It's the annual gala at the Silvercrest Library, Colorado. It will be a glamorous evening with celebrities including movie legend and Silvercrest native Whitney Willton and her niece, caterer-to-the-stars Lyra Willton. Emma and her Aunt Nora of the famous Starlit bookshop, cannot wait in spite of the sour note provided by fellow organizer, Tabitha.

All seems to be going brilliantly until Lyra's murdered body is found during the gala presentation. Suddenly Emma find herself responsible for ensuring that the show goes on. This puts her in Tabitha's cross hairs. Hopefully, the murderer doesn't follow her example.

This is the second book in this series. It's a fun and enjoyable read with a good twist.

Thanks to the author, publisher and #NetGalley for an Advanced Copy and the opportunity to provide this review.

4 stars. Recommended.

Cozies are my thing. I enjoyed this book. What's not to love, a cozy about a booksto0re. Emma works are her Aunts bookstore and is excited about the annual gala benefitting the library. The stars for a popular TV show are the guest stars. The main character is played by a local, Whitney Willton. Her niece is the event planner, until she is murdered. Emma is asked to substitute for the recently murdered woman. Lots of twists, suspects, and excitement. I liken cozies to candy. They are fun and don't require major concentration. They are a nice escape and this one fits the bill. It was fun to read and kept me engaged.

This is the second book in the Starlit Bookshop Mystery. We follow Emma Starrs who is working at her Aunt Nora's bookstore, and shes looking forward to attending the the annual gala at the Silvercrest Library. When the caterer to the stars Lyra is found dead, Emma is chosen as the new event planner. Lyra's aunt asks Emma to find out who the killer is.

I enjoyed the writing style and the scene settings. But I did not enjoy it as much as I had hoped. I felt that there were subplots that could have been more developed when other scenes felt unnecessary. But I did like several of the characters and the twists.

I like the characters and I am enjoying this series. I can't wait for the next one. I like the setting as well. The mystery kept me guessing.

Thankyou to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2 1/2 stars. This was an enjoyable story but the mystery was overtaken by chaos of the Gala and other events that Emma was pressed into arranging when the original events planner was murdered. I liked how Emma rose to the occasion and the description of the locations and happenings. I also enjoyed the other characters, well, except for one.

Emma's ongoing battle with her nemesis Tabitha seemed childish even though in real life you do actually meet petty people like this. The mystery could have been stronger but overall, not bad.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinon.

Cynthia Kuhn continues with the Starlit Bookshop mysteries In the Event of Murder. Silvercrest, Colorado, is going to have a gala to raise funds for Silvercrest Library, but the event planner is murdered. Tabitha, the chair of the event and rival of Emma, who helps run the Starlit Bookshop, is forced to accept Emma as the new event planner. The venue is trashed and the replacement burned down, other disasters ensue. Whodunit? Emily also helped to solve a previous murder. Fast moving cozy.

For the upcoming Gala Week ushering in the New Year and raising funds for the Silvercrest Library, the cast of the popular mystery television show “Chasers” have been invited to premiere their new episode written by local resident and mystery author Calliope Nightfall. Tabitha Baxter, the president of the library board and self-declared leader of the gala, is thrilled to be welcoming the star Whitney Wilton and her niece party-planner Lyra, at least right up until Lyra falls ill and later found dead. Despite her disregard for and long-held feud with bookseller/literary event planner Emma Stars, Tabitha insists that Emma must take over for Lyra and ensure the gala’s success. That’s going to be difficult though, as someone seems intent on sabotaging the event by cancelling the venue reservations and forcing Emma to face a growing number of obstacles.

Emma Starrs gave up her plans to pursue a career in teaching in order to return to Silvercrest, Colorado and help her sister Lucy with their family’s bookstore. Their famous best-selling author Aunt Nora frequently takes off on impulsive jaunts abroad with her editor, so it is often left to the sisters to ensure Starlit Bookshop’s success. That’s why Emma is willing to allow herself to be hired by her lifelong nemesis, although it ultimately benefiting the library helps as well. As part of the festivities Emma must also host a mystery panel, not to mention informing the originally scheduled authors that they have been booted by Tabitha for the most famous “Chasers” actors. Trying to herd the actors, keep Tabitha appeased, and wiggle out information from the infuriatingly handsome and casually flirtatious Detective Jake Hollister will test all of Emma’s multitasking skills and determination.

