The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing & Secrets - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO SLEUTHING & SECRETS by S. K. Golden
The Third Pinnacle Hotel Mystery 

Though she'd prefer to be in her room at the Pinnacle Hotel with just her pets as companions, Evelyn Murphy has agreed to eat lunch in the Gold Room with her friend Henry. While admiring a tiara that was just delivered to her, ladies at a nearby table ask her to join them. As the hotel owner's daughter, Evelyn graciously sits with them and is soon given a sales pitch from Lois Mitchel, leader of the Ladies Love to Sparkle. As Evelyn peruses their costume jewelry catalog, Lois suddenly collapses. While it looks as if Lois suffered from a deadly allergic reaction, Evelyn's first thought is murder. While Evelyn Murphy has great difficulty with many aspects of her life, one thing she does well is find things...and that includes murderers.

THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO SLEUTHING & SECRETS brings readers back to the Pinnacle Hotel, a luxury hotel in 1958 New York City and home to the Evelyn Murphy. Still reeling from the departure of her lover, Evelyn has been backsliding, refusing once again to leave the hotel. But, when faced with another death, one where the woman fell right on top of her, she focuses on what she does best. It's fascinating to watch Evelyn's methods, her relationships with others, and her ultimate successes. I loved her plan to trap the killer!

In the first book in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series I found Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy contrived, especially with her speech, thank you ever so much. However, she's growing and by this third book we can see the character she's cultivated slowly fading as she's slowly letting her true self out. She even is just Evelyn Murphy now. Of course, it's slow going, but she's trying to be a better person.

The mystery was complex with multiple moving parts. a possible murder, a jewel thief, and a journalist looking to start trouble. The search to discover more about her mother's murder adds depth and more intrigue.

Humorous, yet imbued with pathos, THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO SLEUTHING & SECRETS is a skillfully crafted mystery bringing 1950s style to a novel that's simply the ginchiest!

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 The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery) by S. K. Golden

About The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets

The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery)
Historical Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Setting - 1958 New York City
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books (March 11, 2025)
Hardcover: ‎ 288 pages

Hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy is on the hunt for a cunning killer and a mysterious thief in the third Pinnacle Hotel mystery, perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver.

New York, 1958. When Evelyn’s mail is delivered during a luncheon in the Gold Room, she’s surprised to find she has received a diamond tiara, which catches the attention of a costume jewelry sales team lunching nearby. Their leader, Lois Mitchel, is especially interested, but by the end of the lunch, Lois has choked and fallen into Evelyn’s lap—and by the end of the day, she’s dead.

The papers report on the death the next day, while also spreading news of a Gentleman Thief who’s been leaving behind a red pocket square after robbing the city’s wealthiest. Determined to figure out what happened to Lois, Evelyn devotes herself to the investigation.

The truth is as rare as a diamond and just as hard to crack, and Evelyn swiftly discovers that this particular mystery is multifaceted, too. From costume jewelry hawkers to wannabe Robin Hoods and a detective in residence at the Pinnacle, nothing is simple. But neither is Evelyn—and this case is hers to solve.

About S. K. Golden

S.K. Golden writes cozy mysteries and crime capers. 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. Sarah 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.

Author Links: 

Website https://www.skgoldenwrites.com/  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SKGoldenWrites/  

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/skgoldenwrites/  

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22010011.S_K_Golden  

Purchase Links - Amazon B&N Bookshop.org Penguin RandomHouse Kobo 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets by S. K. Golden. This is the third book in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series and will be released next week. 

Though she'd prefer to be in her room at the Pinnacle Hotel with just her pets as companions, Evelyn Murphy has agreed to eat lunch in the Gold Room with her friend Henry. While admiring a tiara that was just delivered to her, ladies at a nearby table ask her to join them. As the hotel owner's daughter, Evelyn graciously sits with them and is soon given a sales pitch from Lois Mitchel, leader of the Ladies Love to Sparkle. As Evelyn peruses their costume jewelry catalog, Lois suddenly collapses. While it looks as if Lois suffered from a deadly allergic reaction, Evelyn's first thought is murder. While Evelyn Murphy has great difficulty with many aspects of her life, one thing she does well is find things...and that includes murderers.

The Socialite's Guide to Death & Dating - A Review & Giveaway

 Review

THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO DEATH & DATING
By S. K. Golden
The Second Pinnacle Hotel Mystery 

With her father tasking her to actually work at the Pinnacle Hotel where she lives, Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy has succeeded in organizing a fundraiser for the mayor. While neither Rockefeller nor her father deign to show up, the event is a success, replete with New York City bigwigs. As the party winds down Mac convinces Evelyn to leave the hotel and go to his apartment in Yonkers for the night. But as she's about to get into her Rolls-Royce she notices a shadow in a nearby car. Unable to let it go, she goes to investigate only to find Judge Baker dead in his car, a needle sticking out of his arm. An accidental overdose? Or murder?

THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO DEATH & DATING is a book about loss and how you deal with it. Evelyn Elizabeth Grace has had a lot of loss in her life. She has created a persona to help her deal with it, although she still suffers its effects, her "teensy bit" of agoraphobia and her belief that she can use money to get out of every bad situation, for example. She's also self centered and spoiled, but not near as dim as some make her out to be. But as events continue to rock her world, she's growing.

I enjoyed the second Pinnacle Hotel Mystery with its complex mystery and challenging characters. There are some characters you love to hate, Evelyn's father and the new Detective McJimsey. Even Evelyn can be annoying. I'm also unsure people in 1958 spoke like her, continually saying "ever so much". Yet, you can't help but feel for her and grudgingly like her. She's a bird in a gilded cage, trapped by her own mind and the social and gender inequity of the time. But, ever so slowly, she's finding her own way out.

Though humorous THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO DEATH & DATING is unexpectedly moving with surprising twists and emotional upheaval. I look forward to seeing Evelyn continue to grow and wonder just what she will have to face next!

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 The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery) by S. K. Golden

About The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating

The Socialite's Guide to Death and 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

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 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 finally 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.

About S. K. Golden

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. Sarah 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. Follow her across all platforms @skgoldenwrites.

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 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating by S. K. Golden. This book is the second in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series and will be released next week.

With her father tasking her to actually work at the Pinnacle Hotel where she lives, Evelyn Elizabeth Grace has succeeded in organizing a fundraiser for the mayor. While neither Rockefeller nor her father deign to show up, the event is a success, replete with New York City bigwigs. As the party winds down Mac convinces Evelyn to leave the hotel and go to his apartment in Yonkers for the night. But as she's about to get into her Rolls-Royce she notices a shadow in a nearby car. Unable to let it go, she goes to investigate only to find Judge Baker dead in his car, a needle sticking out of his arm. An accidental overdose? Or murder?

The Socialite's Guide to Murder - A Review

 Review

THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO MURDER by S. K. Golden
The First Pinnacle Hotel Mystery

Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy loves fashion, movie stars, and solving puzzles. A Manhattan girl at heart, Evelyn has no desire to leave neither the city nor the Pinnacle, her father's hotel. Her every need is satisfied, including solving puzzles and throwing parties. The hotel's latest party is the unveiling of Billie Bell's newest painting. Fireworks erupt however, when a fight nearly breaks out and the painting is stolen. Determined to put her sleuthing abilities to good use, Evelyn is stunned to learn that she is a suspect after she finds the artist's murdered body. Together with her "boyfriend" and her crush, Evelyn will prove her innocence and find a killer.

 

I enjoyed my first trip to the Pinnacle Hotel. Despite the fact that I found Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy to be a posh, pampered princess as well as a bit of a snob, I liked her. Evelyn's backstory is fascinating and important as it is the root of many of her issues; the obvious, such as not leaving the hotel, and the more subtle, developing a persona instead of being real. It will be interesting to see if she will continue to develop and show her true self as the series progresses. I'm also curious if the unsolved murder of the past will come into play.

 

The mystery in THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO MURDER was interesting, a confounding theft followed by murder. I appreciated Evelyn's sleuthing, her relationship with the police, and her young friend Amelia.

 

THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO MURDER is an entertaining jaunt back to 1958 introducing readers to unique characters in a fun setting. It's just ginchy! 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading...nothing. lol. 

My Kindle died while I was in the midst of reading The Socialite's Guide to Murder by S. K. Golden. While waiting in vain for it to revive and then waiting for a new device I read other books including Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger Lancelyn Green. This is a collection of Egyptian myths and legends originally published in 1967. I then went back to and just finished reading The Socialite's Guide to Murder. However, I already wrote a currently reading post about it, don't want to write about it again, and I haven't started reading the next book on my list. So...stay tuned.

The Socialite's Guide To Murder - An Interview & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome S. K. Golden to Cozy Up With Kathy today. S. K. writes the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series. THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO MURDER is the first book in the series. Stay tuned for my review.

Kathy: THE SOCIALITE'S GUIDE TO MURDER is set in an exclusive hotel in New York City in 1958. Why did you choose this setting and time period for your series?

A couple story ideas combined to make my debut, but one of the main ones was: Eloise at the Plaza, all grown up and solving mysteries. The Plaza Hotel is in New York and the Eloise books are set during the 50s, so that’s what inspired those choices. Also, Home Alone 2. Love that movie. And Kevin stays at the Plaza Hotel.


Kathy: Historical mysteries require an extra special brand of research. What's your favorite method to research this time period?

I could talk about the over half dozen books I’ve purchased that go over this time period in detail, but, honestly, my favorite form of research has been watching Marilyn Monroe movies and episodes of Dragnet.


Kathy: In the first Pinnacle Hotel Mystery we meet Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy. Our protagonist is the wealthy daughter of the hotel's owner and is obsessed with fashion and movie stars. Do you follow today's stars?

