Thoroughly enjoyed this. Even though it's often described as three generations of women working to solve murders, it's really Lana, the grandmother who's the driving force. Her focus moves from one suspect to another. And another. And yet more. All have credible motives for committing murder, and Lana needs the help of daughter and granddaughter, along with her own substantive knowledge of land ownership and inheritance to figure it all out.

Murder she wrote meets Gilmore girls.
A story that shows it doesn’t matter how far apart family has grown it only takes one thing to pull you back together. A cancel diagnosis and a murder is all this family needed to bring it back together again.

Great premise, but it seems to be too much of a slow burn. Only 58% in, I decided to skip to the ending. Lovely writing, but seems like it could be trimmed down a bit.

Very enjoyable mystery novel. The family dynamics between the three generations of Rubicon women added an interesting and layered element to the typical cozy mystery genre. The mystery was well-plotted with enough red herrings to keep it intriguing until the end. HIghly recommend if looking for a light mystery with Gilmore Girls-esque family drama.

This was a very touching mystery set in Monterey Bay, California that explored so many subjects: mother-daughter (and father-son) relationships, family illnesses, wildlife and land conservation, and greed. I've recently spent some vacation time in Monterey Bay so this story was evoking some very fond memories of the beauty of the area. And Lana, Beth, and Jack - what a trio! Thanks to @bookclubgirl and @williammorrowbooks for this copy.

Thanks Net Galley and HarperCollins Canada for this ARC.

Nothing like a good whodunit! Three generations caught up in a mysterious death or two, throw in grieving relatives and a couple of wannabe bad guys and you have a recipe for a great read. Fast paced and enjoyable.

This book is full of murder, family drama, and mystery. The grandmother and daughter do not exactly get along but they realize they need to help the granddaughter. This book will have you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages fast to see the ending. A fun read and you will love the way they all work together to solve the murder.

I'm not a huge mystery reader, but this was a fun read with engaging characters. I enjoyed the relationship between the grandmother and her granddaughter the most. But I did like the way that the relationship between the grandmother and her daughter evolved.

I thought this book was boring. I finished it, but it really wasn’t compelling for me. I never really connected with the characters and the mystery wasn’t there.

Very good first novel that this writer has dedicated to her mother who passed away from lung cancer. The story, while a murder mystery, also centers around the family dynamics between a grandmother, mother and daughter. The three generations of women become amateur detectives when faced with a murder loosely connected to the daughter. The grandmother is battling lung cancer, therefore drawing on the author’s personal experience. As I lost my own mother to lung cancer, this part of the storyline resonated with me. The mystery itself took many twists and turns and kept the reader guessing.

So, I had an interesting experience with this book. I requested it from NetGalley in June and there it sat in pending purgatory as its publication date came and went. I assumed I wouldn't be getting a copy, so I borrowed it from my library on October 1st. I thought it was awful, so I quit reading it and returned it. So, imagine my surprise when a few days later I get an email saying I've been approved to read it. Oops. Well, I didn't feel right about reviewing a book I barely read so I picked up where I left off. I made it further but still had to give up on it. I found the constant man bashing extremely off-putting. Men need simple instructions to understand anything, men can't understand sarcasm, etc. Yuck. It wouldn't be okay to say that about women and it's not any better to say it about men. I was also disgusted by the way the cops were talking to the 15-year-old girl. It was repulsive, inappropriate and I can't imagine any cop acting like that in real life. Especially with zero evidence she killed anyone. I made it to 30% before being unable to continue on. I am obviously not the right reader for this book as I found so much of it distasteful. I'm clearly in the minority though, so give this one a try if it sounds good to you! I did like the very beginning and I thought Lana was fun even though she was over the top.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow. I'm sorry I was unable to finish this one.

Truly enjoyed this contemporary intergenerational mystery, especially how Lana, the grandmother, takes a murder investigation by the horns and will not rest until it is solved.

I so thoroughly enjoyed this book! I had no clue who the killer was and that is always a plus. Besides the murder mystery, we had such a great family story.

Lana has had a very tenuous relationship with her daughter Beth, ever since she got pregnant as teenager and had her daughter Jack. Beth left home and got by on her own. When Lana is diagnosed with cancer, she needs her daughter's help so she moves in with them in a little coastal town along a slough. It is completely different than the life she lives in Los Angeles as a high-powered real estate agent and there is a lot of tension in the beginning. When Jack stumbles upon a dead body in the slough, she becomes a suspect in the murder so this sets Lana into full detective mode. Beth, who works in an assisted living home, is not happy at first but when one of her beloved patients dies, it seems they are connected and next thing you know, the whole family is involved.

