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SOLID GOLD MURDER is the second book in the Golden Motel Mysteries by Ellen Byron and is a solid gold hit! Retired sitcom writer Dee Stern has partnered up with her ex-husband to run the Golden Motel in gold country mountains in California. Not that they know anything about running a motel, which sets the stage for humorous situations. Along with the repartee between the pair, there was ample opportunity to showcase the author’s trademark humor and puns, honed as her own stint as a sitcom writer! Her strong descriptive skills bring the mountain setting to life and her details of prospecting for gold brought authenticity to the story. Ms. Byron has penned strong characters you’d love to spend time with and characters you hope to never cross paths with. Naturally, the latter has descended on the Golden Motel in search of gold, making life unpleasant for Dee, yet she and Jeff must play the part of the perfect hosts to protect their investment.
As capable as the author is at creating memorable characters, she equally excels at crafting a riveting, multi-faceted mystery. When a group of over-the-top wealthy Silicon Valley techies arrive at the motel to hunt for gold and lay claim on abandoned mines, Dee has her hands full. She’s been fighting her nemesis’s moniker “the murder motel” already, and when one of the techies is found murdered, she fears her motel’s days are numbered unless she finds the killer. There are several subplots woven in that add to the intrigue along with Bud, the local bear, wreaking havoc. As the story progressed, I was having too much fun reading to play armchair detective. Instead, I sat back and enjoyed the ride as I turned page after page, and until I’d read the very last word. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Dee, Jeff, and the gang!
I love how Ms. Byron always includes bonus material at the back of her books. In Solid Gold Murder there are road trip tips, a cartoon, and a recipe for Nutty Almond Date Bars. I couldn’t wait to try these bars because I love the combination of dates and almonds on their own, even without the other ingredients. But combined, these bars are utterly delicious! A buttery, almond-flavored crust is the base for a sweet and crunchy filling. It’s a good thing the recipe makes a large amount because the added white chocolate drizzle pushes this dessert into pure decadence and you’ll have people clamoring for more!
Amazon 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 . . .
A special thanks to Kensington Publishing for offering a print ARC copy of SOLID GOLD MURDER to one lucky winner! Contest ends July 26, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST and is limited to U.S. residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter box located below to enter. The winner will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!)
The Golden Motel Mysteries are set in California, the almond and date capital of America, which makes this recipe a perfect match for the new Golden Motel Mystery series.
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup softened butter
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup unsalted, slivered, dry-roast almonds
- 1 cup chopped dates
- 1 cup melting white chocolate
- 1/2 to 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (optional)
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
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Line a 13" x 9" sheet pan with aluminum foil.
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In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2/3 cup butter, and 1/2 cup corn syrup. Add 1 teaspoon almond extract and the egg and mix well.
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Slowly add the flour and salt, mixing well to combine into a dough. Spread the dough in the pan, pressing to the edges.
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Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until a light golden brown.
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While the crust is baking, heat 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/3 cup corn syrup syrup over a low heat in a medium saucepan, stirring constantly until the sugar is dissolved.
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Stir in 1/4 cup butter and heavy cream. Raise heat to medium, and heat mixture until it boils. Remove it from the stove and stir in the teaspoon of almond extract.
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Once the crust is cooked, sprinkle the almonds and dates over the crust, making sure they're evenly distributed. Pour the hot filling over the nuts and dates, making sure to spread it evenly over the almonds and dates.
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Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until light brown and set. Remove from oven and cool about halfway.
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Melt the white chocolate by following the directions on the bag. (Add 1/2 tablespoon to a full tablespoon of vegetable oil to thin the white chocolate if necessary.)
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Use a spoon to drizzle or drop the white chocolate onto the partly warm uncut bars.
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Put the tray into the refrigerator to finish cooling and to harden the white chocolate.
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Once the uncut bars are completely cool, use a sharp knife and carefully cut them into 16 bars or 24 squares.
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I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
These look delicious, and I love dates. My grandmother made the best date nut bread. Thank you for this chance!
I would love a print ARC to read so I can review love reviewing print book thanks for recipes. Books sound like great reads
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