A great mystery story which has some funny moments in it. I enjoyed this o e and hop3 to read more from this author in the future. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

"The Starlet Letter" by Julie Mathison, the first installment in The Canary House Mysteries, is a delightful and tongue-in-cheek historical mystery that immerses readers in the glamour and intrigue of the 1930s. With amateur sleuths, literary themes, and a dash of romance, this four-star novel introduces the Van der Beeck twins in a mad-cap mystery that keeps readers guessing until the end.

Set in 1931, Canary House, the Van der Beeck mansion on the Upper West Side, becomes a hub of eccentricity with its six tenants – a pianist, a poet, an erstwhile diplomat, a psychiatrist, a bootlegger, and a cash-strapped philanthropist. The stage is set for chaos when Babs Le Roy, a washed-up Ziegfeld Follies star, becomes the seventh tenant in the turret room, bringing her own share of skeletons.

Mathison's writing captures the spirit of the Roaring Twenties, blending historical charm with humor and mystery. The Van der Beeck twins, Vivian and Viola, shine as amateur sleuths with contrasting personalities—Vivian with a nose for trouble and Viola with her nose in a book. The dynamic between the two sisters adds depth and humor to the narrative.

The ensemble cast of characters, including a soft-boiled detective, a handsome sergeant, and a houseful of whimsical tenants, creates a lively and entertaining atmosphere. The author skillfully navigates the twists and turns of the mystery, keeping readers engaged with red herrings, gangsters, and a ransom note that propels the plot forward.

The literary themes woven into the story add an extra layer of charm, making it a treat for book lovers. The clever nods to classic literature and the playful exploration of amateur detective tropes contribute to the novel's unique appeal.

In conclusion, "The Starlet Letter" is a four-star romp through the Roaring Twenties, offering a perfect blend of historical charm, mystery, and humor. Julie Mathison introduces readers to a world of eccentric characters, literary delights, and a mad-cap mystery that unfolds with wit and whimsy. The Canary House Mysteries promise an engaging series for those who enjoy a lighthearted and entertaining historical mystery.

Great historical read, perfect escapism.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley for for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was just an okay book, didn't enjoy it that much. The writing was good and so was the premise of this book but not much else could be said about it.

This book was very cosy and enjoyable. Lots of twists and turns. Itvwas such an easy read with fantastic eccentric characters. Was such a joy to read. Thank you NetGalley

An enjoyable historical cozy mystery. I liked the sisters and the boarders. There were plenty of suspects and some twists along the way.
Many thanks to Starr Creek Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What sets "The Starlet Letter" apart is its ability to balance the mystery with humor. Mathison infuses the story with witty banter, clever wordplay, and humorous situations that add a lighthearted touch to the proceedings. This blend of humor and mystery creates a reading experience that is not only engaging but also immensely enjoyable. It's a refreshing departure from more serious and grim mysteries and offers a delightful change of pace.

As the mystery unfolds and the Van der Beeck twins delve deeper into the secrets of Canary House, readers are treated to a rollercoaster of emotions. The unpredictability of the plot keeps you on your toes, and the resolution of the mystery is both satisfying and surprising.

In conclusion, "The Starlet Letter" excels in delivering a mystery that is both intriguing and entertaining. Julie Mathison's ability to balance the suspenseful elements with humor makes for a highly enjoyable reading experience. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, engrossed in the characters' antics and the ever-deepening mystery. If you appreciate mysteries that keep you guessing while also offering moments of levity and charm, "The Starlet Letter" is a must-read that delivers on both fronts.

I really liked the premise of the book, but i just didn’t vibe with it.

Historical fiction isn’t my thing, and this book proves it. The writing is great and the mystery keeps you reading. I do recommend this book if you’re into YA, mysteries, and a large cast.

Thank you to Netgalley and Starr Creek Press for the ARC!

Such a great historical mystery! Vivian's and Viola's adventure was great. They are a great team in solving the mystery. What i'm interesting to is a slow-burned romance which didin't distract the mystery as the main case in this story. I would love to recommend this book toward all readers who love mystery genre a lot.

