The Ghost and the Dead Librarian by Cleo Coyle

 The Ghost and the Dead Librarian 

The Ghost and the Dead Librarian (A Haunted Bookshop Detective Mystery)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in the Series - Spinoff of the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries
Setting - Rhode Island
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Cozies
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 29, 2026
Print length ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496749332
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496749338
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496749352
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GDS6KY2P
Audio CD
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8228951006
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0H55H66KS
Audiobook
ASIN B0H2NLG2YP

A LIBRARY JOURNAL "MYSTERY PICK OF THE MONTH" In an utterly charming new mystery from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle, a small-town Rhode Island bookshop owner investigates the death of an eccentric librarian with the help of a wisecracking, 1940s gumshoe ghost.

As a young widow, Penelope moved back to her quaint Rhode Island town to give her young son a safer home and her aunt's dying bookshop new life. Using her late husband's insurance money, Pen polished the store into a local treasure. But her updates did more than attract new customers. They roused a dead private eye from his big sleep.

With Pen's affection for hardboiled detective stories, it's no surprise she's developed a fondness for the wisecracking yet oddly likeable spirit. Sure, Jack's cold spots are exasperating, along with his proclivity for putting noir fiction in the cozy section. But murder was Jack's business in life, and his PI skills come in awfully handy when the body of an eccentric librarian is found amid the bookshop's aisles.

For years, Dory jokingly called herself "The Dead Librarian" because of her hobby of collecting and writing local obituaries. Now, in death, she's discovered with her own eerily pre-written obit. Was it a suicide note? Jack and Pen say no and their certainty takes them from a ghost town's ancient cemetery to a posh Newport mansion. When another body drops, a mysterious stranger makes Pen a shocking offer, one that may change her life—and Jack's afterlife. But unless Jack can help Pen prove who "checked out" the librarian, a ruthless killer may close the book on her.

"This spin-off of Coyle's 'Haunted Bookshop' series blends cozy mystery, supernatural intrigue, and classic noir influences into a suspenseful small-town murder mystery....Combining humor, literary references, ghostly interventions, and layered community drama, the novel explores how hidden truths from the past continue to haunt the present." —Library Journal (*Starred Review)

About Cleo Coyle 

Cleo Coyle - Alice Alfonsi - Marc Cerasini

Cleo Coyle is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries, now celebrating more than 20 years in print, and the national bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. With more than one million books sold, their works have been translated into Spanish, Japanese, and Czech; received multiple Best of Year selection honors from reviewers; and have been recommended by Booklist as among the best culinary mysteries for core library mystery collections. Alice and Marc are also bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, Toho, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together, wrangle their rescue cats, drink a lot of java, and cook like crazy. Connect with Cleo at CleoCoyleBooks.com

Author Links

Webpage: https://www.cleocoylebooks.com/

Free Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/cleocoylerecipes/newsletter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleoCoyleAuthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleocoyle_author/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CleoCoyle

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cleocoyle.bsky.social

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cleo-coyle

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51488.Cleo_Coyle

My Thoughts

Step into this haunted bookshop and prepare for a mystery with plenty of ghostly charm! The Ghost and the Dead Librarian by Cleo Coyle is a warm, entertaining debut in A Haunted Bookshop Detective Mystery, a spinoff from A Haunted Bookshop Mysteries. Jack Shepherd, the gruff ghost private detective, and Penelope Thornton-McClure make an endearing sleuthing duo, surrounded by quirky secondary characters who add extra sparkle to the story. Coyle’s friendly writing style blends charm, wit, mystery, and just a smidgen of suspense into an engaging whodunit. Penelope is a smart cookie and watching her unravel clues with a little spectral assistance is a delight. The humor is nicely sprinkled throughout, and the paranormal element adds fun without overshadowing the mystery. With its satisfying mix of clever clues, lighthearted humor, and ghostly guidance, this cozy mystery is a spirited good time from start to finish!

Giveaway

The author is giving away two (2) autographed copies of The Ghost and the Dead Librarian (A Haunted Bookshop Detective Mystery) by Cleo Coyle.  You can click here to enter,  enter via the form below, or click on the badge in the lower right hand corner of the screen.  Good Luck!

