Bestselling author Eleanor Dash got her start from losing basing her first book on real events over ten years ago. Now with her 10th book coming out, she’s celebrating her 10-year anniversary with Press Tour to Italy. Her ex-boyfriend Connor Smith, her sister, and others involved in the series are all joining her on the tour. All is well, until Connor unveils that someone is trying to kill not just him but also Eleanor. Can this mystery writer solve this real-life mystery before her time is up?

This book was such a fun cozy mystery and with lots of snark and quirky banter I flew through this book. All of our characters distinct, and I found even the unscrupulous Connor to be entertaining. Eleanor made such a great lead character, even with all her sidebar tangents. I listened to the audio and all the footnotes were added into the narration. I have heard a few other reviews say that when actually reading the book, it was hard to navigate all the sidenotes but as far as audios good it was seamless.

With plenty of suspects and Mack’s engaging writing; Every time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies was such a fun listen! Elizabeth Evans who narrates the book was simply outstanding. It’s the perfect road trip listen, or beach read, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series!


Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies comes out April 30, 2024. Thank you to Minotaur and MacMillan Audio for my advanced copies in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

This is a favorite read so far this year! It is clever and funny and has such a great setting! I love the narrator and am glad I listened to this!

This is a quick and fun read that draws you into the characters' lives effortlessly. I am glad this is a series b/c I can't wait to read about Eleanor & Harper's escapades in the next book! This was my 1st book by Catherine Mack but I am now adding all of her books to my TBR!

#EveryTimeIGoonVacationSomeoneDies
#NetGalley

The plot is twisty, the backdrop is beautiful, and the narrator sounds like Selena Gomez -- what more could we possibly ask for? I loved this book and I'm so glad that more are on the way.

The opening scene drew me in -- our protagonist, Eleanor, beloved author of the vacation murder series, is confessing to a priest in an Italian church at the opening of her Italian book tour for her tenth book. The problem? She's talking about a murder she wants to commit -- that of the real-life inspiration of the hero in her books, Connor Smith. Connor has been secretly blackmailing her for a cut in all her books after they were involved in an event when they met that Eleanor would rather forget. But when a real attempt is made on Connor's life -- and possible Eleanors -- she enlists the group on the trip with her to help her solve the crime.

This book was so fun. I loved how Mack wrote the character of Eleanor, I loved the breaking of the third wall (not sure what else to call it?) where Eleanor enlists the reader to help solve the mystery. I even loved the footnotes, although it was hard to discern when they happened while listening to the audio version.

Very enjoyable read -- four stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Such a fun who dun it! I liked how the author here broke the fourth wall consistently with the footnotes, dropping clues, asking if we caught on to them or not. There was a lot of setting up the would be murderer, to writing off each character as not plausible, but then sprinkling in something that actually make them the killer. I did guess the would be killer early on, <but</i> there was enough back and forth I consistently questioned myself. I never could land on a good motivation for the person I thought it might be, and when it all came together, wow!
For the audio version, most of the sections are switched over to "keep listening to find out..." instead of the book which I'm certain is "keep reading..." there are a couple that got missed.
One thing of note for others, there are a LOT of pop culture references, T. Swift, other books/authors, tv shows, etc. None of that bothered me, I thought it was well done, but I know this turns others off.
I dropped a star because it took a good 30% to be able to track all the characters. I was confusing them regularly. Also, with the footnotes in the audio version, it was hard at times to know if it was a footnote or a continued part of the story. About halfway through I finally started to figure out who the narrator was changing their voice, but again taking that long drops the star.
I also wasn't sucked into the book, where I just HAD to keep listening to know what was going to happen.
It set up for a 2nd book which I'll definitely read.

Thanks to Net Galley for the arc!

Not the book or vibe I thought it was going to be but I ended up really enjoying it! I possibly didn’t remember the synopsis properly, and partially the fault of the misleading cover art, because I expected cozy writers girls trip gone wrong with some happenstance murders interrupting cocktails by the water. Instead it’s a calculated suspense and murder plot amid a professional trip where everyone’s a suspect. Somewhere in between cozy and classic mystery.

There’s a lot of characters and personalities shoved together on an unlikely tour and it makes for great fiction. I didn’t particularly like anyone and yet I was all in for the drama. But what really makes it all shine and work is Eleanor’s, the narrator and MC, fourth wall break. Her snarky observations and asides keep everything lively. The footnotes are seamlessly added to the audiobook delivery and I highly recommend it over the physical book.

