A former Spanish teacher, Allison Brook writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for young readers. She loves traveling, reading, knitting, doing Sudoku, and visiting with her grandchildren, Olivia and Jack, on FaceTime. She lives on Long Island with Sammy, her feisty red cat. This is her FIRST Haunted Library mystery. Allison is also known as Marilyn Levinson. She writes the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club mysteries and the Twin Lakes Mystery series.
GIVEAWAY
Here is a tidbit about...
DEATH OVERDUE
(A Haunted Library Mystery)
Carrie Singleton is just about done with Clover Ridge, Connecticut until she's offered a job as the head of programs and events at the spooky local library, complete with its own librarian ghost. Her first major event is a program presented by a retired homicide detective, Al Buckley, who claims he knows who murdered Laura Foster, a much-loved part-time library aide who was bludgeoned to death fifteen years earlier. As he invites members of the audience to share stories about Laura, he suddenly keels over and dies.
The medical examiner reveals that poison is what did him in and Carrie feels responsible for having surged forward with the program despite pushback from her director. Driven by guilt, Carrie’s determined to discover who murdered the detective, convinced it’s the same man who killed Laura all those years ago. Luckily for Carrie, she has a friendly, knowledgeable ghost by her side. But as she questions the shadows surrounding Laura's case, disturbing secrets come to light and with each step Carrie takes, she gets closer to ending up like Al.
Giveaway below!
Take it away, Allison!
*
I love making
soups! I came to soup-making late in life. I think I used to worry that I’d do
something wrong and all that food would go to waste. But now soups are one of
my favorite foods to make. The process can be time consuming, but since I make a
lot each time, there’s plenty for several dinners. Soup-making is flexible and
forgiving. I’ve discovered that after you’ve included the basic ingredients for
a particular soup, you can make it truly yours by adding a few ingredients of
your choice—either what’s available in your fridge and/or pantry or your
favorite veggies. My two favorite additions are red pepper and mushrooms.
Gazpacho is the
perfect soup to serve at lunch or dinner on a warm summer day since no cooking
is involved. My librarian sleuth Carrie Singleton will be making a batch of it
in the third book of my Haunted Library Mystery series, which has yet to be
written. I love to serve it not-too-processed, topped with croutons and diced
Persian cucumbers.
But let’s start at
the beginning:
Ingredients:
(remember, this is a soup, not a cake, so you can alter the amounts somewhat.
I’m telling you what I used):
1 red pepper
1 Vidalia onion
2 large cucumbers
a handful of garlic cloves
half a handful of fresh parsley
7 large mushrooms
3 teaspoons of red vinegar
the juice of one lime
46 oz can of Sacramento tomato
juice
28 oz can of Red Pack crushed tomatoes with basil,
garlic, and oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Process the pepper, onion, garlic,
cucumbers, parsley and mushrooms in a large Cuisinart. Pour into a very large
bowl and add the tomato juice and crushed tomatoes, vinegar, lime and salt and
pepper. Chill in the fridge for at least three hours. Garnish with croutons and
diced Persian cucumbers.
Allison is offering a giveaway today of her new book - in hardcover! Leave a comment and tell her what you love about libraries...or soup. Remember to leave your email so she can contact you if you win.
The medical examiner reveals that poison is what did him in and Carrie feels responsible for having surged forward with the program despite pushback from her director. Driven by guilt, Carrie’s determined to discover who murdered the detective, convinced it’s the same man who killed Laura all those years ago. Luckily for Carrie, she has a friendly, knowledgeable ghost by her side. But as she questions the shadows surrounding Laura's case, disturbing secrets come to light and with each step Carrie takes, she gets closer to ending up like Al.
Now it's due or die for Carrie in Death Overdue the delightful first in a new cozy series by Allison Brook.
Follow Allison aka Marilyn using these social media links:
Welcome, Allison! What I love about libraries is that they're such a wonderful resource for books (as well as DVDs, CDs, etc.) that also supports local communities. EMS591@aol.com
ReplyDeleteMe, too. I spend a lot of time in my library, at various programs and chatting with library workers.
DeleteI love libraries, so nice to be able to increase your knowledge for free; I love that soups can be made with really anything you have on hand, versatile. Thanks for the chance :)
ReplyDeletejslbrown2009 at aol dot com
You're so welcome, Lisa!
DeleteHi Marilyn or should I say Allison. Welcome to our blog world. Cozy mysteries are my favorite type of story. I first found them in the library. What I love best about libraries is that you do not need money to enjoy any of the services they offer. One can take home the number 1 bestseller or any book on absolutely any subject in the universe and if they don't have it, it will be ordered from another library. There are movies, games, puzzles, music, actual films,magazines, tapes, CDs to teach or entertain you.I love the author visits, lectures and local programs for adults, teens & children. I've been going to a library for over 60yr. They are great places. They can never be replaced by computers!(robinsbusiness@hotmail.com)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to be here, Robin. I agree, libraries are one of our best entertainment sites. And these days it's often the hub of a community.
