Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry is a charming cozy mystery. The story centers on Amber Winslow, whose life is in upheaval and sets out to reconnect with a grandmother she’s never met, Jade. She lands in Jade's lovely retirement community in Arizona. What begins as a heartfelt reunion quickly veers into intrigue following the suspicious death of a community resident.

There is a great supporting cast in the retirement community with a host of eccentric and diverse characters, each with their own agendas. This lively ensemble not only adds depth of the story but provided lots of avenues to investigate as the story progresses. When Grandma Jade is unexpectedly accused of murder, Amber takes on the role of private investigator.

I also appreciated how Berry seamlessly balances suspense with light-hearted elements. The community’s familial atmosphere is comforting which makes the unraveling mystery all the more engaging. Quirky touches, such as a tortoise named Tatiana and the reappearance of Amber’s ex, known as Bones, inject moments of levity and added depth. The unexpected ending was satisfying, tying together the plot threads in the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

This was a fun, cute book that's probably classified as a cozy mystery. A definite palate cleanser after reading something more serious. Amber works for her boyfriend in Seattle as a PI, and is enjoying the investigative life, while applying for her PI license. After having a fight with her boyfriend, about him using her as his glorified secretary and not taking her seriously, she takes off for Florida to stay with her grandmother she's never met before--UNANNOUNCED!! So a bit crazy, but the heartwarming and stylish grandmother welcomes her with open arms, until a body shows up and she's arrested for murder. Of course Amber's PI skills kick into gear and she decides she's on the case, which might include a young resident recovering from a hip replacement. Everyone is a suspect, and many of them have a motive to kill the Admiral, plus there is a missing $3 million dollar ring. She's enjoying her newfound freedom until the ex-boyfriend shows up and she has to chose between him and a potential new romantic interest. Of course the residents at the retirement community run a true crime podcast so that comes into play as well. Well written and light, I think the backstory of why the grandmother had a falling out with Amber's mother would have been interesting. They go into some detail, but not a lot. And the ending seemed a bit rushed without a real payoff. I can see a series being made her out of Amber's exploits as she sets up a new agency in Fl. A fun, fluffy read.

3.5 rounded up. Such a fun read! I so enjoyed hanging out with PI Amber and her grandma and friends at their posh retirement community. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did, the story moved along quickly. The mystery was engaging, and I especially enjoyed the unexpected ending—it definitely caught me by surprise!

Grandma was easily the standout character, adding charm and personality to the story. The FMC, however, fell a bit flat for me. Without much backstory or depth, I found it hard to connect with her. The late introduction of a potential love interest also felt abrupt, as if it was just thrown in at the last minute.

Despite these points, I still enjoyed the read overall. It had its moments of intrigue, and the pacing picked up as the story progressed. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with some fun characters, this one might be worth a try!

This book was super cute! It was a nice break from the books I normally read. I flew through this book and found it so entertaining. I would highly recommend this book if you like cozy mysteries or just mysteries in general. Definitely more of a light hearted mystery. I hope there is another book!

I really enjoyed this book. The pace was great. The characters were quirky and fun. It was a really good cozy mystery that I gobbled up.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC of Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry.

This is a cute, funny, cozy mystery. It's like A Thursday Murder Club but lighter and more American, with a granddaughter serving as the true lead/narrator vs one of the older characters.

I took off a star because I figured out the ring theft / murder fairly early on, but while the mystery itself wasn't too difficult, the interactions between the characters and the information we slowly learn about the retirement community and its retirees was a lot of fun and really made the story. My mom has a weekly dinner with an older group of ladies (late 70s/80s), and the stories they tell can be downright ridiculous or raunchy, and I feel like Seven Ponds gives that kind of energy. It shows that the older characters still have a lot of life left in them, and they may as well live it up, no matter where their life circumstances have led them or if Seven Ponds is the last place on their life journey.

I liked the relationship between Jade and Amber and how Amber identified with her as opposed to her mother and siblings., while also recognizing the pitfalls of hers and her grandma's personality types. I think a lot of people may feel that way about aspects of their family life and it's easy to relate to.

