This was my first Laura Lippman novel and I was in the mood for a murder mystery, and I LOVED this book! I loved having a protagonist that wasn't a 20-something skinny trope. Mrs. Blossom was so much fun. Aside from the actual mystery, I loved watching as her confidence grow.

I loved it! That was fun! Mrs. Blossom is past the age where she has to worry about impressing others and that puts her in the perfect position to see people on a different level than what their actions or appearances show. I was thrilled when she revealed that she once worked for a private investigator in another series by this author. This is a great mystery especially having little things make sense in the end.

Laura Lippman’s fixation with weight is in full effect in this book. It was brought up so many times. It was a major feature of her Tess Monaghan books as well but it seems to have escalated. Who talks about their weight that much to strangers? And friends? She had virtually no other topic of conversation. I feel like she was trying to be sensitive and Blossom was not on some weight loss journey and was happy but who talks about it and fixates on it so much? It was distracting.

Speaking of Tess Monaghan, it was fun to “see” her again but why is she acting like 65 is old or that she herself is young? Tess was 30 in 1999, we can do that math! She is closer to Blossom’s 68 than she is 30.

The mystery was a bit silly and convoluted but I enjoyed the setting. I’m not sure if “cozy” mysteries are where the author excels

It was in the late 1990’s that I first read Laura Lippman’s novel Baltimore Blues, featuring PI Tess Monaghan, and I was hooked. Baltimore Blues was at the beginning of the woman as PI timeline. Fast forward to current times and Lippman has written 12 Monaghan mysteries and 14 stand-alone novels. All wonderful reads. If you are lucky, you don’t know about her, and you have all those books to read to catch up!

Murder Takes a Vacation is somewhat of a departure from Lippman’s noir-leaning books, though when I got into the novel, I was overjoyed to find that the main character is a bit character from the Tess Monaghan mysteries – elderly Mrs. Blossom! Mrs. Blossom was a sometimes hire of Tess’ when she needed surveillance of a subject and needed them to completely not see the woman standing next to them (elderly women are invisible, says Mrs. Blossom). So Mrs. Blossom wins the lottery and goes to France on vacation only to find she is being followed, her room searched and even knocked to the ground to have her purse snatched.

The tone of the book is definitely not noir, but then it is not a fluffy cozy read either. This is a joyful romp with serious issues (aging, loneliness, intimacy, friendship) throughout. Mrs. Blossom hooks up with an elderly gentleman on the flight over to London, but is horrified when he is found dead on the pavement having fallen (?) from his hotel balcony. What is an “older” woman to do when mysterious men keep flirting with her?

Lippman has won all the major mystery genre awards, including the Edgar and the Anthony. Murder Takes a Vacation is a departure from her norm of more serious and traditional reads and a welcome chance to return to that feeling you get from an old black and white movie. Or from the romantic suspense books of Mary Stewart like The Moon Spinners. Sometimes it is nice to escape back in time when suspense wasn’t eerie or dangerous, just fun.

My rating: 5 of 5

This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. Murder Takes a Vacation will be published on June 17, 2025.

Laura Lippman does it again in the mystery genre, it had that concept that had me guessing what was going on and thought the overall story worked. I loved the idea of this being on a cruise and how everything had a suspenseful atmosphere. The characters were well written and I was glad I got to read this.

Author Laura Lippman takes a turn to the cozy side of the mystery genre in her upcoming book. Not to worry, there’s still an enticing murder to solve.

Muriel Blossom is a grandmother, a widow, & recent lottery winner. She’s at an age where many women blend into the background, which helped with the bit of private investigative works she’s done. Mrs. Blossom is on her way to Paris when she meets handsome & charming Allan. He’s the first man to spark something in Mrs. Blossom since her beloved husband died. She didn’t expect to see Allan again, let alone for him to turn up dead in Paris. She also keeps running into a young man named Danny who tells her Allan was involved with smuggling a precious piece of art. Danny thinks Mrs. Blossom knows more than she letting on about the smuggling & the murder. As Mrs. Blossom embarks on a cruise up the Seine, she has more questions than answers & more men flirting with her. As the cruise progresses, the danger increases. Can Mrs Blossom find answers before it’s too late?

I love Mrs Blossom! Kudos to Lippman for giving us a mature female detective. I loved seeing this character literally bloom throughout the her journey. She found strength & courage when she needed it most. I also enjoyed Mrs Blossom teaming up with Danny. They made an unlikely, but engaging pair of investors. This is a well constructed whodunnit sprinkled with Lippman’s usual wry wit. I found the whole book absolutely delightful. And I want more!

