Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies was a book that I kept coming back to as I was contemplating my yearly pick for my book club. I kept reading about how fun it was, and while it wasn’t my pick, I couldn’t wait to read it.

I read this book as an arc on my kindle, so please take my review with a grain of salt - it was messy. Quite literally, the formatting of the book was a mess. The narrator, an author on a book tour in Italy with several other authors and fans, uses footnotes to interject pithiness into the story. Reading on my kindle, the footnotes were all over the place and tremendously distracting. So much so that I set this book aside several times to come back to later when I could focus more on reading it. I might have liked that format better if I had a physical copy of a book with the footnotes at the bottom of each page or consistently at the end of a chapter with the easy ability to flip back and forth to see the text.

The story begins in Rome, where we are introduced to Eleanor Dash, an author, her sister/assistant, and the other authors and associated entourage on the book tour of Italy. Learning the background of the characters and their connections is somewhat disjointed, but as the book progressed, it flowed better and became easier to read.

Overall, I thought this was a fun story that reminded me of Everybody in my Family has Killed Somebody. This will be a series and I will probably read the next book.

We are big fans of Catherine McKenzie’s books, so when I learned she was writing under a new pen name and that she was writing a fun, cozy murder mystery, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I’ve been having trouble getting into thriller suspense novels lately. I’m a mood reader, and I just haven’t been loving the darker novels, not because they are poorly written, but because I haven’t been in the mood to read them. I absolutely adored this book. It’s the mystery novel I’ve been craving. It’s fun, quirky, and has characters that have larger-than-life personalities. Yes, people die in this story, and yes, there is a murderer on the loose, but the overall story isn’t dark. It reminds me of the movie Glass Onion (the second Knives Out movie with Daniel Craig). This book is really well written. The plot moves along steadily, and Catherine has time for those dramatic twists perfectly. It’s an easy and enjoyable book to read. An added bonus is Catherine has included other fun tidbits in this book. There are footnotes and excerpts from various documents discussed in this book. It’s made the reading experience more immersive.
The characters in this book are unforgettable. They all have these very loud and strong personalities, and when they are forced to spend time together on Eleanor’s book tour, shit hits the fan on multiple occasions. The character interactions in this book are fabulous. They are all divas in their own way, and I just ate up all that delicious drama.
Eleanor is an interesting main character. She is far from perfect and would be the first to admit she has made big mistakes. Personally, I really enjoyed her character and loved spending time with her. Even though she writes murder mysteries, she is not a very savvy detective (something she admits), which I liked. She makes mistakes and makes wrong guesses along the way, but heck, so did I when I was trying to figure out who the murderer was. The fact that her character was flawed made it easier to connect with her.
I loved the mystery in this book. It was so much fun figuring out which character the murderer is. Catherine kept me guessing right until the very end. You know someone is out to kill Conner and possibly Eleanor, but you have no idea who. Every character has the motivation to want both Conner and Elanor dead; the question is who has the means and opportunity to do so.
Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies is a fabulous start to a new murder mystery series.

A fun, fresh approach to the cozy mystery! I loved the first person narrative that seemingly broke the 4th wall before an announced and more deliberate crashing through that wall. I loved the footnotes as they provided quirky insights into the mind of the author-protagonist. What a fun technique Mack used! Many chapters ended like a 21st century British cop show - with a shocking turn of events that made it impossible to return to my own life at that moment. Every character provided something to love and something to hate. The casual tone and modern slang hit the mark (unlike other novels I’ve read recently that made me cringe at such attempts). I think when I realized the genius of Mack was when she had the author-protagonist telling us about the literary techniques she might be using “if” she were writing about her experience in a novel as opposed to describing her current reality. I can’t help but think Agatha Christie herself would have found this as entertaining a read as I did.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this fascinating novel.

This book has a fun premise, beautiful scenery, a cozy mystery feel, and it was a quick read for me. What not to love? I really enjoyed it.

A quaint cozy mystery. I liked the Italy setting. The main character acts a bit young for her age so I found that annoying at times. I liked the more lighthearted and humorous parts of this book. It helped keep the story light.

I was excited about the premise of this book and was slightly let down by the execution. It is not at all a terrible book, but it was not one of my greatest reads of the year.

