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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Oh my gosh, the different twists this book had. It's so good. It kind of reminds me of the Good Girls Guide to murder. She doesn't stop looking for information and uses social media and then gets herself into trouble. It's very good and keeps your attention the entire time. I really liked this book.
I had high hopes for this cosy crime novel. I thought it would be a delightful, quick read. However, I ended up feeling disappointed by its premise. Maybe my expectations didn't match the book's intended audience. That could explain why the writing style and pacing didn't resonate with me. The story unfolded slowly, taking time to develop plot points. I wished it had moved faster. The characters were average and lacked depth. They didn't draw me into the narrative as I hoped. Despite my reservations, I still recommend this book for young adult readers. I didn't expect it to be classified in that genre, which might have influenced my perception.
This was a cute, cozy mystery novel. I think it would be great for anyone that wants to dip their toe in mystery but doesn’t want a thriller. I enjoyed the book and I like how it ended. It did have some twists in there I didn’t see coming. 3.5⭐️ for me.
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to Sydney Leigh & NetGalley for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
After loving Peril In Pink so much, I absolutely had to jump at the chance to read Leigh's newest novel Instagoner, the start of a promising new cosy mystery series.
Emily Dalle is a successful blogger and is about to launch her own TV show when she bumps into a dead body one morning while cycling, which turns out to be the most famous, and most notorious, person in their part of the world.
Our rather curious MC decides to take things into her own hands by taking to the blog-o-sphere and asking her followers for footage, photos, etc, from the place and time in question. The local police keep warning her to stay out of the official investigation, but our dogged protagonist insists that the public can be helpful.
Oh, and let's not fur-get her trusty sidekick (sidedog?), Murray!
There are two noteworthy things about Instagoner, one negative and one positive:
- We do not stan, support or engage with a certain famous bigot and any of their associated works so a reference to a certain well-known character very nearly caused me to put this down;
- I did not predict the culprit nor did I suspect the culprit, and this was a total bonus.
This is overall a solid start to a new series and I am excited to see what Emily and Murray get up to next.
After loving Peril In Pink so much, I absolutely had to jump at the chance to read Leigh's newest novel Instagoner, the start of a promising new cosy mystery series.
Emily Dalle is a successful blogger and is about to launch her own TV show when she bumps into a dead body one morning while cycling, which turns out to be the most famous, and most notorious, person in their part of the world.
Our rather curious MC decides to take things into her own hands by taking to the blog-o-sphere and asking her followers for footage, photos, etc, from the place and time in question. The local police keep warning her to stay out of the official investigation, but our dogged protagonist insists that the public can be helpful.
Oh, and let's not fur-get her trusty sidekick (sidedog?), Murray!
There are two noteworthy things about Instagoner, one negative and one positive:
- We do not stan, support or engage with a certain famous bigot and any of their associated works so a reference to a certain well-known character very nearly caused me to put this down;
- I did not predict the culprit nor did I suspect the culprit, and this was a total bonus.
This is overall a solid start to a new series and I am excited to see what Emily and Murray get up to next.
If you find joy in the whimsical dance between digital life and reality, this book might just become your new guilty pleasure.
In Instagoner, Sydney Leigh invites readers into the colourful yet chaotic life of Emily, a social media influencer with a penchant for poking her nose where it doesn’t belong—specifically, the local sheriff’s business. Set against the charming backdrop of Eliot Hill, New York, and above her best friend Fitzwilliam's Longbourn Café, Emily's story is a blend of humour, friendship, and amateur sleuthing that feels both relatable and, at times, utterly absurd.
Emily is the quintessential influencer, navigating her fluid schedule with the grace of a cat on a hot tin roof. While I found her relentless curiosity about small-town affairs amusing, it often bordered on irritating—like that friend who insists on knowing your business but can't remember your birthday. Her antics raise a thought-provoking question: in a world where influencers thrive on engagement, is there such a thing as too much curiosity?
The dynamic between Emily and Fitz is the novel’s heart, with their witty banter illuminating the complexities of friendship in the digital age. Fitz’s jibes about Emily’s “profanity diet” serve regular sniggers. However, the inclusion of supporting characters like Murray the dog and the token gay best friend felt a tad clichéd, as if they’d wandered in from a different, less imaginative narrative.
