DNFed
I did not pick up this book a lot, and I was definitely not in a reading slump. There were so many characters early on in the book, I had trouble remembering all of them because there were just too many introduced at the exact same time. None of them really had different personality traits so it was hard for me to remember all of them. I wasn't too far into the book, but the characters all seem a little one dimensional

Only Murderer’s In The Building with Nancy Drew vibes meets Clue.

From the beginning I was hooked. It was so hard to put this book down, I just kept wanting to know whats going to happen next.
I love going into books blind. I typically only read the first sentance or two of the summary. Especally with murder/mystery novels. I love to be intrigued and shock around every turn and dont want any spoilers, This book definately did that.

I think there was a really great balance between plot twist, comic relief, and budding relationships. Some of the ‘foreshaddowing’ moments that I though “Ohh, that so obvious, it totally this person”…. Wrong, so wrong. This was a quick read and I cant wait to read more by Sydney Leigh

…but can we talk about the Detective? Total hottie that doesnt know he’s a hottie. And the Mother? What else do mother’s do best? Embarass you any moment possible, no matter your age.


I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Sydney Leigh for giving me a free eARC copy of this book for my honest review, it truly was a joy to read. I look forward to seeing more works from you.

An entertaining suspenseful novel with mystery, humour, and unsuspected twists! There were some cringey moments, but overall kept my interest!

It’s the grand opening weekend of Jess and Kat’s newly renovated B&B. To celebrate, Jess’ ex-boyfriend and reality tv singing star Lars Armstrong has agreed to perform for the event. Among the guests are two mean girls from Jess and Kate’s high school days (they’re still mean). And a pair of fun-loving twins on a girls weekend. Plus Lars’ creepy stepdad/manager Bob and his also creepy assistant Nicky. Everything’s going well until someone turns up dead.

This was a cute cozy mystery where everyone is a possible suspect. I switched between reading and listening to the audiobook. Traci Odom did a great job narrating. A solid three stars for me.

Thank you @NetGalley, @CrookedLaneBooks, and @SydneyLeighAuthor for my gifted copy.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of Peril In Pink! I’ve read a handful of cozies, and I mostly enjoyed reading this one. I see it’s the start of a series which is awesome.

I have mixed feelings about the main character. She’s obviously smart as she is able to solve a mystery, but she seems petty and immature. I’m not sure her actions fit with her overall personality.

I love Sydney Leigh’s writing style and the chapters weren’t too long (I will not read a book with long chapters lol).

As someone who had read cozies, I know they can all start to sound the same. Kudos to this author for the modern touch (cancel culture, etc) to the typical B&B setting.

Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh was a book I had been eagerly anticipating in the year 2024. However, upon delving into its pages, I found myself somewhat disappointed, primarily due to the portrayal of its protagonist, Jess Byrne.

Jess, the co-owner of the Pearl B&B nestled in the scenic Hudson Valley, serves as the central character of the narrative. Yet, rather than evoking sympathy or admiration, Jess comes across as unlikable and judgmental.

The dynamics between Jess and Detective Holloway, the investigator tasked with unraveling the mystery surrounding the untimely demise of Lars's stepfather, feel contrived and lacking in authenticity. Additionally, the narrative's inclusion of Jess's high school nemesis and the absence of genuine grief for the victim, Bob, serve to further detract from the story's credibility and emotional resonance.

In conclusion, while Peril in Pink holds promise with its intriguing premise and picturesque setting, it ultimately falls short of expectations due to its unlikable protagonist, contrived character dynamics, and superficial treatment of the central mystery.

I do enjoy a cozy mystery every once in a while! We have a B&B opening weekend when someone is found dead. B&B owner Jess decides to take the investigation into her own hands and while doing so, she really becomes a great amateur sleuth! Due to everyone growing up in this town, she has connections with all of the suspects which allows for trust and people to open up to her. It also allowed for some comedy to be sprinkled throughout. I did enjoy the quick read of this one and the audiobook was great. The ending also didn’t disappoint since it was one I didn’t predict although I think I was hoping for something a bit more exciting.

This was such a fun cozy murder mystery with lots of laugh out loud moments between relatives and friends!

I enjoyed the fact that the setting was in a small town bed and breakfast and it had the perfect amount of suspense in it. Plus, a side of romance sprinkled in there too! 😉

I do suggest going in blind for this and if you’re a fan of cozy mysteries then this is definitely right up your alley then! 😌

This cozy mystery was a little like Finlay Donovan but if she was Paris Hilton and also a wannabe Instagram influencer. The gist of it is someone close to someone semi-famous dies at the opening of a luxury boutique hotel with a very pink door, but everyone tries not to let the murder investigation get in the way of their good time. I had a hard time getting into this read because 1) it seemed very surface level (lots of chat about designer accessories and custom made scents); and 2) no one- including me- really seemed to care what happened to the murder victim. I ended up just skimming this one after about 25% through. Potentially a good option if you're looking for something super lite.

