3 stars! The Starlet Letter is the first in a new historical mystery series following teenage twins turned amateur sleuths, Vivian and Viola Van der Beeck. Viv and Lala live with their parents in New York City, and their home, Canary House, has become a boarding house after the Depression took a toll on the family's finances. Canary House is home to many colorful residents, including former Ziegfeld Follies star Babs Le Roy. When Babs disappears, the twins take it upon themselves to investigate.

From the first page, I enjoyed this book's charming tone. The author describes this book in her end note as "Nick and Nora meets Wes Anderson," so you'll like this if you enjoy a zany cast of characters and tongue-in-cheek tone. There were many moments I found genuinely humorous.

Out of the twins, Viola was my favorite. She is the quieter, more bookish twin (I can relate!) and starts drawing parallels between Babs' case and the book she's currently reading, The Scarlet Letter. At times, I thought those connections seemed a bit tenuous, but I enjoyed the literary conceit. As for Vivian, she is the bolder, more boisterous twin, and I liked her fine, but at times I think she came across as a bit mean.

This first book establishes a burgeoning relationship between Vivian and Sergeant Kowalski, the young, handsome detective the sisters meet while solving Babs's case. Personally, this relationship didn't really work for me, as I felt like they fell too hard, too fast for it to be really believable. Granted, I didn't realize this book was classified as YA, and I often feel this way about YA romances, so maybe it won't be an issue for other readers.

Overall, this book was pretty enjoyable. Would I read the next one? Maybe!

My favourite part about this book was the writing style. It reminded me of early 20th century children's literature in the best way possible, the sense of nostalgia I got from it was the best. Because of this it honestly did not feel like a modern YA-ish book, which was actually kind of fun. I kept forgetting it was a 2023 release until Vivian starting describing the sergeant's forearms (and the like). However, I'm also very much a YA fan, so this was not a downside. I really liked the twins, especially Vivian. And Sergeant Kowalski/Adam/Adi was a highlight too.
My actual criticisms are with the other parts of the book. The side characters were interesting, however it was quite a large cast, which is always difficult to ensure everyone gets enough attention without it being confusing, and it was a little confusing. The mystery itself was not that compelling to me, but it may have been because it took me a very long time to read this book (which is not the fault of the book, I just had other things I had to read in between that were more time sensitive), so perhaps if I had read it in less sittings I would have actually understood the mystery. The other problem, which was also a me problem, was that since I have not read The Scarlet Letter, I missed many references to it, which I'm sure would have enriched the experience. And I don't think not knowing the references made it worse, I am just sure they would have made it better.
The main result from finishing this is that;
1. I want the sequel
2. I want to read more detective/mystery books again
3. Maybe I should get back into historical fiction

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The Starlet Letter is a fun and twisty story with delightful characters and great atmosphere! I think it's perfect for a YA audience and that Violet and Viola are relatable young heroines. I would have liked a bit more in the way of worldbuilding and greater detail in the settings, but that's personal preference; I don't think the extra details could have been included without slowing the pace of the story.

An excellent historical mystery that brought me back in time as the style reminds me of the golden age writer.
A solid plot, likeable characters, a mystery that kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Starr Creek Press for "The Starlet Letter" by Julie Mathison.

Mathison did a phenomenal job at capturing a time period, and setting up a mystery. The author even managed to capture the detailed, and dialogue heavy writing style that I've seen quite a bit in older texts when author's started to shift to more realism and the everyday life focus in writing.

This mostly definitely was a convoluted mystery that kept me guessing - definitely not what I was expecting (in a good way). This is marketed as YA Mystery, and I'm always on the lookout for a good mystery. I have so many students who are fans of the genre... but I feel this one may have missed its mark on a younger audience.

As an adult reader 4/5

Such an interesting premise that unfortunately failed to hold my attention.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

This book was almost a dnf for me. I had a hard time getting into it. It was like there was just too much going on. Historical novels are not books I usually go for. It just wasn’t for me. Thank you Julie, Starr Creek Press, and Netgalley for the ARC!

I think this could serve as a decent "gateway" book for young readers into the historical cozy mystery genre. I'm usually down for anything within this genre, but I personally had trouble connecting with the twins because they felt so young on the page (nothing wrong with that, it just made me feel extra old).

Since this is first in a new series, I'd be willing to give subsequent books a look at too.

This was surprisingly fun! The mystery was really interesting, and the twins are charming. And VERY different, which made it really interesting to get their different takes on events. I loved that their house, and its boarders, was really a character unto itself. I look forward to the girls’ next adventure!

I received a copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.

Sadly, this book wasn't for me. I DNF'ed this book at 50% in because I couldn't keep the characters straight and felt like the plot kind of jumped all over the place.

I really liked the premise and was really excited to get started on reading this book. The setting in 1920's New York with an eclectic cast set in a large building made it all feel as the show Only Murders In The Building. SIGN! ME! UP!

The story follows a set of twins, but sadly I was unable to tell the two apart. Their personalities didn't feel all that different and it was difficult to find out which one of the two was the narrator, or if there was possibly a third narrator. All together I found it a bit too confusing for it to be enjoyable, but I'm sure that it will be amazing to other readers!

