Carrie Singleton rarely stays in one place very long and she's starting to feel it's time to leave Clover Ridge- until she's offered the job heading program and events at the library where she's been working temporarily. Unfortunately, her first official event concludes with the speaker dead, poisoned by a cookie given to him at the library. Had the speaker, a retired homicide detective, intended to reveal new details about an old murder case? Carrie starts investigating but will she find the murderer or just put her own life in the crosshairs of a killer?

The Haunted Library series kicks off with DEATH OVERDUE. Allison Brook has created a whole cast of likable characters with very distinct personalities. Carrie is a good, solid heroine for the storyline and I suspect she'll become even more fun as the series evolves. I'm very curious about Dylan Avery in particular, as I'm curious to see how his investigative background may play out in future books.

However, it is the ghostly Evelyn Havers who steals the show in DEATH OVERDUE! Ghosts can be tricky in mysteries as sometimes they make solving the murders far too easy. Evelyn, however, mainly provides us with someone for Carrie to bounce ideas off of. Even more intriguing, she gives us some insight into the nasty Dorothy Hawkins, offering a sadder side to an otherwise mean woman.

DEATH OVERDUE is a fun, albeit slightly uneven, start to what looks to be a promising new cozy mystery series. The reader gets a little bogged down in the endless family drama of the Foster family meals and outbursts, but the overall concept and execution have me intrigued. I look forward to seeing what is in store next for Carrie and her friends in the Haunted Library series!