Member Reviews

When all was said and done, this was a fun and charming whodunit that I could not put down, quickly becoming a page-turner. All the pieces were there, the protagonist or two who decided to help the police investigate the murder; a B&B full of potential suspects, a mother who has friends in high places that can help gather clues, and the killer who was hiding in plain sight doing everything possible to keep their misdeed from being discovered. I liked how the author staged this with visually descriptive narrative, engaging dialogue, and a cast of characters, where a few had pivotal roles in how well this story was being told. There were a few surprises tossed in to keep me guessing throughout until the killer’s identity was revealed. Overall, this was a delightfully entertaining debut, and I can’t wait for more adventures with Jess and her friends.

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Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building
It was a pretty good cozy mystery with a not so predictable ending.
Definitely a murder mystery with humor, I kept snorting throughout the entire book.
Also seeing my name mentioned in the story has been pretty nice, that's a first for me.

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Holy cannoli! A quick, easy read that was peppered with giggle-worthy humor, Peril in Pink was just that the doctor ordered—especially in between some harder hitting thrillers. A delightful mix of cozy mystery with just a dash of crime fiction, it still brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.

The biggest winner to this slam dunk success, however, were easily the characters. One hundred percent genuine and true-to-life, their relationships were heartwarming and hit just the right chord. On top of that, the dialogue flowed easily and made for scenes that felt like they came straight out a well-written movie.

The plot was simply a boatload of fun. Filled with plenty of humor and wit, the slowly unwinding puzzle of who could have been behind the murderous plot felt natural to this mystery snob. Quite frankly, it had definite Agatha Christie-esque vibes that made the whole book a total home run.

All said and done, I can’t recommend this knockout debut strongly enough. The perfect kind of palate cleanser for this thriller addict, Leigh has, without a doubt, made a memorable splash to the world of mystery books. There’s only one thing left bugging me just a bit—my utmost desire to see this as just the first book in what’s sure to be a bestselling series. So if you’re looking for the ultimate vacation from all things stressful, grab a copy of this brilliant dive into all things cozy. You definitely won’t regret it. Rating of 5 stars.

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I really wanted to at least enjoy this book, even if I couldn’t like it, but it was so overwhelmingly cutesy. Also, overwhelmingly 2016 Buzzfeed Millennial. It just didn’t do it for me, but I am genuinely sure it will be a great read for people who don’t mind that as much.

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Grab your magnifying glass and a glass of rosé because "Peril in Pink" by Sydney Leigh is a sparkling debut mystery that's a perfect blend of Schitt's Creek charm and Only Murders in the Building intrigue!

Picture this: The grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, complete with mimosas and the swoon-worthy performance of reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong. But wait for the twist - the morning after this dazzling event, things take a dark turn when Lars' stepdad-turned-manager, Bob, is found dead, and Lars himself becomes the prime suspect.

Enter our fearless innkeeper, Jess Byrne, who's not just a genius at creating Insta-worthy welcomes but also at solving mysteries. She couldn't resist helping Lars clear his name, especially when the reputation of her B&B hangs in the balance. But the deeper she digs, the cloudier the waters get. Is Lars truly innocent? Another murder on the scene makes things even murkier.

With guests under lockdown, the B&B making headlines for all the wrong reasons, and a mysterious killer on the loose, Jess and her best friend Kat are in for a rollercoaster of twists, turns, and surprise suspects. "Peril in Pink" keeps you guessing until the very end.

Sydney Leigh's writing is as effervescent as the finest rosé, making this cozy mystery impossible to put down. You'll find yourself immersed in a world where quirky characters, humor, and suspense blend seamlessly. Whether you're a fan of murder mysteries or just looking for a fun read to curl up with, "Peril in Pink" is a delightful choice.

So, don't wait! Grab a copy, sip some rosé, and join Jess on a journey that'll keep you guessing and giggling until the final page. This book is a true gem, perfect for cozy nights in or sharing with friends.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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This is a good first book by the author.

