THE SOCIALITE’S GUIDE TO MURDER BY SK GOLDEN
ABOUT THE SOCIALITE’S GUIDE TO MURDER, BOOK 1 IN THE PINNACLE HOTEL SERIES
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.
Releasing in Mass Market Paperback Summer 2025
THE SOCIALITE’S GUIDE TO DEATH AND DATING
ABOUT THE SOCIALITE’S GUIDE TO DEATH AND DATING, BOOK 2 IN THE PINNACLE HOTEL SERIES
Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Ashley Weaver, book two finds another murder that strikes too close to home, and hotel heiress Evelyn Murphy knows she’s the only one who can save the Pinnacle 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 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 one of the guests, 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.
Releasing in Mass Market Paperback Fall 2025
THE SOCIALITE’S GUIDE TO DEATH AND DATING
ABOUT THE SOCIALITE’S GUIDE TO SLEUTHING AND SECRETS, BOOK 3 IN THE PINNACLE HOTEL SERIES
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 multi-faceted, 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.
Out in ebook, hardcover, paperback, and audio on March 11th 2025
Featured In
Blurbs
“It’s as if Eloise is all grown up and a sassy, savvy sleuth at the Plaza hotel! Hotel owner’s daughter Evie Murphy is smart and daring in this delightful Golden Age mystery.”
“S.K. Golden’s The Socialite’s Guide to Murder is a sparkling gem. Manhattan socialite, and Marilyn Monroe wannabe, Evelyn Murphy, may have been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but when an artist is found with a knife in his back, her insider’s knowledge of the Pinnacle Hotel comes in handy. When she’s not dressing to the nines, pampering her adorable Pomeranian Presley, or sharing chocolate marshmallows with the precocious Amelia, she’s hunting down thieves and murderers. In the process, she discovers there’s more to life than Tiffany diamonds and tiki cocktails. The Socialite’s Guide to Murder is nonstop entertainment—at turns witty, charming, touching, and spellbinding. An enticing treat for cozy mystery fans.”
“A rip roaring historical mystery, jam-packed with wit and glamour and endearing characters. Murder has never been this fun!”
“A delightful tale of glamour and murder at a luxury hotel in 1950s New York City. Evelyn Murphy is the perfect sleuth for the occasion—charming, wealthy, and agoraphobic. She almost never leaves the hotel. With an endearing optimism, Evelyn takes matters into her manicured hands to find the killer and protect her home, her friends, and her little dog Presley. A wonderful romp of a mystery!”
“This book has all the things I love in a mystery novel – a unique sleuth, a quirky cast of suspects, and a twisty whodunnit. Throw in scandal, secrets and a luxury hotel setting, and I’m hooked. A Socialite’s Guide to Murder is an engaging debut that had me turning the pages quickly to find the answers.”
“An endearing heroine, a luxury hotel, and a bevy of suspects pepper this delightful debut title by S. K. Golden. In 1958, artist Billie Bell is showcasing his latest work at the Pinnacle Hotel owned by Evelyn Murphy’s father. Before Billie’s new canvas can be revealed, the work is stolen and the people Evelyn knows are suspected of theft. Then Billie turns up dead. Since Evelyn is loathe to leave the security of the hotel, their staff has become her family. She can’t believe one of them has betrayed her trust. Evelyn’s fashion sense adds to the glamorous backdrop as she investigates the crime. A fun romp in a glitzy setting with a spunky sleuth! ”