What a fantastic piece of historical fiction! I love the 30s and this didn't disappoint! Well crafted and well written. Truly enjoyed the story of Vivian and Viola. Thank you Julie for a fabulous book!

Thank you NetGalley for approving me to read this book! A highly enjoyable read that is nice started I couldn’t put down.

This is a tremendously fun historical mystery and an excellent start to a series. Julie Mathison sets the stage (literally at times!) of the early 1930s and the Follies. Our leads, twins Vivian and Viola, are great MCs and the mystery itself is just twisty and turny enough to keep readers guessing at what will come next without ever getting too tense or anxiety inducing. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!

This book was a bit of a letdown for me. I think it had great promise, I loved the idea of the story, I just didn’t find it was carried out as well as I hoped it would have been. The book is the first in a series of historical mysteries with amateur sleuths. Set in the 30’s the story centers on a missing Ziegfeld Follies star and a set of twins hoping to crack the case and find her. The Van de Beeck twins live in an Upper West Side mansion, Canary House, that has become a boarding house since the market crash of ’29. When the newest tenant checks into Canary House, the girls are excited to learn that their new tenant is Babs Le Roy a former Ziegfeld girl who is running from the skeletons in her closet. When Babs goes missing, the twins throw themselves into solving the mystery of her disappearance. While I can say that the plot was sufficiently twisty, and did keep me guessing, it just fell flat. I struggled through this one, it just didn’t catch my attention. I found the characters uninteresting and one-dimensional. I wasn’t drawn into the story, and really wasn’t invested in the resolution of the missing Ziegfeld girl. I also found the romantic subplot with the twins to be lackluster and strange. It seemed really forced into the story. Overall, this was a meh read for me. It was okay, but I can’t say that I found a lot of enjoyment in reading it. I would recommend it if you love a mystery, enjoy historical settings, or really love the era that this book is set in.

This is quite fun.
Twin sisters, aged 17, live in a house taking in boarders in the early 30s.
A historical mystery that will pass the time and make you smile.

A great mystery story which has some funny moments in it. I enjoyed this o e and hop3 to read more from this author in the future. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

"The Starlet Letter" by Julie Mathison, the first installment in The Canary House Mysteries, is a delightful and tongue-in-cheek historical mystery that immerses readers in the glamour and intrigue of the 1930s. With amateur sleuths, literary themes, and a dash of romance, this four-star novel introduces the Van der Beeck twins in a mad-cap mystery that keeps readers guessing until the end.

Set in 1931, Canary House, the Van der Beeck mansion on the Upper West Side, becomes a hub of eccentricity with its six tenants – a pianist, a poet, an erstwhile diplomat, a psychiatrist, a bootlegger, and a cash-strapped philanthropist. The stage is set for chaos when Babs Le Roy, a washed-up Ziegfeld Follies star, becomes the seventh tenant in the turret room, bringing her own share of skeletons.

Mathison's writing captures the spirit of the Roaring Twenties, blending historical charm with humor and mystery. The Van der Beeck twins, Vivian and Viola, shine as amateur sleuths with contrasting personalities—Vivian with a nose for trouble and Viola with her nose in a book. The dynamic between the two sisters adds depth and humor to the narrative.

The ensemble cast of characters, including a soft-boiled detective, a handsome sergeant, and a houseful of whimsical tenants, creates a lively and entertaining atmosphere. The author skillfully navigates the twists and turns of the mystery, keeping readers engaged with red herrings, gangsters, and a ransom note that propels the plot forward.

The literary themes woven into the story add an extra layer of charm, making it a treat for book lovers. The clever nods to classic literature and the playful exploration of amateur detective tropes contribute to the novel's unique appeal.

In conclusion, "The Starlet Letter" is a four-star romp through the Roaring Twenties, offering a perfect blend of historical charm, mystery, and humor. Julie Mathison introduces readers to a world of eccentric characters, literary delights, and a mad-cap mystery that unfolds with wit and whimsy. The Canary House Mysteries promise an engaging series for those who enjoy a lighthearted and entertaining historical mystery.

Great historical read, perfect escapism.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley for for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was just an okay book, didn't enjoy it that much. The writing was good and so was the premise of this book but not much else could be said about it.

