✨Book Review!✨
“Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies”
Written By: Catherine Mack
Published by: Minotaur Books
Publication date: April 30th, 2024
ARC provided by Netgalley
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Eleanor Dash is a best selling author whose books are fictionally based off of the robberies committed by a crime family in Rome. Robberies that Eleanor and her ex-boyfriend Connor helped solve in real life. Now, Eleanor, Connor, her sister and a few other authors working for the same publisher are all invited on a book tour in Italy, celebrating the last book in the Vacation Mystery series. While on the trip, Eleanor is searching for inspiration on ways to kill off Connor’s character in the book and end the series once and for all. What Eleanor doesn’t expect… is someone attempting to kill Connor in real life. While in Italy. But who is the killer? Will Eleanor be able to help solve the mystery or will she turn out to be the murderer? Or will she become the next victim?
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I received Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies, as an advanced copy from NetGalley and I sure am happy I did. This cozy murder mystery is just what I needed! Not only was it fun and interesting, it was well written and full of fantastic characters who all had a motive to kill. If you’re searching for a murder mystery that will keep you interested, laughing and trying to solve the crime yourself… be sure to buy Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies on April 30th, 2024!
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My ONLY negative opinion is the placement of the footnotes. I typically LOVE footnotes. But when they’re all placed at the end of each chapter instead of at the bottom of each page, it becomes impossible to keep up with and remember what the footnote was even referring to. I’m hoping Catherine will change the placement of these in the final copy!

1- Characters: 9
2- Atmosphere/Setting: 10
3- Writing Style: 9
4- Plot: 9
5- Intrigue: 9
6- Logic/Relationships: 7
7- Enjoyment: 9

Total Score: 62
62/7 = 8.857
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What to do when you're a successful author, but hate your own books? Or rather, hate the lying, cheating con man the books are based on, who happens to be your blackmailing ex boyfriend? You kill him off, of course! Only in the books though. Not in real life. Right?

I absolutely loved this book! Brilliantly twisty crime mystery with a hint of romance and a funny and clever writing style, I very much hope a sequel is going to follow!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy

"Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" by Catherine Mack is a delightful and humorous mystery that takes readers on a thrilling journey through Italy with bestselling author Eleanor Dash. The story combines elements of mystery, humor, and a touch of romance, making it an engaging and entertaining read.

The protagonist, Eleanor Dash, is a bestselling author on a book tour in Italy, eager to kill off her main character, Connor Smith. However, when a real attempt is made on the life of the charming con man, Connor, whom Eleanor got involved with years ago, she finds herself drawn into a real-life murder mystery. The narrative is filled with literary rivals, rabid fans, a stalker, and unexpected appearances by Eleanor's ex, Oliver, adding layers of complexity to the story.

Catherine Mack's writing style is quick, captivating, and filled with humor. The use of footnotes adds a unique touch to the storytelling, providing additional insights and commentary that enhance the overall reading experience. While the footnotes might be distracting for some readers, they contribute to the quirky and witty tone of the book.

The plot unfolds with a fast pace, keeping readers engaged as Eleanor navigates the challenges of solving a murder while contending with her literary world colliding with reality. The mystery is well-crafted, with multiple suspects, rivalries, and unexpected twists that keep the reader guessing until the end.

The concept of the author's life imitating her own books adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Eleanor Dash is a likable and relatable protagonist, and her interactions with other characters, especially Connor and Oliver, bring depth to the story. The romantic elements are woven seamlessly into the plot, adding emotional resonance to Eleanor's journey.

"Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" is a series debut that successfully blends mystery, humor, and romance. Catherine Mack introduces readers to a compelling and entertaining world filled with literary intrigue and real-life drama. Fans of Agatha Christie-style mysteries with a modern and humorous twist will find this book to be a delightful and engaging read.

At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about Mack's MC Eleanor Dash breaking through the fourth wall.

And then the story really got rolling, and I was sucked in so hard that it stopped distracting me!

Fast paced, funny, and a fresh take on an Agatha Christie-style mystery! There's a murder, more than one attempted murder, a whole lot of possible suspects (including Eleanor herself - was it going to be an unreliable narrator type of story? Mack keeps you guessing!)

