Cozy Mystery Book Review: Instagoner

Instagoner

• Series: A Bark and Blog Mystery (Book One)

• Written by: Sydney Leigh

• Published by: Level Best Books

• Release date: August 27, 2024

• Mystery type: Contemporary cozy mystery

Emily Dalle is a lifestyle blogger who stumbles upon the body of a gossipy talk show host known as the Queen of Mean. Emily reaches out to her online audience for help solving the mystery and gets a message from the murderer who tells her to back off...or else.

Instagoner is a fun contemporary cozy mystery and a solid start to a new series. I was interested in reading it because I like the idea of a blogger crowdsourcing clues to solve a mystery. This cozy crime meets true crime approach was unique and made the book feel like a very modern take on the cozy mystery genre. 

The setting (small town New York) was enjoyable and made for a nice backdrop for the story. The main character has an interesting occupation and a quirky supporting cast, including a best friend named Fitz and a cute law enforcement officer (Fitz’s brother).

The book starts off with action right away, and suspects pile up quickly. There is no easy answer to who committed the crime and why.

I am interested in continuing on with the series and would recommend it to readers who like contemporary cozies, influencers as a main character, and mystery mixed with a little bit of romance.

Review disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of Instagoner from Net Galley and Level Best Books. All opinions are my own.

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