🦩A murder at the opening weekend of a B and B has the owners scrambling to find the killer before their fledgling business suffers the consequences.

Jess has just opened The Pearl with the help of her best friend, Kat, and they have big plans for the opening weekend shindig. Jess has convinced a local celebrity, her former flame Lars, to perform at the grand opening and the media is aflutter with the news. But when an unsavory member of Lars’ entourage is found dead, Lars is the prime suspect and Jess and Kat are left with an Inn full of guests on lockdown. Lars maintains his innocence and appeals to Jess for help to clear his name. As the weekend ticks by, Jess tries to piece together the clues to catch the murderer before the media runs away with the story and her brand new business is forced to shut its doors for good.

What a bright start to a new mystery series! This debut novel checked all the boxes of a cute cozy mystery and would make a perfect vacation read. The characters were quirky and likable, there was a hint of romance, and enough suspense and intrigue that it kept me guessing until the end. If you’re looking for a light, entertaining whodunnit that won’t leave you afraid to talk to your neighbors or go on a date then this is an excellent choice! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Thanks @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Thank you to @NetGalley, @dreamscapemedia and @crookedlanebooks for my free copy of the audiobook and arc.

Jess has come back home to open up her new B&B. During the Grand opening, her lead opening act is a no show. That no show is also her very untrustworthy ex, Lars, famous rockstar, or shall I say kind of washed-up famous rock star! Lars has disappointed her, yet again, but to her surprise, an even more famous rock star woos the B&B crowd in a dazzling impromptu show! He is also Lars' rival and biggest competitor.

Jess's grand opening is a success, that is until Lars' manager/step-dad is found murdered.

But wait, another member of Lars' crew is UNALIVED too!

So many suspects with reasons to kill. Can Jess help figure out who is murdering people before her coveted B&B is closed for good?

I enjoyed this exciting, cozy mystery and give it 3.5 stars!

OK so the dialogue was a little bit cheesy at times (e.g. ex-squeeze me, egads) and had a little too many pop culture references but this was a fun lighthearted read where everyone is obsessed with rosé wine for some reason.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for my review.

I adored the fuzzy feel and exuberant vibes that is this cozy. “Rosé all day” constantly echoes in my mind when reading Peril in Pink. Had I actually drank some while sleuthing alongside the FMC, it probably would have been a total 5-star experience. Some reviewers have critiqued it as juvenile or being overly millennial but I was fond of the dialogue and found everything about it to be charmingly entertaining and fun. It was exactly what I had expected in a small town cozy with a clearly obvious title, to say the least.

In the end, I did manage to arrive at the correct conclusion to who the murderer(s) in the story was and had volleyed back and forth the potential culprit(s) quite a few times because it could have easily been anyone. When it came time for the reveal I also wasn’t expecting a minor twist in the explanation. I liked everything about it from the main narration to the wide mix of characters all the way back to its sassy humor and hashtags. This, in all its pink glitz was an edifying read and I look forward to the next installment of the Hudson Valley B&B Mysteries!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to review this ARC and to Sydney Leigh for writing such a cute and bubbly murder mystery.

Cute concept, but a bit messy. I struggled to understand the voice/tone of the book. On one hand, the concept of the modern B&B with Palm Springs-esque pink accents and a level of luxury to draw the IGers seems somewhat refreshing for the genre, but the rhetoric used is just plain old. The POV just felt off. Not characters are, I believe, in their mid-late 30s, as am I, so their behaviors and dialogue really were hard to get past. (No one thinks in hashtags. No one.) The idea of a group of adults still being very much stuck in their high school feelings and “types” just feels too unrealistic. Maybe had they all been in their early twenties? Maybe had we gotten more backstory on what their connections were in the past, beyond the stereotypes of the “mean girls” and the “hot rock star”, etc. We really didn’t get enough information to care about connections. Further, no one really freaks out over a murder happening. It feels almost like a subplot that is sprinkled in around the odd relationships and pop culture references. This feels like a millennial meme. 2 ⭐️

I was lucky enough to receive both the digital and the audio arcs for this story. The audiobook voice wasn’t for me. Her voice sounds older than I expected and the character voices were just bad. Either high pitched and whiny to convey the characters we don’t like, or randomly making the men all sound stoned. If you enjoy listening at a higher speed, like 2.5+, you may also have trouble with the voicework.