The plot is fun (if murder can be fun ◡̈) and there is so much humor in this book! There were some good twists and new info that comes at you that makes you rethink your prediction.

The writing style is both fantastic and slightly irritating. I appreciate a footnote but there were way too many (as even the protagonist points out…so it seems like a joke that has been drawn out too long); some explanations were redundant; and honestly I liked zero people in this book. Again, the protagonist tells us she isn’t a good person…but this type of plot seems pretty lighthearted so you’d expect it to be one of those flawed-yet-endearing situations…but not for me - I just didn’t like her. One of my main irritations was the backstory that was explained to us in parts; I checked a few times to see if this was part of an established series, as it read as if they were catching me up in case I hadn’t read the previous book(s). (It is the first in a new series.) the backstory sounds pretty interesting, so maybe that should’ve indeed been book one.

Overall it’s not a bad book, not a great book, but an okay book.

Thank you so much to Catherine Mack, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the eARC of Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies.

Eleanor is on tour in Italy for the 10th anniversary of her Vacation Murder Mystery series, and she’s trying to come up with ideas for her 10th (and hopefully final) book. Her sister, Harper, and her ex, Connor, are joining her for this tour. Little does she know, several people in the extended vacation mystery universe were invited to join the tour as well. Connor is convinced that someone is trying to kill him, and it seems like someone might be out to kill Eleanor, too. Will they make it out of Italy alive? Who’s after them?

This book was funny and enjoyable! I finished it in just a few days, and I had a lot of fun. I was proud of myself for predicting part of the “twist.” I hope Mack extends this book into a series! I’d love to see these characters again, especially giving how she ended this book. Great read!

Loved the writing style on this one, but the plot wasn't as good. I appreciate all the insights into the world of publishing and how it changed our FMC El's life. She was a super fun lead character to follow with a great voice. She's animated and brings a lot of life to the book. I found the storyline extremely lacking, with El being overly dependent on her sister, atrocious ideas of blackmail, and just a chaotic turn of events in general. The narrator did a good job with the ensemble cast, and the fact that the eBook has footnotes, which Evans seamlessly wove into her narration. her vice was captivating, and I think it made up for the shortcomings in the book in some ways. Not sure if I want to read more of this series as it wasn't a terrible read.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is the first novel in the Vacation Mysteries series by Catherine Mack. This story follows bestselling mystery author Eleanor Dash on her Italian book tour. She has written nine successful mysteries and is currently planning out her tenth novel, which she intends to be the final in her series. Also present is her ex-love interest, publisher, and the inspiration for her main character, Connor Smith. Also, on this book tour are Harper, Eleanor’s sister and personal assistant, Oliver, a fellow author and former love interest of Eleanor, and contest winners.

The format of this story was interesting as there was a fourth wall breaking and footnotes which is something not included in many novels. The main mystery revolves around Connor believing that someone is trying to kill him, and evidence points to it being someone in the tour group. As the book tour moves forward, there are more and more clues that are revealed until Eleanor can figure out the mystery. The story itself on the campy side compared to a more serious mystery, so this type of novel (and series) may not be for every type of reader. It is a bit over the top, but it is a fun escape read. I still am on the fence if I liked the format, but I did enjoy the actual mystery story. With the characters, I think there was a lot of potential, but they were enjoyable. I think some of their storylines, such as Eleanor’s sister’s dream of becoming an author needed to be explored better. Overall, this was an interesting start to the series and I most likely will check the next novel in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Eleanor Dash is a famous author who wrote her first book on her real life experience in Italy where she and boyfriend Connor helped solve a major mafia murder. and robbery scheme Eleanore prior to that first book had to grow up fast as her parents were killed when she was 18 years old and had to become the parent for her younger sister Harper. Eleanor's trip to Italy was her first escape, after growing up so fast, before she had to get a real job. The experience in Italy was so crazy that Eleanore had to write it and it got published but she also stole her younger sisters dream and that sister is her assistant. The publisher that Eleanore writes for puts together a book trip to Europe. Eleanors now ex-boyfriend Connor is on the trip as well and is a thorn in her side after everything her put her through and then his demand of proceeds from her book since they used his real name. The author did choose to put footnotes in the book as she wrote which was strange but the book was really good. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for the opportunity to read.

