Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing a free arc of this novel.

*2.5 stars

Unfortunately, this book didn't land as well with me as I had hoped. The tone was a too flippant for my taste, especially considering some of the heavier topics that come up later on in the story. I did enjoy the emotional depth that came up later on regarding Evelyn's character, but my initial impression of her was not very favorable and by that point, it was a bit late for me to change my mind about her. Her attitude toward the murders, even the fact that her hotel could be harmed by negative publicity due to the murders in her hotel, was too light, like she only had superficial concerns and didn't care about what was at stake. Granted, I was reading on audio so that may have influenced my impressions as well. I also grew frustrated that the only aspect of the murder that they seemed to focus on was the shrimp. I prefer more interwoven clues, rather than a linear investigation in that regard. As I previously said, there is some character depth that comes in, but even then I wish someone addressed her flippantness, connecting her superficiality to being a coping mechanism. Personally, the combination of characterization with the plot was a let down for me.

This is the first book that I have read in this series, but thankfully with a good mystery series, you can pick up any book and catch up.

Evelyn Murphy is a 1950s Paris Hilton/London Tipton who lives in her father's hotel chain - the Pinnacle - and never leaves because she is rich and has agoraphobia. One of the wealthiest women in New York City, she is spoiled, out of touch, brokenhearted, narcissistic, and generally means well. One day when dining with her friends and admiring the handsome new hotel pianist, a group of women invite her to join them for lunch. They're all members of Lois Mitchell's MLM team and hope to rope Evelyn in with either costume jewelry or a new sales career... and then Lois has an anaphylactic reaction to her lunch and dies in Evelyn's lap. So of course Evelyn decides to investigate the death, find a jewel thief, and fight off a nosy reporter who has it in for Evelyn, all while trying to remember which charity she (ie her assistant) is hosting and planning a gala for. Other subplots include: Evelyn's longing for the boyfriend who dumped her and disappeared (I haven't read the other books so I don't know if he is worth this energy) and Evelyn's investigation into her mother's cold case death.

The audiobook is read by Amara Jasper, who does a good job (though I personally would have read the handsome actor friend differently).

The mystery was good. I laughed listening to Evelyn try to understand how an MLM works. I didn't really care about the descriptions of everyone's clothes, but I think that is Evelyn's personality to list all of that out. She's self-involved and doesn't concern herself with the details of other people. Her friends are a bit flat, but again, I think that Evelyn just views them all as characters in her life. Part of her growth in this book is going through a major fight with her best friend and learning to accept Poppy's choices. Evelyn is annoying, but she is learning.

I don't think I'll read the other books since I don't really like Evelyn, but I think that this series could be fun for someone who's intrigued at the idea of a 1950s Paris Hilton solving murders.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC.

This was an easy, somewhat light-hearted audiobook. I didn't read the other books in the series before reading this one. However, it can stand alone. The main character was a bit annoying and redundant. I couldn't tell if the author wanted her to be smart or not. It was all over the place. By the end, I lost interest in who actually committed the murder and it left me wondering who was telling secrets......

After enjoying book 2 in this series I thought I would see how book 3 fared. I can certainly say after reading it that I am anxious to get my hands on book 4!

Evelyn is a wealthy, ditzy heiress who suffers from mental health issues. However, she isn't as ditzy as she seems and genuinely cares about the people around her. When a woman drops dead on her -okay, technically she died at the hospital later- she is certainly going to investigate that!

Another fun and charming excursion into the life of Evelyn. It's definitely a (non) guilty pleasure!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author S.K. Golden, and Dreamscape Media for my ARC of this delightful audiobook.

This was such a cute mystery, and right from the start I enjoyed Evelyn and the staff at the Pinnacle Hotel. Her instincts, wit, and deduction skills made for a compelling story, and I loved the twists with the Ladies Who Love to Sparkle. This series was new to me, and now I cannot wait to visit the earlier stories.

I’m not sure if was the narrator or the actual book that added to my dislike of the book but I found myself annoyed most of the time. It overall fell flat for me. I didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters.
I like the premise and the era the novel took place but I just couldn’t get to a place of enjoyment.

"The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets" by S.K. Golden is the third installment in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series, set in 1958 New York City. The novel follows Evelyn Murphy, a hotel heiress with agoraphobia, who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation when Lois Mitchell, leader of a costume jewelry sales team, dies unexpectedly at the Pinnacle Hotel. Simultaneously, a "Gentleman Thief" is targeting the city's elite, adding complexity to Evelyn's sleuthing endeavors.

Readers have praised the book's charming portrayal of 1950s New York and the development of Evelyn's character. One reviewer noted that the series "keeps getting better and better," highlighting the author's growth in character development and storytelling. Another reader appreciated the quirky, fun mystery, comparing its vibe to "Only Murders in the Building."

However, some critiques have been raised regarding the novel's depth and pacing. A reviewer mentioned that while the book is "effervescent," the characters are "broad and the plot is familiar," suggesting a desire for more originality. Another reader felt that the protagonist's privileged lifestyle and the narrative's modern tone made it challenging to fully engage with the story.

