Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am happy to share my thoughts about Invitation to Murder (A Killer Event Mystery) by Carol Floriani today!
Invitation to Murder (A Killer Event Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – New Jersey
Publisher โ : โ Crooked Lane Books
Publication date โ : โ May 26, 2026
Print length โ : โ 304 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-13 โ : โ 979-8892425377
ASIN โ : โ B0FNVVVPSH
Paperback
ISBN-13 โ : โ 979-8892425384
ASIN โ : โ B0FNVF3NT1
Kindle
ISBN-13 โ : โ 979-8892425391
ASIN โ : โ B0FNVM41FF
Nothing spoils a party like an uninvited corpse, which is just Lacey Langdonโs luck as she inherits a printing and party-planning business in this letter-perfect debut mystery.
After inheriting her motherโs printing and party-planning business, Lacey Langdon moves back to her sleepy hometown of Willow Bluffs, perched on New Jerseyโs Palisades. When her great-aunt, Tessa Langdon Vander Horn, a well-known and beloved soap opera star, sells her nineteenth-century estate and donates ten acres to the development of a community park, Laceyโs new venture is put at the helm of the opening ceremony. But the festivities quickly come to an end when the body of town councilman Glenn Hartman is found on the bank of the Hudson River.
Partnering with her former classmate, lawyer Derek Conover, they dig deep into the case to find out who is behind the murder. Suspicions abound, but Lacey and Derek hit a snag when one of their prime suspects drops dead at Laceyโs next event. With a second body added to the count, tensions rise in Willow Bluffs.
Caught in the cross fire when remnants of a family tragedy resurface, Lacey and Derek must act swiftly before another body drops dead.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Lacey Langdon’s parents were killed in a horrific car accident. This brings her from New York to Willow Bluffs, New Jersey, to take over her mother’s printing and party-planning business. She is welcomed home by her great-aunt Tessa Langdon Vander Horn, a well-known and beloved soap opera star. Tessa has decided to sell the family estate, carving out 10 acres for the city for a community park, and a cottage on the property where Lacey will live and Tessa will stay when she is in town. Lacey’s first project is an opening ceremony to be held after the property is transferred from Tessa to the building developers. The event is going well until the police arrive, informing the guests that the dead body of councilman Glenn Hartman has been found below the estate on the bank of the Hudson River.
Is this death going to impact the land purchase? Will plans be able to move forward? Or put on hold? Is there a killer lurking on the grounds? Lacey and Derek, a former classmate of Lacey, decide to investigate the councilman’s death. They soon focus on one individual, but that person becomes the killer’s next victim; another dead body at another of Lacey’s events. Lacey and Derek need to kick their investigation into high gear before the body count continues to rise, or one of them is the next victim.
In this first Killer Event Mystery, Ms. Floriani introduces several characters. Protagonist Lacey Langdon is dealing with the loss of her parents and wants to make her mother proud by taking over the party-planning business. Her great-aunt Tessa is there for her, whatever she needs, but has returned to work on the soap opera that made her famous. Her agent, Julian LaFontaine, is very hands-on with his client. He drives her to the studio, goes over the scripts, and even suggests plot ideas. They have become good friends over the years. Derek Conover went to school with Lacey; he is now a lawyer and on the town council. Much to Tessa’s delight, they are rekindling their friendship. As in most small towns, Mayor Ariana Nikolas is very involved in anything that happens in Willow Bluffs.ย As this is just the first book in the series, we have just scratched the surface on these characters. There is plenty of room for growth. I really enjoyed Tessa; she has a big heart, and she reminds me of the matriarchs on my favorite soap, Days of Our Lives.
The mysteries were straightforward; the clues were all there to foretell where the story was headed, but the way everything played out was entertaining. I appreciated all the family stories and the tragic secrets that were revealed. That mansion was a treasure trove with an interesting discovery.
One thing stuck with me as it was Lacey’s mother’s mantra, repeated a few times in the book because of its importance to Lacey. “Give up, give in, or give it all you got.” She knew there was only one option. It gave her a little kick when things felt overwhelming.
Invitation to Murder is the author’s debut in the wild world of cozy mysteries, and she has done a great job. With interesting characters, an intriguing trip through Vander Horn history, local drama, and a stirring mystery, set in a small town close to New York City, she has laid a foundation for the series going forward.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
After studying at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and graduating from Rider University,ย Carol Florianiย worked for many years in the editorial and publicity departments of a Big Five publisher before ultimately embarking on her writing career. In addition toย Invitation to Murder, she is the author of two previously published young adult novels. She resides in New Jersey and New York City with her husband, an attorney. Website
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissionโs 16 CFR, Part 255: โGuides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.โ โAs an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.โ I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.โ These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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