This was such a fun continuation for the series. I loved all the gangster references and the progression of this murder mystery. I do wish we had more of McHenry in this one; I feel like he didn't have as much page time as he has in the past two books and I've really enjoyed their relationship too. Overall, another good mystery from our librarian sleuth!

A cute, cozy mix of mystery and romance, with a bit of a thriller and history element as well. The main character is likable and interesting enough to make you want to stick around for the end of the novel.

I have not read the previous 2 books in this cozy mystery series so I was hoping I could read Book #3 without reading the first two. The plot was very intriguing with some red herrings - though I had the killer pegged early on. I also enjoyed the small town setting. I look forward to reading the first two books of the series to see how it all started.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I read this E-ARC book in exchange for an honest review

This is the third book in the Larkspur Library mysteries and, I'll be honest, when I started this I wasn't aware it was mid way though a series. This didn't make a difference though, I didn't feel I was missing anything but I'd like to go back and read the first two, other than a a few little things like was McHenry the love interests first or last name?
The characters were well described and distinguishable, even in this already established ensemble cast. It met the standard requirement of the cozy murder that the person who died was no one who would be missed and the town was as much of a character as the people. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to reading the rest soon.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm a librarian and the portrayal of Greta in this book made me feel like I was back at work! I also love the close-knit, small-town vibes we get in this book and I felt like each of her relationships with the other characters was well fleshed out. I especially fell for our male lead as this is the third book and the romance was already underway and very sweet to read.

The mystery in this was compelling and fun to follow along and solve. I love that you can piece the clues along with Greta and make your own guess at the killer without it coming too far out of left field. I had a hunch of who it was but the details escaped me so the reveal was still satisfying.

Overall, an enjoyable cozy mystery with a good dose of romance. I’d recommend it to anyone that loves a book about books or a simple mystery/romance. I gave this 3.5 stars as it often reminded me of work when Greta was going about her librarian life otherwise this would be a solid 4 star read!

I came across this ARC and I was immediately attracted to the cover art and the concept of the story. Though once I started I realised this was the third book in the series it didn't feel like I missed anything major with the characters to make me stop reading.

The whole time I was reading this I got cozy small town vibes very much like Gilmore Girls/Virgin River. The story kept me hooked all the way to the end and even though I had picked who the killer/villain was it didn't bother me because of how it played out in the book.

Will definitely look for more books by Lea Dobrinska!!

I enjoyed this book, it was a nice cozy mystery and I’m excited to read more of Leah’s work. We have purchased this book for our library.

Literary Cozy Mystery featuring a Wisconsin library director who turns sleuth after a treasure-hunting club member turns up dead leaving behind a book marked with peculiar notations.

5/5 stars: This is the third entry in Dobrinska's Larkspur Library Mysteries series which is a Literary Cozy Mystery that takes place in Wisconsin and features a library director who investigates the death of a library board president and treasure-hunting club member. In addition, she agrees to decipher peculiar notations found in a book owned by the deceased. Juggling hosting duties for the Wisconsin Library Organization’s annual conference, she also looks into shady doings at the deceased’s jewelry shop, a visiting author acting suspiciously and a discovery the victim made that's linked to a notorious gangster. After decoding the book markings, she discovers someone ready to kill again to keep the past and it's secrets buried. With plenty of twists and turns, Dobrinska has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Dobrinska's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. I particularly love Greta's library colleagues and her friend (and sleuthing) group. It's also great to check in with all the fine folks of Larkspur and I really like seeing Greta and McHenry, her detective beau, continue with their relationship. And of course, there's Greta's adorable Siberian cat, Biff. I also very much appreciated learning about the history of gangsters and their activities in Northern Wisconsin. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick out book one, Death Checked Out.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

A Killer Hold

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“ Spring has sprung, and with it, a full line-up of programming at Larkspur Community Library. Director Greta Plank is preparing to host the Wisconsin Library Organization’s annual conference—and dreading the arrival of her ex-boyfriend—while also helping a local treasure-hunting club coordinate a showcase highlighting Northern Wisconsin’s gangster trail and the nearby hideouts of the notorious criminals of the early twentieth century.”

Wow this addition to the series did not disappoint! The mystery in this book was wonderful. I loved every minute of reading it and sad when it was over. I am loving the character development in the bigger picture plot. These books make me want to live in Larkspur. Highly recommend this book and the whole series.

I accidentally stumbled on this series with an ARC of the second book on Net Galley and loved it so much I had to go back to read the first book. Needless to say, I was anxiously waiting for the third book to become available here and it didn't disappoint. Dobrinska continues her streak of cozy library mysteries that are both easy to read and incredibly compelling. It was nice to get the culmination of the foreshadowing of Greta's ex and his role in the investigation kept things fresh.

A Killer Hold by Leah Dobrinska is a gripping, fast-paced mystery that had me hooked from the first page. The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the very end. The characters are well-developed, and the suspense builds perfectly throughout the story. I especially appreciated how the author balances the tension with moments of real emotion, making the stakes feel even higher. I anticipate this book being a big hit with our library patrons, especially those who love thrilling mysteries with unexpected twists. If you're into stories that keep you on the edge of your seat, this one’s definitely worth checking out!

