Death Checked Out: A Larkspur Library Mystery

Disclosure: I received a free arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“There's no way there could have been a murder in this idyllic little town. Right?”

Wrong. 

After a bit of a rocky start, I enjoyed Death Checked Out. It sure hit a lot of the cozy mystery marks – murder, a small town, a job involving books, and a cat. Oh, a main character who likes to snoop in ways I don't have the courage to emulate. 

I have to say the start of the Death Checked out concerned me. The writing seemed stilted, and everything was told and over-explained. I wasn't really enthused with the first chapter, but it felt like the author really got her feet underneath her, and everything flowed better.
I could nitpick word usage now and again. The quote I began with is not something I see anyone saying non–ironically, but it turned out to be a small issue as I got into the story. 
 
Greta was a quite likeable main character, and I found her to be really sympathetic, especially when encountering friends in peril. Being a mystery, this happened a fair amount. I felt sadness about the murder victim, as well as a potential romance that was nipped in the bud as a result. 

The small town midwest setting on a lake is pretty spot on. My credentials are I live in a small town where you can't throw a rock without hearing a splash a state over from the setting off this book. Greta explains quite convincingly and accurately how nothing is a secret, although she has a more benevolent outlook on her neighbors, at least for a while, than I do mine. Well, some of them. 

Greta does tend to tell everyone everything anyhow. Everyone. Everything. 

The detective investigating the case is set up to be a love interest, and I'm sorta here for it. They have nice chemistry, and I'd like to know more of his back story in future books, which I'm planning to read. 

I figured out who done it instantly, as well as who else not to trust. I might be a genius. No, seriously, I think I've just read enough books that it popped out for me. 

The book definitely ticks off the “sweet” or “clean” box. I don't like those terms, and it's not something I particularly seek out, but if that's what you like, here is a book for you. What I mean is that I think there's 0 swearing, and the potential romance isn't spicy not even in thought, let alone deed.

This is probably a 3.5 read for me that I'm rounding up to 4 because I can't deny I'm looking forward to the next installment. I can't give it higher because of that rocky beginning and a few small issues with the prose. And the title doesn't thrill me. Cover's cute! 

If you are looking to spend time with the start of a very nice cozy series with a likeable heroine, a peaceful setting – when the bodies aren't racking up – a cat named Biff, and a stoic detective/cutie, I can recommend this.

When I agreed to review Mayhem in Circulation, the second book in the Larkspur Library series, I knew I needed to read Death Checked Out first to get the lay of the land.  What I got was a bunch of interesting characters, an idyllic small-town setting and a library!  Ok, and a pretty darn well-crafted mystery.

I found Greta quite likeable and a pretty capable amateur sleuth.  Yes, she bumbled around a little, but as it was her first foray into sleuthing, I wasn't too bothered by it.  As a librarian, she has a pretty organized mind and loved flexing her researching muscles.  I liked her interactions with her co-workers and friends, and I'm interested to see if anything comes of the sparks between her and the new detective in town.

The mystery was pretty solid.  I figured it out before the reveal, but only in general terms, I didn't get the whole why of the situation.  That said, as I often complain in cozy mysteries, I wasn't a fan of the reveal.  Greta was close to solving it and then is being confronted by the murderer.  I just wish she figured it out first.  But in the end, it didn't matter since it still made for a good mystery.

This is my first book by Leah Dobrinska, but it won't be my last.  I enjoyed the characters, setting and mystery.  There was just enough world building, but the murder plot wasn't lost in the shuffle and for that I was thankful.  I'm looking forward to reading Mayhem in Circulation.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Cute cover on this book!

I thought this was a thoroughly entertaining cozy. Lovely small town setting. Engaging plot that kept me guessing. It had a great cast of characters. I loved that the main characters were librarians and that the library is heavily featured in the story. I though Greta was very likable. I even liked the “smidge” of romance tension between Greta and the new sheriff. Was it perfect, no? But first books in series usually have some growing pains. I am definitely excited to see what this author has in store for us in the next installment.