Solid Gold Murder

Name: Solid Gold Murder
Brand: Tantor Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Ellen Byron
ISBN: 9798331917784

Author: Ellen Byron

Series: Golden Motel Mystery

Narrator: Amy Melissa Bentley

Unabridged: 7 hr 23 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 07/29/2025

Categories: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Cozy, Amateur Sleuth, Women Sleuths

Synopsis

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 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 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 . . .

About Ellen Byron

Ellen Byron is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of the Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Cajun Country Mysteries, and Catering Hall Mysteries (under the pen name Maria DiRico). Her mysteries have won multiple Agatha Awards for Best Contemporary Novel and Lefty Awards for Best Humorous Mystery from the Left Coast Crime conference. Bayou Book Thief, her first Vintage Cookbook Mystery, was also nominated for an Anthony award. A Very Woodsy Murder is the first book in her new Golden Motel Mystery series, which is inspired by her former career as a sitcom writer.

Ellen's TV credits include Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly Odd Parents; she's written over 200 magazine articles; her published plays include the award-winning Graceland and Asleep on the Wind. She is a native New Yorker who lives in Los Angeles and attributes her fascination with Louisiana to her college years at New Orleans' Tulane University. She also worked as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart, a credit she never tires of sharing. Have an early copy of Martha's first book, Entertaining? Ellen's standing right next to her in the group shot.

Reviews

Goodreads review by James on April 14, 2025

Solid Gold Murder is the second book in Ellen Byron's Golden Motel Mysteries, and the sophomore installment cements character relationships, personalities, and sleuthing skills. Beginning with the gorgeous setting, it's easy to get lost in the beauty of the surrounding nature and vintage atmosphere,......more

Goodreads review by Cozy Reader Lady on July 29, 2025

"Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel #2)" by Ellen Byron has Deb and her business partner's motel fully up and operational. They're even pandering to the tourist trap money makers such as a faux gold panning sluice. Luckily, Dee's dad is sticking around and more than happy to get into character as an ol......more

Goodreads review by Karen on June 03, 2025

Ellen Byron is a must read author for me and I was excited to read book 2 in her new series set in Golden, California. I love how Ellen’s personal experience as a screenwriter brings Dee's character to life and her humor keeps us snickering. This time around Dee finds real gold in her sluice, which......more

Goodreads review by Debbi on May 06, 2025

Solid Gold Murder is the first book I've read by this author and I am sure to pick up others.The second installment of this series is engaging, I loved the California Gold Country setting. The motel owners Dee and Jeff are well developed and likable as are the large cast of residents of the charming......more

Goodreads review by Tracy on July 25, 2025

Changing your job can be a bit of a gamble. When it means moving location, renovating a small holiday village, and going into partnership with your ex-husband, that gamble is even greater! Add the recently aquired moniker of murder motel to the mix, following the death of a guest just after their gr......more