Kristina A. reviewed on 9/13/2019 + 1528 more book reviews

Buried in the Stacks is the third book in A Haunted Library Mystery series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. Carrie Singleton finds herself becoming the library's new Sunshine Delegate and involved in a group trying to establish a daytime sanctuary for the homeless population in Clover Ridge. When Dorothy Hawkins, the tetchy reference librarian, ends up dead, the library's resident ghost & Dorothy's aunt, Evelyn asks Carrie to find the guilty party. I found Buried in the Stacks to be easy to read. Carrie has certainly changed from when she first appeared on the scene with her colorful hair and a wardrobe more suited to rock concert than a library. She has settled into her cottage, has Smokey Joe (her cat), dating Dylan, and getting involved in community events. With the homeless population needing a daytime facility (where they can read books, play games, crochet, etc.), a group of local citizens bought a home they are going to turn into Haven House. Carrie joins the members, but she soon learns that some citizens have ulterior motives. I like how the author deals with the topic of homeless. She shows that they are not anonymous people that should be ignored. They have fallen on hard times and just need a little extra help. As with any group of people, there are various types of personalities. Dorothy Hawkins ends up dead and her aunt, Evelyn (the library's resident ghost) is upset. I am shocked that some individuals were not doing a little jig and singing âDing dong the witch is deadâ when the news was announced. Dorothy was an unlikeable woman who collected secrets and used them to her advantage which leads to a long list of suspects. It is amazing that Dorothy lived as long as she did. While identifying the guilty party is a walk in the park, I did like that a cold case gets solved in the process. Carrie did not seem as involved in solving Dorothy's death as she did in what was happening with Haven House. She took some unnecessary risks that did not yield good results. I would have liked the story to have more focus on Dorothy's murder with less repetition of case details. I do not know why people keep warning Carrie to not investigate, as with any cozy mystery sleuth, she cannot help herself. I am curious how the title related to the book since no one was buried or trapped beneath a pile of books. Buried in the Stacks is a haunting cozy mystery a chubby cat, a sweet spirit, deceptive do-gooders, an irascible reference librarian and pugnacious patrons.

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