It's 1931, and the once grand, always eccentric Van der Beecks have taken in borders to make ends meet. Canary House, their rambling Upper West Side mansion, boasts six tenants: a pianist, a poet, an erstwhile diplomat, a psychiatrist, a bootlegger, and a philanthropist who is always short on cash. Life has never been more interesting until a seventh checks into the turret room - Babs Le Roy, a down-on-her-luck Ziegfeld Follies star with more than one skeleton in her cluttered closet. It's all the twins can do to mind their own business. Nearly eighteen, they only look like angels. Vivian has a nose for trouble and Viola has her nose in a book, but between the two of them, the villain doesn't stand a chance - if only they can find one to spice things up. Then Babs goes missing, and one ransom note, two gangsters, and a handful of red herrings later, the twins find themselves confronted with more villains than they bargained for. Throw in a soft-boiled detective, a handsome sergeant, and a houseful of tenants graced with more whimsy than wit, and you have the makings of a mad-cap mystery that will keep you guessing till the end.
What a fun and entertaining read! All the characters in this were interesting and I hope show up in further adventures of the twins. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

First time reading this author, I will try them again. I did have a hard time keeping track of the characters . Mystery was fine.

Thank you to the author , publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of The Starlet letter. I am not the biggest mystery person but this was very good.

The Starlet Letter is a historical mystery set in 1931. The protagonists are twins Vivian (Viv) and Viola (Lala). I loved the dynamic of the two sisters as they had totally different personalities. The Great Depression has left them broke so they've had to take on multiple tenants to keep afloat. One of those tenants is Babs, who ends up going missing. I enjoyed the main mystery and the mysterious findings about their family's past. This book is #1 in a series and I definitely plan on reading more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Starr Creek Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for allowing me access to the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

There's nothing about this book that I liked. I didn't like the language, I didn't care for the characters and the storyline left a lot to be desired.

DNF. This book had an amazing premise, but the execution didn’t quite follow through for me.

Twins Vivian and Viola’s family has fallen on hard times after the Great Depression, which the family copes with by renting out their large, lavish house to many eccentric tenants. But when one of their family members goes missing, the twins soon find themselves trapped in a mystery that’s a lot more than either had bargained for.

The plot was fairly well-written, and the twins’ sisterhood was heartwarming and really sweet. However, the writing style and dialogue didn’t quite land for me. The dialogue was quite stiff and stilted, and not how I’d assume a teenager would speak- even one in a historical fiction novel- which made it difficult to read. The writing style was filled with many, many similes, which dragged down the pace and made it hard to determine what was actually happening. A few good similes add to the story, but not when they are used every other sentence. There was also a very, very large cast of characters, and I struggled to keep track of them. I think a smaller cast would’ve allowed for more character development and depth, instead of many characters who felt rather indistinguishable.

This was a wonderful historical mystery! Vivian and Viola make the perfect investigating team. Vivian acts as the investigator and Viola comes in with unexpected genius to connect puzzle pieces together (that even surprises her twin sister). While this is a set of twins solving a mystery, make no mistake. Vivian is the main character. This is her story and Viola is just a side character that adds heart and exposition to the story. I’m hoping maybe the next book will allow the spotlight to shine on Viola, who seems to be constantly underestimated and seen as silly by Vivian. Vivian herself goes through great character development, going from a spoiled girl looking for entertainment in the beginning to someone who is empathetic and comes to care about those who are part of her investigation. This also has the makings of a slow burn romance, with Vivian trying her absolute hardest to not fall for the handsome Sergeant who is on the case. Highly recommend for those looking for a cozy historical mystery.

An interesting start to a new series!

I expected a Nancy Drew style book but this was very different and interesting in its own way. This was a cozy read for me.
The book is well written and the characters are very interesting!

Definitely looking forward to the next in series!

Note: This is the first book of the Canary House Mysteries, so it can be read as a standalone.
One needn't have read "The Scarlet Letter" to draw parallels/ to understand the flow - but if you have read it (please read 'Trigger Warnings' before delving) few references can be enjoyed better.

Received an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Star Creek Press for access to an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Twin sisters Viola and Vivian Van der Beeck have grown up in New York City in their family home Canary House, and though their family had at more than one point in history been rather wealthy, a sort of misfortune clung to their lineage, manifesting in both odd, untimely deaths and in a less than stellar reputation with the rest of New York Society. Thusly, the girls' parents made the decision to take on boarders in the empty rooms of the house in order to afford the upkeep of the property and to pay their limited staff. This decision, of course, resulted in a grouping together of fascinating, odd, diverse, *interesting* characters who all become close in a sense with the Van der Beecks and with the twins especially.