This book was very cosy and enjoyable. Lots of twists and turns. Itvwas such an easy read with fantastic eccentric characters. Was such a joy to read. Thank you NetGalley

An enjoyable historical cozy mystery. I liked the sisters and the boarders. There were plenty of suspects and some twists along the way.
Many thanks to Starr Creek Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What sets "The Starlet Letter" apart is its ability to balance the mystery with humor. Mathison infuses the story with witty banter, clever wordplay, and humorous situations that add a lighthearted touch to the proceedings. This blend of humor and mystery creates a reading experience that is not only engaging but also immensely enjoyable. It's a refreshing departure from more serious and grim mysteries and offers a delightful change of pace.

As the mystery unfolds and the Van der Beeck twins delve deeper into the secrets of Canary House, readers are treated to a rollercoaster of emotions. The unpredictability of the plot keeps you on your toes, and the resolution of the mystery is both satisfying and surprising.

In conclusion, "The Starlet Letter" excels in delivering a mystery that is both intriguing and entertaining. Julie Mathison's ability to balance the suspenseful elements with humor makes for a highly enjoyable reading experience. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, engrossed in the characters' antics and the ever-deepening mystery. If you appreciate mysteries that keep you guessing while also offering moments of levity and charm, "The Starlet Letter" is a must-read that delivers on both fronts.

I really liked the premise of the book, but i just didn’t vibe with it.

Historical fiction isn’t my thing, and this book proves it. The writing is great and the mystery keeps you reading. I do recommend this book if you’re into YA, mysteries, and a large cast.

Thank you to Netgalley and Starr Creek Press for the ARC!

Such a great historical mystery! Vivian's and Viola's adventure was great. They are a great team in solving the mystery. What i'm interesting to is a slow-burned romance which didin't distract the mystery as the main case in this story. I would love to recommend this book toward all readers who love mystery genre a lot.

It's 1931, and the once grand, always eccentric Van der Beecks have taken in borders to make ends meet. Canary House, their rambling Upper West Side mansion, boasts six tenants: a pianist, a poet, an erstwhile diplomat, a psychiatrist, a bootlegger, and a philanthropist who is always short on cash. Life has never been more interesting until a seventh checks into the turret room - Babs Le Roy, a down-on-her-luck Ziegfeld Follies star with more than one skeleton in her cluttered closet. It's all the twins can do to mind their own business. Nearly eighteen, they only look like angels. Vivian has a nose for trouble and Viola has her nose in a book, but between the two of them, the villain doesn't stand a chance - if only they can find one to spice things up. Then Babs goes missing, and one ransom note, two gangsters, and a handful of red herrings later, the twins find themselves confronted with more villains than they bargained for. Throw in a soft-boiled detective, a handsome sergeant, and a houseful of tenants graced with more whimsy than wit, and you have the makings of a mad-cap mystery that will keep you guessing till the end.
What a fun and entertaining read! All the characters in this were interesting and I hope show up in further adventures of the twins. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

First time reading this author, I will try them again. I did have a hard time keeping track of the characters . Mystery was fine.

Thank you to the author , publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of The Starlet letter. I am not the biggest mystery person but this was very good.

The Starlet Letter is a historical mystery set in 1931. The protagonists are twins Vivian (Viv) and Viola (Lala). I loved the dynamic of the two sisters as they had totally different personalities. The Great Depression has left them broke so they've had to take on multiple tenants to keep afloat. One of those tenants is Babs, who ends up going missing. I enjoyed the main mystery and the mysterious findings about their family's past. This book is #1 in a series and I definitely plan on reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Starr Creek Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for allowing me access to the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

There's nothing about this book that I liked. I didn't like the language, I didn't care for the characters and the storyline left a lot to be desired.

DNF. This book had an amazing premise, but the execution didn’t quite follow through for me.

Twins Vivian and Viola’s family has fallen on hard times after the Great Depression, which the family copes with by renting out their large, lavish house to many eccentric tenants. But when one of their family members goes missing, the twins soon find themselves trapped in a mystery that’s a lot more than either had bargained for.

The plot was fairly well-written, and the twins’ sisterhood was heartwarming and really sweet. However, the writing style and dialogue didn’t quite land for me. The dialogue was quite stiff and stilted, and not how I’d assume a teenager would speak- even one in a historical fiction novel- which made it difficult to read. The writing style was filled with many, many similes, which dragged down the pace and made it hard to determine what was actually happening. A few good similes add to the story, but not when they are used every other sentence. There was also a very, very large cast of characters, and I struggled to keep track of them. I think a smaller cast would’ve allowed for more character development and depth, instead of many characters who felt rather indistinguishable.