The Silvercrest Library Gala was famous for honoring book authors and screenwriters. With celebrities in attendance, Gala week was off to a spectacular start with exciting activities. When one of the visitors, an event planner to the stars, got murdered two days before the big red carpet day, that sparkling light began to look dim. Emma found herself roped into the investigation amidst her busy schedule, now, she was in a race with time, trying to find the killer before the great day.

This is a wonderful read. The mystery is great and the characters are very well imagined. This is the first book I’ve read by Cynthia Kuhn and I look forward to reading more.

This is the second in the charming series "Starlilt Bookshop Murder Series"
by cozy author Cynthia Kuhn. Thank you to the publisher, Net Galley and the author for the opportunity.
My review opinions are my own. This is a endearing series with a beautiful Rocky Mountain setting of a small town. This is a exciting addition to the series

Our protagnist Emma will be attending a gala at the local library. She and the invited guests are first attending a tea a few days before the main event. When a famous guest caterer is murdered at the tea the board committee votes for Emma to take over. the event She is determined to investigate the murder while taking on new duties. Her most disliked person has also asked her to please investigate the murder. As attacks continued on the celebrity guests and a fire occurs Emma is challenged to not only put on the successful gala but solve the mysterious death and attacks on others attending. A fun sleuth that kept me guessing to conclusion. This was a exciting read with much action and growth for our protagnist Emma. Well done to the author.

This is a fantastic continuation in this cozy mystery series! I love the theme of the murder mystery scene turning into a real murder mystery and the chaos that ensues. Kuhn avoided a lot of the irritating cozy tropes, and her characters and writing had substance. I really enjoyed this one, and I look forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in a cosy series about Emma Star. I loved it. The mystery was pretty good, and we got to know the main characters better. It is not necessary to read the first book although doing so will provide more context about Emma, her family, and their situation. I will be looking forward to the next book in the series.

This was an enjoyable easy to read book. Even though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I personally like to read a series from the beginning though. Things I liked: - the setting, the focus on family and community, at least one character that you just love to hate, a murder mystery and an amateur sleuth. Things that I would have wanted to be different: - more in-depth character development, a bit less focus on Tabitha and Emma’s contentious relationship (sometimes it was just too over the top) and more focus on the murder investigation and less on the library fundraising gala. All in all, I think this is a good series and cozy mystery readers will find lots to like in the series.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is the second in a cozy mystery series about a book store. This one follows Emma as she prepares to go to a gala at the library. When the caterer is found dead, Emma is the new replacement with only three days until the gala. But there is still a killer on the loose.

This was a fun cozy mystery! I love the bookish elements for this one and I enjoyed reading this one. I think Emma is a good main character to follow. The mystery kept me interested and engaged throughout the book as well.

I didn't read the first one in this series but I don't think it took away from my enjoyment.

I would recommend!

I had enjoyed the first installment as an audiobook and found the voice narrator's talent excellent, successful in bringing the characters to life. For this new book in the Starlit Bookshop series, I experienced a similar feeling in terms of vibes (small town, bookstore, etc), but the plot was a bit less compelling than the previous one.

I missed the first book and so enjoyed this as a standalone which saw Emma, who works in a bookstore, spending more time trying her very best to run a gala but also solving a murder and finding a missing antique! Oh, and dealing with a mean girl in Tabitha, who tries to undermine her at every turn. Fans of the cozy genre know that there's something more going on with the gala than meets the eye and that Emma will have to sort through suspects. This adds in visitors from-wait for it- Hollywood. It's funny in spots (always a good thing) and the characters are good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'll look for this series again.

I tried really hard to get into this book but I think it simply wasn't for me. I don't want to give it a poor rating because someone else might really love it. It was just a little slow for me and I wasn't really connecting with it. I would advise cozy lovers to give it a try because it might be for them...

In the Event of Murder by Cynthia Kuhn is the second book A Starlit Bookshop Mysteries. I had not read How to Book a Murder, and I was lost in the beginning as a variety of characters are introduced. It became easier as I got further into the story, and I learned more about the main character as well as her family. Dr. Emma Starrs is helping her sister with the family bookstore. I admit that I am a little baffled as to why she is not using her Ph. D. to teach at the local college and help out part-time at the bookstore (her Aunt Nora seems to juggle teaching with writing). I quickly tired of Tabitha, Emma’s old high school nemesis, and Emma’s bickering. It seems that they have yet to leave their high school behavior behind them. Their interactions were overdone and, unfortunately, their bickering detracted from the story as it became the focus quite often. I found there to be a lack of character development. The mystery took a backseat to the gala and the squabbling. The investigation did not begin until after the halfway point (I was beginning to wonder if they would ever look into the murder). The whodunit pops up here and there as the story progresses. I felt the story lacked cohesion and some elements felt forced. I liked the town of Silvercrest as well as Starlit Books. Tabitha and Emma’s childish interactions did not make In the Event of Murder an enjoyable reading experience.

