Solid Gold Murder - (A Golden Motel Mystery) by Ellen Byron (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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 ..."--

Book Synopsis

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 . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for Ellen Byron and A Very Woodsy Murder

"Byron, an award-winning novelist and sitcom writer, has written a model cozy with delightful, slightly inept sleuths, quirky characters, and an entertaining mystery." --Library Journal STARRED REVIEW
"Filled with small ironies, Byron's debut novel is well paced, good-natured, and, as promised, very woodsy." --Kirkus Reviews

"A laugh out loud, make you snort, tale chock full of oddball characters in the delightfully rustic setting of an old motel. Come for the laughs, stay for the puzzler of a mystery that will keep you up entirely too late, trying to solve it." --Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author

"This delightful series debut ticks all the boxes of a cozy mystery while also offering an unconventional heroine in Dee." --Lee Goldberg, # 1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"Ellen Byron shows off her comic chops in this clever, well-crafted series debut, featuring a fun cast of characters and an especially appealing heroine. Loved it!" --Laura Levine, author of Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket

"A great start to a new series that will have you heading for the nearest retro motel." --Libby Klein, Author of Silent Nights are Murder

"Fragrant California woods are a welcome change for Los Angeles scriptwriter Dee Stern--until they turn dark and threaten her dream of renovating the Golden Motel in the Gold Rush foothills of the Sierras. Readers will love Byron's well-scripted series debut, a tale both twisty and humorous, as she explores small-town loyalties and murderous rivalries, family both original and chosen, and following a new dream." --Maddie Day, Bestselling Author of the Cece Barton Mysteries

"Only a TV comedy veteran and skilled mystery author could have written this twisty little masterwork. Fun characters, a puzzling mystery and a unique setting. There's even a dog. What more could you want?" --E.J. Copperman, bestselling author of the Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries

"Ellen Byron combines a witty and resourceful heroine with a dream, a shabby motel in a spectacular setting, a host of interesting characters, and a puzzling murder that hits a little too close to home in this delightfully quirky, clever, and laugh-out-loud mystery that delivers a hefty dose of nostalgic charm. Byron's A Very Woodsy Murder will leave readers clamoring for another visit to the Golden Motel." --Darci Hannah, Author of Murder at the Blarney Bash

"Recovering TV sitcom writer Dee Stern leaves behind punchlines for peril in a delightful whodunnit set at a remote motel in rural California that mixes a perfect cocktail of gut-busting one-liners with heart-stopping suspense!" --Lee Hollis, Author of Death of a Clam Digger

About the Author

Ellen Byron is the Agatha and Lefty Award-winning, USA Today bestselling author of the Golden Motel Mysteries, the Vintage Cookbook series, and the Cajun Country Mysteries, as well as the Catering Hall Mysteries written under the name Maria DiRico. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and The 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 ellenbyron.com.