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.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hmm. Where to start with this one...
I'd say the title and cover are probably the high lights of this, unfortunately for me. The title is misleading (maybe better for a sequel) .

The main character isn't the most likable. She seems to be annoyed by everything in her life, which is bold of her because she's a famous wealthy author in Italy surrounded by fans and praise. The way she talks about her fans, booktok, and even goodreads puts a sour taste in the mouth. It's not the best to make fun of the people who build your brand and love your content, especially as you're being rude about the people who are literally reading the book in real life. It felt weird and like a "Ugh poor me I'm above this" type snobbery. It's just odd.

She also seems like she doesn't even like being an author. Her sister, whose actual passion is writing, is much more likable. Unfortunately for her, the main character is the star, and we pretty much have to deal with it.

The side characters all seemed unique enough, though forgettable.

The story and mystery itself felt nonexistent. I was halfway in and felt like nothing really happened. By the time the end happened, I fully did not care and was just trying to get the book over with.

Formatting and footnotes were a lot.

Overall, it just didn't work for me.

Wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but it was exactly what I needed it to be. So clever and funny and just flat out entertaining. We follow an author named Eleanor through a ten day book tour through Italy. We meet several people from Eleanor’s life, some are her friends, some are not. When Eleanor’s untrustworthy ex (who is part of her entourage for the tour) claims someone is trying to kill him, no one really believes him. Several attempts on Eleanor’s own life urge her to finally take him seriously. By the time the mystery writer solves the mystery, it’s nearly too late. Throughout the books you’re given footnotes. It’s like you’re reading Eleanor’s next story as she’s writing it. Mack was not afraid of breaking the fourth wall with this story and I freaking LOVED it. I have never read anything like this and I’m just over here impatiently waiting for the next book she alluded to several times throughout this novel.

EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES was an interesting mystery told in a unique way. Eleanor Dash is the author of ten mystery books. She finds herself on an author tour to Italy along with some literary rivals, her sister who is her assistant, and nineteen members of her fan club including one who is her stalker. Also on the tour is Connor Smith who was with her on her first trip to Italy which led to the beginning of her writing career and her first book. He has also become the star of her series and the man who has been blackmailing her for all of those ten years.

Since she is at the end of her publishing contract, she is determined to kill Connor off - in her books. However, it seems that someone might be trying to kill him off in real life. And maybe they want Eleanor dead too.

While it is easy to see why a good many of the people on tour with her want Connor dead, she can't see why anyone would want her dead. But she and her fellow authors are determined to use the skills they've learned as mystery writers to figure out who want Eleanor and Connor dead.

But then another of the authors dies and there are more questions raised.

I thought the style of this book, which is told by Eleanor, who claims herself to be an unreliable narrator, and includes a number of footnotes was an interesting way to set up the story. I found her asides to her audience entertaining and informative too.

Mystery lovers who want a look behind the curtain of mystery writing will especially enjoy this story.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, by Catherine Mack, is a cozy, quirky, mystery with interesting characters that draw you in. The setting, the twists, and the unique writing style of Mack all keep pulling you through the story to find out what really is going on.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

"Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" by Catherine Mack is a delightful and witty debut that seamlessly blends humor, mystery, and romance into an irresistible narrative. Set against the backdrop of an Italian book tour, the story follows bestselling author Eleanor Dash as she navigates the unexpected twists and turns of real-life intrigue.

Mack's writing sparkles with charm and humor, drawing readers into Eleanor's world with vivid descriptions and clever dialogue. From the picturesque Italian settings to the quirky cast of characters, every detail feels authentic and immersive, creating a rich tapestry for the unfolding mystery.

At the heart of the story is Eleanor herself, a sharp-witted protagonist with a knack for getting herself into amusing predicaments. Her dynamic relationships with the various characters, including the charming but infuriating con man Connor Smith and her unexpected ex, Oliver, add depth and complexity to the narrative.

The mystery itself is expertly crafted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the very end. As Eleanor delves deeper into the case, Mack expertly balances suspense with humor, creating a truly engaging reading experience.

