This book was gimmicky, with the main character Eleanor talking directly to the reader through out the book. I would describe it as more of a comedy than a murder mystery, even though it was based around several attempted and one actual committed murder. The main character is an author who never meant to be an author. She just accidentally happened to write a best seller and then ooops, 8 more, and is working on her 10th.

Her little sister, who actually wanted to be an author, is her assistant now. Her series' main character Conner is blackmailing her, based on the true events that were the basis of her first novel. She wants to kill off Conner in the book, not real life. But now Conner thinks someone is actually trying to kill him. Suspend your disbelief because here we go now, on a ten day trip in Italy, 20 fans plus Conner's ex-wife, Eleanor's ex-boyfriend, two rival authors, and Conner's new fling attend book publicity events. Conner is shady AF and thinks someone is trying to kill him, meanwhile, both of them face a few near death experiences.

This book was meandering, but mostly it was just annoying to me how much the author talked to the reader about writing. I listened to the audio, so the footnotes weren't a problem for me, but I think they would be a struggle in print form. The author talks too much about being an author, and she seems to not exist in the real world. Her sister does literally everything for her, despite references to their parents dying and Eleanor taking care of her little sister at the time. The author Eleanor also bashes on goodreads, which is funny, because that is where this review is going. Also it is listed as #1 of the Vacation series mysteries, as if there would be a second, and I can't possibly imagine what else she has to say that would make for a sequel or a series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher's for the ARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this fun book by Catherine Mack (AKA Catherine McKenzie) and narrated by Elizabeth Evans. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Best-selling author Eleanor Dash is just trying to survive her book tour in Italy in the hottest month. Her other main goal is to kill off the main character of her books, Connor Smith. They have a real-life history as well, very much complicating her life, and he's along for the ride on the book tour. But then Connor is convinced that someone is trying to kill him and enlists Eleanor's help. Is life imitating art?

This was so much fun and it's apparently going to be a series, so count me in. I enjoyed the way it was written - Eleanor "talks" to the reader, filling us in on her thoughts and ideas, giving us hints and clues, and even spoilers. She's funny, with that dark snarky humor that's my favorite. There were references to other books as well as the way readers rate books, some of which will make you laugh out loud or even possibly recognize yourself. Plus, there are footnotes - a lot of footnotes! I had both the audio and digital versions and in the audio, the footnotes are read as they occur; in the book, they are at the end of each chapter. I preferred the audio version so ended up listening to it exclusively. The narrator did great female voices, but the males didn't quite sound like male. But no matter, this is just a fun story with a mystery I didn't solve.

4.5 stars- I really enjoyed this one. Grabbed this one for the cover, stayed for the charming vacation mystery. The idea of an author taking fans to a place her books are set is stuff of dreams, sign me up! I really liked the pacing and characters. Breaking the forth wall to pull me in, yes please! It was getting to see a little more personality from the main character and it was sometimes cheeky other times reminding the reader. Very contemporary with the drops about TS and Leo. IYKYK. For those who like cozy mysteries or Christie style “one room” this will satisfy. For those looking for fluffy beach read, this one will hit. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook. My thoughts are my own.

Many thanks to @macmillan.audio for offering this audiobook for review! I haven’t had the best week, so being able to listen to a fun mystery with comedy really helped me get through it. This story is about an author on a book tour in Italy with friends, family, and an entourage and things take a deadly turn.
I loved that near the end, the narrator (who is the author Eleanor in the story) turns to you the reader and asks if you’ve figured out who the killer is.
Not a spoiler: I didn’t figure it out. Cause she was unreliable as her own biases made me think one way but then shocker: not who I thought it was! Those sidebars to the story were really fun I enjoyed that so much. I also enjoyed the comic relief at points, and the fun banter and romantic exploits. The ending set up for the next book and I’ll be there for that one as well! The audio was acted by #elizabethevans who did a wonderful job and the author #catherinemack gives her story a fun fresh banter and a great whodunnit feel. Like a cosy mystery thats more fun than cosy !!! Cosy would involve a small town cottage with cats and a grandma, this was more flashy and sexy with Italian coastlines and champagne and I was there for it! And I’ll be there for her next book to find out who used the cake knife to bludgeon a groomsman at her best friends wedding (like, how rude??!!!) lol can’t wait! Thanks for bringing a smile to my face this week!!