Thank you NetGalley, and the publisher for these arcs in exchange for my unbiased opinions.

3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Peril in Pink was a fun Whodunnit it novel set at a cutesy B&B run by two besties Jess and Kat. This book was a fun adventure. It was a different setting than I was used to and a fun twist on a murder mystery. It was cozy. It was fun. It was filled to the brim with amateur sleuthing and it was a fun little ride. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

The author reached out to me on Instagram to read this book and I was also fortunate enough to receive an audiobook version to listen to courtesy of Dreamscape Media. Overall, I enjoyed both formats. The narrator did a good job as well.

If you’re looking for a cozier mystery this one is for you.

Peril in Pink is a light, cozy murder mystery with many twists and many characters. The majority of the characters are delightful while a few are downright unpleasant.
The story revolves around the grand opening of a B&B called The Pearl. Things are going quite well until there is a murder.
There were so many twists and characters within the story that I had to stop reading every now and then to think about who was who and what was what.
All in all, a very entertaining cozy murder mystery I enjoyed reading.
I really enjoyed Peril in Pink. Sydney Leigh’s writing is engaging and solid. I hope to read more written by her.

In the charming debut mystery novel, "Peril in Pink" by Sydney Leigh invites readers to a cozy retreat nestled in the picturesque Hudson Valley. With a dash of “Schitt’s Creek” humour and a sprinkle of “Only Murders in the Building” intrigue, this sparkling tale delivers a delightful blend of mystery, friendship, and a touch of whimsy.

Meet Jess Byrne. She’s the co-owner of The Pearl B&B. Everything seems rosé as she prepares for its grand opening. The Instagram-worthy welcome includes her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a reality singing sensation, performing live. But when his stepdad-turned-manager is found dead, the B&B's killer vibe takes on a whole new meaning. The reality singing sensation becomes the prime suspect, and Jess reluctantly agrees to help clear his name.

As Jess digs deeper, she uncovers secrets, lies, and another murder. With guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess finds herself in over her head. Her best friend and business partner joins the investigation, and together, they navigate the twists and turns of a small-town mystery.

Leigh crafted a truly charming setting. The Pearl B&B exudes charm and is reminiscent of the beloved Dragonfly Inn from Stars Hollow. The nostalgia factor is high, and readers will relish the cozy atmosphere. Leigh weaves a web of intrigue, keeping readers guessing until the final pages. The small-town backdrop enhances the sense of community and suspicion.

I really liked the pink Aesthetic Leigh created. The pink Barbie-vibe infuses the novel with whimsy. From the decor to the characters' quirks, it's a delightful touch. I also really appreciated how the victims make it easier to root for justice. Readers won't shed tears for these particular casualties.

Leigh explores the themes of authenticity and friendship throughout the narrative. Jess grapples with her perception of the singer and the reality of his actions. The bond of best friendship adds heart to the story. Their loyalty and banter create a warm hug amidst the chilling events.

"Peril in Pink" is a cozy small-town murder mystery with page-turner quality. The charming setting, quirky characters, and main character’s determination make it an enjoyable read. Settle in and let The Pearl B&B transport you to a world where secrets lurk behind every pastel curtain.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a cozy murder mystery, and a good way to spend a few lazy hours.

Full of fun characters, a murder on opening weekend is not what Jessica and Kat were expecting.

There may, to me, have been a few too many so-so characters with red herrings thrown in, trying to muddy up the waters

I guessed whodunnit about half way through.

I do want to see more of Jessica and one intriguing detective though.

An enjoyable debut, and I look forward to more B & B mysteries in the future

Perfect cozy mystery to read! Never regret to read it and worth your time. In just one sitting, you will become a page turner.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up!

Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh

Thank you so much Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for my advanced copies and the chance to review it honestly.

It’s the grand opening for Jess’ B&B and she’s ready for an Instagram-worth welcome. Her ex, Lars is a reality singing sensation and is all set to perform. He arrives to the B&B with his stepdad turned manager. But things take a turn when his stepdad is found dead.

I had so much fun reading and listening to this book. I love when I can read a book and switch to the audiobook when I need to do things around the house or run errands. If you like cozy mysteries, this is a fast one for you. Everyone is a suspect, it’s twisty, and it’s cozy. The pop culture references and banter were a nice touch and made this story enjoyable! I ended up finishing it as an audiobook and I really liked the narrator. This is the first installment in the Hudson Valley Mysteries and I’m looking forward to book two. Peril in Pink is out March 19, 2024!

Happy reading