A great start to a new cozy series…PERIL IN PINK book 1 in the Hudson Valley B&B Mysteries. We meet Jess Byrne owner of The Pearl B&B celebrating her grand opening with an ex boyfriend turned famous reality singer Lars set to perform. Things quickly take a turn for the worse when Lars’s manager/stepdad, Bob turns up dead. Jess then puts on her amateur sleuth pants to investigate to save the B&Bs reputation.

Like all first cozies in a series it is setting you up for future novels… so you are getting a strong sense of place with the charm of a small town and great descriptions of the B&B… Multiple characters are introduced, that I’m sure we will get to meet again… A good mystery that leads you to believe any one and everyone is a suspect… oh and I can’t forget about the blossoming romance I’m sure we will get more of in book 2!

Felt like a classic cozy with a modern take!

Thank you Crooked Lane Books 📖 Dreamscape Media 🎧

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Jess Byrne has moved from California back to her hometown in New York to open a B&B with her best friend Kat. The opening is set and totally instagram worthy. She has even convinced her ex-boyfriend and rising music star Lars Armstrong to perform. Unfortunately, he is accompanied by his stepfather/manager Bob who is an object of hatred in the town.

When Bob is found murdered, it looks like The Pearl's grand opening is going to be a failure. In order to save her business and save her ex from being arrested for the murder, Jess will have to become a sleuth. She has a large number of suspects since many of the guests at the opening had reasons to want Bob dead.

Things get even worse when a second murder occurs and Lars is found standing over the body,

This was an entertaining start to a new cozy mystery series. Jess is an engaging character and is surrounded by a cast of interesting people from her retired high school principal mother to her Deadhead Aunt and her bartender brother and new wife yoga guru. There is even a potential love interest in the police detective assigned to the case.

Fans of cozies will enjoy this one.

A big thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this ARC!

What a fun, cozy little hotel mystery! This literally was like if Only Murders in the Building was a book. It was as hilarious as it was suspenseful and overall just a really fun read. I hope that this does turn into a series because it was so fun to read. There's even a little touch of celebrity glamour! I highly recommend this for anyone looking for something light but level and entertaining.

You definitely should be a huge fan of Schitt’s Creek to enjoy this mystery. It wasn't bad but I did find the characters personalities to be a little grating. However, in the spirit of immature adults that you hate, it totally nailed it. The mystery setup was good and even the sleuthing was fun so as long as you're okay with that, then you'll love this book.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for a chance to read this story! This is a fun mystery read with modern characters that have engaging personalities. The setting and the idea is what I love about this book 💕

While this story certainly starts off well and is a quick read, I feel like the plot of the story gets a little lost behind what the books own personality is trying to be.

The concept is interesting, and the idea is there, but the steps to get to the end could’ve been more engaging. The urgency to find the killer and the shock behind it happening is hidden by the fact that everyone staying at the B&B is annoyed.

As this is the authors debut novel, I am excited to see what else she writes and how she improves over time! There is a lot of potential here 🙌✨

Another Brilliant Cozy Mystery Story I Enjoy!

The first in the Hudson Valley B&B Mysteries, Sydney Leigh managed to combine the dark pitch black of a murder case with pinkish fluffy interaction between the characters.

This book is a quick and easy read for me. I had to mention that I was laughing and suddenly at some point, they kept me on the edge of my seat. It was such a fun experience--really like seeing each character act in a movie while reading this book!

I did feel down as the plot twist didn't work out for me, but I still would recommend this book to all of the cozy romance fans out there!

DNFed at 45%. I love a cozy mystery, but I felt like it kept dragging and there were too many characters being introduced. A bed and breakfast was a great setting, especially when mixed with a small town atmosphere full of small businesses. Just couldn't get into it, regrettably.

*Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for my honest review*

This is a cute start to a fun new cozy mystery. Jess and Kat are opening a small boutique B&B, The Pearl, in the Hudson Valley. For their opening weekend, they are having Jess’s ex, Lars, winner of an American Idol type show, come and sing. The opening weekend is thrown into turmoil when two murders take place, Lars’es manager/step-father and his assistant. Jess needs to help solve the murders to save the reputation of her new venture. Overall, I enjoyed the setup of this series, including the introduction of who, I assume, will be recurring characters (her Mom, her hippie aunt Marnie, bartender brother Nate and potential love interest Sheriff James). I gave it four stars because I felt that the mystery took a back seat to the introduction of all the characters. Despite that, I look forward to future books in this series. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

3.75 stars

but this story was endearing. i read it when my house admist a rainstorm, so this is my cozy mystery time, and i loved it!

hope i got a brand new story like this again, because this is what i want for a long time. i could read it on the way to the office, because the mysteries keep me in.

anw, sorry for my typo. but i really loved this book—fr.

The first in a new cozy mystery series set in a B&B. I love cozies but this one didn’t draw me in. I don’t think Leigh did enough background establishing, especially for Jess (the main character). Normally for a first book there is more establishing of who the character is and their voice but I was missing that here.

The main standout for me in this story is the main character and amateur sleuth Jess. A lot is thrown her way with murder happening on the opening weekend of her new bed and breakfast combined with an ex-boyfriend suspect. She navigates the mystery with fun humor, and I liked her quirky family members and the character interactions. I'm curious to see what awaits Jess in the next instalment.

