Reviews

Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh

marinas_world's review

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3.0

3.7⭐️
This book was written great and smooth, the suspense build up was great, but I couldn’t get past how child like the character acted sometimes, which made the storyline look a little bit different for me from the point on. Again it was written great, it was just hard to imagine them as the adults they are supposed to be with the way some of them were acting. This felt more like a high school type drama to me.

kdela's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

thebookishnarwhal's review

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5.0

In the charming debut mystery novel, "Peril in Pink" by Sydney Leigh invites readers to a cozy retreat nestled in the picturesque Hudson Valley. With a dash of “Schitt’s Creek” humour and a sprinkle of “Only Murders in the Building” intrigue, this sparkling tale delivers a delightful blend of mystery, friendship, and a touch of whimsy.

Meet Jess Byrne. She’s the co-owner of The Pearl B&B. Everything seems rosé as she prepares for its grand opening. The Instagram-worthy welcome includes her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be a reality singing sensation, performing live. But when his stepdad-turned-manager is found dead, the B&B's killer vibe takes on a whole new meaning. The reality singing sensation becomes the prime suspect, and Jess reluctantly agrees to help clear his name.

As Jess digs deeper, she uncovers secrets, lies, and another murder. With guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess finds herself in over her head. Her best friend and business partner joins the investigation, and together, they navigate the twists and turns of a small-town mystery.

Leigh crafted a truly charming setting. The Pearl B&B exudes charm and is reminiscent of the beloved Dragonfly Inn from Stars Hollow. The nostalgia factor is high, and readers will relish the cozy atmosphere. Leigh weaves a web of intrigue, keeping readers guessing until the final pages. The small-town backdrop enhances the sense of community and suspicion.

I really liked the pink Aesthetic Leigh created. The pink Barbie-vibe infuses the novel with whimsy. From the decor to the characters' quirks, it's a delightful touch. I also really appreciated how the victims make it easier to root for justice. Readers won't shed tears for these particular casualties.

Leigh explores the themes of authenticity and friendship throughout the narrative. Jess grapples with her perception of the singer and the reality of his actions. The bond of best friendship adds heart to the story. Their loyalty and banter create a warm hug amidst the chilling events.

"Peril in Pink" is a cozy small-town murder mystery with page-turner quality. The charming setting, quirky characters, and main character’s determination make it an enjoyable read. Settle in and let The Pearl B&B transport you to a world where secrets lurk behind every pastel curtain.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

beththrolson's review

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5.0

Thank you to Netgally for providing this ARC read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This fast-paced read is perfect for fans of Schitt’s Creek and Only Murders in the Building. This cozy mystery really hits the spot. There was a good group of characters in this book. I was kept guessing on who the killer was and it is always a nice change when the end is not super predictable but still plausible. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

thephdivabooks's review

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4.0

It’s rosé all day at The Pearl B&B until a murder ruins opening weekend in Sydney Leigh’s debut mystery, PERIL IN PINK!

Jess Byrne and her best friend Kat left behind their unfulfilling careers to open a bed and breakfast in Hudson Valley. They’ve updated an historic boarding house that Jess’s grandmother ran in the sixties and it is pink, decked out, and totally Instagram-ready. They want to make a big splash opening weekend to generate good buzz about the inn. Jess has even invited an old boyfriend-turned-musician Lars to put on a private show for opening weekend.

Unfortunately, Lars brings his creepy stepfather and now-manager Bob with him. Bob is extremely unpleasant, so it’s not exactly a surprise when he’s found murdered a few hours after arriving. When Lars looks like the prime suspect, Jess and Kat agree to help investigate and hope to clear his name (and hopefully save the reputation of their B&B).

However, when Lars is found at the scene of a second murder the same weekend, Jess starts to question whether she was right to believe in his innocence. Did Lars commit the murders, or is someone trying to frame him?

