I was surprised that Dakota managed to keep the sibling thing from so many people for so long. I did not predict who it was that killed Brett , so that kept Mr guessing. some words that were used in the writing bugged me as a lot simpler words could of been used at times. 2.5 stars

Was ok, honestly the whole story seemed a bit far fetched? I got confused with all the different characters and the layout of the house seemed to make it more confusing. Well written, but I couldn’t keep track

Kristen Bird’s An Heiress’s Guide to Death and Diamonds is a sparkling Southern mystery full of wit, charm, and small-town secrets. Returning readers will be delighted to see Dakota Green back in the quirky town of Aubergine, Virginia—though her high school reunion turns deadly when a reality TV star collapses on the dance floor and whispers of stolen diamonds start swirling.

Dakota remains an endearing heroine—clever, relatable, and just messy enough to feel real. Between the stress of vet school, a romance that may or may not survive long-distance complications, and an ever-growing list of suspects, she juggles sleuthing with humor and heart. Bird populates Aubergine with a lively supporting cast, eccentric enough to keep things fun without veering into caricature.

The mystery itself is engaging, layered with secrets, red herrings, and enough small-town drama to keep readers turning pages. While the conclusion isn’t as explosive as the setup promises, the ride is full of clever twists and entertaining turns.

A cozy mystery with Southern sass and plenty of sparkle, An Heiress’s Guide to Death and Diamonds is perfect for fans of Elle Cosimano, Janet Evanovich, or anyone who enjoys a witty heroine stumbling into murder and mayhem.

I skimmed through most of the book. In the beginning, there’s a lot of references to the previous book, which I had no clue about. The characters aren’t introduced, an assumption is made that you know who they are.. The book style feels almost childish to me. #AnHeiress’sGuidetoDeathandDiamonds #NetGalley

From the very first pages, I was drawn into Dakota Green’s world—an engaging mix of Southern charm, wit, and a sprinkle of mystery that kept me hooked. Returning to the quirky town of Aubergine for her high school reunion, I expected a light-hearted, fun read, and Kristen Bird certainly delivered. The setting felt vivid and inviting, with colourful characters that added depth and humour to the story.
Dakota herself is a fantastic heroine—smart, relatable, and endearing. Juggling vet school stress, a complicated love life, and her own family secrets, she’s the kind of character I couldn’t help but root for. Her voice is clever and sharp, making the narrative lively and entertaining.
The mystery was intriguing—though some red herrings felt a tad overplayed, the plot was brisk, and I enjoyed the layered secrets surrounding the town’s history and the missing diamonds. The twists kept me guessing, even if I figured out the secret lover’s identity early on, which slightly lessened the surprise factor. The story’s conclusion felt a bit subdued, especially considering the strong start; the murder mystery’s resolution was a bit anticlimactic for me, especially when it veered into an unexpected turn that felt less satisfying.
That said, the book is a delightful, light-hearted read—perfect for fans of cosy mysteries with a Southern flair. Even though I hadn’t read the first book in the series, I caught up quickly thanks to the brief recap, and I appreciated how the story stood on its own.
In summary, “An Heiress’s Guide to Death and Diamonds” is a fun, engaging mystery with plenty of twists, humour, and Southern charm. While the ending didn’t quite live up to the promise of the beginning, it still provided an entertaining escape.

SYNOPSIS
Dakota Green returns home for her high school reunion. True, her long distance boyfriend also lives in her home town so she's up for any excuse to see him too. Dakota's expecting a boring night of small talk at her reunion, however the night takes a turn when her classmate and successful reality TV star drops dead on the dance floor. She's determined to' help' her sheriff boyfriend solve the case while dealing with her own stuff including finding out who her father is and coming to terms with an unexpected inheritance.

MY THOUGHTS
While this is part 2 of a book series, it can absolutely be read as a stand alone story. I will definitely go back and read the 1st book as this one's a modern, delicious, small town murder mystery, ferociously funny and with enough surprises to keep you guessing till the end. Dakota's a smart and likeable character who you'd be happy to be friends with and who you'd want on your side. A quick, easy and quirky read. ⭐⭐⭐.5

Thanks to NetGalley and @stormbooks_co for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed the escapades of Dakota in this book. I didn’t realize it was the second book in the series and I feel like I might have understood parts of this book better if I had read the first book before reading this one. I found much of the pageant talk confusing and really wasn’t sure how it played into the story. I would love to continue reading this series and I plan on going back and reading the first book to see if that answers some of my questions.

I really enjoyed An Heiress's Guide to Death and Diamonds. It was great reading about Dakota and her friends again.
This was every bit as good as the first Dakota Green book, A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem.

I was hooked very early in the story, I honestly couldn't put it down.
I love Kristen's writing style. It's very addictive and easy to read.
I'm definitely keen to read more in this intriguing and fun series.

I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Kristen Bird for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A cute, quick mystery with a wonderful narrator. I loved Bird's first novel and found this one to be fun as well. My biggest problem was Dakota's doubts surrounding her relationship taking centre stage for arguably no reason, it really took me out of the story.

