Jesse and her best friend decide to open a new flamingo B and B everything very "nstagram-ish" in the opening night a few not so lovely people shows up. including Jesse´s ex Lars and his stepfather Bob a guy very very disgusting known for pissed off people, so like in classical murder mystery the most hated character is dead and A LOT of people had reason to kill him and Lars is the main suspect, and Jesse who is also a true crime podcast enthusiast will help him to clean his name but this is not gonna be exactly a piece of cake, because the more Jesse knows the more she thinks he is guilty.

It was a very easy read, and I LOVED the characters very real, and I love the small town murder mystery Cliche. even when I knew the plot very quickly it was a very very fun read and had the best time!!!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!!!

ARC Review ~ Peril in Pink ~

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Cozy mysteries are my fave and this one is on the top of my favorites list! The characters are a lot of fun and the writing had me chuckling throughout. The pacing was great and the mystery flowed so well that I was pleasantly surprised by the reveal of the murderer. I’m excited to read more in the series!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books
for this ARC!

Peril in Pink was a laugh out loud mystery that keeps readers on their toes to the very end.

Best friends Jess and Kat are looking for a new start - and so they go into business turning an old family property into the next hip BnB. They book a singing sensation - who happens to be Jess’s ex - for their opening night to drum up business and everything is perfectly Millennial Pink ready, until a murder happens on property. Jess and Kat must figure out who the killer is while simultaneously keeping their new business from becoming a failure on night one.

The cast of characters in this story are eccentric, quirky, and hilarious. As each chapter unfolds, we learn so much about everyone that it was unclear until right before the reveal who the killer could be. There’s a perfect blend of humor with good old fashion whodunnit sleuthing, and the pace of the novel keeps the story moving. I absolutely loved the pop culture references sprinkled throughout the book, and their hotel sounds like somewhere I’d love to visit!

This book is perfect for fans of the Finlay Donovan series or any cozy mystery - there’s enough mystery to keep you on your toes but it’s a light and funny tone that keeps you laughing and entertained.

Happy pub week to Sydney Leigh and Peril in Pink! Thank you to Sydney Leigh, Crooked Lane Books ( @crookedlanebooks ), and NetGalley ( @netgalley ) for allowing me to read this book for an honest review!

📅 Tuesday, March 19, 2024 was the pub date for Peril in Pink. 📅

Cozy mystery fans will definitely enjoy this read. What’s not to love? Murder, mayhem, bed and breakfast, best friends, ex’s, small town…the list goes on and on.

Jessica and bff Kat just opened a pink flamingo themed Bed and Breakfast in their hometown. It’s opening night and everything is looking up! Jessica even arranged for her ex turned popular musician to come back for a hometown performance that night. One slight problem (err, maybe two)…Jessica’s ex never showed for the performance and her step sister found a body in a pond located on the property.

Insert an investigation that flips the script to make the storyline a modern day whodunnit. Everyone is acting suspicious from twin influencers to agents to former high school classmates. In some cases, jealousy rears its ugly head. Is the green eyed monster enough of a motive to convict someone?

The book definitely keeps you guessing as a light is shined on every character. However, I had hoped for some flashbacks to include more history between characters! Pick up this book and see if you can get to the bottom of the murder before the investigators do.

3/5 stars - thank you author and publisher for the earc in exchange for an honest review. i love a good cozy story and getting that itch to pack up p and head to a b&b, so the premise spoke to me… the rest, not so much. i knew this wasn’t marketed as a true thriller, but those missing elements and over dramatization in certain situations made this difficult to enjoy.

This was an easy-to-read cozy mystery and also a debut for the author. It is a sweet read that kept my attention until the end. I liked the mix of giggle moments, cozy mystery, and not many blood scenes. The plot was good, characters and dialogues between them were well-written even though in some moments cringy, but that is just the way it is supposed to be to get the attention of the police. All in all, this is a perfect read in between dark thrillers and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you to Sydney Leigh, Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley for my early copy of the book.