In this second of the series readers may find themselves marveling at Emma’s tolerance for Tabitha’s toxic behavior and condescending attitude. Tabitha is truly A LOT, as she refuses to assume any responsibility for the chaos she causes and never acknowledges the unreasonableness of her demands. Emma’s Zen approach to Tabitha – not to mention focusing on the money Tabitha is paying – keeps the bookseller committed to organizing the events despite the increasingly absurd expectations. Those fascinated by the details involved in party planning will appreciate Emma’s pivoting to meet every new obstacle and challenge. Emma’s relationship with Jake continues to be as fun for readers as it is frustrating for Emma, as she wishes that he would react more when she rejects his advances. Tabitha herself may never apologize or acknowledge Emma’s help, but hopefully in the future her attitude will settle into being a benign annoyance. Emma, her sister Lucy, and their irrepressible aunt Nora continue to be reasons to enjoy this series that celebrate libraries, books, and the small town of Silvercrest.

I really enjoyed the first one in this series so I have been eagerly anticipating this one and it did not disappoint. It has been awhile, though, so I wasn’t sure if I would remember much from the first one but it was all explained well and I caught up in no time. There was a lot of event planning in this one, which I love, so this was right up my alley but not so much anything about the bookshop, which is supposed to be the focus of this series. The mystery solution was a little convoluted and underwhelming, almost like an afterthought, so this felt more like a book about event planning where they discuss a case they heard about rather than a real investigation but I still enjoyed it. I just wish it had been focused more on the mystery.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Silvercrest, Colorado is a book lover's dream on the banks of the Rocky Mountain River and readers arrive just in time for the annual Silvercrest Library Gala. The event has brought celebrities from the hit crime show Chasers including the legendary Whitney Willton to town. Her niece, Lyra Willton, party planner-to-the-stars is in attendance as well. Library Board President Tabitha Baxter was thrilled with the success of the events until Lyra Willton's body was found dead behind the scenes. Tabitha panics because Lyra had organized much of the gala and the board asks her arch-enemy Emma Starrs to take over. She accepts knowing that dealing with Tabitha will be a challenge but she would do anything for the library.

Whitney also begs Whitney to find her niece's killer. Soon another celebrity is attacked and priceless items go missing. Can Emma untwist the clues and catch the killer before the main event starts? or will the killer be in attendance for the big event?

____

I am not sure why there was such a big gap from the first book, How to Book a Murder (December 7, 2021) to this one (August 20, 2024) but it took a few chapters to get back in the groove with the core characters. In this story, like the previous Emma steps in to replace a party planner while trying to save the family bookshop. Again her nemesis Tabitha Baxter is in charge and driving Emma crazy. Emma, her sister Lucy, and her aunt Nora, all feel true to life and relatable. Tabitha pushes my buttons as much as she does Emma's.

The murder mystery is set after Christmas with several activities ending with the gala on New Year's Eve. Before that is a screening of an episode of the TV show Chasers at Bluestone complete with cocktails which was very well attended and the scene of the murder. That means plenty of suspects but both Emma and I pared those down quickly. The mystery was not as complex as I expected. There was a lot of focus on the event and its planning. There was a bit of repetition as Emma worked through the clues while at Tabitha's beck and call. Emma had the patience of a saint and behaved much better than I would have. The guilty party was at the top of my list and the confession revealed a very petty person.

Ms. Kuhn does an excellent job at setting each scene. An unfortunate event put the gala in jeopardy and I was thrilled with how Emma handled it and the help she received. The space was so aptly described I felt like I was right there peering over Emma's shoulder.

In the Event of Murder was an enjoyable read with characters I want to get to know better. Silvercrest and Starlit Books sound like my happy place being a book lover’s paradise. I could easily spend days, months, or years traveling from shop to shop. I am anxious to return. I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next installment of the Starlit Bookshop Mystery Series.

The long wait for the second in this series was worth it! The combo of a bookstore and celebrities made for an entertaining mix, and I really enjoy Emma as a main character that balances the story with calm.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. At first, the characters had me a bit confused because I didn’t know their back-stories. As I went along, little things began to make more sense. My only thing is why, with cozy mysteries, is there always that one “enemy” to the protagonist that just is nasty for the sake of being nasty? I’m just glad that it wasn’t the cop, and that there doesn’t appear to be a love triangle.

