Toured to Death

Amy Abel runs a travel agency with her mother Fanny and is anxious for everything to go perfectly with their first mystery-themed trip. Amy will be traveling to Monte Carlo to begin the elaborately planned road rally in which guests will solve a fictional murder mystery written by a professional writer hired by Amy and Fanny.

The first part of the book is my favorite of the novel. The trip Amy has planned for those booking the trip is like a murder mystery dinner, but this game leads the players to a number of exotic European locations. The book has both humor and seriousness as Amy puts personal tragedy and her lack of self-confidence behind her and takes charge of a diverse group in a difficult situation. When a real-life murderer strikes on the trip, Amy has to find the strength to carry and protect her reputation, an innocent person’s freedom, and her own life. I enjoyed seeing the game played out and was entertained throughout the first part of the book.

I started to lose track of who was who in the second part of the novel, which focused on Amy trying to solve the real murder. Part Two includes too much of Amy feeling sorry for herself about everything that goes on in her life, even though she doesn’t seem willing to do anything about it. If I had to pick someone to hang out with, I would choose Fanny. Fanny is smart and resourceful and most of all fun! Amy tends to be a stick-in-the-mud who is jealous of Fanny’s daring nature and willingness to have a good time. Amy needs to lighten up and she (and this series) will be a lot more fun.

I have read the “Monk” mystery novels written by author Hy Conrad and enjoy his humorous writing style. I enjoyed this debut in a new series and if future books are more like the first part of this book, I will continue to follow the adventures of Amy and Fanny in future books.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Kensington Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Amy and her mom would start a travel agency. Amy would do the footwork and Fanny would take care of the office and do the books. Things are just about ready for their first tour, a trip that will have the guests trying to figure out a fictional murder. But when the author writing their storyline ends up dead for real, Amy and her mom will have to not only run the agency, but solve the murder

I love mysteries about travel to foreign lands - it's almost as good as being on a real vacation. And this one delivers in spades - it took me to Monte Carlo, a place I've always dreamed of visiting. I also loved the mother-daughter dynamic of the book. It would be great to have a working relationship like that- although your mother may drive you crazy you know that she'll always be there for you. This is a great beginning to a new series and I look forward to reading more of their adventures.

Amy is managing the first mystery themed tour in Monte Carlo while her mother Fanny is managing their office in New York. When the writer of the mystery turns up dead in his New York apartment, Amy and her mother need to investigate. Fast-paced, fun mystery!

What a splendid idea for a mystery. Set up a tour for dyed in the wool mystery buffs, take them to exotic Southern European destinations where they will discover clues to solve a disappearance and murder that begins at the first night banquet of the tour. The fact that the creator of this mystery has taken a real life story and barely changed the names of the participants creates extra excitement. Unexpectedly, however, another element of surprise is added when three people who were present during the actual event happen to be on the tour. One of those people is the murderer.
It's a fun read with the first half of the book devoted to the mystery game. The stakes are increased in the second half when one of the group is murdered herself and the others try to unravel the real life murder while being suspects themselves.
The actual murderer was someone I had suspected but not for the reasons behind the murder. There were plenty of twists, turns and misdirections to satisfy the reader. I suspect that this may turn into a series and if it does, I will enjoy reading the further adventures.