Such an interesting premise that unfortunately failed to hold my attention.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

This book was almost a dnf for me. I had a hard time getting into it. It was like there was just too much going on. Historical novels are not books I usually go for. It just wasn’t for me. Thank you Julie, Starr Creek Press, and Netgalley for the ARC!

I think this could serve as a decent "gateway" book for young readers into the historical cozy mystery genre. I'm usually down for anything within this genre, but I personally had trouble connecting with the twins because they felt so young on the page (nothing wrong with that, it just made me feel extra old).

Since this is first in a new series, I'd be willing to give subsequent books a look at too.

This was surprisingly fun! The mystery was really interesting, and the twins are charming. And VERY different, which made it really interesting to get their different takes on events. I loved that their house, and its boarders, was really a character unto itself. I look forward to the girls’ next adventure!

I received a copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.

Sadly, this book wasn't for me. I DNF'ed this book at 50% in because I couldn't keep the characters straight and felt like the plot kind of jumped all over the place.

I really liked the premise and was really excited to get started on reading this book. The setting in 1920's New York with an eclectic cast set in a large building made it all feel as the show Only Murders In The Building. SIGN! ME! UP!

The story follows a set of twins, but sadly I was unable to tell the two apart. Their personalities didn't feel all that different and it was difficult to find out which one of the two was the narrator, or if there was possibly a third narrator. All together I found it a bit too confusing for it to be enjoyable, but I'm sure that it will be amazing to other readers!

I was excited to get to start this series -- the intersection of mystery, YA novel and classic literature was very appealing to me. Julie Mathison did a wonderful job of establishing the characters and the context the two main heroins were living within. The twins amateur sleuthing was both fun and engaging. I appreciate how different their personalities were and how both were necessary for moving the story forward. The connection to the Scarlett Letter woven through the story was done so well, particularly if you are a classic lit enthusiast. Definitely will recommend reading to others and look forward to more stories to come!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC! A light, fun read. Reminded me of a Nancy Drew novel. Is appropriate for younger readers. I’d give it a 3.5 stars.

The Starlet Letter is the first book in The Canary House Mysteries series by Julie Mathison and set in 1931. I have mixed feelings about this partly because I was not aware that it was aimed at a YA audience when I started it and so my expectations were out of sync with the story. The protagonists were seventeen-year-old twin sisters, Vivian and Viola, who are identical in looks and best friends as well as sisters, but polar opposites in personality. I liked Viola well enough, quiet, usually right but also willing to give way to her sister. I was less enamoured of Vivian, out-going, popular, but bossy and constantly dismissing her sister’s ideas. The mystery itself was interesting but I also found the momentum kept being stalled by the requisite romance which is definitely suited for a audience much younger than myself. And I guess that’s my point - I often enjoy YA novels and feel they can appeal to adults as well as their intended audience but. I didn’t find that here.

Still, in fairness, given the number of five-star reviews, mine seems to be a minority opinion and I did finish it so I think this is one I leave up to individual readers to decide but they should be aware that it is definitely suited to it’s target audience rather than a broader one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story sounded really cool, but I just couldn’t get into it. The POV was difficult for me to read, and what’s more, I found myself confused by the plot - I couldn’t figure out what was happening as I was reading.

4.5

This was a fantastic read. The story had an interesting angle with the twins being the protagonist. The two different perspectives and personalities added a great dynamic.

The starlet Babs has gone missing after finally making a comeback from an unexplained step out of the spotlight. Twins Viola and Vivan are going to make sure they uncover where she has gone and who has done this.

Viola is the "gentler" of the two and her thought process of linking their mystery at hand to The Scarlet Letter was intriguing. Vivan is the firm one and is intent on being at the scene to catch the culprits. Vivan's budding and coy love story with the Sergeant adds an enjoyable dimension to the book. Viola and Vivan complement each other very well and keep the book fresh as we sift through this mystery.

The writing, in the beginning, was a little awkward, but that eventually was not to be an issue by the middle of the book, and towards the end of the book the word Manhattan was missing the n.

