Carrie is not only used to seeing the resident ghost, Evelyn, she enjoys their visits together at the library. The building next door was recently purchased for the library expansion, and after renovation work was begun, a body was discovered there, hidden in the basement. Not long after, a new ghost arrives in the library. It seems this ghost can’t move on until his murderer is found. But complications arise. The ghost has a remarkably bad memory and offers little help in finding out what had happened to him. Gradually new facts slowly become known, and Carrie and her fiancé are surprised when the ghost’s identity is finally known. It’s an intriguing mystery, with the cold case that goes back more than five years still having repercussions in the present. The mystery is well thought out, intriguing, and quite entertaining. The characters are delightful - ghosts included - and the library setting is perfect. It’s another great addition to the series. I’d like to see a ghost cat show up to keep company with Smoky Joe; now that would be entertaining! ( )

Dewey Decimated is the sixth A Haunted Library Mystery. It can easily be read as a standalone if you are new to the series or if you have missed a book or two along the way. I found Dewey Decimated easy to read. The pacing, though, was on the slow side. It picks up in the latter half of the book. We follow Carrie as she goes about her day-to-day routine (big yawn). She goes to work with Smokey Joe, does her work, goes to lunch at the diner with best friend, dinner with her aunt and uncle, etc. It does get monotonous. Evelyn is back and she has a friend who needs help. I just love Evelyn. I am glad that we got to see more of her in this book. Her spirited friend causes some upheaval in the library as well as in the life of someone close to Carrie. The mystery involves a skeleton found wrapped in a blanket in the new library expansion as well as a current murder. The mysteries were straightforward. There are a couple of suspects in both cases along with some misdirection. I wish the solutions to both crimes had not been so obvious. Case details are repeated frequently throughout the story (I got it the first time; I do not need it repeated twelve times). Carrie does not begin investigating right away. She eventually begins sleuthing (what happened to the Carrie we met back in Death Overdue). A pushy reporter keeps nagging Carrie to team up with her to solve the case. I did not like how the reporter (Julie Theron) put down Lt. John Mathers. Both cases have a good wrap up at the end. Carrie is on the town council, and they are debating what to do with Seabrook Preserve. The preserve loses its sanctuary status in three months. There are three different proposals for the property. The debating is hot and heavy plus there is behind the scenes wheeling and dealing. The situation is discussed quite a bit throughout the story (which means a lot of repetition). The ending is sweet and hopeful. Dewey Decimated is a nice story (humdrum), but I felt it lacked some pizzazz. There needed to be more action and less about Carrie’s daily activities. Dewey Decimated is a chilly tale with a fall festival, a discovered skeleton, a cuddly cat, a spirit surprise, a preserve dispute, a shocking murder, and a nervy reporter. ( )

"Dewey Decimated" continues the adventures of Carrie the librarian, as she and her staff contend with construction workers and planning for a new addition to the library utilizing an old building next door. . During the construction, a body turns up in the building. While law enforcement investigates, Carrie engages with Evelyn, her local library spirit, and the spirit of "Charlie" the deceased individual. They try to find out more about who "Charlie" might have been in life. Carrie also deals with a nosy news reporter and members of the town council as they decide the fate of a community nature preserve.

Although I do not usually read books featuring supernatural characters, the spirits in this novel were friendly and lovable, not at all scary or fierce. The characters are described in detail and the plot features enough red herrings to keep most mystery readers interested. This is a clean novel, without any swear words, overt violence, or descriptive intimacy. Although part of a series, the book worked as a stand alone novel.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

Dewey Decimated is the sixth book in The Haunted Library Mysteries by Allison Brook.

The addition will give the library much-needed space and provide an auditorium for Carrie, director of events and programs. Construction halted when a body was found under a shelf in the basement. The body is believed to have been in the basement for around five years. The next day, Carrie is talking with Evelyn, the library’s resident ghost. Carrie and her young niece are the only persons who can see and hear Evelyn. As Carrie is telling Evelyn about the body, the spirit of that body shows up. The ghost doesn't know who he is, where he is from, or why he is in Clover Ridge. Julie, Carrie’s nemesis, an investigative reporter, provides Carrie with his name-Alec Dunmore Alec, it turns out, is the estranged uncle of her fiance, Dylan. Dylan had lost contact with his uncle in his teen years. Carrie and Dylan will work together to learn how Alec met his tragic end.

A subplot to the story involves the recent appointment to the Town Council. The council needs to decide within three months about a plot of land called Seabrook Preserve, or it will lose its sanctuary status. The council needs to determine if the property will be sold for condominium development, turn it into a park, or keep it as a sanctuary.

The book is another excellently written and plotted story from Ms. Brook. Most of the well-developed and interesting characters are back once again. There were plenty of red herrings that I kept guessing until the end about who the killer was.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this wonderful series. ( )

In this sixth installment in the Haunted Library series, Librarian Carrie Singleton is excited about the renovation of the building next door which will expand the library and give her space for her programs. She is also getting comfortable with being on the town council.

Things go terribly wrong when a body is discovered in the building that is being renovated. Things get worse when the man's ghost finds its way into Carrie's library. Carrie can see him, as can her ghostly assistant Evelyn, but that doesn't help much since the ghost has amnesia.

When a local TV reporter encourages Carrie to help solve the mystery, Carrie isn't really interested. She doesn't want or need the publicity. But then she learns that the ghost is the long-lost uncle of her fiancé Dylan. And when the renovation's lead contractor, and fellow town council member, Sean Powell is murdered Carrie needs to solve both murders before Dylan's uncle's ghost can move on to the afterlife.

Between a contentious issue regarding the future use of a piece of property left to the town which has put the council members at odds and arguments about the renovation, the suspects are many. Carrie also has to keep secret that she's getting help in her investigation from a couple of ghosts.

I enjoyed this episode and think fans of cozy mysteries with a paranormal bent will enjoy it too. ( )