Who hasn't daydreamed about opening up a pink themed B&B with their best friend and then playing amateur sleuths trying to solve a murder? Just me eh? Peril in Pink takes this premise, inserts some high school reunion style drama and lots of rosé. (some rosé definitely got sipped while reading this fun new cozy mystery debut!)

Jess and her bestie are going all out to make the opening weekend of their brand new B&B, a success. Jess went as far as inviting her high school ex, now a successful singing show winner, Lars to perform. When his step-dad/manager with a colourful past turns up dead, Jess is forced to put her sleuthing hat on and try to figure out what actually happen. If the detective in charge of the actual police investigation also happens to be easy on the eyes, so be it....

Grab this one if you're a fan of:
- small town cozy mysteries
- 'besties investigate' vibes
- a dash of romance/attraction on the side
- unresolved high school drama
- quick, fun reads

And beware, you might end up wanting to Rosé all day too! A big thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review & ThrillerBookLoversPromotions for including me in this tour!

I love the color pink and I love this book. It was so interesting to read, and it really made me think.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an arc of this book.

This book was marketed for fans of Only Murders In the Building which is what originally interested me and I think that it was a good comparison. It felt similar to watching an episode of that. I do wish there were a little more thriller aspect or risks taken but other than this was a nice easy read to finish up the year. Looking forward to more from this author.

A classic "who done it" with a flare of pink!

Delightful spunky characters and a lot of potential suspects. This was a fun mystery with a romance understory. There was a great fun setting and the whole book felt like a girls weekend with friends (a a bit of murder).

Release Date: March 19, 2024
📖📖

It’s the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, and owner Jess Byrne has prepared the ultimate, Insta-worthy welcome, complete with her ex-boyfriend—reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong—performing live. As guests check in and mimosas are poured, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager Bob in tow. But things go south when Bob is found dead, and Lars is the prime suspect.

After a desperate plea from Lars, and knowing the reputation of her B&B is at stake, Jess agrees to help clear Lars’ name, but the more she digs, the less sure she is that he’s innocent. Especially when he’s found at the scene of another murder.

With the guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess is in over her head. With the help of her best friend and business partner Kat, Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put behind bars and The Pearl is permanently cancelled.

I wanted to love this book. The summary sounds so good!! This book unfortunately fell flat with weird character inconsistencies and plot holes. Moreover, Jess’s irrational contempt for her sister-in-law because she keeps fit and enjoys yoga is also perplexing. Her judgmental attitude extends to her mother’s taste in fashion. Supercilious attitude aside, Jess’s decision to hide Lar’s sweatshirt, key evidence in the investigation, is bizarre and undermines the plot's credibility entirely. She’s way more interested in impressing the “hot cop” than anything else. The whole story is odd, especially because no one cares about the murder for half the book. I’d say this a skip but I’ll try the second book.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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This was a cute, cozy, and very pink book! It was a fun and a fast read, and overall it was refreshing. I will definitely read more by this author.

This was one of those books that I was trying to guess the murder the whole time. I also liked the romcom aspect of it and it was a feel good book.

I'm giving this my neutral-ish rating of three stars. To summarize here, it was a fast-paced, full of juicy drama, and fun at times book, but a lot of elements and approaches that I personally ended up not being a fan of.

Perfect for a summer read, Peril in Pink is a murder mystery set in an amazing and pink bed and breakfast recently opened by our main character Jess. Unfortunately for her, two murders occur that put the future of her b&b at risk. Peril in Pink is a murder mystery chock full of juicy drama and romance!

The vibes of this book was quite fun! I definitely recommend it for a summer read! The writing was fine, and the pacing was nice and fast-paced, especially at the end, where they do the classic whodunnit reveal! The middle did lag a little, especially with how a lot was happening in terms of characters and clues and whatnot, but not a lot in the sense of progression or plot development? The dialogue at times also fell flat at times, particularly in the humor.

