i was immediately drawn in by the description of this book being ‘schitt’s creek meets only murders in the building’ as both are big favourites of mine, especially only murders. it’s such a cool way to describe a book and i can see the similarities — however, i didn’t love this as much as i love those shows.

for starters, i didn’t connect with any characters. the book is written in first person, which i have no problem with usually, but this time i found it made me like the main character of jess less and less. i simply could not warm to her. some of the humour missed the mark for me, but that’s just a personal opinion.

but! it’s a lighthearted, cozy crime novel that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. it’s short and sweet, with a big cast of eclectic characters and an easy to follow plot. the cover is stunning too, which doesn’t hurt.

What a lovely cozy mystery! I loved it right from the start. Follow along with Jess, the owner of a hip and Instagram worthy new B&B that everyone is so eager to stay at. It’s opening weekend and things quickly turn deadly when a body is discovered. Jess is determined to still make sure her guests have an unforgettable weekend despite the grave circumstances. I loved how there were so many suspects and possible motives. It kept me guessing the whole time. There are so many entertaining clues and connections between characters that it definitely keeps you on your toes. And can we talk about the hot Detective James Holloway? I loved his interactions with Jess and was anxiously waiting to see if either of them would act on the chemistry sparking between them!

Thank you so much Sydney, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

This was a fun and lighthearted mystery! It was a super quick read for me- all the elements of a fun cozy mystery.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC! This book is marketed as a Schitts Creek cozy mystery. But I didn't pick up that vibe, and the use of slang in this book is so out of place. It felt like when TV show writers tried to write teenagers. It was also very hard to keep track of the characters, they didn't feel like real people.

I found this book to be a quick and enjoyable read. I thoroughly enjoyed the pop reference quotes throughout which goes hand in hand with the instagrammable location.

It is a fun and light thriller but for me I like my thrillers a little more darker and more suspenseful.

Overall it’s a good book and very easy to read and follow. 🌟 🌟🌟🌟

In the small town of Hudson Valley, Jess and her best friend Kat have opened up a luxurious bed and breakfast with abundant rosé. For the grand opening, Jessica’s famous ex-boyfriend Lars offers a live performance to make for a successful first weekend. However, when Lars's manager/stepfather is found dead on the B&B’s property, the business's success is at stake. It does not help matters when a second murder occurs, and Lars is found by the body but pleads that he is innocent. Jess must work to solve the murder and clear Lars's name, and fast, before the reputation of her B&B suffers.

This book is everything that you want a cozy mystery to be. You have your female sleuth, who is not trained in crime solving but pieces together gossip from the community and clues she finds to solve the case. This works well as Jess is active in the community as a B&B owner.
The atmosphere of the B&B was well described and detailed, making everything easy to visualize. The main focus was on the murder, not the violence associated with it. So if you want to read a mystery but don’t love gruesome details, this is the perfect book for you.

And best of all, each character had something to hide, and I was left guessing till the end. Peril in Pink was a fun whodunit that I did not want to put down. I would love to see another cozy detective fiction from this author 💕

Rose All Day is a great way to start the day….at The Pearl B&B. Probably one of the most contemporary (and still on trend) cozies I’ve read to date. A fun and light read!

Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This fast-paced read is perfect for fans of Schitt’s Creek and Only Murders in the Building. This cozy mystery really hits the spot. There was a good group of characters in this book. I was kept guessing on who the killer was and it is always a nice change when the end is not super predictable but still plausible. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

Thank-you to Author Sydney Leigh for reaching out and asking if I would like to read Peril in Pink as an ARC through NetGalley

This book comes out March 2024 and if I were you, I'd pick it up.
I love a good murder mystery, 'who-dunnit' type book and this one had me guessing throughout. Normally with these types of books you can guess who it was and when the culprit is revealed it's not a surprise. Well consider me surprised! Did not see the culprit being who it was and when my main suspect ended up being unalived as well, I was confused.

The way the ending came together was very clever and the clues were all there throughout the book, just not in an obvious way at all. The whole plot was so well written and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it - I think it took me about 4/5 hours in total.

The writing was excellent,really told the story and progressed the plot along nicely. None of the scenes felt rushed and it was all just tied together so neatly at the end in a perfectly pink bow.

There is a tiny bit of slow-burn romance sprinkled throughout between Detective Holloway and Jess but this was far from the main plot. There was also the small storyline between Jess and her High School Sweetheart Lars but again, it wasn't there for a romance aspect.

Throw in an adorable dog as a cute side-kick type character and I am all for this book.
I really enjoyed reading it and was perfect for this time of year!

I like a good mystery, so I decided to give this a shot. I did like the main character, but the plot didn’t pull me in the way I wanted it to. Plus the murdered characters weren’t likable at all, so I really didn’t care too much who did it. I was a well-written book though and a pretty quick read.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

You have to know what you're getting with this kind of cover and descriptive blurb. This was cute, fine, enjoyable, but nothing that I will remember weeks after reading it.

The main character Jess and her best friend just opened their own B&B working together with her brother who runs the bar joined with the B&B. They plan the most spectacular opening weekend inviting her now famous ex-boyfriend to come and sing at the bar. Everything is looking up until a dead body turns up on the property and her ex-boyfriend is number one suspect in the murder. Jess believes in his innocence and is determined to help him by finding the real murderer. The mystery it was awesome I wasn’t sure who the real killer. I went back and forth undecided on who the cuprit was. The town they live in and B&B are both quirky and fun. There is even a dreamy detective which we don’t get to see much of so I hope if the books continue Jess has more with detective. I love cozy mysteries but I tend to try to pick ones with a bit of romance this one could have a bit more of that and I hope if does as the series progresses.

