What an incredibly annoying main character, but what a great, exciting murder mystery. I read this book so quickly, and dare I say, I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

I wasn’t sure how much I’d like this one once I started it because this formatting is kind of weird. It’s very aware of itself as a book, and the main character is an author of a series of books that are often referenced, and also seems to be writing the book you as the reader are reading. It is very odd at first, but ends up working. It’s almost omniscient, in a way, but not really, because it’s all from the MC’s point of view, so we have to rely on her word.

I really thought I’d figured out the killer based on clues dropped throughout the book, then that person was disproven. I did note a few things about folks or mentions of folks that seemed so odd and at times obvious to me, but just kept things in the back of my mind until the end. I really appreciated that when the big reveal happens, you recognize the clues were there all along, so that’s really nice. You can figure it all out as the reader, but also, as any good murder mystery does, each character has a motive and/or the means or ability to be the killer.

I enjoyed this book very much, and read it so quickly! What an engaging story.

This was a fun who done it. I enjoyed the setting and the characters. So many suspects made for a good storyline. Never guessed who it actually was! The breaking of the fourth wall was done well, even though that isn’t something I normally enjoy, it worked well in this instance.

The comparison to Knives Out is a great one for this book! Recommended for cozy mystery readers and publishing nerds, pairs nicely with an aperol spritz on a beach chair. Great narrator on the audio edition, too.

How can readers resist going on a madcap book vacay with a side offering of mystery? The title of debut author Catherine Mack is an irresistible invitation to drop everything and devour her Vacation Mysteries series. Eleanor Dash is a bestselling author who wrote a runaway-success mystery based on a whirlwind Italian romance with a gentleman who sadly turned out to be a conman. Eleanor met Connor Smith in Rome; Connor was an investigator and Eleanor became caught up with his machinations and schemes. When the torrid affair finally lost its sizzle, Eleanor went home to Los Angeles and wrote her heart out. She got an agent and a book contract and ain’t life grand? An ending devoutly to be wished, no? Well, yes and no. Unfortunately, Eleanor’s mystery hewed too closely to her real-life affair and out of the blue, Connor reappeared and demanded aka blackmailed Eleanor and her publisher into gifting him a 20 percent “consultancy” fee. Twenty percent? Even agents only get 15 percent. Ten books later, Eleanor has had enough. She’s a successful mystery writer—she’ll write Connor out of her Vacation Series by murdering him on the page.

Here’s where it gets complicated. Eleanor and her younger sister Harper, a bountifully paid personal assistant and all-round factotum, are in Rome, ten years into the Vacation Series. They’re celebrating her fans, her social media presence, touring here and there, all whilst Eleanor desperately counts the minutes till her next Aperol Spritz. Eleanor is disinclined to read the elaborate itineraries her sister prepares for her, so she is shocked and dismayed when she realizes the magnitude of her ten-day schedule. She is so over this whole shebang. Consequently, she inadvertently disrespects and takes for granted her sister’s efforts on her behalf, even though she thinks to herself “my life would be a mess without her.”

“Harper?”



She brings her head down and turns. She looks disappointed, like I’ve woken her out of a particularly good dream.



“Yeah?”



“We’re not Catholic, right?”



“How could you not know that?”



“I remember church at Christmas, and didn’t we go at Easter sometimes? Am I making that up?”



“I’m not your memory palace.”



“Aren’t you?”



“Ha.”

And so on and so forth: Harper confirms they went to church on Christmas and Easter. Their parents died when Eleanor was eighteen—she thinks ruefully, “having to immediately become Harper’s parents seems to have erased most of my memories. The good ones, anyway.”

Could anything else further chill her vibe? Yes. Connor appears, he’s desperate—someone is trying to murder him. Is real life imitating art or the opposite? And how can Eleanor refuse to help discover Connor’s would-be murderer? Truthfully, she could quite easily shake off his plea for help, she thinks as she walks away from him.

I need to shake off the cognitive dissonance of the last five minutes.



Because what if someone did kill Connor?



That would be amazingly convenient.



Which is why it can’t be happening. Or maybe I’m magic. I’ve sometimes suspected as much. I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I think something and then it happens. Okay, well, once. 14 But still . . . 15

What’s with the footnotes? Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, is full of footnotes. They’re very amusing—check out #15:

Okay, I know that’s a lame example. But sometimes when I’m speaking to people, they pause, and I know the word they’re going to say before they say it. That’s a kind of magic, right?

Eleanor Dash’s brain is like a whirligig, dashing from thought to thought and emotion to emotion. She may be all over the map but she’s very smart. She has to be because folks do indeed die on her watch author junket and if she doesn’t want to end up in the kill column, she’ll have to figure out whodunnit.

Sometimes descriptions of books are absolutely on the nose, like this one: Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies . . . one trip to die for. Enjoy Catherine Mack’s unusual and captivating debut mystery.

I just finished reading Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you!

This book is a delightful mix of mystery, humor, and adventure that had me hooked from the very first page. Mack’s writing is sharp, witty, and filled with just the right amount of suspense to keep you turning the pages.

One of the standout moments for me was when the protagonist, Lily, finds herself in a sticky situation at a luxurious beach resort. There's a hilarious scene where she tries to sneak into a restricted area to find clues about a mysterious disappearance. The combination of her clumsy attempts and the high-stakes tension had me laughing out loud and gripping my seat at the same time. Mack masterfully balances the humor and the mystery, making it a fun and engaging read.

