I saw quite a bit of promotion for this book and was eager to read it. But this was just not my cup of tea. I do typically enjoy cozy mysteries, but this was not a compelling read at all. I had to make myself pick this book up time and time again. I liked the premise. I concur with other reviewers that all the end notes were distracting and confusing. It might’ve been easier to navigate those in print versus the digital copy of the book. But I neither liked nor cared about characters. At least one character should be likeable, entertaining, enjoyable. I’m sorry, but this book was not for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance review copy.

If you are looking for a murder mystery that is positively hilarious in some points, then look no further. Eleanor is a hot mess. She is an author travelling through Italy and finds herself consumed by chaos and murder attempts. There is a lot of scenes where our MC breaks through the fourth wall which is delightfully done.

This book has it all, murder, visual settings, cozy mystery, love interests, ex’s, blackmail, international crime, whodunit. Quite the concoction to keep you entertained.

Some may be irked by Eleanor’s snarky demeanour, but I find her endearing. I definitely recommend this for a light fun read which allows the reader to escape for a short time. I will definitely be reading the second book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for a copy of this book.

Conceptually, this is a cute little story, very meta, very self-deprecating. In practice, well...the mystery itself just wasn't that great. Kind of puts a damper on the thing, you know?

I liked the setting of this humorous mystery, a book tour of Italy with a focus on the Amalfi coast. On her book tour, writer Eleanor is so fed up with exlover and her main character Connor, that she begins thinking of killing him off in her next and final book in the series. But Connor is already convinced someone wants him dead in real life.

I found it interesting that the suspects are the group tour members and I couldn't wait to see which one it was, The twists and turns in the plot kept my interest, as the variety of individuals on this trip kept me reading as well as amused. I was delighted by the surprise ending.

Great character delineation and plotting, as well as humorous writing kept me engaged in this entertaining mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an eARC of this book!

Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies was a fun murder-mystery that reminded me of a modern day Agatha Christie story. Eleanor Dash is a writer, who is going on a 10 - year anniversary book tour with several other authors. While on tour, one of them discoveres that someone wants to murder him. Because he and Eleanor solved a crime together before (leading to her success as an author), he enlists in her help to solve the mystery and save his life.

This book was so much fun! I loved all the little plot twists, and the ending was not what I expected. There were a lot of characters, however they were interesting and diverse enough that it wasn't confusing or difficult to keep track of them. I also really liked the footnotes and the breaking of the fourth wall - it definitely made this book more unique. The entire time I was questioning who the perpetrator was, and I'm happy to say I did not figure it out. Everything tied up together nicely at the end as well, and the set-up for the sequel was also perfect - just a minor little cliffhanger. I also really enjoyed the humor - all the quips about the world of writing and publishing were entertaining.

This story was unique, hilarious, and a refreshing take for a murder-mystery novel, and I look forward to the sequels!

This was a fun quick read, but I wasn’t a fan of the author’s style of writing. I did thing the mystery was well thought out

4.5 Stars!
I loved and related to Eleanors sparky commentary so much! At first when I saw the footnotes I was worried that they were going to be annoying and distracting. They turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the book. I found myself looking forward to them as they were hilarious. So maybe they were a but distracting, but in a good way.
This was not only laugh out loud funny but extremely suspenseful at the same time. I could not put it down until I finally figured out "who done it". Although I had some pieces of the puzzle correctly figured out, I was still surprised when it all came together.
I will definitely be continuing this series and keeping an eye out for more from Catherine Mack.
Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur & Catherine Mack for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so fun! This book contains a lot of footnotes - so if you are a big Ereader this book might be better suited for you to read as a hard copy. This book would be perfect to read during a summer vacation with friends! Think Murder Mystery with a side of Italy and very intriguing characters that you want to know more about. Really cute.

Best selling author Eleanor Dash is in the middle of a splashy international book tour for her latest title. If she could just kill off her main character, life would be perfect, because in real life, the main character is based on a real man who is blackmailing her into funneling him profits from any books he is a character in. So, a problem! But during the tour, there is a murder, and Eleanor must solve a real life murder, not just in her stories. Great read, fast paced, fun and full of hijinks.

This book had me both ready to book a trip to Italy and wanting to reach through the pages and yell at the narrator about her choices. That being said, it was a super fun travel whodunit with a large cast of characters/suspects that will have you second guessing your predictions at every turn. The narrator broke the fourth wall a little much for my taste but if you enjoy books about publishing and cozy mysteries, you’ll love this!

This was entertaining and I love a good mystery!

Was a unique way to tell the story and at first was unsure of the writing style but I really enjoyed it!


Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read and review

Entertaining murder mystery. Lots of snark. Some surprises. A unique way of telling the story. The footnotes could have been more fun in a paperback. Didn't work for me on a Kindle. I would forget what they pertained to by the time I read them. I would have been happier without the "f" word. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

I had a hard time investing in this book. The story is good, it’s just the writing style. It’s different than what I’m used to. Some people will love it for that very reason. I enjoyed the humor in the book. . I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I loved this book, the style of writing, the storytelling and trying to figure out who the killer is? Eleanor wrote a book 10 years ago about a crime that happened and her ex-boyfriend who is now blackmailing her. Eleanor goes back to the scene of the crime to celebrate the 10 year anniversary with seven other people and they are all suspects.

Absolutely loved the quirky footnotes and the way that the story unfolded.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!

The MC has such a strong voice, which is awesome. The humor was incredibly dry, and it’s funny, but I didn’t personally want to hang out with the MC for an entire book. I stopped after chapter 1 (4%) but I’m guessing this is going to be a solid three to four stars with five for the right readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Eleanor Dash is a bestselling author who just wants to get through her book tour and kill off her main character, Connor Smith. This seems easy enough but someone else has different plans and those plans may include murder. Connor has found that someone is trying to kill him and enlists Eleanor to help him find out who it is and it could possibly be someone they know.
This was a fun mystery with a full cast of odd characters, all of whom could be the killers. I really enjoyed this and would recommend. 3.5 ⭐️ thank you to NetGalley And Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy for a review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My biggest issue with this book was the footnotes. There were so many and it interrupted my reading experience on the kindle to keep jumping to them. They were cute asides but hopefully the next book can figure out a better way to imparts the same info.

That said, this was a cute cozy mystery about a writer on a European tour with a number of interesting characters.

Really liked this one. The use of foot notes was particularly enjoyable and had me going back and forth at the end of each chapter. Very well done.

Various personalities are captured well in the characters and the scenes where they are all interacting were a delight.

Overall, a brilliant read and I'm already hoping for a second installment!

Thank you to NatGalley for the advance reading copy, the opinions are my own.
I rarely read romcon mysteries but this one is a lot of fun. I won't repeat the description from the bio. The sister relationship truly made this enjoyable. I also appreciate the dialogue between the two. Quick read for a rainy weekend or vacation. If you are a big cozy fan this book is for you.

Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster ride through the world of mystery with "Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies." Catherine Mack introduces us to the magnetic whirlwind, Eleanor, a bestselling mystery author who takes meta-mystery to a whole new level.

This cozy mystery is not your average page-turner—it's a blend of suspense, humor, and romance that will keep you hooked from start to finish. As Eleanor embarks on a book tour in Italy, you'll find yourself immersed in a plot filled with blackmail, international crime, and the kind of misadventures that only a bestselling author can stumble upon.

What sets this book apart is Eleanor's penchant for breaking the fourth wall. She not only talks to the readers but sometimes even coaches them, adding an extra layer of engagement that makes the story not just entertaining but interactive. The humor is sharp, the murders are not just attempts, and the romance adds a sweet touch to the narrative.

Eleanor's character is a delightful mix of snark and charm. Her disdain for her unscrupulous ex-boyfriend/blackmailer, Connor, adds a hilarious twist to the plot. The banter between Eleanor and her sister/assistant, Harper, is heartwarming, and the introduction of the oh-so-dreamy Oliver adds a romantic element that balances the suspense perfectly.

Mack weaves a complex mystery, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The footnotes, though numerous, bring a witty dimension to the storytelling. You can choose to delve into them or skip them, but either way, they add a unique flavour to the narrative.

"Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" is a standout read of 2023. It's not just fun; it's a thrilling journey that makes you eagerly anticipate the next instalment in the series. Catherine Mack has created a satisfying mystery that keeps you on your toes and leaves you wanting more, and I can confidently say that I certainly can't wait for the next Installment; "Every time I go to a Wedding, Someone Dies".

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and St. Martins Press for providing this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars