"Mother-Daughter Murder Night" by Nina Simon is a gripping blend of mystery and family dynamics. The story follows a mother and daughter duo who find themselves entangled in a murder investigation during a weekend getaway. Simon masterfully weaves humor and suspense, exploring themes of trust and resilience. The characters are well-developed, with their complex relationship at the heart of the narrative. The plot twists keep readers on their toes, making it a thrilling read from start to finish. Overall, it's an engaging novel that balances tension and emotional depth, perfect for fans of cozy mysteries.

Ever wanted the Gilmore girls to solve a murder? Read this book. It is full of mother-daughter disfunction and redemption, with a healthy dose of murder.

unfathomable to me that this became a reeses book club pick. Took so long to get the story going and when it finally picked up, it was tepid at best.

I heard this author speak and was interested in the book. I started reading the book and couldn't stop.
The main character is spunky and her granddaughter is following in her footsteps.
Recommended for fans of family mysteries with an older female matriarch like Vera Wong!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #WilliamMorrow and Cindy Burnett at #ThoughtsFromAPage for a free copy of #MotherDaughterMurderNight by Nina Simon. All opinions are my own.

I was so impressed with this book I was shocked to find out this is her debut novel! For the most part I enjoyed the story and the humor in the book. It was very well written and I liked the characters but the story overall wasn’t a super interesting murder. The ending wasn’t super memorable either but overall not a bad book.

In this engaging mystery novel, family bonds take center stage as three generations of strong women team up to unravel a murder mystery in Monterey Bay's Elkhorn Slough.

When teenager Jack Rubicon becomes the prime suspect in the discovery of a body, her mother Beth and grandmother Lana leap into action to clear her name. Despite their strained relationship, the trio transforms into amateur sleuths, drawing inspiration from their shared love of crime-solving television shows like Columbo. As Lana undergoes cancer treatment and stays with Beth and Jack, she channels her energy into setting up a murder board and delving into the investigation. With nods to classic detective techniques, the Rubicons dive headfirst into uncovering the truth behind the death of Ricardo Cruz, an employee of a local land trust. Their quest for justice leads them to unearth another suspicious death linked to a wealthy local family embroiled in a battle over a coastal ranch. While Lana's character is intricately developed, Beth and Jack provide likeable support as the investigation unfolds.

Filled with twists, turns, and heart-pounding moments, this feisty-female-driven whodunit combines the charm of Nancy Drew with the gritty determination of Columbo. Simon skillfully crafts a compelling plot, brimming with suspects, red herrings, and thrilling attacks aimed at thwarting the Rubicons' pursuit of truth.

This entertaining debut is a fun combination of mystery and family drama. High-powered businesswoman Lana Rubicon is diagnosed with cancer and leaves LA to convalesce with her daughter Beth and granddaughter Jack in their sleepy Monterey Bay bungalow. Just when Lana feels like she is going to die from boredom, Jack happens across a dead body and quickly becomes the main suspect in the murder. The focus on Jack throws the three Rubicon women into chaos and provides Lana with a purpose as she begins scrutinizing this small-town murder case. The characters are authentic, the humor is engaging, the setting is vivid, and the plot has unforeseeable twists making it an all-around stellar read. Mother-Daughter Murder Night is a smart and laugh-out-loud murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the end.

A heartwarming and fun cozy mystery standalone about an intergenerational group of women who work together to solve a local murder. Great for fans of Only Murders in the Building.

A slow-burn, heartfelt murder mystery with familial drama. This book paid beautiful attention to the dynamic of mothers and daughters while giving us three distinct generations of women.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night takes a trio of makeshift amateur sleuths (Lana - a grandmother/career driven realtor who moves in with her daughter while undergoing chemo; Beth-single mother/nurse; and Jack-teen/kayak tour leader) and puts them smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation.

During one of her kayak excursions, Jack comes upon a body. Despite her age and attempts to explain her proximity to the victim, Jack quickly becomes the main suspect. Lana is positive that the police are not equipped for this job and jumps into action to save her granddaughter, bringing a more reluctant Beth into the fray. The three are desperate to prove Jack's innocence but none of them are prepared for how deep the secrets go.

This was a fun and enjoyable mystery. I liked the family dynamics between the 3 female main characters. I liked the ending. If it’s a series I could see myself reading the next book.

Thanks to the author and Harper Collins for the e-arc I received via NetGalley.

Real estate tycoon Lana is struggling as she undergoes cancer treatment so she leaves Los Angeles to stay with her daughter and granddaughter in a small town north of the city. Her daughter, Beth, is a nurse and her granddaughter, Jack, is a high school student who works part time giving kayak tours along the coast. On a tour one day, one of Jack’s customers stumbles upon a body. Lana doesn’t like the way the police investigation is going and decides to do some investigating of her own.

