If you enjoy classic whodunit novels with a main character who loves breaking the fourth wall, this one is for you. I had a hard time connecting with the main character to begin, but that didn't keep me from being heavily invested in this murder mystery. This book is cheeky, had several misdirections and ultimately a fun ending that points to the plot of the second book in the series.

Readers who enjoyed Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone will enjoy this one, perhaps even more!

This book was so campy and fun, and 100% millennial coded! I felt like I was listening to a good friend tell me a hilarious and outrageous murder story (if those can really be hilarious?) and I am really excited to listen to the next one! All of the musical and pop culture references were right up my alley as well.


The characters were so well developed and the plot was appropriately formulaic but also twisty, and I found I was really engaged throughout the narration of this story. Catherin Mack definitely has a new hit series-to-be on her hands.

This was a good start to the obvious series that this will be. It was a lot is trying to set up this all up. I am definitely going to read the next book when it comes out. Since this ended in a cliffhanger I need to know what will happen.

Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy!

Everytime I Go On Vacation Someone Dies is a hilarious, witty, fun, addictive mystery that will keep you hooked and laughing your butt off. I loved the setting, the whole plot was so well thought out, executed perfectly.

The characters were so much fun, they were truly the highlight of this book for me. They were so eccentric, so out there. The narrator was sometimes over the top and obnoxious, but truly it made for the charm of this book. I did want to get to know the characters a little more since this is the first book in the series, but I will definitely be reading the upcoming ones.

I really enjoyed how the author constructed this book with all the footnotes, the new book outline, the way it was written as though she was speaking directly to you, I thought that was really fun. This one does end on a cliffhanger ! This was a fun cozy mystery that I will definitely recommend.

🎧 The narration by Elizabeth Evans was top notch. This book as an audiobook was the best experience. I think a lot of readers will benefit from this one as an audio, she was so good at portraying the characters. She was funny, had the right tones and expressions, truly made for a great listen.

✨️ Thank you to @minotaurbooks, @netgalley, @macmillanaudio & @catherinemack for my gifted ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

"Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" by Catherine Mack was a thrilling, funny romp of a novel and the reader was fantastic! Need more now, lol.

I tried, I really tried to get through this book. I got to about 50% and just couldn't keep going. I just couldn't get into this and the FMC and the side characters were annoying. The story seemed to just be going in circles and the characters kept bringing things they'd already talked about multiple times. I wanted to like this one, the cover is fantastic the premise was good, but I just couldn't get into this.

Diving into “Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies” felt like joining an old friend on a whirlwind adventure through Italy. Catherine Mack’s debut novel seamlessly blends humor, mystery, and the enchantment of travel into a captivating tale that kept me guessing until the very end. This is the first book in the author’s “The Vacation Mysteries” series.

From the get-go, Eleanor Dash, the witty protagonist and bestselling author, charmed her way into my heart with her candid narrative style. It was refreshing to have her speak directly to the reader, making me feel like a confidant rather than a mere observer. Eleanor’s quest to bump off her fictional character, Connor, while navigating real-life chaos was a rollercoaster of laughter and suspense.

Mack masterfully weaves together elements of travel and mystery, making every stop on Eleanor’s Italian book tour come alive with vivid descriptions and authentic cultural touches. As someone who has explored Italy firsthand, I found myself nodding along with recognition at each destination, adding an extra layer of immersion to the story.

The cast of characters, from the charming Inspector Tucci to the quirky “bookface ladies,” added depth and hilarity to the narrative. Mack’s clever nods to pop culture, like Inspector Tucci’s resemblance to Stanley Tucci, brought an extra layer of delight to the reading experience.

The mystery at the heart of the story kept me eagerly turning the pages, trying to piece together clues alongside Eleanor. Mack expertly kept me guessing until the final reveal, and I was impressed by the satisfying conclusion that left me eager for more adventures with Eleanor Dash.

The Narration:

Listening to the audiobook, narrated by Elizabeth Evans, was an absolute delight. Evans breathed life into each character with her dynamic voice acting, enhancing the story’s charm and humour. Her enthusiasm for the material was contagious, making this an audiobook I would highly recommend to anyone seeking an entertaining escape.

My Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, “Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies” is a delightful romp through Italy that combines the allure of travel with the intrigue of a murder mystery. Catherine Mack has crafted a captivating debut that left me eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the Vacation Mysteries series.

I received a ARC of this audiobook from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Wow! This was such a fun book! I loved the footnotes.
I loved all of the characters. The plot was fantastic. I didn’t see the ending coming at all! I thought the narrator on this one did a great job.
I cant wait to recommend this one!

Reading Catherine Mack's newsletter had me sprinting to NetGalley to request Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies - the first book in her upcoming Vacation Mysteries series! But also, how could I not read this book with a cover like this!? It's a thing of vacation beauty!

This book is fun, humorous, and clever! It's wild but plausible! It's atmospheric and vacation-y! It's exactly the kind of book I love reading in the summertime!

Main character Eleanor Dash is quirky, spunky, and full of vigor. She's a mystery writer, and there's just something I love about cozy mysteries with main characters who are authors! Simply put: I adore her!

