The Socialite's Guide to Murder

I just finished a socialites guide to murder by S.K Golden

It's 1958 and heiress Evelyn is happy as clam in her hotel. She has a fake boyfriend, Henry, who is a movie star! She has her little dog Presley, she lives the life most only dream of.

Then one day an artist is showcasing his latest masterpiece at the hotel. During the party someone steals it. Evelyn, who is good at finding things, sets out to solve the mystery. Then the artist, Billy is found murdered and the missing painting is just the start of the epic adventure.

With the help of Mac, a bellhop at the hotel and her secret lover, Evelyn sets herself on a dangerous path that could see her and the people around her in mortal danger. Still battling agoraphobia and panic attacks which leave her unable to go outside the hotel, she pushes through to save an innocent man from going down for crimes she knows he didn't commit.

I have 4 words for this book..... TOO CUTE FOR WORDS. I love Evelyn. She may be spoiled and a little spoiled but she has a heart of absolute gold and she sees people for who they are not their status. Beautifully written and hard to put down, the whole book had this cozy mystery feel to it but still had the grit to hold the attention of mystery lovers. Set in the 50s, it was a real fun way to enjoy a good mystery in a historical fiction setting.

Loved the hotel. Really enjoyed all the extra things we learned about it too. Found the whole book an absolute delight.

I love that Mac and Evelyn end up together and not hiding, that really shows you that she didn't see his status or his past but the man standing before her. Sigh... I am a sucker for romance.

5 stars! Thank you Netgalley and Crooked lane books for my review copy

The Socialite's Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden is a fun debut to a new mystery series. Set in the Pinnacle Hotel in New York City, agoraphobic heirless Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy finds herself at the center of a murder mystery! Set in the last century, the book felt both stylized and contemporary. I really loved Evelyn's voice, wonderfully brought to life by audiobook narrator Amara Jasper, and the tension between her spoiled privileged life and the challenges of living with mental illness in the midst of adversity. Ultimately I loved the ways Golden paid homage to Christie still managed to craft a story that, to me, felt fresh and exciting. I look forward to listening to upcoming installments in this series!

The Socialite's Guide to Murder is the first in a new historical cozy mystery series set in an upscale hotel. While I didn't find it to be the strongest start, there is a lot of potential going forward.

Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy is the reclusive daughter of the owner of the Pinnacle Hotel. After a theft and then a murder, Evelyn takes it upon herself to investigate with the help of her ‘a bit more than a friend' Mac. This puts her to the test due to her agoraphobia. She pushes herself, making her an admirable character more than just her celebrity style.

This was a cute start to the series and I wouldn't mind picking up the next book, however, the book didn't read too much like a piece of historical fiction. While I enjoyed the mental health element, the terminology was not that of the time the book is set. It was written with a modern mindset/approach, and aside from the general aesthetic of the book, it would have worked just as well in a modern setting give or take a plot point here and there (and dare I say it would work better). Nevertheless, there are redeeming aspects to the story, namely the characters. I enjoyed reading about Evelyn, Henry, and Mac.