2.5 stars. This novel sounded so promising to me: Eleanor Dash is a successful mystery writer. She travels to Italy to work on her newest book in which she hope to kill off her main character, Connor Smith, a man based upon a real person who unfortunately has become entangled in her life. Having read really good reviews, I was eager to dive into this novel. However, I found it difficult to get into and the footnotes (yes, footnotes in a novel) drove me crazy! Additionally, I found the plot to be a bit trite because of too may eye-rolling scenarios. All in all, although the premise of this book had me intrigued, I found the execution to be lacking.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack. Pub Date: April 30, 2024. Rating: 2.5 stars. The premise of this novel sounded quirky, fun and full of cozy mystery vibes. The execution of this novel was weird, dull, all over the place and very over the top. The main character is a female author who is on vacation with some of her readers and a cast of characters associated with her such as her sister, ex-lovers and another author. Death is following them on this vacation and it is a race to figure out the mystery. At times I felt the author was trying to hard to be funny and it was cheesy and predictable. Also, I felt some of the scenes/scenarios were so over the top that the story did not have as much depth as I would have hoped for. This one was a miss for me. Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

In this delightful mystery, bestselling author Eleanor Dash embarks on a book tour in Italy. Her goal? To kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next installment of her Vacation Mysteries series. But when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life—the infuriating con man from Eleanor’s past—she’s enlisted to solve the case. Amid literary rivals, rabid fans, and unexpected reunions, theories abound, and hearts are laid bare. Is someone truly trying to get away with murder? Catherine Mack’s debut introduces us to a world where fiction and reality collide, leaving readers guessing until the very end. 🕵️‍♀️🌟

If you’re seeking a fun, semi-lighthearted mystery with a sprinkle of romance, this book is a must-read! 📖✨

Don’t go on vacation with Eleanor!
Eleanor Dash, best-selling author of the Vacation mysteries, is off on a tour through Italy to publicize her latest book. Of course, the tour does not go smoothly, and Eleanor learns firsthand what it is like to have a murder interrupt your touring!
As you probably guessed from the title, there is a lot of humor in this book, with fun snarky comments by Eleanor, so be prepared to smile. There are several features of this book, though, that will delight some readers and put others off.
The book is narrated by author and main character Eleanor Dash. This adds to the fun, but the structure can be confusing. For example, the opening quotes in the book include a quote by… Eleanor Dash, and before Chapter One there is a writeup About the Author that at first made me wonder if Eleanor Dash was a pen name for the real author, Catherine Mack (which is also a pen name). It also had footnotes that are often fun but break up the narrative and are especially difficult in an audio book.
The romance theme is also prominent. Eleanor already had a difficult relationship with Connor, her blackmailer and former love interest who is also central to the vacation series she is writing and who also goes on her tour. The situation becomes even more difficult when another former boyfriend, Oliver, shows up on the trip. Both these men have physical charms that are described several times. Another personal interaction theme is Eleanor’s unusual relationship with her sister, who serves as her assistant.
The pace of the book overall is good, but the first part is largely devoted to the characters and their interactions, so if your main interest is the mystery it takes too long for the murder to occur. Some of the plot points also seemed a bit unlikely, like the makeup of the tour group.
If you enjoy books where romantic elements play a role and the structure described above appeals to you, you will find a lot to like in Every Time I go on Vacation Somebody Dies. If not, I could suggest Agathie Christie.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

