Rain and Julia once again team up together and drive Jace crazy as they "help" the police in their investigation.

This time the murder happens after a book club meeting at the Lakeside Library. The group of ladies meets on the deck beside the lake to discuss an Agatha Christi mystery. When heated discussion erupts, the meeting ends with some hurt feelings and Rain and Julia are concerned about some of the members. The following morning, they want to visit one of the ladies to try to smooth ruffled feathers, but find her dead.

While at first suicide seems to be the logical reason for her death. Happily Rain and Julia behave perfectly at this point. But when some facts don't add up, Rain and Julia begin to feel that the police won't be able to find the killer without their help and go about their amateur sleuthing without sharing what they find with the police.

I loved the references to the Christie mystery and even stopped reading this to reread it so that I could better understand some of what was going on in this particular book.

I've read the others in this series and none disappoint. I am grateful that the author's biography at the end of the book states, "She lives with her husband..., where she's already plotting her next novel." I will be looking forward to its publication.

*I want to preface this by thanking NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!*

NOTE: Due to the star rating not allowing decimals, know that my actual rating is a 2.5/5 stars.

Finding this book, I found the premise to be very promising and I was looking forward to reading a good mystery thriller - especially with it involving a book club and the special appearance of Rex the dog.

I have to be honest, it took me very long to get into the murder mystery and I found myself more invested in Rex than I did the human members of the book club or the victim.

The writing style was short, but sweet. The setting felt familiar and kept my attention. For me, what was lacking was the characters: I couldn't find myself connected with the main characters, their relationships with one another, the twists and turns or even the outcome. I couldn't even find myself caring much for the glimpse of romance. However, in the end it can simply be a thing of me not being the target audience for this novel, and it did have its highlights!

Shoutout to Rex, you're a good dog.

Rain and Julia couldn’t resist getting involved in the investigations relating to the death of one of their club members. What their search revealed surpasses what they had expected. Their curiosity placed them right in the killer’s hands. This book was captivating, intriguing, and exciting. I love it.

Rain is starting a book club at the Lakeside Library, and they’re starting with an Agatha Christie mystery. But then real life imitates the book when one of the members is found dead. Rain and Julia are determined to figure out what happened to Lily. Literature, friendship, haunts from the past, and a little romance all blend in this fun cozy murder mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. This is the second book in the series that I have read.

The Lakeside Library Book Club is meeting for its inaugural book discussion, Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie. All is going well until one of the members, Lily Redlin, is found dead in her home shortly after the meeting.

Rain, our protagonist and the town libriarian, finds herself compelled to investigate because everyone at the book club meeting is a suspect. She is assisted by her best friend, Julia, the sister of local police officer, Jace. The investigation opens up secrets from the past.

The story is engaging, and the characters are likeable. I like the feel of the town, the sense of community. There's definitely a coziness to this one. I look forward to more from this series.

This was a cute cozy mystery. I enjoyed the best friends aspect and that this was set in a library.

I have enjoyed the first two books in the Lakeside Library Mystery series by author Holly Danvers, so I was excited to jump into Read to Death at the Lakeside Library. And I must say, I ended up with a pretty solid story.

Rain is finding her place in the community of Lofty Pines, Wisconsin, by reviving the book club her mother used to run. But when one of the book club members turns up dead shortly after their inaugural meeting, Rain and her friends decide to investigate.

I found the whole murder within the new book club plot very interesting. And the twist that the first book that the club read, an Agatha Christie novel, seems to parallel the murder was quite intriguing. Ms. Danvers had enough suspects and even motives to keep me on my toes and turning the pages to see how it all worked out in the end. And speaking of the end, while I wasn’t surprised by whodunit, I found the conclusion satisfying.

What I loved about the book was the addition of a new character, Benzo the Dog. I’m a sucker for dogs in stories, as they tend to make it all a little more real to me. I also like that Rain is starting to develop a romance with Jace, a local cop and the brother of her best friend. They’ve been circling around each other in the previous books but make some headway in this installment.

What I didn’t love? Julia, the best friend, tends to get on my nerves a little bit. She’s Rain’s opposite and gets Rain into more trouble than is probably necessary. While I can relate to Rain, Julia confuses me. And as with most cozy mysteries, I wish the mystery was purposely solved rather than oddly stumbled upon the resolution. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the conclusion, but the big reveal seemed rather abrupt and jarring. At least it was tempered by an epilogue where everything was explained in better detail.

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library is a solid addition to this series. It has a well-developed plot and good character growth. As with most series, the book can be read on its own, but it is better if you’ve read prior books. I recommend it for fans of cozy mysteries set in small towns.

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library is book #3 in the Lakeside Library Mystery series by Holly Danvers.

Rain hosts her first book club meeting and it is a bit contentious. Then a member is found dead soon after.

Escape the summer heat by heading to the lake. Rain and Julia investigate the murder which is challenging because of the unclear motive. The twists kept me guessing. I like the addition of Benzo!

