
Member Reviews

This cover is amazing, the title is intriguing, and I love books set in Italy. I had really high hopes for this book after seeing it compared to the Finlay Donovan series. Unfortunately I struggled a bit with this book. There were quite a few characters on the book tour and at times I had trouble keeping up with who was who. The constant interjecting by the narrator was too much for me. It reminded me of The Fury in that she's kind of taunting the reader for not figuring out the murderer yet. I don't mind footnotes, it was just too many. I also think I just didn't jive with the narrator's style. I feel like she used too much slang trying to make herself sound young/cool. Of course I didn't write down an example so now I can't think of one. I also really didn't like how she treated her sister as an employee. Maybe they can have a better relationship in future books.
There were a couple things I liked about the book. The biggest being that I didn't guess who was trying to kill Connor and Eleanor! I also liked Eleanor's dilemma with trying to kill off Connor in her books. That was like a fun little side story within the main story. I did like the ending and that it ended on a cliffhanger. I would give the second book a try!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for a review!

This audiobook was delightful! I know it may not work for everyone but I love when an author or actor break the fourth wall and this happens often in this one. I found it super entertaining.
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The tagline for this is perfect for a vacation mystery. “Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies ….one trip to die for.” This sums it perfectly!
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Eleanor is the best selling author of the vacation mystery series but she’s looking to kill her main character, who happens to be based on her ex-boyfriend in real life. What if someone is trying to kill them in real life and the even bigger question is why? I would love to see this one as a summer tv series!
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Huge thank you to #MacAudio2024 #minotaur and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was already hot to read this book because it's a mystery involving an author and a group tour of Italy. That hits a lot of summer fun reading buttons! I was further encouraged by the wonderful cover blurb supplied by Elle Cosimano (author of the Finlay Donovan series, which I find so much fun), including her comparison of the book to Knives Out. Sadly, I didn't find that it held up to this hype. In all fairness, I'm sure there is a mighty fine line between whipping up advance enthusiasm and going over the far edge by setting too-high expectations.
Eleanor Dash isn't the most appealing of main characters. She certainly brought on some of her troubles herself, and she comes across as being both scattered and self-centered. Many of the other characters are also over-the-top personalities, which is perfectly suitable in a farce. Eleanor's sister—who is also her main support staff in her writing career—is possibly the most appealing/least annoying character.
Eleanor breaks the fourth wall almost constantly, throughout the book. I imagine this is supposed to fun and casual. I found it bothersome, especially when she's suggesting that a certain thing she's just said might be a clue. There's also a heavy reliance on footnotes in the book. While I thought this made the audio a bit choppy, I can't begin to imagine how much more disruptive and tedious it would have been had I been reading with my eyes. [Again, in all fairness, at the same time I was feeling irritated about this during reading, I had to acknowledge that my casual writing style tends to include an excessive number of asides. Will I change? Doubtful. It gave me pause, though.]
Narrator Elizabeth Evans did a good job with many of the female characters. She wasn't as strong in voicing male characters, and was slightly inconsistent with non-English accents.
All that being said, I felt a fair sense of satisfaction with the mystery's resolution, and I'm curious about how the series will continue, so I'm likely to read the second book.
This unbiased review is based on an audio ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio from Minotaur Books. Publication is expected April 30.

Every time I go on vacation, someone dies is my top 2024 so far.
The things i loved :
The story is written from the authors perspective of events as she's working on her manuscript for newest novel. It was a different way of telling the story and I loved it.
The story itself was really good. It draws you in and becomes really hard to put down. There is everything from humor to suspense but there is never a dull moment. The story just flows so nicely.
Things I disliked:
I can't find a thing I didn't like about this story. I had the audiobook version so I cannot comment on the writing structure.
Audiobook Review
I highly recommend listening to this every time I go on vacation, someone dies as an audiobook for the first time. It was an absolute blast. Elizabeth Evans does a great job of embodying Eleanor and really brings her to life. I usually prefer the physical book to the audiobook but I definitely think the audiobook would come out on top this time.