I read this on my Kindle, so my only complaint was the copious amount of footnotes. In all honesty, if anything was distracting, it was the footnotes. I'm not sure how they will be formatted in print version, so it might not be as big a distraction there.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this debut author!

Do you ever feel like an author wrote a book specifically for your personal tastes? Because that's how I felt about this book. I absolutely loved everything about this story - the setting, the writing style, the footnotes! The plot was clever, the references were *chefs kiss* and the way the author invited the reader in to help solve the mystery is something that always makes a story a winner in my book. The little hints we got towards the end of the book about the sequel (plus a third??) were such a fun treat. Could've done without the Roger Ackroyd spoiler, but considering that book first published in 1926, I guess the blame for not having read it yet falls on me.

If you liked EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE and EVERYONE ON THIS TRAIN IS A SUSPECT, you will l-o-v-e love this one. Absolutely cannot wait for book #2 (and #3!).

Thank you to NetGalley + St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely LOVED this book. From the beginning to the final scene (which was a cliffhanger BTW). The novel centers around Eleanor Dash, a bestselling author who just wants to make it through her book tour in Italy, which includes her ex (and main character of her series) Connor, the man she still loves (Oliver), her sister Harper, and a book club which includes her stalker, Cathy. It soon becomes clear that someone wants to kill her main character in real life... and Eleanor is caught up in a murder mystery of her own that will end up with more than one person dead. The only problem is, will she find out the truth before she ends up as the killer's next victim?

Whether you're looking for a fun read to curl up with before bed or to read on spring break (this novel comes out on April 30th, 2024). You're going to want to pre-order this one!

Buckle up for a laugh-a-minute ride in the luggage compartments of Penelope Pandemonium's travelogues. Penelope's got a peculiar problem: every time she sets foot on foreign soil, someone kicks the bucket in her vicinity. From suspiciously timed avalanches in the Alps to impromptu poisonings at Polynesian buffets, Penelope's vacations are like Agatha Christie novels on an adrenaline shot.

What to Expect:

Belly laughs and raised eyebrows: The author has a knack for spinning death into side-splitting scenarios, like accidentally causing a stampede of sacred cows while trying to avoid a rogue tuk-tuk in India.
I
A cast of colorful characters: From the overzealous tour guide with a gambling habit to the suspiciously fit octogenarian with a penchant for cliff diving, Penelope's fellow travelers are anything but ordinary.

Twists and turns that will leave you guessing: Just when you think you've figured out who's behind the vacation-time fatalities, another hilarious death throws you off kilter.

Travel tips you won't find in any brochure: Learn how to avoid suspicious buffets, navigate local superstitions, and maybe even (hopefully) prevent any further "accidental" demises.
This book is for you if:

You're a dark humor connoisseur who can appreciate the absurdity of misfortune.
You've ever questioned the safety of all-inclusive resorts (or simply prefer a side of mystery with your mai tai).

You enjoy armchair travel with a healthy dose of "what the heck is happening?"

Bottom line: "Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies" is a riotous romp through the world of mishaps, mayhem, and murder (maybe). It's guaranteed to leave you chuckling nervously while booking your next trip – just in case.

Disclaimer: The author does not condone or encourage vacation-related fatalities. Please travel responsibly and always pack your common sense (and maybe a good lawyer).

Rating: 5 out of 5 exploding suitcases!

Interesting book. An author goes on a “vacation” with other authors who are published by the same publisher and a group of fans who entered a contest. The plot thickens when one of the author’s says that someone is trying to kill him and the adventure begins.

Intrusive thoughts gone rouge meet slap-stick 'who-dun-it' in Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies! I don't think I expected this to be quite so bumbling or laughable, but with a satisfying end to Mack's Italian jaunt, Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies will be a perfect plane or pool-side read this year!

Most definitely a book you need to read with a physical copy or a really good audible narrator - the concept of 'footnotes' throughout was hilarious. Who among us doesn't include random tangents while they speak? So while our heroine, Eleanor, stumbles through a boozy tour of Italy with some of her book's greatest fans in tow... it feels like making a friend! (Especially when that friend is just as much of a mess as we are. ;) )

NOTES:
- This book most definitely needs to be a physical format or with a really good audiobook narrator to make sure that all of the 'footnotes' make sense.
Rating: 3.5/5 (Rounded up to a 4 - A great premise but the writing style and the inclusion of footnotes were a bit confusing at first. Once I got the hang of the storytelling, I was more immersed in the plot!)