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Dollycas's Thoughts

What happens when the book your book club just read and discussed looks to have been the inspiration for the murder of one of the club's members? Well, the members of the Lakeside Library Book Club are about to find out.

Rain's mother hosted a summer book club for years and Rain thought it was time to bring that back. Their first read was Sparkling Cyanide by Agathe Christie. A lively discussion was had but Rain never imagined one of the members would be found dead in their new lakeside cabin the next day.

Rain and her BFF Julia, try to do some investigating on their own, much to the despair of their significant others. Was the woman killed for something that happened in her past? Or did she really have a priceless manuscript someone was willing to kill her for? Or was it an unknown relative mentioned in a letter she had just received the thing that led to her death?

In their quest to find the truth Rain and Julia realize it all comes back to the book club. Well since Agatha Christie's book set up the means for the killing they decide to use Dame Agatha's way to expose the killer. Will it work? Or will the tables be turned on Rain and Julia and conclude with their and the book club's demise?

______

With every book in this series, the core characters become nearer and dearer. Rain and Julia truly are best friends who have each other's backs come hell or high water and water was definitely an issue in this story. They are also there for their friend Marge who is starting to have some age-related issues. Julia's husband Nick is a great handyman to have around and her brother, police officer, Jace Lowe is on the case while he and Rain start to talk about their feelings for each other. I am loving the way these characters continue to evolve in realistic ways and at a comfortable pace. All the dialogues ring true to this Wisconsinite too.

Speaking of Wisconsin, Ms. Danvers's descriptions of Lofty Pines in the Northwoods, really take her readers to the lake, on the lake, and the whole surrounding area so well. The sights, sounds, and even smells help bring this story to life. Books like this one help everyone see why vacationing in the area is so appealing, sans the murder, of course.

The murder mystery was very complicated due to the unclear motives. The victim's history was very interesting as is her other house. She was a real bookworm who was very serious about her books. All these "clues" send Rain and Julia in many directions and even Marge helps out. I really enjoy following along with all the clues. The real guilty party was on my suspect list along with a couple of others. The author placed some nice twists that really keep me guessing the whole way. I did like the way the reveal played out as well as the links to the book club book in the mystery. You can't go wrong with Agatha Christie.

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library was a Perfect Escape to the Wisconsin Northwoods with fun and engaging characters and a very well-plotted mystery.  The Lakeside Library has become one of my favorite literary libraries especially now with its new four-legged resident. I can't wait to visit again soon.

I enjoyed the Wisconsin setting for this book because I know so little about this state... And how charming is that lakeside library set in the cabin that once belonged to main character’s grandfather? .But the story stands alone for its well developed characters and twisty storyline. Good choice to include an Agatha Christie novel to provide inspiration to storyline.
Loved the husky rescue dog! Wish the recipes at the end were simpler to prepare.
Looking forward to next in series. Thanks to #NetGalley and #ReadtoDeathattheLakesudeLibrary for advanced digital copy.

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library has to be my favorite book by far. I’m still obsessed with Rain and Julia. The series continues with Rain in her current position in running the Lakeside Library. Julia host a book club and there’s a few confrontations with the book club members that lead to a murder. Rain and Julia begin their investigation and they are invested to solve the murder mystery. I enjoyed the characters and the stunning setting. I loved the romance with Julia and Jace. They were absolutely adorable and I wish we can have more to their relationship. Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity.

It was so nice to return to Lofty Pines with Rain, Julia, and the rest of the Lakers.

This installment features the start of a bookclub at the Lakeside Library and the group’s reading of Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christi.

When one is the book club members is found dead by Rain and Julia, they will stop at nothing to get to the bottom of this mystery.

I felt like this one was a little predictable, but honestly, I read this series for the characters and setting. I love catching up with the events in Lofty Pines and watching the friendships grow as Rain settles into life as a laker. This is a great series for some light reading and entertainment.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

Rain and Julia start a book club at the Lakeside Library, but what happens when one member dies and it appears another member may be a killer! Fabulous twists and turns make this plot a fun one to unravel while following the carefully crafted clues. It is a fun read that ties into an Agatha Christie book that was the chosen read for the club. The characters are so relatable that they feel like old friends that you have gathered to talk books with rather than characters on a page. I have fallen in love with this series and can't wait to see what comes next both in mystery and in the characters personal lives! I do highly recommend starting with book one of the series so that you get both more enjoyment and the full backstory as each book builds a bit more upon the last.

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

This is another fun cozy mystery centered around a private library and a newly formed book discussion group. I like the setting on a Wisconsin lake and the community involved. Rain is a good amateur sleuth, getting her friends to help her. The plot is fun in that a murder happens after reading an Agatha Christie mystery. Part of the book discussion points to the manner the contemporary murder was committed. There is a historical aspect too as a possible murder from years ago seems to have a part in the current one. Rain and her friend Julia are tenacious on solving both cases, getting them into a bit of trouble near the end of the book.

