Peril in Pink is the perfect mystery for the millennial murderino in your life! I’m just bummed this isn’t a real life bnb because I’d love to visit. I’ll have to settle for anxiously awaiting the next book in the sure to be hit series!

I couldn’t really get into this book and the main character annoyed me at times. The vibes were good and match the aesthetic of the cover. However it took me so long to read and some bits were very cringey for example the cafe name and Lars.

A big kudos to the team behind this book -the theme and cover design exude on point vibes !!

For the life of me, I couldn't get into this book. The fmc was unlikable, none of the threads tied together at the end and I was puzzled with the fmc's motive behind running the investigation versus running her B&B.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for this honest review!

3.7⭐️
This book was written great and smooth, the suspense build up was great, but I couldn’t get past how child like the character acted sometimes, which made the storyline look a little bit different for me from the point on. Again it was written great, it was just hard to imagine them as the adults they are supposed to be with the way some of them were acting. This felt more like a high school type drama to me.

[3.5] i reallyyy liked the whole aesthetic and vibe of this book, as a cosy mystery / thriller, with modern references and a genuinely interesting plot. i did find some of the theories about suspects a little confusing, as they became quite complex, and the ending finished pretty abruptly, but other than that - i would recommend!!

thank you to netgalley and crooked lane books for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh (slated for March 2024) [Arc]

Pink turns red in this one-location whodunit set in The Pearl—the newest, pink-dripped B&B in Hudson Valley, New York, owned by best friends Jess and Kate. Determined to protect their business from a bloodstain, the two friends play detective to unravel the secrets of their first guests and find the true killer.

The perils 🔪

- Quite frugal with handouts at the start, so the reveal at the end seemed relatively rushed in a let’s-wrap-it-up kind of way. In fact, by the end of it all preliminary details seemed completely irrelevant!
- The romance was teenager cheesy and at times smushed awkwardly between more “serious” scenes. It just didn’t fit the tone of the rest of the book.
- None of the characters are likeable or substantial. They are mere cardboard cutouts.
- The ending had an unexpected direction, which is a euphemism for “it was confusing and loose and I don’t understand”. The motives behind the killer’s evasion also felt flimsy, and I was hungry for more foundation.

The pinks 🍬

This book, I feel, is meant to be fun, light, and cosy—and it was! My rationality will scrutinise the technalities but truthfully, reading this murder mystery gave me some dopamine hits. The concept is extremely likeable, donning something like Only Murders in the Building meets a Sophie Kinsella story, switching out the show’s sombre mood for more pink and fluff. This would be great for a brainless rainy day in or a holiday.

For full enjoyment, don’t overthink it!

The overall P’s 🔪🍬
Promising but pale… and yet perky.

Rating: 2.5 stars
[Finished 13/9/23]

I wanted to love it but I could not get into it. It took me a while to get invested in the story. There was not enough twist and turns for me. Also Lars was cringe….

A new mystery sleuth that is fast-paced and easy to read. I love how the MC solved the mystery and you can finish this book within a day. One of my best reads this 2023.

I tried my best to be able to read this book but it was not for me. I’m sure it will be a great read for someone but, I was not able to finish it. I DNF’d 30% in.

This was a fun and easy read that went quickly! As well as the Schitts Creek x Only Murders In the Building description, I got a Janet Evanovich vibe from the book. It's full of quirky characters who can easily be fleshed out more on in a potential sequel!

I enjoyed the variety of people who were found to have motives so the killer wasn't immediately identifiable and the idea that the reader too could find clues if they read carefully enough. I would have liked the motives to have been expanded on a bit further, but it was a solid book with a mid story twist I didn't see coming! The only other thing I found clunky was the use of B and B instead of the more common B&B, but I generally enjoyed the style of writing and the pop culture references made the dialogue seem more realistic and contemporary. Thank you for this ARC!

I love a good cozy murder mystery book and this one was just that. Love the small-town vibes and the B and B vibes. The characters were relatable, funny, and blended well together. Liked how the mystery unfolded. Also enjoyed how the book ended. Would recommend this book as a good read by the pool/beach book.

Everything is coming up rosé for innkeeper Jess Byrne until a murder on opening weekend gives her B&B’s killer vibe a whole new meaning.


This was pretty boring, honestly. I don't feel like it added anything to the genre.

DNF @ 40%

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

My main issue with this book is the fmc :
She doesn’t like her sister in law because she is sporty and can be considered accomplished. There’s literally no one in the bead and breakfast that’s fazed by the fact that there’s been a murder, ESPECIALLY the fmc, who has totally unrealistic reactions to the whole situation.

I honestly think that it could be an enjoyable read, I just personally couldn’t go on reading because of the fmc.

3.75*

Jess and Kat opened a B&B in what used to be their aunt's house. It is opening weekend, and they hired Jess's ex, who is now a famous singer, to perform on the first evening. However, he cancels, and the next morning, his stepdad, who is also his manager, is found dead. Now, they need to figure out what has happened.

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was already obsessed, and this book definitely did live up to that hype. I am so honoured that I got to read this as an ARC, and I will strive to have as many people read this as possible. I loved how the setting was a small B&B. Now, yes, I know that most murder mysteries are set in similar locations, but that is what makes it good. A murder happening in the middle of New York would not be realistic. Next to that, I was obsessed with the characters. Not a second, I believe it was Lars, but then I also don't think it was the author's intention to make us believe that he was the killer. I was a little disappointed, though, about the ending. I would have wished that either Jess or another character in the book figured everything out through difficult clues instead of just telling. But I was really invested and had a lot of fun reading this book.

Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh is a debut cozy mystery. The cover is cute and pink and giving “Barbie solves a murder mystery” vibes. I loved the premise for this book, and could see the author choosing to make this a series, and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries picking it up for a made-for-TV movie.

It’s opening weekend for The Pearl B&B, a perfectly pink Insta-worthy Palm Springs themed boutique bed and breakfast in NY. Owners, Jess and Kat hope to cater to bachelorette parties, girls looking to getaway, or couples on a romantic holiday. Jess bought and renovated her grandmother’s old home to create The Pearl, so there’s a lot at stake for the weekend to go well. The duo is aided by her brother Nick, in-house bartender and owner of the Cool Vibes Cafe next door, and his wife, yogi-master Sarah. Jess even hired her ex-boyfriend and reality singing sensation, Lars Armstrong to perform on opening night. But when Lars’ step-father turned manager turns up dead and Lars is deemed the prime suspect, Jess realizes that the reputation of the B&B is in jeopardy. Things are made worse when Lars is found in the vicinity of a second body. Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put behind bars and the Pearl is permanently cancelled. After all, “it’s not exactly a selling point to have two murders take place on opening weekend.”

I enjoyed it and would rate this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️ out 5 stars. There were a few strange turns of phrase that didn’t make sense to me without more context, and a few plot points that didn’t flush out as fully as I thought they might. But overall a fun read and a great setting for future books.

I recommend enjoying this with a glass of chilled rosé, at the pool or by the beach for added ambiance. 🌴🦩🥂💕 Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“‘Jess, there’s a murderer running around. I don’t think that now’s the time to play amateur sleuth.’
I frowned at him. ‘If not now, when?’”

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Not going to lie, the cover was what attracted me to this book to begin with. But I can say with absolute certainly that it was worth the eye catching cover!

For this particular book, my mom and I actually read this together. And we had a blast. We were totally engrossed in the story and could hardly put the digital copy down! Any mystery reader will want to give this book a go.

Oh, it is going to be a fantastic grand opening! Jess Byrne and Kat Miller, best friends and business partners, are opening The Pearl B&B in Fletcher Lake. Nate Byrne and his wife Sarah have already opened The Cool Vibes Café, already a hot spot. Guests to the B&B will be delighted they can enjoy Nate's mixology skills or local IPA beer from the café bar steps from the B&B's pool. The highlight of the grand opening weekend will be the live performance by Lars Armstrong, returning to his hometown after a recent win in the reality competition "Sing This!" Jess and Lars are still single, so perhaps a high school romance will be rekindled. After all, what could go wrong?

The opening setting has set up a delightful venue for cozy adventures. The twists begin with an inheritance by siblings, continuing their grandmother's entrepreneurial spirit but changing the business offering from boarding house to separate business opportunities of a B&B and café/bar and twice as exciting provided adjacent to one another. Wait until everyone realizes the property also offers a pool, deck, firepit, gazebo, and access to the locals-only beach entrance across the street. I still wish readers could book their reservations too!

After all the careful planning, no one expected crime scene tape to be anywhere on the property and guests to be interviewed during an investigation, as this scenario doesn't fit the motto of "Cool Vibes Only." While Lars is trying to gain his ex's attention, Detective James Holloway may be leading the investigation and casting competing romantic sparks. I tried to match my sleuthing skills, but as the investigation progressed, the list of suspects grew in number rather than narrowing the field, adding to the intrigue with so many individuals having motives. Ultimately, I was close but not close enough, as I had missed an earlier clue.

With the B&B focusing on the demographic of late twenties and early thirties, their advertising may be propelled with hashtags and reviews by satisfied guests on Instagram, simultaneously capturing the attention of new cozy readers as many B&Bs have given opportunities for characters at a different stage of life. Kudos for this delightful new spin!

I'm already enticed to pre-order additions to this series!

Thank you to Sydney Leigh, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

#PerilInPink #NetGalley

With a reference to Only Murders, I was excited to pick this up. It's a cute take on a whodunit. It's going to start a little slow as you meet the characters, and then dive into the fun. I found some of the target demographic talk a little tiresome, but overall enjoyed the ride. It included at least one plot twist that I didn't expect but completely made sense, which is always a win in my book, especially in a good whodunit.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review.
Peril in Pink was witty, funny and just really fun to read. It’s a cozy murder mystery that is an easy read.

I loved the concept of this book - Schitt's Creek meets Only Murders? Sign me up.

This book took a bit long to get going in the beginning, although I think most of this was to establish suspects for the murder. There are a few minor pet peeves (character finishing a steaming cup of coffee in two bits of dialogue) that were more personal preference than anything. I found a few of the characters flat and unlikable at times, mostly Jess and her mother. I also think the relationship with Lars could have been more fleshed out for it to make more sense. Jess gave him a lot of trust without much backstory to back it up, especially since everyone else said he was so horrible.

There were also several named characters, and it was hard to keep track at times. I will say, there was a plot twist at 65% that I didn't see coming, which is always nice in a mystery. That pulls it to a 2.75/5 for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy.