At the heart of MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT by Nina Simon (William Morrow/HarperCollins, September 5, 2023), are three generations of strong women in one family: Lana, Beth, and Jack. I just fell in love with these characters. I was also enchanted by the evocative setting: Elkhorn Slough in Monterey Bay in California.

Beth's tranquil life is turned upside down when her mother, real estate mogul Lana, moves into Beth's beach bungalow due to cancer, and her daughter, free-spirited Jack, discovers a corpse while leading a kayaking tour. Discovering that the dead man was murdered and that her granddaughter may be a suspect, Lana discovers a direction for her boundless energy: amateur detective work.

Neither Beth nor the police are enthusiastic about Lana's new mission. Jack wants to help Lana, and Beth wants to protect her daughter. While Beth doesn't think she is much like Lana, Jack thinks they have a lot in common with each other–and with her.

Every potential murder suspect is keeping secrets on both sides of the Elkhorn Slough, and Lana may have finally found a project too big for even her to tackle as environmental preservation and corporate development interests collide, which appear to be closely connected with the murder victim. There is plenty of family drama coming into play, which I found to be very realistic, being in the middle generation, like Beth.

This is a first-rate mystery, and I say this as a mystery fan for four decades who has read hundreds of them. The identity of the murderer surprised me, the red herrings were well executed, and the big climax at the end was terrifying. The reader can feel that the Simon is writing from a place of deep love for the characters and the setting. The characters are based on Simon, her mother, and her daughter, and the setting is a beautiful place with which she is familiar. Very artfully done and highly recommended. I can't believe this is Simon's first novel.

I received this as an advanced copy from NetGalley

This story has 3 generations of women living in the same house as Grandma is living with her daughter because she is undergoing cancer treatments. When a murder happens they work together to solve it.

Good family interactions, good suspense, and a good story. I did really enjoy this book!

Thank you to Killer Crime Club and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel.

This is a story of family love and relationships. They change over time and are affected by the choices made.

It is also a story of murder and those wrongfully accused and those who are guilty. It is about secrets kept sometimes to the detriment of a relationship. Who can determine which is which?

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel and hope there are more to come. It is well written with enough twists, turns, events, insights and character development to keep the reader's interest.

Would recommend.

💥 Pub Date: 9/5/2023

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

• fun murder mystery
• three generations of strong women
• great setting

I enjoyed the mother-daughter relationships and the "Murder, She Wrote" vibes. It moved a little slow at times for me, but overall it was an intriguing story. Definitely read the Acknowledgements!

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and William Morrow/SOTC for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳-𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 is an entertaining, engrossing mystery-thriller in the vein of Gilmore Girls meets Alfred Hitchcock. The story takes place in Elkhorn Slough—a small, tidal salt marsh town in Monterey County—and is told from three points of view: Lana Rubicon, a 57-year-old divorcée-turned-commercial real estate developer who has reluctantly paused her high power career and sophisticated social life in Los Angeles to undergo cancer treatment up north; her 30-something daughter Beth, a nurse and single mom who prefers a simpler life and with whom she is staying; and her teenaged granddaughter Jack, a bright and hard-working high school student and kayak tour guide.

In the middle of the night while looking across the slough with her binoculars, Lana spots a man disposing of something in the water. A day and a half later, the tour group Jack is leading discovers a dead body. When Jack becomes a person of interest in the murder of naturalist Ricardo Cruz, Lana works to find out who really was behind the death and clear her name. In between medical treatments, she interviews locals and looks into suspicious real estate deals and town gossip, sometimes calling on Beth to help gather more information. In her investigation, Lana discovers a renewed sense of purpose and a closer bond with her family… but she also finds herself in dangerous situations the closer she gets to the truth.

While I mostly enjoyed the novel, I did find the story a bit slow-moving and a tad predictable. The changes in POV also weren’t very smooth at times so the perspective was occasionally confusing. But overall, 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳-𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 is a captivating whodunnit that also nicely weaves in themes of familial love and personal growth.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. My review was posted on July 31, 2023 to https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5560476924.

Teenage, Jack, becomes the prime suspect when a body is found in Monterey Bay's Elkhorn Slough. Her grandmother, Lana, is currently staying with her daughter, Beth, and granddaughter while she goes through cancer treatment. Lana is a high-powered LA realtor and very bored. Beth and Lana have been estranged since Beth became pregnant with Jack and chose to raise her as a single parent. To relieve her boredom, Lana decides to investigate the murder, then a second suspicious death, and Jack jumps in too. The plot moves smartly, the relationships between the women grow, and readers are sure to be invested.

