Member Reviews
This was a fun and light murder mystery that combines humour, intrigue, and a touch of celebrity glamour.
The mystery did keep me guessing and I honestly can't say I had any one suspect in mind. Just when I thought I knew who the suspect was, the author led me to suspect someone else. The twists and turns were so exciting, the jokes were funny, the pacing was great, and it had so many loveable characters (some of them felt flat and indistinct also).
The writing flows nicely and it’s a quick read. Nice, neat ending, which is good because I don’t like cliff hangers.
Read if you enjoy : cozy mysteries with a touch of humor, small town feel.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
‘I’d been warned to expect the unexpected when running a bed-and-breakfast. I’d thought I’d been prepared for that.’
My interest was immediately peaked with this story. The opening of a trendy new B&B (decked out in all shades of pink - which means I loved it straight away!); the homecoming of a ‘bad boy’ famous singer who clearly has history with the B&B owner and a few secrets of his own; and mention of superstitions & ghost stories - an eclectic mix for sure, but one that just begged readers to search for answers.
It was the perfect beginning for a murder mystery; we were introduced to characters in a meticulous manner, that lightly suggested we retain aspects of their personality for later. It was clear that the main character Jess fancied herself an amateur sleuth, and the repeated references to true crime podcasts reinforced this notion. The quirky dialogue & smooth writing flow made for an interesting juxtaposition against the darker ‘whodunnit?’ part of the story.
The constant popular culture references makes this book a good choice for young adults, and the easy flow of the writing was a pleasure to read. The story was continuously engaging & I absolutely flew through it!
This is a cosy murder-mystery with a fun cast of characters and a broody detective (always a plus 😉)
The B&B background of this story and the true crime references make this a fun and quirky read that you will fly through.
The main character doesn’t particularly stand out to me, but that doesn’t take away from the intrigue. The humour feels a bit more on the millennial side, you’ll definitely relate if you’re within that age range.
This book is cosy, girly and a great read for true crime-fans!
What a brilliant start to what I hope will be a long-running mystery series.
As a fellow Jess, who can be somewhat of a mess, our lead character is living out her dream of running an Instagram-worthy inn in New York's Hudson Valley.
Add in her ex-boyfriend, an adorable husky named Duke, and a cast of characters with their own personalities, and you have a winner of a book.
This book hooked me from the very first chapter, especially as a fellow millennial who could relate to the main character.
The book's description as a cross between Only Murders in the Building and Schitt's Creek is spot on, and I only wish that I could visit The Pearl in real life.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest opinion.
3 ⭐️
This book gives you that feeling of packing your bags and booking in to The Pearl for the weekend, just so that we can Rosè all day! #onlycoolvibes!
This was a fun and light murder mystery. It gave me a Nancy Drew meets Veronica Mars kind of vibe.
The author did a great job in describing the B & B and surrounding scenery . Pulls you in from the very first page.
This book will be a great beach holiday read!
My first ARC read, and I absolutely lovedd it! 'Peril in Pink' was a thrilling, fast-paced, and cozy mystery with a touch of humor. After all, who doesn't love a book with a strong female lead opening her own damn B&B with her best friend as her co-partner? But tragedy strikes in the form of a dead body at Pearl the very next day. But worry not folks! our girl perfectly disentangles the mystery😍
I adored Jess's character. Her quick thinking, resourcefulness, and sharp wit made her a total badass. Her cool friendship with Kat and heartwarming relationship with her brother Nate were lovely.
Lars was quite a self-absorbed and complicated character. The side characters were interesting to read about too. James uh sorry "Detective Holloway" was very diligent and likable. Jess and James were delightfully awkward and cute together. I just wanted to read more of their interactions:<
Cozy mystery books are so much fun because were allowed to suspend belief and just enjoy the journey without it getting too serious. That's this book completely! I really enjoyed Peril in Pink and I think this cover is amazing!
Sad to say “Peril in Pink” was not for me. I really wanted to like this since the description and cover seemed very interesting. Unfortunately, I found main character, Jess, to be quite judgmental and focusing on the wrong things (that may have been done on purpose but it wasn’t something I was fond of). I was definitely not a fan of the dialogue and the amount of times a hashtag was used in casual conversation. Also not a fan of the amount of pop culture references though that may be a personal preference. I’ve seen others refer to pop culture well but this just felt like it was trying to be relatable.
I really did have high hopes for this as it sounded very interesting and like a cozy murder mystery. It may not have been for me, but I’m sure someone else will love it.
Peril in Pink is a lighthearted cozy mystery with an intriguing premise.
It's 80% dialogue, which while moving the story along, does not allow the reader to feel invested in the story or characters and leaves little room for any character development. That combined with them acting in ways that didn't make sense and twists/turns that felt forced resulted in a book that was ultimately fine, but unsatisfying.
Thank you so much to Crooked Lane Books for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGallery and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!
I really enjoyed the overall plot of this book and I think it could make for a cozy fall murder mystery Netflix series. I loved the concept of a close knit family run B and B, but I wish that was expanded on more, along with the character development. I found myself wanting to know more about each character in the book. I was hoping to see more parts with Jess and James’ so I was a bit disappointed when it really only happened at the very end.
I truly had no idea who it could’ve been till the very end, which is always a good thing when it comes to mystery/thriller novels. I hate when I can easily guess who it is or piece together what happened, and this book kept me guessing till the end!
I really enjoy how the author Sydney Leigh writes and I’m excited to read more from her!
