The Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating by S. K. Golden

I got to read this as both an audiobook and an ebook and enjoyed both. The voice of Evelyn is brought together perfectly by Amara Jasper who brings to life the well-meaning but pampered princes who is only just starting to figure out how the other half lives.

When the book opens, Evelyn is hosting a fancy dress fundraiser for the mayor at the Pinnacle she is talking to Judge Baker and his heavily pregnant wife Elena as well as Doctor Smith. After checking on some details for the party, Mac, her assistant and beau, convinces her to go with him to Yonkers now that everything seems to be running smoothly. They're in the Pinncale's garage (which Evelyn has never been in before) when she notices a shadow in a nearby car. Curious, she opens the door and discovers the judge with a needle in his arm, apparently dead of a heroin overdoes. Detective Hodges is on the case but with a new partner,  Detective McJimsey. The latter is not impressed by Evelyn. 

The mystery ends up being a little bit convoluted but I was especially impressed by the end of this story and look forward to reading the next in the series with bated breath. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 10, 2023

Follows The Socialite's Guide to Murder

Followed by The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets

ARC kindly provided by Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Socialite's Guide to Murder by S.K. Golden

Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy lives in the Pinnacle Hotel, rather like Eloise in The Plaza. But her reason is rather more sinister, though she doesn't really seem to realize it. On the outside, it looks like she has it all, the daughter of a rich hotelier, lives in a place that has room service, fancy clothes, adorable dog, movie star boyfriend. But all is not as it seems and some secrets are about to come to the surface.
There is to be an exhibition of the latest painting of a semi-famous artist. Evelyn is to attend with her boyfriend, Henry Fox. The night is ruined when the painting is stolen. Shortly afterwards, the artist is murdered. It seems like an open and shut case as the hotel's security manager is arrested after his blade is discovered to have been the murder weapon. Evelyn isn't convinced. She's determined to get to the bottom of the case with the help of the incredibly handsome Mac Cooper. Of course, it might mean she has to leave the Pinnacle.
We've read the stories of Girl Detectives and this seems to be a New Adult version. Evelyn really likes to read murder mysteries and is singularly helped in the fact that she grew up in the hotel and that she enjoys meeting people. I didn't always particularly like Evelyn and I would class this as New Adult since she still seems to be finding her footing (which can be all adults, really but even more than most). I'm really hoping though that this will become a series as it was a really good read.

Four stars

This book came out October 11, 2022

Followed by the Socialite's Guide to Death and Dating

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own