Friday, December 9, 2022

Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: The Socialite's Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden


 

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 . . .

 

Purchase links . . .

      PenguinRandomHouseAmazonB&NKoboIndieBound  

 

 Blog Tours 

 

Tour Participants . . . 

December 5 – Reading Reality – REVIEW

December 5 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 6 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 6 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – Bootsie’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

December 7 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

December 7 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 8 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 8 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

December 9 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW

December 10 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Elza Reads – REVIEW

December 11 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

 

 

Note . . . I received a complimentary copy of The Socialite's Guide to Murder from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



 
This Blog Tour, 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.

 

 

 

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Friday Focus: The Friday 56 and Book Beginnings


16

 It's Friday . . . time to share book excerpts with:

  • Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.  
  • The Friday 56 hosted by Freda's Voice, where you grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an eBook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Today I'm featuring a recent blog tour read, The Socialite's Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden, the first book in the Pinnacle Hotel historical mystery series. The excerpts shared are from an eBook provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

 

Beginning:  I was in the middle of my two o'clock appointment when a shadow fell over me.

"Mr. Peters," I said, "you're blocking my sun."

********************  

56% of eBook:  He shook my hand with a loud sigh. "Have a good day, Miss Murphy. Or, at least, a better day." He took his hanky, and I waited until he was back in the elevator before stepping into my apartment and locking the door.

********************  

My thoughts: This new series, set at a luxury hotel in 1950's New York City introduces amateur sleuth Evelyn Murphy, a hotel heiress with a curious streak and penchant for Agatha Christie novels. This first book in the series is a carefully plotted mystery with surprises at every turn.

********************  

From GoodReads: 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.

 

 

  

*******************

This Friday Focus: The Friday 56 & Book Beginnings post was originally composed and/or compiled and published by Catherine for the blog, bookclublibrarian.com.  It cannot be republished without attribution.

 

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Great Escapes Blog Tour, Review, and Giveaway: Death by Puffin by Jennifer S. Alderson

Today I'm participating in the Death by Puffin 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 . . .

 

Death by Puffin: A Bachelorette Party Murder in Reykjavik

Cozy Mystery
9th in the Travel Can Be Murder Series
Setting – Iceland
Traveling Life Press (November 24, 2022)
Number of Pages: 180
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09WX2D57V

 

Synopsis . . .   Iceland—land of fire, ice … and murder?

After a nasty fight with her boyfriend, tour guide Lana Hansen takes a week off work to get her head straight. Fate brings her to Iceland and the Hotel Puffin where she hopes the magnificent natural surroundings will help heal her heart and point the way forward.

Instead of the rest and relaxation she wishes to find, Lana ends up neighbors with a group of rowdy Americans in town for a bachelorette party and wedding. Their joyous frivolity is a painful reminder of her own relationship problems, and Lana does her best to steer clear of the group.

Yet when someone in the wedding party dies under mysterious circumstances, she gets pulled into the investigation. Can Lana help unmask the killer before they strike again—or will this trip be her last?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries are heartwarming stories about making friends, traveling, and celebrating new experiences. Join tour guide Lana Hansen as she leads tourists and readers to fascinating cities around the globe on intriguing adventures that often turn deadly.

Books in the Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mystery series:
Book 1 – Death on the Danube: A New Year’s Murder in Budapest
Book 2 – Death by Baguette: A Valentine’s Day Murder in Paris
Book 3 – Death by Windmill: A Mother’s Day Murder in Amsterdam
Book 4 – Death by Bagpipes: A Summer Murder in Edinburgh
Book 5 – Death by Fountain: A Christmas Murder in Rome
Book 6 – Death by Leprechaun: A Saint Patrick’s Day Murder in Dublin
Book 7 – Death by Flamenco: An Easter Murder in Seville
Book 8 – Death by Gondola: A Springtime Murder in Venice
Book 9 – Death by Puffin: A Bachelorette Party Murder in Reykjavik
Books 10-12 – More adventures are coming soon!!