First in a new series, Peril in Pink was a fun, quick read. Opening up the B&B was a great setting, and though I felt like the mystery dragged on a bit long, it was cleverly executed in the end.

I didn't really connect with most of the side characters... I may not be the target audience, but there was a bit too much using hashtags in verbal conversation for my taste! (Do influencers actually talk that way? Maybe I don't run in the right circles.) And I usually love to get to know the town with a cozy mystery series... we were introduced to a few characters the town itself didn't seem to be featured much.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

This book was awesome for many reasons! I loved that it was a quick read that kept you hooked right from the beginning! I enjoyed the charcters and the setting of the B&B. The author had amazong descriptions of the settings and made you feel like you were in it with the charcters. The ending kept me on my toes and I look forward to reading other books by this author! Definitely will be recommending to friends for a thriller / mystery quick read!

Peril in Pink is a nice cozy mystery with a lot of pop culture references. It was overall an enjoyable read. It's supposed to be a series so I'm thinking about picking up the next one whenever it's announced. I've told myself I wanted to read more of those and I'm glad I picked this up. I have quickly realized I love books that deal with people starting up B&Bs and Airbnbs. So please give me more books that deal with that in the story line. This kept giving me similar vibes to Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair. They're different genres but had some similar aspects going on. Plus, I ended up reading both of these in the same month. I definitely want to check out more cozy mysteries in the future.

Thank you so much to the author, Sydney Leigh, for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this book. Considering my midterm exams just literally finished yesterday, it didn't occur to me that this would be an easy read. I loved how the pacing was done though there were parts I guessed what was gonna happen, but it was a good read all in all! This book is perfect if you wanna get out of your reading slump (worked on me!) ;D

This was an interesting beginning to a new mystery series, that I would definitely recommend trying!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Crooked Lane Books, and Dreamscape Media for the copies to review!

This was a super fun cozy mystery that I absolutely enjoyed! It’s the grand opening of The Pearl B&B and owner Jess Byrne has the rosé flowing and is ready. Her ex-boyfriend, reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong, has showed up to perform live, and she has the support from most everyone in her hometown. All things are going well, until Bob, Lars’ stepdad-turned-manager turns up dead. Oh and Lars is the main suspect.

This was such a great read, I loved the setup, the hometown and the people, and of course the mystery to solve. Jess Byrne was a great protagonist and I’m so glad this is the first in a series, I definitely will be continuing on when the next book is out. I really enjoyed the audio also, and highly recommend adding this to your list!

This is a very enjoyable cozy mystery. The location and characters really make this book a winner for me. It’s a must read.

While I do my best to ensure my reviews are spoiler-free, I may inadvertently reveal information that could help you connect plot points. So, here’s my TL;DR spoiler-free review: Super cute cozy mystery set at a B&B in New York, reminiscent of a classic whodunnit.

Peril in Pink is the debut novel by Sydney Leigh and the first book in her Hudson Valley B&B series. Best friends Jess and Kat have both left their careers to open The Pearl B&B in their hometown. The Pearl aims to be a destination for influencers and those looking to capture the perfect aesthetic for their Instagram. The girls plan to kick off their opening weekend with an acoustic set from hometown hero Lars, Jess’s ex, who also happens to be a rock megastar now. Her brother Nate and his wife Sarah own the Cool Vibes Cafe on the inn’s property, which has already proven to be the town’s new hotspot. Everything looks amazing, with happy guests checking in and everything going according to plan.

That is until everything starts to unravel. Dead bodies begin to turn up, and all signs seem to point to Lars as the culprit. Even Detective James seems to think Lars is guilty, but Jess is unwavering in her belief that he couldn’t have murdered anyone. Kat and Jess channel their love of murder podcasts and begin working to clear Lars’ name, though Kat is more reluctant than Jess would like.

