The first in a new cozy mystery series set in a B&B. I love cozies but this one didn’t draw me in. I don’t think Leigh did enough background establishing, especially for Jess (the main character). Normally for a first book there is more establishing of who the character is and their voice but I was missing that here.

The main standout for me in this story is the main character and amateur sleuth Jess. A lot is thrown her way with murder happening on the opening weekend of her new bed and breakfast combined with an ex-boyfriend suspect. She navigates the mystery with fun humor, and I liked her quirky family members and the character interactions. I'm curious to see what awaits Jess in the next instalment.

❓T E A S E R 🔍 T H U R S D A Y❓ featuring “Peril in Pink” by Sydney Leigh!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

The grand opening weekend of The Pearl Bed and Breakfast is finally here and business partners Jess and Kat are busy finalizing the final details! Their pretty flamingo pink hotel and chill vibes aesthetic is instagram-worthy and the perfect girls getaway destination! Jess has even secured an exclusive live performance from a reality tv show singing sensation Lars Armstrong (who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend and a former local). BUT right before the show is supposed to start, Lars bails at the last second with no explanation!!

Piercing screams wake up the guests the next morning when a dead body is found near the pond!!! It just happens to be Lars’ stepdad/manager and now Lars is the prime suspect!! He begs Jess to help clear his name and soon she starts snooping around to see what she can find out! She is desperate to help the police find answers … afterall a murder happening on her grand opening weekend is sure to create a dumpster fire for their reputation!

This cozy debut is quirky, cute, fun and a true delight to read!! The humor and wit aside, the whodunit aspect of the story was puzzling and suspenseful and kept me totally invested throughout 🧩!!

Thank you kindly to @sydneyleighauthor @crookedlanebooks @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on March 19, 2024!

I really enjoyed Peril in Pink. Instagram-worthy Queen Anne style B&B, check! An adorable husky dog named Duke, check! Hot rockstar ex-boyfriend drama, check! I loved the aesthetic and vibe of not only the bed and breakfast but the beachy town of Fletcher Lake. And most of all I enjoyed getting to know Jess and her quirky family. Looking forward to more in the series.

If you want cozy, lighthearted fun and dynamic characters, then Peril in Pink is for you. Jess is the big draw to this book and she’s a layered and fun character. I really enjoyed being in this world and hope this will be a long series.

Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really good read. It’s one of those books you can curl up with and read in one day.

It’s a bit of a cozy murder mystery (if that’s even a thing 😂). It wasn’t a typical thriller that gives you the chills and has unexpected twists and turns. I truly think we need more books like this as I don’t always enjoy full on thriller books😐

I highly recommend picking up this book if you’re looking for an easy and fun read.

On the Pearl's opening weekend, two people end up dead at the B&B. With the reputation of the brand-new place open, Jess must work to solve the murders while also attempting to protect her ex-boyfriend Lars as he is related to both of the victims.
This book was solidly fun and a very enjoyable quick read. The Pearl was described as the ultimate Instagram B&B, and from the wonderful descriptions provided. Somewhere that I'd love to visit if it existed. Jess and Kat are wonderful owners and hosts, and people who would be amazing to spend time with. I admired Jess for her professionalism and her loyalty.
The rivalry between Lars (entertainment for opening night) and another musical artist, George was also fun to follow.
The only thing I didn't love about this mystery was the celebrity references.
Overall, a wonderful read and debut, well done and fun to read.

This cosy mystery had the potential to be so much better than it was. The bones of the story were there - it’s the opening weekend of a new B & B when a guest is murdered, but almost everyone at the B & B had reason to kill him. However, I found the execution lacking.

Right from the start, I felt that I was missing something; that this was the second book in a series & I was missing vital backstory & character binding. There were two main things that annoyed me. One was the fact that these characters that were pushing 30 still acted like they were still in high school. The bitchiness, the fights over boys, the football rivalries - at times it felt childish. The other main annoyance was the fact that it was opening weekend for the B & B and the two owners barely did any work, and having worked in hospitality, I found this to be the most unbelievable part of the story. Ultimately, this book just didn’t work for me.