If you love a good mystery, who dunnit, set prior to modern times, a budding romance, an ensemble of interesting side-characters, and a sweet sisterly bond this will be a great read for you!

#TheStarletLetter #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-Arc copy of this novel. My customers will enjoy this novel a great deal. It has a great story and characters.

The Starlet Letter by Julie Mathison is a quirky and entertaining mystery set in 1931 New York City. The Van der Beeck twins, Vivian and Viola, are trying to mind their own business when a washed-up Ziegfeld Follies star, Babs Le Roy, checks into their boarding house. Soon, Babs goes missing and the twins find themselves caught up in a mad-cap mystery involving gangsters, red herrings, and a houseful of whimsical tenants.

What stands out most about this novel is the strong female characters, particularly the Van der Beeck twins. Vivian's nose for trouble and Viola's love of books make for a dynamic duo that keeps the reader engaged. The setting is also well-researched and adds an authentic ring to the story.

However, some readers may find the point of view hard to discern at times and the style of writing difficult to get into. The mystery resolution may feel like a stretch and the language could be challenging to follow. Additionally, many characters are introduced at once, which can be overwhelming.

Overall, The Starlet Letter is a quick and entertaining read that will keep readers guessing until the end. While it may not be for everyone, those who enjoy quirky mysteries and strong female protagonists will find it to be a satisfying read.

A nice enough read. Nice development of the twins character and a good plot line that kept you guessing. I liked the literary references to the scarlet letter

When a washed-up Ziegfeld Follies star goes missing, can the Van der Beeck twins crack the case without breaking their necks... or losing their hearts?
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.

The investigation is the best part of the book. I loved all the detective shenanigans the twins got up to. Both the twins are compelling characters, each of them well-defined, and fleshed out.

The book has decent pacing, and the twists have been executed adequately.

I did feel that the ending could have been better, but the history, and the atmosphere more than make up for it.

It is relatively fast paced, and kept me at the edge of my seat.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley to the ARC and to the publisher for the copy.

An enthralling mystery novel following twin girls, Vivian and Viola, who are filled with curiosity when an estranged actress turns up at their family's boarding house. However it isn't long before she disappears and the twins take it upon them selves to investigate.
T really enjoyed this riveting mystery and while I wasn't sure at first as the language tended to be hard to follow and there was a lot of names this book really started to pick up a few chapters in. This was a great read with two strong female leads.

DNF 131 pgs (52%)

I just want to start this off by saying that the premise of the book is great. It is a historical fiction novel featuring a set of twins, Viola and Vivian, solving the mystery of the disappearance of actress Babs Le Roy. However, I struggled while reading this book and it did not meet my expectations at all.

THINGS I LIKED:
- The mystery. I always love to read mysteries and try to follow along to see if I can pick up on clues and solve it myself. I liked how the reader gets to see Viola and Vivian's thoughts on how they were attempting to solve the mystery.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- The mystery. I genuinely don't remember when Babs goes missing. Viola and Vivian look through her stuff towards the beginning (I think it was to make up their own mystery?), and they follow her around a little (I don't know why). Then they show up at some event and all of a sudden declare that Babs is missing. Maybe I'm missing something here, I know I probably am, but I don't usually have trouble understanding plots in mystery books.
- The worldbuilding. I was 70% sure this takes place in NY (now 100% because I just googled Ziegfeld Follies), but nothing was ever really described. I thought it was the 1930s (5% sure), although it could be anytime during that time period, I'm not quite sure exactly when.
- The characters: Was this book in Viola or Vivian's POV? Or both? Neither? I couldn't tell the two apart personality-wise, just by name. I also have no idea whose POV this book was from which is pretty strange. It is 3rd person, but usually it's easier to figure out.
- The characters (pt 2): There were sooooooooo many characters introduced all at once! There are the other people who live with Viola and Vivian, as well as other irrelevant characters that are given detailed backstories that I don't think are necessary for this plot. In fact, the only character I feel like I actually know is Babs!

