Absolutely brilliant, loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

this is a great cozy mystery. Something a bit lighter that still has a murder or two but doesn't feel too dark. This is the 3rd in a series which I have not read, so I don't know all the back story to the characters, but I didn't feel lost which was nice. There were some elements of romance which is usually not for me, but I felt the author did a good job at not making it to be too much or over done, but fit with the characters and their development. There is a lot of conversation between characters which made me read faster, I did find myself wanting to read on as I did enjoy the story

A Killer Hold is a delightful cozy murder mystery set in a small town, complete with a sprinkle of romance. The story follows Greta, a librarian, and her close-knit community as they navigate the twists and turns of a captivating mystery.

Though this book is part of a series, it works perfectly as a standalone. I hadn’t read the previous books, and I had no trouble diving right into this one.

I really enjoyed this book—murder mysteries sometimes feel stressful, but this one struck the perfect balance. The plot was engaging without the tension you might expect, making it a cozy read that kept me relaxed. The romance isn’t the main focus, but the sweet interactions between Greta and her boyfriend added just enough charm to keep me invested.

The cozy vibes really shone through. The town was adorable, and all the characters were well-developed without overshadowing the storyline. Even though it’s set in spring, it had such a warm feel that it made for a perfect fall read.

I also appreciated the historical aspect at the heart of the story. I’m a fan of historical fiction, and the author’s note at the beginning about the Little Bohemia Lodge Raid was fascinating. I had never heard of it before, but the way it was presented made it really engaging.

Overall, this book is beautifully written, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a low-stakes, stress-free cozy murder mystery.

Thank you Level Best Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book. Any book that has to do with books or a library or reading I will always pick it up. This was such a fun ride. I could relate to the characters and was able to get lost in the book. I forgot I was reading and read this in just a couple sittings. Highly suggest.

**I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of "A Killer Hold" through NetGalley. **

While I have read the first book and have get to read the second book, I thoroughly enjoyed "A Killer Hold" by Leah Dobrinska. She is a very talented author with a gift for beautifully writing several different genres.

Greta, with her entourage of friends and McHenry, did it again. This book was hard to put down, especially when the murder investigation starts and I kept guessing who the suspect would be. Consider me pleasantly surprised when the suspect was actually revealed and taken into custody!

The character developments continue, as does the relationship between Greta Plank and Detective Mark McHenry. I love the flare of their romance, especially one line of the book where Dobrinska writes how a certain male character says, "I'll always go dumpster diving for you." Swoon!

I truly am looking forward to seeing if Dobrinska has another cozy mystery in the works to continue this series. Honestly, I don't see how anyone could go wrong with any of her books and I absolutely do highly recommend them all. Happy reading, fellow readers!

I love love love this series and I hope there are more in this series. There was some really awesome character growth in Greta and once again she finds herself with a new mystery to solve. This book is such a fun cozy mystery and perfect for the Winter time!

This cosy mystery follows library director Greta whilst she is preparing to host the Wisconsin Library Organisation’s annual conference whilst also overseeing a local treasure hunting club researching a gangster trail in the village. Life is busy, but manageable until a body is found outside the local pub and Greta assists in the case to uncover the murderer. Who did it? Is it related to the gangsters? Things aren’t as obvious as it first seems.

This is the third installment in the Larkspur Library Mystery series, however it can be read as a standalone mystery. Dobrinska writes with an easy to understand style that engages you from the first page and I loved the narrator’s voice throughout being conveyed through Dobrinska’s writing. Throughout the book, we are introduced to quite a few characters that did leave me a little confused at who was who and how everyone was related, however this could be because I haven’t read the first two books. That being said, I flew through this book because of the easy to follow plot and I was thrilled that I did not guess the plot twist towards the end.

If you are a fan of “The Thursday Murder Club” series and “The Marlowe Murder Club”, then you will definitely enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. .

I love these librarians so much and wish that I could be part of their crew! As always, this was the perfect cozy mystery set in the most charming of small towns. I especially loved the 1930’s gangster history that this book centred around.

Greta is a modern day Nancy Drew, and I personally think that the girl detective would be proud of her, and swoon over McHenry with the rest of us.

These books are like warm hugs and spooky stories shared amongst friends, and the perfect thing to escape into in fall. I hope that they have more adventures ahead!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first I didn’t realise this was the third in a series so was left a little confused. However, the cozy small town vibes of Larkspur and Gretas witty narration kept me hooked right away. Libraries and Mystery, what more can you ask for in a cozy read. I loved how this just has a dash of romance but it wasn’t overbearing. I was also intrigued until the end and not disappointed by the reveal of the mystery. All in all I had such a fun time and will definitely go back to read the first two instalments when I’m in need of a small town mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing an advanced copy.

"A Killer Hold" is apparently the third book in a Series of Library Mysteries - I had no idea when I started it. However, it did not hinder me in getting to know the setting and our characters.
A Killer Hold is a quick and easy read, the prose is quick to the point and a seasoned reader can manage in a day (as did I).