I also liked the interactions between Amber, Bones, Tatiana and Ethan. Tatiana was truly the star of the book, but I liked seeing Amber recover from her relationship with Bones (while still getting to laugh at him in all of his scenes), and to see that there might be more stability down the road for her with Ethan (or maybe more adventures with random animals).

I will definitely be reading any sequels in this series.

A fun take on a cozy mystery that had more spunk and feisty spirit than you typically expect with this genre!

I don´t know what is it with old people in murder mystery books but I just love them, I don´t know if is a trope yet, but is a type of character I will always feel attracted to read, it doesn´t matter if they are adorable or sassy.

I had a GREAT time solving this mystery with Amber, after little struggle at the beggining to connect with the story it gave a warmed sensation specially the fact that Amber is struggling with a lot and seeing her connecting and feeling appreciated by her grandma is very wholesome.

It was a very wholesome and fun read, I really recommend it,

4.5 stars. Just the cozy mystery with a grandma/granddaughter dynamic that I was looking for! As someone who lives in a neighborhood where pet tortoises go missing frequently, the tortoise on the loose cracked me up. I really enjoyed the relationship between Amber and her grandma, Jade. As someone who lives in Arizona, I could really appreciate the Arizona setting (although it's a made up town). Murder Runs in the Family is a perfectly cozy and entertaining read. I sure hope this is a start to a series because I want more of the characters!

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Berry’s writing balances humour, quirky characters, and an engaging mystery with well-paced twists. The story delivers the charm expected of a cozy mystery while offering enough intrigue to keep readers hooked. If you enjoy lighthearted whodunits with a strong-willed protagonist and witty dialogue, this book is a fun pick.

I wasn’t sure at first with this being labeled a “cozy mystery”, they usually aren’t a book a would pick up. I decided to give this one a try, and I’m glad I did. It was a fun read with cute characters.

This book, I must admit, took me quite a while to actually get into. I was loving the mystery and the comedic side of the story but some parts of it just didn’t compliment each other well. The characters were interesting but I found the side characters to be more so. It was however, light hearted and a fun overall read. So I would still recommend it to the right audience

Although I’m a fan of mystery, this was hard to get into. The slow pace coupled with limited action made it a book I was eager to pick up. It took longer than usual to finish. Some of the minor characters really stand out and add to the comedy. It’s a cosy lighthearted read overall.

Tamara Berry has crafted yet another thoroughly entertaining cozy and I hope this is the start of a new and sassy series. The main character, Amber decides that her life needs a new direction, so she heads to Arizona to find the grandma she was never allowed to meet because according to Moonbeam Effervescence aka Effie, aka Amber’s mom, Grandma Judith aka Jade, is the most selfish person who ever existed and is not to be spoken of or to. How could an inquisitive almost official PI not want to solve that mystery?

The last thing Amber expected was to discover that her wayward grandma was also the creator of Death Comes Calling, a podcast that she has listened to for the last three years on stakeouts with Bones. Bones, the EX-boyfriend, make sure you understand that he is the EX-boyfriend, is a former Navy Seal, animal loving, official private investigator, and a Neanderthal. I am not sure how Amber doesn’t lose it every time he calls her “babe,” but I do understand why she decided it was time to move on from the role of girlfriend/secretary/underling.

There is more than meets the eyes when it comes to grandma Jade’s posse, shifty septuagenarians, who double as the podcast crew. As she follows the clues we start to see more than what is on the surface. I enjoyed the great introspection by Amber as she analyzes how she seems to be the black sheep in her family but apparently the truth is that it just skipped a generation. Amber’s family isn’t exactly warm and fuzzy which pulls on your heartstrings. In addition to looking inward, Amber starts to really look at Jade’s friends. They are definitely more than just a couple of retirees who spend time baking croissants, taking and placing bets, possibly hacking into the local servers, or playing hide the turtle (no that is not a euphemism). Who would have guessed that you could use Nextdoor to report pet sightings.

There is one person whom Amber has some difficulty getting to know, Ethan Adler, a guy too young to be in retirement, turns out he is recuperating from a hip surgery. Do I detect a little interest on Amber’s part?

