I quite enjoyed this book! I loved all the footnotes, it was a very engaging addition to the story. The story had lots of twists and turns and kept me guessing until the end! I am looking forward to see how this series evolves in the 2nd book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I finished Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack behind my grandson’s back — literally. When I went to babysit, I was 89% complete on my Kindle and HAD to finish, so I put him on my lap to watch Bluey so I could sneak read to the end.

Eleanor Dash is supposed to be in Italy to promote her latest book, not solve a mystery. But things rarely go according to plan, especially when your ex-boyfriend (and inspiration for your fictional detective) shows up on the scene… and someone starts trying to kill him.

In Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, Catherine Mack introduces us to Eleanor: a bestselling mystery writer with a sharp sense of humor, a complicated past, and a knack for finding trouble. She’s hoping to quietly write Connor out of her series. Instead, she’s stuck with the real Connor—still charming, still infuriating—and a growing list of suspects that includes rivals, superfans, a stalker, and maybe even her own ex-husband.

The mystery is fun, the pace is fast, and the setting—sunny, bookish Italy—makes it feel like a vacation in itself (well, minus the attempted murder). Eleanor’s voice carries the story with wit and just enough vulnerability to make you want to follow her wherever she goes next.

A cozy, clever read with plenty of suspects and just a bit of romance.

I received this Advance Reader Copy of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up listening to this as an audiobook and it was a lot of fun. There were a lot of characters to keep straight, but I enjoyed the listening experience and I often kept listening longer than I had planned because I had to know what happened next!

Hilarious title and lovely cover! This is the first cozy mystery book I have ever read and I think it was a great introduction to the genre! It was fun and lighthearted. I enjoyed the fourth wall break and how immersive this read was. The characters were so enjoyable too! Amazing debut novel! Looking forward to her next books!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

This was not one of my favorite books at all. I enjoyed some of the humor but it felt, to me, like the author was just trying too hard. And, oh my goodness, the use of footnotes drove me crazy and really detracted from the story. In addition, the characters did not come to life for me and came across as very flat. I was hoping for a more engaging read so was a bit disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, quirky mystery that takes a lot of twists and turns along the way, you might enjoy Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies.

For the first third of this book, I was enjoying it. I really liked the travel aspect, and there were even some funny moments. It was easy to flip through the pages and the pacing always felt right.

What began to bother me was the writing style. It’s very simplistic and bare bones, and it often felt a bit too quirky for my taste. It’s not very descriptive which left me frustrated as this was set in Europe and I wanted to feel more grounded in the setting. There were also A LOT of characters in this book. Unfortunately, since the book is so short, it meant that many of these character weren’t as well developed and fell flat.

But you might enjoy a more over-the-top, crazy, action-paced mystery.It’s a very fast read and is, for the most part, entertaining.

I did go back and forth between reading the ebook and listening to the audio. I’d highly recommend the audio, as I had a more enjoyable time listening to this story than I did reading it. The narrator did a great job at bringing the main character to life!

I do have the sequel for review, so I will continue on in the series. I just hope the writing style doesn’t get in my way of enjoying the rest of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the digital and audio arcs. All opinions are my own.

Bestselling author Eleanor Dash won a competition she didn't really know she entered. The bonus, though, was a free trip to Italy with her personal assistant/sister. The downside is her awful ex Connor also won a spot on the list of authors who were awarded this trip. With a packed itinerary, Eleanor was hoping to get through the crazed-fan events as quickly as possible and squeeze out some minutes to enjoy Italy while planning how to end her famed series starring the character she had based on Connor.

This was a very fun book to read - liberally sprinkled footnotes full of snark. I was so involved in giggling and snorting at Eleanor's wry sense of humor, I didn't cue into the real drama and suspense until it was on me (and Eleanor). I would recommend this book for those who enjoy Jesse Q. Sutanto, Katy Brent, or Freya Sampson's books.

Catherine Mack absolutely gives Death on the Nile in a modern, sweatier, and definitely funnier way. Eleanor Dash knows she’s not the best person in any room and she definitely cannot claim to be the most put-together. However, she’s such a fun, real main character sharing thoughts we’ve all had while trying to solve a mystery on an Italian work trip/vacation and keep her life somewhat in order at the same time.

Mack’s, and her characters’, sense of humor and the sunny backdrops of coastal Italy were the perfect balance to the heavy topics and themes that hallmark a whodunnit. The shift from dark to light didn’t feel forced or overdone throughout the book. The characters were a great cast to support the idea that we were taking this mystery seriously, but because everything worked out in the end it’s almost a quirky story to tell because a friend will never believe what happened.