It is about Innkeeper Jess trying to have a Grand Opening for her B&B Inn that she is starting with her best friend, brother and sister in law.

An ex boyfriend Lars volunteers to be the entertainment for her opening which sounds great on paper. He’s a cute famous singer coming back to their hometown to help a friend out..or is it to help himself??

Lars is found under suspicious circumstances with two dead bodies and he convinces Jess to help proof his innocence for old times sake.

Last but not least we have a cute detective who so happens to have s grudge against Lars that goes back to their High School days.

It was a well plotted who done it. I felt my age when reading some of the sayings in this book lol.
‘WITWWVBD’ this means what in the world would Victoria Beckham Do. Who knew that was a thing lol. I think the book would have been without these type of cliches.

All and all a good quick read. Hopefully there will be a sequel.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

#PerilinPink #NetGalley#Cozyread

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Sadly this one is going to have to be a DNF for me due to the electronic formatting.
If I sent it to Kindle and it was extremely choppy. Going to the next line mid sentence, having one word and then going to the next line, etc. it made it completely unreadable. It was reading like the book Million Little Pieces.
I tried to read it on my phone in the met galley app and there wasn't a comfortable way to zoom in to read the words and then go to the next page.
I don't feel like this is to the fault of the author or the story, but I cannot get into the book with the formatting issues.

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I so badly wanted to book a stay at the Pearl after reading this book! The perfect mix of Only Murders in the Building and Schitt’s Creek! I couldn’t put the book down! I loved the characters, the writing is superb, the plot is wonderful. I truly haven’t felt this way about a book in a long time! A super fun easy read!

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Sadly, I found myself having to DNF. While the book premise was interesting, this was not the right book for me. After a couple of tries, I just found myself unable to get into the story. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Jessica and her bestie, Kat are co-partners of a new pink flamingo themed B and B. On their opening night, Jesse invites her ex and her school sweetheart now turned small town celebrity to perform and he shows up with his creepy agent/step-dad, his assistant who seems to hate his step-dad's guts and then some of Jesse's high school bullies show up as well. What could go wrong, right?

Sarah, Jessica's sister-in-law finds a body drowned in the pond on the premises the following morning. The detective on the case places a mini lock down on the bed-and-breakfast to him help investigate the murder. Jessica, also a true crime podcast enthusiast enlists herself to help Detective... get to the bottom of this gruesome act of violence.

This was a cozy mystery and for an author's debut it was a fine blend of sweet and bloody. I expected more bloody and thrilling scenes, less fluff and celebrity gossip.

I thought at least there would be more back story explaining the drama and tension between the characters. Also, the investigation process also kind of got lost within the tiktok, instagramer girlies weekend getaway vibes and RuPaul's drag race references.

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I felt like this book was written for me! When I read the description of ‘Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building’ I had to read it! This book definitely gives off Finlay Donovan vibes, which is a huge seller at the bookstore I work at! I also loved all the pop culture references!

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Jess Byrne and her partner Kat are openning a B&B in Hudson Valley. The draw for the opening weekend
is Lars Armstrong, the recent winner of a talent competition and Jess's former high school boyfriend.
When Lars' stepfather/manager Bob is killed, Lars asks Jess to investigate.
Bob's past misdeeds in the community and connections to some of the B&B guests gives Jess a
list of suspects to look into. Uncovering the killer is vital to the survival of the B&B.
#PerilinPink #NetGalley

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The writing needs some more editing. I think the plot is fun and may work for a wide audience of contemporary romance readers but the voice is quite immature and unrealistic. Cover is super pretty and is what drew me in the first place. I really wanted to like this I just did not.

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Sip sip hooray! It’s Rosé all day! What a fun cozy murder mystery that is somewhat reminiscent of Finlay Donovan books. 💓

In this debut novel Jess is hosting a grand opening for her very own Pearl Bed and Breakfast. She needs to make sure everything foes off without a hitch as the cameras will be rolling for social media. She invites her ex, Lars to perform for all the guests. All seems to be going well until Bob, Lars stepdad who happens to also be his neighbor turns up dead. All fingers seem to be pointing at Lars. Jess needs to keep the reputation of her new B&B clean so she agrees to try and help Lars find the real killer. With no guests allowed to leave Jess works as quickly as she can to get to the bottom of this mess before The Pearl gets canceled.

