It’s 1952 in Murder at the Arlington by Kathleen Kaska and reporter Sydney Lockhart checks into the historic Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas for a simple travel-writing assignment. Before she even unpacks, she discovers the murdered body of the hotel’s bookkeeper. As one of the first on the scene, Sydney is a suspect in the murder investigation. To clear her name and to prove herself to be a reporter deserving of more than travel assignments, Sydney begins an investigation of her own. And what an investigation this is! She and her cousin Ruth find themselves in the underworld of gangsters and gamblers and their lives are in danger many times. 

This is the first book in the Sydney Lockhart historical mystery series and I am here for it! This was so much fun to read. Lots of action and fun, well-developed (and quirky) characters, and a humorous writing style made this a page turner for me. The setting was beautiful and it was also fascinating to see behind the beautiful tourist setting to the darker, more criminal side. I immediately liked Sydney and her independence and determination. And the dynamic between Sydney and Ruth was enjoyable to read. There’s a little bit of romance brewing at the end for Sydney and I’m so curious to learn more.