3.5 ⭐️My first ARC (advanced reader copy for those that don’t know) and it was so fun! The premise is really different than anything I’ve read before. In this cozy mystery, Amber sets off to find her estranged grandmother after her life as a sort of private investigator gets derailed when she breaks up with her boyfriend. What she finds when sneaking into a posh Arizona retirement community is anything but boring and she might just be able to use those PI skills to solve the murder of one tenant and clear her grandmother’s name at the same time.
Like I said, this book is very much a cozy mystery, very low stakes plot that will keep you wondering who the murderer is and enjoying Amber’s story as she gets to know who she is and about her grandmother. I don’t normally reach for a book like this but it’s nice to have a solid story with a bit of thrill but without all the heart palpitations ya know? So if that sounds like something you need, I definitely say check this book out when it releases in April!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this arc.

This was an entertaining cozy mystery that I sailed right through in one day.The setting is a retirement home with a cast of elderly characters who are….charming? odd? Both I guess. Ha!
In the beginning the story moved along at a good pace but slowed down quite a bit. The slower pace wasn’t necessarily a bad thing because it was fun to follow the mystery and make guesses but the change in pace was definitely noticeable.
I wasn’t especially fond of the way the story wrapped up but it was a good book overall.

In MURDER RUNS IN THE FAMILY, written by Tamara Berry, Amber Winslow flirts her way into the Seven Ponds Retirement Community in Draycot, Arizona, to visit her grandmother. The grandmother, bowling ace Judith Webb, goes by the name Jade McCallum. Amber’s grandmother runs a true-crime podcast, Death Comes Calling, from her retirement community and wants Amber to be on the podcast in the role of a detective. When the body of the “Admiral” is found in the podcast studio, my interest is piqued.

I like Tamara Berry’s writing. To my delight, she injects a bit of humor into her characters—like the string bikini-clad grandmother. While the characters are interesting to read about, they don’t seem as memorable as those in Tamara Berry’s previous series, By the Books. I must admit, I prefer the other series. I do like the ending of this book. It makes me want to read the next one. Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of MURDER RUNS IN THE FAMILY.

First I want to give my thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Tamara Berry for allowing me to read this ARC!

Rating: Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

This was such a delightful, cozy read! The story felt refreshing and heartwarming—perfect for when you're in the mood for something light yet entertaining. I'm really hoping for a Book 2 to dive into more adventures with Grandma Jade and Amber.. A change of scenery would be a great twist—maybe a new town or something like a field trip with the podcast members —and perhaps Amber getting that coffee date with Ethan (and Tatiana making a surprise appearance, of course!).

Honestly, scrap Bones—Amber deserves so much better. I’d love to see her officially earn her PI license and take on bigger cases.

This was my first book from Tamara Berry, and I'm definitely planning to check out more of her works for those cozy mystery vibes! Highly recommend it to anyone who loves lighthearted mysteries with a touch of humor and charm.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this early review copy.
This was a pretty fun read. I was a little uncertain about it at first based on the summary, not the typical setting and characters I would read. But I've enjoyed Tamara Berry's books in the past, so I was excited to jump into something different. If you're looking for a lighthearted murder mystery with a fun cast of unexpected characters, I recommend this book!

This was a very, very fun read. From the cast of characters to the mystery that reminded me very much of a good Agatha Christie, this was definitely a page turner. A retirement village full of retirees with a huge pool of knowledge and life skills along with a younger group of characters made for a rich character base. And I can't forget to mention the tortoise that plays such an interesting part of the story. Great spin on your normal cozy!

This was a fun ride. This book made me feel like I was a kid again watching murder she wrote with my mom. This is a very fun lets find the criminal type of book. I normally not the biggest fan of found family, but Berry did it so well. I cared about every character that popped up, even the ones that were negative I still felt for and despite not spending a whole lot of time with them they were fleshed out for me,

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

3.75 stars

Amber Winslow is not your average cozy heroine. She has just showed up on her grandma's retirement home doorstep in Arizona after parting ways with her boyfriend/business partner Bones, a private investigator in Seattle. Only Amber has never met her grandma, who isn't expecting her. Grandma and Mom couldn't be more different: Mom is religious, disapproving, and judgmental, and doesn't appreciate her mother's free-spirited ways and personality. Amber clearly takes after her grandmother.

