Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mysteries) by Ellen Byron. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!
Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mysteries)
by Ellen Byron
Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Setting – California
Publisher : Kensington Cozies
Publication date : July 29, 2025
Print length : 272 pages
Dee Stern’s Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains promises a tranquil getaway for outdoor lovers in the scenic Californian village of Foundgold. But when Dee accidentally triggers a modern gold rush, she suddenly turns her peaceful retreat into a hotspot for mayhem and murder . . .
With the summer season looming, former Hollywood sitcom writer Dee Stern has one small goal—scrubbing her motel’s unflattering moniker as the “Murder Motel.” Dee and ex-husband-turned-business-partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a family-friendly panning activity complete with fool’s gold just in time for the peak tourist months. Except neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing social media frenzy. In a flash, the viral sensation draws grizzled prospectors, wide-eyed adventurers, and trend-chasing thrill seekers to the abandoned mines scattered around the woods . . .
The instant popularity proves great for business, but it also attracts a group of out-of-touch Silicon Valley techies with dreams of striking it rich—again. Dee finds herself particularly annoyed by the insufferably smug Sylvan Burr, a retired CEO who sold his startup before age 30 and won’t let anyone forget it. But things take a sinister turn when Sylvan meets a grim fate at the bottom of a mineshaft, leaving Dee at the center of a deadly mystery that could end her days as a motelier. And while Sylvan had plenty of enemies, Dee suddenly faces adversaries rooting against her own success. Now, with her life and the future of the Golden Motel hanging by a thread, Dee must unearth a minefield of suspects and outwit a greedy killer before she finally digs herself too deep . . .
My review of Solid Gold Murder
Solid Gold Murder is the second book in the Golden Motel Mystery series by Ellen Byron. I loved returning to Foundgold, CA and the Golden Motel run by best friends (who were married for a very short time when they were younger) Dee Stern and Jeff Cornetta. In the first book, I got to know the characters, but in the second, I feel like I’m returning to old friends.
When Dee accidentally posts a video showing a guest panning for gold in the motel’s makeshift sluice, and actually finding some real gold, she sets off Gold Rush 2.0! Sure, this is great for business, but it’s not so great for law enforcement. Small skirmishes among gold hunters are easy to handle, but when a billionaire tech mogul is found at the bottom of an abandoned mineshaft, Dee is concerned that her motel will once again be dubbed the Murder Motel. After all, the victim and his three friends were staying at The Golden!
This was such a fun, well-plotted cozy mystery! Ellen Byron has a talent for bringing lots of humor into her books. As in her other books, Solid Gold Murder is made up of an eclectic bunch of quirky characters. Though you can easily read this on its own, if you really want to get a feel for the main characters, I recommend you read A Very Woodsy Murder first. I liked that one, but I loved this one! I’m really looking forward to what the future books have in store for them. The mystery has plenty of suspects since the victim was really not a likable guy! I didn’t guess whodunit until close to the end!
I highly recommend Solid Gold Murder for its wonderful cast of characters, laugh out loud humor, unique setting, and complex mystery! 5 stars!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About Ellen Byron
Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.
A native New Yorker, Ellen is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.
Author Links
Newsletter: https://www.ellenbyron.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenbyronauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/CateringHallMysteries/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenbyronmariadirico/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-byron https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maria-dirico
Goodreads: Ellen Byron (Author of Plantation Shudders) | Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19130966.Maria_DiRico
Purchase Links – Amazon – Kensington – Bookshop.org – B&N – Hudson Books – Target – Walmart
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Solid Gold Murder TOUR PARTICIPANTS
July 30 – The Plain-Spoken Pen – REVIEW – RECIPE
July 31 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW
August 1 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
August 1 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
August 2 – The Mystery of Writing – CHARACTER GUEST POST
August 3 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
August 3 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
August 4 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
August 4 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
August 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
August 5 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
August 6 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
August 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
August 7 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
August 7 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT
August 8 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
August 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – AUTHOR GUEST POST
August 9 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT
August 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
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Thank you so much for this wonderful review!!
You’re welcome! Thanks for visiting!
Love Ellen Byron’s books! Looking forward to reading her latest. On my TBR list.