I have my favorites. For instance, I’ll watch Keira Knightley in anything. I’m a little bit in love with John Bernthal. Just a little bit. Nothing weird. But I think it’s better not to know much about celebrities’ personal lives because it makes it easier to enjoy the character they’re playing.


Kathy: What first drew you to cozy mysteries?

My first memories of reading on my own are of checking out the Nancy Drew books from the local library. I didn’t even know what a “cozy mystery” was until I was an adult and it was defined for me: amateur sleuth, no sex, swearing, or violence on the page. A lightbulb went off for me. Psych, the tv show I’d loved as a teenager, was a cozy mystery. Nancy Drew was a cozy mystery. I’ve loved this genre all my life and there’s more of it? There was so much more of it. It was like, when you’re a kid, and you have a favorite Disney princess, and then your parents take you to Disney World for the first time and you get to meet that Disney princess and give her a hug, take a picture with her, get her autograph. That’s what it felt like. Except I was in my twenties.


Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

I’ve dabbled a bit in creature features (sci-fi) and romantic suspense, but cozy mysteries are my heart.

Kathy: Tell us about your series.

Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy is a hotel heiress with anxiety, agoraphobia, and a knack for finding things. She uses her skills and her love of detective novels to solve crimes committed in her father’s hotel.
 

Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

In my book or in books I’ve read? My favorite character to write is, thankfully, Evelyn. It’s written in first person point of view, so I have to spend a lot of time in her head. Or, she spends a lot of time in my head? Either way.

My favorite character I’ve read is…hmm. This is hard one. Morwen the Witch from the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C Wrede. Or, maybe, Emma from EMMA by Jane Austen. The Luggage, from the Discworld series. I’m gonna end it there, or I’d keep going for way too long. 

 

Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

Eloise at the Plaza, Cher from Clueless, Emma from Emma, (while Cher is inspired by Emma and Clueless is an Emma retelling, I’m choosing to view them as separate characters) and Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. And Miss Marple, of course.

 

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

It's been my dream since I was ten to be an author. I’m fortunate enough that my husband’s work allows me to stay home. Now, we have five kids. So, I don’t have a ton of free time to write. But while they’re at school or watching an episode of Sponge Bob, I can get words down. Signing with Crooked Lane and being able to show my kids a real book they can hold in their hands and say, “See? I was working!” has been an absolute dream come true.
 

Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

Oooooh! This is gonna be tough to narrow down. Let’s see. Jane Austen, first and foremost. Agatha Christie, of course. Do I do Tolkien and Lewis because they were friends in real life, or do I break from that and invite Terry Pratchett? Final answer: Austen, Christie, Tolkien, and Pratchett. No, wait! Donald Westlake. I’d love to hear him and Christie talk! Darn. Okay. Christie, Westlake, Tolkien and Pratchett. Final final answer. Sorry, Jane. But I think the cross talk between two mystery authors and two fantasy authors would be an amazing experience. (I did name two children after her/her books, so, it’s fine. Well, they are middle names. Still!)

 

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

I’ve got two current reads going. On hardback: The 12 SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Jacqueline Frost. And on audio: GENEVA by Richard Armitage (narrated AND written!)

Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

I love bullet journaling. I’m a big list person anyway but being able to be creative with it helps me focus on the plans I’m making. Of course, there’s reading. I like to bake – mostly cookies. And I listen to true crime podcasts.

Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

Nutella. Sparkling water – been on a La Croix Limencello kick. Mixed berry yogurt. Cheese, spreadable brie. Yum. 

 

Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

I’m working on edits for Evelyn’s second book right now. It should be available in the fall of 2023. And the cover is stunning!

Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

Having a built-in excuse for daydreaming and talking to myself. No, I’m not weird, I’m an author. Thank you. No, no, put the phone down, I’m fine. I promise. Just look at my internet search history. No, wait! Don’t look at that!

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 The Socialite's Guide to Murder (A Pinnacle Hotel Mystery) by S. K. Golden

About The Socialite's Guide to Murder

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

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.

About S. K. Golden

Sarah K Golden is the author of the cozy mystery Murder at the Pinnacle Hotel. 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 Evelyn Murphy 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 -

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Socialite's Guide to Murder by S. K. Golden. This book is the first in the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series and was released last month.

Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy loves fashion, movie stars, and solving puzzles. A Manhattan girl at heart, Evelyn has no desire to leave neither the city nor the Pinnacle, her father's hotel. Her every need is satisfied, including solving puzzles and throwing parties. The hotel's latest party is the unveiling of Billie Bell's newest painting. Fireworks erupt however, when a fight nearly breaks out and the painting is stolen. Determined to put her sleuthing abilities to good use, Evelyn is stunned to learn that she is a suspect after she find's the artist's murdered body. Together with her "boyfriend" and her crush, Evelyn will prove her innocence and find a killer.