The murder does take a while and there’s a lot of build until we get to it so it dragged a little. BUT the setting and descriptions added a lot along the way and I loved that Italian vacation feel. Even with a couple implausible situations I just kept gaining momentum in the second half and binged until the end. It ended up being highly entertaining and I’m definitely in for more in this series.

It's a 3.5 for me. It's not that I didn't like it but it wasn't necessarily my style of writing I guess. I love a good murder mystery but something about the point of view being from the writer was a little confusing to me. It started out slow then got pretty good but then I just kind of wanted it to wrap up. If you don't easily get confused by point of view it might be better.

4.25 stars
I very much enjoyed this book! I loved the humor and cheekiness of the main character and found it to be a very fun story! These are the exact sort of cozy mysteries that I love. I’m quite excited for this series to continue. I will say, I started this as an audiobook, and while I enjoyed the narrator, I think the format of the book lends itself better to reading it physically. But I highly recommend!!

Hello, let me introduce you to the book that I will be recommending to everyone I ever talk to.

Bestselling author Eleanor Dash on her Italian book tour that turns into a real-life murder mystery, as her life starts to imitate her fictional world.

This book is hilarious. I loved all the inside jokes especially the Goodreads diss (sorry not sorry.) Iswitched back & forth from both the audiobook & the ebook & the audiobook made it feel like your friend was telling you the story.

This is such a good & it’ll be the perfect read for by the book this summer!

This was such a fun modern cozy mystery! Perfect for lighthearted mystery lovers and also book lovers.

Eleanor Dash is a famous murder mystery author on a book tour in Italy. While on tour Eleanor decides she’s going to kill off her main character, Connor, in the next book of her Vacation Mystery series. When an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life she decides she must help solve the case.

Listening to this book was like a travel guide to Italy. So atmospheric it had me craving an Aperol Spritz by the end and I’ve never even tried one before 🤣 Each of the characters had a fun quirkiness about them that made this book entertaining and the twists kept on coming. Each end of chapter had me intrigued.

I really loved the style that this book was written in. Elizabeth Evan’s is an excellent narrator. She executed the male and female voices perfectly. Our main character Eleanor scattered footnotes throughout the book and I really enjoyed the way they seamlessly paired with the audio.

This book is lighter than I’m used to reading but overall I enjoyed it so much and am looking forward to the next in the series!

Thank you @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for this advanced listening copy.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, is a fun, light mystery. It breaks the fourth wall with the main character, speaking directly to the reader. It has humor, a little romance and mystery to keep you reading. It seems to be set up to be a series and I’m excited to read the next one.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6458412437

This book is different from any book you've read before - I'm pretty sure of it.

OK, so it's a tour of Italy with 5 authors and some other book-related people. And a whole bunch of fans of Eleanor Dash, who are traveling alongside, but not really with the book people. Connor, a former lover of Eleanor, is there because he was the inspiration of the first book in the popular series and continued to be a prominent character in the series. He claims someone is trying to kill him. Eleanor doesn't believe him - at first. And then there are more attempts, including a (mistaken?) attempt on Eleanor's life. And there's a scene in a library with all the book people and an incompetent police investigator.

But have you ever read a book that's been footnoted by the author to give the reader background information, or to say "this might be a clue?" I've never read one like it before. Although I didn't read every footnote, it was a quirky and fun idea.

I listened to the audio book after I read the ebook. the footnotes are fully integrated into the story so it's seamless. The narrator was great. I especially enjoyed her pronunciation of Italian words. It almost made me feel like I was in Italy.

I enjoyed the book a lot. There was sex mentioned and happening in the book but it wasn't explicit so I'd say this book can be read and enjoyed by almost everyone.

Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies is a little outside of the genres I normally read, but I was enticed by the cover, title and description when I saw it on Netgalley. This funny amateur sleuth mystery turned out to be a great listen with a main character whose personality leapt off the page (or sprung from my headphones?).

Eleanor Dash has two priorities: get through her book tour in Italy for the latest installment of her Vacation Mysteries series and kill off her main character, Connor Smith. When a real-life attempt is made on the life of the actual Connor Smith—the charming con man who has long been the inspiration for Eleanor's popular book series character—the bestselling author finds herself reluctantly drawn into an intriguing real-life murder mystery.