I couldn’t help but wonder about Emily’s living situation—what does her apartment look like? Surely it reflects her influencer aesthetic, but the details were elusive. While she claims to don heavy make-up for her online persona, I found myself craving more insights into the dichotomy between her curated image and her authentic self. Is her life a beautifully staged photo, or is there a messiness beneath the surface that remains unexplored?
As a reader who typically steers clear of cosy mysteries, Instagoner challenged my expectations in delightful ways. I found myself reevaluating what I enjoy in a narrative—who knew that an influencer's escapades could lead to such introspection?
In Instagoner, Sydney Leigh invites readers into the colourful yet chaotic life of Emily, a social media influencer with a penchant for poking her nose where it doesn’t belong—specifically, the local sheriff’s business. Set against the charming backdrop of Eliot Hill, New York, and above her best friend Fitzwilliam's Longbourn Café, Emily's story is a blend of humour, friendship, and amateur sleuthing that feels both relatable and, at times, utterly absurd.
Emily is the quintessential influencer, navigating her fluid schedule with the grace of a cat on a hot tin roof. While I found her relentless curiosity about small-town affairs amusing, it often bordered on irritating—like that friend who insists on knowing your business but can't remember your birthday. Her antics raise a thought-provoking question: in a world where influencers thrive on engagement, is there such a thing as too much curiosity?
The dynamic between Emily and Fitz is the novel’s heart, with their witty banter illuminating the complexities of friendship in the digital age. Fitz’s jibes about Emily’s “profanity diet” serve regular sniggers. However, the inclusion of supporting characters like Murray the dog and the token gay best friend felt a tad clichéd, as if they’d wandered in from a different, less imaginative narrative.
I couldn’t help but wonder about Emily’s living situation—what does her apartment look like? Surely it reflects her influencer aesthetic, but the details were elusive. While she claims to don heavy make-up for her online persona, I found myself craving more insights into the dichotomy between her curated image and her authentic self. Is her life a beautifully staged photo, or is there a messiness beneath the surface that remains unexplored?
As a reader who typically steers clear of cosy mysteries, Instagoner challenged my expectations in delightful ways. I found myself reevaluating what I enjoy in a narrative—who knew that an influencer's escapades could lead to such introspection?
Blogging. Murder. Bikers. Caffeine. And a very sweet Murray the dog.
That’s what you get in this Murder, She Wrote-light story. Emily lives in an apartment above her best friend Fitz’s cafe. His brother Noah just happens to be the town sheriff (and the object of Emily’s affection). Both boys try to keep Emily out of trouble, whether it be after a particularly nasty break up or just getting her out into fresh air on a bike ride or for a hike. That is, until she stumbles across the dead body of her friend/enemy Jackie. After asking her followers for any help in the murder investigation Emily is now on the killers radar. Her determination to find the truth could lead her to the same fate as Jackie.
This was a great murder-lite, small town mystery with a teeny side of romance. It was a great palate cleaners for me and a break from my more dark reading choices. Overall I give it a solid 3.75/5 for story like (I didn’t see the killer coming until the very end) and a 0.5/5 on spice level.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.
That’s what you get in this Murder, She Wrote-light story. Emily lives in an apartment above her best friend Fitz’s cafe. His brother Noah just happens to be the town sheriff (and the object of Emily’s affection). Both boys try to keep Emily out of trouble, whether it be after a particularly nasty break up or just getting her out into fresh air on a bike ride or for a hike. That is, until she stumbles across the dead body of her friend/enemy Jackie. After asking her followers for any help in the murder investigation Emily is now on the killers radar. Her determination to find the truth could lead her to the same fate as Jackie.
This was a great murder-lite, small town mystery with a teeny side of romance. It was a great palate cleaners for me and a break from my more dark reading choices. Overall I give it a solid 3.75/5 for story like (I didn’t see the killer coming until the very end) and a 0.5/5 on spice level.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
InstaGoner is a classic cozy mystery, full of murder, mystery, small-town gossip, and all the coffee you can handle! If you like cozies with lovable BFF’s and canine companions, with a little romance-seeking in the side, then this books is for you!
fast-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
This was a fun cozy mystery where a influencer, Emily, stumbles over a body of the towns tv talk show hosts that no one likes. She noses her way into the investigation, against police advice. There are lots of people in town who wanted the talk show host dead, including her sister, and several ex-boyfriends.
This book was so fun to read and if you love fun cozy mysteries with a bit of romance be sure and pick this one up! 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This book was so fun to read and if you love fun cozy mysteries with a bit of romance be sure and pick this one up! 🌟🌟🌟🌟