I loved the growth between the women. They all changed for the better. All the outlying characters were just as flushed out. Just totally a very enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for a copy of this book for review.

This debut was a quirky novel about a typically dysfunctional family and the lengths one will go to for one you love. Overall, I liked this book, but I knew who the murderer was before I was halfway through the novel. I liked that the story was very original and touched a bit on climate change. Keep on writing Nina Simon. Hopefully you will catch me with the next book.

Fall is the perfect time for whodunnits, and this one was an adorable story about a mother/daughter/grandmother trying to solve a murder and getting into all sorts of trouble along the way. Beth's daughter Jack stumbles across a dead body while guiding tourists on kayaks one day. Her recently-diagnosed-with-cancer mother, Lana, has just moved in with them and makes it her new goal to solve what happened. Through creative sleuthing, dodging detectives, and some family strife, the three women are eventually brought together in a real life "murder night", instead of just the movies they used to watch together.

Very cute, perfect for fall, and a heartwarming story about family.

I loved this fun and sassy murder mystery. The relationship between Lana (the mom/Grandmother), Beth, and her daughter Jack was entertaining and delightful to read. Truly an enjoyable read and an easy cozy mystery that kept you guessing. I loved the playful banter between mother and daughter and grandmother and grandaughter. A great read to enjoy on a chilly night in October!

Rating: 3/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Mother-Daughter murder night is a whodunit debut by Simon focusing on three different women who put on their amateur sleuth hats to solve a murder. These women are all related - hence the title - three generations coming together, not only to solve a murder but to fix the broken bonds between themselves. I absolutely loved Jack (the granddaughter), I found her to be adventurous, smart and resourceful. Beth (the mom) is a humble, sweet and an ever loving mom. Lana (the grandmother) is a fierce, witty, no shit taking badass. There is such an authenticity to these characters that you cant help love each of them for both their strengths and their weaknesses.
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The mystery, while being more of a cozy, took a backseat to the family dynamics, I was still invested on both aspects. The pacing of this one is super slow, as I just stated this one really focuses on the relationship of the three women. I would have preferred more twists in this one, or at least for them to happen a bit faster, but I felt everything wrapped up nicely and I did really enjoy the family drama of it all.
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While I know this is a tribute to the authors mother, I personally am not a huge fan when one of the main characters issue of cancer is a major focus. Cancer is a huge trigger for a lot of people, and while I know that it happens (and really truly is heartbreaking), I don’t like reading about how cancer made a person realize how wonderful their family truly is. So heed this as a trigger warning to all of my friends, cancer is talked about a lot in this one.
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I will most definitely be following Simon’s work. This one wasn’t my favorite due to the fact I wrongly assumed this would be more thriller than a family drama. Writing was great, pacing could use some picking up, but overall a decent story. I think this will be a huge hit for book clubs.
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Huge thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and Nina Simon for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. Mother-Daughter Murder Night was released on September 5th, be sure to check it out.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon is a cozy murder mystery.
Beth has been estranged from her mother, Lana, since getting pregnant in high school and setting out on her own. When Lana finds out she has cancer, she calls her daughter for help and moves into her home. Her granddaughter who is eager to spread her wings and find new adventures, stumbles upon a body while at work leading kayak tours. Lana is determined to find out what happened.
This was definitely a cozy mystery with a lot of family tension weaved in. I really enjoyed the family drama along with the murder mystery. I also appreciated how much time and details went into the setting and the descriptions of the wildlife.

Nina Simon paints a glorious picture of 3 generations of women being sucked, some more willingly than others, into a criminal scheme.

Fifteen year old Jacqueline, aka Jack, guides kayak tours along the Slough. The day she finds a body floating in the water changes not only her life, but the life of her ill but spirited grandmother Lana and her hardworking mother Beth. Lana turns her interest to solving the crime to exonerate Jack, pulling in the entire family along the way.

Does a family of Colombo lovers have what it takes to solve real crimes? Or are they in over their heads?

This was a fun and fast 5 star read that reminded me of the Finlay Donovan series. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed that series or who is looking for a quick paced multi-generational read.

A great mystery that would appeal to a wide range of readers. Loved the setting and the quirky characters that gave off a Gilmore Girls vibe.