Calling all book lovers—The Ghost and the Dead Librarian is ready to haunt your TBR in the best possible way! Pick up your copy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple, or Bookshop.org. Be sure to follow Cleo Coyle on Amazon so you’ll receive a notification whenever a new book is released. You can also visit Cleo Coyle’s website to learn more about the books, find a handy series checklist in reading order, and sign up for the author’s newsletter. I’ll be back on Wednesday, October 21, with A Bookshop for Christmas by Heidi Chiavaroli. Before you dash off to your next great read, don’t forget to enter the giveaway—your bookish treat may be just a click away!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Tour Participants

October 19 – Jody's Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

October 19 – Carla Loves To Read - REVIEW

October 20 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

October 20 – Romance Novel Giveaways – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - REVIEW

October 21 - Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW

October 22 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

October 23 – Sarandipity's – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – deal sharing aunt – SPOTLIGHT

October 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 26 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW

October 26 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

October 27 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

October 27 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

October 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

October 30 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

October 30 – Sarcastically Yours, Jen – SPOTLIGHT

October 31 – Boys' Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

October 31 – The Editing Pen -REVIEW 

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*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

The Ghost Goes to the Dogs by Cleo Coyle

The Ghost Goes to the Dogs

Book Summary

A stray dog leads bookseller Penelope McClure and her gumshoe ghost on a chase for a cunning criminal in this brand-new entry in the "UTTERLY CHARMING" (Mystery Scene) Haunted Bookshop Mysteries from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

Pet Mystery Week brings brisk business to Penelope's Rhode Island bookshop, but a real mystery comes barking at her door when a lost dog turns up in a panic. Pen and her son Spencer follow the furry fugitive to a wooded area where the dog's owner lies unconscious. Mrs. Cunningham is a warm-hearted widow who volunteers at the animal shelter and runs Buy the Book's pet lovers book club. Why would anyone shoot such a sweet soul?

The police believe it's an accident, a shot by a careless deer hunter, but Pen remains skeptical. To straighten out this doggone mess, she whistles for the ghost of PI Jack Shepard, an expert in hounding as well as haunting. Jack has a dog story of his own, a case from the 1940s that may help Pen sniff out clues to her present predicament. Yet even with Jack's hard-boiled help, Pen may not be able to stop the killer from striking again or letting this whole case go to the dogs...

My Thoughts

The Ghost Goes to the Dogs by Cleo Coyle has Penelope embroiled in another mystery.  I always look forward to reading Penelope and Jack’s latest adventure.  They are an entertaining duo.  The characters are realistic and relatable.  I especially love Jack with his 1930s and 1940s lingo.  I like the author’s writing style.  I was quickly drawn into the story.  There are two mysteries in this story.  In the present day, a lost dog leads Penelope and her son (plus Jack) to its owner who has been shot.  The local law enforcement (the keystone cops) is a joke.  The only decent member is out of town at a seminar much to Penelope’s dismay.  Penelope, of course, decides to search for answers on her own (well, she is technically not alone since Jack is with her in spirit).  It is a well plotted, complex mystery.  I had a good time solving it.  

Rin Tin Tin & Rusty

The secondary whodunit is one of Jack’s old cases.  Jack visits Penelope in her dreams.  He takes her back to the 1940s when he was working as a PI when someone left a dog tied to his door with a note under the dog’s collar.  Penelope uses the information provided by Jack along with a little sleuthing to solve the cold case.  I liked how this mystery tied to the present day.  It is like we are getting two stories in one book.  Both mysteries were nicely wrapped up by the end.  The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is the ninth A Haunted Bookshop Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend reading all the books in this unique series.  I love how Jack talks (how you expect a private investigator from the 1940s to talk).  I enjoyed his references to Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.  I like how he flirts with Penelope.  He really is the perfect man for Penelope (if he was alive).  I enjoyed my latest visit to Quindicott.  I can tell that the author has been around cats and dogs.  She captured their behavior and attitudes.  I am eager for the next A Haunted Bookshop Mystery.  The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is a killer diller with a dame downed with a cannon, an eager beaver bookseller, knucklehead cops with a cockeyed concept, a clever cookie, a dreamboat apparition, a canny canine, and a humdinger of a whodunit.  