 

My review . . . With her career at Wanderlust Tours and her relationship with her beau Alex in question, Lana embarks on a trip to Reykjavik to do some soul searching--this time as a tourist rather than a guide. Lana has been rattled by the deaths that occurred on each of the previous trips she's led, and by the distrust that has crept into her romance. She hopes that time away will help her formulate a plan for her future. Unfortunately, however, Lana can't seem to escape being a magnet for murder . . .

Fate has Lana crossing paths in Iceland with a boisterous group of bachelorettes who are not only guests at the same hotel, but participants on several tours she has booked. When one of the bachelorettes meets her death under suspicious circumstances just two days before the wedding, the police zero in on a suspect whom Lana is convinced is innocent. Disturbed by the injustice, Lana is reluctantly drawn into the investigation . . .

As the plot thickens, Lana faces three questions: Who killed the bachelorette? Can her relationship with Alex return to solid ground? Will Lana be forced to give up her love of travel as an occupation?

There's a slow build up to the actual murder in Jennifer Alderson's latest Travel Can Be Murder story, which allows the author to create plenty of delicious drama between the obnoxious, bachelorette frenemies, the bride- and groom-to-be, and their families. With many viable suspects to explore, finding the true culprit is an absorbing task that holds one's attention.

Set against the backdrop of Iceland's natural rugged beauty and wildlife, Alderson's dynamic, accurate descriptions of local tourist attractions once again has readers feeling as though they are physically on location. During a time when many have curtailed travel, reading this series is an enjoyable and satisfying escape around the world. The series need not be read in order--one can jump in at any time by choosing a desired location. I am an avid fan of the series, and truly look forward to every adventure and destination to come.

 

Giveaway . . . Enter for a chance to win Kindle copies of Books 1-3 in the Travel Can Be Murder Series by clicking on this link. 


About the author . . . Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, she moved to Darwin, Australia, before settling in the Netherlands. Her background in journalism, multimedia development, and art history enriches her novels.


When not writing, she can be found in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip.

 

Author links . . .

Website: http://www.jennifersalderson.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferSAldersonauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JSAauthor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/JSAauthor

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-s-alderson

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/JennifeSAlderson 

 

Purchase links . . .  Amazon (US)    Amazon Worldwide

 

Blog Tours 

 

Tour participants . . .

November 28 – I’m Into Books – SPOTLIGHT

November 28 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT  

November 29 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 29 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

November 30 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 30 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

December 1 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 1 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 2 – Bootsie’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

December 3 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 4 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW  

December 5 – Novels Alive – REVIEW – SPOTLIGHT

December 5 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

December 6 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW  

December 6 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW  

December 7 – eBook Addicts – REVIEW

 

 

Note . . . I received a complimentary copy of Death by Puffin from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



 
This Blog Tour, 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. 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 5, 2022

First Chapter ~ First Paragraph

It's Tuesday . . . time for . . . 



. . . First Chapter ~ First Paragraph Tuesday Intros . . . hosted by Yvonne at Socrates' Book Reviews, where bloggers share excerpts from a book they have read, are currently reading, or are planning to read.
 
Today I'm featuring a recent blog tour read, Death by Puffin by Jennifer S. Alderson, the ninth book in the Travel Can Be Murder mystery series. The excerpt shared is from an advance eBook provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
 
 

 

First Chapter:  Storm Brewing

Sunday--Reykjavik, Iceland

Lana Hansen stared outside, taking in the storm brewing over Faxafloi Bay. Gale-force winds whipped rain and hail across her hotel's windows, temporarily blurring her view of  Mount Esja, rising high above Reykjavik's skyline.

Despite the breathtakingly beautiful sight before her, Lana couldn't enjoy it. Right now, it felt as if the turbulent weather mirrored the storm raging in her heart and mind. Her job and relationship were both on the fritz, and after a week of soul-searching, she still couldn't see a way out of either predicament. 

 

What do you think?  Would you continue reading? 

The Travel Can Be Murder series is an enjoyable, satisfying escape around the world. The author's dynamic, accurate descriptions of tourist attractions makes readers feel as though they are physically on location. I am an avid fan of the series, and truly look forward to every adventure and destination to come.



 



This First Chapter~First Paragraph post was originally composed and/or compiled by Catherine for the Book Club Librarian blog.