And immediately a dead body shows up. Amber is intrigued by a true crime podcast which originates out of the nursing home and soon finds out her grandmother Jade (not her real name) and compatriots are the creators.

No one in the retirement home is what they seem. Amber can't quite figure out Jade. On the one hand, she appreciates her warmth and affection, so different from her other family. But clearly Jade has secrets too and somehow she and her friends are involved with the dead body. An escaped tortoise, a missing million dollar ring, a cranky young veterinarian recovering from hip surgery, and the arrival of Bones only complicate matters.

A fun read with a bit of serious content now and again on families and our perception of them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What would happen if your grandma started a true crime podcast? What if she then got arrested for murder? That's the deliciously chaotic world Tamara Berry drops us into with her latest mystery.

Meet Amber Winslow, a failed PI who's having the worst week of her life. First, she has to flee town in the middle of the night. Then her grandmother gets charged with murder. Oh, and there's a 98-year-old tortoise involved in the investigation somehow. Did I mention the missing £3 million ring?

Berry's genius lies in making this ridiculous premise work. Her cast of characters shouldn't fit together—millennial amateur sleuth, podcast-producing retirees, escaped reptile—but they do, creating a story that's equal parts hilarious and suspenseful. The pacing clips along nicely, never dwelling too long on the darker elements before hitting you with another laugh-out-loud moment.

What really sets this book apart is how it bridges generations. Berry weaves modern elements like true crime podcasts and millennial culture into classic mystery traditions without missing a beat. Yes, there are moments when keeping track of all the characters feels like solving a mystery itself, but the sharp dialogue and quirky interactions make it worth the effort.

The mystery itself? Clever enough to keep you guessing, but not so twisty that you'll need a flowchart to follow along. While some character relationships could use more depth, it's clear Berry prioritized entertainment over heavy emotional investment—and honestly, in a book featuring a geriatric tortoise on the lam, that feels like the right call.

Murder Runs in the Family hits shelves on April 29, 2025, and it's exactly what the cozy mystery genre needs right now: fresh, funny, and just a little bit absurd. If you enjoy your mysteries with a side of humour and don't mind your sleuths coming in unexpected packages, this book is for you. Just don't blame me if you find yourself checking your local retirement home for amateur podcasters."

very cute and cozy. well-done and interesting little mystery with cool vibes and a very cool cast of chars. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. This book was comical and I enjoyed it very much. Amber and her grandmother have estranged relationship, but when her grandma is arrested for murder, things get crazy, but also funny.

I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for my honest review! This book had everything. A murder mystery, family drama, hilarious old people, and a 98 year old tortoise named Tatiana. I sincerely hope this is going to get a sequel. The mystery storyline was “cozy” but really holds your attention with multiple suspects and twists.

This book was a lot of fun. Zany retirees, a missing tortoise, a nurse referred to as Nasty Nancy, and a wanna be PI running from a break up head first into the murder mystery at the retirement home made for a lot of entertainment. Oh, and of course there’s a podcast. This was an entertaining vacation read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Overall Thoughts (No Spoilers)

Murder Runs in the Family starts slow, with heavy description and not enough dialogue, making the first half feel sluggish. However, around the midpoint, the mystery picks up, and I found myself invested in figuring out who murdered the admiral. The ending delivered a twist I didn’t predict, which I appreciated, but it left some questions unanswered. There were also some character choices—like the presence of Amber’s ex, Bones—that felt unnecessary. Ultimately, this was an enjoyable but imperfect read, landing at a solid 3.5 stars for me.
An interesting mystery with a unique setting, but slow pacing and unnecessary characters held it back. Worth a read if you like cozy mysteries with a side of family drama, but be prepared for a slow start.

