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.

This book is a modern day "Clue" game set in beautiful locales throughout Italy. Each chapter had footnotes that added funny commentary to the story filled with random thoughts. The characters banter and squabbling was killer.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a fun, silly, cozy mystery!

Thank you, Minotaur Books

Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies is a perfect novel for fans of Knives Out, Only Murders in the Building, or Clue. This immersive novel takes you on a tour of Italy with a series of characters that will have you participating in solving a murder before the story ends.

I absolutely loved this book from the first chapter. The way the narrator unfolds the story, while also giving footnotes and asides, makes the reader feel incredibly immersed in the plot and from the very start of the book I was trying to figure out who did what to who when. I read this book in less than 24 hours because the story’s pace was fast enough to keep my attention and focus while slow enough to weave an incredibly intricate spider web tale.

I really enjoyed the way the characters are all uniquely innocent and guilty - there isn’t a single character in this book, including the narrator, who I didn’t question or second guess and that made the final twists and climax that much more intense for me because I was so invested in solving the crime. I really enjoyed their relationships as well - the sisters read exactly as sisters, with their inside jokes and complications, and the dalliances between all the different exes on the trip made for really fun reveals and revelations.

This was easily a five star book for me and I am so exited for the next installment in this series.

Eleanor is the author of a series of books about murder that happens on trips abroad. While on a book tour, she finds herself involved in a real-life situation where someone is trying to kill of the man behind the hero of her books.

This is a funny story with quirky characters and a wonderful sense of place. A light summer read.

This was such a fun read! Eleanor Dash is a mystery writer and she’s in Italy for the 10th anniversary book tour for her famous mystery series that is based on events from her first trip to Italy. The series also stars her then love interest, Connor, who definitely does not live up to his book hero version. There’s a whole “extended universe” of characters who are tied to either the books or the real life Eleanor & Connor that are along on this wild trip through Italy and all are suspects in attempts to murder Connor. For a book with so many characters, they are all pretty well described and easy to keep track of and get a feel for. Eleanor is a pretty likable character, although sometimes her thoughts and footnotes get a little manic and jumbled feeling, but overall she gives good backstory about the other characters and great descriptions. (I mean, using Bridgerton & Jonathon Bailey specifically to describe Oliver? Brilliant!) I had sort of figured out who I thought was the murder before the reveal, but was only partially right so I call that a good twist!! Will be looking forward to more in this series!

Thank you NetGalley & Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and & review!

This book was good in theory but unfortunately did not translate well to writing. Maybe it was because I read it on Kindle but the footnotes were incredibly confusing. The story line was ok but nothing really captivated my attention.

4.5 stars
This book was really fun! It was a cozy mystery, but it was really funny and broke the fourth wall. It really felt like someone was telling me an adventure they had in Italy.
Our main character Eleanor went to Italy 10 years ago, met Connor, and helped him solve a string of bank robberies. Eleanor then went home and wrote a book about her trip. It turned into a best selling 10 book series. She left Connor's name in, so he is basically blackmailing her to give her royalties. Eleanor, her sister Harper, Connor, Eleanor's ex Oliver, 2 other authors and a few others go on this promotional tour of Italy and someone starts making attempts on Connor and Eleanor's life. Almost everyone has motive, but who is really trying to kill them?
I really loved the writing style of this book. I listened to the audiobooks, but there were a lot of references to footnotes where the fourth wall was broken and it was very humorous. It was super easy to listen to and follow along with.
The characters were really fun, there were a lot of them and there were one or two I got mixed up with each other, but overall they each had their own personalities and made a great team of suspects. There were a lot of secrets we learn about a lot of them and it just makes the suspicion run deeper.
The plot was obviously great, I love travel books and this trip to Italy was a whirlwind. The plot was so fast. Something was always happening. So many things happened in a way that made a lot of sense. The ending was very twisty and not what I was expecting.

I had an absolute blast reading this book! It was clever, twisty, a little bit ridiculous and just a whole lot of fun. I can see people feeling very strongly one way or another about our MC Eleanor, but I found her self awareness about her flaws and faults very refreshing and honestly pretty charming. The mystery itself had me guessing right up until the big reveal and it was such a good one! You really have to pay close attention in this book because there’s A LOT of little details that are very important as the story progresses. I’m so excited about book two, ESPECIALLY with that ending. If you’re looking for a fun new mystery series about the book world, this might be for you!
CW: murder, gun violence, death of a parent

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read!

Eleanor Dash, a bestselling author, is on a 10 day book tour in Italy with 5 literary rivals and 3 bodies. As the trip unfolds one of the group reveals the belief someone is trying to kill them, this concern is quickly blown off. But after other things go awry, secrets are revealed, and one of the group winds up dead on an excursion - what do a bunch of mystery writers do? Try to solve whodunit!

The format felt original, and I found the footnotes to be a welcomed addition (which isn’t the norm for me). It was fast paced, witty and laugh-out-loud funny! I did guess the murderer pretty early on, but I found myself still captivated by the build up and reveal.

The synopsis of this one interested me because who doesn’t love a who dun it set in Italy? Eleanor was an unreliable and at times unlikable character. Her stream of consciousness and the meandering way she narrated the story bored me at times. I did enjoy her character ARC though and she made some great pop culture references. The relationships between Eleanor and the other characters were highly entertaining, and I liked the way they shifted throughout the story. The banter and dialogue was well timed and made me laugh at times. The story within the story was an interesting angle at first, but eventually it felt contrived and in the end it was barely mentioned. The plot pacing was slow in the beginning, well timed in the middle, but felt rushed at the end. There was so much set up and not enough depth in the middle in my opinion. I did like the way you were meant to be suspicious of everyone and how many things were just thrown at the wall for you to parse out. However, I did sort of put together the pieces of the puzzle and wasn’t majorly shocked by the end reveal. The footnotes included were comical, but annoying for me. Since I was reading an ebook, I kept having to scroll back to find what the footnote was referencing. The ending felt a little underwhelming and rushed. I would’ve liked a little more resolution for Harper and Eleanor and Eleanor and Oliver. I can appreciate the set up for the next book, but it felt like too many loose ends