In summary, "The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets" offers a cozy mystery with a nostalgic setting and a relatable heroine. While it delivers escapism and light-hearted intrigue, readers seeking more intricate plots or profound character studies might find it lacking. Overall, it is an enjoyable read for fans of historical cozy mysteries.

Sorry, but the audiobook narrator completely ruined this for me. I found her voice so annoying and you could tell she was trying to make it sound the way it did. It was driving me nuts. If I was listening to it for too long, I had to start skipping a little bit or just stop listening altogether for the rest of the day. I really do think that who you hire for audiobook narration is so important, it really can make or break your book.

This main character was also so annoying. Was I supposed to believe she was super smart? It seemed like I was supposed to think that, but she never showed me that she was smart enough to accomplish any of the things she had?? She was just really entitled and ditsy. (She gave pick-me. Sorry.) It was weird. Honestly, I didn't like any of the characters in this book. They were all so flat. Just bland rich people.

The pacing was also excruciatingly slow at times. (This is one of those books where every little thing piled up and became annoying to me. My dislike snowballed. And it didn't have to! This could've been so much fun!) I could barely focus on the actual mystery because of how distracting everything I didn't like was. And that pacing made me totally forget what was going on until it was happening again. It just didn't work.

This was just not for me. At all. Sorry. I probably should've DNFed but I thought it would get better. Sometimes books start slow and get better. I had hope!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. This was a great murder mystery story! I found out this is Part of a series and I really loved the main character. She made me laugh and I love that she loves fashion so much. I would read from this author again. Her writing is whitey, sharp and funny! Highly recommend!

The Socialites Guide to Sleuthing & Secrets
3.75/5 rounded up to 4
I will preface this that I haven’t read the first two books of this series.
Published March 11, 2025
Set in 1958 hotel heiress Evelyn experiences her 3rd murder in the hotel. Not only another murder but also a jewel thief on the loose. Since I didn’t read the first two books I didn’t have the whole build up of the story that led to this book. I really got some London Tipton vibes from Disneys Suite life of Zack and Cody. Evelyn a rich and beautiful Heiress who struggles with anxiety. With the help of a detective and maid as her sidekicks the three of them start trying to crack the case of a death that the police wrote off as a death by misadventure.
I did enjoy this book but I wish I had read the first two books first because there were some parts that I was lost and like wait who, wait what. I do love a fmc who loves to solve crime and get to the bottom of things.

Read if you enjoy:
Sleuthing
Journalists starting trouble
Quirky FMC
Solving crime

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC audiobook.
This review is voluntary and all my own words.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series so much! A cozy mystery series with real characters and problems. I especially appreciate how there is character growth from one novel to the next all while still being independent mysteries in each one. I recommend this series a lot for someone looking for a cosy mystery series that doesn't quite follow the pun titled cozies that are so prevalent.

3.5 stars ⭐️ This was such a cozy mystery. I enjoyed the story and character development. I appreciated the surprise and foreshadowing of the reveal. While the main character, Evelyn, is somewhat insufferably elite, there was something quite endearing about her as well. I appreciated how unapologetic she was and I think that’s what made her more likeable. This story was fun, lighthearted and still managed to surprise me. I’ll definitely keep reading this series if there’s more to come.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets
4.25 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It's 1958. Evelyn Murphy with her charms is onto solve yet another mystery which took place at her hotel, Pinnacle.

Evelyn is such an interesting character. Even though she looks meek and and a very girly girl, she's quick witted and sharp. In this book she takes up two mysteries to solve. A murder which took place right in front of her but can't seem to pin-point who did it and a thief who is a pain for the elite circle.
A nice cozy mystery with really good characters. Well built and each playing their part perfectly. The plot is simple yet keeps you hooked until the end on finding out who the murder was. Though I've directly picked up this book, it was easy to follow along.

For the audiobook, it was narrated by Amara Jasper and she did a fantabulous job. All the different voices and accents brought the story to life. She is the ginchiest 😉

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC! This was a good continuation for the series. I do like these characters, as silly as Evelyn can get at times she does mean well and is trying to grow in character. The mystery was great, there were a lot of twists and turns and possible ways it could have gone. I also likes hearing more about Evelyn as mother. I also really liked the narrator of the audio book. This is a good cozy mystery, nice and light.

I really enjoyed this story! It has been a long time since I last read a (published) murder mystery, when they used to be like my bread and butter!
I hadn't realized that this was the third story in a series until I had already started the audiobook, but I found that there wasn't much I couldn't glean from context or explanations given within the story itself.
I had initially been a bit worried that I wouldn't like the main character, since I do tend to find "rich and out of touch" characters annoying, but she managed to have a bit of an Elle Woods slant to her, which helped her come off as charming and funny.
I also found the inclusion of multi level marketing as a possible motive for murder incredibly interesting. Maybe it's because I haven't read in this genre for a few years, but it felt quite unique, especially with the mid-century (?) setting. It also helped add an extra bit of humor into the base of the story.
Speaking of the humor, the comedic timing and wit was a high point! There were several moments that were laugh out loud!
The only negative for me is that I did realize one of the twists pretty early on. Despite that, I found the characters and writing so charming that I didn't mind sticking around for the rest!
Overall, I would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a relaxing and entertaining Spring or Summer read!

