Today I'm participating in the The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating 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 Death & Dating (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – 1958 New York City
Crooked Lane Books (October 10, 2023)
Hardcover : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 1639104852
ISBN-13 : 978-1639104857
Digital ASIN : B0BS2SG88V
Synopsis . . . Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver, the second Pinnacle Hotel mystery finds another murder that strikes too close to home, and hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy knows she’s the only one who can save the hotel before it’s lights out.
New York, 1958. Even though Evelyn Murphy has made progress conquering her agoraphobia by leaving the Pinnacle, she still feels most comfortable in her father’s hotel. With Malcolm (Mac) Cooper, her new boyfriend and fellow employee at the hotel, Evelyn feels prepared for whatever happens next. In this case, it’s throwing a big fundraiser with the who’s who of New York City.
The night is a success, and Evelyn finally takes up Malcolm’s offer to visit his apartment in Yonkers. As the party ends, they sneak away to the garage to get Evelyn’s car. But Evelyn’s always been good at finding things, and she discovers the dead body of a guest, Judge Baker, in a car—with a needle in his arm.
Detective Hodgson and his new partner, Detective McJimsey, arrive on the scene, but before they can begin to question Evelyn, they are startled by another mysterious discovery: there’s a woman in the trunk of the car, and she screams as soon as she sees Evelyn’s face. Tangled up in the police investigation, Evelyn’s got another problem, too—her father insists she break off her relationship with Mac. The next day, her father is found attacked just like the judge, only this time the detectives find a dead woman nearby.
With Mac accused of the attacks and in police custody, Evelyn will have to find the killer on her own before she’s checked out of the hotel—this time, for good.
My review . . . Evelyn Murphy, amateur detective and heiress to the Pinnacle Hotel, is back for more sleuthing in The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating, the second book in author S.K. Golden's historical cozy mystery series. Evelyn has a new beau, Malcolm (Mac) Cooper, and with the help of a therapist, has made strides in dealing with her agoraphobia and anxiety, allowing her to travel farther afield from the Pinnacle.
Evelyn has channeled her talent for event planning into organizing a posh political fundraiser at the hotel for New York City's prominent leaders and their supporters. At the end of the wildly successful party, however, Evelyn finds one of the attendees--a judge--slumped behind the steering wheel of his car, the victim of an apparent drug overdose. When a woman who was in the car with the judge also dies under mysterious circumstances, the police investigation intensifies.
To make matters worse, Evelyn's father detests her new beau, Mac and is threatening to cut off her inheritance if she doesn't immediately end the relationship. Soon after Mr. Murphy issues his ultimatum, he is found in his hotel suite barely conscious--the victim of an attack--along with a maid who has been strangled. When Mac becomes the prime suspect and is arrested, Evelyn undertakes her own investigation to clear her lover's name.
Are all these crimes at the hotel related? Evelyn is convinced that they are and won't rest until she determines whether there is a connection between the victims. And when she puts a dangerous plan in motion to catch the killer, Evelyn risks becoming the next victim.
The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating is a delightful return to the elegant Pinnacle Hotel, with its cast of colorful staff and guests. This second installment has the components that keep readers engaged--an endearing protagonist; balanced amounts of romance and drama; strong character development; a well-constructed plot; an unexpected motive; and hints of what future books in the series may bring. For all of these reasons, I eagerly anticipate the continuation of this series.
For my review of the first book in the series, click this link: The Socialite's Guide to Murder.
Giveaway . . . Enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon eGift Card by clicking on this link.
About the author . . . S. 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. Sarah worked as a bank teller, a pharmacy technician, and an executive assistant at her father’s church. She is delighted to be doing none of those things now.
Author links . . .
Website: https://www.skgoldenwrites.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SKGoldenWrites/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/skgoldenwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skgoldenwrites/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22010011.S_K_Golden
Purchase links . . . Amazon – B&N – Kobo – Bookshop.org
Tour participants . . .
October 5 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
October 5 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 6 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
October 6 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 7 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
October 7 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW
October 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
October 8 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 8 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 9 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – Lady Hawkeye – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 10 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
October 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 10 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
Note . . . I received a complimentary copy of The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This Blog Tour, Book Review, and Giveaway post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog. It cannot be republished without attribution.
This looks fun! I love the hotel setting and I think I would really enjoy this one!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! Looking forward to book #3!
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