Evelyn Havers is a sleuth in the “Haunted Library” mysteries. One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions. So, let’s get to know Evelyn.

What is your full name?
My full name is Evelyn Davis Havers—Davis is my maiden name

How old are you?
That’s a rather personal question, young lady. But in the interest of full disclosure, I’ll share my age with you. I was 67 when I left this earthly plane. I won’t go into the matter of my demise. Suffice to say, I have been returning to the Clover Ridge Library in ghostly form these past seven years. You do the math.

What is your profession?
I was a library aide in the Clover Ridge Library for many years.

Do you have a significant other?
I had a husband. A wonderful man. He died a few years before I did.

What is their name and profession?
His name was Robert. He was an actuary.

Do you have any children?
Alas, Robert and I never had any children. But I was close to my sister’s three children, especially Dorothy who also worked in the library as the reference librarian. I’m afraid Dorothy could be rather difficult at times and wasn’t very popular.

Do you have any siblings?
I have a sister named Frieda, now deceased, and a brother named Harold.

Are your parents nearby?
No, they died some years ago.

Who is your best friend?
I suppose Carrie Singleton, the library’s head of programs and events, is my best friend since she’s the only person who can see me, aside from her four-year-old cousin Tacey. Carrie and I often chat. I help her solve mysteries.

Do you have any pets?
Robert and I have had cats over the years.

What town do you live in?
Clover Ridge, Connecticut. I’ve lived there all my life.

Would you say you live in a small town or a big city?
Clover Ridge is a beautiful old town dating back to the early 1700’s. The Green—the large grassy area in the center of the village—is the heart of Clover Ridge. The library is one of the centuries-old buildings bordering the Green. Once large private residences, many have been converted to shops, restaurants and art galleries. The Long Island Sound is only half a mile away.

Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
Robert and I lived in our own home. It was a cape—nothing grand—but it was cozy and it suited us.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
I loved our family room-living room. It had a fireplace and Robert and I each had a comfortable recliner where we read or watched TV.

Favorite meal and dessert?
I did enjoy a good roast beef dinner. And lobster during the summer months. In my ghostly state, I miss desserts the most. My favorite was ice cream sundaes—pistachio ice cream with hot chocolate syrup and hot walnuts. Yum. Little Tacey has finally stopped trying to give me cookies. The dear child could probably sense my yearning for something sweet to eat.

Do you have any hobbies?
I used to like to knit, until the arthritis got too bad. And I’ve always enjoyed reading—especially mysteries.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
I’ve such fond memories of the bus tour of England Robert and I took many years ago. Closer to home, my family used to have a cottage on Lake Kenosia. Robert and I spent a few weeks there each summer when we were first married.

What music do you listen to?
Classical music and show tunes.

Do you have a favorite book?
I like too many to name. I do like reading mysteries and historical novels.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
At one time, I loved going dancing with Robert.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
*** My Life, Then and in the Hereafter ***

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I suppose I’d be considered an amateur sleuth. I work on cases with Carrie Singleton, head of programs and events in the Clover Ridge Library, and she’s an amateur sleuth. I’m able to help Carrie because, having lived in Clover Ridge all my life as well as having worked in the library, I know most of the townspeople. Also, being so much older than thirty-year-old Carrie, I can share the wisdom I’ve acquired over a lifetime. On occasion while working a case, Carrie has accused me of not being completely forthright and not telling her all that I know about a person or a situation. I can’t say she’s wrong, but I feel I have to protect the reputation of my relatives. If only so many of them didn’t do things that required my discretion.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
I cannot speak of where I go when I’m not on this earthly plane, and so I dodge Carrie’s questions when she asks me where I keep my extensive wardrobe of clothing and where is the beauty salon that cuts and styles a ghost’s hair. But I will say that a good deal of every day—even when Carrie is not aware of my presence—is spent in the library. My mission is to help Carrie help the people of Clover Ridge and so I listen in on conversations. I visit Carrie when she’s alone, usually in her office when neither of her two assistants is present.

Checked Out for Murder is the fourth book in the “Haunted Library” cozy mystery series, released September 8, 2020.

Carrie Singleton and Evelyn the ghost sleuth the slayings of a starlet and a star-crossed psychic in Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook’s fourth Haunted Library mystery.

Daphne Marriott strolls into Clover Ridge and informs librarian Carrie Singleton that she’s a psychic. But had she foreseen what fate awaited her, Daphne would have steered clear of the quaint Connecticut town. Evelyn, the library ghost, tells Carrie that there’s more to Daphne than she lets on.

The mysterious woman grew up in Clover Ridge with her no-good dad, who apparently met his end at the hands of Daphne’s brother, Billy. Still, Daphne proves a welcome distraction when Carrie’s overbearing mother hits town. Mom’s much younger husband, Tom, is in a movie that’s lensing locally, and she’s there to keep an eye on him: Tom’s costar, sultry Ilana Reingold, is also his ex-fiancée, and there’s no denying the chemistry is still there. Soon after mingling with the moviemakers at a meet-and-greet, Daphne is found dead.

Carrie and Evelyn investigate, assisted by bushy-tailed library cat Smoky Joe. But the suspect list could overflow the library shelves. Has Billy killed another relative? Is their long-missing mother involved? Or Daphne’s mean ex-husband? Carrie’s sure she knows who committed the crime, but can she bind together the clues before the culprit Dewey-decimates the town?

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About the author
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. Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place.

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