Emily Dalle’s apartment is above her best friend Fitzwilliam (Fitz for short) Warner’s Longbourn Café in Eliot Hill, New York. Emily would be the first to admit that she wouldn’t have been on a bike ride that morning (especially at that hour) about to have a calamity with a raccoon of the worst kind – the worst kind being Emily seconds from sailing over the handlebars kind of worst - if it hadn’t been for her friendship with Fitz. Little did she realize that the most memorable aspect of this bike ride wouldn't be the raccoon incident, but rather her shocking encounter with a lifeless body.

I loved the opening of this new mystery series. The character relationships shine particularly in the friendship between Emily and Fitz, Fitz and his brother Noah, and Fitz’s reactions to the sparks between Noah (excuse me, Sheriff Warner) and Emily. As a social media influencer, Emily’s schedule is fluid, so it’s easy to accommodate her desired sleuthing with multiple suspects, keeping Emily busy and the reader guessing. Descriptive writing favorites, as the descriptions are so relatable, are:
"…the hints that I should get busy had started coming faster than rain pellets in a May storm."
"…felt like a kid nervously watching their mom’s reaction to a homemade breakfast on Mother’s Day."
I’m looking forward to Book 2, as I’ll be following this social media influencer and her dog Murray, who is so popular on Emily’s blog that some sponsorships are just for him.

Thank you to Sydney Leigh, Level Best Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book.

Reviewer’s Note: I do not know if the publisher plans on marketing it as a cozy mystery, but readers should be aware that it cannot be marketed as a clean cozy due to Emily’s vocabulary, although she is on a profanity diet (Fitz’s description) as Emily’s mom and southern belle has her trying for improvement.

I didn’t realize until the end that this is the same author as Perils in Pink, which I enjoyed.

Emily is an influencer and during a morning bike ride with her bestie she finds her frenemy, Jackie, dead on the trail. Emily is asked to help try to drum up leads, but soon enough Emily finds herself in the cross path of the killer.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!

This was an okay book. I didn't care much for the characters as they all felt a bit cringey and immature. There was some good humor but that was about it for me.

"Instagoner (The Bark and Blog Mystery Series #1)" by Sydney Leigh is the first cozy mystery book about Lifestyle Blogger/Influencer Emily Dalle. She seems to quite successful at her chosen career and is about to start a regular tv segment with her mom on the local channel. She live in a cozy apartment with her big dog above her best friend's coffee cafe. She has a massive crush on his (the best friend's) brother who just happens to be the town detective.

The mystery begins when Emily and her best friend are on a mountain road bike ride. Emily literally crashes into the local talk show hostess and everyone's least favorite person. Luckily and unluckily, Emily didn't get to her first. Then the sister of the victim asks Emily to reach out to her followers for any information they may have. This gets Emily in full blow curiosity mode.

There are several possible suspects. I was a bit focused on one suspect in mind and had one that I was sort of thinking it could be. My second person ended up being the culprit.

What a fun mystery!

I really liked it! Maybe I even love it?! I enjoyed learning about Emily and her world. She’s got a great, fun relationship with her best friend Fitz, a crush on a hot cop, and, of course, a jerk of an ex-boyfriend.

I definitely didn’t see some parts of this story coming. I did guess the killer right before the conflict, but I didn’t get why at all!

I look forward to diving more into Emily’s world and seeing what mysteries she sticks her head into next.

Ugh I was so excited for another cozy mystery by Sydney Leigh but this was not it.
Firstly it felt as if there was a previous book I was missing? The characters already had established relationships that went unexplained. Also I get the MC and the murder victim didn’t get along but I would hope you would never wish someone dead!!! The characters came across as extremely immature and cringy. Overall the mystery was okay but I wanted more

Instagoner by Sydney Leigh is an interesting read with a unique premise that caught my attention. The story explores some intriguing ideas about social media and its impact on our lives, and there are moments where the plot shines. However, I felt that the pacing was sometimes uneven, with certain parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The characters, while relatable, could have been developed more deeply to draw the reader in fully. Instagoner has its strengths, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It’s a decent read if you’re interested in themes around social media, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Sydney Leigh’s Instagoner is a contemporary mystery that successfully blends elements of humor and suspense. The novel introduces Emily Dalle, a social media influencer unexpectedly thrust into the role of amateur detective when her frenemy is murdered.

Leigh’s skillful integration of social media into the investigative process creates a fresh and engaging dynamic, appealing to a modern audience. The small-town setting provides a charming backdrop while also contributing to the overall atmosphere of intrigue. The plot is filled with unexpected twists, keeping readers engaged throughout.

Emily is a relatable protagonist whose witty commentary and determination are both endearing and inspiring. The supporting characters, particularly her loyal friend Fitz and the enigmatic Sheriff Noah, add depth and complexity to the narrative. However, some readers may find Emily's characterization inconsistent at times, which can detract from her overall believability.

