Book Review: Peril in Pink by Sydney Leigh

Title: Peril in Pink
Author: Sydney Leigh
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: Hudson Valley B&B #1
Date of Publication: March 19, 2024
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Synopsis

Everything is coming up rosé for innkeeper Jess Byrne until a murder on opening weekend gives her B&B’s killer vibe a whole new meaning.

Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building in this sparkling debut mystery.

It’s the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, and owner Jess Byrne has prepared the ultimate, Insta-worthy welcome, complete with her ex-boyfriend—reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong—performing live. As guests check in and mimosas are poured, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager Bob in tow. But things go south when Bob is found dead, and Lars is the prime suspect.

After a desperate plea from Lars, and knowing the reputation of her B&B is at stake, Jess agrees to help clear Lars’ name, but the more she digs, the less sure she is that he’s innocent. Especially when he’s found at the scene of another murder.

With the guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess is in over her head. With the help of her best friend and business partner Kat, Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put behind bars and The Pearl is permanently cancelled.

– Goodreads

My Thoughts

A cozy mystery for millennials!

This is a fun cozy mystery for the younger generation. It’s full of pop culture references (lots of nods to one of my favourite podcasts–”My Favorite Murder!”). The book even uses a lot of the “millennial” slang. This isn’t just in the dialogue, but in the inner thoughts of the narrator. While this feels like a strength, it also felt very odd to read. I’m used to cozy mysteries being written by older folks, and they typically have a conversational, yet still somewhat old-fashioned way of speaking–even when they’re writing from the POV of a younger character. Any time the heroine of this book said “cringe” or “shook”, I was… shook (haha). As is expected with cozy mysteries, this book has a lighter tone with some humour. I appreciated that the main character is delightfully snarky.

Like with many other cozy mysteries I’ve read, there are a lot of characters introduced, and with them came their names and roles that I had to learn. It was a tad confusing at times, and felt a little info dumpy. There’s a lot of talking in this book, and the pace doesn’t ever quite pick up. That said, the plot took some interesting turns, and I was pleasantly surprised by the twist at the end, even if the big reveal felt a little anti-climactic. This is definitely a book for those who enjoy slower paced reads, ones with lots of characters to fall in love with and fun banter to keep you engaged.

All in all, this is a comfy read, similar to putting on a thick pair of socks and curling up by the roaring fireplace with a glass of rosé.