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

This was so good! I highly recommend to all looking for a fun and easy read. It was a cute vacation mystery and look forward to more.

I enjoyed the tongue and cheek whitty humor. I would have liked the footnotes, I think, if it weren't an ebook. It made it hard to follow. The plot fell a little short and was slow at points.

I enjoyed the concept and writing style of this book quite a bit. Lots of tongue in cheek humor, clever breaks of the fourth wall, and I thought the use of footnotes throughout was fun. The plot meandered a bit, and didn't hit enough high notes for me. And the final reveal, while interesting enough, kind of fell flat because so much happened "off screen" and it became more tell than show. Overall, I'd say 3.5 stars and could see it play out well as a TV series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I thought that this was a cute and a fun premise, but I struggled getting through it. I felt like the conversations were rambling while being abrupt, the footnotes were hard to follow on an ebook, and I found all of the characters to be annoying. A lot of the conflict felt like it was taking over the storyline instead of adding to it and the characters. And I was frustrated by how much the author included about weight and diet - it isn't necessary or appropriate to comment on someone's weight or what they eat in fiction or in real life.

A very cute, modern, and cozy mystery! I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. It had humor and romance and took place in Italy. I thought the footnotes throughout the chapters were fun to add to the story however it was annoying to have to flip back on my kindle to reference. I look forward to reading other books by Catherine Mack in the future!

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this novel! It was funny and witty and had charm! I had a lot of fun reading this. A little bit of romance mixed with mystery and murder. This would be a great beach mystery!

This was peak fun murder mystery, I had so much fun reading it 😭 it has a wonderfully chaotic MC (whose narration is dry humor at its best), and a very wholesome, crazy, chaotic cast, and I just wanna read more stories with them (thankfully this is a series, yay).

So many cool references in this one too, but my favourite has to be the reference to "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" (Agatha Christie book, iykyk)

TWs - murder (well), death on page, poisoning, mild gun violence

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack. If you love a cozy with a bit of snarky humor, then this book is for you. I found it an entertaining read…perhaps fewer footnotes in the next one?

This book was decent but not one that I remember. I started reading another book and couldn’t even remember if I finished this one or not. I did. I like the plot of a novelist going in to solve a crime. Hearing the backstory of that was more interesting to me than the real plot.

This was a fun read! I can usually figure out who is responsible for the murder in a book. However, this book had me going back and forth between a bunch of different characters. One character that I did think might be involved was! But everything else was a mystery.

There were some funny moments in there. I enjoy the banter between the characters as well. I really loved the footnotes. I thought they were clever, and funny.

A good story and mystery overall. I recommend!

Also, it looks like this is going to be a series and I would definitely be into that!

Thanks St. Martin's and Net Galley for the arc!

(Already posted to Goodreads and will do Amazon when it is available for review there. This applies to every Net Galley book I read.)

I don’t hand out five stars often and WOW. I loved this book! It typically takes me a day or two to get into a book at first but this book had me from the start. I read 150 pages in my first sitting - which to some may not be a lot but for me, with an active 17 month old running around, is a lot. Hah!

Our leading lady, Elenor, was self-deprecating enough to be relatable and not annoying. She was witty, smart, and likable. I tend to be a harsher critic of female characters but I found all the ladies in this novel to be relatable and easy to care about.

Catherine Mack’s writing style for this book was unlike anything I have read before. Mack utilizes footnotes to further Elenor’s ideas, side stories, and bring the reader in as if you are having a personal conversation with the narrator. Elenor is a bit ADD it seems and honestly, the way Mack used the footnotes (for me) made so much sense because I ADD and that’s truly how my brain functions. Lots of side note and conversations happen in my life. Now, the footnotes are not necessarily required to enjoy the book or follow the plot but they are such a fun addition and made the book fly by. I loved it.

Though the book does have a murder, it is not gory or very heavy (which may sound odd but trust me).

I immediately texted my book club, best friend, and sister to tell them to be on the look out for this book. It will most likely be the last book I read for 2023 and it has been by far my favorite. I cannot wait for a sequel and to read more from Mack!