B&B Cozy Mystery about a Hudson Valley B&B owner who turns sleuth after her rock star ex's stepdad-turned-manager is found dead on grand opening weekend.

5/5 stars: This is the first entry in Leigh's Hudson Valley B&B Mystery series, which is a B&B Cozy Mystery that takes place in New York's Hudson Valley and features a B&B owner and innkeeper. With plenty of twists and turns, Leigh has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Leigh's writing is top-notch with plenty of humor and wit. This is a very modern read and includes pop-culture references, Jess and her best friend's enjoyment of a true-crime podcast and the use of social media influencing and hashtags. Leigh's characters are incredibly likable. Jess is very relatable and I love the entire cast of characters that make up Jess's family, friends and the employees of the Pearl B&B. I also look forward to seeing where her relationship with the scrumptious Detective James Holloway goes from here. And I adore the oh so lovable Duke, Jess's “talkative” Husky. Leigh touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. This is an excellent start to a new series and I can't wait to read more.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Such a fun new cozy! Jessica and her BFF Kit are opening a B-in-B. Things are so terribly wrong. Of course! There’s a hot detective, and Jess can’t help but snoop. This is what cozy mysteries are made of! I really liked the characters. They were likeable and ambitious. I also liked the family helping out and their dynamics. I'm curious to see how Jess’ relationship with Sara comes along and if Lars makes a reappearance. It was a great read.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. It was easy to follow & a quick read. I thought I had figured out who the killer was but boy was I wrong! I love that in a good mystery/thriller. I loved the pop culture references & the banter between characters.

I dnf’d this at 32%. I couldn’t connect to the main character. she felt immature and totally incapable of running a b&b. It felt like the author was trying too hard to make her quirky and relatable when instead she was just unlikable and as a fellow millennial, she was exactly the stereotype. It felt clumsy and awkward to read any of the dialogue bc all the characters felt like caricatures. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc.

3.5 Stars!

Great Author Debut Novel! This whodunnit/mystery is told from Jess' POV, owner of the Pearl B&B who on grand opening weekend is stuck dealing with multuple murders, with her ex, "Hometown Hero" and hot new singing sensation Lars as the prime suspect.

Suspicions, stories, and connections begin to unravel with all the hotel guests and "suspect everyone" becomes the case with each new chapter. Is Lars guilty? Is everyone hiding a connection to the deceased victims? Were they even really victims? Will her and her bestie Kats B&B survive this?

The description of Schitts Creeks meets Only Murders in the Building got me, and it definitely delivered. I'd definitely head back to Hudson Valley to get an update on The Pearl! #cantwaitformoreSydney

Thank you to NetGalley for access to this eARC.

This was a fun amateur sleuth murder mystery read! Jess & her best friend are opening up an instagram picturesque B&B and they have also booked a live band to start the grand opening up with a bang. Jess & Kat have done something that most of us only joke about with our friends during a night out. This is the place where everyone will want to be! But when her ex seems to prove he hasn't changed, bit has only gotten an inflated head and brings his creeper step-dad she now starts to worry a bit. But what's the worse thing that could happen? A dead body the next morning and not long after a second body is found and as Jess digs into things a bit, she is realizing more and more about her ex. This was an easy more lighthearted murder mystery read and I look forward to more by this author. Thank you to the author, Cooked Lane Books, Netgalley and Thriller Book Lover Promotions for the tour invite and complementary ebook. This review is of my own opinion and accord

The plot of this story really appealed to me. Women business owners and bffs that open a B&B, celebrity ex boyfriends, and a cute family dynamic. That being said, none of those things were executed very well. The story could’ve been essentially cut in half if the characters took the investigation seriously before the last 5 chapters.

It’s also worth noting that this book is filled with cringe dialogue. Think speaking in hashtags and constant references to the My Favorite Murder podcast. It’s the perfect example of a millennial stereotype.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

The first book in this cozy mystery series felt like curling up with a warm blanket on a cold day. ( which I was !) With a diverse cast of characters navigating post-high school drama ( which isn’t my favourite thing tbh ) and modern-day social media, the story is entertaining. While I enjoyed the overall narrative and the B&B setting, I felt the ( hot of course ) lead detective and Jess' partner Kat could have played more significant roles in unraveling the mystery. Nonetheless, it's a delightful read for those craving a mix of intrigue and familiar small-town dynamics.