The title is a bit misleading, I was hoping the mother and daughter would be the ones murdering. Instead it’s three generations of women solving a murder. Definitely some unexpected twists though. The author did a good job of leading the reader in one direction just to prove them wrong.

I really enjoyed this story of three generations of spirited women who find themselves unexpectedly living under one roof. The Grandmother, Lana, has recently been diagnosed with cancer, and needs the help of her daughter, Beth, who is a nurse, while she goes through chemo treatments. Beth’s teenage daughter, Jack, inadvertently finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, and the three women join forces to clear her name and in the process become enmeshed in the mystery that turns out to be much bigger and more involved than initially expected in this small, sleepy community. Each woman plays a significant role in unearthing the clues to the mystery, and as a team they make a formidable opponent to the person(s) who committed the crime. This adventure in sleuthing also serves as a catalyst for the three women to forge new understandings about themselves and their relationships with one another. This books is an homage to the mother-daughter relationship, in all of its ups and downs, and ultimately proves that the ties that bind us are far stronger then the challenges that divide us.
The mystery in this story was also very solid, and did not feel fabricated or unrealistic in order to keep the story moving. I especially liked the way the author was able to make the reader feel like they were along for the ride, and were unearthing the clues to the murder right along with the Rubicon women. As the layers unfold, there are many characters that could ultimately be the culprit, and it felt much like a real murder investigation would likely feel, with the detectives making one step forward and two steps back until all of the clues finally come together in a clear way.
This is a very well-written debut novel that I highly recommend. I will be watching for more books by Nina Simon in the future. In fact, there is a slight hint at the end of the story that this could be the start of a series, and if so, I will eagerly be awaiting the next installment of this fun and heartwarming series.

Sometimes a debut author nails it in the first attempt, but rarely have I liked one as much as I did this wonderful novel. It had everything I needed to round out a successful mystery. There is distinct atmosphere, people I found interesting and believable. I was impressed with the character development and found myself drawn in, wanting to know more. There’s a crime to solve that I didn’t figure out half way through. It’s more than superficial, with realistic family drama and life challenges.
The relationships between mothers and daughters are often complicated, as is the case in this story. The murder mystery incorporates a mother, Lana, her daughter and teenage granddaughter, Beth and Jack. Generations collide as they’re all under one roof in a small cottage by the sea. I always think of warmth and sunshine for CA. Not so much in this remote area north of LA. It’s damp and chilly on the Slough where Beth lives. She and her Mom have a distant connection, don’t live alike or agree on much. The one thing they have in common is that they both adore Jack. She’s a part-time kayak guide and stumbled across a traumatizing occurrence – a body afloat in the reeds.
Lana loves the noise and chaos of LA, she’s worked hard to be successful, independent and now she needs her family. While fighting a relentless enemy, she decided to catch the killer the cops are unable to nab. There is a whole community full of suspects, many possible motives and a family trying to navigate a new normal. Lana is a tough old bird and she made me chuckle out loud with her desert dry sarcasm. Many instances where it reminded me of personal feelings towards my mother and vice versa.
This is a story I’m happy to recommend and I hope to see more from the author. Many thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “Mother-Daughter Murder Night” by Nina Simon and to HarperCollins Publishers. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

When successful realtor, Lana Rubicon is told she has cancer, she calls her estranged daughter Beth, who is a nurse at a care center in Elkhorn Slough along the California coast. Beth takes her home to recover. Lana's fifteen year old granddaughter, Jacqueline (Jack), has a job as a kayak tour guide for Kayak Shack. On one of Jack's outings a couple of tourists find a dead body. As the detectives investigate they focus on Jack and this is when Lana, tired of being sick and feeling useless, decides to find out who wanted the man dead. With Jack eager to help while Beth is adamant that they should not get involved, Lana goes forward.
There is a ranch, whose owner dies at the care facility, his children and a land trust owner, fight over the land and the Kayak Shack owner is acting suspicious.
An enjoyable and fast paced murder mystery with this mother, daughter, granddaughter formidable trio that piece together what is really going on and all the while mending their fragile relationship.
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for this e-galley of "Mother- Daughter Murder Night".

I had the absolute pleasure of diving into the thrilling debut whodunnit, Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon. This fun and twisty tale centers around three generations of a family, a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter, who become amateur sleuths to solve a murder in their coastal California town.

High-powered businesswoman Lana Rubicon, her daughter Beth, and teenage granddaughter Jack find themselves entangled in a murder investigation when Jack stumbles upon a dead body during a kayaking excursion. As Jack becomes a suspect, the Rubicon women unite to uncover the truth, revealing a web of lies, family vendettas, and hidden land disputes. With their close-knit bond and determination, they venture into dangerous territory, learning to trust each other like never before. The fast-paced and enjoyable narrative keeps you on the edge of your seat, making Mother-Daughter Murder Night a must-read for all fans of a good whodunnit and a truly delightful mystery experience. Huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing this ARC!