Viola, the quiet, bookish, kind-hearted dreamer of the pair, was the keeper of the family diary that documented the lives and eventual deaths of each member of their family, while Vivian--more pragmatic and no-nonsense and certainly less emotionally inclined--was the daredevil and would be detective often dragging her twin along on her hunches. Life in Canary house was interesting but settled up until the day when the famous stage performer Babs Le Roy entered the picture and moved into the upstairs turret room after having been missing from the public eye for nearly a year.

The girls are instantly fascinated with Babs's story and what kept her away for so long, but the sudden disappearance of the starlet on the night of her big return to the stage causes mayhem both among the boarders of Canary House and throughout the streets of New York. With the help of each of their boarders and Inspector Flanagan and Sergeant Kowalski of the local police force--despite their insistence the girls stay out of the case at first--the girls hunt for clues to discover not only what has happened to Babs in the present, but what took her away from the stage and her life in the city in the first place, and how the two may or may not tie together to create a full picture of what is going on. Can they solve the mystery in time to bring Babs home safely? And why oh why does Viola keep likening everything in the case to The Starlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne?

Honestly, this book was a work of art. There's a sort of disclaimer at the beginning warning the reader that the narration isn't always cut and dry as to who it is coming from, as the third person perspective swaps constantly between the two twins, but as you read, you get to know the girls more and more, and in no time I was switching back and forth with no difficulty at all and laughing at the way the two girls perceived things differently and even how differently they saw themselves and each other. The writing was beautiful and made me feel like I was taking a fun journey back in time to see New York in the thirties, the characters were all funny and felt real and had believable backstories that made me smile and laugh and even tear up a few times, and the romance lingering throughout the story was so sweet and a delight to read.

Not to mention, Julie's control of the story and the mystery she was weaving throughout the narrative was *masterful*. Rather than skipping steps ahead of the characters in the solving of the mystery, I felt like I was learning and figuring things out right along with Viv and Lala, and watching the way each girl would pick apart different parts of the clues they found and what new ideas they both would come away with was so fun for me. Also, the references throughout the whole book to The Scarlet Letter? Immaculate. When I saw this book, I thought it be more like a retelling of the story, which already had me excited as a huge fan of The Scarlet Letter, and while that held true somewhat, the way she used Viola's love of the book itself to weave it into the story was so different and interesting, and honestly, I think I could gush about this book until the end of time. An easy five star read, and I can't wait for the rest of the Canary House Mysteries.

The Starlet Letter follows the Van der Beeck family, who lives on the Upper West Side of New York City in 1931. The family owns the Canary House, a boarding home, and the story follows the twins Vivian and Viola after one of the boarders, the famous Babs Le Roy, goes missing during one of her big shows, and they try to solve the mystery of her disappearance.

The mystery aligns with the events from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, as Viola likes to remind us (she recently read the story), where Babs is seemingly Hester Prynne, but with one less red A sewn into her wardrobe. Sometimes the references to The Scarlet Letter felt a little on the nose, and I understand that it was for those readers who haven’t read the classic, but it took me out of the story a lot of the time because I was more interested in Babs’ disappearance than I was the way this book emulated Hawthorne. But I did enjoy the antics of Vivian and Viola, and how sometimes their personalities meshed because they were twins, but also how when they didn't mesh, they felt like they held each other in balance, so that Vivian didn't get too carried away in her snooping and Viola became a little more a risk taker when her sister was around.

Overall, this was a lighthearted story that featured a fun cast of quirky characters, and a setting that felt ingrained in the 1930s and followed all the glitz and glamor of the 1920s. If you're searching for an upbeat mystery with twists and turns you weren’t expecting, overlapped with a classic retelling and a detective duo that sometimes share one brain, then you should check this book out.

I enjoy books with twins in them. This book is aimed towards young adults. There were quite a few characters to keep track of, which I had a hard time with. I enjoyed the historical setting. It was fun and a quick read.