The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other eight A Haunted Bookshop Mysteries here.  You can find Cleo Coyle's other books here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return on May 9 with The Spirit Girls by Dawn Merriman.  I hope you have a fun weekend and enjoy Cinco De Mayo.  I have my decorations up and a T-shirt to wear.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Ghost and the Stolen Tears by Cleo Coyle

 The Ghost and the Stolen Tears

Book Summary

Norma is a modern-day nomad. Living out of her van and teardrop trailer, she revels in self-reliance, solitude, and reading in the glorious peace of nature. Jovial, wise, and scrupulously honest, she's become an uplifting presence in the little town of Quindicott, Rhode Island, where bookseller Pen is thankful to have her part-time help. But it's Norma's other job, working as a housekeeper at the Finch Inn, that gets her into terrible trouble. Norma is accused of stealing jewels from a guest's room: the legendary Valentino Teardrops, an antique necklace and earring set, inherited by a young socialite. Pen doesn't believe Norma is guilty of the crime—though the evidence is distressingly strong. And when the spirited Norma vanishes before her arrest, Pen turns to another spirit..

Jack Shepard, PI, may have been gunned down decades ago, but his memory hasn't been ghosted. Back in the 1940s, those same Valentino Teardrops starred in a bizarre case of betrayal and murder. From the look of things, history is about to repeat. Now Jack is back on the job, and Pen is eternally grateful. 

My Thoughts

The Ghost and the Stolen Tears by Cleo Coyle is the eighth A Haunted Bookshop Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  The author does a great job at giving an introduction to Penny, Jack, and their situation.  We return to Quindicott, Rhode Island where a guest at the local bed and breakfast claims that a valuable necklace and its matching earrings were stolen.  All the evidence points to the maid who is on the lam.  Penny knows there is no way Norma, the maid, would have stolen jewelry.  Penny with help from her dashing ghost, PI Jack Shepard set out to learn the truth.  I like that there are really two cases in the story.  One set in the present and one in the past.  The past case is one that Jack took on while he was still alive.  I like how the two cases tied together.  I must say that the flashback scenes (Penny gets to see what happened in the past in her dreams thanks to Jack) are my favorite.  I love the slang from that era.  I had fun following Jack and Penny as they questioned people and searched for clues.  One mystery is easier to solve than the other.

I enjoyed the humor sprinkled through the story.  Jack is especially amusing.  His moral compass is skewed which gives him a different way of looking at matters.  The authors descriptions really bring the scenes alive especially those from the past.  I enjoyed my visit to Quindicott, and I was sorry to see it end.  I look forward to traveling to Quindicott again in The Ghost Goes to the Dogs.  The Ghost and the Stolen Tears is a killer diller with a dreamboat detective, gems worth a lot of clams, a maid who took a powder, a good luck Penny, cockeyed clues, a pain in the neck insurance investigator, and a dishy dame.  

The Ghost and the Stolen Tears is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other A Haunted Bookshop Mysteries here. The Ghost Goes to the Dogs is the 9th A Haunted Bookshop Mystery and it will be out on May 2, 2023.   You can follow Cleo Coyle on Amazon and you will receive an email when she has a new book release.  Here are a couple of the other novels that were published today:  Ode to Murder by Nicole Dieker, Anything but Plain by Suzanne Woods Fisher, and A Match Made at Christmas by Patricia Davids.  Thank you for joining me today.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on A Match Made at Christmas by Patricia Davids.  I hope you have a lovely day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait by Cleo Coyle: Review and Giveaway

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait

 

About The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait

 

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait (Haunted Bookshop Mystery) 

Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure and her gumshoe ghost team up to solve the stunning mystery at the heart of a madwoman’s self-portrait in this all new installment from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.