This was such a fun, breezy read. Leigh adds just the right amount of humor to keep it funny and light without being ridiculous. 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…

True Crime fans will find the references to the hit podcast My Favorite Murder and other pop culture references fun. Jess and Kat have a great friendship and work well as a detective duo. The mystery was engaging and moved along at a good pace. There were plenty of suspects, potential motives, and red herrings to go around.mA great new cozy mystery series!

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

jessthemess30's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

lmcneil's review

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I wanted to like this more, but it was about 60 pages too long. I get that everyone has secrets, but they took too long to be revealed. It's unrealistic to me that all the guests would be allowed to wander the hotel after a murder. The obvious product placement references were annoying. 

dollycas's review

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funny lighthearted mysterious

4.0

Dollycas's Thoughts
The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley is having its grand opening and Jess Byrne, her partner, and best friend Kat Miller, along with Jess's brother Nate want it to be a huge success. They have booked reality singing sensation and Jess's ex-boyfriend Lars Armstrong to perform. The guests arrive to check-in and Jess encourages everyone to take pictures and share their opening weekend experience all over social media. #bestplaceever #girlsweekend #thiscallsforwine #Roséallday
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Lars arrived with his stepfather/manager, Bob, and Jess knows they have a very strained relationship. Later when Bob is found dead and Lars leads the list of suspects Jess doesn't know what to think. Lars proclaims his innocence and begs Jess to help him. She is worried about how the murder is going to affect her B&B. She wants the killer caught as soon as possible and before her guests, one of whom could be a murderer, checks out, so she agrees to help him.  She never imagined she would find him at the scene of another murder.

A killer is on the loose, guests aren't happy, and The Pearl is getting the worst publicity ever. #murder #killer #don'tstayhere Jess asks Kat for help as they try to save the B&B, catch the killer, and hopefully clear Lars' name too.
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Jess and Kat take on a huge project turning Jess’s grandmother’s run-down former boarding house into a fun B&B aimed at 20 - 30-year-olds like themselves. With them handling the basic running of the place, Jess's brother running the bar, his wife Sarah doing yoga sessions, her Aunt Marnie working wherever she is needed, and her mother dropping by randomly to throw in her 2 cents, The Pearl B&B is a real family affair. All the characters are well-developed for the first book in the series. Their interactions and dialogues are true to real life.

The Pearl is an amazing B&B. The "behemoth" Queen Anne is set on a large piece of land and has ten guest rooms each with a bottle of sparkling Rosé in the mini-fridge, "a big pool, sprawling deck, and an adjacent garage turned bar" the Cool Vibes Café, all with a soft-blush aesthetic. It's a superb place for a cozy mystery series.

The victim was not a nice man and had caused a lot of trouble. The more we found out about his past more suspects were brought to light. Kat and Jess are obsessed with true crime. "Murderinos" who love the My Favorite Murder podcast. So of course they are primed to be expert amateur sleuths.  Detective Holloway wants them to butt out and leave the case to him. The girls learned about some surprising relationships and a second murder twisted everything up. Jess ran herself ragged trying to do everything to be sure her guests were taken care of while trying to solve the case. It was her dog Duke though that gave Jess her A-Ha moment and set the reveal in motion.

Peril in Pink has set this series off to a fine start. A fresh voice that will draw a new generation to cozy mysteries while entertaining current fans of the genre.  #funny #sparklingrosé #murder #mystery #Insta-worthy #hudsonvalley I am looking forward to the continuation of the delightful new series.

shaunt88's review

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4.0

I found this book to be a quick and enjoyable read. I thoroughly enjoyed the pop reference quotes throughout which goes hand in hand with the instagrammable location.

It is a fun and light thriller but for me I like my thrillers a little more darker and more suspenseful.

Overall it’s a good book and very easy to read and follow.

antigoniselena's review

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AUDIOBOOK 

10 minutes into listening to this novel, i absolutely hated it. Who wrote this? No one talks like this... it sounds like a GEN Xer trying to write Millennials or Gen Z.