Surprisingly, by the time I DNFed the book, it was getting a little better. Usually the middle section of a book is worse than the beginning for me because it drags on too much sometimes. Once I realized Babs was missing and they were trying to solve the mystery, it got more enjoyable because I understood what was going on. However, I was not picking up the book at all and made very little progress. I just wanted to move on to a different book, so I DNFed it. Maybe this book just wasn't for me. Historical novels tend to be hit or miss with me, as sometimes the way characters talk confuses me, but I can see how people enjoyed this book.

I will never get tired of books about the 1920/1940 era,with all their Ziegfeld girls,prima,luxury and the general sense than the life would be more and more better. This books wasn't a exception,and it really have now a place in my heart as one of my favorites ! Really enjoyed and loved the aesthetics,the plots and the write. I'm totally sold to this series !

An Intelligent and Entertaining Read!

Set in New York in the years following the Great Depression, 17 year-old twin sisters Vivian and Viola Van der Beek live in a large boarding house owned by their parents and filled with a cast of zany boarders. The house, a salvaged remnant of the now poor, but once rich and socially connected family, is their only means of shelter and income. Despite being categorized as a YA read I was interested based on the cover, title and premise. With all of my historical cozy mystery boxes ticked I agreed to receive an ARC (Advanced Review Copy) from NetGalley so I could provide my honest opinion. The mystery premise features a missing Ziegfeld Follies dancer who is a current boarder at the Van der Beek home, Canary House. The creative plot, characters and setting did not disappoint. However, from the beginning the story was a bit hard to follow because it would sometimes introduce an element before giving the reader background. Like when Vivian refers to Viola as Lala but doesn’t allude to why. The author also chose to weave a lot of elements into this first installment of the series. First, there is the connection between The Scarlet Letter written by Nathanial Hawthorne and one twin’s obsession with it. Then, there is the undercurrent of the history of the relatives in the Van der Beek family, their servants and their borders; followed by the relationship of the twins themselves. It is this slightly irreverent bouncing around that almost mimics the eclectic nature of the boarding house itself. Personally, I believe the correlations between The Scarlet Letter and its characters were unnecessary. I felt the book would have benefitted from a glossary of terms or historical references. For example, I doubt many young adults know who Walter Winchell is, but as a middle-aged woman I know that he was a very famous American gossip columnist and radio commentator from the 1930s and 1940s. I’m glad I hung in there though, because the more I read the story the more I became invested in it. I enjoyed the storyline when it centered around the close bond of the twins being tested by their developing relationship with the police. This book is an intelligent and entertaining piece that does not speak down to young readers or adults. I would definitely recommend it! If in the beginning you start to feel a little lost, hang in there, the book gets even better the more you read it.

I always love to get in on the first book of a series and so I did with this book. I also loved that it is described as a 'Tongue in Cheek Historical Mystery Series'.

A Follies star (washed up star) goes missing, two young girls (twins) try to crack the case and find answers but things aren't always as easy as they might seem. And these two young girls make for an interesting read. This is a whodunnit, mystery with many suspects, the historical aspect and setting is wonderful and the story flows well and kept me reading.

I loved that it wasn't a dark mystery and had some fun and humour in it without making it drab and silly. Yet it is quirky and has all the mystery, intrigue, clues and twists that you want from a book like this. Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing what comes next.

I received this advance reader copy via Netgalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. A YA mystery featuring 18-year-old twin sisters, set in New York City. When their father’s post WWI ‘shellshock’ and the family ‘curse’ results in the family opening their house to paying boarders, the twins’ inveterate curiosity is peaked when a new boarder is a famous Ziegfeld Follies star with a mysterious past. When she goes missing, they decide to solve the case.
The author weaves a well told tale with lots of threads for future stories, thanks to the multiple boarder options. And there are family secrets to be uncovered as well as potential love interests to consider.
As a personal preference, I wish the author had given the girls first names with different first letters. I always struggle with too many alliterative names in a book as it makes things unnecessarily difficult to tell them apart.