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The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets: Pinnacle Hotel Mysteries, Book 3
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.
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.
Audible Audio
Published March 11, 2025
About the author
S.K. Golden
6 books251 followersS.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.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 31, 2025
S.K. Golden’s The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets, part of the Pinnacle Hotel Mystery series, delivers a middling cozy mystery that struggles to rise above its quirky but flawed protagonist. Evelyn Murphy, the wealthy hotel heiress at the story’s center, is an odd concoction: a chronologically adult woman whose immaturity borders on caricature. She’s dripping in privilege yet clueless about money’s value or its sway over others, a trait that might’ve been endearing if it weren’t so exasperating. Layered with psychological quirks—most notably agoraphobia, which confines her to her father’s Pinnacle Hotel—she’s a mess of contradictions. Her worst flaw, though, is her abysmal judgment of people, stumbling through interactions with a naiveté that undermines her role as a sleuth.
The story itself is passable but hardly gripping. Set in 1958 New York, it follows Evelyn as she investigates a poisoning at a hotel luncheon and a thief targeting the elite guests. The premise has a glimmer of intrigue—murder and larceny amid mid-century glamour—but it never builds into anything truly entertaining or compelling. The pacing meanders, bogged down by Evelyn’s scattershot approach, and the dual mysteries resolve without much fanfare or surprise. It’s an OK tale, fine for a lazy afternoon, but it lacks the spark to keep you hooked.
Golden’s writing leans into Evelyn’s eccentricities and the hotel’s lush backdrop, but it doesn’t elevate the material. The prose is functional, occasionally bogged down by overlong tangents about 1950s trappings that feel more like filler than flavor. Evelyn’s bundle of issues—agoraphobia included—could’ve added depth, but they’re treated more as quirks than explored struggles, leaving her character flat despite the chaos.
The audiobook narration by Amara Jasper, however, is a bright spot. She handles the story with finesse, delivering a clear and engaging performance that smooths over some of the text’s rough edges. Her voice brings a steadiness to Evelyn’s erratic nature, and I’d happily listen to her work again in a stronger project.
In the end, The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets is a lukewarm read. Evelyn’s mix of immaturity, wealth, and poor judgment might appeal to some, but it left me more frustrated than charmed. The story’s just OK—neither offensive nor memorable—and while Jasper’s narration shines, it’s not enough to salvage the whole. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re already invested in the series or crave a lightweight mystery with a flawed lead. Golden’s got ideas, but this one doesn’t quite gel.
The story itself is passable but hardly gripping. Set in 1958 New York, it follows Evelyn as she investigates a poisoning at a hotel luncheon and a thief targeting the elite guests. The premise has a glimmer of intrigue—murder and larceny amid mid-century glamour—but it never builds into anything truly entertaining or compelling. The pacing meanders, bogged down by Evelyn’s scattershot approach, and the dual mysteries resolve without much fanfare or surprise. It’s an OK tale, fine for a lazy afternoon, but it lacks the spark to keep you hooked.
Golden’s writing leans into Evelyn’s eccentricities and the hotel’s lush backdrop, but it doesn’t elevate the material. The prose is functional, occasionally bogged down by overlong tangents about 1950s trappings that feel more like filler than flavor. Evelyn’s bundle of issues—agoraphobia included—could’ve added depth, but they’re treated more as quirks than explored struggles, leaving her character flat despite the chaos.
The audiobook narration by Amara Jasper, however, is a bright spot. She handles the story with finesse, delivering a clear and engaging performance that smooths over some of the text’s rough edges. Her voice brings a steadiness to Evelyn’s erratic nature, and I’d happily listen to her work again in a stronger project.
In the end, The Socialite's Guide to Sleuthing and Secrets is a lukewarm read. Evelyn’s mix of immaturity, wealth, and poor judgment might appeal to some, but it left me more frustrated than charmed. The story’s just OK—neither offensive nor memorable—and while Jasper’s narration shines, it’s not enough to salvage the whole. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re already invested in the series or crave a lightweight mystery with a flawed lead. Golden’s got ideas, but this one doesn’t quite gel.
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