What I love most about Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is how it blends the charm of a cozy mystery with the thrill of a suspenseful adventure. Lily is a relatable and endearing character whose mishaps and determination make her a joy to follow. The exotic settings and quirky side characters add an extra layer of enjoyment to the story.

If you’re looking for a book that’s both entertaining and filled with twists and turns, Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a must-read. Trust me, you’ll be eagerly flipping pages to see what trouble Lily gets into next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was a cute mystery, but like all mysteries I was trying to figure out the ending by looking for clues while reading. I can never just sit back and enjoy the read. Anyway, I figured out most of the ending before it happened.

The footnotes were a little hard to follow at first - wasn’t a fan of them. Once you got used to them it got a little bit better/easier.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies!

This was a fun read! A nice change of pace for my usual reading. Would definitely recommend to my friends

Every time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

This one was fun! Eleanor Nash is a best selling author on a book tour through Paris. She tries to solve a real life murder mystery when someone attempts to kill someone on her team.

Even though the story was a bit cheesy it was also a very funny cozy mystery. I actually laughed out loud a few times. There were also a few T-Swift references that added to the fun. One part of the book which I really enjoyed were the footnotes. They were hilarious! Throughout the story Eleanor addresses the reader multiple times which isn’t done often but made me feel like part of the book.

Every time I Go on Vacation is fast-paced, lighthearted with witty banter. It’s a good “palate cleanser” when in between thrillers and historical fiction novels. I will definitely read its sequel: No One was Supposed to Die at this Wedding!

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and @minotaur_books for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

#everytimeigoonvacationsomeonedies #catherinemack #minotaurbooks

Overall I enjoyed this cute, cozy mystery.

I combined the audio with the physical book and found I really preferred the audio. The narrator was perfect!

As someone who loves a good mystery (which is no secret), especially when there's a touch of humor, I was excited to dive in. What really set this book apart for me was Eleanor's unique way of connecting with the reader through footnotes.

The Italian setting was another highlight—it let me escape for a bit and imagine I was soaking up the sun there too. As for the mystery, while it didn’t have the most jaw-dropping twist, that wasn’t an issue for me because it had so much more. I was more invested in the experience and the author’s storytelling than in trying to predict the outcome. It was a fun, breezy read that felt perfect to me!

If you're a fan of mysteries, particularly cozy ones, I highly recommend this book. I can’t wait for the second book!

As a fan of Catherine Mack’s thrillers under her other name, I was excited to dive into this clever, darkly funny mystery, and it did not disappoint. The vacation settings were vivid and immersive, providing the perfect contrast to the chaos and suspense that followed the protagonist. The audiobook was fantastic, with a narrator who perfectly captured the humor and tension, making the experience even more engaging. While I loved the twists and sharp writing, I wished for a bit more depth in some of the supporting characters. Overall, it’s a fun, fast-paced read that fans of offbeat mysteries will thoroughly enjoy!

Bring on book #2!

I absolutely adored this book! It was hilarious and had me laughing out loud. It had a really good mystery and I loved all of the characters! I also really liked the way the author wrote this, as if they were talking directly to the reader. I cannot wait for the sequel!

Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies is a quirky mystery recommended for readers who can relate to a co-dependent main character with a sassy streak. A la Jen Lancaster. Including the heavy use of footnotes... "just because"

El and Harper are in Italy for El's book tour and we are taken on a whirlwind of adventure at the hands of Connor, El's ex.. who is a thief, but also a "fictional" main character in El's novels.

Readers need to suspend reality on the initial premise, which is that El basically brain dumped her crazy European Vacation with Connor, into a blockbuster best selling book. In the writing, of which El has no experience doing, she changed all names except, her International Man of Mystery Thief of an ex. She had plenty of time (and time with lawyers and editors) to change the name but alas, she didn't. As a result, she was blackmailed into paying Connor in perpetuity.

Alright so I usually love mysteries that are on the cozy side, but the footnotes and the breaking of the fourth wall really made this one difficult for me to read.

It wasn’t as quick of a read as other cozy mysteries, but it was fun. A big cast of characters to guess who did it with plenty of motives. Plus it had a great setting in Italy.

I may pick up the next one for a good time.

Also I did guess part of the ending 🤷‍♀️

This book was so unique. The main character being the narrator was a new idea to me and I liked it. It was a nice twist to a murder mystery themed book and it made me like it more.

The cliff notes in the book didn't do much for me and I honestly skipped them a lot. For me they didn't add to the story. Overall this was a good book and I really enjoyed it!

What a fun and funny read from the very first page I was drawn in. This was truly such a pleasure to read can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Also loved all the Taylor Swift references and the Italy setting so much

Clever and funny premise for a novel. Best read in final format as footnotes add so much to the continuity of the story. My edition was a digital review copy. Generally enjoyable book. However, I didn't engage with the characters as I had hoped to. Suspect list was well, everyone! Didn't end up finishing it to end.

Well, surprisingly I liked this more than I thought I would. It had all the ingredients out of the bounds of my preference: increadibly unbelievable on a lot of accounts, a series so you feel like you have to read the next one, highly unlikable characters. Even, Eleanor, the main character was unbearable at times, although it might have been the aperol spritz, but she grew on me. While reading the advanced unedited copy was a project in itself, the authors use of footnotes being all ever the place, I did find them endearing. And the setting, of course, is beautiful. Definitely more of a summer time beach read.
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC which i finished waaay too late.

Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible.

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.