GREAT twist regarding the crime. Worth it for an easy read.

Thanks to Storm and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

An Heiress’s Guide to Death and Diamonds was such a fun, twisty ride! Picture a sharp-tongued heiress, a suspicious family funeral, and enough secrets to make you question everyone. Kristen Bird delivers a witty, glamorous mystery that’s part high-society drama, part whodunit—and I couldn’t put it down. If you love murder with a side of diamonds and a heroine who’s smarter than she lets on, this one’s for you.

An Heiress’s Guide to Death and Diamonds by Kristen Bird is a sparkling, twist-filled mystery with Southern charm, razor-sharp wit, and a heroine you can’t help but root for. When Dakota Green returns to her quirky hometown of Aubergine, Virginia, she’s expecting high school nostalgia—not a reality TV star face-down on the dance floor. What follows is a whirlwind of murder, missing jewels, and more secrets than a family will reading.

Dakota’s voice is clever and endearing, juggling vet school stress, an increasingly complicated love life, and a murder investigation with style. The small-town setting is rich with colorful characters and layered history, and Bird keeps the pace brisk with well-timed twists and plenty of humor. While some red herrings feel a touch overplayed, the story wraps up satisfyingly, leaving just enough breadcrumbs for the next installment. A fun, smart cozy mystery perfect for fans of Elle Cosimano and Janet Evanovich.

I received an ARC of this book. What I did not realize was that it was the second book in a series. Maybe if I had read the first book, I would have enjoyed this more, but I just couldn’t get into Dakota Green herself. The way she talks, thinks, etc.. just not for me! The mystery was great, I had narrowed it down towards the end and the reveal part was good and unexpected!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am really enjoying the time I spend with Dakota as she stumbles upon dead bodies. She is smart, savvy, and is written as someone we can all relate to. The writing is fun, humorous, and the mashed together words Savilla comes up had me laughing throughout. The mystery itself is well-paced and I loved investigating along with Dakota as it all unfolded. Looking forward to the next one in the series.

3.5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and Storm publishing for this eARC. My opinions are my own.

This is the second book in the Dakota Green series. I liked this one better than the first book. It pics up where the last one leaves off and Dakota has to confront her new family dynamic. In the middle of her class reunion there is a murder. Dakota and her detective boyfriend both try to solve the murder.

This book flowed nicely and I loved the found family in it. This is a quick read and I’m excited to find out what Dakota does next.

The sequel in this cozy series didn't disappoint. I true Kristen Bird style the execution was top notch.

Wow! Loved, loved, loved this one! Quirky, original, wonderful. A great read that I very highly recommend. So happy to have discovered this author.

We first met Dakota Green while competing in a beauty pageant and while investigating a murder. She is funny, sassy, and determined. In the second installment in this series, Dakota is still adjusting to the life-changing events, but making her way through school and a new relationship. When she returns for her high-school reunions, she is thrust into another murder investigation.

Dakota continues to be a fun main character, though I felt the jealousy plot weakened her character arc. However, the hijinks surrounding the investigation and town make up for it. Can't wait for book 3!

Advanced Reader Copy provided by Storm Publishing via Netgalley. All opinions are my own!

Thank you for the arc!

I felt that this book was paced well and was also funny at times but otherwise fell a bit short of the surprise element that it needed + didn't have enough for me to truly be at the edge of my seat and root for the characters. Otherwise, a truly fun read.

Dakota is back home for her class reunion and is once again thrown right into the middle of a murder mystery. Her insecurities with her relationship with Charlie is weighing her down, along with her secret about her father and her future as a vet.

The murder victim, Brett, got what he deserved. A lot of women in his life and each have a motive for wanting him gone. Dakota and Charlie have to work through clues and uncovered secrets to solve the whodunit.

This book was fast-paced and written well. I liked it more than book 1.

#netgalley #AnHeiresssGuidetoDeathandDiamonds

I was lucky enough to get hold of an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the second of the Dakota Green series and though I haven’t read the first book, I enjoyed the second one. This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book and while I was slightly lost, the author briefly went through the major plot points of the first book to catch the reader up.

Dakota is an aspiring veterinarian going to vet school who’s recently come back home and come to terms with finding out who her bio dad is and a brand new sibling she didn’t know she had. She’s also dating the local sheriff but has no idea whether they’re exclusive? Or just casually dating? Or whether he’s even serious about her at all? She’s also battling the grief of losing her mother. All this forms the background of one of her classmates dying right in the middle of the dance floor during their 10 year high school reunion.

This book started off strong but then reached a rather tepid conclusion towards the end. Maybe it’s just me and I’ve just read far too many murder mysteries but the identity of the secret lover was very obvious from the beginning. Not to mention the murder kinda turns into….not a murder at the end? I was disappointed with the way the conclusion panned out especially when the book started off strong. But in terms of entertainment value, this book was pretty entertaining and makes for a good lighthearted mystery read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5