Sometimes a debut author nails it in the first attempt, but rarely have I liked one as much as I did this wonderful novel. It had everything I needed to round out a successful mystery. There is distinct atmosphere, people I found interesting and believable. I was impressed with the character development and found myself drawn in, wanting to know more. There’s a crime to solve that I didn’t figure out half way through. It’s more than superficial, with realistic family drama and life challenges.
The relationships between mothers and daughters are often complicated, as is the case in this story. The murder mystery incorporates a mother, Lana, her daughter and teenage granddaughter, Beth and Jack. Generations collide as they’re all under one roof in a small cottage by the sea. I always think of warmth and sunshine for CA. Not so much in this remote area north of LA. It’s damp and chilly on the Slough where Beth lives. She and her Mom have a distant connection, don’t live alike or agree on much. The one thing they have in common is that they both adore Jack. She’s a part-time kayak guide and stumbled across a traumatizing occurrence – a body afloat in the reeds.
Lana loves the noise and chaos of LA, she’s worked hard to be successful, independent and now she needs her family. While fighting a relentless enemy, she decided to catch the killer the cops are unable to nab. There is a whole community full of suspects, many possible motives and a family trying to navigate a new normal. Lana is a tough old bird and she made me chuckle out loud with her desert dry sarcasm. Many instances where it reminded me of personal feelings towards my mother and vice versa.
This is a story I’m happy to recommend and I hope to see more from the author. Many thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “Mother-Daughter Murder Night” by Nina Simon and to HarperCollins Publishers. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

When successful realtor, Lana Rubicon is told she has cancer, she calls her estranged daughter Beth, who is a nurse at a care center in Elkhorn Slough along the California coast. Beth takes her home to recover. Lana's fifteen year old granddaughter, Jacqueline (Jack), has a job as a kayak tour guide for Kayak Shack. On one of Jack's outings a couple of tourists find a dead body. As the detectives investigate they focus on Jack and this is when Lana, tired of being sick and feeling useless, decides to find out who wanted the man dead. With Jack eager to help while Beth is adamant that they should not get involved, Lana goes forward.
There is a ranch, whose owner dies at the care facility, his children and a land trust owner, fight over the land and the Kayak Shack owner is acting suspicious.
An enjoyable and fast paced murder mystery with this mother, daughter, granddaughter formidable trio that piece together what is really going on and all the while mending their fragile relationship.
Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for this e-galley of "Mother- Daughter Murder Night".

I had the absolute pleasure of diving into the thrilling debut whodunnit, Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon. This fun and twisty tale centers around three generations of a family, a grandmother, a mother, and a daughter, who become amateur sleuths to solve a murder in their coastal California town.

High-powered businesswoman Lana Rubicon, her daughter Beth, and teenage granddaughter Jack find themselves entangled in a murder investigation when Jack stumbles upon a dead body during a kayaking excursion. As Jack becomes a suspect, the Rubicon women unite to uncover the truth, revealing a web of lies, family vendettas, and hidden land disputes. With their close-knit bond and determination, they venture into dangerous territory, learning to trust each other like never before. The fast-paced and enjoyable narrative keeps you on the edge of your seat, making Mother-Daughter Murder Night a must-read for all fans of a good whodunnit and a truly delightful mystery experience. Huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing this ARC!

"Mother-Daughter Murder Night" - such a catchy, intriguing title but the read was a bit less attention grabbing. I loved the multiple generations working together to clear someone's name but there was nothing keeping me turning the page. When reflecting back it seemed to drag on too long. However this is a fun, mystery book so if that is what you are looking for you will likely enjoying your time with Lana, Beth and Jack. I enjoyed it enough to keep an eye out for what's to come from debut author Nina Simon

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in advance of publication.

I received a free copy of, Mother-Daughter Murder Night, by Nina Simon, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Lana is a real estate mogul, she is also recovering from cancer with her daughter. and granddaughter Jack . They stumble upon a murder, while Beth wants her mother to recuperate, Lana wants to solve a murder. I can honestly say most cancer patients do not solve murders. Lana is not like most cancer patients. This book kept my interest from start to finish.

