Today I'm participating in the The Socialite's Guide to Murder Blog Tour. In this post you'll find book and author information along with my review. And be sure to enter the giveaway below.
About the book . . .
The Socialite's Guide to Murder (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New York City, 1958
Crooked Lane Books (October 11, 2022)
Hardcover : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1639101764
ISBN-13 : 978-1639101764
Digital ASIN : B09Q7XM28Y
Synopsis . . . The hotel was her refuge, but scandal is afoot—and a killer stalks the halls in this charming series debut perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver.
It’s 1958 and Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy has not left the Pinnacle Hotel in fourteen months. She suffers from agoraphobia, and what’s more, it’s her father’s hotel, and everything she needs is there. Evelyn’s always been good at finding things, she discovered her mother dead in a Manhattan alleyway fifteen years earlier. Now she’s finding trouble inside her sanctuary. At a party for artist Billie Bell, his newest work is stolen, and Evelyn’s fake boyfriend (and real best friend), movie star Henry Fox, is accused of the theft. But just as Evelyn sets out to prove Henry’s innocence, she finds Billie Bell dead.
The murder weapon links the crime to the hotel’s chief of security. But why would he use a knife with his initials on the handle? With her beloved home in disarray, Evelyn joins up with hotel employee (and her secret crush) Mac Cooper to get to the bottom of the case.
As Mac picks locks and Evelyn snoops around the hotel, they discover the walls around them contain more secrets than they previously knew. Now, Evelyn must force herself to leave the hotel to follow the clues—but when she and Mac set off to chase a lead, their car crashes and they barely escape with their lives. Someone snipped Evelyn’s brake lines, and now the stakes have become dangerously high.
Evelyn’s knack for sleuthing—and her playful imagination—are always hard at work, and she throws an elaborate party at the hotel where every guest is a suspect. But will the killer emerge from the glamorous lineup? If not, Evelyn just might find herself…next in line for murder.
My review . . . At first glance, Evelyn Murphy is a pampered, sheltered young woman who is heiress to the elegant Pinnacle Hotel. The first-class establishment is owned by her father, and is the only home she has ever known. Yet all is not rosy for Evelyn. She is a captive to the hotel's luxurious trappings who hasn't left the premises in the last fourteen months. She struggles with crippling fears that prevent her from venturing beyond the hotel walls, the only place she feels truly safe.
The theft of a major artwork and death of its prominent artist at the Pinnacle bring the dangers of the outside world to Evelyn's doorstep, however, threatening both the safety of her refuge and the freedom of her closest friend, actor Henry Fox, the police's main suspect. With the help of several allies, Evelyn manages to face her fears head on, allowing her to use her innate detecting abilities to piece together the truth. In the final pages of the novel, Evelyn channels her fondness for Agatha Christie novels by bringing all the suspects together at a lavish party, where she engages each of them in laying out the case and revealing the murderer—all while wearing the perfect designer outfit and serving the finest food and beverages, of course.
The Socialite's Guide to Murder, first book in the new Pinnacle Hotel Mystery Series, introduces amateur sleuth, Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy, her adorable pup Presley, and the eccentric staff and guests of the Pinnacle Hotel. The protagonist has a taste for the finer things in life, along with a strong curious streak. Set in mid-twentieth century New York City, readers are treated to the comings and goings of the upstairs/downstairs characters during a by-gone era, with surprises at every turn.
Author S.K. Golden has created a sumptuous environment, replete with a lively mix of charming and dastardly characters, and a well-plotted story filled with a satisfying mix of mystery, romance, and drama. This delightful historical series is off to a terrific start, with the seeds for future plot lines and character interactions expertly planted in book one.
Giveaway . . . Enter for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of the book along with a bookmark, pen, and sticker (U.S. only) by clicking this link.
About the author . . . Sarah K Golden is the author of the Pinnacle Hotel cozy mystery series. Born and raised in the Florida Keys, she married a commercial fisherman. The two of them still live on the islands with their five kids (one boy, four girls — including identical twins!), two cats, and a corgi named Goku.
She graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Administration and has put it to good use approximately zero times. She’s worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. Sarah is delighted to be doing none of those things now. She is currently working on book two in the series.
Author links . . .
- Webpage: https://www.skgoldenwrites.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SKGoldenWrites
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SKGoldenWrites
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skgoldenwrites/
Purchase links . . .
PenguinRandomHouse – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – IndieBound
Tour Participants . . .
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December 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
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December 6 – Bootsie’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
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December 7 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
December 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST
December 8 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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December 8 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT
December 9 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
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December 10 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
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