Loved the book! Julia is a jaded retired actress who secretly likes underdogs and Natasha is just trying to stay sober and find a life. Fate throws them together and the murderer doesn't stand a chance. There's humor and excitement and a few twists in this lovely tale. I look forward to seeing more of the crazy duo.

This was a quick and enjoyable read with strong female characters and an engaging story. What begins as a straightforward tale of a young Gen Z woman sponsoring an older, former actress soon unfolds into a mystery full of unexpected twists.
Julia, an ex-actress, finds herself at an AA meeting after a night of heavy drinking—one that ended with the shocking discovery of a dead body in her swimming pool. Enter Natasha Mason, or "Mason" as she prefers, who steps up to sponsor Julia, unaware of just how intertwined their lives will become and how much they both need each other.

The story is a whirlwind adventure, from the gritty charm of LA's burlesque bars to the sun-soaked landscapes of Palm Springs. With its blend of lighthearted moments and thrilling turns, this book will keep you guessing until the very end.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced, not-quite-cozy mystery with strong, dynamic female leads. It's a fun, satisfying read!

Fun read that was also a page-turner because of the mystery. The characters were likable and pulled you in. I especially enjoyed the relationship between Mason and Julia. I also liked how they stayed true to the need to continuously need to go to AA meetings. That wasn't just something they threw around when it was convenient.

Mason, a Gen Z AA member, and Julia, a former actor now an attorney revisiting her sobriety, team up to solve two Hollywood murders. With snarky, witty dialogue, this Hollywood mystery is a quick, enjoyable read.

The cast of characters is entertaining—though there are just too many for my memory. For this reason, I rated the book a 4 rather than a 5. I hope there is another adventure for Mason and Julia in the near future!

Thank you to BookBrowse and Berkley for an early read in exchange for a fair review. I enjoyed the book and recommend it to all mystery lovers.

I enjoyed reading One Death at a Time. This was a fast paced book with fun over-the-top characters based in Hollywood. An aging former movie star (Julia Mann) and her AA sponsor (Natasha Mason) are on the trail of solving a murder that Julia has been accused of committing. This is a cozy with many great, offbeat characters with a believable resolution. I hope this becomes a series!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The novel blends humor with suspense as Julia and Mason delve into a whirlwind investigation across Los Angeles, from the glitzy Hollywood Hills to the world of burlesque and country clubs. Waxman’s signature sharp dialogue and memorable characters keep the pace lively, with moments of genuine emotional depth exploring themes like addiction and second chances. The quirky cast, including showgirls and Hollywood agents, adds to the chaotic charm of the story.

If you're looking for a smart, laugh-out-loud mystery, this book delivers.

One death at a Time starts off at a fun gallop, I loved the two main characters and their opposing personalities. The story feels like Hacks, meets Suits with a sprinkle of a platonic Hart to Hart, but as the plot moves forward our enjoyable characters get bogged down in endless suspect interviews that all seem to go nowhere, characters upon characters start piling up, we’re overstuffed and nothing is moving the plot forward. There’s also endless eating, it’s quite bizarre, everyone between these covers is constantly scarfing down baked goods….no one in LA eats this many carbs. Even with my criticisms I did have a good time reading this one and think Waxman could work these folks into a satisfying series if she tightened up the plots, kept the action coming and turned the focus to fewer characters.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early peek.

Mason is has been sober for three years and she works hard to maintain it. At one of her AA meetings, she encounters Julia Mann, a well respected actress (though Mason, who isn’t interested in entertainment, doesn’t initially have a clue she is famous) shows up for at AA as a result court ordered meetings and tells the group she found a dead body in her pool—and this isn’t the first time she has run afoul of the law. She had also spent a substantial amount of time in prison for a crime she didn’t commit and used her time behind bars to purse her law degree. Now instead of acting, she is a respected attorney. Mason becomes Julia’s sponsor and then her assistant, and the two women realize they have a lot in common. Ultimately, they put their heads together to help uncover the murderer framing Julia and more.

The plot may sound a bit complicated, but it is very compelling, easy to understand and you’ll get sucked in. I enjoyed the wit, candor and cleverness in the writing. The characters are witty and engaging and possess a quirky quality that the reader gets drawn into, and grows quite fond of. I could see them Julia, Mason and their ragtag group of detectives continuing to partner and solving more crimes together in additional books. I consumed this book quickly to try to answer figure out whodunnit and was saddened when it wrapped up (after quite a thrilling finale). One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman is a definite recommend.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

One Death at a Time takes readers into the lives of an unlikely pair of crime solvers. Natasha Mason meets former actress, ex con Julia Mann at an AA meeting . Before long, Mason has been hired as Mann’s assistant. But much to her to surprise Natasha discovers that her duties include keeping her new boss out of jail for a second time.

