“Noir @ the Bar: The Undead Edition” will creep into Blue Pants Brewery on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m., sponsored by Madison Public Library. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison Public Library will reprise this summer’s successful premiere of a fundraiser that’s fun with its ghastly Halloween version, “Noir @ the Bar: The Undead Edition.”

Blue Pants Brewery at 500 Lanier Road in Madison will host the event on Oct. 21, with music starting at 6 p.m. and macabre mystery following at 7 p.m. The event combines 1940s’ noir mystery with zombies and vampires, plus prizes and craft beer.

“We’re going all-out to top our first Noir @ the Bar,” branch manager Sarah Sledge said. “We’ll have live music, prizes and undead noir trivia contests. Of course, you’ll find great beer from Blue Pants Brewery and food from the Food Fighters Busteraunt.”

Local mystery authors Michael Guillebeau and Kathleen Cosgrove, “both of whom are still alive,” will read dramatized stories of undead detectives, Sledge said. “Buy one of their books, and they will sign the book and buy you a beer.”

“We’ve got some funny, dark, weird stuff from Mike and Kathleen, and we’re going to give audience members a chance to join in and change Kathleen’s story as it goes along,” Sledge said. Live music will alternate with readings by Guillebeau and Cosgrove.

From Nashville, Cosgrove is a former professional comedian; her first book, “Engulfed,” “is a hilarious Florida-weird detective story,” Sledge said. “Madison’s own Michael Guillebeau has written ‘A Study in Detail’ and ‘Josh Whoever,’ a Falchion Award finalist.”

“Wear an ‘authentic’ undead noir costume to the speakeasy, and maybe you’ll win the prize for the best costume,” Sledge said. Nourish Beyond Paleo Bakery will give prizes for “Best Undead Noir Guy,” “Best Undead Noir Doll” and “Best Undead Noir Gang.” “And their carrot cake muffins are fantastic.”

A portion of all food and beverage sales will go to the Madison Public Library. “So bring a gat and an undead dame to Blue Pants Brewery on Oct. 21,” Sledge said.

For more information, visit Facebook/Noir @ the Bar.