This book is an absolute gem—a delightful, comedic, and easy read that's perfect for anyone who enjoys witty banter and a good 'whodunnit' mystery! I couldn't stop laughing while trying to piece together the puzzle.

A big thank you to NetGalley and MacmillanAudio for the advance copy—this was a real treat!

A best selling author, 2 exes, an unhappy sister/assistant, a crazy fan, blackmail and murder go on vacation to beautiful Italy.

This had a great location, Italy was the perfect backdrop for this clever mystery filled with humor and great characters. It was narrated and written well. Lots of fun twists kept me guessing until the end.

4 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Every Time I Go On Vacation is a fun mystery that is written from main character Eleanor Dash's point of view.

An author of nine successful mysteries, she is sent on a trip to Italy by her publisher along with her assistant who is also her sister, and 20 of her fans. Oh yeah, and one stalker.

The build up to this story is slow, and the actual murder seems to arrive even slower, but even with the slow start, there seems to be enough humor in the story to keep you entertained, at least there was for me, I enjoyed the humor in it more than the rest of the book. The story also had plenty of depth and details that helped it along also.

I enjoyed the setting of Italy, and the many small details of the Island that were dropped through out the story. I found that most of the characters were likable and well written .

There was one thing I really did not enjoy in the books and that it had many footnotes in it, they distracted me as I read. I am sure this was my problem and that many readers will enjoy them.

Every Time I Go On Vacation is a funny, quick and easy read cozy mystery that many will enjoy, so if you are a cozy fan, be sure to put this on your TBR

EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES is one of the most entertaining audiobooks I’ve listened to in a while. I love it when characters in any type of medium break the fourth wall, but Catherine Mack had her main character, Eleanor Dash, breaking it on every page with footnotes.
Depending on how my head is feeling, I fall asleep to either music or an audiobook, and more often than not, it’s the latter. I found bedtime was a lousy choice to listen to ETIGOVSD because I was so intrigued or laughing too hard that I didn’t fall asleep!

Eleanor Dash is a murder mystery author on a book tour plotting to off her main character, except now it’s happening in real life. The characters are so different but work together so well. The descriptions of Italy made me want to go there. And the mystery plot was fun. Plus, it’s the start of a new series, so I’m excited to see what happens next, but this one wraps up nicely so you can read it by itself!

Oh! The narration!! Elizabeth Evans is delightful as Eleanor Dash! She is one of my favorite audiobook narrators to listen to because her exquisite diction and complexity of voices really make the experience complete.

Thanks, Macmillian Audio, for the ALC!

I really enjoyed Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies. I found it very well written (as it should be when it is a book about books), witty, and enough romance not to be obnoxious. I often re-listen to books like this because I enjoy the narration, the plot, and I find it fun to listen to, but I not overwhelming.

There are a couple of little things that kept this from being a 5-star book for me. I LOVE books about books, however, if an author is going to do a spoiler of a famous novel (even if it isn't) I believe there should be a spoiler alert. It was one of the reasons I didn't give 8 Perfect Murders a 5-star rating as well. The other reason being that I found the main character annoying at times, but that was probably the point. But I get tired of the "I am a woman that can't commit or make up my mind" trope. But I think these are minor when the book is looked at in its entirety.

I would definitely give it a try if you enjoy the earlier Stephanie Plum books, How to Murder Your Employer, or the Finlay Donovan series. Happy listening!

Eleanore is a bestselling writer and for the 10th anniversary of her book series, her publisher decided to send her and other authors that are also mystery writers within the same publisher to Italy where Eleanore’s series all began. Things quickly go awry and one of the authors dies and someone is obviously trying to frame Eleanore and/or the star of her book, Conner Smith. The longer the Italian tour goes on, the more things escalate and it becomes increasingly more obvious the real target is Eleanore and it seems someone will stop at nothing until she is dead. Everyone is a suspect in this entertaining read. This book had me laughing and is reminiscent of Findlay Donovan.