A fun who dunit, but I felt like the story was too scattered to focus enough on the mystery. And I wish the characters and relationships would've grown in more ways.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed the Grandma/Mom/Daughter connection. It took me a bit to get through this story, it wasn't quite as intriguing as some of the other cozy mysteries out there. While the mystery was fun it seemed a bit lacking somehow. It also felt, at times, that there was more filler than story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Pretty solid, but it was missing a little something! The pace was too slow at times. However, the plot was twisty and entertaining, so I can't complain too much. 3.5 stars rounded up. I'd recommend this to a certain audience.

What a fun novel! Grandmother Lana is a mover and shaker suddenly sidelined, recovering from cancer in a sleepy town. She has her daughter and granddaughter with her but longs to be in the middle of things again. When her granddaughter finds a body, Lana decides she'll figure out whodunnit.

Twisty, original, and fun, Mother-Daughter Murder Night is a great book to pick up and enjoy this fall.

3 stars

I feel terrible because this is a debut author and I want to give all debuts 5 stars, but this was just meh for me. The writing was pretty good, but the story really dragged and I had to push myself to pick this up. I didn't find the mystery extremely compelling and it was challenging to see so much animosity between Beth & Lana. I was hoping for more of a camaraderie amongst the three generations than there was.

There are a lot more positive reviews, so please take mine with a grain of salt, but the thing that troubled me the most was the intense focus on Jack as the prime suspect so quickly. First, she's 16 years old and I get that horrible crimes can be committed by someone that age, but for the way this book was written I just had trouble following why the police would be so intensely focused on Jack. It was a little puzzling and kind of gave me a bad taste in my mouth that I wasn't able to shake for the rest of the book.

I appreciated the fresh take on a cozy mystery and thought the idea of having three generations solve a case together was a great idea, but I wish it would have been executed a little differently. I wish the author nothing but the best and hope she finds success with this book.

Review Date: 07/24/2023
Publication Date: 09/05/2023

What a wonderful debut book! Nina Simon has combined a murder mystery with a twisty plot and a story of family love and complex relationships, centered around the three strong Rubicon women, grandmother, mother and granddaughter. There is excellent character development, and beautiful descriptions of the natural areas of the slough, where the story takes place. The book captivated me from the beginning, as the Rubicon women investigate, and soon find themselves in grave danger. Iin the process, they also reconnect with each other. It is an action-packed mystery that is full of heart! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and hope to read further adventures of the Rubicon women! Thank you to the author, the publisher, Scene of the Crime, and Netgalley for my advanced copy of the book. The opinions of the review are my own.

This is brilliant, smart, entertaining, dark comedy meets murder mystery with the brilliant dysfunctional family plot of three generations. Lana Rubicon opens her eyes on the floor of her kitchen, barely moving, calling 911. She’s diagnosed with several brain tumors that should be removed immediately. Some of the tumors also split to her lungs which means she has to ask her daughter Beth who is also highly accomplished nurse. She thinks in four times, her treatment process will resolve and she may return back to her old life. Well, she couldn’t be so wrong! She’s living her worst nightmare when she witnesses something utterly shady out her bedroom window. This sparks a fire back into her otherwise dark and boring days, so she gets right to work scrutinizing this small town murder case. Beth and Jack also find themselves involved and fighting for their safety against a murderer, all while rekindling their lost relationship with Lana. This isn’t just about the murder. It’s about these three women growing and learning together while piecing their relationship back together. #NETGALLEY #MOTHER-DAUGHTHERMURDERNIGHT

Received from Scene of the Crime for an early review. That full review will be posted on Goodreads by the date of release and I'll update this info and rating as well.

Thank you for the chance to read!

Mother-Daughter Murder Night
Nina Simon
Pub Date Sept. 5, 2023
William morrow
Thanks to the debut author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion,
I was riveted by this story and highly recommend it!
It’s a wonderful story of three women growing and learning together while putting their relationship together again. Loved it,
4 stars

This was a fun mystery read. Lana, Beth and Jack are relatable and easy to like. Following them solve the murder was a bit like watching an episode of Murder She Wrote. If cozy mysteries are a genre you enjoy you should check this one out. Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for my ARC.

15-year-old Jack, short for Jacqueline Avital Santos Rubicon, works as a kayak guide. Even though young she is capable, responsible, and certified to lead the water tours for Kayak Shack. One day on a tour two of her participants spot a body in the water. As the murder investigation ensues Jack is right in the center. Besides the water, at the center of Jack’s life are her mom Beth and her grandmother Lana. As might be expected when three generations of women are together there is emotional baggage. Beth is a nurse at a senior center and Lana is fighting metastatic cancer but she’s not about to give up. Determined to clear Jack from any responsibility Lana becomes amateur sleuth.