When Jessica Byrne and Kat Miller left their high pressure jobs, they went into partnership to run a B&B. The Pearl Bed and Breakfast in Fletcher Lake, NY was finally ready to accept quests. Jess's brother Nate and his new bride, Sarah, owned and ran Cool Vibes Cafe on the grounds of the Pearl. For the opening weekend, Jess got her ex- boyfriend and now celebrity, Lars Armstrong, to come and perform. A few of the guests were old (not so friendly) classmates , but Jess was hopeful for a great opening. But her hopes were dashed when a murder happened on the grounds and the police, led by Detective James Holloway, started to investigate. Jess decided that she also needed to find out and make sure that the culprit was caught before the guests all left and a cloud of suspicion would hang over the Pearl.
An entertaining new entry into the cozy mystery murders with a cast of characters, mostly family, that help out, even when it comes to investigating murder.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this e-galley of "Peril in Pink".
I finished this book and it was just ok for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I feel like the interaction between the characters was very surface level and I didn't care what happened to them. The concept of the book is great but for some reason I wasn't drawn into the book. By no means is this the worst book I have ever read, but for me it wasn't very memorable.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a fun, quick read!! Even though this book is a thriller, it never got too heavy, and it had a great combination of mystery and humor. It was fast paced, and the characters were very entertaining. This book is perfect for a quick beach read, or if you’re looking for a light “who done it” book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for an #ARC of #PerilInPink.
The cozy mystery genre involving a B&B owner and a murder victim (or two) has been tried and tested as a successful recipie. This book is no different, a B&B on its opening weekend is thrown into disarray thanks to the death of a guest. And it seems everyone in town has a motive.
An easy read with nothing to taxing, enjoyable. Would read other work by this author. Would not recommend.
In theory this book hit all the marks for me. I am a hospitality professional who escapes by reading thrillers. The B & B concept had me hooked from the first page, the fluffy pink feeling really had me going, but when it came to the actual thriller part this story it was lacking. By the middle of the book, I truly just wanted it to be over. The characters were not likable enough for me to cheer on. The story was very loose and didn’t really work. I truly wanted to love this story, but at the end I really ended up not caring who the killer was or why they even did it. Not the feeling you are hoping for at the end of a thriller.
I want to thank Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book for review.
Peril in Pink is the first book in this promising new series. A guest is murdered during the grand opening of Jess Bryne's new B&B. Her ex boyfriend is the main suspect and begs for Jesses help in clearing his name. This was a fast paced light cozy with plenty of red herrings, a sexy homicide detective, and a few plot twists. I loved the family dynamics of the main characters. Spunky Jess, her loving but no-nonsense mom, her quirky aunt, her protective younger brother, and an adorable dog named Duke. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in this fun new series. My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this advanced readers copy to read and review.
I couldn't get into the story for this book. I was really excited to read this one as I am loving the mysteries and thrillers lately. This book and I just didn't connect.
Sadly, this was a no go for me. The entire time it felt as if the book took place during someone's high school years with all the name calling and one-upmanship. And all the women walking around saying hashtag got tedious.
There were a number of places where the author did not seem to keep track of continuity. The person who died of course deserved to die. Upon being found, Jess is stuck to the detective like a burr. It is difficult to believe that the police would even remotely allow her to follow him around. Jess seems concerned about her business but her answer is to give everybody alcohol. I kept wondering if people were passed out drunk. She kept talking about the guests and from that I counted way more than the 10 rooms that the B&B had, especially when two were occupied by Lars and Bob. The details about confession of the death were not consistent with the facts of how the body was found. The author said the B&B was in New York and then in another place said it was close to Vegas. Jess says at one point that she is trying for a Palm Springs look, but flamingos are more a Palm Beach look. I think the book could have benefited from some editing.
'Peril in Pink' by Sydney Leigh.
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 mainly picked this book because it was described as Schitts Creek meets Only Murders in the Building and I love them two shows. I enjoyed the book, I did figure out quite a bit of the plot before the end, that didn't really spoil it for me. I wish the dog Duke was featured it in more, that's just me though because I love dogs. I think if you enjoy a cozy crime book then give this book a go.
Thankyou to NetGallery UK, the publisher and the author for letting me a read a copy in return for an honest review.
Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building. It is a sparkling debut mystery that combines humour, intrigue, and a touch of celebrity glamour. Set in the picturesque Hudson Valley, the story centres around the grand opening of The Pearl B&B, owned by the resourceful and determined Jess Byrne.
The B&B's opening event takes an unexpected turn when Jess's ex-boyfriend, the famous reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong, arrives with his stepdad and manager, Bob. The festivities quickly sour when Bob is discovered dead, and Lars becomes the prime suspect. Jess, motivated by her desire to protect her B&B's reputation, agrees to help Lars clear his name, leading her into a web of secrets and mysteries.
As Jess delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers unexpected connections and startling revelations. With the pressure mounting and another murder occurring with Lars at the scene, Jess realizes she's in over her head. With the support of her best friend and business partner, Kat, Jess is determined to unravel the truth behind the murders and clear Lars's name.
It combines the charm of a small-town setting with the intrigue of a murder mystery. Jess's quirky personality and determination make her a relatable and engaging protagonist, while the presence of a celebrity suspect adds an extra layer of complexity to the story. The locked-door scenario and the need to keep the guests safe amidst a media frenzy create a sense of urgency and tension that keeps readers on their toes.
Overall, this debut mystery promises an engaging blend of humor, suspense, and unexpected twists. As Jess navigates the complexities of murder investigations and the challenges of running a B&B, readers are in for a delightful and captivating read that will leave them guessing until the very end.