I really enjoyed this book!! I really liked the characters a lot. Jess and Kat were great. I did expect a little more thrill from this book, it never kept me on the edge of my seat, BUT it was very entertaining. The B&B seems like a place I’d enjoy myself and I loved all of the modern day flares to the book.

I did guess the plot pretty fast, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to read to see what else happened.

It was a funny and cozy murder mystery and those two together are my cup of tea.

I did like how Leigh used detailed words to really describe the B&B and surrounding scenery, I always love descriptive wording.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely Recommend it!

Jess Byrne and her bestie Kat run a B&B. Her ex Lars has agreed to sing a few songs on the night of her opening weekend. When the time for the performance has come, he doesn’t show up. When Jess goes looking for him he sends a text that he has to cancel. Luckily, another singer just happens to be in the audience and offers to sing a few songs.

No questions asked why he’s there.

The next morning, Jess is woken by a scream from her sister in law, Sarah. Sarah had come to the B&B before the crack of dawn for some meditation. Apparently, her own house is not suitable for that. But neither is the B&B’s back yard as she finds a body floating in the pond. Hence the scream.

Sarah does manage to pull the body from the pond and turn it over to see who it is, but after that goes pretty much catatonic.

The body is that of Bob, Lars’s stepfather and manager. Bit of a creep in life, who obviously hadn’t received the memo that 21st century polite society is no longer as accepting of the leering uncle.

The cops arrive and a rather chaotic investigation takes off. Or at least, if there is anyone in charge giving out orders, Jess doesn’t notice. The detective on scene tries to interview Sarah. She’s still mostly unresponsive, so he gives that a miss. He tries to search Bob’s room, but Bob’s roommate is still present, so he gives that a miss. Then he lets Jess give an impromptu information session for her guests. The guests have all gathered in the bar on their own - rather than being requested to go their by the police.

It’s no wonder that when Jess’s mom arrives on the scene she immediately offers her help, to the detective. At which he flushes and quickly scampers off. Rather than point out that if he needs help he has offical police channels to go through and does not have to rely on retired school teachers.

Didn’t like the mom. Definitely didn’t like how she ratted out her daughter to the police.

Jess and Kat are fans of true crime podcasts. That makes them want to investigate their very own murder. Must be murder, Kat reasons, “the pond is only two feet deep. How do you drown in two feet of water?”

The same way you drown in two inches of water: if mouth and nose are below the waterline, you drown.

The detective takes Jess to look around the murder scene: perhaps she can see something out of the ordinary. He lets her and her dog walk around the scene. Is the police already done processing the scene? I thought it wasn’t even lunch time yet. Jess finds the possible murder weapon in the pond. The police should have found it there; it is the most logical place (body of water, near crime scene) to get rid of a murder weapon. Whether the murder is local or out-of-towner.

While reading I kept getting distracted by other things. As a result this took me altogether too long to read.

Very fun premise for a new cozy series. A b and b, an ex ans his manager gets killed and the MC agrees to help clear his name! Excited for more!

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy of Peril in Pink.

When this was described to me as Gilmore Girls meets Only Murders in the Building I was in… the setting and romantic subplot were highlights for me! The main character Jess Byrne is giving Loralai Gilmore in the best way possible (but add some reluctant sleuthing to the small-town innkeeper dramas!) There’s even some romantic tension with a handsome detective to keep things interesting! 💕

It does take a little bit to settle into the pacing of this one, as the set-up for the book is on the slower side. My main challenge with this novel is that aside from the murder mystery aspect of the novel, there wasn’t too much similarity to Only Murders In The Building - so if you’re a big fan of that show, be aware that the comparison may be a touch misleading (I think I would have enjoyed it more, had the comps not hyped me up quite so much!)

Overall, a solid read.