Review - Read to Death at the Lakeside Library

I hadn't read any cozy mysteries with a lake setting and thus this lake location plus a librarian really appealed to me.  This is the third in the series, but I had no trouble picking it up and understanding the people and events.  So join me on a trip to a small lakeside town in Wisconsin. 

Author: Holly Danvers

Copyright: August 2023 (Crooked Lane Books) 288 pgs

Series: 3rd in Lakeside Library Mysteries

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Rain Wilmot, owner of the Lakeside Library

Setting: Modern day, Lofty Pines, Wisconsin

Obtained Through: Publisher (via Netgalley) for honest review

Book Blurb:  "Summer is in full swing as tourists flock back to the Northwoods and travel to Lofty Pines, Wisconsin. For Rain Wilmot, owner of the Lakeside Library, this is the perfect opportunity to bring back her mother’s summer book club. But the summer sun starts to really heat up when one of the club’s members, Lily Redlin, is found dead in her own home not long after the first meeting.

Alongside her sidekick and neighbor Julia Reynolds and the charming Jace Lowe, Rain discovers that the murder is seemingly inspired by the book the club recently discussed Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel, Sparkling Cyanide. But who would kill Lily, and more importantly, why?

The deeper Rain dives into the story, the more confusing and complicated the plot becomes. Was Lily murdered to cover up a tragic accident that occurred years ago involving an old classmate? Or were the rumors true—did Lily really possess a priceless original Laura Ingles Wilder manuscript and someone killed her for it? And what about the mysterious letter Lily received just before her death from a supposed long lost relative? Was it a hoax?

With a long list of suspects and motives, Rain realizes that all leads come back to people involved in the book club. Rain and her friends take a page from Agatha Christie’s book by hosting a reenactment of the club’s first meeting to flush out the killer. Will Rain’s plan succeed—or will this librarian’s book be checked out for good?" 

My Thoughts:  This third outing in the series has Rain Wilmot, the main character, is running the library this summer with the help of a small staff.  The library is a family legacy that they offer to the town.  I had not read the two prior books, but that didn't cause any issues in enjoying this book.  

BFF Julia Reynolds is a perfect sidekick and even maybe a bit of a bad influence encouraging Rain to take some risks.  Marge is a mature library volunteer with some spunk that I enjoyed.  Jace Lowe, Julia's brother and a cop, is the romantic interest just getting traction.

I had hoped for more of the lake setting to be pervasive, but it was only a backdrop in a few scenes.  It was just my hope to get more of a lake culture and feel, but it wasn't imperative.  The town of Lofty Pines seems delightful and the library is a dream.  

I enjoyed the premise of the book club reading Agatha Christie's Sparkling Cyanide book as a theme of sorts.  I will have to read that book now (how did I miss it all these years?)  

The mystery had plenty of suspects and aspects so that the killer wasn't easily figured out.  It delivered a tense and dramatic killer reveal and confrontation.  The climax left Rain and Julia in a tight spot and I would have liked to see the ladies step up a little better, but it was realistic overall. I can't say more without serious spoilers.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

I hope your summer is filled with fun and good books!

Here is a relaxing lakeside video.