In a very Christie-esque way, we’re greeted with a level of extravagance that worked because our characters were just the right parts over-the-top yet realistic themselves. They fit where they were going, what they did themselves, and the events they had experienced and were going to experience. I really loved Eleanor, personally, and found the footnotes and fourth-wall breaks to be a fun addition that helped readers get to know the character better without taking from the plot itself. As asides, they also were good at misdirecting readers who thought they may have guessed who was behind everything.

Part of the who may be a smidge predictable for hardcore mystery fans, but the twist was great because it almost seemed intentional for readers to guess at least a smidge of what was going on. The red herrings, the subtle hints, and then a less subtle clue all worked together to make reading this book so much fun.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this one. It was cute, felt like warm summers with the scent of lemon teased on a cool breeze, and so funny. I’m for sure excited for book two!

This was a really fun, light-hearted read. Enjoyed the setting and following her around. Can’t wait to read another one. Normally cozy mysteries are not my go to but this was well worth it.

Thank you netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Witty, sharp, and so much fun!

What an absolute gem of a mystery! Catherine Mack delivers a deliciously satirical twist on the celebrity influencer world. The FMC is smart, flawed, and refreshingly self-aware. The Italian setting had me hooked from the first chapter, and I enjoyed it right til the end.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press + NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The first time I tried to read this, a year or so ago, I had to put it down. I only had the kindle version and I found it so confusing. The book is about an author writing a book. And the main character in her book series is a real life person in Italy with her. There are tons of footnotes and fun text features, but it was difficult to navigate on the kindle. I just could not make heads or tails of it and stayed confused on if we were in her book or with the real people or what. 🤪😅
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BUT!! I picked it back up in physical form and let me tell you, it was so much easier to follow! It’s a cozy mystery/whodunit with lots of characters. The footnotes added lots of humor, and our author/narrator, Eleanor Dash, regularly breaks the fourth wall and addresses us directly. It ended up being such a fun, pithy story and I really enjoyed it!
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I’m looking forward to the others in the series! Thanks so much to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur for the arc!

Reading about the failed attempts of Eleanor to hate Connor, kill Connor off, and live her life free of Connor is so entertaining. I definitely recommend this quick read. Seeing her relationship with her sister grow, her need of Connor change, and her life erupting differently than expected was very entertaining.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack. This book is absolutely hilarious and such a fun read with a little mystery thrown in. This is a really enjoyable read and I can't wait to read more by this author in the future.

This book was a fun fast read! The characters were great, and I loved getting to get to know them. This is the first book I have read by this author and will look for more of her books.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I LOVED this book! Catherine Mack is amazing. This book was fun and funny. I loved the footnotes and how self aware this book was. I've been buying copies for everyone I know.

Appreciate the ARC. The pacing was good, the stakes were clear, and the mystery unfolded with just enough misdirection to keep me curious.

I hope no one gets it the wrong way, but this book is proof of why Americans are so hated outside their country.

Like, wtf is this? Do you think the rest of the world is just yours to play with? So less important to you that you don't even make the bare effort of using the right translation?
So unimportant that you can create a book out of bad stereotypes? MAKING JOKES ABOUT THE MAFIA?! COMMENT ON THE MURDER OF A YOUNG WOMAN WHOSE MURDERS ARE OUT ONLY BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE INCOMPETENT?!

But please, don't get me wrong, that Amanda Knox comment was just the last drop in a vast ocean of reasons why this book is awful.
Firstly, somehow the author feels the need to spell every single thing that happens with long chapters of nothingness — just to reach her amount of requested words —, and it’s still a very poorly written book. It’s repetitive, boring, and annoying, and I was one footnote away from throwing it outside the window.
And do you want to talk about the characters? I couldn't care less about any of those self-centred idiots, except Eleanor, which I’d have loved to see falling off a cliff.

It’s kinda funny actually, because I’ve always skipped books set in my home country for all the reasons this book is so bad, and the only time I don't bother checking the synopsis beforehand, that's the time I get traumatized.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I liked the writing style of this book. At first, I felt like I was witnessing an interview. Then I felt like I was hearing the writer's innermost secrets. Once I caught on to what was happening, I was hooked. The story was. both humorous and suspenseful, At times I laughed out loud. At other times, I shouted from being caught off guard. It is a quick and delightful read, that doesn't disappoint.

Bestselling fictional author Eleanor Dash is witty & absolute fun! She gives Finlay Donovan vibes! I love her writing a book within the book with her footnotes throughout! This “irresistible and hilarious series debut”

I flew through this book that brought a fun, new type of read from an author I love, #CatherineMack, aka #Catherinemckenzie!

Spontaneous, thrilling, captivating and all the words that you can think of, when someone says- this will keep you on the edge of your seat. You’ll want to cancel plans to get through this! I have a dark sense of humor and this was super fun to read! Murder mysteries/who dun its are always my favorite books to read. My brain just shuts right off.