I picked up MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT when I saw it was a Reese’s Book Club pick and was getting rave reviews but it didn’t work for me. I didn’t think the characters were developed well and the plot was too slow and predictable for a mystery. As a matter of fact, I set this book aside a few times in favor of other books. I’m in the minority, though, so you might want to give it a try if you like cozy mysteries.

This is a multigenerational amatuer sleuth tale. Lana, Beth and Jack (short for Jacqueline) have been living very busy and full lives. But Lana when gets cancer and has to move in with her daughter, Beth, you just didn't think things could get more hectic, but boy do they. Jack is at her afterschool job, when she discovers a body. All eyes turn to Jack as the possible suspect and grandma Lana puts all her "free time" to use and volunteers to clear her name.
This story had a lot of potential, IF there weren't three people all vying for the main character position. It got super exhausting that they never really trusted each other, even though they were all hoping for the same end result.
I didn't suspect the killer at all, I actually kept saying that it can not be this person. I read this as part of a buddy read and my friend had it figured out in 100 pages.
All this to say, I think that people will like this if you enjoy everything being spelled out for you. But the repetition and the miscommunication was exhausting for me. I wanted a cozy mystery, this was not cozy...

I started this one and just couldn't get into it... to me, it felt slow and I didn't really connect with any of the characters.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night is everything you want in a mystery novel. A compelling whodunnit, supported by family drama from the investigators and the suspects, with a dash of eco-friendly history.

A former NASA engineer, Nina Simon, wrote this debut mystery with her mom while undergoing cancer treatment to pass their time together.

When Nina's mother battled stage 4 cancer in late 2020, it prompted her to leave her CEO position and care for her.

Amidst the challenges, Nina and her mother found solace in their shared love for murder mysteries, leading them to write a mystery book of their own to keep them busy during their long days in the hospital room. I loved hearing about the therapeutic power of creativity, courage, and resilience that emerged through the act of storytelling that bonded Nina and her mother during this challenging period.

This heartwarming family drama within a mystery introduces readers to an unlikely trio of amateur sleuths—a spirited grandmother, a determined single mother, and a curious teenage girl—bonding together to unravel a perplexing murder.

Lana Rubicon, a powerful real estate magnate accustomed to the bustling life of Los Angeles, finds her world shattered by a cancer diagnosis. She must move to a sleepy coastal town with her estranged daughter Beth and granddaughter Jack as she finds her life at a standstill.

However, their life takes a sharp turn when Jack stumbles upon a lifeless body during a kayaking excursion.

Suddenly entangled in a murder investigation, the three generations of Rubicon women embark on a little amateur sleuthing as they discover Jack is the main suspect in the investigation.

This novel will satisfy slow-burn mystery readers who appreciate the setting as much as they do their characters. She writes the characters distinctly and depicts a beautiful ending for these three women.

I can admit, though, that what really enhanced this book was hearing about Nina's publishing journey and how this project gave her and her mother something to do in their darkest moments. Nina's joy is infectious, and I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Patrons can enjoy a spoiler-filled episode with Nina to discuss the revealed killer and what Nina wanted to achieve with her ending. Thank you to William Morrow for the advanced copy and the opportunity to participate in this beautiful book launch.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night hits store shelves on September 5th.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night received so many great reviews and is a celebrity book club pick, I don’t know why I just didn’t connect.

The strength of the book is the relationship between the three generations of women and how they changed with time. I would say this was what saved the book for me.

The story did seem to drag throughout and the pacing just fell flat, and I did have a hard time with the constant POV shifts.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to review this book.

Definitely a fun read. Mother daughter relationships can be complex now add in a mysterious death and it gets even weirder. I Beth’s mom Lana is a successful real estate mogul. Jack Beths daughter works as a kayak tour guide. When a body shows up on one of jacks tours Lana steps in to solve the case. Made me think of Nancy drew but as a grandma .

The following is my review as posted on Goodreads and Instagram. I am thankful to the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Another edition of “Catching Up on Fall ARCs” is done! Mother-Daughter Murder Night was a really fun book about a mother, daughter, and granddaughter who (somewhat reluctantly) team up to solve a murder that occurred in the waterways behind their home. The mother is a spunky, fierce woman who decides to take matters into her own hand to investigate and gather evidence. As the story progresses the women find their relationships put to the test and their lives in danger as they close in on the killer. There are so many funny, heartwarming, and tense moments in this book that really make you want to keep reading to the end! I truly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon was a fun and quirky read. The relationships between grandmother, mother, and daughter were very realistic and added so much to the feel of this book. I flew through the story and I wish it would be made into a series. It was a unique mystery. This book was not like any average mystery book that I’ve read. I hope to read many more books by this author! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.