This book has footnotes, which were handled really well in audiobook form!!! The insights they gave into an authors mind and the publishing industry were both enlightening and entertaining! Stylistically, the footnotes fill the reader into details in such a succinct way - which is brilliant author work if you ask me! (But Mack, I now need to know: do you write your own newsletter?)

Narrated by Elizabeth Evans, this audiobook is going to be one I recommend all summer (and after, because who doesn't want beach-y vibes in the middle of winter!?)! She truly added extra pizazz to Eleanor's character, and I love how she altered her voice to allow the footnotes to sound like asides to the main story!

If you like fun mysteries, this is the quick and easy read for you!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

#ETIGOVSD:⁣
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Thank you @minotaur_books @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted copies.⁣
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This tickled my ADD brain in the best way, and audio is truly the way to go. The footnotes made total sense on audio and really tracked for my multiple track mind. I tried my kindle and threw a fit, did decent with the physical print, but audio? Elizabeth Evans, you made it shine for the reader.⁣
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If you like your snarky banter with your cozy mystery, look no further. If you want to crave an aperol spritz while dreaming of Italy, buckle up. Eleanor Dash makes both things happen as she breaks down her book tour from hell, in a place that’s nearly heaven. Someone is trying to axe her and the real life inspiration behind her MC, and she’s not having it. ⁣
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With quite a few nods to Dame Aggie, it’s a great murder mystery that one could enjoy. Dare I say… it’s to die for? (I’ll see myself out) first in a series, it’s wonderful and kept my attention. Can’t wait to see what happens next!⁣
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Out April 30th!⁣
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QOTD: Where is your dream vacation?

This cozy mystery was so cleaver and funny! While cozy mysteries are not my go to genre, after hearing the synopsis and seeing the beautiful cover, I knew I needed to give it a try.

I went between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook, which in my opinion is the best way to read a book! I was hooked from the beginning but I felt that it was a slow build and lost some steam throughout most of the book. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and it caused me to struggle to keep my attention. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I was extremely surprised by the twists.

The narrator, Elizabeth Evans, was a new to me narrator and the female voices were enjoyable. However, I think the audiobook could have benefited by having a male narrator for the male characters since I was not a fan of her male voices.

If you are a fan of Finlay Donovan series, the you will like enjoy this series.

****Many thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for my gifted copies in turn for an honest review.

So….this is a book about a book. One that hasn’t been written yet, but the author is throwing around ideas for it. That is, while she is on a book tour with her sister/manager…and 20 of her greatest fans who have won a chance to be here!

But, the plot thickens when her ex shows up and will be a part of the book tour. You see, the original book, in a series of ten books, was based on him and the relationship they had…several years ago. But now, all she wants,is to get rid of him! So one of her thoughts is that she’ll go ahead and kill him off in the next book…hoping that this will get him OUT of her life for good. 👍🏼
The only problem? Someone is really trying to kill him…in real life! 😮

Oh…and the book tour includes multiple authors on the book trail…

Oh, and another of her exes shows up too!

She tells the story thru the POV of the author…and her sense of humor is very dry…so for me it was either hysterical…or not…

Some of the antics were very funny! Some were far fetched. But all in all, it was a fun read!

3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up to 4!

#EveryTimeIGoOnVacationSomeoneDies by #CatherineMack and narrated nicely by #ElizabethEvans.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. It is due out in a couple of days on 4/30/24.

Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.

Thanks so much for reading! And if you 'liked' my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️

Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies is definitely worth the read, and the hype! This story was so cleverly crafted, it had me intrigued from the very beginning until the very end. I started recommending this book to others before I was finished, it is that good.

If you plan to skip this one because you’ve read (or listened) to too many stories about writers lately, don’t! This is NOT like other stories about writers. The writer of this novel used some experimental writing tactics that really paid off, and make this read interesting and fun. I highly recommend!

I listened to the audiobook, which had a fantastic narrator. I listened at 1.75x speed, with 1.75x - 2x speed being my normal audiobook listening speed. However, at times I did go backward to make sure I caught the information correctly (I didn’t want to miss any important clues), so that being said I could have slowed down to 1.5x speed to avoid needing to go back and listen to pieces a second time.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack is so much fun! The audiobook was excellent and Elizabeth Evans was perfection as the narrator.

Eleanor Dash is the main character and is on a book tour in Italy with several other authors and fans. The details of Italy and the food are fabulous! Eleanor is trying to kill off the main character in her book, Connor Smith, because he has been taking a percentage of her profits for using his likeness in her famous mysteries. Suddenly someone in their traveling group is trying to kill both Eleanor and Connor in real life!

This book is great fun as the author breaks the fourth wall. I am very excited to read the next installment in this new mystery series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced digital copy of the audiobook. This book will be published on April 30, 2024.

Eleanor Dash, best-selling author of the Vacation Mysteries series, is on an Italian book tour with her sister, two ex-boyfriends, her ex-boyfriend’s ex-wife and other authors. What could go wrong? Eleanor wants to kill off Connor Smith, the main character of her series, who also happens to be based on her real-life ex-boyfriend, when Connor becomes convinced that someone wants to kill him. He asks her to figure out who it is. Will she succeed?

While the book is marketed as the next Finlay Donovan series, this book is its own separate flavor. This book is basically a book within a book with a lot of internal dialogue, fourth wall breaks, foreshadowing, footnotes and helpful hints for the reader to help solve the mystery.

This review is based off the audiobook version and the narrator who lends her voice makes a perfect Eleanor. The style of writing lends itself to be an excellent setup for an audiobook with the footnote descriptions and the fourth wall breaks. It feels like the character is literally speaking to you when giving explanations or clues.

The characters, including the main, all teeter on the edge of annoying and enjoyable, which I think always give an authentic, well-rounded edge. And don’t worry, there is just enough romance to satisfy the romance readers but not too much to overwhelm the pure mystery readers.

This is an excellent cozy mystery for a debut author. This book will be a series, and I look forward to listening to the next installment.

#netgalley #macmillanaudio #everytimeigoonvacationsomeonedies

Looking for a fun story to take to the beach? Here it is - Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack.

"Best-selling author, Eleanor Dash, just wants to get through her book tour and kill off her main character, Conor. She wants to go in a different direction with her books and getting involved with con-man Conor has been miserable. When Conor claims that someone is trying to kill him, Eleanor is asked to help him find out who.
Eleanor wonders if she is in danger too, but after one member of their party is actually killed, everyone is a suspect.
Who is trying to get away with murder?"

I love the voice here of Eleanor - definitely some Finaly Donovan vibes. The setting is wonderful. All of the different places in Italy make it exotic. The book-face ladies are hilarious Eleanor groupies. (Think about that next time you go to an author event) Conor is a character you'll wonder about. He's charming, but maybe he's a snake - is he telling the truth? There are plenty of clues from Mack but you probably won't guess the bad guy (I did guess one).

Elizabeth Evans does a great job with the audio, especially with all of the different male and female characters. )I did think the Italian accent of Inspector Tucci was a little over the top.)

If you haven't been to Italy, this will make you want to visit. Take this book when you go.

The narrator does a great job with this one! I love the flow and the inflection of the narration. The story itself is already a five-star. When you mix the whodunnit with a whowilldoit, there’s always going to be edge-of-your-seat tension and that was well-conveyed with the narrator’s reading.

Eleanor, a mystery author, is going on her book tour through Italy and on this trip she plans the perfect murder. Her main character Connor is going to die, she just hasn't figured out how to do it yet. Joining her on her book tour is the real Connor, the complete opposite of the man she writes about in her book. In a weird turn of events it turns out that Connor believes someone is trying to kill him and he enlists Eleanor to help him solve his murder before it happens. As more people from Connor and Eleanor's past and present turn up on this tour suspicions begin to rise. Who among their group is trying to kill Connor and why? Eleanor races to figure out who the killer is before her unpublished book becomes a reality.

The cover caught my eye but the story within kept me listening! This is such a fun playful read, perfect for cozy mystery lovers. Mack gives readers a glimpse into the world of publishing from the eyes of her main character, Eleanor. This story is light and original, Eleanor speaks to the readers, literally. Eleanor breaks the fourth wall while leading readers through her investigation. Overall this book was a great refresher and I cannot wait to see where this series goes!

This audiobook is narrated by Elizabeth Evans. If you are a fan of Evans like I am, you know this audiobook was perfectly executed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to where the character breaks the fourth wall and talks to the reader so much. The fact that it was an author, explaining the writing process and how to write murder mysteries was a fun twist. Although the narrator asked us to solve the murder and said we had all the clues- I did not solve it and it kept me listening and intrigued. The title and cover drew me in and the fun Italian trip kept me along for the adventure. What a fun read!

Bestselling author Eleanor Dash just wants to get the book tour in Italy over with, and then she plans to kill off the leading male character in her novel, and quit writing. Connor Smith has to die. Connor's character, based on her ex (also named Connor) is the driving success for her vacation mystery series, but the real Conner has been blackmailing her for a percentage of the profits ever since she wrote the first book. When attempts are made on Connor's life on the trip, Connor enlists Eleanor to help him figure out who it is that wants him dead (besides her of course). Add to that the stalker-y fans that have accompanied them on the trip, as well as the other authors (one of whom is stealing Eleanor's plots and rewriting them as her own), and this is truly turning into a trip she wishes she could forget.

This debut was SO much fun. I loved Eleanor. She reminded me a lot of Finlay Donovan from the series by Elle Cosimano. The writing style was similar also, so if you are familiar with those books, or the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, then you will absolutely love this. The narrator did an excellent job with the voices and making the novel come to life. Eleanor's dry wit, Connor's sleaziness, Oliver's charm & Sylvia's ineptitude were some of my favorite characters. The only character I wasn't completely sold on was Eleanor's sister Harper, who worked as her personal assistant. At some points she seemed extremely loyal and competent but at other times she seemed more of a wallflower and pushover. The epilogue ended with setting the scene for the next book in the series, and I can't wait. I loved this and I think you will too!