Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building vibes?! My first thought was “Sign. Me. Up.”

I was expecting the vibes of Barbie Detective solving a murder at her B&B, and felt like there could have definitely been more of an Alexis Rose vibe in the female main character.

I did love the cover and thought that this was a cozy, cute mystery. I liked that I didn’t know who the killer was until the end and that it kept me guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read this one but sadly I couldn't get into it as I'd have loved. Writing style wasn't for me, not enough twists to keep me interested and didn't love the characters.

3.5 stars This was a fun, light read. The characters were interesting and funny, and I liked the dynamic between Jess and Kat. I also enjoyed the imagery and descriptions of the settings, mainly the hotel. I have to say the last third of the book really lost me. The mystery and sleuthing of this book were a bit of a letdown for me personally. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

"Peril in Pink" by Sydney Leigh is a lively and entertaining debut mystery that serves up a blend of humor and suspense in the cozy setting of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley. The book introduces us to Jess Byrne, the innkeeper, and her unexpected involvement in solving a murder that occurs during the B&B's grand opening.

The premise of the story is engaging, with a touch of Schitt's Creek charm and a dash of Only Murders in the Building intrigue. The character dynamics, including the presence of Jess's ex-boyfriend, reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong, add an interesting layer to the plot.

While "Peril in Pink" has its moments of humor and suspense, I'm giving it a 3-star rating because some aspects of the plot and character development felt a bit predictable and formulaic. The cozy mystery genre often relies on established tropes, and this book adheres to them closely.

However, the book shines in its depiction of the B&B setting, and the witty banter between Jess and her best friend and business partner, Kat, adds a fun dynamic to the narrative.

Peril in Pink starts out by introducing the reader to Jess Byrne, owner of the Pearl Bed-and-Breakfast. This place is a pink millennial dream - think blush pink doors, wood furniture, leafy green plants, and tall glass windows, perfect for a weekend getaway that is perfectly photogenic. The B&B is filled with an assortment of people for the opening weekend, including Jess’ business partner/BFF, a rising music star, Jess’ brother and sister-in-law, a hunky cop, and an assortment of guests. The opening night experiences some issues when things don’t go as planned, and the following morning a body is found at the B&B. Jess is determined not to let her dream business tank, and tried to discover what happened before it is too late.

This book is the picture perfect (pink) locked-room mystery. It has twists and isn’t formulaically predictable the way some cozy mysteries feel. The setting was described very well and made me feel like I was inside a modern Barbie B&B. The characters are multidimensional and unique without having too much time spent on character development. As a frequent cozy mystery reader, I appreciated that the main character was very different than some of the standard types. Jess is 28, divorced, has a dog, and is following her dream opening a business with her best friend with help from her Aunt, brother, and sister-in-law.

Content warnings for this book include death, murder, divorce, financial troubles, and sports injuries. I’d recommend this book for frequent cozy mystery readers looking for something fresh/unique, anyone who enjoys the pink Barbie vibes, and anyone who wants a fun and quick read that feels like a mini vacation.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sydney Leigh, and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of Peril in Pink!

I loved every minute of this humorous mystery set in a brand new bed and breakfast. There's so many fun characters with many twists along the way. I'd love to read more from Sydney Leigh.

I liked this book but I just couldn't get into the story. I didn't like the writing style but overall the story was good.

"Peril in Pink" by Sydney Leigh promises a thrilling blend of mystery, celebrity drama, and small-town intrigue, making it a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries.

The story begins with an enticing setup: the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, featuring a performance by reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong, who also happens to be the ex-boyfriend of B&B owner Jess Byrne. However, the festivities take a dark turn when Lars's stepdad-turned-manager, Bob, is found dead, and Lars becomes the prime suspect. This immediately plunges readers into a suspenseful and engaging narrative.

The plot appears to be well-crafted, with layers of intrigue, suspicious circumstances, and unexpected twists. The idea of being locked down with a killer among the B&B's guests adds a sense of urgency and tension to the story. The promise of another murder involving Lars raises questions about his innocence and keeps readers guessing.

Jess Byrne, as the B&B owner and amateur sleuth, is poised to be a relatable and determined protagonist. Her willingness to help clear Lars's name, even in the face of mounting evidence against him, makes her a character worth rooting for.

The book's focus on the potential damage to the B&B's reputation and its implications for Jess and her best friend and business partner, Kat, adds a layer of stakes beyond the murder mystery, making the story more multifaceted.

"Peril in Pink" seems like an intriguing addition to the cozy mystery genre, offering readers a blend of celebrity drama, small-town charm, and amateur sleuthing. For those who enjoy mysteries with a touch of glamour and a dash of humor, this book holds the promise of an entertaining and suspenseful read.

bookwormdanii * ARC REVIEW *
Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh
My Rating: 3/5

Review: Thank you @sydneyleighmystery for writing this book and letting me read it & This was a fun, cozy mystery that I enjoyed all the way through. Many of the mysteries I read are intense and heavy so this was my first cozy mystery!

Jess and Kat worked hard to open the Pearl, their dream pink, Instagram inspired B&B. They had planned opening weekend to a T, but could never have prepared for what actually happened. This book becomes a whodunnit, clue like mystery where everyone could be the suspect.. maybe? I enjoyed the salute to pop culture throughout this book with mentions of RuPaul's Drag Race, The Kardashians, Kurt Cobain, Star Wars, Ryan Reynolds, etc. It was a nice touch and I could relate to the book more through those pop culture references.

This is a good book to cuddle up next to a fire and read on a chilly day. You'll think you've solved the mystery but there are so many moving parts, you'll be second guessing yourself the entire time.

Pre-order yours now through Amazon!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1639106391/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1694779447&sr=8-1

Jess has worked hard with her friends and family to create the perfect, instagram worthy BnB. The opening night is going perfectly, with wine flowing and high spirits all around — until the star of honor, Lars, backs out from his highly anticipated performance. Luckily the night is rescued and the guests continue partying, except the next morning Jess is woken by a scream. Lars's manager has been found dead. This is not how Jess wanted her new business venture to start, and she has to reasure guests while assisting the hot detective in solving the case.

Sydney Leigh's debut novel is a perfect cosy mystery for summer, with the poolside drinks and s'mores by the fire. The modern BnB setting was the perfect moodsetter and set Peril in Pink apart from most cosy mysteries which often feel less modern. At times it felt a bit millenial, with people saying hashtags and millenial wine humour on wineglasses which felt a bit cringey to me but I suppose some people are actually like that. I enjoyed reading about Jess talking to her suspects and following leads with plenty of unique and interesting characters involved, all helping to reveal what happened leading up to the murder.

I would reccomend picking up Peril in Pink when you want to relax with a cosy read, especially at the beach.

Thank you to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Sydney Leigh for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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!