On the banks of the Rocky Mountain river in Silvercrest Colorado is a book lover’s paradise Emma Starr a bookseller and literary event planner is looking forward to attending the annual Silvercrest Library Gala with celebrities like Whitney Willton currently on the hit crime show Chasers and her niece party planner to the stars Lily Willton. Gala week is full of exciting activities honoring both page and screen and literary president Tabitha Baxteris basking in the glow of her successful launch until Lyra is found dead. The board asks Emma for help despite Tabitha’s not going along with the choice the board made. The case grows more complex with the disappearance of several priceless objects an attack on one of the celebrities and other predicaments. With Emma searching for clues and handling every unexpected twist the show must go on with a killer still at large and murder might become the main event. I recommend this story to everyone great characters and good plot.

In The Event of Murder is the second in the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries. There are many returning characters, most are involved in the library gala in one way or another, and few are any more likable than they were in the first book. Emma is working hard but still acts like a teenager when it comes to her old high school enemy. The mystery has some interesting twists, but in truth, it seems to play a secondary part in the overall immaturity of the main character and her adolescent leanings. Overall, I felt this story lacked any real intrigue and displayed too much childish behavior. I found the entire story rather blasé

I would recommend it as an entertaining read.. It would been more interesting if more of book was about solving the murder. It was interesting to read about all the issues with planning the library charity event. The animosity some characters had to others. It was an enjoyable read.

college, college-alumnae, Colorado, cozy-mystery, local-law-enforcement, detective, event-planner, murder, murder-investigation, verbal-humor, situational-humor, family, family-dynamics, female-sleuth, friendship, writers, small-business, small-town, rivalry, library, librarian, fundraiser, secrets, bookseller, friction, gala, unpleasant-suspect, amateur-sleuth, arson, theft, attempted-murder*****

Delightful cozy with all the elements that make for a well-plotted murder mystery with pleasant as well as aggravating characters. Nice quick beach read.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

For the most part, I enjoyed this cozy mystery set on the banks of Rocky Mountain River in Silvercrest, Colorado. Emma, along with her sister, is a bookstore owner. She is excited to attend the gala and all the surrounding activities for the Silvercrest Library. But, when one of the main organizers is murdered, Emma steps in to help and gets caught up in a tangled web of mystery. Emma has to work with Tabitha, a mean girl from Emma's high school days. This relationship will hopefully work itself out because it was a bit tiresome in this book- my only complaint. The rest of the cast of characters were likable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy.

Unfortunately after reading a couple of chapters of this book. I don't believe this is a good fit for me as a reader at this time. I may try more from Cynthia Kuhn in the future! Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this story!

Was great story with lots of twists and turns. Had fun and relatable characters. Some parts dragged but then it picked up a little.

Great read, just a little bit too detailed at some points. The mystery was definitely gripping and kept me on my toes for most of the book but the details definitely lost me at some points too

Super easy read.

I literally had no thoughts through out this book, I was just along for the vibes and I loved it.

It’s the star-studded event of the season in Silvercrest, Colorado. But, some of the guests might not make it to the last dance alive in the 2nd charming installment of the Starlit Bookshop mysteries from the author, Cynthia Kuhn.

Enjoyed this book. Hollywood actors on a show called “Chasers” sure did create a lot of drama. Loved the bookstore cat. Ac great summer read.

This was a fun, well-paced murder mystery,. I am not sure the cat made enough of an appearance in this novel to justify putting one on the cover (might be rather disappointing for readers who are hoping to be reading a mystery featuring a cat) but if I had not seen the cover that would not be an issue. Some of the characters were a bit flat and caricatured, so perhaps there are too many characters, but for a fast, fun read it worked. I liked the setting, believable enough even if no real-life Colorado mountain town quite resembles the one in this book, at least not enough to be super-obvious. I was hoping the ending would include more character-building consequences for Tabitha, so maybe the next book will temper her a bit. One can only hope. I'll definitely be checking out the first book in this series and the author's other books. .

Step into Silvercrest, Colorado, where the annual gala at the Silvercrest Library promises glamour and intrigue. In the second Starlit Bookshop mystery, Emma Starrs, thriving at her aunt’s bookstore, faces a chilling challenge when Lyra Willton is murdered. With her sleuthing skills summoned, Emma uncovers secrets amidst whispers of foul play. As the danger escalates, Emma races against time, confronting adversaries and unmasking a killer. From a priceless antique’s disappearance to a brutal attack, each twist intensifies the mystery. With resilience and determination, Emma navigates treacherous waters, ensuring justice prevails as the gala becomes a battleground where murder steals the spotlight.

