The Filbert Steps by Lila Blake is an exciting first installment in the Telegraph Hill Mystery series. Vivian enjoys her morning routine of taking the Filbert Steps down to her favorite North Beach, but this wasn’t a typical morning. She discovers developer Bradford Loeb dead on the steps. While the police are ruling the death an accident, she doesn’t believe it. Not with so many clues that don’t add up. Thankfully, Vivian doesn’t have to act alone. She turns to a quirky assortment of friends: a Sicilian widow, a priest, and a former investigator. Together they discover important clues, but these begin pointing her in a dangerous direction. As they get closer to answers, the more she finds herself at a crossroads.

This mystery brings you into an exciting new series with an over fifty-year-old sleuth who finds herself in the middle of a murder. The location gives the mystery a charming and stunning backdrop that creates a fascinating balance to the investigation. It’s an important aspect of the series as the murder adds a subtle darkness to the place Vivian loves most. Warm and heartfelt details make the story lighthearted, despite the discovery of the body. Everything about Vivian makes her perfectly suited to the cozy mystery: her keen eye, curiosity, and determination. These make her an ideal sleuth, but it’s her dynamics with her allies that feel genuine and heartfelt. Each character has a quirky personality that pairs well with our lovable sleuth. Each one has a specific purpose in the mystery. Lila Blake has a fun style with an internal dialogue that helps you get to know Vivian and makes you feel like you’re tagging along for all the sleuthing fun. This is a highly recommended treat for cozy lovers; a quick read that is light and perfect for your reading list. A delightful introduction to an amateur sleuth you can’t help loving, The Filbert Steps is a whodunit full of heart, humor, and murder.

The Filbert Steps by Lila Blake is the first book in the Telegraph Hill Mysteries series. The story takes us to Telegraph Hill, a North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, USA. Vivian Salvatore, a fifty-two-year-old divorced former teacher, lives with her cat in an apartment up the Filbert Steps. Vivian feels at home in the local community and loves her neighborhood. But a developer, Bradford Loeb, wants to buy three high street properties, threatening to upset the lives of the shop owners who have been renting them for decades. One early morning, Bradford Loeb is found dead on a flight of the Filbert Steps. The police are calling his death an accident. Vivian does not think it was and starts investigating. But will she solve the mystery of Loeb’s death?

The Filbert Steps by Lila Blake was a uniquely immersive story that made me feel a part of the North Beach community as I shadowed Vivian in her investigation. The story gave me much more than a perfect, twisty cozy murder mystery – it made me privy to the area’s history and the vibes, lives, joys, and worries of the residents. I liked how North Beach’s map highlighted the walking routes and places Vivian frequented. I also enjoyed the playlist and the recipes Vivian shared, especially the wisdom of choosing the right dish to cook for a dinner party. But what made this story stand out for me was Vivian’s relationship with her daughter Margot. If you like mysteries set in a vibrant, memorable community whose livelihood is at stake, you will enjoy this brilliant novel.

In the Filbert Steps by Lila Blake, Vivian’s routine centered on descending the two hundred Filbert Steps each morning for a cup of coffee. At the Hamlin School’s annual fundraiser, Vivian crossed paths with Bradford Loeb. Loeb is an ambitious developer whose interest in purchasing Vivian’s neighbors’ building immediately put him at odds with the close-knit community. Vivian found Loeb arrogant and difficult to trust, making his sudden death all the more unsettling when his body is discovered on the Filbert Steps. Although investigators quickly ruled the incident an accident, Vivian was unconvinced. She spotted how evidence was overlooked and was drawn into a mystery that forced her to confront an uncomfortable truth. The deeper Vivian dug, the more she realized that revealing the killer’s identity would require a decision with lasting consequences.

Lila Blake delivered a mystery that had me hooked from the beginning. Vivian is an interesting woman who is intelligent and compassionate. I could not turn the pages fast enough to learn more about the events and surroundings. The pacing allowed me to follow the clues and wait to see where they would lead. The chapters flowed seamlessly into each other, and I had a hard time putting the book down. The characters are realistic, and each has a background that makes them easier to get to know. This book has all the elements to be a great success. The Filbert Steps is well-written and held my attention from start to finish. I enjoyed reading the book, and it exceeded my expectations.

The Filbert Steps by Lila Blake is an atmospheric murder mystery set in San Francisco. Vivian Salvatore moved back to the neighborhood she had loved. She hoped to find healing after her divorce. Vivian is a writer and has had trouble writing for a while. One morning, as sirens break the early morning peace, an unscrupulous developer is found dead on the third landing of the Filbert steps. As a writer, she catalogs what she sees, already trying to unravel the mystery of the dead man with his arms all wrong. As Vivian goes on with her life, and the death is ruled an accident, something keeps bothering her. Together with an old friend and his connections, they figure out that all is not as it seems, and when the police realize it and an arrest is made, it seems wrapped up. But something still bothers Vivian.

Lila Blake wrote an engaging murder mystery in a way that brings to life the relaxed and familiar atmosphere of the neighborhood that sits on a hill and overlooks the bay. The story is told from Vivian’s point of view, and she is also the main character. Her connection to the neighborhood and the people who live and work there makes the story personal and highlights the comfort some communities provide for long-time residents. The main theme is that of unscrupulous developers who only see money and find enjoyment in tormenting hardworking families just before they take away their livelihoods. In this instance, his tactics brought heartache to the community. Vivian makes an interesting narrator, and through her, the neighborhood and its nuances are perfectly conveyed. The author has a talent for bringing many threads together to flesh out the story, and more than one plot line drives the characters. The Filbert Steps is a sleuthing mystery in a different class, as it is more serious than the usual cozy.