When Muriel Blossom wins the lottery with a ticket she finds in a parking lot, she decides to finally take her first international trip to Paris for a Parisian River cruise. During her flight, she meets Allan. Allan is determined to help Muriel through her first Transatlantic flight and Muriel starts to feel a spark that she hasn't felt since her husband passed away. Muriel continues on with her trip to Paris with plans to meet Allan again when they are both back in the states, but only 24 hours later, police deliver the news that Allan was found dead in his hotel room. Now another man, Danny, seems to be following Muriel around Paris and believes that Muriel may have information on Allan's dealing with a rare but valuable artifact.

Murder Takes a Vacation fell a little flat for me. I wanted to enjoy Muriel as the main character. She is supposed to be a strong middle-aged woman who was a previous PI but the only description that was constantly mentioned was that she was old and fat. It seemed that every new interaction she had with other characters made mention of her size. This was a massive turn off for me. I love plus sized representation in books, but this seemed to be the main theme for Muriel as a character.

I enjoyed the mystery of the stolen artifact and Muriel's investigation into who she could trust on her cruise while strange occurrences were happening around her. Although the conclusion was predictable, I did enjoy the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the opportunity to review Murder Takes a Vacation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mrs. Blossom is a plus size senior on a vacation in Europe with a close friend and has several interactions with men along the way. The story is interesting and easy reading. Although it is not my typical type of book (I prefer legal and medical thrillers as well as spy stories), I found the many situations in which she found herself to be very plausible and engaging. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a frivolous story and thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Laura Lippman’s recent novels, like SUNBURN and PROM MOM, haven’t been afraid to go dark, even noirish. It’s therefore a surprise—and a delight—for her latest to veer more toward the cozy side of the street. Muriel Blossom, who appeared in Lippman’s Tess Monaghan series, is a woman of a certain age and, as she would be the first to point out, a certain weight. The retiree has come into an unexpected windfall that is allowing her, at long last, to live the life that she wants, and that includes a cruise up the Seine. But she hasn’t even gotten on her flight to Europe when odd things start happening to and around her. Before long, Mrs. Blossom, as everyone calls her, must put her limited experience with private investigations to work. There is a mystery here, a lighthearted and frothy one, with shades of the caper film CHARADE (1963) as a woman finds herself squaring off against various ne’er-do-wells in Paris, never completely certain which of them she can trust. But Lippman’s real focus is on Mrs. Blossom herself, taking a chance on moving from supporting player to leading lady before the curtain goes down. Mrs. Blossom’s honesty, compassion, and occasional regret lend a bittersweet note to this confection, adding flavor and dimension.

Mrs. Blossom, an unprepossessing widow who has worked for Tess Monaghan's private detective agency in the past, has received a windfall just as her son-in-law made it clear her help with the grandkids was no longer needed. With the proceeds of a winning lottery ticket, she embarks on a European river cruise, a kind of luxury she has to screw herself up to since she has never been a spendthrift. On route to London she meets a charming man who is not only helpful but awakens a romantic streak in her. She's having a wonderful time trusting him as he spends a day with her, all while the reader screams "it's a scam!" at her.

Then he shows up in Paris, unexpectedly. Dead. Between that suspicious occurrence and someone meticulously searching her room, she's alert to strange things that keep happening to her as the cruise proceeds, occasionally getting assistance from her old boss.

I enjoyed this unusually cozy adventure in a long-running series that I've missed.

Much more lighthearted than Lippman's usual fare! I was waiting for something really dark or a last-page twist that did not happen. It's a fun globe-trotting adventure as well as a portrait of a heavy older woman who deserves to see and be seen! I wish the main character had been a little smarter, but that's my only quibble.

Woah! This book gives me all the chills still thinking about it. Makes you second think a vaca. Loved the characters and the wild ride this took the reader on.

What a great surprise to read this and have a pop in by Tess Monaghan!!!! I've read everything by Laura Lippman, but especially love the Tess series.

I also loved this character and identified a lot with her middle age, and weight and invisible feelings. I found myself rooting for her throughout and what she learned by getting out in the world and testing what she's made of.

I will admit that the story and mystery really confused me here and there. She met so many people and I definitely was working to keep everything straight and the back and forth with Danny and what was actually the item in question and what it meant, etc.

I loved this book. Reading it is fun, quick, a delight, and completely unexpected. Our heroine, Mrs. Blossom (who appears in an earlier book) is a plus size smart, fast thinking woman of a certain age. By a fluke of luck, she won the lottery and has taken herself and her best friend on a cruise on the Seine in the most expensive suite available. Murders and mayhein ensue.

Mrs. Blossum has won the lottery. It's not that she bought a lottery ticket. She found one in the parking lot. But it was a winner. And now she has decided to reward herself with a cruise. In Paris. With her best friend.