The motive didn’t make a lot of sense, but the personality of the killer must also be taken into account. I wish I could say more because there is so much to say, but please read this novel.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

Book: In the Event of Murder (Starlit Bookshop #2)
Author: Cynthia Kuhn
Genre: Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery/Crime
Location: Silvercrest, Colorado
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded up)
Review: Emma Starrs and the whole crew of the Starlit Bookshop in Silvercrest, Colorado are back and everyone in town is excited about the upcoming New Year's Gala which will serve as a fundraiser for the public library, especially since a hometown movie star is returning to Silvercrest, along with her niece and a few other celebrities, for the celebration. When the gala's event planner is found murdered, though, Emma steps up to the plate to start planning the gala, but when the tragedies keep coming, she also has to step up to the plate to find the culprit. It's a typical cozy mystery with over-the-top characters and sometimes silly happenings, but I do like the characters and I am always happy to read about a bookshop's event planner (my dream job!)

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. In the Event of Murder is the second book in the Starlit Bookshop Mystery series. Not having read the first one, it was fairly easy to understand the links between the characters and who they are. I was expecting the mystery to be a certain way and I was unfortunately disappointed by In the Event of Murder. I found the characters very superficial and annoying. I really wanted to like this book, but there was too much bickering between the characters, which is not my idea of a pleasant read.

I'd actually forgotten a lot about this series since it’s been nearly three years since the first book came out, but it didn't take long at all to remember what I liked about the different characters…or didn't like as in mean girl Tabitha's case lol.

I hadn’t guessed whodunit and enjoyed the low key showdown, although there'd been plenty of drama to make up for that throughout the book. I love the relationship Emma and Lucy have with their aunt Nora who lives with them in their childhood home where she raised them. Lucy had an amazing ending and the other two as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

When I received the ARC of 'How to Book a Murder', the first book in the series, I absolutely enjoyed it! I had found it engaging and well written with interesting characters and looked forward to reading more in the series.

But the thing is, that was almost 3 years ago and it's only now that the second book has been published. So while I did enjoy reading 'In the Event of Murder', it took me a while to recap all the characters and their back stories in my head and even then I wasn't able to recall all the details. I can only hope the author and publisher do not wait too long to publish the next book because this cozy mystery series does have potential.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author Cynthia Kuhn for the e-Arc of the book.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I will be checking out her other books. This is also book 2 of this series but I did not have any trouble keeping track of characters or events.
This is a cozy mystery that takes place in a small town in Colorado. Emma owns the local bookstore and winds up stepping in at the last minute as an event coordinator for the biggest event of the year after the previous coordinator was murdered.
There was a lot going on in this book between crimes committed, personal conflicts between different characters, romances, potential romances, etc. There was never a dull moment. I liked many of the characters that I hope will be regulars in future installments. I can’t wait to see what happens with some of the storylines left hanging at the end of this book. And the ending did make me smile. It was an Awwwwwww! moment.
I did receive this book as a free ARC from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

It’s the final week of the year, which means it is time for the annual fundraiser for the library in Silvercrest, Colorado. Like the rest of the town, Emma Starrs is thrilled that the cast of Chasers, the popular mystery TV show, is coming to town to headline the events. However, when murder threatens the event, Emma is asked to step in and help make sure the gala on New Year’s Eve goes off without a hitch. Can she do that?

It's been a couple of years since the first book in this series came out, so I wasn’t sure how much I’d remember about the characters. Fortunately, I was able to slip back into their world without too much effort. Sadly, the mystery was disappointing. The emphasis was more on the planning for the event, and those scenes grew repetitive. We did reach a solution, but parts of it felt forced to me. On the other hand, the characters were charming. I really did enjoy seeing Emma and her family and friends again. I wanted to like this more than I did, but it was mixed for me.

Having read the first book in the series three years ago, I was eager to see if the sequel would solidify my interest in continuing with the series. While the author’s writing style is commendable, with well-crafted characters and vivid scene-setting, these strengths alone were not enough to make this book a standout for me.

One of the main frustrations I had was with the character of Tabitha, the library board president. Her rude and condescending behavior was grating, and I found it difficult to enjoy the story with such an unpleasant character at the forefront. Even more disappointing was Emma’s passivity in the face of Tabitha's behavior, which made it hard to root for her as a protagonist.

As for the mystery, the story had its share of red herrings and twists, but it often felt bogged down by unnecessary scenes and underdeveloped subplots. There were moments where I felt certain elements could have been explored more deeply or omitted altogether to enhance the mystery's unraveling.

2.5/5

In the Event of Murder is the second installment of the Starlit Bookshop Mystery series by Cynthia Kuhn.
A great new cozy mystery series.
Engaging and well written, the series is set in Denver, Colorado. With characters who are interesting and quirky.
The mystery itself was well done and I found myself lost in the story.
I'm excited to recommend this book to all cozy mystery fans.

Thank You NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!