I love this book on so many levels. It’s a quick, cozy mystery with a whodunnit feel, very similar to the Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes types of stories. Jess is loyal to Lars not because she’s still in love with him but because she knows he’s a good person. I did half an eye-roll when a hot rockstar ex-boyfriend showed up, but I rescinded it when I realized he wasn’t the love interest. (Fist pumps!)

There is an amazing cast of side characters, from Jess’s retired school superintendent mom to the momfia, her hippie pot-smoking Aunt Em, a super cute police officer who may or may not be Jess’s love interest, to Jess’s brother Nate and his annoying AF wife Sarah.

Having grown up just north of the Hudson Valley in the Catskill Mountains, seeing a book set close to my hometown always makes me happy. The writing was quick and funny, while the mystery is well-thought-out and paced, with good red herrings and a nice twist at the end. I could have done with a few less hashtag mentions and kitschy sayings, but it was just short of overdone and fit the overall tone of the book. It sounds like there are going to be more books in the series, and I’m interested to see if they continue to focus on Jess and her relationship with Detective James, or if Leigh will branch off into the lives of the other characters. Either way, I’m excited to read what’s coming next. Keep reading below if you’ve already read the book and don’t mind a spoiler.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Thank you to the author Sydney Leigh, the publisher Crooked Lane Press, and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.

**spoiler alert**

Still here? Cool.

Sarah sucks. I kind of wished she was the killer. How does she end up being friends with Brit? They’re both annoying, and I maybe hope she disappears in one of the future books.

As a debut novel, this one is hopeful.

I really enjoyed this cozy, Scooby Doo like mystery. The plot was cute, well except for the murders, but even they weren’t good people so I wasn’t even sad when they died. The slew of characters were each unique though there were a ton to keep track of. The only thing I struggled with was the dialogue and the overwhelming use of cliche sayings. It took away from the point and made it feel over done.

Add this to your cozy mystery TBR! Peril in Pink is set in a bright Bread & Breakfast (B&B) called The Pearl during its opening weekend. The owner is the main character, Jess Byrne who runs the B&B with her best friend Kat. Unfortunately, following the first night's events someone turns up dead and Jess's ex is the prime suspect. Not gonna lie, this sounds like a place I would love to visit and wish it were real! -- well minus the murder part of course.

True to its genre, this is cozy-- there's little gore, and Jess and Kat take on the role of amateur sleuths (with the aid of the local detective -- or is that supposed to be the other way around? Haha!).

This is a quick, fun read and I can't wait to read more in this series!

Everything is coming up rosé for innkeeper Jess Byrne until a murder on opening weekend gives her B&B’s killer vibe a whole new meaning.

Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building in Sydney Leigh’s sparkling debut mystery, Peril in Pink.

About the Book | Peril in Pink

Jess Byrne and her best friend Kat were on their annual girls’ trip when they realized they were both burned out and unfulfilled by their careers. Jess and Kat decided to transform an old boarding house that Jess’s grandmother ran in the 1960s and 1970s into an Instagram-worthy Bed and Breakfast. The property already featured a Queen-Anne style building, a huge property, and a large bool. Her brother Nate had already transformed the old garage into a café and bar called the Cool Vibes Café.

It's opening weekend and Jess and Kat have pulled out all the stops to have a buzzworthy success. Jess invited her ex-boyfriend and musician Lars Armstrong to perform at the event. Unfortunately Lars arrives with his skeezy stepfather-turned-manager, Bob Strapp. Jess has never understood why Lars let his stepfather manage him, especially since he never liked him and his mother passed away years earlier.

When Bob is found dead hours after arriving, Lars is pinpointed as the prime suspect for the murder. Lars turns to Jess to help him prove his innocence. Jess can’t really envision Lars as a murderer, so she agrees to help. Unfortunately the media coverage her B&B is receiving isn’t exactly the kind she envisioned to promote her new business. The murder opening weekend threatens to smear The Pearl B&B with a bad reputation. Jess starts digging into the case, and is surprised to turn up evidence that suggests Lars may not be as innocent as she thought. Her unfortunate findings seem all but confirmed when Lars turns up at the scene of a second murder.