Just wait until you get to the solution to this mystery. I was reading it and shaking my head. I had to read it twice because the first time I literally said “wait…what…no way!” Unless I am mistaken, the next book was tee’d up at the conclusion of this one and I can’t wait to see if PI Amber is in fact able to find Ethan the vet.

Book Review: Murder Runs in the Family
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Tamara Berry. @tamaratamaralucy
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press @poisonedpenpress
Thank you @netgalley for my ARC.

Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry is a fun, eccentric cozy mystery that delivers laughs, chaos, and an unconventional murder investigation.

Amber Winslow, a former PI-in-training, flees her life and crashes at her estranged grandmother Jade’s upscale retirement home. But instead of a fresh start, she walks into a murder case—Jade is arrested for the death of fellow resident George “The Admiral” Vincent, whose $3 million heirloom ring is also missing. Determined to clear her grandmother’s name, Amber dives into a mystery full of nosy retirees, a missing tortoise, and a true crime podcast crew that’s a little too eager to investigate.

The retirement home setting was hilarious, packed with scheming seniors and unexpected twists. Jade’s true crime podcast crew stole the show, adding humor and chaos to every scene. The mystery started as a simple whodunit but evolved into a morally complex case, forcing Amber to rethink justice. And her personal growth was satisfying, as she finally stood up for herself and embraced her new life.

The slow start bogged down the first half, and Amber’s ex, Bones, was completely unnecessary—his presence only added frustration. The romance with Ethan lacked depth, making it hard to invest in. Lastly, the missing perspective of The Admiral made the twist feel a little morally ambiguous.

If you love quirky cozy mysteries with humor, found family, and true crime chaos, this book is a fun ride—despite a few missteps.

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Amber Winslow leaves her boyfriend for a new life. Unfortunately, all she took with her was her backpack and some clothes. Amber is a 30-something with no roots so where does she go? Not to her parents who criticize everything she does and not to her brothers who her parents consider the perfect sons. Amber decides to meet her grandmother for the first time. She tracks her down using the PI skills she learned from her ex-boyfriend, and a few she learned on her own.

Amber learns that her grandmother is living in a very exclusive retirement community under a different name. Grandma Jade and Amber seem to hit it off from the start. Unfortunately, the day after Amber arrives, one of Grandma Jade's dear friends in the community passes away.

Now it's up to Amber to figure out if this is a natural death or a murder, as well as figuring out some other puzzling things going on in the community.

I chose this book because I like the author, and she did not disappoint. I hope this is the beginning of a new series.

I’ve never been a fan of cozy mysteries, and I didn’t really realize that this was a cozy mystery until I dove in. But I love the unconventional characters and the developing plot.

Murder Runs in the Family is lighthearted, even though it brings to light issues at retirement communities with older parental units having little to no family ties.

I love the found family that is developed throughout the story and the close ties developed at the retirement community. The characters are colorful and eccentric, and even our ex PI boyfriend has some good redeeming qualities.

The story is engaging and perfect for light reading when you need something not overly heavy, but humorous and entertaining. For me, I felt that Berry left several threads hanging that could have been further developed or closed, but overall it is a cozy and delightful story with some unexpected twists.

I'd really enjoyed the By the Books series which ended too soon, so I was very curious to read this new one. Also, working in a nursing home all these years and having some crazy stories to go with it, I could only imagine what kind of things these fictional characters could get up to.
Here we have a community of seniors living life to the fullest. The tight-knit group runs a popular mystery podcast, will bet on anything, There's plenty of
humor as they all know how to have a good time, and the animal sidekick is a tortoise. I think the characters all have rich backgrounds and I'd like to drive more into their histories and youthful experiences in future books.
I'm still uncertain about the ending. While a good twist, I have a personal preference for seeing justice done, regardless of the reasoning. And the case was just dropped. I really wish it had tied in with the cold case files, especially since the group was so intent on getting them.

This was about a grandma and granddaughter which I liked. The grandma is arrested for murder and Amber is going to figure out who really is the killer. There is so much more too! This is a cozy mystery and has some drama and fun characters. I would for sure read more about about Amber and the rest of the gang.