This was a cute & fun historical fiction, cozy mystery!

Synopsis: Set in 1958, hotel heiress, Evelyn, experiences her 3rd murder at her hotel. Along with a jewel thief on the loose?! She better get to work if she doesn’t want to her hotel’s reputation to be tarnished!

**This is the 3rd book in a series and I have not read the others. I feel like overall it was fine, characters are reintroduced (briefly), but I know I would have more of an understanding of them if I would have read the others. There is Evelyn’s relationship with her dead mother that we don’t know about (if you haven’t read the other books) & there is a love interest that clearly has significance that we don’t know about. I was still able to thoroughly enjoy this book without knowing the background of those two things!**

Review: This book gives The Maid by Nita Prose vibes - but Evelyn is quirky in a London Tipton way. There was gossip, rich people behaving poorly, Housewives vibes, & a small romance interest. This short, cozy mystery had all the aspects of a deep novel, without needing to spend hundreds of pages on unnecessary details.

I definitely recommend this book & this series! I also finished this in one day. It is easily bingeable and hard to put down!

Read if you enjoy:
👸🏻 Quirky FMCs
🕵️‍♀️ Sleuthing
🗞️ Journalists trying to start trouble
🥸 Trying to solve (2) crimes!

Audiobook Length: 8 hours
Narrator: Amara Jasper
I highly enjoyed Amara’s narration! She did voices and accents very well. She kept my attention and did wonderful at her voice acting - which is always so nice as opposed to someone just narrating/reading. I want to find more novels she’s narrated!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review! I’m so happy I picked this one up.

The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets is the third book in S. K. Golden's Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series. Hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy catches the eye of a group of ladies that sell costume jewelry. During lunch the leader of the group falls ill and later dies. Desperate for a distraction from her recent breakup Evelyn dives headfirst into investigating the mystery. As if the murder is not enough of a distraction there is also a Gentlemen Thief that has been robbing the wealthy and leaving behind a red pocket square. Evelyn must investigate both as the hotel's reputation begins suffering from the news.

I really enjoy this series. Unlike some other cozy mystery series we have really gotten to see Evelyn grow as a character. In this book she goes far out of her comfort zone to investigate. She is still a little flighty and self centered but I really love her. The mystery in this one was very fun. The MLM jewelry company made for an interesting way to tie in all of the suspects. I won't spoil the ending but can't wait for the next book to find out what happens next!

I have only listened to the audiobooks for this series and I highly recommend them! Amara Jasper does a great job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all opinions expressed are my own. This book is the third book featuring Evelyn Murphy, the daughter of the owner of the Pinnacle Hotel. Told in first person, the book picks up a couple weeks after the end of the prior book. Evelyn has retreated back into her agoraphobia and is currently planning to throw a fundraiser for a charity on the advice of her therapist. Unfortunately, a visitor to the hotel restaurant dies suddenly and a jewel thief is targeting the wealthy including at least one Pinnacle guest.

I really liked the mysteries and thought they were well done. I appreciate the setting of the 1950's and love the continued evolution of Evelyn. She's slowly maturing and the cast of supporting characters are a blast. The narration was great and added to my enjoyment if the story. I'm looking forward to the continuing developments in the years old death of Evelyn's mother and how she handles the surprising event at the end of the book.

The third book in S.K. Golden's Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series is as equally entertaining as the previous books. I do so enjoy Evelyn Murphy's character. Evelyn's character can easily be seen as naive, pampered, and sometimes insufferable, but she can really solve a case. While her exterior may be polished or Marilyn Monroe-esque, at heart she is an agoraphobic young woman who is dealing with her mother's murder and her recent break up from Mac, the love of her life. This heiress turned working girl trope is an interesting element to this cozy mystery series. We find Evelyn planning for an event along with her assistant (and ex-boyfriend's sister), Poppy. While plans are underway, she meets with a group of women that dine at the hotel who are seem to be operating a pyramid scheme selling costume jewelry. In the middle of lunch, a woman suffers anaphylaxis and succumbs to her death right in front of Evelyn. Shocked from the sudden demise, Evelyn is set on solving the mystery surrounding her untimely death.

This book does well as a standalone and gives you a brief recap of the first two books, but if you happen to skip the second book, you will find a key element spoiled in Evelyn's plot. There is an interesting plot twist at the end that really reels the readers in. I'm excited to read the next book in the series!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary and all thoughts are my own.

3.5 stars.

While this is the third book in a series, it was my first exposure to Evelyn Murphy and the Pinnacle Hotel. Such a fun group of quirky characters in 1958 NYC and the scandals of a costume jewelry MLM. I loved the NYC jokes and references as a former Manhattanite. I would consider this slightly less of a mystery since its so light-hearted but Evelyn is indeed trying to solve a murder and find a thief. Very entertaining cast of characters and it gave "Only Murderers in the Building" vibes.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC.