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!

S. K. Golden’s *The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets* is an absolute treat! Set in the glitzy world of 1958 New York, it’s everything I hoped for in the next chapter of Evelyn’s adventures—full of charm, intrigue, and plenty of twists.

When Evelyn unexpectedly receives a diamond tiara during lunch, things quickly spiral into a mystery involving a costume jewelry team, a Gentleman Thief, and a death that literally lands in her lap. From the moment Lois Mitchel’s tragic end is revealed, Evelyn dives headfirst into solving the case, and I couldn’t wait to see where her sleuthing would take her.

Evelyn is such a fun and fabulous character to follow. She’s sharp, resourceful, and determined to uncover the truth, even when the mystery gets more complicated than she bargained for. The cast of characters Evelyn encounters is just as entertaining—quirky, suspicious, and full of surprises. And the setting? It feels like stepping into a glamorous time machine, with all the glitz and drama you’d expect from late-’50s Manhattan.

What I love about this series—and this book in particular—is how it perfectly balances humor, suspense, and heart. Evelyn’s quick wit and bold spirit always shine through, but there’s a warmth to her that makes her relatable, too. The mystery kept me guessing the entire time, and the ending? Let’s just say I didn’t see it coming.

If you’ve been following Evelyn’s escapades, you’ll love this next installment—it’s easily one of my favorites. And if you’re new to the series, you’re in for a treat. *The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets* is clever, stylish, and just plain fun.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

I adore this series, and was so excited when this book became available for request on Netgalley. And I was charmed yet again by Evelyn Murphy and her delightful group of companions. This series, in my opinion, deserves to be as well-read as The Thursday Murder Club, The Maid, or Finlay Donovan.

While book #2 ended on a bit of a somber note, Evelyn picks herself up with her normal pluckiness when yet another murder falls into her lap (literally). As we know, nothing cheers her spirits up more than a bit of investigating! This entry into the series has it all - a charming rogue jewelry thief, commentary on multi-level marketing schemes, a love triangle, and a big surprise that I look forward to seeing addressed in the next book.

If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, funny characters, and a heroine that plays on her supposed ditziness in order to figure out the crime, this is your book! It's rare that a series seems to get stronger as it goes, but I have yet to be disappointed in spending time with Evelyn Murphy.

Evelyn, Evelyn, Evelyn you sure do know how to turn heads! (And hearts.) Handsome men fawn all over her but will she ever be able to get over the love of her life, Mac?

Evelyn tasks herself with not one but two mysteries. A woman out to lunch with three of her colleagues, if you can call them that, ends up deathly in Evelyn’s lap. “It’s always the husband” is what everyone keeps repeating to Evelyn but is that true in this case or is there a “friend” who sees her as competition?

Next, the Gentleman’s thief is targeting the wealthy, including hotel guests. Who is this man (or woman) and why are they leaving a red pocket square on the scene of the robberies? Has Evelyn stumbled across a sinister plot or is the answer much more obvious?

Evelyn with her wit is one of my favorite literary characters. This series continues to get better and better and I suspect book #4 will be coming soon!

I recieved an ARC of this novel from NetGalley. Following is my honest review.

I wasn't aware this was the third novel in a series, but my introduction to Evelyn Murphy's quirky world as a hotel heiress and her sleuthing was a fun journey. Evelyn is a well-crafted character whose quirks allow readers to understand her as more than her overprivileged initial impression casts her as.

In this installment of the series, Evelyn finds herself among women selling jewelry in a multi-level marketing company when the leader is poisoned in the hotel restaurant of the hotel Evelyn resides in. So, she embarks on a quest to uncover the murderer while a nemesis in the form of a journalist attempts to paint Evelyn as out-of-touch and possibly in kahoots with the murderer because of a slew of deaths (and other crimes) that have recently happened on the premises. Evelyn herself makes great growth strides in dealing with her agoraphobia by venturing out of the hotel for two important meetings in her attempt to discover the murderer.

There is silliness and seriousness in equal measure in this novel and more than once I wondered what had happened in previous novels that was alluded to in this novel. I'm looking forward to digging more deeply into the world Golden has created for Evelyn.

New York in 1958 is a fun place to be, especially if you live in one of the best hotels in the city, which also happens to belong to your father! Evelyn Murphy is in that position, but her life is lived in a golden cage of anxiety since the unexplained death of her mother and abandonment by her boyfriend. Inside the Pinnacle Hotel, she is absolutely fine devoting herself to being the company's Party Planner alongside investigating the various mysteries that seem to unfold in front of her!

Dining in the Gold Room, she is invited to join a group of ladies at a nearby table where one of them collapses into her lap. Determined to discover what happened as well as identifying a gentleman thief who has been targeting the hotel Evelyn finds herself in a position none of her upbringing or anxiety could every have imagined with no one to but herself to rely on.

The third book in this series is another enchanting trip into a luxurious lifestyle, which only enhances the mystery elements of the stories so far. Evelyn and her friends are great main protagonists, all different and unique. My favourite characters apart from Evelyn are Henry Fox, the famous film star and ex-detective Hodgson who now works at the Pinnacle. Her insecurities are realistically and sympathetically drawn and only add to the storyline.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I loved this, and the cliffhanger at the end means I am already waiting for the next instalment of this feel-good series.

I was so excited to see that advance copies were available that even though I'd done the first two volumes in audio-books I figured I'd bite the bullet & deal with having to read a physical copy for volume three. The audio's of the first two volumes are fabulous-BTW!