While gathering a collection of vintage book cover paintings for a special event in her quaint Rhode Island bookshop, Penelope discovers a spooky portrait of a beautiful woman, one who supposedly went mad, according to town gossip. Seymour, the local mailman, falls in love with the haunting image and buys the picture, refusing to part with it, even as fatal accidents befall those around it. Is the canvas cursed? Or is something more sinister at work?

For answers, Pen turns to an otherworldly source: Jack Shepard, PI. Back in the 1940s, Jack cracked a case of a killer cover artist, and (to Pen’s relief) his spirit is willing to help her solve this mystery, even if he and his license did expire decades ago.

About Cleo Coyle

 

CLEO COYLE is a pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. Both are New York Times bestselling authors of the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries—now celebrating eighteen years in print. They are also authors of the nationally bestselling Haunted Bookshop Mysteries, previously written under the pseudonym Alice Kimberly. Alice has worked as a journalist in Washington, D.C., and New York, and has written popular fiction for adults and children. A former magazine editor, Marc has authored espionage thrillers and nonfiction for adults and children. Alice and Marc are also both bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for Lucasfilm, NBC, Fox, Disney, Imagine, and MGM. They live and work in New York City, where they write independently and together.

Author Links

Webpage: https://www.coffeehousemystery.com/cleos_haunted_bookshop.cfm 

Free Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/cleocoylerecipes/newsletter 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleoCoyle/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CleoCoyle 

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cleo-coyle 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51488.Cleo_Coyle 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleocoyle_author/ 

My Thoughts

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait by Cleo Coyle is the 7^th A Haunted Bookshop Mystery.  This enchanting cozy mystery can be read as a standalone for those new to the series or if you have missed a tome or two.  This is an entertaining and unique cozy mystery series.  I love visiting Penelope and Jack Shepard.  Penelope and her two bickering friends are off to pick up some artwork that will displayed at Buy the Book as part of an exhibit.  They end up finding the owner dead and it relates back to a case Jack investigated before his death.  I like how the past and present tie-in together.  It is neat how Penelope gets to “see” Jack’s memories.  The interplay between Jack and Penelope is delightful.  The mystery was complex which makes it fun to solve.  There are good suspects, a red herring, and exciting twists.  I appreciated that everything was neatly wrapped up at the end.  The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait is well-written with friendly, developed characters.  Buy the Book is a wonderful place to visit with its charming owners.  The romance between Penelope and Jack is special.  We can see how love can transcend time and space (reminds me of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir).      This cozy mystery has good friends, close family, mysterious acts, a dead art collector, books, and humor.  The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait is a unique cozy mystery with precious paintings, a dashing detective, ambiguous acts, concealed clues, treasured tomes, and a suspicious specter.

The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, and IndieBound.  You can find the other novels in A Haunted Bookshop Mystery series here.  Cleo Coyle also writes A Coffeehouse Mystery series.  The author is giving away two (2) signed copies of The Ghost and the Haunted Portrait as well as a Haunted Bookshop tote bag (sorry, but US Only).  You can click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below.  Good Luck!     Thank you for joining me today.  I am featuring Purrfectly Dead by Dixie Lyle tomorrow.  I hope that you have an enchanted day.  Do not forget to leave a comment to get an extra entry in the giveaway.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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Tour Participants

May 4 – Baroness' Book Trove - SPOTLIGHT 

May 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 

May 5 – The Editing Pen – REVIEW 

May 5 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 

May 5 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT 

May 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT 

May 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 

May 6 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST 

May 7 – Books to the Ceiling – REVIEW 

May 7 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 

May 7 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW 

May 8 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 

May 8 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT 

May 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

May 9 – Diane Reviews Books – REVIEW    

May 9 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 

May 10 – Brianne's Book Reviews – REVIEW 

May 10 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW 

May 10 – Nadaness In Motion – REVIEW 

May 11 – ebook addicts – SPOTLIGHT 

May 11 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

May 12 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT 

May 12 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW 

May 12 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 

May 12 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 

May 13 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT 

May 13 – Mysteries with Character – GUEST POST 

May 13 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – SPOTLIGHT

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.