I am a sucker for mysteries with quirky, dysfunctional family dynamics. As much as dysfunction can be unsettling, it's the quirky characters and how they band together in a crisis that really draws me in.

Remi Finch and her sisters find themselves in a serious predicament. Though the older siblings don't usually get along with Remi, circumstances force them to team up to solve a mystery—or rather, to make one disappear!

Add a hot park ranger who's caught Remi's eye, her parents’ fortieth anniversary, Grandma Helen’s latest boy-toy, and more, and Drop Dead Sisters becomes a full entertainment package.

Amelia Diane Coombs’ storytelling shines, with each chapter unveiling new secrets, rumors, and twists, as well as a dash of romance and plenty of quirky charm. For a series debut and her first adult fiction novel, Coombs checks every box, making the mystery engrossing, entertaining, and intriguing.

I was hooked from start to finish and couldn’t put it down—I devoured this in a day! Every twist, every quirk kept me guessing, and by the end, I just wanted more. A captivating read from the first page to the last!

Remi has never been close to her two older sisters, so when they all must come together for a family reunion in celebration of their parents’ anniversary, Remi wonders how they will survive the weekend. But when Remi is unexpectedly assaulted by a companion from their childhood, the three sisters come together under the most terrible of circumstances. And as the hole in which they find themselves gets ever deeper, the women must learn to trust each other in ways they never have before.

This intense novel blends the family dynamics of a traditional women’s fiction story with the suspense of a murder mystery. Brief chapters and a compelling premise make the novel move forward with ease, and readers will be encouraged to continue turning pages to discover what happens next. Each of the primary characters is flawed, and since the narrative is told in the first person from Remi’s perspective, details are only revealed as Remi herself learns them. Readers easily connect with the challenges in which the characters find themselves, and this helps the plot of the book feel more real.

Written for a mature audience, this novel incorporates strong language, sexual references, and assault that may be challenging for more sensitive readers. However, the balance between the intense moments and the sweeter family connections help the book to have a wider appeal. Good writing, an engaging plot, and high stakes make the book one that will be enjoyable as an escape from daily life, whether on vacation or in the comfort of one’s home. This memorable and suspenseful story is a good fit for fans of both women’s fiction and dramatic storytelling.