Everything is thoughtfully crafted to make Larkspur the perfect fictional destination.
It’s hard to deny the beauty of autumn in Wisconsin and there’s no better place to enjoy the season than at the Larkspur Fall Festival. Thanks to an exclusive feature in a regional tourism magazine, this year’s event will be extra special for the charming little town. With preparations for the festival, a heavy workload at the library, and all the usual small-town hustle and bustle, Library Director Greta Park has her capable hands full. Excitement is in the air as news of the journalist’s visit is circulated, but his timing couldn’t be worse. An unfortunate spree of vandalism is one thing, but the knaveries don’t end there. Flora is desecrated and some of the fauna suffers a worse fate. Squabbles among the locals seem to be escalating. And a respected public figure is found dead in the public square. Coincidence? Maybe, but Greta is too taken by Larkspur to allow its reputation to be maligned and too curious to ignore the facts. Plus, she’s pretty good at sussing out the suspects, even if the town’s detective wishes she would leave things to him. Greta’s career is based on managing all the words and stories kept in Larkspur, but word travels fast in a small town. There might be a murderer on the loose, but leave it to passionate Greta to help weed out the troublemakers, bring order to the chaos, and stand up for the town she loves.
By their nature, good cozy mysteries are lighthearted and fun to read, but Leah Dobrinska elevates this delightful novel with wit, wordplay, and enough cloak-and-dagger shenanigans to satisfy even the most demanding mystery lover. The only predictable element to be found is an abundance of skillful misdirection! Whether it is the fluidity of the story, the appeal of the characters, the warmth of the town, or the tenacity of Greta, everything is thoughtfully crafted to make Larkspur the perfect destination. From the well-loved train table in the children’s department of the library to the fervor shown by fans at a Homecoming football game, the scenes are so familiar that you might just forget the town is fictional. With an insatiable curiosity and tireless enthusiasm, Greta is the ideal dabbling sleuth. As her relationship with Detective Mark McHenry evolves, audiences are treated to a tantalizing taste of what could be and are left yearning for future stories set in this inviting lakeside haven. If you’re eager to spend time with your nose in a terrific book, you’ll appreciate being welcomed into a wonderful circle of friends and whisked into the heart of a vibrant story in Mayhem In Circulation.
