This story takes place in the Tess Monaghan universe, but the main character is Murial Blossom, who worked for Tess. Mrs. Blossom, long widowed, has recently won the lottery and is on a European vacation for the first time in her life. She inadvertently gets involved in an international art theft situation and has to figure out who among her fellow travelers is legitimate and who is up to no good. Mrs. Blossom is a great character, both smart and very observant, as well as too trusting. It's always disappointing when I figure out the mystery too early in a book, and I'm glad to say that didn't happen this time around. I highly recommend this as a nice, quick read. Perfect for vacation.

Laura Lippman has proven once again that she can carry off any sub-genre of popular or serious fiction with skill, aplomb, control, and high artistry. This one is a cozy mystery: any doubts about its heritage should be banished by the marvelous cover art! The story is decked out with all the trappings of the cozy form—wit, humor, a picturesque setting (Paris and environs!), and a smart, outwardly naïve female protagonist who turns the tables on the arrogant miscreants who, underestimating her insight and pluck, presume to take advantage of her, even—towards the close of the story-- attempting to do her in.

Mrs. Blossom, the fetchingly named heroine, is a going-on-70 reincarnation of Agatha’s Miss Marple. She outdoes her prototype with a sententious garrulity and attitude toward life, where Marple, equally underestimated, seems to play it close to the vest until the curtain is about to fall.

Don’t look here for the Rothian ironies of Lippman’s earlier 'Dream Girl' or the feminist realism of her 'Lady in the Lake'. This is a wholly different animal. Truth be told, this may not completely please all Lippman’s fans, but if you’re looking for a beguiling, twisty plot and a lovable heroine, this is a novel for you.

A lovely story. It still had the mystery, but the characters were not crazy intense and dark. They were real. A good mystery keeps you guessing and I didn't know where we were headed. Loved the wrapped up ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for this digital ARC.

Murder Takes a Vacation was my first Laura Lippman book, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Billed as a cozy mystery, we meet Mrs. Blossom about to embark on a river cruise in France. Through a series of strange occurences starting at the airport, she dusts off her old "private investigator" skills as she is drawn into a mystery that deepens when a body is found.

Cute cozy mystery with an older female protagonist. Give it a try!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it kept me guessing until the end. I appreciated an older female protagonist as well!

Sweet, charming and meh is how I’d describe this latest title from Laura Lippman. Having lived in B’more I always love going down memory lane in her descriptions of the city and familiar places and restaurants. This book seemed to me to be more ofLaura Lippman’s reflection on life and what’s transpired. The story was unbelievable in many ways and a cozy mystery is another word that comes to mind. Not her best.

As a fan of Lippman, I was disappointed in this book. It was not the level of writing or plot that I expected. Mrs. Blossom takes a trip and lots of very bad stuff happens to her. There was simply too much of a reach to find any level of believability or allow me to buy into her character.

I also hated the endless use of her name, MRS. BLOSSOM, as a narrative device. It reminded me of reading children’s book where names are repeated as a cognitive device to improve reading and word recognition.

I know Lippman is a brilliant writer, but this novel certainly is not a good example of her talent.

Thank you Netgalley for this novel.