Set in Hollywood, we’re introduced to a quirky cast of characters on a mission to clear Julia’s name and solve a murder.

While Julia Mann was hard to connect with as a character, Natasha’s intelligence and no nonsense, razor sharp personality shines through the book giving the story substance. Fast paced and suspenseful this is fun weekend read.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This is the premise of Abbi Waxman's "One Death at a Time". A young, by the book AA member (Natasha) accepts the challenge of being a temporary sponsor of an aging, cranky, famous and former actor (Julia) who does not feel she needs her help. But she needs someone's help.
Someone (her ex business partner, Tony) was killed at her house and she knows/remembers nothing since she was in an alcoholic blackout. Julia's past history complicated matters further as she was convicted of murdering her ex husband and served a prison sentence for that. Once she was released she quit acting and got her law degree.
When Natasha shows up at Julia's house for her first meeting she is offered a job as her personal assistant/investigator. Her's had just quit. Let the games begin!
This was a fun, rollicking read. The characters, even with their flaws, were likeable and added to the story arc. If I had to put it into a genre I would say a cozy mystery with an edge. It has a fair amount of F bombs, lots of sarcasm and unscrupulous activities going on. And to top it off, this 'edge ' is interwoven with trying to find out who killed Tony so Julia won't have to go to prison again. On second thought, there is a lot more edge than coziness present!
After a year of reading some fairly serious books, this was a refreshing read. Thanks
Bookbrowse and Netgalley!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of One Death at a Time in exchange for an honest review.

The NetGalley description of One Death at a Time is pretty solid, so I’ll jump directly to my thoughts. This novel is a departure for Ms. Waxman, who seems to relish jumping around different genres. This book is a whodunnit mystery that’s set in the present but somehow has an old timey Hollywood vibe, especially with the whole ‘was the legendary old movie cursed’ angle. Your enjoyment will largely depend on you tolerance for the lead characters, Julia and Mason. They have a Hacks vibe—funny, snarky, abrasive, but underneath you know they care about each other—which for me is a compliment but your mileage may vary. There was a solid collection of supporting characters. And I found the recovering alcoholic storylines believable.

I think One Death at a Time is a slightly more serious version of the Findlay Donovan series, which is another compliment. I won’t be at all surprised if Ms. Waxman returns to these characters in a sequel, and I’ll absolutely read it if she does. Recommended.

Abbi Waxman's books are all different, but each one is funny and heartwarming, with wonderful, quirky characters. One Death at a Time is no exception. Natasha Mason (who goes by her last name) is a recovering alcoholic who meets crotchety former actress Julia Mann at an AA meeting. Shortly after Mason agrees to act as Julia's personal assistant, the cops come calling. It turns out Julia is the prime suspect in the murder of a longtime enemy. Unfortunately for Julia, she has no recollection of what happened the night of the murder because she was blackout drunk.

Since the cops don't seem to be looking for any other suspects, Julia, Mason, and an assorted cast of characters have to do their own detective work to clear Julia's name.

It was a lot of fun to follow along as Julia and her gang leapt from one improbable situation to another. A very enjoyable plot together with well-drawn and interesting characters made for a great read. I wish Abbi would write more sequels, because I always want to spend more time with her characters!

Thanks to BookBrowse, NetGalley, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of both mystery novels & Abbi Waxman's, so I was thrilled to get an early widget for her latest, "One Death at a Time", This is a bit different than some of her back-list; it's a wacky cozy mystery but still set in the California Southland. And I really liked it - it was quite humorous and LOL over-the-top, easy to read and just plain fun. If you like slapstick capers - this is your book! I liked the two main characters, and the animals in it too (no harm), and though the mystery itself was a bit weak, I still highly recommend it. Many thanks to the publisher and Net Glley - so fun to read & review this one!

Anni Waxman has written a hilarious romp of a mystery. I laughed of of numerous times at the antics of Mason becoming an investigator for Julia when all Mason was supposed to be doing was sponsoring Julia in AA. The book takes you through the streets, hills and desert of Los Angeles, into the lives of the rich and famous and why someone just might want a bunch of them dead. Mason is tough, but her innocence in the ways of the wealthy reminds the reader that we too would have the same questions about what is going on. Take the entire weekend for this delightful book.