This book was really fun and I had a great time reading it! I loved how there were footnotes added to each chapter, that’s something I’ve never seen in a book before. I thought I had the mystery solved from the beginning, but none of theories I had were right! I like when books aren’t so predictable that you know what happens right away. Despite this, I felt that the book was a bit too long for my taste, but overall it was very entertaining.

This book was so fun! Like a cozy Hercule Poirot murder mystery mixed with the humor of the movie ‘Knives Out’ and set in the beautiful vacation destination of Italy. I smoothly breezed right through it because I just couldn’t put it down!

I enjoyed the way it was written- an unreliable FMC who was plotting her next vacation murder mystery book while seemingly living it. Very creative idea and although I could tell who the culprit was in this ‘whodunit’ it was very entertaining nonetheless! My favorite part was the FMC’s humorous and sarcastic inner monologue and book plotting.

I did opt to listen to this one on audiobook despite also having an e-galley. I absolutely loved the narrator (Elizabeth Evans) and I think listening on audio made it way more fun! I highly recommend doing the audio version for anyone who is able.

I’m so happy this will be a series. I love these characters and I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you so much to Catherine, SMP, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the e-galley and audiobook.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack is the perfect summertime mystery read.

What I loved so much

1. Books written from the perspective of people who write books are always fun for me .

2. The mystery was developed in such a way as to leave me guessing right up to the reveal.

3. Pacing and dialogue were wonderfully done.

4. The footnotes were a particularly fun idea and I do hope their formatting is cleaned up a bit in the physical release.

What Didn't work for me as well

honestly my only real compliant was some formatting stuff with the footnotes that I see has already been adressed in the publishers note.

Who Do I recomend this title for

If you love books about books and writing about writers then this mudreous mystery may be just the right read for you. the writing vibe is very close to reading some mary higgins clark titles and that really was fun to see.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Eleanor Dash is the bestselling author of the Vacation Mystery Series and she has had enough of her protagonist Connor Smith. Connor is based on a real person with the same name and that mistake has cost her dearly. It all started 10 years ago when a real attempt was made on his life, she got involved and decided their experience would make a great book. Now with the final book in the series under contract, she has decided she needs to kill the character off so that she can get him out of her life and get on with her own.

While on a book tour in Italy with other authors and super fans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 1st Vacation Mystery tour Eleanor is contemplating the perfect way to kill the character but it appears someone is actually trying to kill off the real Connor Smith or are they? Could she be the real target?

____

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a book written by an author about an author being an author. Eleanor Dash talks directly to the reader at what seems at breakneck speed with a lot of footnotes. Eleanor is a flawed individual who depends on her younger sister Harper to keep her entire life in order. Connor too is flawed. He has a past with Eleanor, first as a love interest, but even broken up he has inserted himself into her life as a "consultant/inspiration" for her books and made sure he receives a percentage of every dollar she makes. He is also sure someone is trying to kill him. Another ex, author, Oliver Forrest is on the tour too. Eleanor may still have feelings for him. Oliver may still have feelings for her. Eleanor cracked me up several times throughout the story. I would label her as snarky but very funny. The author has surrounded her with the perfect cast of characters. They all play off each other very well. The dialogues and interactions are crisp and feel real.

There were several murder attempts in the book, along with Eleanor's thoughts about how to kill Connor, the character, okay, and maybe the man too a few times. There were a couple of actual murders as well. Ms. Mack served up plenty of twists and turns that kept both the characters and this reader misdirected. The mystery was very well-plotted. I started to put things together before they were revealed or spelled out. One character drew my attention for several different reasons so I had them at the top of my suspect list. I wasn't expecting the true grandeur of the scheme though.

Eleanor Dash is not a fan of reviewers like me and can't believe anyone would give any of her books under 4 stars. She also calls GoodReads "MeanReads" claiming people are allowed to post reviews there for books that haven't even read. I won't let Eleanor's feelings affect my review.

I have to address the footnotes. I was reading a digital copy. At first, they were funny and entertaining and placed well within the text. As the story continued I found myself flipping pages to follow the number to the footnote because they were not lining up well at all. They messed with the flow and took away from the story. I know this is the price I pay for receiving an early copy. I hope these issues are fixed in the actual for-sale digital copies readers receive. Placed well, they make the writer's style of breaking the fourth wall unique.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is full of humor, quirky characters, a little romance, and a clever mystery set in picturesque Italy that takes readers behind the scenes into the crazy publishing world. It was an entertaining read. I hope there is a sequel.