Jess enlists Kat, determined to get to the bottom of the murders—after all, they are fans of the hit true crime podcast My Favorite Murder. Things get more complicated the deeper they get into their investigation. Jess and Kat worry that if they don’t uncover the truth before the police arrest Lars for the murder, it might mean the end of their B&B dreams!

Review | Peril in Pink

I thought Peril in Pink was such a fun, breezy read. Leigh adds just the right amount of humor to keep it funny and light without being ridiculous. I love a cozy mystery—its fun to see what the author has dreamt up as the setting, the crime, and who the amateur sleuth is. The B&B setting was a blast and the book is peppered with descriptions of the B&B that made me want to book a stay there! As long as they can clear up these pesky murders, though.

True Crime fans will find the references to My Favorite Murder and other pop culture fun. I admit that I identify as a Murderino myself, though I don’t catch the podcast every week any more. A new cozy mystery series (and I’m assuming this is the first in a series, but could be wrong) needs great characters that keep the reader coming back, and Leigh delivered on that aspect

Jess and Kat were wonderful—I loved their friendship, it almost felt like they had a special language the way they knew what the other was thinking sometimes. It’s helpful to have two of them pursuing the case because it felt more natural for them to run ideas, theories, and suspects past one another. Sometimes these interactions can be awkward, but that wasn’t the case here.

The mystery was engaging and moved along at a good pace (another things that can derail an otherwise good cozy mystery). There were plenty of suspects, potential motives, and red herrings to go around. Bob wasn’t exactly known for his likability, which meant plenty of people might want him dead. The second murder definitely through a wrench into things and it seemed hard to imagine someone wanted both of those individuals dead. The solution to the mystery was unexpected but made perfect sense once it was revealed.

This is a fantastic mystery if you’re looking for something fun to break up darker thrillers. Jess and Kat are stars, but don’t underestimate the side characters. This is a fresh and memorable mystery that had a brilliantly fun setting and delivered with compelling characters and a good whodunnit. I hope that this ends up as a series! Now that those murders are solved, I wouldn’t mind a stay at The Pearl B&B!

Thank you to Crooked Lane for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh sounded reallty good when I read the premise.

Execution however wasn't all that great. In theory it checked all the marks but it just didn't work for me.
I liked the setting, I enjoyed reading about the hospitality business, I liked the MC, she was smart, professional and pleasure to read about. She was down to earth and relatable.
The mystery was well presented though a bit slow. i didn't have feeling that much was going on and it took long time for some type of investigation to start.

I think it would be a good choice for those just starting with this genre.

This is a decent series starter with a nice millennial bent. However, I'm not sure that there is a unique enough viewpoint in this one to sustain a long series in the cozy world. I would absolutely read another in this series to see if it can carry through!

Jessica and her best friend Katie are co-partners of a new flamingo-themed B&B. Jessica invites her ex highschool sweetheart turned into a celebrity to perform on the open night. He can along with his stepdad/manager who's a creep and an assistant who hates his stepdad. Sarah, Jessica's sister-in-law, finds a dead body the next morning resulting in the B&B being swarmed by the police. Jessica takes it into her hands to help prove that her ex has nothing to do with the murder as he gets blamed.

This is such a quick read, keeps you engaged throughout the whole story. The plot didn't put me on edge at all. Did I figure out who did it? Kind of, I had my suspicions on those people. The characters weren't taking the murder seriously, they were celebrating that the stepdad got murdered. I feel like the detective hasn't really been involved with the case enough, it seems like Jessica was doing all the work.

Some of the characters weren't likeable, while some others just shouldn't have been included since they don't add anything to the story. I especially hate how James was literally going at Lars for what happened in high school, which is petty.

I did enjoy reading this book, I had a fun time and I do recommend this book if you like a cosy mystery. I'm excited to see what the second book will bring!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review.