2.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. Unfortunately, the ARC was a bit of a mess. The book contains a multitude of footnotes and instead of the footnotes being at the bottom of the page or at the end of a chapter, they are inserted randomly, without any rhyme or reason, and sometimes right in the middle of a sentence, which was beyond annoying. It made reading the book a real chore and difficult to follow. I understand that an ARC is not a fully edited, polished product but the footnotes made the ARC completely unreadable at times, in addition to the fact that there were so many that they eventually lost any usefulness to the plot, so I had to knock of a half star.
The book is about an author, Eleanor, who writes a cozy mystery series called the Vacation Mysteries. She wrote her first book based on a real life experience when she traveled to Rome after college and fell in insta-love with Connor, a private detective who was helping the police solve a series of bank robberies. She and Connor staked out an apartment building next door to a bank that he thinks will be the next target and they are able to catch the mobsters when they see them move into the apartment and start building the tunnel into the bank next door. But then Eleanor realizes that Connor may not have been innocently investigating the crimes, he might have been the mastermind behind the whole scheme. She never reported him and went home and wrote the book to try to understand what actually happened. But when her sister, Harper, encourages her to publish it she does but doesn't change Connor's name. He blackmails her into giving him 20% of her royalties. Flash forward 10 years and now there are 9 books in the series and the next book will not only be the end of her contract but will also be the end of the series because she plans to kill off Connor in the final book. Except she first has to get through the book tour in Italy where the entire series is being promoted. In addition to her sister and Connor, the others on the tour include other authors represented by her publisher, including her ex-boyfriend, Oliver, spy adventure author, Shek, and young upstart, Emily, who Eleanor suspects of stealing her plots. Connor's ex-wife, Allison, is along for the ride (although I'm not sure why) even though Connor brought along a young plaything, Isabelle, who he just met on the airplane as well as Connor's former investigative partner, Guy. Sylvie, their tour director, has a hard time wrangling all of them since many don't want to be in the same room with each other. Eleanor hates these tours where she has to mingle with the book club ladies and she hates it even more when Connor tells her that he thinks that someone is trying to kill him. She doesn't believe him since he tends to be a drama queen but eventually she thinks that he may be right when Shek dies after drinking from a glass that was intended for Connor. But Eleanor also thinks that someone is trying to kill her after she is almost shoved off of a cliff. The police detective called in to investigate Shek's death is none other than the same inspector that Connor and Eleanor dealt with 10 years ago on the robberies. He immediately suspects that Eleanor is the guilty party, especially since evidence is found in her backpack. But she is cleared the next day when someone tried to kill her with Guy's gun. It turns out that the real killers were the family members of the mobsters who were sent to prison after the robberies and they were trying to kill both Connor and Eleanor. Sylvie, Isabella and Marta, who worked for the publisher, are the wife and daughters of the man that Connor and Eleanor got convicted and they are out for revenge. Although it really made no sense to me how they couldn't have managed to kill Connor at the very least since Isabella had been sleeping with him for days. I mean couldn't she have poisoned him in his room? And not a lot happens in the book. There are multiple passages of ruminating over evidence, trying to decide if Connor is really a target or not, trying to identify motives, etc, that run on for far too long and then are repeated just a few chapters later. And then add in the ridiculous footnotes where Eleanor is "talking" to the readers and the book was just too long. I may read the next in the series, but I will not read an ARC.

I didn’t mind the storyline and liked how the murder solving wrapped up in the end but I felt overall, it was too drawn out. I also didn’t love all the footnotes, I was never sure if I should read them or not so I mostly didn’t. So then I was sometimes skipping whole pages on my kindle to get past them and back into the story. But on the whole, I liked the story and it was interesting.

This was so much fun! It's a different take on the cozy mystery, allowing the reader to be a part of the investigation in a way and I loved it! The writing was witty and humorous, the plot was clever, and the characters were fantastic. I loved everything about this!

pretty fun, requires a lot of suspension of disbelief but if you can do that it's a good time. unique concept

[3.75]

I had no idea what to expect from this book, but I was pleasantly surprised! After 10 long years, and 10 books to match, Eleanor Dash is ready to end this chapter of her life - or at least kill off her main character and real-life dark shadow, Connor Smith. However, once on their Italian book tour, real Connor's life is in danger. Aside from Eleanor, who would have the motivation and means to kill Connor (even metaphorically in a work of fiction)? Everyone is a suspect and Eleanor is at the top of the list. As Eleanor digs deeper into what is going on, the more danger she puts herself and her tour members in increases. Who will make it out of this trip alive? Will Eleanor be able to successfully end her series or will her series end her?

This was such a fun read! I felt like I was right there with the book tour group figuring out the events alongside them. My only complaint was that at times I felt like some parts were really drawn out while others felt rushed and I had to re-read sections to ensure I was getting the right information. However, this did not impact my overall impression of the book too much. If you're looking for a fast-paced, humor-filled read, check this one out! It may also make you reconsider taking a vacation to Italy - lol.

When I first saw this title, I feared a variation of "Murder She Wrote." Fortunately, this was much more original. Eleanor Dash is on a book tour in Italy with some of her best frenemies, including Connor, former boyfriend and star of her very popular book series. She wants to kill him in the series, but it appears that someone is trying to kill him in real life. Is someone really trying to kill him, if so, why does someone want him dead, is he really the target, could the suspect be someone on the book tour? Eleanor has to solve both a real life murder along with one she is writing. Could the police get confused by her fictional murder plotting? Oh yes, plots and theories abound. This is a fun light read. Some readers aren't fond of the footnotes, but they are amusing. If you are reading an e-copy, you only have to click on the footnote to read it and then close it to return to the book. After the first several, it just becomes part of the reading experience and makes you feel as if you are behind the scenes with the writer. This is meant to be the first in the series, and I will probably continue reading to see what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an early copy. My opinion is my own.