While the novel effectively combines humor and suspense, the romantic subplot between Emily and Noah feels somewhat predictable. Additionally, the character of Fitz, though charming, is underdeveloped and leaves the reader wanting to know more about his backstory.

Overall, Instagoner is an entertaining read that successfully blends humor, mystery, and contemporary culture. Leigh's writing style is engaging, and the plot is well-paced. While the novel might not break new ground in the mystery genre, it offers a fun and lighthearted escape.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.

Funny entertaining book that I would recommend. It starts with Emily a influential blogger bumps into the dead body 9f her nemesis. She feels she needs to find who did it

Instagoner is a charming and fast-paced murder mystery involving lots of coffee, cute dogs and best of all, everyone is a suspect. Another plus? The main character is fairly self-aware and didn't make me want to throw my kindle against a wall :)

Lots of crazy plot twists kept me guessing until the end and left me on the edge of my seat as I was trying to figure out who the killer was. The book also leaves off in a great spot for any future books in the series!

The only negative? I WANTED MORE OF THE HOT COP IN THE STORY. Thank you.

Wow, what a neat book! Instagoner by Sydney Leigh was a book that kept me turning pages until the very end!

Instagoner by Sydney Leigh is a fast-paced, murder mystery filled with humour, suspense, and a cast of characters you can never fully trust. The story revolves around a social media influencer who accidentally discovers the body of the town’s notoriously mean girl. With the help of her lovable best friend, her adorable dog, and the local sheriff (who just might be more than a crush), she dives headfirst into solving the murder—using her followers to help piece together the clues.

Leigh skillfully weaves an unpredictable narrative that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The small-town setting adds an intimate, yet tense atmosphere, where every encounter with the quirky townspeople feels shrouded in mystery. You’ll find yourself questioning everyone's motives, making the suspense all the more gripping.

The protagonist shines with her witty, relatable personality, providing a delightful balance to the darker elements of the plot. Her chemistry with her best friend and maybe one-sided, unrequited crush on the sheriff are heartwarming subplots that enrich her character and lighten the mood.

Sydney Leigh has created a protagonist who is both charming and resilient, making "Instagoner" an irresistible read for anyone who loves a good mystery infused with humor and heart. This one’s a must-read!

3.5 ⭐️

overall 4/5. i think this series has a lot of potential moving forward. the premise of getting involved with true crime with a social media presence makes it easy to relate to our current world & allows you to be fully immersed in the story. i was left guessing until the end on who did it & i would also like to see how noah & emily’s relationship evolves (if at all), in future books! thank you for the ARC e-book!!

~Murder-Mystery, Plot-twists, Secrets, and more!~

Instagoner by Sydney Leigh follows Emily Dalle, a professional blogger and Instagramer. After quite literally stumbling into her frienemy and infamous talk show host, Jackie's body, she asks her followers for help to uncover the truth about her death. With the help of her follower's tips and her loyal dog Murray, will she be able to discover the truth, or will the online threatening messages she receives turn into more than just empty threats?

4| Overall, this book was a quite enjoyable, easy read. I love the concept of it and think the series has enormous potential. The title is a funny pun. Emily is stubborn and determined to find out the truth no matter what anyone says, and while that can be frustrating at times, it helped me better grasp who the character is. Emily's backstory with Jackie is interesting, and I liked how, despite Jackies passing, she was characterized for who she was and not a sugar-coated version. Lots of characters had motive and opportunitiy, which had me guessing who it was til the end. I love Emily's wholesome friendship with Fitz; he is loyal to a fault and always there when she needs him. I felt his sexuality was danced around a little bit too much for my taste. While he is a side character, he is also Emily's closest friend, and I wish the story delved more into him, even if it was subtle. His character is something I hope in future books will be more fleshed out.

Emily using her blog to find out more about what happened to Jackie was fun. I wish I had got to see more of her blog posts and her career in general. At times, I felt Emily went back and forth too much. She was very judgemental about a lot of things and then, the next second, fine with it. She is very quick to judge which got a little annoying. Although it says a lot about her and her loyalty to the people around her it felt like she was too easy on some people but then way harsher on others. The killer was not someone I saw coming, even with the subtle clues sprinkled about. There were a perfect amount of red herrings to make me question any and everyone. The potential for Emily and Noah's future romance is something I'm interested in seeing more of in future books. I loved Murray and the rolled he played in the story. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the places like the studio and mountains. The pop culture references were well done though some of the language felt a little forced and awkward at times.

In future books, I would love to see more of Noah and Emily and how their relationship progresses. I would also love to see more of Fitz and his backstory. Seeing more of Emilys day to day life would be a nice touch that would help break up a lot of back and forth she feels. This story was well-written and enjoyable. Getting to know more about the town would be fun to see. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for future books in this series and what happens to Emily next!