I received a free audiobook copy through NetGalley. I wrote this review by my own choice.

Comedy, Pop Culture, and Murderrr…oh myyy! This fast paced mystery was addicting and was hard to put down! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing with her timing and characters. She made it feel like I was actively listening to a story being told to me. Especially the moments that broke the fourth wall, or the “footnotes” (all 200 of them!) that gave the main character a sense of humor and relatability.

What made this book easily relatable and addicting was the current pop culture references (I’m looking at you White Lotus, Jonathan Bailey and Taylor Swift references). Everything stated in the book felt very current without having to try hard to make it happen. If you’re looking for something fun, light, and entertaining, I highly suggest making an Aperol Spritz, and bowl of pasta and enjoying this book!

Catherine Mack's (a pseudonym for the veteran Canadian author Catherine McKenzie) Vacation Mysteries kickoff, EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION SOMEONE DIES, s full of mystery, humor, wit, and suspense! It features an author-narrator, an alluring Italian setting, an entertaining cast, footnotes, clues, and crimes to solve. Who is capable of murder?

Eleanor Dash, a bestselling author of nine murder mysteries, is working on her tenth installment, which she hopes will be the series' final book.

All Eleanor wants to do is complete the book tour and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the last installment of her Vacation Mystery series.

Her publisher has sent her on a ten-day tour of Italy with a consultant, her sister/assistant, twenty fans (including a stalker), and several other authors.

Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies . . . one trip to die for.

Connor is her ex (con) and has been blackmailing her for years, receiving royalties from her books. She has dealt with him for ten years and wants him out of her life for good. Now, someone has attempted his real life.

Who is trying to get away with murder?

From fans, literary competitors, a stalker, the publishing business, and another ex, Oliver, a book tour that turns into a real-life murder mystery offers a lot of action and fun.

With loads of snarky humor, EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION is a light-hearted, highly entertaining read with creative, fun footnotes to enhance your reading pleasure.

From the stunning front cover with fun, clever chapter titles, this delightful, hilarious, entertaining romp is for fans of authors Elle Cosimano and Janet Evanovich. I look forward to the next in the series.

I read the e-book and listened to the amusing audiobook by Elizabeth Evans for a fun, lively, and entertaining performance. Ideal for your upcoming summer vacation escape.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reading and listening copy. #SMPInfluencers

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JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: April 30, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
April 2024 Must-Read Books
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Embark on a delightful journey to Italy where author Eleanor celebrates the 10th anniversary of her beloved book in style. This fun mystery novel is filled with romance, mouthwatering food descriptions, and an intriguing plot that keeps you turning pages.

As Eleanor navigates the festivities surrounding her book's anniversary, she finds herself entangled in a mysterious puzzle that adds an extra layer of excitement to the narrative. With unexpected twists and turns, the plot keeps you guessing until the very end, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Overall, "Everytime I go on vacation, someone dies" is a delightful escape to the enchanting world of Italy, filled with intrigue, romance, and delicious food. Perfect for cozying up with a glass of wine and indulging in a literary adventure that will leave you longing for your own Italian getaway.

Cute fast read, a la Finlay Donovan or Stephanie Plum. Eleanor fell into mystery writing after helping solve a crime with her summer fling turned boyfriend, but after ten years she's ready for a fresh start. Her publisher organizes a summer book tour to Italy, the scene of the crime, but from day one, things go awry. A fun cast of characters, enjoyed the writing style. Would definitely read the next book in the series.

This funny mystery is a little chaotic at the outset, with a LOT of characters to keep track of and the narrator’s backstory… but!! Once it gets going it’s much better. We’ve got an unreliable narrator and a dual telling of an actual lived experience and the book the FMC wrote about it. So.

I wanted this to come off a bit more Finlay Donovan, but it was fine. I enjoyed it but I haven’t decided if I’ll read the next one? I do love the narrator, Elizabeth Evans!

Eleanor is in Italy for her 10 year anniversary of her first book series. With her is a mismatch of character that all connect to her book series in one way or another. When her ex thinks that someone is trying to kill him and tries to convince Eleanor. She thinks he’s crazy until someone winds up dead.