I was excited to get to start this series -- the intersection of mystery, YA novel and classic literature was very appealing to me. Julie Mathison did a wonderful job of establishing the characters and the context the two main heroins were living within. The twins amateur sleuthing was both fun and engaging. I appreciate how different their personalities were and how both were necessary for moving the story forward. The connection to the Scarlett Letter woven through the story was done so well, particularly if you are a classic lit enthusiast. Definitely will recommend reading to others and look forward to more stories to come!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC! A light, fun read. Reminded me of a Nancy Drew novel. Is appropriate for younger readers. I’d give it a 3.5 stars.

The Starlet Letter is the first book in The Canary House Mysteries series by Julie Mathison and set in 1931. I have mixed feelings about this partly because I was not aware that it was aimed at a YA audience when I started it and so my expectations were out of sync with the story. The protagonists were seventeen-year-old twin sisters, Vivian and Viola, who are identical in looks and best friends as well as sisters, but polar opposites in personality. I liked Viola well enough, quiet, usually right but also willing to give way to her sister. I was less enamoured of Vivian, out-going, popular, but bossy and constantly dismissing her sister’s ideas. The mystery itself was interesting but I also found the momentum kept being stalled by the requisite romance which is definitely suited for a audience much younger than myself. And I guess that’s my point - I often enjoy YA novels and feel they can appeal to adults as well as their intended audience but. I didn’t find that here.

Still, in fairness, given the number of five-star reviews, mine seems to be a minority opinion and I did finish it so I think this is one I leave up to individual readers to decide but they should be aware that it is definitely suited to it’s target audience rather than a broader one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story sounded really cool, but I just couldn’t get into it. The POV was difficult for me to read, and what’s more, I found myself confused by the plot - I couldn’t figure out what was happening as I was reading.

4.5

This was a fantastic read. The story had an interesting angle with the twins being the protagonist. The two different perspectives and personalities added a great dynamic.

The starlet Babs has gone missing after finally making a comeback from an unexplained step out of the spotlight. Twins Viola and Vivan are going to make sure they uncover where she has gone and who has done this.

Viola is the "gentler" of the two and her thought process of linking their mystery at hand to The Scarlet Letter was intriguing. Vivan is the firm one and is intent on being at the scene to catch the culprits. Vivan's budding and coy love story with the Sergeant adds an enjoyable dimension to the book. Viola and Vivan complement each other very well and keep the book fresh as we sift through this mystery.

The writing, in the beginning, was a little awkward, but that eventually was not to be an issue by the middle of the book, and towards the end of the book the word Manhattan was missing the n.

If you love a good mystery, who dunnit, set prior to modern times, a budding romance, an ensemble of interesting side-characters, and a sweet sisterly bond this will be a great read for you!

#TheStarletLetter #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel. My customers will enjoy this novel a great deal. It has a great story and characters.

The Starlet Letter by Julie Mathison is a quirky and entertaining mystery set in 1931 New York City. The Van der Beeck twins, Vivian and Viola, are trying to mind their own business when a washed-up Ziegfeld Follies star, Babs Le Roy, checks into their boarding house. Soon, Babs goes missing and the twins find themselves caught up in a mad-cap mystery involving gangsters, red herrings, and a houseful of whimsical tenants.

What stands out most about this novel is the strong female characters, particularly the Van der Beeck twins. Vivian's nose for trouble and Viola's love of books make for a dynamic duo that keeps the reader engaged. The setting is also well-researched and adds an authentic ring to the story.

However, some readers may find the point of view hard to discern at times and the style of writing difficult to get into. The mystery resolution may feel like a stretch and the language could be challenging to follow. Additionally, many characters are introduced at once, which can be overwhelming.

Overall, The Starlet Letter is a quick and entertaining read that will keep readers guessing until the end. While it may not be for everyone, those who enjoy quirky mysteries and strong female protagonists will find it to be a satisfying read.

A nice enough read. Nice development of the twins character and a good plot line that kept you guessing. I liked the literary references to the scarlet letter

When a washed-up Ziegfeld Follies star goes missing, can the Van der Beeck twins crack the case without breaking their necks... or losing their hearts?
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.

The investigation is the best part of the book. I loved all the detective shenanigans the twins got up to. Both the twins are compelling characters, each of them well-defined, and fleshed out.

The book has decent pacing, and the twists have been executed adequately.

I did feel that the ending could have been better, but the history, and the atmosphere more than make up for it.

It is relatively fast paced, and kept me at the edge of my seat.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley to the ARC and to the publisher for the copy.

An enthralling mystery novel following twin girls, Vivian and Viola, who are filled with curiosity when an estranged actress turns up at their family's boarding house. However it isn't long before she disappears and the twins take it upon them selves to investigate.
T really enjoyed this riveting mystery and while I wasn't sure at first as the language tended to be hard to follow and there was a lot of names this book really started to pick up a few chapters in. This was a great read with two strong female leads.