The Library: Where Life Checks Out (American Haunts)

✍ Scribed by Carmen DeSousa

• Publisher: Carmen DeSousa Books;Smashwords Edition
• Year: 2014
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 117 KB
• Category: Fiction
• ISBN: 0989905098

✦ Synopsis

In 1934, the body of a beautiful, but poor young woman was found alongside a riverbank near The Depot. Beaten to a pulp, only recognizable by a tattoo on her ankle, and yet, days after the discovery, the story all but disappears.

Eighty years later, locals claim The Depot is haunted. But in all the years homicide detective Mark Waters has visited the historic 1800s train station turned restaurant, he's never seen proof. Until now.

As he sifts through evidence of a supposed suicide by train, he learns a murder that took place eighty years ago may directly affect his case.

Six months after the strange occurrences at The Depot, there’s another murder. This time, The Library holds secrets of several murders, and the dead won’t rest until the murderer checks out too.

Note: The Library (Where Life Checks Out) is a 50k-word follow-up novel to The Depot (When Life and Death Cross Tracks), which is included in this special edition so readers who haven't read The Depot won't miss anything.

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Review

"Based on a real life ghost story ... Carmen DeSousa unveils the mystery of the haunting with a compelling tale of murder, betrayal, and resolution. ... Great story. A leisurely read with lots of emotional content. -- Sandy Penny, Founder of SweetMysteryBooks.com"

From the Author

Full Book Description: In 1934, the body of a beautiful, but poor young woman was found alongside a riverbank near The Depot. Beaten to a pulp, only recognizable by a tattoo on her ankle, and yet, days after the discovery, the story all but disappears.

Eighty years later, locals claim The Depot is haunted. But in all the years homicide detective Mark Waters has visited the ancient train station turned restaurant, he's never seen proof. Until now.

As he sifts through evidence of a supposed suicide by train, he learns a murder that took place eighty years ago may directly affect his case.

Six months after the strange occurrences at The Depot, there's another murder. This time, The Library holds secrets of several murders, and the dead won't rest until the murderer checks out too.

My personal experience: In 1989, I worked at a restaurant in Rockledge, Florida called Ashley's Cafe. Although fictional, my idea for The Depot and The Library stemmed from the ghost who haunts the 1930s tavern.

My fascination with the restaurant came about the first night I served as the restaurant's general manager. I'd worked there for almost two years and had never heard or saw a thing, but my first night in my new position was a different story. It's been so long, I barely remember all that happened, but one thing that I'll never forget is one of those large oval trays--that can't possibly balance on its side--came sliding across the floor at me. Also, a five-gallon bucket of water spilled across the floor when no one was near it. Maybe the ghost was just reminding me who was boss.

But the most nerve-wracking occurrences throughout the years were the number of employees--including myself--who felt as though someone had pushed them down the service stairs.

My husband--who happened to be a police officer at the time--also got to hear all the stories from the other officers who'd searched the café in the middle of the night because of alarm calls. Unfortunately, he doesn't have any stories, but the detective's account in The Depot is based off several officers whom my husband knew and trusted.

Since I'd always been interested in the supernatural, I looked up the woman's death who supposedly haunts Ashley's via microfilm from the old library in Cocoa, Florida.

At the time of her death, it was on record as one of the most heinous murders in Florida's history. The murderer had gone through great lengths to conceal the woman's identity, including smashing out all her teeth, cutting off her fingers, and burning her body. According to witnesses, the woman had been dating someone from power and wealth. And to my surprise, when I looked forward past a few days, the story had all but disappeared. Weeks later, nothing! Think about that! One of the most shocking crimes in Florida's history in the thirties, and the newspapers drop the story.

Yeah...things that make you say, "Hmmm...."

So, there you have it. While my story is fictional, there is a ghost story. Look inside for links to the real-life ghost story.

Happy Reading!

Carmen