This book was fantastic! I felt like I was listening to one of my best friends tell a story. I wanted to help her so badly figure it out and sadly failed so I a ready to try again. I honestly can’t wait until the second book comes out!

I also loved the little bit of romance sprinkled with sisterly love! 💙 thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Catherine Mack for the arc of this book

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the ALC!

Synopsis: Eleanor is a famous writer on a book tour in Italy. Because she had used her ex boyfriend’s name in her books, she’s contractually obligated to never cut ties with him. She’s had enough and has decided to kill him off in her next book. But then things take a turn in another direction when Eleanor’s fictional fantasy turns into a real-life murder mystery.

My thoughts: This book is SO MUCH FUN! I’d strongly suggest the audio over the physical copy because #1 the narrator is fabulous and #2 The audio highlights the sarcasm in the footnotes perfectly! We did this as a group buddy read and I know others who did the ebook mentioned that the footnotes felt distracting but in the audio format, it doesn’t come across that way (in my opinion). If you’re in the mood for a mystery that’s both about murder but also light and funny - this is your book! If you’re a Finlay Donovan fan, ADD TO CART immediately. And if that’s not convincing enough, my Bridgerton and Swiftie friends - there’s so many references in there for you!
My only complaint is there were a few too many main characters for my taste. I would have preferred less characters with more development because I didn’t feel like I got to know them all very well. Overall, such a unique book and a great start to the series. I’m looking forward to continuing book 2 in the Vacation Mysteries series when it comes out.

Eleanor Dash is a bestselling author on a special book tour through Italy with her colleagues, team, and fans. She's looking for inspiration to kill off the main character in her series. When Connor Smith, the real man that her character is based off of, confides that there have been attempts made on his life, he looks to Eleanor for her help in figuring out the case.

Everytime I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies was so enjoyable, it felt very meta with Eleanor Dash speaking directly to us. This was the first in the series and I am eagerly awaiting more from Catherine Mack. I highly recommend reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Eleanor Dash is best selling author on a book tour of Italy with several other authors, her sister, some fans and her ex-boyfriend, Connor, who also happens to be the inspiration for her main character in her Vacation Mysteries series. She is in a writing funk and has decided to end her best selling series by killing off the main character. However, Connor believes someone is trying to kill him. No one believes him until it is hard not to believe him.

There is a lot of humor and lots of descriptions of wonderful food, drinks, and locations throughout Italy. It is a great read, or audiobook listen, for the reader who enjoys thrillers and rom-coms. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. It was an easy listen, entertaining, and kept me wanted to hear more.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Eleanor is the author of a best-selling book series that began when she wrote about a jewel heist that she helped solve. Unfortunately for her, she didn’t disguise her characters well and Connor, the man in her life at the time, recognized himself and demanded a share of the book’s profits. As the series took off, Connor’s demands did too, and now Eleanor wants nothing more than to kill off his character in her books. While on a book tour in Italy, it appears that several attempts have been made on Connor’s life and he asks Eleanor for help in figuring out who is after him.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got what an entertaining story that made me laugh more than once – and roll my eyes almost as often. In a style reminiscent of Benjamin Stevenson’s <i>Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone</i>, Eleanor addresses the reader directly often throughout the book - almost too often, as it sometimes took me out of the story.

I like Eleanor, but she seems to have let her fame go to her head. I’ve never understood the people who rely on someone else for *everything – to keep track of their schedule, to make sure important items are not forgotten, to smooth things over with other people – and Eleanor is precisely one of those people. The other characters on the book tour round out the group nicely, with Eleanor’s ex, a fan group, rival authors and even a stalker.

It took a while to determine if Connor’s life was really in danger or if it was just a series of coincidences... or if the target was someone else entirely. I never did figure it out until just before it was revealed in the book. Given the character involved, the motive made sense.

I was fortunate to receive both an e-book and an e-audiobook of this story. The audio narrator was very good, voicing the characters well and drawing me into the story. I will happily listen to more books that she has narrated, and will look for the next book in this series.