The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets is book 3 in S.K. Gordon’s Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series but as someone who was not familiar with the series, I can confidently say that it’s easily read as a standalone.

The story is written in first person from the point of view of Evelyn Murphy, the daughter of a rich hotelier, and living in the fabulous Pinnacle Hotel in London circa 1958. Evelyn is attending a charity luncheon at the hotel when she is summoned to the table of a bunch of ladies, and shortly afterward one of them falls dead into her lap. Evelyn is determined to solve the crime in order to prevent the reputation of the hotel from being affected.

In the beginning of the book I found Evelyn to be a bit selfish, and unaware or uncaring of the feelings of some of the people she interacted with. Even later in the novel there were a few places where I felt like she was a bit self absorbed, but she did grow on me.

There were a number of people to serve as suspects in the murder of Mrs. Mitchell, and with a secondary mystery to solve, that of the jewelry thief, this mystery was quite an interesting read with a rather exciting ending.

I think any lover of cosy mysteries would enjoy this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Evelyn is back! Minus a beau but plus new friends and frenemies. The action begins right from the start, when she is invited to a table of ladies who lunch, only to end up with their leader passing out in her arms. When she eventually dies, the police call it an accident. Evelyn knows better. This is a book that benefits from reading the previous volumes, but just in case, I’ll try to avoid spoilers. This time, a character is missing and this forces Evelyn to rely more on other recurring characters, getting to know them better. There are also additions to the cast, including the dreamboat son of Mr. Sharpe, who brings some romantic tension to the plot, since Evelyn is also considering dating her attorney. This time I didn’t figure out whodunit and, even if I did predict one of the twists, the ending left me flabbergasted. I’m really intrigued by her Mother’s case, which we don’t get to find out a lot about, but hopefully will feature more prominently in the future. That said, what I like the most about this series is the main character. She is a spoiled, egocentric rich girl and yet, I like her so much! Her love for animals, the fierce loyalty to her friends and her remarkable intelligence (which she’s forced to hide) makes it understandable how everybody is willing to help her, beyond the obvious that she is insanely wealthy. So I just have one bone to pick with her: Marple over Poirot? Really? I can’t wait for the next volume. Five stars!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Crooked Lane Books.

“It’s a curious thing to know exactly where you are and still be lost. For example, I was at lunch.”
Here are reasons to read the Mystery book:

3rd in series - In this 3rd book in the series
Hotel - we continue to follow Evelyn as the heiress in residence/ owners daughter of the Pinnacle hotel
Guest - in which she has a guest literally turn purple and fall into her lap

While you don’t need to necessarily read the first two books to get context, it does help. At the beginning of this book Evelyn’s boyfriend Mac from the first 2 books has left her. And she is also slightly agoraphobic, so she regresses a bit when he leaves. But she is always down to solve a murder. The fun thing about this one is that it talks about pyramid schemes similar to other jewelry selling businesses. And considering it’s 1958 this is a really interesting topic. If you like cozy mysteries that aren’t too complicated, this one's for you.

I got so excited about the idea of an heiress going about her day as an undercover sleuth. It's like Nancy Drew meets Gossip Girl. There is just a little bit of hesitation in propelling the plot much faster. Overall a good book!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Focusing on the daughter of hotelier, Evelyn is anxious, clueless about life and often selfish. However there is something endearing about Evelyn, and I did enjoy the banter and sleuthing within the story. It didn’t blow me away but it was fun.

I didn’t realise going into this book that it is part of a series, it is totally readable without reading the rest of the books. However, I think I may have enjoyed the story more if I had read the previous books in the series.

Another fun Socialite's Guide by S.K. Golden. Evelyn is the feisty protagonist who is not without faults but she has a quick wit and notices every detail! The time period and physical setting is perfect for Evelyn's story and I have enjoyed every twist and turn that had me guessing to the very end. Some of Evelyn's romantic antics add a lot to the story but does not take away from the mystery! I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets, book three in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series by S. K. Golden, is a fun romp with two distinct mysteries for the main character, hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy, and her friends to solve.
The suspects for the first mystery, the death of an unscrupulous woman at the head of a pyramid scheme taking advantage of desperate women, are plenty, while the suspects for the jewel thief preying on the rich, are few and far between. Golden metes out the clues one by one, culminating in a tense situation for our heroine.
This is the first book of the series that I have read, and it stands well on its own. I initially found Evelyn unrelatable and even irritating in her privilege, but found myself warming to her slightly by the end of the book.
I was happy to receive an ARC of #TheSocialitesGuidetoSleuthingandSecrets from #NetGalley, and recommend the book for a fun, easy read.

