The True Mystery: Is it Marilyn Levinson Or Allison Brook?

Step into the world of secrets, sleuths, and small-town charm as we sit down with Marilyn Levinson, who also writes under the pen name Allison Brook. Known for her Haunted Library Mystery series and other spellbinding mysteries, including her newest release, Death on Dickens Island, Marilyn crafts stories that combine intrigue, community, and a touch of coziness.

About Marilyn Levinson & Allison Brook

Our Interview with… Marilyn Levinson (AKA Allison Brook

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You write under both Marilyn Levinson and Allison Brook. How do you mentally switch between these identities when writing? And what made you decide to take on a second pen name?

I was asked to take a pen name by Crooked Lane Books when they agreed to publish the Haunted Library series. And so, the books that I write for them, including my latest, DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND, are written by Allison Brook. Many if not most of my readers know that Allison Brook is me, Marilyn. I don’t have to mentally switch between these two identities when I write because . . . I simply don’t. I have one Facebook identity–Marilyn–one newsletter, one website, all written as Marilyn Levinson.

In the Haunted Library Mysteries, the library and its ghost, Evelyn, feel like central characters. How do you approach crafting settings that feel so alive, and what inspired this particular ghostly dynamic?

The setting for Clover Ridge, the village where my series takes place, is loosely based on a Connecticut town I once visited. I was especially impressed by the town’s large green and the centuries-old buildings that border the green. I set the Clover Ridge Library, housed in a former residence hundreds of years old,  on a corner of the green. However, the interior of the library is loosely based on the library in the town where I live. The Clover Ridge Library’s new extension is purely my creation.

As for Evelyn, though she is dead, she is a character in her own right. Evelyn lived in Clover Ridge; she worked in the library. She had relatives who weren’t very nice people. Evelyn lives on in her relationship with Carrie, whom she begins to see as the daughter she never had. I’d like to add that there’s a ghost in some of my other books–GIVING UP THE GHOST, GETTING BACK TO NORMAL, and my newest mystery, DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND, which comes out  October 21st. In each case, the ghostly character has a role in the novel but can only communicate with my main character.

Carrie Singleton grows in confidence and complexity with each installment. What’s been the most rewarding (or surprising) part of developing her character over the series?

Yes, Carrie has matured over the series of eight books. I love that my readers have enjoyed seeing her grow as well. I loved writing about her relationship with each of her parents as she develops insight and confidence in her personal life. 

In cozy mysteries, motives are often personal and grounded. How do you keep finding fresh reasons for murder that fit within the cozy genre but still surprise readers?

I think jealousy, revenge, monetary gain–oh, and accidental murder cover most reasons why characters are done away with in cozies. What must be unique and fresh is the relationship between the killer and the victim and why it ends in murder. I often include past events and secrets in my books because both appeal to a reader’s curiosity.

Do you have a theme in mind for the next book?

DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND, the first book in my new series, Books on the Beach, takes place on Dickens Island, an island I created that’s situated on Long Island Sound between Long Island, where I live, and Connecticut. Delia Dickens, my sleuth, is a member of the family that settled here. And yes, there’s a ghost–Delia’s grandmother, Helena. 

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer, or did your passion for storytelling develop over time?

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a writer or a ballerina. You know which one won out.:) I even created a pseudonym, but I can’t remember what it was.

What was the first story or piece of writing you remember creating? How has your writing evolved since then?

The first story I wrote that was published in my elementary school’s newspaper was called “Gone Forever.” It was about a girl’s dog getting run over. I no longer write such sad stories.:) But I still write books for kids. Though I’ve written the occasional short story, I tend to write novels.

Can you describe your typical writing routine? Do you have any specific habits or rituals that aid your creative process?

I have a procrastinating type of writing routine, so I end up writing late in the day. Sometimes I wonder how my books get written. What helps is that every day two writing friends and I report what we’ve written. We’re not competitive in the least. In fact, we’re very supportive of one another.

Are you a planner or a “pantser” (writing by the seat of your pants)? How do you approach structuring your stories?

Over the years I’ve become more of a pantser. I always have the beginning part of the book in mind before I start writing. Being a pantser, the story often goes in a direction I hadn’t planned.

How do you develop and bring your characters to life? Are they ever inspired by real people or experiences?

I’m not sure how I do this. My characters are very real to me. They are three-dimensional, with wishes and dreads, past problems and goals. They aren’t inspired by real people. I imagine personal experiences play a role in my writing on a subliminal level.

Do you have a favorite genre or style to write in, or do you enjoy experimenting with different forms of storytelling?

I write cozies, the occasional suspense novel, and books for kids–middle-grade and YA.

Have you ever been inspired by a dream, a conversation, or a fleeting moment to create a story? Please share an example.

The opening of COME HOME TO DEATH, the very first book I wrote that was finally published last year, came to me in a dream. I can still remember it very clearly. My husband, two sons, and I were spending the week at a cottage in Montauk. I had a dream of a young woman being chased on the beach by a man who tells her that her husband is a gambler and owes his boss a lot of money. That became the opening of my book

Do you have a favorite character that you’ve created? What makes this character particularly special to you?

Cameron Leeds, the ghost in GIVING UP THE GHOST, is one of my favorite characters. In life, he was a don Juan and a wheeler-dealer. When Gabbie Meyerson rents his brother’s cottage, Cam appears in ghostly form and asks Gabbie to find out who murdered him. The good thing, Gabbie quickly learns, is that Cam can only manifest in the den.

I’m so fond of Cam because, while he had many faults he also had a good heart. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Carrie arranges a meeting between Cam and Jill, the woman he loves, just before she leaves town to start a new life.

What do you hope your literary legacy will be? How would you like to be remembered as an author?

I hope that my books live on for many years. I am grateful that publishers have re-released almost all of my older books. I hope to be remembered as an author who writes about characters that readers love and remember because of their personalities, actions, and relationships with one another.

Check out Marilyn Levinson’s (AKA Allison Brook) new book: Death on Dickens Island

Delia’s Aunt Reenie and Uncle Brad, both prominent community leaders, are at odds over the sale of a farm and its future use. This has created friction, not only in their marriage, but amongst the citizens of the town. When a young woman, new to the town council and friendly with Brad, is found murdered, everything escalates and reaches a new boiling point.

With Reenie and Brad both suspects in the case and at each other’s throats, the townspeople start to take sides. When the ghost of her grandmother visits her, Delia learns how past events have impacted the present, and it is up to her to expose the farm’s sordid secrets in order to catch a murderer and restore peace to her beloved island.

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