❓T E A S E R 🔍 T H U R S D A Y❓ featuring “Peril in Pink” by Sydney Leigh!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

The grand opening weekend of The Pearl Bed and Breakfast is finally here and business partners Jess and Kat are busy finalizing the final details! Their pretty flamingo pink hotel and chill vibes aesthetic is instagram-worthy and the perfect girls getaway destination! Jess has even secured an exclusive live performance from a reality tv show singing sensation Lars Armstrong (who just happens to be her ex-boyfriend and a former local). BUT right before the show is supposed to start, Lars bails at the last second with no explanation!!

Piercing screams wake up the guests the next morning when a dead body is found near the pond!!! It just happens to be Lars’ stepdad/manager and now Lars is the prime suspect!! He begs Jess to help clear his name and soon she starts snooping around to see what she can find out! She is desperate to help the police find answers … afterall a murder happening on her grand opening weekend is sure to create a dumpster fire for their reputation!

This cozy debut is quirky, cute, fun and a true delight to read!! The humor and wit aside, the whodunit aspect of the story was puzzling and suspenseful and kept me totally invested throughout 🧩!!

Thank you kindly to @sydneyleighauthor @crookedlanebooks @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on March 19, 2024!

I really enjoyed Peril in Pink. Instagram-worthy Queen Anne style B&B, check! An adorable husky dog named Duke, check! Hot rockstar ex-boyfriend drama, check! I loved the aesthetic and vibe of not only the bed and breakfast but the beachy town of Fletcher Lake. And most of all I enjoyed getting to know Jess and her quirky family. Looking forward to more in the series.

If you want cozy, lighthearted fun and dynamic characters, then Peril in Pink is for you. Jess is the big draw to this book and she’s a layered and fun character. I really enjoyed being in this world and hope this will be a long series.

Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really good read. It’s one of those books you can curl up with and read in one day.

It’s a bit of a cozy murder mystery (if that’s even a thing 😂). It wasn’t a typical thriller that gives you the chills and has unexpected twists and turns. I truly think we need more books like this as I don’t always enjoy full on thriller books😐

I highly recommend picking up this book if you’re looking for an easy and fun read.

On the Pearl's opening weekend, two people end up dead at the B&B. With the reputation of the brand-new place open, Jess must work to solve the murders while also attempting to protect her ex-boyfriend Lars as he is related to both of the victims.
This book was solidly fun and a very enjoyable quick read. The Pearl was described as the ultimate Instagram B&B, and from the wonderful descriptions provided. Somewhere that I'd love to visit if it existed. Jess and Kat are wonderful owners and hosts, and people who would be amazing to spend time with. I admired Jess for her professionalism and her loyalty.
The rivalry between Lars (entertainment for opening night) and another musical artist, George was also fun to follow.
The only thing I didn't love about this mystery was the celebrity references.
Overall, a wonderful read and debut, well done and fun to read.

This cosy mystery had the potential to be so much better than it was. The bones of the story were there - it’s the opening weekend of a new B & B when a guest is murdered, but almost everyone at the B & B had reason to kill him. However, I found the execution lacking.

Right from the start, I felt that I was missing something; that this was the second book in a series & I was missing vital backstory & character binding. There were two main things that annoyed me. One was the fact that these characters that were pushing 30 still acted like they were still in high school. The bitchiness, the fights over boys, the football rivalries - at times it felt childish. The other main annoyance was the fact that it was opening weekend for the B & B and the two owners barely did any work, and having worked in hospitality, I found this to be the most unbelievable part of the story. Ultimately, this book just didn’t work for me.

B&B Cozy Mystery about a Hudson Valley B&B owner who turns sleuth after her rock star ex's stepdad-turned-manager is found dead on grand opening weekend.

5/5 stars: This is the first entry in Leigh's Hudson Valley B&B Mystery series, which is a B&B Cozy Mystery that takes place in New York's Hudson Valley and features a B&B owner and innkeeper. With plenty of twists and turns, Leigh has crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Leigh's writing is top-notch with plenty of humor and wit. This is a very modern read and includes pop-culture references, Jess and her best friend's enjoyment of a true-crime podcast and the use of social media influencing and hashtags. Leigh's characters are incredibly likable. Jess is very relatable and I love the entire cast of characters that make up Jess's family, friends and the employees of the Pearl B&B. I also look forward to seeing where her relationship with the scrumptious Detective James Holloway goes from here. And I adore the oh so lovable Duke, Jess's “talkative” Husky. Leigh touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and check the CWs. This is an excellent start to a new series and I can't wait to read more.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Such a fun new cozy! Jessica and her BFF Kit are opening a B-in-B. Things are so terribly wrong. Of course! There’s a hot detective, and Jess can’t help but snoop. This is what cozy mysteries are made of! I really liked the characters. They were likeable and ambitious. I also liked the family helping out and their dynamics. I'm curious to see how Jess’ relationship with Sara comes along and if Lars makes a reappearance. It was a great read.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. It was easy to follow & a quick read. I thought I had figured out who the killer was but boy was I wrong! I love that in a good mystery/thriller. I loved the pop culture references & the banter between characters.