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.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and Minotaur Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies was a fun book, complete with a mystery, romance, and humor to get me happily into this from the first chapter.

Eleanor is a bestselling author of a mystery series that started with a book based on a romance and investigation involving Connor. Unfortunately Connor wanted an ever growing cut of the series his story helped start, so when he claims to be targeted for murder Eleanor is torn between wanting to support the murder. Harper, Eleanor’s sister and assistant, is involved in the mystery as well since she is helping Eleanor during the book fan tour through Italy and breathes a little less emotion into trying to solve it, along with Oliver, a fellow author. But when Eleanor looks to also be targeted for murderer solving for the murderer’s identity becomes a lot more serious for her.

This book gave a mini tour of Italy while also balancing the fun and mystery. While there was a lot to be introduced to, it came together well. The only part I didn’t enjoy were all the footnote. It was a fun device but half the footnotes could have been absorbed in the main writing, and the remainder could be somewhat let go of without impact to the readers understanding, leaving a more manageable number for the reader. It looks like this is setting up to be part of a series, and I’m looking forward to revisiting the characters and writing!

I really enjoyed the writing style. It allowed me to flow through the novel quickly. Yes, the narrator uses footnotes. I think I understand why the footnotes are integral to the story. Did we need to have so many? I don’t think so but they do add more backing as to why our narrator is unreliable. You could honestly skip the footnotes. Of course the ending confirmed my suspicions. I’m just baffled…you know what? I’ll put that thought on hold before I move into spoiler territory. Anyway, the location was fun, the characters not so much, a good outdoor read, gets the reader all twisted up, and a welcome addition to the cozy mystery genre.

I know this one has alot of great reviews, so I definitely think this is a case of it's me and not the book. But I had a hard time relating to the characters. I couldn't get invested in them or their story. I found the footnotes to be alot. I understand what she was doing, and some were funny, but some chapters just felt like there were tons of them to go through. Interesting concept, almost like an inception for authors. Just didn't work for me. But if you like authors writing a mystery about authors this book is definitely for you!

This was SUCH a fun reading experience. It felt similar to Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and The Fury. The humor was relatable and not too forced. I loved the “breaking the fourth wall” aspect. The twists at the end were just… so satisfying! They truly shocked me

While I was a big fan of all the T.Swift quotes and references, the writing style of Every time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies took a bit to get used to.

The narrator speaks to the reader quite a bit, through asides and footnotes. At first, I thought it was fun, and it made me, as a reader, a co-conspirator… but in the last third of the book, it was distracting from the fast-paced timeline of the book. I felt like she was quite boastful. Like, “na na na na na, I’ve solved it, have you? Ha ha” And it’s like, actually Catherine, I had this one called in the first day of their trip.

The who-done-it portion was fun to follow, though all of my predictions were spot on.

A solid 3 for this quickie read. Would be good poolside, or, you know, on the Italian coastline somewhere, with a lemon spritz!

*thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC for review!

3.5!

I was really unsure of this at first but it really grew on me. The footnotes were throwing me off as they felt like interruptions from the main story and I was really confused about the plot - it felt like vibes only. But, as the characters were developed, backstory was given, and the main character's sense of humor was slowly developed, I started to enjoy the story and was along for the ride. I had to be okay with the "vibes only" plot but it was really cozy and I was invested by the end.

The main character, Eleanor was a little bit delusional but she was hilarious. She included 300 footnotes in the book, some of which were distracting, but most of which contributed to her humor throughout the book. The book inception was cool as the novel itself was being written by Eleanor. I really liked the character of Connor, he was very unique and pretty well developed.

I had fun trying to solve the mystery, Eleanor left a lot of clues in her footnotes and investigation, making it entirely possible for the reader to solve (not me though, I'm terrible at things like that).

Overall a fun and easy read, will consider reading future books in the series. Definitely a wonderful debut novel! Thank you to NetGalley + St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

Main Characters:
-- Eleanor Dash – 35-year-old bestselling mystery author of nine books in her Vacation Mysteries series, on a book tour in Italy with several other authors and fans through her publisher approaching the 10-year anniversary of her first release, toying with the idea of killing off the main character in the series
-- Connor Smith – former private investigator who led an investigation of some robberies in Rome 10 years prior, solved the case with Eleanor and they also had a one-year fling, no longer an investigator since Eleanor’s book made him semi-famous, believes that someone on the tour is trying to kill him
-- Harper Dash – Eleanor’s younger sister, works as Eleanor’s assistant, her dream when she was younger was to be a bestselling author
-- Allison Smith – Connor’s ex-wife, Eleanor didn’t know they were married when she and Connor were involved, so Allison and Eleanor have a tense relationship at best, she is also on the book tour
-- Guy Charles – Connor’s former business partner, but their business fell apart once Connor became well-known
-- Shek Botha – another mystery author on the book tour, has the same publisher as Eleanor
-- Oliver Forrest – another author on the book tour with the same publisher as Eleanor, also a former love of Eleanor after she split up with Connor
-- Emily Ma – a bestselling author in Italy on the book tour
-- Isabella Joseph – Canadian tourist who Connor met on the plane on the way to Italy

The title of this book grabbed me, and the description sounded like fun, which is why I requested the advance copy. It starts with a great hook: “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I want to commit a homicide.” Who wouldn’t want to keep reading?

