Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am delighted to share my thoughts about Mayhem in Circulation: A Larkspur Library Mystery by Leah Dobrinska today!
Mayhem in Circulation: A Larkspur Library Mystery
by Leah Dobrinska
About Mayhem in Circulation
Mayhem in Circulation: A Larkspur Library Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher : Level Best Books (December 5, 2023)
Paperback : 262 pages
ISBN-10 : 1685124550
ISBN-13 : 978-1685124557
Digital ASIN : B0CFWCJ92S
Librarian Greta Plank is hard at work planning and preparing for Larkspur’s Fall Festival and regional tourism showcase which, if successful, will be a boon to the local economy. But disaster strikes and chances of a positive review look slimmer than a periodical’s spine when a series of pranks escalates and one of Larkspur’s own is found dead the same day the reporter is set to arrive.
Desperate to defend her town’s character and get to the bottom of the circulating mayhem, Greta begins indexing suspects. Could the crimes be an outside job, undertaken by someone intent on harming the town’s reputation? Or is someone closer to home trying to ruin Larkspur from the inside?
With destruction of property, sabotage, and strange animal mishaps piling up on top of murder, Greta wouldn’t recommend this ‘choose your own (disastrous) adventure’ to anyone. In the end, she must decide who she can trust so she can close the book on these crimes before the shadowy vandal authors another kill.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this second Larkspur Library Mystery, the small Wisconsin town is gearing up for its Fall Festival. The stakes are high because a tourism journalist from Midwest Now is attending the event. A positive review from him could mean a boost to the economy when new tourists see it and flock to Larkspur. But concerns for a good review look bleak when Larkspur Lane and the municipal complex are vandalized and a dead body is found.
Soon Librarian Greta Plank is on the case. Did the victim have enemies? or did the killer want to mar the town’s image to keep tourists away? or was there some other motive for the murder and the destruction? She and her friends and fellow librarians, Josie and Iris, team up to find the truth. They want to throw the book at the killer before more murder and mayhem happens in Larkspur.
Greta is a strong protagonist and amateur sleuth. I love the relationships she has throughout the community especially the strong bond that she, Josie, and Iris have. I like that the author is giving time for Greta’s and Detective McHenry’s relationship to bloom. I also liked that her parents came to town for the festival and she had them to lean on when the mayhem got personal. Ms. Dobrinska has created genuine true-to-life characters, I could walk out of my Wisconsin home and easily meet the same kind of people who care for their community and have huge hearts to take up any worthy cause.
The author plotted out a grand mystery with several suspects, twists, turns, and red herrings. She also included a very surprising incident that shook up everything. It changed my thinking completely. I was on the entirely wrong track and just between you and me, I love when that happens. It added extra excitement to my reading as I tried to quickly figure out which important clue I missed. The event also culminated excitingly. I truly was on the edge of my seat.
Being from Wisconsin like the author I appreciate her attention to detail. Her descriptions of Larkspur’s places, people, beautiful fall foliage, and the leaves’ rustle make me look forward to the season. I enjoy watching the leaves put on the color show each year and the beauty it can be against the sandstone bluffs as you travel the state and the woods galore as you continue north. Leaf peeping tours are popular here in the fall, as are fall festivals and this book gives you a good idea of why.
Mayhem in Circulation takes readers on a delightful little vacation to the small lakeside town of Larkspur. The residents were friendly, the mystery was intriguing, and the setting was ideal. I am already planning for my next visit. Bring on book 3 Ms. Dobrinska. I can’t wait!
About Leah Dobrinska
Leah Dobrinska is the author of the Fall In Love romcom series, the Larkspur Library Mysteries, a cozy mystery series set in the Wisconsin Northwoods, and the Mapleton novels, a series of award-winning standalone small town romances. She earned her degree in English Literature from UW-Madison where she was awarded the Dean’s Prize and served as a Writing Fellow. She has since worked as a freelance writer, editor, and content marketer. As a kid, she hoped to grow up to be either Nancy Drew or Elizabeth Bennet. Now, she fulfills that dream by writing mysteries and love stories.
A sucker for a good sentence, a happy ending, and the smell of books—both old and new—Leah lives out her very own happily ever after in a small Wisconsin town with her husband and their gaggle of kids. When she’s not writing, handing out snacks, or visiting the local library, Leah enjoys reading and running. Find out more about Leah, join her newsletter community, and connect with her through her website, leahdobrinska.com.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Thank you so much for reading and sharing such a lovely review, Lori! I’m thrilled to hear your enjoyed Mayhem, and I can’t wait to share book three with you!
Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading.
Sounds good.
You are a new author to me. I am asking my library to carry your books.
Sounds like a book I would really enjoy reading. Looking forward to reading the book.
What an intriguing mystery! Librarians are great detectives. I have added this book to my tbr list and look forward to reading about Greta.