I also don't think the book or plot was bad, but it had a lot of elements that I personally was not and normally am not, a fan of, especially when it comes to whodunnit mysteries. Normally, I love juicy drama, but it felt like too much focus was on the old high school drama that I felt like didn't even have some sort of closure in the end? I'm also more wanting to know about the mystery over anything else most of the times, but the book felt a bit more like a 60/40 on the drama/mystery scale. So if you do enjoy drama, especially old high school drama in a murder mystery, you'll enjoy this! I did manage to figure out who did it the first time, and got a little bit of the second time right as well so there is that!

I also didn't really care for any of the characters, and there were a good amount I even kind of disliked, unfortunately, Jess included.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!

I did enjoy this story of the "mystery murder at the bed and breakfast." Albeit, it was a bit cheesy at times, and Jess had LOTS AND LOTS of coffee (love that for her) but the story was good. It was predictable, yet in the same sense the author kept us on our toes. I suspected the killer, but then again wrote it off early on - so that was a pleasant surprise.
The B&B is every girls dream, pink, pools, champagne etc! Hello #girlstrip

This was a fun read - a summer read I'd say!

This was a fun read! Sydney Leigh has done a great job with this murder mystery, I really couldn't guess who the culprit was until it was revealed at the end. There are multiple characters that have varying side stories, but Sydney has done a great job of explaining in a way that kept me from getting lost. Jess and her friend Kat open their B&B but unfortunately a murder on opening weekend sends them down an unexpected path. They embark on their own task of determining what happened to try to get things back on track and ease the minds of their guests. The book had the right mix of mystery, humor, and old high-school drama to keep me entertained. I definitely recommend!

If you're looking for a small town cozy mystery/who-dun-it...this book is for you!
Two friends come back to their small home town to open a charming B&B. It's opening weekend and so many activities and festivities are planned! Live music, specialty drinks, outdoor yoga. all taking place in a beautiful setting.
The B&B is booked and family members are all helping out!
Even a small glitch with the live music is rectified and the guests are having an amazing time! With all this good karma, how could a murder take place? Wait!! Two murders! If you are into sleuthing and good at trying to piece together all the connections, motives, and opportunities...then try this story! You will appreciate the friendships and rivalries of a small town's history!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Peril in Pink is a murder mystery set in a brand new Bed and Breakfast in a cozy small town. Unfortunately the dialogue is awkward ( it reminds me of old white men writing dialogue that’s supposed to be “hip” or “hood” for teen movies) and the characters are insufferable (even the main character. Everyone is so wrapped up in gossip or trying to be a hero that they’re all in one another’s way). Our main character thinks that she can solve crime better than the police because she listens to true crime podcasts but spends more time defending people against her better judgment and commenting on the brands of clothes people are wearing that the author honestly lost me. I struggled to make it through the second half of this one. Unfortunate as the blurb made this one sound really charming and fun.

This book was such an easy, cozy, and most importantly fun read. Set in a fully pink B&B, I already knew that this book was going to be perfect for me.

With a glass of rosé in hand, I joined along for the ride on the B&B's opening weekend, that ended up not going quite as planned. The second the dead body was found, I was putting on my own detective hat and trying to figure out who did it. Who did this and almost ruined opening weekend?

The murder mystery wasn't as much of a mystery as I'd expected, but I don't mind because it was still fun and twisty and I had an absolute blast trying to figure out who'd done it.

I loved the pink setting, the extravagant characters, the hints of a troubled past and the swoon-worthy detective. (Who doesn't love a handsome detective?)

Immediately looking for a pink B&B to spend my next summer vacation at

Review of “Peril in Pink” by Sydney Leigh.

3 ⭐️

Thank you so much to the author, Sydney Leigh, for giving me an ARC of her book in exchange for a review. Peril in Pink is out on March 19, 2024.

I finished this story in one sitting! That definitely means it kept me hooked until the finale. I liked Jess and Kat a lot, and the B&B certainly feels like a place I’d like to spend a weekend once (minus the murders obviously) 💘

This book was a nice, quick read that had a good finale, although I did guess the plot quite easily. That’s fine though, I’ve spent a very cozy Sunday morning with this book. It’s not too much of an edge-on-your-seat thriller, but it sure is entertaining and it has some minor twists and turns that I appreciated. There’s many characters involved, but you’ll get to know them quickly enough to understand the story.

