by Marilyn Levinson/Allison Brook

There are many reasons why I love writing cozy mysteries. It was such fun to create the town of Clover Ridge, Connecticut, for the Haunted Library series, a picturesque town with a large Green in its center, that I filled with fun characters, many of whom appeared in book after book–as long as they weren’t murdered or a murderer.

Carrie Singleton, the head of programs and events at the Clover Ridge Library, is my sleuth in the Haunted Library series. Over the course of the eight books in the series, Carrie evolves from someone who feels lost and rootless to becoming a confident, self-assured person and an active member of her community. She develops friendships, helps people with problems, and falls in love with Dylan Avery. Carrie has many adventures and solves several homicides with the aid of her ghostly friend Evelyn Havers, and Dylan, an investigator trained to retrieve stolen artwork and gems. In Booked on Murder, the eighth and final book in the series, Carrie and Dylan have a beautiful wedding after the biggest adventure of their lives.

Aside from writing about murder and mayhem, writing a cozy mystery series offers me the opportunity to explore a range of topics and current issues. They vary from the current fad of pet owners who dress their dogs and cats in costumes, to the problem of how best to deal with the disruptive few among those seeking shelter in libraries during the cold months of the year and disturb patrons. In Buried in the Stacks, the third book in the series, Carrie takes part in a town plan that sets up a place that offers a day program to people who have nowhere else to go.

One of my favorite aspects of writing this series has been delving into my characters’ relationships with one another. Carrie grew up in a dysfunctional household––her father was a thief, and her mother was self-absorbed and not at all maternal. She is wary about getting close to other people. Over the course of the eight books, Carrie makes many friendships and learns to trust her feelings for Dylan. She also spends time with each of her parents , who are now divorced. There’s some mistrust and a few misunderstandings, but over time Carrie’s relationships with her mother and her father eventually improve.

Last but not least is the paranormal element that I’ve introduced in this series. Evelyn Havers, the ghost in the Haunted Library series, used to work as an aide in the library. She is the one who convinces Carrie not to turn down the position of head of programs and events when Carrie decides it is time to leave town. Having lived in Clover Ridge all her life, Evelyn knows the residents and is a great source of information when Carrie is investigating a murder––unless the murderer just might be Evelyn’s own niece or nephew. Evelyn’s role is that of guardian angel of the people of Clover Ridge, and she carries this out through Carrie, the only adult who can communicate with her. Sometimes she asks Carrie to help a person in need, and Carrie is happy to oblige. As Evelyn and Carrie grow closer, Evelyn often offers Carrie personal advice. Eventually, she feels that Carrie is the daughter she and her husband never had.

You can click here to purchase this book from Amazon.

Another buy link PRH: bit.ly/PRHBookedonMurder

Find Marilyn online:

website: marilynlevinson.com where you can sign up for my newsletter
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A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, 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, the Twin Lakes series, and Giving Up the Ghost. Her suspense novel, Come Home to Death, was released April 30, 2024. Dangerous Relations will be republished in 2025.
Marilyn’s juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice and has come out in a new edition. Rufus and the Witch’s Drudge, the second in the series, came out this year as did the new edition of her YA horror, The Devil’s Pawn.
Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids, and playing with her kittens, Romeo and Juliet.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.