This book had everything I hope for in a good cozy series. A main character I love spending time with as I adore Evelyn Murphy & love seeing her grow over each volume, even when she has setbacks. I love all of the side characters that I hope will be included in the next installments & their interactions with Evelyn. I love seeing what each new mystery will be & how the author will work with our main character's agoraphobia & still manage to solve our mystery & also work towards helping Evelyn get past her fears. I'm excited knowing there's a next volume coming in the future to look forward to & more of this world to explore.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Evelyn continues to be an enjoyable main character, more complex than you give her credit for at first but still witty and charming. I love the hotel setting and the mysteries are keeping my attention. Missed Mac in this one and hope the next has more of her mother’s mystery on page.

This third book of the series has the high level of vibrancy and anticipation as the first.
Evelyn is struggling with the loss of her emotional support beau Mac so she buries herself in another murder case.
With its sartorial descriptions, dashing friends and new quirky characters, The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets is another hit for author S.K. Golden.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

I think this was my favorite book so far in the series. I wasn’t sure I would like Evelyn as a character in the first book because she felt so spoiled. She still is but I like that her arc has her working now and doing a good job at it. I love her relationship with Poppy and am glad she stuck around despite the hard feelings for her brother. It was interesting to hear about Evelyn’s conflicted feelings for various potential beaus and comparing them to Mac. I felt like there were a few too many “ginchiest” comments; it felt overused. With a couple of mysteries intertwined, I wasn’t sure who the murderer would be but I figured out the thief early on. I can’t say I was happy with the cliffhanger but I do want to find out what Evelyn decides to do. I will definitely read the next book when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

This is the 3rd book in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery, by S.K. Golden. I originally found these series through the Reddit group for the TV show "Only Murders in the Building"! I think this is my favourite book in the series so far, I was left guessing for the culprit until the end, with lots of red herrings throughout. I found the main character, a little annoying in the first two books, but she's finally hit her stride in this one!

Highly recommended for those who enjoy cozy mysteries!

1958 New York and Evelyn Murphy is rich, beautiful and very good at finding things - especially murderers. Book 3 in the series and definitely one to add to your reading list

A quirky, fun mystery with an agoraphobic main character has an "Only Murders in the Building" vibe. This is the first I've read in the series, but details of Evelyn's backstory were woven into the plot, sometimes repetitiously. But that's a small complaint in a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I do plan to go back and read the previous entries in the series.

I'm so disappointed you guys. What is this Evelyn? And half of the book I was dragging missing Mac. Her sister it's not a solid companion to me.

I have a hard time with the mystery (mysteries) too. Some part of me wanted this be other thing that it is.

But I'm not going to loose hope on my socialite. I love the whole vintage movie concept of this, the vibes, but sadly I didn't enjoy this one as the previous ones.

Only for true fans and yet it's a bit harsh on the fangirl side.

Thanks netgalley for the arc and the publisher

This was an ARC from NetGalley. This is the third book in the series. All three taking place over 3 weeks. Overall, the main mystery plot was nothing memorable, but I did like the character development of Evelyn. The story felt a little like a filler, and I would have liked there to be more development on her mother's case. Easy quick read that revisits the Pinnacle. #skgolden #netgalley #thesocialitesguidetosleuthingandsecrets #cozymystery

3.5 stars
This was a lovely cozy mystery! I really needed it during the spooky month of October. Evelyn Murphy is slightly sheltered and maybe needs more of a wake up call and she gets it when an MLM women group try to convince her to join them and the ring leader then dies on the spot!

I was so intrigued by the plot and the mystery was really well written! Love love loved the detective nature of the main character and her group of friends are so fun!

This story centers on Evelyn,, who lives in the hotel owned by her father. If you love cozy mysteries or are a fan of Eloise, this is one to check out. It's a fun, lighthearted read, though it also delves into more serious and emotional moments. Evelyn can be both infuriatingly shallow and endearingly charming at times, which makes her feel like a believable socialite in this setting.

Evelyn teams up with her friends and hotel staff to solve not just the mysterious death of a guest in the dining area, but also a series of robberies. I appreciated how these plotlines were woven together, with a satisfying conclusion that didn't feel rushed. The pacing was spot-on, keeping me engaged throughout without dragging out the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free eARC of this book in exchange for my review.

I suspected this was part of a series but chose not to look into it, and discovered later it is the third installment. As such I ca confidently say that you can enter this series from this book - there are references to past books, but it's explained in a way that doesn't make you feel confused but more like the characters are referring to their backstory.

We follow Evelyn Murphy, who lives in the hotel her father owns. If you enjoy a good cosy and Eloise, please read this. It was fun, lighthearted with some more serious and emotional moments sprinkled in. At times I found Evelyn infuriating and vapid, and others charming. Overall I think this made her more believable as a socialite within this context.

Evelyn and her friends/employees work together to solve not only the mysterious death of a guest in their dining area, but also of a strong of robberies. I really enjoyed how these were threaded together and nothing about the ending felt rushed, and the denouement wasn't so long that I was getting bored. Perfect pacing!

Looking forward to going back and reading the first two.

I think this series keeps getting better and better. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the author grow into these characters and their stories. I adore the group of friends who surround Evelyn - Poppy, Henry, and Russell - and I love the father-daughter/mentor-mentee relationship she has with Hodgson. The hotel, too, is a character itself providing a lot of material for the mysteries. In this book, I liked the addition of the MLM angle and the duel crimes of jewel theft and murder. I can't wait for the next book, because I'm sure there will be one!