I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Some people visit Florida for theme parks and beaches. High school junior Virginia Tillis is there for murder. Accidents, electrocution, tainted hand lotion: every victim meets a different end at her grandmother Lainey’s rococo pink condo. Such is life (and death) when you roll with a crew of theater retirees who roleplay murder mysteries from the comfort of their own home in a game they fondly call Killing Me Softly.

But this summer, fictional murder has given way to the very real death of the building's beloved owner and his dramatic last testament has the vultures circling, from estranged relatives to sleazy property developers, dead set on getting the most from his will.

Adding to the tension for Virginia is the appearance of Felix, the cute guy she met at the airport who turns out to be the grandson of one of the condo’s residents. With his charm and musical theater chops, he’s the person Virginia most wants to beat at Killing Me Softly. That is, until the day they discover an actual dead body while playing the game, forcing them to work together to figure out whodunit.

In this comedic mystery about finding the Watson to your Holmes, Virginia and Felix must banter their way from rivals to co-detectives in time to save their eccentric grandparents from a shocking disruption to the community they've always loved.

Short and Sweet Review

Virginia heads to Florida to spend the summer with her grandmother Lainey at Castle Claude, a bold pink condo full of retired theater lovers who entertain themselves by acting out elaborate murder mystery games called Killing Me Softly. What starts as a fun getaway quickly turns complicated after the death of the building’s owner sparks tension over his will, greedy developers start circling, and Virginia and Felix—the cute guy she met at the airport—stumble across a real dead body.

This was such a fun and refreshing YA cozy mystery. The standout part of the book was definitely the residents of Castle Claude. Lainey and her group of eccentric, dramatic friends completely stole the show. They brought so much humor, warmth, and personality to the story, and every scene with them felt lively and entertaining. Their friendships and love for theater made the setting feel unique and memorable. I also enjoyed Virginia as a main character. She was witty, smart, and easy to root for, and I liked seeing her step into the role of amateur detective. Felix was also a great addition, and the two of them had fun banter throughout the story. Their relationship was more sweet and playful than deeply romantic, but they worked well together and made a cute team. My biggest issue was the pacing. It takes a while for the actual murder to happen, and once it does, the investigation sometimes feels secondary to the condo drama and other subplots. I also wish the Killing Me Softly murder mystery game had been woven into the plot even more because it was such a creative concept and had so much potential.

Overall, this was a charming, lighthearted mystery with a lovable cast, a quirky setting, and plenty of fun moments. If you like YA mysteries with cozy vibes, humor, and colorful side characters, this would be a great pick.