As the women craft their daily activities around connecting with the family of a now deceased landowner, the plot thickens over ownership rights, family feuds, and a conservation trust that is very closely connected to the body that was discovered.

So there’s our setup. The story is pretty propulsive right from the beginning. It’s tense, it’s angsty, it’s a little spooky, and it’s gonna take us down a twisty path. At its core this is a procedural with an unlikely cast of investigators.

This book is a classic whodunnit with twists, turns, and false leads. I determined the culprit early but that did not slow down my turning pages as I wanted to spend time with Lana, Beth, and Jack.
The relationship of the three women in the book made this a 5 star read for me. The author did an excellent job making these women relatable and fun. I also thought she portrayed the estrangement between Lana and Beth realistically with a practical outcome that I appreciated. Furthermore, I enjoyed each of these women from the first moments I met them. I laughed, I cried, and had a great time reading. I look forward to future books with these characters as I hated to leave them.
Thank you Thoughts From a Page and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Pub date: 9/5/23
Genre: mystery
Quick summary: Businesswoman and young grandmother Lana finds herself bored to tears while recovering with her daughter Beth and granddaughter Jack. So when Jack is accused of murder, Lana makes it her mission to find the real killer.

I absolutely love the title of this book - it screams family drama + detective work, and it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my high expectations. I loved the female MCs, especially Lana and Jack, and it was wonderful seeing all three of them build a closer relationship. But the mystery didn't really keep me engaged and felt like it dragged on too long. The last 100 pages definitely could have been condensed. That being said, I've seen a lot of more positive reviews on Goodreads, so you may enjoy it more than I did. Since this is a debut novel, I will keep my eye out for more from Nina Simon.

Thank you to William Morrow and @thoughtsfromapage for my e-ARC.

Lana is a high profile LA real estate mogul. Things take a turn for the worse for Lana when she finds out she has brain cancer. She is forced to move in with her adult daughter Beth, and her granddaughter, Jack while getting treatment. She is positive the boredom will kill her if her treatment doesn’t.

However, one day while kayaking, Jack happens upon a dead body. Jack quickly becomes a suspect. Lana will not have any of that and quickly sets out to prove Jack’s innocence with the help of Beth. Can they uncover who the murderer is without placing themselves in danger?

I really enjoyed the generational mystery solving family that this book highlighted. It was a lot of fun to have grandma, mom and daughter all working together to try to solve the murder case that Jack was the suspect for. Sure, it was a little outlandish because things just don’t quite work like that in real like but it was fun. I did think that this book was going to have humor in it but it didn’t really, so that was a mismatched expectation. I also found that at times the plot dragged at times making me with that parts were left out. However, overall, this is a really sweet story about family and working together so I did enjoy.

Thank you so much to the publisher, William Morrow, and Netgalley @netgalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Additional links will be added once posted.

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. 🔦

A dead body has been found by Jack, a teenage girl conducting a kayak tour, and police target her as a prime suspect in their sloppy investigation. Jack’s grandmother, Lana, confesses that she saw a person with a wheelbarrow dumping a body into the slough behind their home but police officers aren’t taking her seriously and continue to interrogate Jack.

Lana is staying with Jack and her daughter, Beth, while she undergoes treatment for her cancer. She decides that conducting her own investigation will help clear Jack’s name and bring her closer to the real murderer. She doesn’t realize that digging into information that is supposed to stay hidden will put her life in extreme danger.

I can’t believe this was a debut novel! This was a fun mystery to investigate alongside Jack, Lana, and Beth. We are given glimpses of Beth’s past life when she lived with her Mother, and the tension she felt growing up with an absent parent, but what they lacked was communication. Now they’re living in the same home, pursuing the same goal in the investigation, and finally bonding. I couldn’t read the last half of this book fast enough! All the pieces clicked into place, and I was so proud of Lana for all her hard work that lead to an explosive ending.

Side note: I love when books are set in California, there’s that 1% chance that my city will be mentioned and give me a little chuckle because no one ever has anything nice to say about Bakersfield. 🙃