Plot Summary (Spoilers Ahead!)
Amber, in her 30s and fresh off a breakup with her PI boyfriend, Bones, arrives at a retirement home to meet her grandmother, Jade, for the first time. Jade, an eccentric crime podcaster, immediately pulls Amber into her world. But things take a dark turn when one of their fellow residents, George (a.k.a. "The Admiral"), is found dead in the podcast studio. His daughter seems more concerned about a missing $3 million ring than his murder, raising suspicions.
As Amber gets pulled deeper into the mystery, she faces complications: the police suspect her grandmother of stealing the ring, and then she gets outright arrested for murder. Meanwhile, Bones returns, revealing he tracked Amber via a hidden device in her backpack (ick). Forced to leave the retirement home, Amber moves in with Camille, a fellow resident who may not be as wealthy as she seems.
While investigating, Amber realizes the missing ring is inside the Admiral’s pet tortoise, Tatiana. She retrieves it with the help of a grumpy nurse and Ethan, a younger resident recovering from hip surgery. The ring’s return gets her grandmother out of jail, as the police’s only real evidence against her was the missing jewelry.
Amber pieces together the truth: the podcast group conspired to help the Admiral die on his own terms before he had to move into memory care. They hosted a farewell party and gave him a lethal mix of drugs. Since the Admiral’s perspective is never shown, it’s unclear if this was truly his wish or just how the group justified their actions.
Amber ends things for good with Bones and plans to stay with Jade until she gets her own place. There's a hint of romance with Ethan, but his character remains a total enigma. In the epilogue, Amber is now fully part of the crime podcast, and the group jokes about committing another crime for content.

Highlights of the Book
- The mystery picked up in the second half. The first half was slow, but once Amber actively investigated, I was engaged.
- The ending twist was unexpected. I didn’t predict the podcast crew helping the Admiral die, which was a fresh take.
- The setting was fun. A retirement home full of quirky characters added a unique backdrop for a murder mystery.
- Amber’s independence. I liked that she didn’t go back to Bones, proving her character growth.

Misses of the Book
- Too much description, not enough dialogue. The writing style felt overly detailed, making the first half drag.
- I wish Bones was simply an ex-boyfriend that is referenced, but never met. His presence added nothing but frustration at his demeaning tone towards Amber, and he could have been left out entirely.
- Ethan was frustratingly mysterious. We learned almost nothing about him, making it hard to care about the hinted romance. And, I could always use even a hint of romance in my books.
- The ending lacked confirmation from the Admiral’s POV. Without it, the podcast crew’s actions felt morally gray rather than fully justified. We also had to just take their word for it that they didn’t murder him.

Character Driven..
When disillusioned trainee private investigator Amber decides to flee her life she heads for her estranged and eccentric grandmother’s retirement community. Sneaking into the luxury accommodation, Amber is in for a surprise - in many more ways than one. Enjoyable character driven drama come murder mystery with a likeable and unlikely pair of amateur investigators, a frothy plot populated with a colourful cast of characters and a well imagined backdrop,

I thoroughly enjoyed this multi-generation cozy(ish) mystery. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of it. I liked that it wasn't yet another senior sleuthing book (although I'm a big fan of them), but that the detective was a relatable young woman with experience as a private investigator. She escapes her problems and relationships back home, seeking refuge with her grandmother, previously unknown to her. I liked the subplot of the seniors having a true crime podcast. The book had a little of everything: mystery, romance, family dynamics and humor. It is a quick and fun read, and I highly recommend it. I would be happy to read more about future adventures of this entertaining cast of characters.

After leaving her P.I. boyfriend in Seattle, Amber decides to comnect with her maternal grandmother Jade who
she has never met. SAmber ends up at a retirement community where Jade and her friends produce a true crime
podcast. When a member of the podcast team, the Admiral, dies, there is more concerm about his missing
tortoise .When Jade is arrested for the Admiral's death and a missing family heirloom, Amber joins forces with
the podcast team to clear her grandmother.As Amber investigates, more is learned about each podcast member
and the way they all support each other. Interesting characters, surprising twists in the story.
#MurderRunsintheFamily #PoisonedPen #NetGalley

Murder Runs in the Family is a perfect read to escape, for a few hours, the horrors that are currently engulfing us. When Amber Winslow leaves Bones, her PI boyfriend/mentor/employer, she goes to a gated retirement community in Arizona to find the grandmother she has never met. Jade McCallan is a glamorous, dynamic, energetic septuagenarian, not the horrible person Amber has always been compared to by her mother. Jade is the writer of Amber's favorite true crime podcast, Death Comes Calling. When the Admiral is found dead and a multi-million dollar ring is missing, Jade is arrested for his murder. Members of the community, always keen on gambling had bet on whether the Admiral or his 98 year old pet tortoise would die first, so finding the missing reptile keeps Amber busy while she investigates to free Jade from jail. Full of interesting characters and situations, this delightful cozy mystery is a lovely escape. While I'm not usually a fan of series, I would love to see Amber, and the two very exciting men in her life, again.

This was a struggle to get into, but once I did, it was so good! Having a family drama with serial killers is a great idea!