Things that i love, the over, the premises, the time period, Love the main character very much. Also did not know that this was a part of series and surprisingly very easy to understand

Evelyn is back, doing what she does best, after a woman falls dead in her lap! There are two mysteries at the Pinnacle for Evelyn to solve this time, one being the dead woman and the second being a gentleman jewelry thief. The hunt for her mother's murderer also continues. This was a fun read, and I enjoyed the MLM aspect that the author brought in. I will be eagerly anticipating the next book after that double cliff hanger!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for access to this arc.

Evelyn Murphy is back (and having the ginchiest time!) in S. K. Golden's The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets! There's both a murderer and a cat burglar running around the Pinnacle, and she's determined to discover the identity of both, while continuing to avoid leaving the luxury hotel that is her home - and when her mother's long lost journals turn up, Evelyn has a third mystery on her hands!!! Loved it, and I'm so glad to return to the Pinnacle! 5 stars!!!

Evelyn Murphy, the daughter of the Pinnacle Hotel's owner, is invited to join a group of women dining at the hotel.
When the leader of the group suddenly has problems breathing, medical help is summoned. When it turns out
that the woman died due to a shellfish allergy, Evelyn is convinced she was murdered as there was no seafood
on the menu. Evelyn investigates the other women in the party, as well as the dead woman's husband, convinced
that one of them is the murderer. Enjoyable cozy read.
#TheSocialitesGuidetoSleuthingandSecrets #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

In this third installment of the Pinnacle Hotel mysteries, Evelyn is as charming and sassy as ever as she looks into the son of the hotel manager and has another murder case literally drop into her lap.

A tiara, a sudden death, and stolen jewelry … Evelyn’s on it

Book 3 in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series picks up right where the last one left off. Evelyn is heartbroken from Mac (Malcolm Cooper) leaving after her father threatened to cut her off financially. Poppy is Evelyn’s assistant in her role as hotel event planner. Former police detective turned private investigator Hodgeson is still looking into the death of Evelyn’s mom. Unfortunately, Evelyn has taken a step back, she has not left the hotel since Mac has left, despite the urgings of her analyst.

Evelyn has a murder literally fall into her lap, how could she not investigate it? Add to the mix the Gentleman Thief, adventures abound for Evelyn with the help of Poppy, Henry (dashing movie star), and Hodgeson.

This case is quite difficult when there doesn’t seem to be a motive. As Evelyn works to convince the authorities the death was not accidental, deal with the findings in her mother’s death and get over her heartbreak, it is an emotional minefield for her. As Evelyn navigates her way through we learn more about out how she became the person we met back in Book 1, The Socialite’s Guide to Murder.

If I am not mistaken, Henry is a bit more active in this mystery. Hodgeson is … well, Hodgeson and I love it. There are new clues to some new challenges ahead for Evelyn and I can’t wait to see how she handles them. She is a young heiress barely out of her teens who lives in her father’s hotel without much experience in the real world. I cannot wait to see what happens in Book 4.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story.

Happy Reading!

Soclialite Evelyn Murphy is stunned when she receives a diamond tiara from an unknown sender. However, she is soon occupied when Lois Mitchel, a costume jewelry saleswoman, chokes and dies in her lap. As the city buzzes with news of a Gentleman Thief leaving red pocket squares at his crime scenes, Evelyn takes it upon herself to unravel the mystery of Lois’s death. With suspects ranging from jewelers to Robin Hood wannabes, Evelyn navigates a web of intrigue to crack the case and uncover the truth.