But, for some strange reason, men begin throwing themselves at her. First, there is the man on the flight. He takes an unusual interest in Mrs. Blossum. After arriving in Paris, another man attaches himself to her. And the first man turns up dead! Mrs. Blossum needs to figure out what is going on...and fast...before any more bodies turn up.

Unfortunately for me, I haven't been aware of this series from author, Laura Lippman. Fortunately for me, I discovered this book. The characters were delightful. Mrs. Blossum is a level-headed woman with a great sense of humor. The plot was intriguing and inviting. I can't wait to go back and read other books in the series.

Mrs. Blossom is a middle-aged widow whose luck skyrocketed when she found a winning lottery ticket worth millions of dollars lying in the street. Her long dream of visiting the places in the world she had longed to see has now come true.
After booking the cruise on the MS Solitaire to France, she unexpectedly met Allan, whom she had met on her transatlantic flight. He immediately sparked her interest, and she began to have feelings she never expected to have after her husband’s death. When she learned that he had been found dead in Paris, shortly after they spent the night together, she immediately became spooked. He hadn’t planned a trip to Paris.
When Mrs. Blossom boarded the ship, she became wary of those around her. A strange man named Danny began flirting with her and following her about the boat. Danny was after a stolen piece of art that he was convinced Allan had, and he suspected that Mrs. Blossom knew about both the stolen piece of artwork and the circumstances surrounding Allan’s death.
Mrs. Blossom's trip had suddenly become a nightmare. Strange men were constantly following her. She began to wonder who Allan was and what his death had to do with her.

Lippman has brought Muriel Blossom from margin to center in a story that softens her usual approach to murder, both through setting change and focus, while also giving one of the most powerful portrayals of women's postmenopausal identities--as valuable (and validating) as Miranda July's All Fours but with. the comfort that a cozy mystery brings.

This was fun!! Thanks to Net Galley for an advance copy. I’ve been a Laura Lippmann fan for years and am now adding huge fan of Mrs. Blossom. Mrs. Blossom is “starting over”;in her sixties after becoming a widower and winning the lottery. I laughed out loud at several parts and enjoyed the story. Mrs. Blossom and her bestie Elinor are taking a river cruise in France and end solving a murder and international art theft. It’s a fun and quick read, perfect for a snowy day!

Ack! To enjoy this pokey mystery one needs to suspend all rational thought and disbelief amid the very very goofy plot holes and twists.

We have a MC, a lottery winner, who near the end of the book mentions she’s never won anything other than a jar of candy! Darling…you’ve won THE LOTTERY….how would one forget that, especially as she mentions it a kabazillion times while stressing over whether to buy simple things like a slice of pizza. When not mentioning the lottery win, she talks about being fat and old….the book mentions being old nearly 400 million times on each page. We also get endless descriptions of what folks are wearing….why? Why? Why?

I’m a big believer in Chekhov’s Gun. If you give something importance in your plot then it should have a reason for being there. There’s too many unfired guns between this cover.

We’re supposed to believe our MC is smart and also a part time PI….she repeatedly makes mistakes scooby doo could see coming from miles away. It’s absurd, literally groan inducing and almost made me DNF. Additionally, I don’t believe any almost 70 year old woman could be such a flibbertigibbet around men. She swoons, she’s bitter if her friend gets a male gaze, she behaves like a 14 year old. I know a ton of 70+ women and none of them would behave so abysmally.

This is probably my sixth book this year where the reader is expected to believe we have a smart woman running the show and then she is portrayed as a bumbling fool who can’t figure her way out of an airport and crumbles at the sight of a man….I just can’t

Thanks (or maybe not) to the publisher and NetGalley for an early peek.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mrs. Blossom, a widow in her late 60's, just "won" the lottery and is taking a trip to Paris and then a Seine river cruise with her friend Elinor who she will meet up with in Paris. Mrs. Blossom is befriended by a man named Allen as she boards her flight through Heathrow, misses her flight to Paris, spends a night in Paris, and takes the chunnel to Paris. He doesn't just help her with logistics but romances her a bit too. She then is met by a younger man, Danny, who keeps turning up in her orbit once she gets to Paris. Once in Paris, she quickly learns Allen has died after a fall from a balcony.

2.5 stars.

I have read almost all of Laura Lippman's novels over the years and have had mixed results. After reading Prom Mom, I declared I was done, but this one grabbed me due to the setting in Paris and along the Seine. I wish I would have skipped it. Lippman's writing just isn't for me anymore. There are such lengthy and repetitive musings by the characters, particularly Mrs. Blossom. I grew so bored with it. It felt like filler because there wasn't enough of a story. and this was not an especially long book. Ultimately I started skimming around 80% because I couldn't take it anymore and so many of the words were doing nothing to progress the story. The ending turned out to be ok and I enjoyed that I recognized many of the places Mrs. Blossom visited in France, but I mean it this time. I am done with this author.