Greta and her fellow librarians are on the case when they find a local woman dead. A little local history, a decades old mystery and a betrayal by a friend. Another fun installment in this series.

This cosy murder mystery is a breath of fresh air, I loved everything about it and it made no difference that I hadn’t read the previous books, because I was able to fall into the world so easily. It’s five stars from me. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

I didn’t realize this was the third book in a series, but I could still read and understand it as a standalone book. I was excited to read a book about libraries, librarians, and a mystery, but this book didn’t keep my attention. Greta, the main character, is a librarian and is hosting a library conference in her small town. When a murder happens at the start of the conference week and a mystery about gangsters dating back to the 1930s unfolds, Greta finds herself caught up in the mystery and trying to solve the crime.
I felt like I didn’t really know or relate to the characters, but maybe that would have been different if I had read the other 2 books first. There also seemed to be a lot of characters, so I was trying to keep them all straight. It was hard without much character development. The mystery had some twists and turns and the romance was clean and wholesome but not totally necessary. I felt like there were a lot of unnecessary details and a lot of filler information that didn’t add to the story. The lead-up to the climax felt a bit rushed, and I was left wanting some more closure at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun little mystery. I appreciate the librarians as detectives themes in it. I might have liked it more if I had read the first two books.

Oh my gosh, this book so fun! A top tier mystery for sure!

I've been following this series since the first book came out and I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on the third installment - A Killer Hold, and I was not disappointed.

Dobrinska weaves the kind of mystery that makes you feel like you're reading a grown up Nancy Drew, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you intrigued and gasping out loud with each reveal. I particularly enjoyed the buried treasure aspect of the mystery, it added some whimsy to the story that was fresh and unique. The fact that the buried treasure aspect of the story was based on real events made it even more engaging and exciting.

A Killer Hold had the biggest romantic subplot yet in this series and I was absolutely here for it. Every scene with Greta & McHenry had me squealing and kicking my feet! He’s a fantastic counterpart to her, supportive & protective without being stifling or controlling. I can’t wait to see where their story goes.

This was a five star read for me and blew my expectations completely out of the water! If you love cozies rooted in real life events and a little bit of romance, this is the story for you!

❤️ Librarian Sleuth
❤️ Detective love interest
❤️ mystery rooted in real history
❤️ search for buried treasure
❤️ Nancy Drew vibes
❤️ strong female friendships
❤️ solving a murder
❤️ stand alone mystery
❤️ clean (no foul language & no spice)
❤️ cozy small town setting

A Killer Hold is a must read this year! Thank you to Net Galley, Level Best Books, and Leah Dobrinska for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

I am not a series type of gal. With that said yes I have read popular books that are but almost always they are finished so I can hop right along and never forgot characters and plots that carry through them.
Although with this series for me they just keep getting better. Could it be that these trio of friends and librarians are what I imagine my life to be while living in a small town? Yeah we are gonna go with that!
Who also doesn’t love planning a huge convention to show up your lying and cheating, stuck up ex while showing off your hot new boyfriend and getting wrapped up in solving a murder?

Greta is back and this time Greta and her friends are hosting the Wisconsin Library Organization's annual conference. Greta has been working non-stop to make sure this conference goes off without a hitch while avoiding her ex-boyfriend who she hasn't seen since leaving Green Bay. Everything is going well, until a woman is found murdered next to Bobber's Bar. Blythe was part of the local treasure hunting club and is believed to have a secret discovery that she planned to announce at the showcase this weekend. Was her murder related to an infamous gangster from the past?

I love this cozy mystery series. I devoured the first two books in a week and was excited to dive right into A Killer Hold. The historical significance that was imbedded into the murder mystery was intriguing and I was excited to see that it was based off of true events that was stated in the author's notes. My only disappointment with this book was the relationship with the Detective and Greta. Although we get to learn more about the Detective's past, I wish there was a little more romance between the two in this story. I am hoping that their relationship continues to grow in the next book of this series.

A Killer Hold is out December 3rd.

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for the opportunity to review A Killer Hold. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The perfect cosy mystery! I didn’t realise this was book 3 in the series so I’ll be running to buy books 1&2 now! Highly recommend for a cosy autumn read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

If you like a cozy mystery, this book is for you. The main character, Greta, is the head librarian for a small-town library. She discovers a murder and becomes involved in the investigation. The mystery is engaging enough, the characters are likable and funny. I’m a sucker for puns and a lover of books, so I found the humor in the book to be entertaining. Upon discovering this was the third book in a series, I did go back and read the first two before beginning this book. I would recommend you do the same, just so you know the characters and relationships. The only thing I would have liked a bit more of is the romance aspect in the book. The investigation tended to overshadow the parts of the book that dealt with romantic relationships. Overall, A Killer Hold is a cute, cozy mystery and a quick read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.