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New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 278 p. A Larkspur Library Mystery, 1. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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Death Checked Out by Leah Dobrinska is the debut of A Larkspur Library Mysteries. Greta Plank is a woman who has a cheery attitude (she wears rose colored glasses because she wants to ignore anything bad or negative). She enjoys living in Larkspur. It is a fresh start for Greta. She moved to Larkspur to get away from her ex-boyfriend (the louse). Greta likes the small town where everyone knows you and gossip spreads faster than maple syrup on hot flapjacks. I enjoyed getting to know the town and its residents. Larkspur reminds me of Stars Hollow. There is a lack of character development. I wish the author had spent more time fleshing out the characters, especially Greta. I thought it was odd considering everything else is overexplained. I thought the dialogue was awkward and expected. The mystery was straightforward. Greta finds her neighbor dead. It looks like an accident at first blush, but Detective McHenry is quick to find evidence that it was murder. Greta is at the top of Detective McHenry�s suspect list (of course). She feels the only way to clear her name is to find the guilty party. Greta gets help from her fellow librarians Josie and Iris. Greta is told to keep details of the case to herself, but she is quick to share them with everyone she encounters (that is one way of helping the killer stay one step ahead of her). There are a couple of suspects, a red herring, and pointed clues. The whodunit can be solved early in the story (before the murder). I kept hoping for a twist (anything to make the story less predictable). There is a tense reveal. The crime has a good wrap up at the end. I am not a fan of Detective Mark McHenry. I do not know what Greta saw in him (maybe she is a fan of somber, broody men). I found the encounters between Detective McHenry and Greta to be frustrating. Death Checked Out is an okay cozy mystery. It felt like the author was following a cozy mystery formula or checklist. She was making sure to include a nosy main character, a death of someone close to protagonist, a dogged detective, a charming small town, gossip galore, and, of course, a touch of romance. I enjoyed the Nancy Drew references in the story. I also liked how Greta, Josie, and Iris were there for each other (Josie more than Iris). Death Checked Out is an upbeat cozy with Biff the tabby, a librarian in love, a deceased recluse, rampant rumors, a caring community, a determined detective, and a sleuthing librarian.
Lori
Dec 17, 2022
A Fine Start for this Series
Dollycas's Thoughts
In this first Larkspur Library Mystery, we meet Greta Plank. She has come to Larkspur and taken the job as Library Director to restart her life after a family loss. She feels that the little town is a safe place until she finds one of her new friends, her neighbor, and town recluse dead at the foot of his deck stairs. She thinks the wheelchair-bound man's fall was an accident but as the evidence is collected the death is classified as a homicide and Detective Mark McHenry has decided Greta is his prime suspect.
Greta is shocked but decides to quickly prove him wrong by starting her own investigation. She definitely has the education to follow the clues wherever they lead. Unfortunately, the killer is not happy that she is on their trail and makes an effort to stop her permanently. Larkspur sure isn't the town she hoped for and she may have to rethink her options. That is if she lives long enough to have options.
While Greta is the main character in this story and we have just scratched the surface of getting to know her I was drawn right away to her neighbor Franklin Halloway because we have things in common. He is a disabled man who has become a bit of a recluse. It had taken Greta some time to get on the man's good side and become his friend. They both love books, in fact, he has a wonderful rare book collection. Greta visits him often, bringing books he requests from the library, and always takes time to visit with him and his golden Siberian tabby cat Biff. I could identify with him so easily because due to my disability I spend a lot of time in a wheelchair. We also both love books and have no problem being left alone to read and enjoy them. I was really sad that he was the victim in this story because he was a man I would have enjoyed spending a lot more time with.
We also meet Greta's friends and fellow librarians Josie and Iris, her parents, a snooty library board member, and of course Detective Mark McHenry along with several others that come into Greta's life. I really enjoyed meeting Greta's mom Louisa and her friend Lori. Strong Wisconsin woman that I would easily be friends with in real life. The author has left plenty of room for growth and I am excited to see them get more fleshed out as the series continues.
The mystery was well-plotted but I focused on one character really early and came up with a theory that was surprisingly right. Each clue revealed firmed up my thinking. There was another secret reveal that was apparent to me early as well. I did like it when Greta and Detective McHenry started working together. Their meetings gave me a good chuckle. The final reveal was very exciting. It played out in a different and much better way than I thought it would.
I love that this series is set in my home state of Wisconsin. It is easy to see that Ms. Dobrinska also calls this state home because she captures the essence of this fine state and its small towns so well.
Death Checked Out has given this series a fine start. Writing the first book in a cozy mystery series is hard. You have to introduce all the characters and make them characters readers what to know better while wrapping them in a mystery that will those pages turning. I think the author did a great job. I do want to know more about Greta and the residents of Larkspur. I am intrigued to see what she has in store for her characters next.