This is the third book in the series but reads well on its own. It's a fun cozy mystery for book lovers. A little romance, lots of friendship and an intriguing murder make for a fun read.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Welcome to the Lakeside Library Book Club! Our first book will be Sparkling Cyanide by the Dame of Mystery herself. The night seems to have gone well. However, the next day one of the members is found dead. Rain and Julia become involved in trying to discover the murderer. There’s a mystery book and a death far in the past. Is either the driving force in this murder? Read and find out. I thoroughly enjoy Rain and Julia and their cohort of friends.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This delightful novel brings us back to the Northwoods of Wisconsin in the early summer. One of the themes, along with the very obvious murder, is how women’s lives are enhanced by various kinds of friendships. Best friends since children, Rain and Julia have a very close relationship due to their shared history and complete trust in each other. Next is their friendship and concerns for Marge, an older widow who is like family and helps at the library. There are women in the library’s book club, some they know and some who are new. Others include spouses, a friendship possibly blossoming into more, and the joy of being owned by pets.

The summer book club opened with Agatha Christie’s mystery, Sparkling Cyanide. I liked how the background of the novel and differences with the movie were discussed along with the mystery itself. I was uncomfortable with how a couple of the ladies were almost to the point of verbal blows, but it helped set the stage for the death of Lily, one of the attendees.

The day after the meeting, Rain and Julia went to visit Lily in hopes of making peace. Lily had recently purchased and moved into a small cottage on the lake while selling her home in town. Rain and Julia saw that the front door was ajar and called her name. The lock on the entry door looked as if it had been jimmied. That, coupled with Lily’s lack of response, led Julia to call her brother Jace, a police officer. While waiting for him, Julia gently pushed the door open just a little bit. Inside, lying on the floor, was Lily, her hands as blue as the waters of the lake.

Lily had been poisoned. When Jace had let them briefly enter Lily’s cottage, Rain and Julia noted there were two recently used wine glasses nearby, so Lily probably knew her killer well enough to invite inside. Had Lily left her key somewhere and broke the lock herself? Rain and Julia knew very little about Lily, but were about to learn much more, including the possible tie-in of a death over twenty years ago.

I enjoyed getting to catch up with Rain, Julia, and Jace. Their behaviors, realistic conversations, and how Rain and Julia share almost everything with each other, gave me a front row seat to their activities. Jace’s career as a police officer could cause conflicts with Julia and Rain, especially when the possibility of romance with Rain arose. Other characters, including Nick, Marge and the book club members, were defined as required for their roles.

One of many things I enjoyed was a thumbnail history of the cabin the library is in, the family home, and the backstory in Rain’s family surrounding the structures. Another is simply being on the lake. I felt as if I were there, whether in storms or sunshine. Sunrises and sunsets are also amazingly described.

Plot twists and possible motives kept me on my toes and heightened the intrigue. Lily, who had been adopted, had a substantial inheritance pending from someone she never heard of. Rumor had it that Lily also had a manuscript written by Laura Ingalls Wilder for a book never published. I did tentatively guess who the present-day killer was, but the manuscript was a wild card forcing me to look closer at suspects considered by Jace and the police department, Rain, and Julia. Overall, I was satisfied with the resolution of both past and present deaths, and am looking forward to the next in series. I highly recommend this novel, especially for those who appreciate a balance of cozy mystery and women’s fiction.

As a Wisconsin resident, I really enjoy this series of cozy mysteries set in the Northwoods of my state. I'm not so sure I would want to live in Lofty Pines due to the frequency of mysterious murders. Once again Rain and her bestie Julia feel compelled to do some amateur sleuthing to determine who murdered a member of their book club. The author also included the history and recipe for the Old Fashioned cocktail, a popular choice at Wisconsin's many supper clubs. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy to read and review.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Read to Death at the Lakeside Library is the third book in the Lakeside Library Mystery series. This time, a participant in Rain's book club is found dead on the day after the meeting. Rain and her friend Julia investigate, as everything seems to indicate that the culprit also participated in the book club meeting.

This new entry in the series is very enjoyable. The setting is well described and pleasant (Lofty Pines and the library), and both Rain and Julia are great characters. It's always funny to see the words used by Julia in order not to swear.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the cozy mystery genre.

I love this series. The setting reminds me so much of a place that I visit during the summers. And the characters are warm, very human and relatable. This are the type of people you would love to be friends with and have a barbecue on a Saturday night at the lake. And, now, there is a new addition of a cute rescue dog (heart melts).

Plus, the books. After all this is a library. And the book group is reading Sparkling Cyanide, by Agatha Christie, when one of the participants is murdered. The clues seem to have a resemblance to what happens in the book. Can Rain and Julia figure out what is happening?

Enjoy a twisty mystery, with plenty of motives and suspects and a touch of romance. If you need a vacation, this is the perfect solution.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.