I think I’m the luckiest cat in the world. These days I don’t know any other cats, but since I’m the library cat of the Clover Ridge Library I sure know a lot of people. I was born on a farm in Connecticut. Many other cats lived in the barn along with the cows and other animals. My siblings were always squabbling over the few available scraps of food since there was never enough to eat. I decided it was time to leave. I wanted a more exciting life and not to have to fight for every meal.
One fall morning when I was barely six months old, I set off on my adventure. I walked straight through the woods until I reached a lawn and a cottage beside the river. A young woman appeared. She was about to get into a car. To make a long story short, I jumped in her car and ended up in the library where she works.
Carrie is the girl’s name. She gave me food and set up a pan of kitty litter in her office. Somehow she convinced her boss that the library needed a library cat. Carrie’s smart that way. Well, she should be since she’s head of programs and events.
I love being the library cat—running around the place, getting attention from children and adults. I especially like going to the children’s room. The kiddies make a big fuss about me and Marion, the children’s librarian, gives me the best treats. Carrie tells people not to feed me because she gives me plenty to eat. I’m so glad no one listens to her.
Lots of strange things happen in the library. For one thing, someone was actually murdered in front of an audience! For another, this older lady who’s a ghost haunts the place. Evelyn Havers used to work here when she was alive. Only Carrie and her little cousin Tacey can see Evelyn. I can’t see her but I get this cold and creepy feeling when she’s talking to Carrie. I wish Evelyn would stop coming around. She’s supposed to help Carrie solve mysteries but Evelyn’s always hiding stuff she should be telling Carrie. I suppose she has her own share of secrets she doesn’t want anyone to know.
Lately there have been mice in the library. They live in the walls, which are a few hundred years old. I chase after them when they venture out, but so far I haven’t caught even one. In Carrie’s latest adventure, she’s looking for a large bag of gems that was hidden. Lots of people are looking for these gems. A few were even murdered because of them. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could help Carrie find them?
When Carrie’s workday is over, she scoops me up in her arms and we drive home to her cottage by the river. After a good dinner, I curl up next to her to watch TV or fall asleep while she’s reading or on her computer. The next morning it’s back to work for the two of us. Not a bad life for a feline who began life as a barn cat.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Read and Gone. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends September 16, 2018. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Smoky Joe and Carrie in Read and Gone, the second book in the “Haunted Library” mystery series. The first book in the series is Death Overdue.
Right in time for the holidays, comes Allison Brook’s second Haunted Library mystery, a perfect present for readers of Jenn McKinlay and Leslie Meier.
Twenty million dollars’ worth of missing gems bring Carrie Singleton’s long-lost and larcenous dad back into her life and it’s up to Carrie to clear his name.
A devoted dad is as precious as diamonds, but Carrie Singleton wouldn’t know since her dad Jim’s been on the lam most of her life. In an unusual family reunion, she finds Jim breaking into her cottage in the middle of the night. The fun really starts when he begs her to help him recover his half of a twenty-million-dollar gem heist he pulled off with the local jeweler, Benton Parr. When she refuses, Jim takes off again.
Carrie finds her father again behind bars for the recent murder of Benton Parr. Who made the connection? Unbeknownst to her, Carrie’s boyfriend Dylan, an insurance investigator, has been searching for the gems. Determined to find the jewels herself, she starts examining every facet of Parr’s life. She turns up a treasure trove of suspects, one of whom bashes her on the head as she’s searching the victim’s country cabin.
Retreating to the quiet confines of the library where she works, Carrie watches as Smokey Joe, the resident cat, paws at a hole in the wall. Is he after the library’s ghost Evelyn, or something shinier? The second charming Haunted Library mystery by Allison Brook, Read and Gone will be a delight for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Leslie Meier.
Purchase Link
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About the author
Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. As Allison Brook she writes the Haunted Library Mystery series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nomination for Best Contemporary Novel, a Library Journal “Pick of the Month” and on Goodreads’ list of the 200 “Most Popular Books Published in October 2017.” Read And Gone, the next in the series, was released in September and is currently available in hardcover, ebook, and audio formats.
All comments are welcomed.
oh yes, count me in!!
thank for the giveaway……
Thanks to all of you for entering the contest!!
I’m a cat lover so would probably enjoy a story that features one.
I have a special fondness for gray tabbies so I would love to read about Smokey Joe 🙂
What a great post. I have to read this series now. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you for the giveaway. This is a new series for me and I will be getting the first book soon.
This sounds like a great book and look forward to reading it. Thanks for the chance to win.
Yes please Dru, as a Clea Simon fan I love stories with cats who have an opinion. Please toss my name into the Magic Hat. I really would love to win it.
This series sounds fun. Thanks for the contest.
This is a new to me series but I am fond of cats in cozies and this books sounds like a fun read.
I love library cats–this sounds like a fun read.
What a great introduction to this story and this new to me series.
Dear Dru,
Smoky Joe and I thank you for having us as your guests today. We’re happy to be here!
Thanks to all of you for entering the contest and wanting to get to know Carrie and me better.
I would love to get to know both Carrie and Smoky Joe better. I love that this series has a library cat. Thank you for the chance to win!
I can’t wait to read about Smoky Joe. Thank you for the chance to win.
I enjoyed the first book in this series. I’m looking forward to reading the next book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
This book sounds like a lot of fun. A haunted library!
Sounds like a cute series. I enjoyed learning about Smoky Joe’s day!
Oh how exciting and thrilling this new book sounds! I love the cute cover with the sweet kitty! This is definitely my kind of cozy….kitties and a haunted library full of awesome books! Can’t wait to read it! Thank you so much dear Dru and Allison for the chance! 😍😻
I love the idea of a haunted library with a smart library cat who mistrusts ghosts. Thanks so much for featuring A day in the life of Smokey Joe on your blog, Dru!
I like this series and look forward to this installment. Thanks for a chance to win!
This cat has a great voice.
Please, please, please!
What a great library cat. I’d love to read about Smokey Joe. I wish my library had a cat.
I enjoyed the first book in the series. I’d like to read the second book. Thank you for the chance to win a free copy.
The cover of Allison’s book is enough to draw me in to read it. Now after reading your blog I desire to obtain a copy to read. Fingers are crossed.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series and I’m looking forward to reading “Read and Gone”.
I’m looking forward to reading this one…like others, I’ve read the first …
I love books, cats, and Christmas trees…lol…and the last two don’t necessarily go together safely! Seems no matter the age, a Christmas tree to climb and pretties to smack with your paws makes even the oldest kitties feel frisky again!
Love the book cover! It make me want to read it! Thanks for the chance to win it!
A haunted library? Count me in!
Thank you all so much for your comments. I wish I could send the book to all of you, but someone will be the lucky winner.
I won! Thanks so much!
Love Smokey Joe!
This series sounds great! I love cozy mysteries starring cats!
Sounds like a winner.
Sounds great! Old libraries are a treasure!
**** WINNER ****
Read and Gone is Linda Herold
Congratulations!