With a colorful cast of potential suspects including jealous literary rivals, obsessive fans, and even an unexpected visit from her ex-lover Oliver, Eleanor must untangle a web of motives and tensions simmering just beneath the idyllic surface of her Italian book tour. Dash deftly weaves an engrossing whodunit brimming with delightful insider details about the book world, memorable characters you can't help but root for, and juicy romantic entanglements.

A light, immensely enjoyable read perfect for whiling away a sunny afternoon, this wry, witty mystery also offers interesting insights on the strange power our fictional creations can take on in our own lives. Verdict: add Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies to your TBR!

As for whether to read or listen to this one, I've seen other reviews talk about the footnotes being distracting if you're reading it. It took me a second to figure it out in the audiobook, because I wasn't expecting footnotes in a novel, but I thought they worked well in audio. It really felt like Eleanor was a good friend letting you in on all the juicy details. So, I highly recommend the audiobook for this one!

A super fun murder mystery set in multiple cities in Italy. I love the lighthearted writing and found it similar to the Finlay Donovan book series. The story follows Eleanor Dash, who is a mystery series writer while she's on tour in Europe. But bodies start piling up around her, just like in her novels. I really enjoyed how meta this story was. The cast of characters was vibrant and well-written. I listened to the audiobook, which is perfectly narrated by Elizabeth Evans. She captures Eleanor's snark perfectly. It's quick moving and super fun. Definitely a perfect beach read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ebook / audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Entertaining read , the author draws the reader in by have the main character "talk" to the reader . The storyline was more understandable when I listened on audio versus the written story . I did enjoy the story of authors and a who did it type mystery with a little "Clue " thrown in. I would read this author's work again for sure .

Fresh, clever, and laugh-out-loud funny! Catherine Mack crashes through the 4th wall in her Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies. It's about an author being an author. Told in 1st person, almost stream of consciousness, the narrator is the author of mystery novels and she gives an inside perspective on the complex and hilarious world of publishing, making the reader feel part of the story. It is fun, creative, sometimes confusing, but completely delightful. The author invites the reader to speculate 'whodunit' throughout the story. I listened to the audio and I think that is probably the best, most effective way to experience the book. Utterly entertaining and enjoyable.

Thank you @MinotaurBooks and @Netgalley for the ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 Stars
Happy pub day to Catherine Mack and Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies! Thank you to Catherine Mack, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen 🎧 to this book for an honest review. Additionally, thank you to St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books) for allowing me to read 📖 this book for an honest review!

📅 Tuesday, April 30, 2024 is the pub date for Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies. 📅

🎧The narrator for this audiobook is Elizabeth Evans.🎧

Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies…one trip to die for.

Bestselling Author Eleanor Dash is on a book tour abroad with her sister (and assistant/consultant), a man (Connor - former love interest) that one of her main characters is based on, a few (roughly 20) fans, and a couple of friends (including current love interest). Eleanor plans to write Connor out of her next book but he starts to feel like someone is trying to kill him in real life. Multiple deaths ensue. Is anyone safe on the trip? Will they finish the book tour unscathed?

I love, love, loved the audiobook version! There were so many characters but Elizabeth Evans expertly crafted a distinct voice for each. Her narration helped me keep each character straight as I was listening. I originally started reading the ARC on my kindle but the footnotes were distracting to me. They didn’t provide for a smooth, seamless read. However when I switched to the audio ARC, the footnotes enhanced the experience and provided a fresh perspective with a lot humor. This was an engaging and fast paced listen that made me laugh out loud many times. It’s considered a cozy murder mystery. I suggest this read to any audiobook junkie!

We are are whisked away on a whirlwind book tour of Italy with main character Eleanor Dash on, her sister/assistant, a couple of exes, other fellow authors, and a few too many dead bodies. We get to follow along as secrets are revealed, and Italy is explored.

This is compulsively-readable book that seamlessly blends humor, mystery, and the charm of Italian locales. Much like an Aperol spritz on a hot summer day, this cozy mystery offers a delightful escape into a world where secrets unravel against the backdrop of breathtaking scenery.