It was fantastic to be back with Evelyn once again. She’s still dealing with the heartbreak of the previous book and has retreated back to the Pinnacle Hotel as her safe zone. Slowly, though, Hodgeson’s investigation into her mother’s death and her own murder investigation draw her back outside. I love how she learned more about herself and accepts advice on how to be better “finder” of things.

For the most part, the plot moved at a good pace. There were a few occasions when it felt like just another conversation, repeating things we already knew, but not enough that it became annoying. The cast of characters was fun. Even when I guessed one of the culprits, it was enjoyable to watch Evelyn get to the answer.

Fans of the series are sure to enjoy this one!

This is the third installment in this cozy mystery series. While each book technically could stand on its own, I highly recommend reading the first two to learn the characters.

In this installment, I loved seeing the main character step out of the hotel setting more. The inclusion of charming 1950s scenes—complete with dancing and dining—transport you back in time. The plot centers around the murder of an MLM leader selling costume jewelry, blending the allure of multi-level marketing with the glamour of the era. It was especially fun to explore the dynamics of MLMs within the vibrant 1950s context.

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a touch of history, "The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets" is definitely worth adding to your list. It’s a cozy, enjoyable read

This is the first book in the series that I have read, I hadn’t appreciated that there were two earlier books. Although it does stand alone, I felt it would have been much better had I read the previous as there were numerous references to incidents and a background that I just didn’t know about. That said, I did really enjoy it as it stands.

I found the main character - an incredibly rich daughter of a hotel owner, and socialite - to be loveable and exactly what I expected of her - clever, beautiful, and a little bit nieve. The storyline is excellent- I had absolutely no clue who “dunnit”, and it all wrapped up beautifully. I would like to continue on with this series, an absolute tonic to the real world.

My thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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*Disclaimer: I had received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 7/10 – 3,5 stars out of 5
Genre: thriller, crime, cozy mystery

A hotel with very bad luck that draws attention to Evelyn Murphy.

I didn’t know it was the third part of a saga, but it’s perfectly understandable. It’s true that there are details that remain in the air for not knowing the two previous ones, but the mystery is solved without problems and all the time you are clear about it. (Just in case someone is as clueless as I was and the same thing happens to them).

It is highly enjoyable and very entertaining, although my main problem has been the main character: at times, I empathized with her and her emotions; at others, she just seemed to me that she was repeating the same thing in a loop without any background.

I liked the story and, although it was known from the beginning who was who, it was very interesting to see how Evelyn is guided by her instinct, by her hunches, and the relationship with the rest of the characters. The references to Agatha Christie and her main investigators have enchanted me.

However, and because I also have to talk about the “buts”, I found it a little simple (perhaps not the most appropriate word): the action scenes make little sense, they seem to be finished before everything has a reason to be. It gives the sensation that the author had an idea, but she ran out of words or time or ways to express it and ended up shortening it.

The subplot of her mother calls my attention and I don’t hesitate to read the whole saga at some point.

Totally recommendable to see a different investigator to what readers of the genre are used to.





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*Aviso: Recibí un eARC gratuito a cambio de una revisión honesta.

Calificación: 7 / 10 – 3,5 estrellas de 5
Género: policiaco, crimen, misterio

Un hotel con muy mala suerte que atrae las miradas hacia Evelyn Murphy.

No sabía que se trataba de la tercera parte de una saga, pero se entiende perfectamente. Es cierto que hay detalles que quedan en el aire por no conocer los dos anteriores, pero el misterio se resuelve sin problemas y todo el rato te dejan claro lo que ha sucedido. (Por si acaso alguien es tan despistado como yo y le sucede lo mismo).

Es altamente disfrutable y muy entretenido, si bien mi problema principal ha sido el personaje principal: en ocasiones, empatizaba con ella y con sus emociones; en otras, solo me parecía que repetía lo mismo en bucle sin más trasfondo.

Me ha gustado la historia y, aunque se sabía desde el principio quién era quién, ha sido muy interesante ver cómo Evelyn se guía por su instinto, por sus corazonadas… y la relación que mantiene con el resto de personajes. Las referencias a Agatha Christie y sus investigadores principales me han encantado.