Eleanor wants to get through her Italian book tour so she can go home and write her next book where she plans to kill off her main character. What she doesn’t expect is to be in the middle of a real murder mystery. While on the trip, someone attempts to kill Connor, her ex that the main character of her series is based on and named after, Eleanor finds herself in the middle of trying to figure out who wants Connor dead and why.
With an unreliable narrator, twists and turns around every corner, and the most hilarious footnotes, this book was a blast! I love that it often broke down the fourth wall and with the footnotes often read as a stream of consciousness in a way that had me laughing out loud, but very unsure of what to believe. This book was so much fun to read and I think any fans of the Finlay Donovan series will love the humor and suspense this book brings!
I enjoyed the audiobook and the narration by Elizabeth Evans. While her narration was fantastic, I did find the physical book worked better for me. The footnotes were more clear in the physical, and although they flowed seamlessly into the story in the audio, my brain preferred the obvious difference on the page. I also preferred the physical copy when it came to the notes, lists, and brain dumps that occurred between chapters.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advance copies.

What an interesting and fun book this was. This was a sort of whodunnit mystery that really focused on getting the reader to follow the clues and try and solve the mystery as well. This was done through the use of footnotes throughout the book, which at first was a bit tiresome and overdone but by the end I found that it flowed quite well. In the audiobook I feel like the narrator did a fantastic job of helping the footnotes flow quite a bit. It made for a great listening experience. The fourth wall was broken several times with the narrator talking directly to the reader, which I feel is a trend but it is still fun for me. For a book about multiple murders, blackmailing, and generally bad topics, it was quite light and easy to read. Some of the choices of putting a supposed "cliffhanger" at the end of every chapter seemed a bit overzealous, but overall I found it a satisfying read. I enjoyed the main narrator, and I think that it was a good enough book that I would look to read more in the future. It appears this is going to be a series, and I hope to read the following books to come. I give this book 3.75/5 stars rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Macmillan audio for an advanced listening copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the audiobook ARC! The first in a new series, Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies, follows bestselling author Eleanor Dash who is planning to kill off her main character, Connor and start fresh. But first she must get through her special vacation book tour, survive her ex-Connor (the inspiration for her book character) and his current partner, her ex-Oliver, a fan who has always been a bit too obsessed with her, plus a vast cast of interesting side characters. Oh, and then someone dies. This book has a large cast, several twists and turns and a bit of second-chance romance as well. An entertaining mystery with bits of humor thrown in, Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies makes for a great summer read.

Elenora Dash goes a trip with her sister Harper & other authors, In Europe with several stops on this trip. One of the author authors Conner is blackmailing Elenora for a portion of her sales and to be included in her books but also feels someone is trying to kill him. This book started off pretty cute, but got confusing and hard to follow with so much back and forth between thoughts and explanations between several characters. I felt like Elizabeth Evans did a great job with the voices to bring each character to life and using different accents and tone inflections.

I loved listening to the audiobook format of this book! The narrator Elizabeth Evans did a fantastic job of bringing the plot and characters to life as well as hitting all the humour, sarcasm and wit at the right points!
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 Macmillan Audio for a listeners copy of this book.
Publish date: April 30th

If you enjoy classic whodunit novels with a main character who loves breaking the fourth wall, this one is for you. I had a hard time connecting with the main character to begin, but that didn't keep me from being heavily invested in this murder mystery. This book is cheeky, had several misdirections and ultimately a fun ending that points to the plot of the second book in the series.
Readers who enjoyed Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone will enjoy this one, perhaps even more!

This book was so campy and fun, and 100% millennial coded! I felt like I was listening to a good friend tell me a hilarious and outrageous murder story (if those can really be hilarious?) and I am really excited to listen to the next one! All of the musical and pop culture references were right up my alley as well.
The characters were so well developed and the plot was appropriately formulaic but also twisty, and I found I was really engaged throughout the narration of this story. Catherin Mack definitely has a new hit series-to-be on her hands.

This was a good start to the obvious series that this will be. It was a lot is trying to set up this all up. I am definitely going to read the next book when it comes out. Since this ended in a cliffhanger I need to know what will happen.
Thanks Netgalley for the advance copy!

