Reviewed: 09 December 2025

Invitation to Murder

by: Carol Floriani

A Killer Event Mystery, Book 1

Rating: (3.0/5)

Gives new meaning to a killer party

Lacey has been turned upside down. Her parents' tragic death was followed by her moving in with her Aunt Tessa and taking over her mom's printing and event planning business. Aunt Tessa, a soap opera star whose family has lived in Willow Bluffs for generations, has sold the family estate and land. This touches off a series of events. The most serious, the death of a councilman.

The story setup was interesting and not something seen every day. However, for me at times it felt like the story worked too hard to follow a cozy mystery formula.

The "romance" between Derek and Lacey seemed forced, more like Lacey was trying to convince herself because Aunt Tessa kept referring to Derek as Lacey's "young man". That, coupled with moments where Lacey is contemplating whether or not she could date Derek. The dinners together and such showed a budding relationship of sorts, the "moments" in my opinion were not necessary.

The murder mystery was more of a historical mystery wrapped in a cozy. It was unexpected, and I didn't mind it. Unfortunately, I'd guessed a lot of it early on, so the twists didn't land quite like they probably were intended.

I am interested in what happens next for Lacey, Derek, Aunt Tessa, Jess, and James in Willow Bluffs.

Thank you #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the opportunity to read and share my thoughts on this book.

Happy Reading!

Release Date: 26-May-2026

Cozy Mystery, NetGalley, Female-Led

Plot Summary

Nothing spoils a party like an uninvited corpse, which is just Lacey Langdon’s luck as she inherits a printing and party-planning business in this letter-perfect debut mystery.

After inheriting her mother’s printing and party-planning business, Lacey Langdon moves back to her sleepy hometown of Willow Bluffs, perched on New Jersey’s 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, Lacey’s 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 Lacey’s next event. With a second body added to the count, tensions rise in Willow Bluffs.

Caught in the crossfire when remnants of a family tragedy resurface, Lacey and Derek must act swiftly before another body drops dead.

Perfect for readers of Ellie Brannigan and Laurien Berenson, this cozy mystery is a charming small-town read.