Sin embargo, y porque también tengo que hablar de los “peros”, me ha parecido un poco simple (tal vez no es la palabra más adecuada): las escenas de acción tienen poco sentido, parecen terminadas antes de que todo tenga una razón de ser… Da la sensación de que tenía una idea, pero se quedaba sin palabras o sin formas de expresarla y acabó por acortarla.

La subtrama de su madre me llama mucho la atención y no dudo leerme toda la saga en algún momento.

Totalmente recomendable para ver una investigadora diferente a lo que estamos acostumbrados los lectores del género.

“Someone at that table killer her”

“I hate doing things that are good for me”

The more I read about Evelyn trying to solve murder mysteries happening at the Pinnacle Hotel, the more intrigued with the character I get. It seems like she is the younger version of Miss Marple at the Bertram Hotel !!! I love it !!! We have a young socialite woman who’s in love with mysteries and adventure and I have such a fun time getting through them alongside her. It feels like such an entertainment. Add to that a murder at the dinner table where she is seemingly the only one who’s able to get to the bottom of the story, and you make the perfect recipe for a cozy, interesting and winter season like book which is perfect to read under a blanket. I don’t know why but I do in fact associate these books with this season and Evelyn … I don’t know why but she brings me in in a way no one else does. And her complicated relationships with the other characters especially the male ones … love it !!!! And while I was disappointed by certain turn of events on the relationship side, at the end everything ended up being as it was supposed to be and I cannot wait for the next one !!!

“Money, revenge, jealousy. Those are your three main motives”

“Would you really, darling? You’re the ginchiest” “Takes one to know one, darling”

The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets by S. K. Golden is Book 3 in the witty Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series. Set in 1958 glitzy and glamorous New York, this novel was a pleasure to get lost in. Evelyn Murphy is a bright and beautiful young lady who is also the heiress of the Pinnacle Hotel, animal lover and recipient of an intriguing bequeath years after her mother's death. She resides in the hotel and rarely enjoys the fresh outdoors. As a socialite sleuth, her attention is elsewhere, especially after a lady in a group of friends enjoying dinner around a table in the hotel restaurant slithers into Evelyn's lap and breathes her last. Evelyn is aghast but this isn't the first death in the famed hotel. There is something fishy about this one. Not only is there a murder but also theft and a love triangle for good measure.

Evelyn is spoiled and outspoken but started to grow on me, showing snippets of endearing qualities. Newspaper articles add a bit of whimsy. Though the ending was predictable, it didn't matter. The setting, delicious food descriptions and varied characters grabbed me and held me captive. There is something special about the allure of the 1950s, unlike any other time. If you're looking for a light escapist read with some oomph, this series is for you.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this terrific novel.

I’ll admit, diving into The Socialite’s Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets without realizing it was the third book in a series had me feeling a bit like Evelyn Murphy herself—out of my depth but determined to find my footing. Thankfully, Evelyn’s world as a quirky hotel heiress turned amateur sleuth was easy to slip into, and I found myself hooked on her charm and wit.

Evelyn is a wonderfully layered character. At first glance, she might seem like just another overprivileged socialite, but Golden peels back the layers to reveal someone far more relatable. Her struggles with agoraphobia, her sharp observations, and her growth throughout the story make her feel incredibly human. This installment finds Evelyn in the middle of yet another mystery—this time involving a poisoned MLM leader in her hotel’s restaurant. The drama and intrigue escalate as Evelyn, with her unique blend of determination and quirkiness, works to uncover the truth while also fending off a journalist eager to tarnish her reputation.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the balance between lighthearted humor and deeper themes. The satirical take on MLM culture was laugh-out-loud funny at times, but Evelyn’s journey, particularly her courage in venturing outside the hotel for key meetings, added a touch of poignancy that made her story resonate even more.

While I did find myself wondering about some references to past events, it didn’t detract from the story. If anything, it made me eager to pick up the earlier books and fully immerse myself in Evelyn’s world. S. K. Golden has crafted a series that combines mystery, humor, and heart in a way that’s truly captivating. I can’t wait to see where Evelyn’s sleuthing adventures take her next—and to find out what I’ve missed in the first two installments!