DeleteLibraries and soup always make me feel better, nourishing mind, body, and soul. Dmskrug3(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Libraries and soup both nourish the mind, body and soul.
DeleteI love libraries because that is where the books hang out! I love the book clubs that meet there as well as the author events they have. Going to try your soup recipe! Thanks for sharing! Dspinlexo@aol.com
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you, Dee.
Deletemy husband and i met in library school. i always wanted to be a librarian. my husband makes really good chicken soup
ReplyDeleteChicken soup is especially wonderful when you're ill with a cold.
DeleteI like making soup, especially when it's cold out. And it freezes well.
ReplyDeletesgiden at verizon(.)net
I never have any soup left to freeze, but it's good to know that I can do this. Thanks, Sandy.
DeleteWelcome! Since I learned to read very early, I've always loved libraries. One small problem: when I got my first library card, around age 5, I thought the books I took out were mine to keep, and I stuffed them under the bed. My mother was not pleased!
ReplyDeleteGlad to be here, Sheila. We writers like to be surrounded by books, don't we?
DeleteLibraries are such a great place to discover books and authors that you didn't know existed. minishoes(at)msn(dot)com
ReplyDeleteJill, you are so right!
DeleteMaybe this sounds weird but what I love about libraries is the smell of the books, just something comforting in all those tall shelves and wandering around them. Soup is something else I love, esp. the recipes my dad used to use for his veggie and his chili soups. He's passed but my daughter makes his recipes just like he did! :) barbie17(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLibraries and soups are very comforting to us humans.
DeleteLibraries....a place to find wonderful books to read and a resource for things you'd like to know about. Soup....always a great meal during cold, rainy days or during those cold, wintery months. A real comfort food. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteBoth wonderful. I agree!
DeleteI love the variety of books that you can find on just about any topic in the library. And I love them so much that I became a librarian so that I could be in that environment every day. ioncookbooks(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLucky you, Kelly! Surrounded by books every day.
DeleteI love libraries. They are of course a great place for research when you are in school, or working on your family tree or a new business/project. They provide programs for children and adults in the community. However my favorite thing about libraries are the books I read for pleasure. Being on a budget the library allows me to continue to feed my love of reading which otherwise I could not do. I have a couple of libraries my daughter and I go to pretty regularly plus my online library (I always have something checked out there). I even got my mom to renew her library card this week.
ReplyDeleteAnd now they have ebooks for us to read, though I have yet to take out one of those.
DeleteWhat is there to NOT love about libraries. BOOKS. Hundreds of BOOKS. And if they don't have? They talk to their sister libraries and if they don't have and there are enough requests for? They buy. And the things you can look up. Knowledge at your fingertips. Our library recently expanded. (Way past time) They built a new one with floor to ceiling windows. And all the amenities. I love sitting by the fireplace with a book in an overstuffed comfy chair and read. As long as they are open of course. They have audio and video collections as well. And are hooked up to the internet. I have health issues. And if I can't go in. I can order and they will bring them out to the curb. Where I used to live the library would mail them to you. This one does not have the means for that. But they try to accommodate as best they can. The soup recipe looks good. I did write it down. For a friend. I'm not much on soups. I am looking forward to reading the book. Love 'meeting' new authors and reads. A breath of fresh air. Della at deepotter (at) peoplepc (dot) com
ReplyDeleteI love to take out movies from my library. They get a wonderful selection of foreign and indy films.
DeleteI love everything about libraries: the books, the computer lab, the special events. I'm much less picky about libraries than I am about soups! mbradeen@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThen you must try this gazpacho recipe!
DeleteI love the library. I have found a lot of authors I like just by picking up a book at the library. Way to many authors to buy all the books. We love soup at my house. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteim2early4u(at)gmail(dot)com
You're most welcome, Leslie!
DeleteI love libraries as they are passports to anywhere you want to go. I also enjoy soup comforting , filling, healthy and soooo good. Candykennedy45@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteBoth great for the soul!
DeleteLove library series...one of my favorite spots to spend time away...thanks for the great soup recipe...I have just started to make soups for thr fall season....cmeier2001@live.com
ReplyDeleteI started making soups a few years ago. So glad I did.
DeleteI love libraries because they offer everybody a chance to read. They also offer so much more. A quiet place, internet access, and someone to help with just about anything you need. I visit my library at least once a week.
ReplyDeletemoonbay7399@gmail.com
Yes! Quiet and help. Two wonderful ingredients for our busy lives.
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