Overall, "Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" is a delightful romp of a mystery that will leave readers eagerly anticipating Eleanor Dash's next adventure. With its sharp writing, engaging characters, and clever plot twists, it's a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries and romantic comedies alike. It earns a solid four stars and a well-deserved spot on any mystery lover's bookshelf.

Exciting, suspenseful and quirky. Catherine has a unique writing style that took a bit to get used to but kept you turning pages.

This book was a whole lot of fun! I found myself laughing a lot, despite the fact that this is a murder mystery. It’s definitely a cozy mystery, which is a genre I haven’t read in quite a while.

I loved the narrator, Eleanor Dash. She was sarcastic and witty. I could really relate to her, even if I could not relate to her actual life. The accompanying cast of characters were fantastic. Some you loved, some you hated, but they were still multi-dimensional and not written as “black and white”.

I also really enjoyed the author’s use of footnotes. I thought it was a fun, unique way to write. I’ve seen that others didn’t like that aspect so much, but I really thought it was a great addition to the story. I also liked how Eleanor “broke the fourth wall” quite a bit.

The mystery itself was also entertaining and engaging. Even though I had one potion of the mystery figured out, I did not have it all figured out, and was pleasantly surprised how things wrapped up.

I highly recommend this book and will definitely be reading the additional books from the series once they are published.

Many thanks to NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read the first book, 'Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies,' in The Vacation Mysteries written by Catherine Mack, which I only learned this week is a pseudonym for suspense novelist, Catherine Mackenzie. I enjoyed two of her books and had high hopes for this one. A writer goes on tour in Europe but her publisher sends several other writers, and the inspiration for her main character, who is a ruthless man that blackmailed the author on a few things. For plots, A+... as I loved the depth and detail. I liked some of the characters and the setting, but I wasn't pulled into the book as much as was needed. Part of it is due to the style in which the book is written. Mack tells the story through scenes and various commentary which is often footnoted. The footnotes contain references to her books and past events between her and the real-life guy they were based on. It was too jarring for me as I lost pace a lot. Sometimes it worked, but sometimes I also felt it was too much. Also, do not read this as an ebook. The formatting is such that the footnotes regularly appear page later, so you are swiping left and right so much, it was a chore! Had the formatting and overall style been more to my preferences, I would have given this a 4, but it was not an easy read. Sorry!

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies
By Catherine Mack
Publication Date: April 30, 2024
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

📚MY REVIEW:

What a delightfully enjoyable read from Catherine Mack! This was a true whodunnit mystery, with a whole host of characters that just might be shady enough to have, well, dunnit. The comparison to Knives Out was SPOT ON -- the book was reminiscent of that type of plotline. And set with the beautiful backdrop of the Italian coast along the Mediterranean Sea, the locations almost seemed to become another character in the story.

The story was told from the perspective of Eleanor, an unreliable narrator, which is one of my favorite kinds of reads. But what made this book really unique, unlike anything I've read before, was that Eleanor tells the story as if she's actually talking to the reader. As I read, I felt like this wild story was being told to me by one of my best friends...you know, that friend who is brilliant, has a sarcastically dry sense of humor, and who doesn't have a filter? Come on, we all have that friend: she always has a flare for dramatics but she's loveably quirky and you'd do anything for her? Yup, her. In this book, Eleanor's humor and wit comes shining through in the use of footnotes throughout the entire book. It took some time to get used to, but once I did, I loved this component of the story-telling.

This book took me on twists and turns and flipped me upside down a couple times, leaving me guessing the whole time. Whenever I thought I had figured it out, nope, I sure didn't. This book was so much fun and is the PERFECT bingeable beach or pool read this summer! I highly recommend grabbing your copy when it goes on sale April 30th!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!


#EveryTimeIGoOnVacationSomeoneDies #CatherineMack #NetGalley #ARC #whodunnit #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #bookcommunity #mysteries

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this digital ARC. I enjoyed the premise and idea of writing a book within a book. I love books about books, but this one didn’t’ do it for me. I felt like I was anticipating for more things to happen and it just didn’t pull through. Glad I tried! Hoping others will love it more!

Clever and well-written, this mystery is populated with interesting characters and will keep you guessing until the end.