Combining the wit and charm of the Finlay Donovan series with a hint of White Lotus ✨vibes✨, "Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" offers a perfect escape for fans of lighthearted mysteries. Perfect for readers who enjoy a dose of humor with their whodunits, this promises a fun-filled journey that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Narrator Elizabeth Evans breathes life into each persona, her Selena Gomez-esque rasp adding an intriguing layer to Eleanor's enigmatic persona. From the bumbling tour guides to the unexpected revelations, Evans ensures that every moment is infused with personality and depth.

Mack crafts a fun story that keeps you guessing until the very end. I had a hunch about “who done it” but there was just enough misdirection to keep me unsure. With its blend of humor, intrigue, and unforgettable characters, I can’t wait for what is next for Eleanor Dash and company.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read. All opinions are my own.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Eleanor Dash is back in Italy, ten years after her first trip. The first time, she met a dashing investigator named Connor Smith and they solved a series of bank robberies together. She went back home to California with her head still spinning from everything that happened, so she decided to process it all by writing it down. That became her first book which became a runaway bestseller. Now, she’s back in Rome and working on the tenth book of her popular Vacation Mystery series. And she has a plan for it. But she’s not alone on the trip.

The publisher has set up this tour of Italy to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Eleanor’s book, and they are going all out. Not only is Eleanor there with her sister Harper (who also acts as her assistant), but Connor is there too, along with several other authors and twenty fans who won the trip through social media. And just to make things more interesting, the tour also includes Eleanor’s ex (the one after Connor), and Connor’s ex-wife (and no, Eleanor didn’t know that Connor was married that first trip to Rome).

So Eleanor’s plan for this trip, as she’s plotting this tenth novel, is to kill Connor.

Not the actual Connor, of course. But the character of Connor. She wants to end the series. She wants to stop being tied to this man, especially since he’s been blackmailing her for a cut of her royalties. But then he tells her that someone is trying to kill him. Before they left on the trip, someone cut his brake lines. And then in Rome, someone tried to push him into traffic. But Eleanor isn’t true that he’s telling the truth. She’s never completely sure if Connor is telling the truth.

And then someone tries to push Eleanor off a cliff.

It has to be someone on the tour who is trying to kill them, but who would do that? And why? And what if someone kills off real-life Connor before Eleanor can kill him off in her book? And worse, what if someone kills her off before she can figure out who is trying to kill them?

Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies kicks off a new series with a bang. This mystery sparkles with intrigue and interest, from the strong characters to the settings spread around Italy. With layers of secrets and lies and an assortment of crimes and victims to sort through, this novel is filled with questions, more questions, and pizza, pasta, and gelato.

I listened to the audio book for this one, narrated by Elizabeth Evans. Evans brings the character of Eleanor to life, complete with her snark and many, many footnotes. I think anyone who might be annoyed by those footnotes should try the audio book, as it just rolls right into the narration seamlessly, adding to the strong personality that Eleanor brings to the story. But there are so many footnotes that I think reading them would have been irritating.

But that being said, I loved this book. Author Catherine Mack opens up that fourth wall and invites the reader into the story. She encourages us to solve the mystery before her character does and offers fun spoilers throughout (including references to more books, which I really hope is true). This is not a traditional cozy, but instead a playful twist on the mystery genre, with nods to Dame Agatha Christie and notes about other good books to read. Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a brilliant start to this series, and I can’t wait to see where we go next!

Egalleys were provided by Minotaur Books and an early copy of the audio book was provided by Macmillan Audio through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Happy Pub Day to @catherinemckenzieauthor and her novel EVERY TIME I GO ON VACATION, SOMEONE DIES. This was such a fun read. A cozy mystery set in Italy, this book has humor, sunshine, drinks, and drama. It’s a classic whodunnit like a good game of Clue.

Eleanor Dash, author of a mystery series, is on book tour with other authors and Connor, an ex-fling who she based one of her leading characters on. Cue the drama when Connor claims someone on the trip is trying to kill him and the number of suspects climb. Looking forward to a second book!

The narrator did a good job of giving a different voice to the majority of the characters- I got a little confused between some of them when they were all out to dinner so was glad to have the physical book to reference at that point. I also liked that the narrator incorporated all of the footnotes into her narration so it flowed well.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to @minotaur_books for inviting me to participate in this book tour! I had a great time reading this book and loved the goodies that accompanied it! I especially love the finished copy and signed bookplate (check out the inside cover illustrations too💗)!

This book is out today and will be a great one for fans of Finlay Donovan, Knives Out, and anyone that loves the Clue game.