I thought this was a fun drama filled lighthearted (for me) cozy mystery! The setting was super fun being at a small town bed and breakfast and the characters were entertaining. There was plenty of times I caught myself chuckling at the funny banter and easy to like characters. The suspense was perfect and I found myself guessing what happened until the end. If you’re looking for a fun cozy, consider this one!

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Sadly I had to DNF this one. I just could not get into the story. I did give it a few tries.

I dont read a lot of cozy mysteries, so maybe that is why I had difficulty. So if you do like those I would suggest giving it a try still!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this work in exchange for an honest review!

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Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!

The opening of Jess Byrne and Kat Miller’s B&B is going great, but that all changes when someone gets murdered.

“Peril in Pink” by Sydney Leigh is a cozy debut mystery that I enjoyed reading.
The storyline was good, I loved reading about Jess talking to/interrogating the suspects and trying to solve who did it. I really enjoyed there being multiple suspects, it kept me guessing throughout the whole book. I liked most of the characters, such as Jess and Kat, and there are also characters I would have liked to see more of, like James Holloway.
I definitely recommend this small-town, cozy mystery, which comes out March 19, 2024!

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Calling all mystery lovers, Peril in Pink will be one of your 2023 favorite reads! I loved the way Sydney Leigh kept me entertained throughout the book.

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PERIL IN PINK is a fun cozy mystery set in the Hudson Valley. I liked the small town setting with the cute B&B backdrop. Jess was a fun heroine to follow along with. I liked her true crime interest, but could have done without the My Favorite Murder obsession - it sort of took me out of the story at times since it was repeated so often. Fans of the FINLAY DONOVAN series will likely be attracted to this fabulous cover and similar feeling story. PERIL IN PINK is lowstakes and easy to read. When the warmer months come back, this would make a great vacation read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. PERIL IN PINK is out March 19, 2024!
Rating: 3.5/stars

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•Mysterious Death
•Killer on the loose
•Light & Cosy Debut Mystery

The book is intriguing, twisted and unputdownable. The characters are warm and some are mysterious. I loved the sibling bond of Nate and Jess. On the day of the grand opening of Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, something unfortunate happens and it brings the B&B’s reputation at stake. Bob is found dead and Lars is a primary suspect. Jess is trying to uncover the truth. But the truth is twisted and not how it seems to be. Lars is her ex-boyfriend. Will she get to the bottom of the mystery? All the characters are warm and intriguing. Bob’s death unveils so many buried truths. Jess team up with her best friend and Kat to solve the murder mystery. Loved the ending. If you are looking for a light and cosy Mystery, this is for you.

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This was my first cozy mystery, and I really liked it!  It was a fun, drama filled, whodunit that had me guessing until the very end. 

Jess Bryne returns home to the Hudson Valley to open The Pearl B & B with her friend Kat.  Opening weekend is supposed to be perfect and insta-worthy.  They have their chilled bottles of rosè for the guests and Lars Armstrong, who just won a reality singing show to play live. Lars also happens to be Jess's ex.  He shows up with his stepdad/manager, Bob, and his assistant Nicky in tow.  But when Bob turns up dead, Lars becomes the prime suspect.  The B & B's reputation is on the line, and she knows Lars didn't do it.  She decides to investigate on her own.  The more she digs, the more she wonders about his innocence, especially when he's found at the scene of another murder.  Can Jess get to the bottom of this to clear Lars' name and protect her B & B?

I really enjoyed this book. The small town setting, the mystery, and the witty banter among the characters made this book very entertaining.  It was well written, and I really had no idea what happened to Bob until it was revealed.  Not going to lie, I also wondered if the author is a Metallica fan, lol😂 If you're looking for a lighthearted cozy mystery, I would definitely recommend this one.

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