DNF -- I loved the premise but unfortunately good marketing couldn't make up for characters that were hard to connect with and a writing style that grated on my nerves. I hope this book finds its audience, but I won't be recommending it to others.

I really enjoyed this book!! It definitely was a nice low stake mystery that was a perfect change of pace from the intense thrillers I typically read. I also loved the setting of the B & B so much that I wish I could actually stay there. Overall, I definitely recommend this book!!

So here’s the thing: I’m annoyed with myself that I fell for the blurb for this book, which bills Peril in Pink as ‘Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building.’ That and the boldly illustrated pink cover had me thinking, “Right, sign me up now.”

And I really did want to enjoy Peril in Pink. It all kicked off so promisingly with the grand opening of the luxury, Instagrammable, perfectly pink B&B ‘The Pearl’ in Hudson Bay, where the rosé and cocktails flow.

Owner Jess Byrne has planned the best launch event and has even managed to persuade her ex-boyfriend, Lars Armstrong, now a hugely successful reality TV singer, to perform live to guests.

As the guests check-in, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager, Bob, but the celebrations stop when Bob is discovered dead, and Lars becomes the prime suspect.

With her new B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons and keen to protect her new business’ reputation, Jess agrees to help Lars clear his name, which leads her into a spiral of secrets and unexplained mysteries. The pressure mounts when there is another murder with Lars at the scene, and Jess is forced to uncover the truth behind the murders and prove Lars’ innocence.

On paper, this sounds like an engrossing read but there are so many things about the characterisation and plot that didn’t work for me.

The main character, Jess’s reaction to a sudden death slash murder on her brand-new business premises on her important launch weekend was utterly baffling. In fact, rather than feel any kind of shock or sorrow for what’s happened, she instead fancies the police officer who arrives to investigate. She seems keener to impress said ‘hot cop’ rather than unravel the murder mystery before her (while criticising others for not caring about said killing).

Moreover, Jess’s irrational contempt for her sister-in-law because she keeps fit and enjoys yoga is also perplexing. And 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.

It’s an odd plot with one-dimensional characters no one cares about and an irritating, judgmental protagonist who lacks any depth or interest.

‘Peril in Pink’ held such promise as a compelling, cosy ‘whodunnit’ but its contradictory story and weak characters let it down for me. Perhaps it will appeal to readers looking for a light and fluffy read, but it will fall significantly short of the mark for those looking for an engrossing, insightful, gripping mystery. Just 2-stars from me,

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in excahnge for an honest and unbiased review.

This book started off great but I felt like it simmered down. I liked the variety in characters and the writing of this one. The mystery was also really well done.

Thank you to NetGallry and the publishers for providing this ARC!

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set at the opening of a Bed & Breakfast. Jess and her friend Kat turn a home into a Bed & Breakfast. Her bother opens a bar on the property and her sister-in-law has Yoga Classes.
The Pearl Bed & Breakfast is set in Hudson Valley. As part of the opening weekend her ex-boyfriend who is reality singing star Lars Armstrong is to perform live. He is set to return home and sing for the town. When Lars comes back he brings is step-dad Bob who is now his manager. He is not liked by the town and when he comes up dead, the first suspect is Lars.
Adding to the drama filled weekend Lars’s rival and 2nd up in the competition shows up. You know that will provide drama, but he comes to Jess’s rescue. The handsome detective works with Jess and others to find out how Bob was killed. A lot of town secrets are about to unfold and everyone has a stake Can they get to the bottom of this mystery?

PERIL IN PINK - Sydney Leigh
3.5🌟
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This debut murder mystery story has a death occur on the opening weekend of The Pearl B&B. Jess Byrne, the owner, unable to stop her herself starts working to figure out just who the perpetrator of said murder is, and with a B&B full of guests, she is not short of suspects.
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The description of this book has it giving Only Murders in the Building vibes and I definately got that. Not only does Jess enjoy a good murder mystery podcast, she is trying her hardest to figure out who the murder is. And I dont blame her I would want to know what happened if I had just opened as well. While I did enjoy the story I just couldn't get into the characters as much, meaning I just wasnt as invested in the stroy as I could have been. Overall a good easy read though.
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Thanks to #netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A whodunnit based in a small town in America, this is a tale with intrigue and a sprinkling of romance.

Jessica has sold up and moved back to her hometown to open up a boutique bed and breakfast with her best friend Kat and brother Nate. Her old boyfriend from school , Lars, has won a nationwide singing competition and offers to sing at the opening of the bed and breakfast. All is going well until Lars’ manager is brutally murdered in the grounds and so Jess feels compelled to investigate to save her business and because she loves a true crime podcast.

There are plenty of suspects to pick from, rival singers, townspeople who were conned out of life savings, and some are closer to home than others. Will Jess solve the crime and will she rekindle her old romance or fall for the new detective on the case. There are lots of questions to be answered

This is a perky book, light and easy to read with an excellent twist at the end. It feels like a great introduction for younger readers as an introduction to cosy crime

I was really excited to read this book, the cover and description were perfect for me but unfortunately I didn't particularly enjoy it. I found the constant pop culture and brand references jarring. The descriptions and scene setting was good but I found myself not really caring about the mystery aspect of the book, I wasn't invested in the characters or the plot. Perhaps I had this reaction. because none of the characters cared that there had been two murders in the B&B, something I found strange when reading.