Eleanor Dash wrote her first novel after a vacation in Rome turned into a serial-robbery-turned-murder investigation and a love affair with the charismatic private investigator Connor Smith. Once she returned home to New York, she spent several months fictionalizing the story of what happened in Rome. Her biggest mistake, however, was changing everyone’s names but Connor’s.

Throughout the book, Eleanor eludes to Connor holding something over her head from 10 years prior, something she would not want revealed. As a result, when her publisher continues to request new books in the Vacation Series, Connor takes a bigger percentage of her royalties to keep her secret. And while she’s on this book tour to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the first book’s release, she makes notes about how she plans to kill off the main character so she can be rid of Connor for good. But then someone seems to want him dead for real.

With a multitude of suspects, since Connor has ticked off a pretty significant number of people, the book within a book plotline has a ton of potential. That said, I really struggled to enjoy it.

A lot of reviewers seem to have a problem with Eleanor breaking the fourth wall…addressing the reader. I don’t necessarily have a problem with that. It can be a really effective method of pulling the reader into the story, as if you’re sitting in the same room with the narrator listening to her tell the story in real time. But the way she chooses to do it in this case is with footnotes that aren’t really footnotes. They’re asides. They’re parentheticals. As footnotes, they add absolutely nothing to the story, and on a digital copy of the book, it was a pain flipping back and forth between the text and the footnotes. I can’t even imagine how they would work in an audiobook.

When you see a footnote in an article, it’s a citation of some kind, adds information that isn’t necessarily part of the article. Typically when footnotes are “stacked,” and you have two footnotes together, they’re different citations, two clearly separate pieces of information. Eleanor’s footnotes are side comments that could easily be left out (which she acknowledges herself), and when she stacks them together, they’re two or three sentences that could have easily been in one note. I think they are supposed to be humorous, maybe add some levity to the book, but they did not work at all for me.

He claims it was mostly paid for with his finder’s fee money, (ii)
(II) More about this later

Because I always take the opportunity to have the last word if I can unless I’m using silence for emphasis. (iii ii)
(ii) Not my best characteristic, but can you blame a writer?
(iii) Given how this is going, my last words will probably be a footnote.

Or maybe it’s the alcohol. (vi)
(viI) t’s probably the alcohol.

Uh-oh. (viii ix)
(viii) All my footnotes are getting cut, aren’t they?
(ix) I mean, there’s almost three hundred of them so I shouldn’t be surprised?

Honestly, I almost stopped reading a quarter of the way through because of the footnotes, but I saw so many reviews from people who thought they were hilarious and creative. Me? Not so much. This isn’t a research paper. Include the parentheticals in the text, or don’t include them at all. It was so annoying to flip to the footnote and read “more about this later” because it actively pulled me out of the story and added absolutely nothing.

Another thing I really don’t like is that about 70% of the way into the book, there is actually a chapter called “Breaking the Fourth Wall.” Eleanor takes a break in telling the story to recap the story so far and outline all the possible suspects, including herself. And then she tells us it’s our turn to solve the case because we’ve reached the third act. No…just no. I don’t want you to pull me completely out of the story. I don’t want or need a refresh of the characters. Just finish the book!

The case gets solved at the end. Of course it does. I suspected one person that I was right about, but I didn’t know the how or why of the person’s involvement until the very end. From that perspective, it was a decent mystery, which is why the 2 stars instead of 1.

This humorous mystery is a debut under this pseudonym for an author with several bestselling psychological thrillers under her belt. Two of them I have read, enjoyed, and reviewed in the past (Eight Years, Six Days on My TBR List and Your Pride is the Only One That Matters). I hope she hones this new craft, but this one is a miss for me.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a very cute and humorous story. All of the characters were likeable except for a few. It is very well written, and I loved the footnotes. They added a little bit more personality to the story! It was different, I haven't see footnotes used in that way in a book before. You can read it without the footnotes, but I recommend reading the footnotes! I think this will be a series because it sets the story up at the end for book number two. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Tha k you to netgalley and Catherine Mack, and the publishers for the advanced copy

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is perfect for fans of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.

All Eleanor wants is to finish her book tour in Italy and finish her Vacation Mystery series that will kill off her main character, Connor Smith, who is also her ex-boyfriend. However, Connor believes someone is out to kill him and wants Eleanor to figure out who is behind the attempts on his life. Can Eleanor survive crazy fans, two ex-boyfriends, an incompetent tour guide while figuring out who is behind an attempted murder?

This was a fun cozy murder mystery. I loved Eleanor as a character. She was so witty throughout the book and the footnotes on her ideas of killing off her main character was entertaining. I loved how her character consistently broke the fourth wall and brought the reader into solving the mystery behind the murders. The ending leaves on a cliffhanger and repeatedly makes mention of a second and even a third book. I am interested in seeing what's next for Eleanor.

I highly suggest the audiobook for Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies. I was granted the opportunity to review the e-book and the audiobook. I stopped reading the e-book after a couple chapters. I found the footnotes to be distracting from the main story but enhanced the audiobook.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies comes out April 30th.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.