4 Starfish! That should make Eleanor happy. 

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

Every Time I go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a fast paste, modern, cozy mystery. This book breaks the fourth wall and captures the art of writing a mystery will also reading a mystery. Eleanor Dash, a mystery author, finds herself wrapped up in a real life murder case, while on her current book tour.

I absolutely love this book and couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the aspect of breaking the fourth wall, and feeling like this book was including the readers in the plot itself.. Overall was really fun and intriguing and I can’t wait for the next!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES
by CATHERINE MACK

10 days eight suspects six cities, five authors, and three bodies one trip to die for

This is a hilarious and irresistible series debut, and I can’t read to wait to read the rest of the books in this series

This is a great read, and and I highly recommend this to anyone that loves a cosy mystery and with a lot of humour thrown in.

Thank you, the @minotaur_books and @catherineMcKenzieauthor the beautiful finished copy, sign book plate and note.

This has been a wonderful reading experience.

Everything everyone is saying about <u>Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies</u> is true. The footnotes are a hoot: the narrator, Eleanor Dash, drops teasers here and there. She often alludes to characters or plots in her previous novels in those footnotes. There were times when I couldn't separate the character from the actual author.

This was indeed an entertaining read, but I started getting tired of Eleanor's retreat into an alcoholic stupor at almost every meal. I get that book tours are mandatory purgatory for authors, but all that drinking had me worried about Eleanor's fictional liver after a while.

Spoiler alert: the author's acknowledgements page reveals that Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies will be first installment in a three book deal. The mystery in this book is neatly resolved - with the exception of one major loose end... so, stay tuned for book number two in this thriller series set in Italy... and who knows where else in the next two installments!

I do recommend this one, but as usual in a series set, there is a fair amount of filler and repetitive passages. I'm rating this one a 3.9 out of 5. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest revue.

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Catherine Mack for letting me read this book ahead of release.
This is my first Catherine Mack read and I have to say I really like this book. Eleanor Dash is the main and she was a very witty character. The story is told by Eleanor on a trip to Italy. A little weird at times but she made everything interesting and exciting. A lot of other really great characters in this light murder, mystery, romance novel.

I read this book through Kindle and I was really thrown off by the footnotes. They popped up everywhere on the pages as I read. Sometimes there were 3 or 4 footnotes and I would have to scroll back to figure out where they belonged.the footnotes were usually witty

Along with the footnotes the sentences did not always match up so there would be a word and then the sentence would continue on the next line down. It was just kind of messy.

Also found a bunch of spelling errors also. Hopefully that all gets fixed before publication.

But putting all that aside, I really like this book and the story line was entertaining. It was funny at times, crazy and suspenseful. I also loved the fact that it was in Italy and it was set in all the places I had traveled to for my 20th anniversary just 6 years ago so I was familiar with a lot of the places they visited. So that was kind of like a flash back for me.

I am looking forward to possibly getting an advance copy of book 2 to see what happens at the wedding!

Thank you again. Really appreciate great read that I recommend for anyone looking for a light mystery to read!

This debut cozy mystery was such a fun read that I really enjoyed. From the quirky relationship between Eleanor and Connor, to the slight rift between Eleanor and her sister Harper, to the possible suspects throughout, there wasn’t a dull moment. Eleanor being a murder mystery writer has a story behind her 9 novels and Connor has the inside scoop.

I enjoyed how we were always in Eleanor’s mind with her hilarious, but insightful footnotes. They made it feel as though I was putting the mystery together along with her and her theories. There was always something going on with someone in this one. Although, we are chasing the story to find out the who and the why, it was easy to keep up with the characters. I loved how the ending was revealed!

One thing I must mention about the footnotes specifically on reading on my kindle. It was hard to follow the footnotes initially because they were placed at the end of the chapter instead of at the exact moment. Once I downloaded the audiobook I was able to hear the footnotes in real time, as it was happening which made for a better experience. With that I would I say the audiobook or physical book is the way to go with this one. Once I had that, this story came to life! Also, the pasta and drinks of choice had me hungry!