Welcome Sydney Leigh!

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A wicked welcome to Sydney Leigh! I’m so glad she could join us today to talk about her new book Peril in Pink!

The Hudson Valley: The Perfect Setting for a Modern Mystery

Choosing the setting for a mystery is a big decision. Like the movies, location not only sets the scene but often plays a pivotal role in how the story feels. Before I set out to write Peril in Pink, one of the key factors I thought about was where the story should take place. The Hudson Valley was an easy choice. In case you’re not familiar with the area, it borders New York City and extends along the Hudson River north for 150 miles, right up to Albany, the state capital.

So what makes it the right choice for my modern cozy mystery? Here are my top three reasons…

  1. The Vibe: The Hudson Valley is cool. With trendy shops and a laid-back feel, it’s easy to see why so many towns within the HV are hot spots. And foodies can rest easy knowing they have high-end restaurants with top-tier meals. And for those who like to indulge in a good wine or a local ale, there’s no shortage of wineries and breweries to choose from.
  • Lots to Discover: Food and wine is only scratching the surface of what’s around. So close to nature, there’s a ton of outdoor fun to be had. Hiking, biking, mansion tours, secret beaches, museums, art galleries. And with so many towns within the region? There’s something to discover for everyone.
  • Cozy Essence: Despite the top-tier shops and services, the Hudson Valley has managed to retain its cozy core. How do they do it? For one thing, small business rules. Towns within the region have tree-lined main streets, and big businesses tend to stay out of the forefront. That’s not all. In these parts, people know their neighbors. The influx of visitors, even during busy summer weekends, doesn’t take away the small town feel.

Fletcher Lake, the fictional town in Peril in Pink, takes inspiration from several different places within the Hudson Valley. Can’t wait to visit this awesome area again!

Readers: Do you have a favorite location or setting for your mysteries?

Everything is coming up rosé for innkeeper Jess Byrne until a murder on opening weekend gives her B&B’s killer vibe a whole new meaning.

Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building in this sparkling debut mystery.

It’s the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, and owner Jess Byrne has prepared the ultimate, Insta-worthy welcome, complete with her ex-boyfriend—reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong—performing live. As guests check in and mimosas are poured, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager Bob in tow. But things go south when Bob is found dead, and Lars is the prime suspect.

After a desperate plea from Lars, and knowing the reputation of her B&B is at stake, Jess agrees to help clear Lars’ name, but the more she digs, the less sure she is that he’s innocent. Especially when he’s found at the scene of another murder.

With the guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess is in over her head. With the help of her best friend and business partner Kat, Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put behind bars and The Pearl is permanently cancelled.

www.amazon.com/perilinpink

www.barnesandnoble.com/perilinpink

Sydney Leigh spent several years running a seasonal business, working in the summer so she could spend cold months in cool places. Now she writes mysteries and thinks about murder. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and served on the board of Crime Writers of Canada from 2018-2021. PERIL IN PINK, the first book in the Hudson Valley B&B Mystery Series comes out in March 2024 with Crooked Lane Books. You can find Sydney at www.sydneyleighbooks.com

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Published by Sherry Harris

Sherry Harris is the author of the Agatha Award nominated Sarah Winston Garage Sale Mystery series and the Chloe Jackson Sea Glass Mystery series.

33 Thoughts

    1. Thank you so much Dru! I’m so excited my book is finally out. Small towns are great, and in a cozy mystery? It always means big secrets 🙂

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    2. Thanks so much Dru! I’m thrilled to be a guest, especially on publication day. And in cozies? Small towns mean big secrets 🙂

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  2. Congratulations, Sydney, and welcome to the blog! The Hudson Valley sounds like a perfect choice of setting. Small towns are perfect, but I also love what Leslie Budewitz has done with the community of vendors at the Pike Place Market in Seattle – a village within a big city.

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  4. Congratulations on your book! I lived in the Hudson Valley area for a year in my later teens and loved it. I love books that are based in small towns, college towns, etc. aprilbluetx at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thank you so much! It’s an amazing place–what a great time to be there. Appreciate you stopping by!

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  5. Big time congratulations on Peril in Pink’s release, Sydney! I’m so thrilled for you. I don’t have a favorite location when it comes to mysteries as long as it is filled with unique places like your Hudson Valley setting. Cheers!

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    1. Thank you so much J.C. I love reading about all sorts of places too. It’s a great way to learn about a new place while trying to figure out the mystery!

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  8. Congratulations on your debut! The Hudson Valley is a fabulous choice for a setting. So much to draw from. I’m looking forward to reading your debut.

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    1. Thank you so much Kait! I’m so glad you like the choice of setting. There are so many amazing places to explore.

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  9. Congratulations on your release!
    Setting helps to set the tone in a cozy. And small towns can be lot of fun, especially when they have as much to offer as Fletcher Lake does.

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    1. Thanks so much Rose! I’m so glad you liked Fletcher Lake as a location. I agree about setting. It can really add to the story.

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  10. Thanks for visiting the Wickeds and super congratulations on your release! I visited the Hudson Valley for the first time last fall. I can absolutely understand why it is a great place to set a mystery series!

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  11. Congratulations, Sydney, and a warm welcome to tour blog! OK, you have sold me on the Hudson Valley, so I will be packing my bag to go check it out, since I love cozies set in small towns where everyone has their noses in everyone else’s business 🙂 Could you please make sure to shoo any murderers away? I would prefer to be able to return home unscathed 🙂 I seriously will read PERIL IN PINK due to your exciting description of the location, the B&B, and the summary. May you continue to write more cozies. Joy. Luis at ole dot travel

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    1. I personally know how hard you have worked to make this dream come true. It could not happen to a nicer and more deserving person. I hope you hit the NYT list!!!

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      1. Judy, you truly amaze me. A superwoman who can do it all. Write, publish, Chair, there’s no end. Having your support and well wishes means the world. Thank you!

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    2. Thank you so much! I’m delighted to have convinced you it’s worth a trip (because it truly is)! Appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts 🙂

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  12. Welcome to the Wickeds, Sydney. And congratulations on Peril in Pink. I like books that take me to old, familiar places–as well as books that introduce me to new ones.

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    1. Thank you so much Barbara. I was at your panel at the last Malice (it was awesome!) and am thrilled to hear from you! I agree about settings, it’s fun to explore new ones and revisit familiar ones that hold good memories.

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  13. You might say I love them all. You see, I love setting in new and exciting places I’ve never been to. It’s sort of like armchair traveling. However, I love areas like in the mountains or a small town setting because it’s familiar to me and it’s like a nice trip home.

    Congratulations on the release of PERIL IN PINK! It is on my TBR list and I can’t wait for the opportunity to read and review it.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Thank you so much Kay! Armchair travel is partly why I got into writing. A fun escape filled with adventure from the comfort of home.

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  14. Congratulations on the book birthday of Peril in Pink. The Hudson Valley is beautiful and a great setting for a cozy. The book sounds like a lot of fun. I don’t really have a favorite setting for cozies as long as the author creates a fun, quirky cast of characters to inhabit a cozy world I would like to spend time in. Your series sounds like it is off to a good start.

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    1. Thank you Sue! I glad you agree about the Hudson Valley. And the cast of quirky characters is absolutely critical, I agree.

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