Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for In the Event of Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery) by Cynthia Kuhn! Today we are featuring a review of the second book in this cozy mystery series. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! It’s a great way to add books to your TBR! There is also a Rafflecopter Giveaway for the following prize package: A limited-edition Starlit Bookshop Bag with copies of books 1 + 2 in the Starlit Bookshop Mystery series (plus other surprise goodies)! (U.S. ONLY) ENTER HERE!

In the Event of Murder (A Starlit Bookshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – Colorado
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books (August 20, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1639100709
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1639100705

About the Book:

It’s the star-studded event of the season in Silvercrest, Colorado—but some of the guests might not make it to the last dance alive in the second charming installment of the Starlit Bookshop mysteries from Agatha Award-winning author Cynthia Kuhn.

Nestled on the banks of a breathtaking Rocky Mountain river and dotted with delightful boutiques and galleries, Silvercrest, Colorado, is a book lover’s paradise. Bookseller and literary event planner Emma Starrs is looking forward to attending the annual Silvercrest Library Gala, a glamorous evening with celebrities including the legendary Whitney Willton, currently on the hit crime show Chasers, and her niece, party-planner-to-the-stars Lyra Willton. Gala Week is full of exciting activities honoring both page and screen, and library board president Tabitha Baxter is basking in the glow of her successful launch—until Lyra is found dead.

With the gala only days away, the board asks Emma for help, despite Tabitha—her longstanding nemesis—bristling over the choice. Emma agrees, even though she is already in charge of a classic mystery panel at her family’s bookstore, Starlit Books, which turns out to have its own challenges.

Meanwhile, Whitney, who is aware of Emma’s sleuthing skills, begs her to find the killer. The case grows more complex with the disappearance of several priceless objects, an attack on one of the attending celebrities, and other predicaments. Emma searches for clues while handling every unexpected twist and turn leading up to the extravagant affair. But when the guests step onto the red carpet, a killer still lurks in the shadows—and murder just might become the main event.

My Review:

I grabbed this on audio because back to school time means lots of time in the car. It was a fun listen and I absolutely adored some characters and despised others. Emma has the patience of a saint to work with (for) mean girl Tabitha. She is seriously a piece of work! There are a few other characters in town for the gala that are also super self-centered and I found myself super annoyed by them. I had to keep reminding myself they weren’t real people, ha! 

I enjoyed listening to Emma balance her party planning duties with her sleuthing, and as I did in book one, I do love her interactions with her aunt Nora and her sister Lucy. There is some humor mixed in and a little romance for a few characters. I think what I love most about this series is the small town setting and the bookish aspects – the family run bookstore and the various characters who are authors. A fun bookish cozy mystery! 

About the Author:

Cynthia Kuhn writes the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries, which focus on a bookseller solving crimes in an artistic mountain community, and the Lila Maclean Academic Mysteries, featuring a professor-turned-amateur-sleuth. Her work has also appeared in Mystery Most Diabolical, Mystery Most Edible, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, Copper Nickel, Prick of the Spindle, Mama PhD, and other publications. For more information, please visit cynthiakuhn.net.

Author Links:

Website: https://cynthiakuhn.net

Blog: http://chicksonthecase.com

Twitter/X: http://www.twitter.com/cynthiakuhn

Purchase Links:

– Amazon – B&N  – Kobo – Bookshop.org – PenguinRandomHouse 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

• August 20 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT  
• August 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
• August 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• August 21 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT
• August 22 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
• August 22 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST
• August 23 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
• August 23 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW
• August 24 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• August 24 – Lady Hawkeye – SPOTLIGHT
• August 25 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
• August 26 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW
• August 26 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
• August 27 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• August 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
• August 28 – Rebecca M. Douglass, Author – REVIEW
• August 28 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
• August 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
• August 29 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
• August 29 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
• August 30 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
• August 30 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• August 31 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW  
• August 31 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
• September 1 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
• September 2 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!
Want to Book a Tour?
Click Here