This was a quick and easy read with lots of humour! This was a great mix of cosy mystery with crime fiction all done with some lighthearted fun.

I really enjoyed the characters in this one - they were true to life and realistic.

The plot was filled with so much humour but also had suspense and unexpected twist.

This was a perfect palette cleanser after reading some hard hitting thrillers and I recommend this one to anyone!

"Peril in Pink" offers a delightful blend of charm and suspense in this sparkling debut mystery. Jess Byrne's dream of a grand opening for The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley takes a dark turn when her ex-boyfriend, reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong, becomes the prime suspect in a murder. The witty narrative, reminiscent of "Schitt’s Creek" and "Only Murders in the Building," unfolds as Jess races to clear Lars' name, navigating a web of secrets, scandals, and a second murder.

The author weaves a captivating tale against the picturesque backdrop of Hudson Valley, immersing readers in the glamorous yet perilous world of reality TV stardom. The character dynamics, particularly between Jess and Lars, add depth to the narrative, while the humor provides a delightful counterbalance to the mystery at hand.

As Jess unravels the truth, the B&B's reputation hangs in the balance, and the stakes are raised with each twist and turn. The lockdown scenario adds a layer of tension, making the reader feel the urgency of uncovering the real killer before it's too late. Jess's determination, coupled with the support of her best friend Kat, creates a dynamic duo that keeps the story engaging.

"Peril in Pink" not only serves up a compelling mystery but also explores themes of loyalty, fame, and the lengths one will go to protect their dreams. Fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of glamour will find this debut a delightful and engaging read, leaving them eagerly anticipating what mysteries await in the sequels.

This book reminded me of Netflix - sweet magnolias.

I did enjoy this book, it’s a very easy read and easy to follow once I worked out all the characters which did take me a bit of time at the start.

I didn’t guess the murderer I was sure I knew who it was and felt it was so obvious, but I was wrong

Squeeeee! We have been invited to attend the opening weekend of The Pearl Bed And Breakfast where it's "rosé all the way!" And the The Pearl is always Insta-ready, just like me! You will love the ambience, the vibe, the people and the staff; the murder on the property, not so much....

Jess and her best friend, Kat, buy out her aunt's house and renovate it into a pink paradise, along with her brother, who opened a bar, and her sister-in-law, who is the in-house yoga instructor/coach and it is time to open it up to the public. Even her ex-boyfriend, who became famous after their break-up, offered to perform on opening night.

Things are going great, the pink cocktails are flowing, until early the next morning a body is found lying facedown in the pond, dead. Of course, the guests are not allowed to leave until the police clear them and Jess is "all hands on deck" to help the rather handsome policeman, who happens to be a blast from the past, wrap up the investigation quickly.

Some of the characters, and there are many, are greater than others but Kat is definitely my spirit animal and I want to make her my whole personality! I loved Jess, her aunt and her brother, too, but I didn't really feel for the rest of the main players; and of the side characters, oh my gosh, the twins (when you first get to know them) are beyond adorable! Unfortunately, this leads to many, many suspects which can be very hard to keep track of, sometimes.

I enjoyed the whodunit (mystery) aspect very much, but I do feel that Jess maybe needs to calm down with all her conspiracy theories and just leave it to the detectives next time. What with all the suspects being in the same place, you soon get a Knives Out kind of scenario; however this is a little light on the Thriller.

The little love interest between Jess and the detective was nice and I did hope for a little more between these two but I also really hope for more from The Pearl B&B.

If you love cosy mysteries and whodunits, then grab yourself a copy and meet me in the lounge for a glass of pink rosé; cheers!

As someone who enjoys cozy mysteries but doesn’t read them often, this one was just what I didn’t know I needed. I was hooked on the lightness of it, the fun banter between friends and relatives alike. The romance aspect was cute and clean too, which I loved.

Overall, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book! It was easy breezy and full of giggles and I'm already looking forward to the author's next book....

This new cozy mystery was so good. I absolutely adored Jess and Kat and throwing in the ex boyfriend as a murder suspect is always a great idea. This was so good I read through this quickly and really loved it.
I just reviewed Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh. #PerilinPink #NetGalley
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