time employees. Her fiancé Dylan accompanies her to the beautiful home of Victor Zalinka—art collector and successful businessman—to select paintings for an art show at the library. While Carrie muses that Victor’s home would be the perfect wedding venue, Dylan spots a forgery among the paintings in Victor’s collection.
Then Martha Mallory is found murdered in her art gallery. With the assistance of Evelyn, the library ghost; the resident cat, Smoky Joe; and the office manager of Dylan’s private investigation company, Carrie comes up with a suspect list long enough to rival the size of an encyclopedia. During her investigation, Carrie stumbles across a terrible truth: Martha’s murder was part of something far bigger and more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. And it all leads back to the art gallery.
How far will Carrie go to find the killer and uncover the truth? If the killer finds her first—will Carrie finally be taken out of circulation?
My name is Dylan Avery. I'm thirty-five years old and I've been a resident of Clover Ridge, Connecticut, for most of my life. I am a partner in a company that retrieves high-end paintings and other artifacts, and I'm also a private investigator. I am engaged to Carrie Singleton, with whom I am madly in love.
Readers first met you in Death Overdue. You were Carrie Singleton’s landlord. Tell me how you went from landlord to fiancé.
Carrie and I knew each other when we were young children and I used to go to the Singleton Farm to play with her older brother Jordan when they came for summer vacations. Though I was often away on business when Carrie first moved into the cottage she was renting from me, we did get to spend time together. Somehow I got involved in her investigation of a murder that was connected to a cold case. Things just took off from there.
When the series first started you were an insurance investigator. Now, you’re a private investigator. Why the change in careers?
My investigations took me all over the country and often abroad. As I fell in love with Carrie, I decided I wanted to work close to home so we could spend a lot of time together.
Carrie has this curiosity streak about her. She just can’t help herself when it comes to looking into murders. How do you feel about her always getting involved?
Carrie is a most amazing person. Her curiosity and caring get her involved in solving murder cases. While I worry about her safety, I know this involvement is a large part of who Carrie is. Telling her not to investigate would only make her resent what she'd consider interference in her personal space. And so I urge her to be careful and not to take unnecessary risks, and she assures me that she'll do that. I love her spunk and willingness to help others, and often tell her how proud I am of her. This is the only way our relationship can work. She appreciates my input and advice. Oddly enough, over time I seem to be getting involved in her investigations.
Carrie’s great-aunt and great-uncle, Harriet and Bosco, have played a big part in your life. Can you tell me about what they mean to you and why?
I love Harriet and Bosco and consider them my relatives. My parents were always concerned with themselves and their business enterprises, and spent little time with me when I was growing up. I got used to spending time on the Singleton Farm with Harriet and Bosco, even when Jordan wasn't there. They understood I needed nurturing. Bosco often found chores for me to do, which pleased me.
The Singletons are a really sweet couple. Tell me about the latest murder mystery titled Overdue or Die, what’s happening?
I went to Chicago to retrieve a Terrance Haggerty painting that my deceased uncle Alec had left in safekeeping with a friend. It had been given to Alec by his uncle (my great uncle) who had received it for his twenty-first birthday from the artist, who was his good friend. After I collected the painting and was driving back to my hotel, I was assaulted and ended up in the hospital. The painting was stolen. In the process of recovering it, I help unearth a ring of art forgers. When a gallery owner we know is murdered, Carrie and I begin to suspect that the forgers are at work in Clover Ridge.
Oh wow. I definitely need to read this and find out what happens. What’s next for you and Carrie?
In the eighth and final book of the series, Carrie and I are looking forward to our wedding. Two weeks before our big day, a young man is murdered at our wedding site. Another murder follows soon after. Both victims were suspects in a bank heist that took place five years earlier. The money had never been recovered and now several people are after the loot.
That sounds really interesting. Dylan, thank you for your time.
Purchase Overdue or Die from:
(Affiliate Links Used)
The Haunted Library Mystery Series:
Death Overdue ~ Review
Read and Gone ~ Review
Buried in the Stacks ~ Review
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.
Places to find Allison Brook:
You can follow the Overdue or Die Blog Tour here.
This is one of my favorite series. Looking forward to reading "Overdue or Die".
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