Thank you to Net galley and Bookbrowse for this advance ecopy.

One Death at a Time is a quirky and fun cozy murder mystery with delightful characters. There's a Gen Z recovering alcoholic who doesn't quite have her life together, an ex-con former Hollywood actress with an attitude problem, a dead man in a swimming pool (the mortal enemy of the aforementioned ex-actress … the dead man, that is, not the pool), and a whole lot of criminal shenanigans. I mean, forget the murder, you guys … there's golf cart theft and (justified) dog-napping in this one.

This is a fairly frenetic novel – no one ever seems to sleep and they're constantly driving all over Los Angeles (and beyond) and people are getting attacked left and right and everyone's always eating and basically I feel bad for Mason's cat because when is she ever home to actually pet the poor thing? Mild cat neglect aside, however, it's all pretty entertaining and Julia and Mason make an amusing pair. There's lots of sass and wit and humor, and the mystery itself is slightly absurd but in a well-written way. This is definitely a story that doesn't take itself too seriously – it's not exactly Agatha Christie, but it's also not really supposed be.

So, yeah. The characters are great. The plot is great. The animals all live to see the end of the book. My one minor complaint is the big reveal – the murderer's actions and reasonings just seem so, so over the top. Not that the rest of this novel is exactly … restrained, but, I dunno, they just seem so excessively bitter and obsessed that it takes a bit of the fun out of it. At the same time, though, I guess I kind of get it? I mean, I wouldn't murder anyone over it, but you do you, crazy murderer person.

Oh, and there's not much romance, which is nice if you're not into that sort of thing. There's some mild attraction between two characters but that's about as far as the lovey-dovey stuff goes.

If you're normally a fan of humorous cozy mysteries with eccentric characters, definitely consider giving One Death at a Time a read. It's pretty great and it looks like it could possibly be the first book in a (hopefully awesome) new series?

My overall rating: 3.95 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is April 15, 2025.

This is a great blend of classic Waxman lovable charm with cozy fun mystery vibes. Bonus was the Hollywood behind the scenes vibes. Fast paced and fun, with laugh out loud moments... One Death at a Time is a great read for your Spring/Summer trips, stash it in a carry on or beach bag and enjoy!

Thank you to Berkley for the review copy. I am a fan of Waxman's books and how she weaves in interesting female leads, often women who have hidden strengths and more to offer than they realize, and takes her characters on interesting, if quirky and at times humorous, journeys of self growth. I did enjoy how Waxman moved more into mystery themes with this book, though her last book did have some elements of mystery, and that gave her main characters redemption arcs and self growth, with genuine laughing out loud humor and cozy vibes that added to the storytelling, and kept these pace fast and engaging.

bookstagram/blue sky review to be shared closer to publication date!

funny, cozy, and interesting. a really interesting little mystery with a lot of fun ideas. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Love Waxman and the concept behind this cozy mystery was great. It was just a whole lot - it was very breakneck and all over the place.

A mismatched duo of an aged Hollywood icon turned lawyer after a stretch in prison paired with a Gen Z (maybe young millennial) AA sponsor/former law student try to solve a murder and wind up on a twisty journey through Hollywood

I loved Abbi Waxman's The Bookish Life of Nina Hill - had all the feels of Eleanor Oilphant and I loved it. I didn't realize she was also a mystery writer!

One Death at a Time takes readers into the life of Julia Mann, a former actress who's no stranger to scandal or a police investigation. When a dead body turns up in her backyard pool, the cops are quick to pin the blame on her — not surprising, given her less-than-clean record. But Julia’s sobriety sponsor, the smart and determined Natasha Mason, isn't about to let her slip back into trouble. Together, the two women form an unlikely detective duo, with Natasha determined to clear Julia's name and keep her on the straight and narrow.

What starts at an AA meeting soon snowballs into a wild and glamorous ride through the eccentric corners of Southern California, from Hollywood's glitzy hills to the retro charm of Palm Springs. Along the way, the pair are joined by a lively supporting cast of characters — think flamboyant showgirls, sly talent agents, and the occasional thief — as they dive into a murder mystery full of sharp turns, strange deaths, and absurd clues (the giant martini glass will have you laughing out loud)

While Julia remains somewhat hard to connect with, Natasha’s sharp, no-nonsense personality shines through, giving the story heart and humor. Waxman’s pacing is swift, keeping the suspense high, though some of the quirky charm of her previous works doesn’t fully land here. This is perfect for those who want a quick fun weekend read.