A bookshop mystery with a wisecracking ghost, two cases, and plenty of cozy charm
Goodreads |The Ghost and the Dead Librarian
Release date: September 29, 2026
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Synopsis:
A Library Journal “Mystery Pick of the Month” In an utterly charming new mystery from New York Timesbestselling author Cleo Coyle, a smalltown 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. Then another body drop and 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.
Review:
I went into The Ghost and the Dead Librarian thinking I was starting a brand new series. Technically, it launches the Haunted Bookshop Detective Mysteries, but Pen and Jack have already shared nine adventures in Cleo Coyle’s Haunted Bookshop world. I could follow this mystery and get to know the characters without trouble, though I did occasionally feel like I’d walked into a conversation with a rich backstory I hadn’t heard yet. If you’re particular about reading series in order, I’d start with the earlier books. That said, I had such a fun time with this one. Pen owns a small Rhode Island bookshop, and Jack is the wisecracking ghost of a 1940s private investigator who helps her investigate. Their rapport was easily my favorite part: they have wonderful chemistry, a great sense of humor, and the kind of banter that made me want more time with them.
There’s plenty to dig into, too. The death of an eccentric librarian gives Pen and Jack a present day mystery, while Jack also draws Pen into one of his old cases. I liked having both threads in play, and the ghostly element gives the story its own personality without becoming scary or overwhelmingly supernatural. It’s a charming, engaging mystery with just the right amount of otherworldly fun.
Coyle’s storytelling really worked for me. Even with my wish that I’d met these characters earlier, I was entertained throughout, and knowing how many more books she’s written makes me excited to explore her backlist.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Bookshop mysteries with a paranormal twist
- Funny, affectionate sleuthing duos
- Ghost stories that aren’t scary
- Present day cases with mysteries from the past
- Cozy mysteries with a touch of detective noir
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
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