The story progresses easily, with a few detours left and right with some of the supporting cast. I had a bit of trouble connection with the many many side characters, and i think that is because I have not yet read book 1 and 2 of the series.

My main complaint is that some parts felt more like filler, and did not much contribute to the plot, or were connected to the main plot by the flimsiest thread. The romance part was in my opinion barely there, and the book would have been perfectly fine without a (cop) romance subplot altogether.

My favorite part with the cover was that the depicted kitty cat was not only actually included in the plot, but also played (a very minor) role, and was continouosly mentioned. (Love you, Biff!). There have been way too many books with cats on the covers, only to have not even a single mention of one!

"A Killer Hold" is perfect for everyone who craves the feeling of a warm and cozy afternoon in, ideally with a cat curled up, purring on your lap, and a warm steaming mug in your hand.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC! A Killer Hold will be published on December 3, 2024. 🤍

I didn’t realize A Killer Hold was the third book in the Larkspur Library Mystery series, so I felt confused at the beginning. There wasn’t much explanation for new readers, and it was hard to understand the characters and their relationships.

The plot seemed interesting at first, but there were too many unnecessary parts that made it drag. A lot of scenes felt like filler and made the book less interesting. The mystery was okay, but the slow pacing took away from the excitement. I did enjoy the cozy, small town vibe of Larkspur and the quirky side characters added a nice touch of the story.

If you’ve read the first two books, you might enjoy this one, but for new readers, I’d suggest starting with the earlier books in the series.

This book really surprised me!

Set in a small town, a local librarian stumble into a murder mystery while hosting a librarian conference. The main character, Greta, is no stranger to helping solve mysteries and her and her friends are determine to figure out who the murderer among them is.

This book kept me on my toes the whole time and I wasn’t able to predict who the murder was until right before the big reveal. I’m a big fan of cozy reads and this definitely felt like a cozy murder mystery. The author did a great job at keeping things fun with a bit of romance while also keeping the suspense high.

I received a free copy of, A Killer Hold, by Leah Dobrinska, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in Larkspur Library Mysteries. Greta Plank is a Director at a library, she loves her job, she hosting a conference for the librarians of Wisconsin. When someone is murdered, Great has to solve a murder. This was a nice mystery, an entertaining read.

This series is perfect for you if you enjoy cozy little town settings. Leah never lets you down. I found myself back in Wisconsin. I felt as though I had never left. Some Wisconsin history was vividly brought to life by this tale. There were many suspects, and I was left wondering who did it right up until the very end. I'm excited to see what this series will do in the future. eagerly awaiting the next one.

This was a strong third entry in the Larkspur Library Mystery series. The mystery element worked well overall and was hooked from the first page, it had that element that I enjoyed from the previous two books. The characters were everything that I was looking for and was invested in what was going on with them. I’m excited to read more in this series and from Leah Dobrinska.

The third book in this Wisconsin-set cozy mystery series delivers an engaging blend of history, romance, and suspense. Librarian Greta gets pulled into a murder tied to 1930s gangsters and a hidden treasure, all while her relationship with detective Mark deepens—despite his efforts to keep her out of trouble.

The mystery is well-plotted with twists that kept me guessing, and the historical elements added depth. While Greta’s involvement in the case occasionally felt a bit forced, the familiar cast and character development made up for it.

With moments that were unexpectedly creepy, A Killer Hold is a solid, entertaining addition to the series.

Rating: 4/5
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

A book about it a library and a mystery! Need I say more!? Perfect combo!!! This was a great entertaining read. I enjoyed the mystery and the tension in figuring this one out. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

If you love small town cozies this series is for you. This the 3rd book in the series. Leah does not disappoint. I was transported back to Wisconsin. It was like I never left. This story brought to life some Wisconsin history. Lots of suspects and had me still guessing who did it until the end. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for this series. Can’t wait till the next one.

₊‧ ୨୧ 3 stars rounded up ◞♡
⤿ tysm to netgalley for providing me with this arc!!

this was my first ever arc!! though, it DID somewhat disappoint 🤧🫂… in reality it’s probably a 2.5 star, but i feel like it deserves a higher rating because of it being my first arc XD

the writing was quite easy to read and super fast-paced, while the characters
overall, the CRUMBS of romance were super wholesome and cute and i definitely recommend this book if you want a quick and easy read with some pretty twisty plot twists!! 💌

Greta is no stranger to police investigations. This time, finding crucial evidence and being the detective's girlfriend, getting mixed up in another murder mystery is inevitable.
Usually, the main female character in a cozy mystery gets in a lot of trouble, tries to solve the murder on their own, and makes questionable decisions that put her in danger.
I loved how Greta is so levelheaded, smart, and honest. She doesn't beg for gossip, she invites people to go directly to the police if they have information, and she lets the law enforcement officers deal with dangerous situations.
Did I mention the hazelnut lattes and delicious snacks? I was tempted to go to a coffee shop several times while reading this volume.