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danadoesbooks's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Thank you Level Best Books and NetGalley for the eARC of Mayhem in Circulation! All opinions in this review are my own.
Mayhem in Circulation is the second book in the Larkspur Library Mysteries series. While I liked the first book, Death Checked Out, this sequel has so much happen in it and has so many twists that you have to check it out! I ended up reading this one in three days because I couldn't put it down!
Set in the small town of Larkspur, the local librarian Greta is preparing for the Fall Festival when a disaster strikes. Greta must find who is behind all of the recent crimes in Larkspur before the town's name is tarnished!
I like that the author writes slightly shocking cozies and each book in the Larkspur Library Mysteries series has been great!
curlyheadedone's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Ok so I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first. Since I was already familiar with the character it was easier to get into the story and this one kept me guessing until the end! I still love the main character Greta. And we the readers get to see her friendship (potential relationship?!?) with Detective McHenry grow in this book.
Was this still a cheesy cozy mystery…100% and that’s what I enjoyed the most about it.
This book was a great addition to the series and I really hope to continues!
Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the digital copy!
I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review
dukefn99's review
medium-paced
4.5
I really enjoyed Death Checked Out by Leah Dobrinska, so I couldn’t wait to dive into Mayhem in Circulation, the second book in the Larkspur Library Mysteries series. Luckily, I didn’t have to wait long to get my fix of the small town of Larkspur, Wisconsin, and its citizens.
Mayhem in Circulation takes place a few weeks following Death Checked Out. The town is preparing to host their annual Fall Festival with the added pressure of a popular Midwest magazine sending a writer to do a feature on the town. But there are a few acts of vandalism, and the mayor turns up dead. Greta and her library co-workers can’t help but want to do their own investigation to save the town’s reputation.
I’ll state up front that I figured out who the murderer was much sooner than Greta, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the mystery. I appreciated all the twists and turns thrown into the story to make it more complex. The author brings in multiple possible villains. Seeing how much dirt was dug up during the investigation was amazing, and I was enjoying the ride.
I really like Greta, the lead of this series, and her two best friends, who are also co-workers at the library. They bring a Nancy Drew, Bess and George vibe that I love. Even their descriptions bring this trio to mind. They’re all smart and bring something different to the table to aid in the sleuthing. And then there’s the emerging romance between Greta and McHenry, the new-to-town detective. It’s fun to watch the two of them circle each other, not sure who should make the first move.
I devoured Mayhem in Circulation in one sitting. The mystery drew me in, and the development of the plot and characters kept me turning the pages. Honestly, if I hadn’t figured out the mystery so easily, this would have been a 5-star read for me—it was that good. I can’t wait to revisit this series in the future.
dollycas's review
lighthearted
mysterious
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
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!
kimdavishb's review
5.0
MAYHEM IN CIRCULATION is the second book in the Larkspur Library Mysteries by Leah Dobrinska. The eye-catching cover invites the reader to enter and the heartwarming cozy mystery with a hint of sweet romance keeps them turning pages. The author has created core characters that readers will love—they are truly nice people, that care about each other, their customers, and their community. Protagonist Greta Plank is the town’s librarian and is lucky enough to have two best friends, Josie and Iris. Together they make a formidable trio, solving the murder of the mayor right before the start of Larkspur’s Fall Festival. The author’s strong descriptive voice brings the town and the festivities to life and I like how she weaves in the age-old debate of pro tourism vs. remaining the same quaint, quiet town.
The mystery is well-plotted and moved at a fast enough pace. I was more invested in getting to know the charming characters (and following the sweet interaction between Greta and McHenry) than I was finding out whodunit. Yet Ms. Dobrinska had the clues in place and enough suspects to keep the armchair detective guessing. I highly recommend this cozy fall-themed mystery while snuggled up in an armchair with a plushy blanket and a mug of hot cocoa!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own
The mystery is well-plotted and moved at a fast enough pace. I was more invested in getting to know the charming characters (and following the sweet interaction between Greta and McHenry) than I was finding out whodunit. Yet Ms. Dobrinska had the clues in place and enough suspects to keep the armchair detective guessing. I highly recommend this cozy fall-themed mystery while snuggled up in an armchair with a plushy blanket and a mug of hot cocoa!
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own
elcie's review
4.0
Such a fun mystery read! I loved this Wisconsin small town, and it's cozy vibes. Perfect read for the Fall season.
Greta and her friends are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to solving the murder in this story. We find a good handful of characters that all had motive, which made this story a real mystery to uncover. I didn't have the killer pinned down until the end of the book.
This was a fun cozy mystery, and what I would call a good pallet cleanser to read in between heavier novels. I enjoyed the strong FMC, and the side characters were uniquely quirky.
I have enjoyed this authors works in the past, and look forward to reading what she puts out next.
Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this book.
Greta and her friends are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to solving the murder in this story. We find a good handful of characters that all had motive, which made this story a real mystery to uncover. I didn't have the killer pinned down until the end of the book.
This was a fun cozy mystery, and what I would call a good pallet cleanser to read in between heavier novels. I enjoyed the strong FMC, and the side characters were uniquely quirky.
I have enjoyed this authors works in the past, and look forward to reading what she puts out next.
Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this book.
charlottemeo's review
3.0
netgalley review
mayhem in circulation is a sequel that follows the female protagonist greta plank, a local librarian, during larkspur's fall festival and regional tourism showcase. the reputation and economy of the town depends on how well the line-up of festivities and events go, as it is under scrutiny by a media presence. greta and the beloved town of larkspur are thrown then when the mayor turns up dead just before the festivities kick off. greta teams up with detective mchenry to figure out who could have possibly committed such a crime in their small, tight-knit town. but will they find out the culprit before it's too late, with the fate of the town hanging in the balance?
this was a sweet and simple small-town cozy murder mystery with autumnal vibes. considering i haven't read the first book in this series, i found the characters and plot very easy to follow, as dobrinska does enough at the beginning to make sure you are well acquainted with everything before we jump into the plot. i can imagine that if you had read the first book, the first 15% of it would've been quite tedious though due to all the recapping. the simple and straight-forward writing style coupled with the short chapters meant that this book flew by very quickly. even though the first 15-20% of the book drags, the pace definitely picks up by the middle, and dobrinska doesn't string out the end either, as is usually particular with books like these. one thing I will say about the writing style is that i don't think it fits with the marketing of the book; based off the age of the characters and the cover design, i assumed this book was targeted for women in their late 20s to early 30s. yet, to me, the writing style was reminiscent of what you'd find in a book targeted at older women.
the plot was a bit silly and the characters' dialogue was a bit clunky at points, but i don't think that really inhibits the book, as it's meant to be a fun, light read. at points, the small-town setting felt a bit mundane and this might have been because of the weak characterisation, but again, i don't think this was meant to be a read that you take too seriously.
overall, despite some weaknesses, this was an enjoyable read that surprised me when i saw how quickly i flew through it.
mayhem in circulation is a sequel that follows the female protagonist greta plank, a local librarian, during larkspur's fall festival and regional tourism showcase. the reputation and economy of the town depends on how well the line-up of festivities and events go, as it is under scrutiny by a media presence. greta and the beloved town of larkspur are thrown then when the mayor turns up dead just before the festivities kick off. greta teams up with detective mchenry to figure out who could have possibly committed such a crime in their small, tight-knit town. but will they find out the culprit before it's too late, with the fate of the town hanging in the balance?
this was a sweet and simple small-town cozy murder mystery with autumnal vibes. considering i haven't read the first book in this series, i found the characters and plot very easy to follow, as dobrinska does enough at the beginning to make sure you are well acquainted with everything before we jump into the plot. i can imagine that if you had read the first book, the first 15% of it would've been quite tedious though due to all the recapping. the simple and straight-forward writing style coupled with the short chapters meant that this book flew by very quickly. even though the first 15-20% of the book drags, the pace definitely picks up by the middle, and dobrinska doesn't string out the end either, as is usually particular with books like these. one thing I will say about the writing style is that i don't think it fits with the marketing of the book; based off the age of the characters and the cover design, i assumed this book was targeted for women in their late 20s to early 30s. yet, to me, the writing style was reminiscent of what you'd find in a book targeted at older women.
the plot was a bit silly and the characters' dialogue was a bit clunky at points, but i don't think that really inhibits the book, as it's meant to be a fun, light read. at points, the small-town setting felt a bit mundane and this might have been because of the weak characterisation, but again, i don't think this was meant to be a read that you take too seriously.
overall, despite some weaknesses, this was an enjoyable read that surprised me when i saw how quickly i flew through it.
megdobrinska's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jkjoy_books's review
4.0
3.5
This cozy mystery will captivate readers with its relaxing atmosphere that lingers from the very beginning till the end. While some may find the pacing a bit slow and subdued, it was a good read.
One of the highlights of this book is the charming setting of Northern Wisconsin during the vibrant autumn season, which adds an extra layer of warmth and coziness to the overall reading experience. Additionally, the choice of a librarian as the main character adds a unique and intriguing element to the story.
Overall, despite the slower pace, I enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend it to fellow book lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
This cozy mystery will captivate readers with its relaxing atmosphere that lingers from the very beginning till the end. While some may find the pacing a bit slow and subdued, it was a good read.
One of the highlights of this book is the charming setting of Northern Wisconsin during the vibrant autumn season, which adds an extra layer of warmth and coziness to the overall reading experience. Additionally, the choice of a librarian as the main character adds a unique and intriguing element to the story.
Overall, despite the slower pace, I enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend it to fellow book lovers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
bookrechargingstation's review
3.75
Thank you to Netgalley and Level Best Books for this ARC!
I had a lot of fun ready this cozy mystery, and will definitely be reading more books by Leah Dobrinska
All of the characters are so lovable and the blooming romance between Greta and McHenry is to die for!
My only gripe with this book was that it wasn't quite as intense as I'd hoped it would be. Which does make sense for a cozy mystery, but I still wish they'd spent a bit more time on every exciting event that happens, instead of moving on as quickly as they did
All in all, I seriously enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it!
I had a lot of fun ready this cozy mystery, and will definitely be reading more books by Leah Dobrinska
All of the characters are so lovable and the blooming romance between Greta and McHenry is to die for!
My only gripe with this book was that it wasn't quite as intense as I'd hoped it would be. Which does make sense for a cozy mystery, but I still wish they'd spent a bit more time on every exciting event that happens, instead of moving on as quickly as they did
All in all, I seriously enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it!