Allison, the owner of Mugs and Hugs, in Mayhem in Circulation, A Larkspur Library mystery, is visiting Ascroft, eh? today to tell us a bit about what’s been happening lately in Larkspur.

Welcome, Allison. I’ll turn the floor over to you –

Hi, there! Come on in! Welcome to Mugs & Hugs. My name is Allison, and I own this darling establishment. It’s the cutest (and only) café in Larkspur, and we serve the best coffee in Northern Wisconsin, if I do say so myself. On any given day, you can find me behind the register here or mingling with my patrons. We see a steady mix of locals and vacationers, and I love the variety.  

I’m so glad you’re here. Go ahead and place your order. I’ve got coffee, tea, seasonal drinks, and the locals swear by my maple cinnamon muffins this time of year. I’ve got a batch that’s fresh out of the oven for ya!

You’re so sweet to compliment me on my plant collection. Yes, they’re my babies! They love the natural light that spills in through the plate glass windows on the front of the café. I designed and decorated this whole space with them in mind. I wanted the vibe of Mugs & Hugs to be cheerful and welcoming. The white bead board on the walls and the bright yellow paint color is meant to exude a feeling of being welcomed home. All of Larkspur gives off that vibe, actually.

At least we used to. Now there have been all of these instances of vandalism. I don’t know what to make of it. Oh, you haven’t heard? Do you have a minute? Let’s chat about what’s been going on. I’ve got some serious tea to spill.

See, nothing happens in Larkspur that I don’t hear about. When people need a place to relax and debrief after work, they hit up Mugs & Hugs. When they’re coordinating an event or going on a first date, they come to Mugs & Hugs. Everyone comes into the café, and that coffee you’re drinking certainly loosens lips. I have one of those faces that has people spilling their secrets faster than you can say melt-in-your-mouth cookies. That, and I have great ears, so I overhear my fair share of gossip, too.

So buckle up. I’ve got a lot to tell!

First off, the median on Larkspur Lane, the charming street that cuts our town in half like the spine of storybook, was completely destroyed yesterday morning. Mums were pulled up from their planters, trees were egged. It looked like a garden warzone. My plant-lady heart was crushed.

My friend Greta Plank, the library director in town, also found a dead crow amidst the carnage. What do you make of that? Greta wasn’t sure, but it seemed like a literary warning. A dead, large black bird made her think of Edgar Allen Poe and William Shakespeare. You’d have to talk to her for specifics, but I trust her instincts. She’s our resident amateur sleuth, and it looks like we’re going to need her now more than ever.

Because the dead crow was one thing, but the dead body found outside the library this morning took the vandalism to a whole new level. I’m gutted for the victim’s family and friends, of course. And selfishly, murder is not a good look for Larkspur. Two murders in the past two months is even worse.

What’s more, the yearly festival is upon us, and the mayor coordinated a regional tourism showcase to take place during the week-long event. We’re all trying to put our best foot forward so our town and local businesses get a favorable review from the reporter who is known for being a straight-shooter.

He was in here just now with the deputy mayor. He would hardly give me the time of day. Not sure what that was about, but it felt like he was trying to hide his face. Who knows! I did happen to overhear the pair talking about the murder victim, and our deputy mayor said to the reporter, and I quote, “Larkspur may be better off without her.” Can you imagine? Something smells fishy, and I’m not talking about the lake on the other end of town.

Hopefully Greta stops by with her co-librarians, Iris and Josie. I need to fill them in on what I heard. I also know where this reporter is going to be tonight, the homecoming football game. So I want to point Greta in his direction. I don’t trust that guy as far as I can throw him. And he and the deputy mayor together? Trouble with a capital T.

I’ve got to get back behind the counter, but I’m so glad you’re here. Enjoy the festival. Be sure to take advantage of the pontoon boat rides they’re giving over on the lake. The colors of the trees from the water cannot be beat! Stop by again before you leave town. And don’t worry about the murder and vandalism. I’m sure the police will have this whole mystery figured out in no time…and if they don’t, Greta and her avenging librarian crew will.

See ya soon!

Thank you for sharing this with us, Allison, and good luck to you and your author, Leah Dobrinska, with Mayhem in Circulation, the latest book in the Larkspur Library mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Allison and her author, Leah Dobrinska by visiting the author’s website and her Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, BookBub and Goodreads pages.

The book is available online at the following retailers:

 Amazon – B&N – Bookshop.org – Kobo

About Leah Dobrinska: Leah is the author of the Fall In Love romcom series, the Larkspur Library Mysteries, a cozy mystery series set in the Wisconsin Northwoods, and the Mapleton novels, a series of award-winning standalone small town romances. She earned her degree in English Literature from UW-Madison where she was awarded the Dean’s Prize and served as a Writing Fellow. She has since worked as a freelance writer, editor, and content marketer. As a kid, she hoped to grow up to be either Nancy Drew or Elizabeth Bennet. Now, she fulfills that dream by writing mysteries and love stories.

A sucker for a good sentence, a happy ending, and the smell of books—both old and new—Leah lives out her very own happily ever after in a small Wisconsin town with her husband and their gaggle of kids. When she’s not writing, handing out snacks, or visiting the local library, Leah enjoys reading and running.