I couldn’t get through this book. Actually I stopped at the end of chapter one. It’s really hard to follow and all of the footnotes were confusing. I just didn’t get it, so I stopped reading.

This book was a first time read by this author for me. The e-copy I read had footnotes. At first I did not like that but before the book was over I liked them !
The book was entertaining and an easy read, even with a lot of characters. I was close on the ending, but a bigger twist was in the book.
Very entertaining and I'm very happy that I read this book.
I was given an advanced readers copy by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I give this book a 4 !

Eleanor Dash is the successful author of the Vacation Mysteries Series who is trying to get through her book tour while trying to figure out how to kill off her main character. Obviously mayhem and murder ensues. I really disliked the footnotes and found they distracted from an otherwise solid read. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Looking for the perfect vacation read that will keep you entertained from start to finish? Dive into the captivating world of "Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies"!

Join bestselling author Eleanor Dash as she embarks on her Italian book tour, only to find herself caught up in a real-life murder mystery. With a delightful blend of suspense, humor, and intriguing characters, this book offers an immersive reading experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat. .Follow Eleanor as she navigates through literary rivalries, rabid fans, and unexpected twists and turns—all while trying to unravel the mystery behind the attempted murder of her ex, Connor Smith. With each page turn, you'll find yourself drawn deeper into the captivating storyline, eagerly trying to piece together the clues and uncover the truth.But "Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies" isn't just a mystery novel—it's a delightful romp through the picturesque landscapes of Italy, filled with mouthwatering descriptions of food, charming locales, and unforgettable moments.

Whether you're lounging on the beach or exploring a new city, this book is the perfect companion for your next adventure.So why wait? Pick up your copy of "Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies" today and embark on a thrilling journey that you won't soon forget! Get ready to be swept away by the magic of Italy and the excitement of a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. 📚✈️🔍

Real Rating: 3.25* of five
Funny. Goodly quantity of witty fourth-wall-breaking zingers, pleasant travelogue-y feel of the my friend texted me from Italy variety. Cozy atmosphere, by which I mean the amateur sleuth never being in any believeable danger.

Too long, a bit too fond of its own wit...the comedian who stays one joke too long...and lacking suspense; the right combo for those who miss Joan Hess or Katherine Hall Paige. Will amuse and entertain when that is what is needed.

Longer review coming soon!

OMG I just finished and had to post ASAP. I LOVED THIS BOOK! I am not going to lie, I was a little thrown by the footnotes at first. I think because it is a draft arc version, I am sure they will be formatted better in the final copy. But wow, this book was phenomenal. It felt like a game of CLUE come to life. I actually came to love the footnotes, and also how our unreliable narrator was basically writing the book and talking her way through it. I read a ton of thrillers and I am pretty snobby with my twists and turns, but this book delivered. I also really loved how the author spelled everything out very A,B,C,D,etc for the readers so we did not miss a single thing. I am so curious how the audiobook will be formatted. The only bit of constructive criticism I would provide is that in the beginning I thought I had messed up and was reading book 2 or 3 because there was so much discussion about her previous books, and her and Connor and it was written in a way that made me think I missed an entire book or something.

I am THRILLED there will be a book 2 and 3!! Aperol Spritz all around!

How I thought that whoever thought it was a good idea to book a tour in Italy in July was a lunatic! How Connor said he thought the person who mugged him was Italian. "Buy why the mugging?" Eleanor Dash is an author that wants to get through her book tour in Italy, she wants to kill off her main character, Connor Smith. Eleanor is on a 10 day Italy trip with her ex named Connor.

The book is an easy and entertaining read. This seems to be the first in a series called "The Vacation Mysteries." The story is clever and super funny at times. It gives the reader an inside look at the world of publishing. Catherine Mack is the pseudonym of author Catherine McKenzie. I have read many of her books. The style of the writing is different from her normal books. This is the perfect vacation read!

Cute Story, Who Done It Story, and Cozy Mystery! 3.5 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

This was SO fresh and fun!!! A brilliant thriller with great formatting (the footnotes omg!!!!), a fun cast of characters, amazing pacing, and such comedy!!! It was silly and twisty and fun and exactly what I needed!! Thank you for the arc.

The ultimate cozy mystery. This story was likable, but slow at times. It truly gave a rollercoaster of emotions from funny, heart wrenching, to being kept on your toes.

this was a quick fun read, very different from what I usually read The characters were great, I enjoyed the story very much.