You won’t want to miss any party in Kuhn’s wonderful series because of the humour, suspense, and unexpected turns! You’re expected to detest the characters in this thriller, even if several unlikeable individuals don’t end up redeeming themselves! I read the book quickly and found it to be quite engaging, although at times I found it confusing because I wasn’t familiar with the characters from the previous book.

Celebrities from a true crime program are the special guests, and there are lots of mysteries, rumours, mishaps, and injuries. Finding out more about this adorable tiny town and all of its oddball residents was a pleasure. I discovered that the riddle itself was disjointed, appearing here and there. But after going through my lists of potential suspects, I discovered that, ultimately, I was entirely mistaken.

Second in a series but can be read as a standalone. Lots of secondary characters. Love the cat! A mystery with lots of twists. Enjoyable read. Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

In the Event of Murder is the second book in this series. I initially requested a copy to read because honestly I'm a sucker for any cozy mystery involving books, libraries or bookstores. This one can be read as a stand alone but as someone who likes to read a series from the beginning I felt I would have liked to have read the first book to get a better feel for the main character and the secondary cast of characters. There are plenty of unlikable secondary characters that have you hoping they are the killer. The story is well written and kept me engaged. I'm going to go back and read the first book in this series before continuing on. I like the way the characters are developing and want to be able to see the growth from the beginning.

I. Love. This. Book.

First of all, a cozy mystery with a bookshop cat named Anne Shirley? Be still my bibliophile heart.

Filled with a cast of extremely likeable characters, and an engaging mystery (that doesn’t end in the usual way), you have a winning book.

Protagonist Lucy is relatable, with a community of friends and family around her that feels true to life. Joined in the book by a cast of Hollywood stars, she becomes entangled in the truly complex webs that have been created.

Also, can we please have a real life “Chasers” tv show?!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book for free and provide my honest opinion.

In the Event of Murder is book 2 of the series but can be read as a stand alone. This is a cozy murder story in a small town. A good quick read.

The Silvercrest Library is holding it's annual fund raiser, this year attended by the stars of a popular TV show, and including local Whitney Wilton. When her niece Lyra is killed Whitney asks bookseller and event planner Emma for help in finding the killer. Emma's job only gets more difficult when the venue for the event is burned down and the library board asks for her help. With great characters and a plot that keeps you guessing this is a great cozy mystery to curl up with on a dreary afternoon.
Thanks to #NetGalley#InTheEventOfMurder#CrookedLaneBooks for the EARC.

This was a great follow up to the first book in the series.
This was a quick read, and great for a road trip

Emma Starr, who works at her family’s bookshop, has recently gotten into event planning. One event she’s glad she’s not involved in scheduling is the numerous events leading up to Silvercrest Library’s annual charity gala. At the opening event, Lyra Willton—a hometown girl who is now a celebrity caterer out in Hollywood—suffers an accident that leaves her with a minor concussion. Later that night, at a special screening of her aunt’s television show, Lyra’s body is found stashed in a freezer. With Lyra’s catering company no longer able to handle the library events, the committee appoints Emma as the new event planner. When she’s not taking orders from her arch nemesis Tabitha Baxter, Emma looks into the murder at the request of Lyra’s aunt, actress Whitney Willton. The case becomes more complex when Emma is attacked while she’s retrieving an expensive and then one of Whitney’s co-stars. The Baxter Ballroom also burns down not long after the committee finished setting up for the silent auction. Emma is determined to not only discover the identity of Lyra’s murder but find a new location for the gala.



IN THE EVENT OF MURDER is a satisfactory follow up to HOW TO BOOK A MURDER. Many of the secondary characters from the first book in the series carry over into this one, and they are involved in the library gala in various roles. Emma’s high school drama with Tabitha Baxter plays another major part in this novel. Their childish behaviors get a little old—especially when it takes center stage in the story and casts the actual mystery into a supporting role. The mystery, while interesting, often felt disjointed.

Thank you Net Galley and publishers for letting me read an arc of this book for my honest review!

I really liked this cozy murder mystery. It's the second installment of the series and it wonderfully continues the story and characters from the first. I liked it even better than the first because it didn't add any unnecessary details or dragged on. I was fully attentive from page one. I loved learning more about this cute little town and all of it's quirky characters. I do hope she writes more to this series, I hoping for the love interest to fully bloom into something other than flirty tension.