How to Read Allison Brook's Books
If you love cozy mysteries filled with small-town charm, a dash of romance, a loyal animal companion, and a helpful resident ghost, then the books of Allison Brook are a perfect addition to your reading list. Allison Brook is the pen name of prolific author Marilyn Levinson. Writing under this pseudonym, she has created two beloved mystery series that combine traditional amateur sleuthing with lighthearted paranormal elements.
Because her series feature ongoing character development, relationship progression, and overarching plotlines, the recommended way to read Allison Brook's novels is in publication order. Starting from the beginning of each series ensures you will not spoil major life milestones for the protagonists or miss the growth of their supernatural partnerships.
The Haunted Library Mystery Series
This is Brook's signature series, set in the fictional, picturesque town of Clover Ridge, Connecticut. It stars Carrie Singleton, who arrives in town with plans to move on quickly, only to accept a job as the head of programs and events at the local public library. Carrie's life takes a turn when she realizes the library is home to Evelyn, the friendly ghost of a former library aide from the mid-twentieth century. Guided by Evelyn's spectral insights and accompanied by Smoky Joe—a charismatic grey cat who adopts Carrie—Carrie becomes Clover Ridge's premier amateur detective.
The series consists of eight core novels, concluding with a grand finale in 2024:
- Death Overdue (2017) – Carrie starts her job, meets the ghost Evelyn, adopts Smoky Joe, and investigates the poisoning of a retired detective who claimed to have solved a 15-year-old cold case.
- Read and Gone (2018) – Carrie deals with the arrival of her estranged father, a high-value art theft at the library, and a suspicious murder that hits close to home.
- Buried in the Stacks (2019) – A local preservationist is found dead in the library's basement, and Carrie must dig through local history and old family rivalries to find the culprit.
- Checked Out for Murder (2020) – The library hosts a winter solstice celebration, which goes awry when a controversial local resident is murdered right in the stacks.
- Death on the Shelf (2021) – Carrie's cousin is accused of murdering a wealthy town benefactor, forcing Carrie and Evelyn to search for the true killer to clear her family's name.
- Dewey Decimated (2022) – During a library renovation project, a skeleton is uncovered in the walls, unlocking a decades-old town mystery that someone is still willing to kill to protect.
- Overdue or Die (2023) – Carrie manages a high-profile library fundraiser while investigating the murder of a prominent local businessman with many enemies.
- Booked on Murder (2024) – The series finale. As Carrie plans her upcoming wedding, she must juggle personal milestones with solving a final, high-stakes string of murders in Clover Ridge.
Books on the Beach Mystery Series
Following the conclusion of her library series, Brook launched a brand new cozy mystery series in late 2025. Set on the scenic Dickens Island in the Long Island Sound, this series introduces a new sleuth and a fresh coastal backdrop, while keeping the delightful paranormal elements fans adore.
- Death on Dickens Island (2025) – Delia Dickens returns to her island home after twelve years in Manhattan to help run her family's general store and curate its new book nook. While trying to rebuild her relationship with her teenage son, Delia is thrust into a murder investigation when a local community leader is killed. With the help of the ghost of her beloved grandmother, Delia must find the killer before her family is implicated.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into Allison Brook's novels, here are a few tips to enhance your reading experience:
- Standalone Appeal: While the character arcs, romantic subplots, and career changes develop sequentially, each mystery is fully resolved within its respective book. If you happen to pick up a mid-series book, Brook provides enough backstory that you will not feel lost, though starting with the first book is highly recommended for the best experience.
- The Ghostly Guidelines: The paranormal elements in these books are light and cozy rather than spooky or scary. Evelyn (in the library series) and Delia's grandmother (in the beach series) function as mentors and sounding boards rather than terrifying apparitions.
- The Marilyn Levinson Connection: If you enjoy Brook's writing style, you can check out the books she publishes under her real name, Marilyn Levinson. These include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series (starring Lexie Driscoll) and the Lydia Krause / Twin Lakes Mysteries (featuring a retired protagonist solving mysteries in a retirement community).