"Mother-Daughter Murder Night" - such a catchy, intriguing title but the read was a bit less attention grabbing. I loved the multiple generations working together to clear someone's name but there was nothing keeping me turning the page. When reflecting back it seemed to drag on too long. However this is a fun, mystery book so if that is what you are looking for you will likely enjoying your time with Lana, Beth and Jack. I enjoyed it enough to keep an eye out for what's to come from debut author Nina Simon

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

I received a free copy of, Mother-Daughter Murder Night, by Nina Simon, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Lana is a real estate mogul, she is also recovering from cancer with her daughter. and granddaughter Jack . They stumble upon a murder, while Beth wants her mother to recuperate, Lana wants to solve a murder. I can honestly say most cancer patients do not solve murders. Lana is not like most cancer patients. This book kept my interest from start to finish.

A fun who dunit, but I felt like the story was too scattered to focus enough on the mystery. And I wish the characters and relationships would've grown in more ways.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed the Grandma/Mom/Daughter connection. It took me a bit to get through this story, it wasn't quite as intriguing as some of the other cozy mysteries out there. While the mystery was fun it seemed a bit lacking somehow. It also felt, at times, that there was more filler than story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Pretty solid, but it was missing a little something! The pace was too slow at times. However, the plot was twisty and entertaining, so I can't complain too much. 3.5 stars rounded up. I'd recommend this to a certain audience.

What a fun novel! Grandmother Lana is a mover and shaker suddenly sidelined, recovering from cancer in a sleepy town. She has her daughter and granddaughter with her but longs to be in the middle of things again. When her granddaughter finds a body, Lana decides she'll figure out whodunnit.

Twisty, original, and fun, Mother-Daughter Murder Night is a great book to pick up and enjoy this fall.

3 stars

I feel terrible because this is a debut author and I want to give all debuts 5 stars, but this was just meh for me. The writing was pretty good, but the story really dragged and I had to push myself to pick this up. I didn't find the mystery extremely compelling and it was challenging to see so much animosity between Beth & Lana. I was hoping for more of a camaraderie amongst the three generations than there was.

There are a lot more positive reviews, so please take mine with a grain of salt, but the thing that troubled me the most was the intense focus on Jack as the prime suspect so quickly. First, she's 16 years old and I get that horrible crimes can be committed by someone that age, but for the way this book was written I just had trouble following why the police would be so intensely focused on Jack. It was a little puzzling and kind of gave me a bad taste in my mouth that I wasn't able to shake for the rest of the book.

I appreciated the fresh take on a cozy mystery and thought the idea of having three generations solve a case together was a great idea, but I wish it would have been executed a little differently. I wish the author nothing but the best and hope she finds success with this book.

Review Date: 07/24/2023
Publication Date: 09/05/2023

What a wonderful debut book! Nina Simon has combined a murder mystery with a twisty plot and a story of family love and complex relationships, centered around the three strong Rubicon women, grandmother, mother and granddaughter. There is excellent character development, and beautiful descriptions of the natural areas of the slough, where the story takes place. The book captivated me from the beginning, as the Rubicon women investigate, and soon find themselves in grave danger. Iin the process, they also reconnect with each other. It is an action-packed mystery that is full of heart! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope to read further adventures of the Rubicon women! Thank you to the author, the publisher, Scene of the Crime, and Netgalley for my advanced copy of the book. The opinions of the review are my own.

This is brilliant, smart, entertaining, dark comedy meets murder mystery with the brilliant dysfunctional family plot of three generations. Lana Rubicon opens her eyes on the floor of her kitchen, barely moving, calling 911. She’s diagnosed with several brain tumors that should be removed immediately. Some of the tumors also split to her lungs which means she has to ask her daughter Beth who is also highly accomplished nurse. She thinks in four times, her treatment process will resolve and she may return back to her old life. Well, she couldn’t be so wrong! She’s living her worst nightmare when she witnesses something utterly shady out her bedroom window. This sparks a fire back into her otherwise dark and boring days, so she gets right to work scrutinizing this small town murder case. Beth and Jack also find themselves involved and fighting for their safety against a murderer, all while rekindling their lost relationship with Lana. This isn’t just about the murder. It’s about these three women growing and learning together while piecing their relationship back together. #NETGALLEY #MOTHER-DAUGHTHERMURDERNIGHT