Literary Cozy Mystery featuring a Colorado bookseller, literary event planner and aspiring writer who turns sleuth after the library's star-studded gala's caterer is murdered.

5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Kuhn's Starlit Bookshop Mystery series, it's a Literary Cozy Mystery that takes place in Colorado and features a literary event planner and aspiring writer who who works with her sister and aunt at the family bookstore. After the library's star-studded gala's caterer is murdered, she takes over the job and when the victim's actress aunt asks her to look into the death she agrees to investigate. But her sleuthing job won't be easy, someone's determined to sabotage the gala week events so she'll have to work fast to save the gala and catch the killer. Kuhn has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Additionally, Kuhn's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Emma, her family, the staff at Starlit Bookshop and the folks of Silvercrest. Emma's a great character and I love seeing her figure everything out. Oh and I have to say I love how she handles her longtime nemesis, Tabitha. And of course, one must not forget one of the best named bookstore cats... Anne Shirley, the red tabby. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, How to Book a Murder.

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

This second Starlit Bookshop book is a fun, entertaining read. Emma fills in for the event planner for the library's gala fundraising week and works to solve the crime.

The first book in this series I've read but I enjoyed "meeting" these wonderful characters. The plot had some interesting twists as well. I've now picked up a copy of the first book in the series.

Recommended to mystery fans.

This was a fun who done it story. It was great how the author described the characters so well that I could imagine people in my life that reminded me of them. Especially Tabitha unfortunately lol. It would be cool to see pictures of the ballroom, Viv's party location and the bookstore. Thank you for sharing your story!

I was initially drawn to this book because the cat on the cover looks like my own but I also love mysteries. Overall I liked this book, but murder (and solving murder) definitely was not the main event. It felt like all the characters forgot their friend/family member had been murdered because everyone was so obsessed with this gala. There were just passing comments about it compared to chapters of gala details until the case was all neatly wrapped up at the end.

In the second Starlit Bookshop mystery, Emma finds herself subbing for the murdered event planner who should have been organizing the gala to support the Public Library. With only days before the event, things would be difficult. They are made even more difficult because Emma's old high school rival Tabitha is in charge of the event. Tabitha is quick to grab credit while piling more and more onto Emma's to-do list.

Things get even more difficult when someone is trying to sabotage the event by canceling reservations and doing other mischief. Naturally, Tabitha is blaming Emma for the mischief even though there are others who might want the event to fail.

Tabitha has pulled off a coup by getting the star of a very popular television series to appear. Each of the show's episodes is based on a classic mystery which is right up Emma's alley since she is an aspiring mystery author herself. Not only does Tabitha secure Whitney's attendance, but she is surprised to learn that Whitney's co-stars Nat and Stella arrive too.

Emma has a lot more to do than just make sure the event is successful. She needs to find a killer and discover who is sabotaging the event.

I like the small-town setting for this story. Emma has come back home to help keep her family's bookshop going and fits right back in with her circle of friends who have useful skills if she's to pull off the gala and solve the mystery.

A cute and cozy murder mystery with enough twists and town charm to keep you reading. A gala for the local library brings stars from a popular murder mystery show to town, along with jealousy, career rivalries--and murder. There is an interesting variety of characters, standouts being the main character, bookstore owner and amateur mystery writer/sleuth Emma, and her rival, the snobby and outspoken Tabitha. However, I found the character development surface level. This is the second book in a series and even though I haven’t read the first one, enough information was given to read this instalment as a satisfying standalone.

When the event planner gets killed during gala week Emma volunteers to take over and also tries to solve the murder. It’s a good story that keeps you guessing until the end. Nice writing style and good characters. I enjoyed reading it. This book can be read as a standalone but I think I'm going to read the previous book too.
I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.

This was my first book from Cynthia Kuhn it won't be the last but it didn't work his charm on me. The mystery it's very slow paced for my taste. I know cozy mystery it's all about small town charming and I enjoyed the dinámics of the characters for a while but then, by chapter ten I was so ready for the mystery to pick up.

I love starlit books and the sisters and aunt dinámics they feel like a family but I was expecting more of the investigation from Emma's part.

The book certainly was a feel good book and I will recommend it for cozy mystery fans who wants their mystery a bit more spaced.

I like it but it didn't drive me crazy.

It's a charming cozy mystery that reminds me of Agatha Christie and/or Edgar Allan Poe. You have to really pay attention to what you're reading and as with the first book in this series, I didn't expect the identity of the offender. Quite morbid, actually, the mystery.

I also like Emma's character. Wow, her sense of self is such that she automatically understands that the rudeness directed at her isn't about her rather it's about the other person.