Everytime I Go On Vacation Someone Dies is a hilarious, witty, fun, addictive mystery that will keep you hooked and laughing your butt off. I loved the setting, the whole plot was so well thought out, executed perfectly.
The characters were so much fun, they were truly the highlight of this book for me. They were so eccentric, so out there. The narrator was sometimes over the top and obnoxious, but truly it made for the charm of this book. I did want to get to know the characters a little more since this is the first book in the series, but I will definitely be reading the upcoming ones.
I really enjoyed how the author constructed this book with all the footnotes, the new book outline, the way it was written as though she was speaking directly to you, I thought that was really fun. This one does end on a cliffhanger ! This was a fun cozy mystery that I will definitely recommend.
🎧 The narration by Elizabeth Evans was top notch. This book as an audiobook was the best experience. I think a lot of readers will benefit from this one as an audio, she was so good at portraying the characters. She was funny, had the right tones and expressions, truly made for a great listen.
✨️ Thank you to @minotaurbooks, @netgalley, @macmillanaudio & @catherinemack for my gifted ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

"Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies" by Catherine Mack was a thrilling, funny romp of a novel and the reader was fantastic! Need more now, lol.

I tried, I really tried to get through this book. I got to about 50% and just couldn't keep going. I just couldn't get into this and the FMC and the side characters were annoying. The story seemed to just be going in circles and the characters kept bringing things they'd already talked about multiple times. I wanted to like this one, the cover is fantastic the premise was good, but I just couldn't get into this.

Diving into “Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies” felt like joining an old friend on a whirlwind adventure through Italy. Catherine Mack’s debut novel seamlessly blends humor, mystery, and the enchantment of travel into a captivating tale that kept me guessing until the very end. This is the first book in the author’s “The Vacation Mysteries” series.
From the get-go, Eleanor Dash, the witty protagonist and bestselling author, charmed her way into my heart with her candid narrative style. It was refreshing to have her speak directly to the reader, making me feel like a confidant rather than a mere observer. Eleanor’s quest to bump off her fictional character, Connor, while navigating real-life chaos was a rollercoaster of laughter and suspense.
Mack masterfully weaves together elements of travel and mystery, making every stop on Eleanor’s Italian book tour come alive with vivid descriptions and authentic cultural touches. As someone who has explored Italy firsthand, I found myself nodding along with recognition at each destination, adding an extra layer of immersion to the story.
The cast of characters, from the charming Inspector Tucci to the quirky “bookface ladies,” added depth and hilarity to the narrative. Mack’s clever nods to pop culture, like Inspector Tucci’s resemblance to Stanley Tucci, brought an extra layer of delight to the reading experience.
The mystery at the heart of the story kept me eagerly turning the pages, trying to piece together clues alongside Eleanor. Mack expertly kept me guessing until the final reveal, and I was impressed by the satisfying conclusion that left me eager for more adventures with Eleanor Dash.
The Narration:
Listening to the audiobook, narrated by Elizabeth Evans, was an absolute delight. Evans breathed life into each character with her dynamic voice acting, enhancing the story’s charm and humour. Her enthusiasm for the material was contagious, making this an audiobook I would highly recommend to anyone seeking an entertaining escape.
My Final Thoughts:
In conclusion, “Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies” is a delightful romp through Italy that combines the allure of travel with the intrigue of a murder mystery. Catherine Mack has crafted a captivating debut that left me eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the Vacation Mysteries series.
I received a ARC of this audiobook from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Wow! This was such a fun book! I loved the footnotes.
I loved all of the characters. The plot was fantastic. I didn’t see the ending coming at all! I thought the narrator on this one did a great job.
I cant wait to recommend this one!

Reading Catherine Mack's newsletter had me sprinting to NetGalley to request Every Time I Go On Vacation, Someone Dies - the first book in her upcoming Vacation Mysteries series! But also, how could I not read this book with a cover like this!? It's a thing of vacation beauty!
This book is fun, humorous, and clever! It's wild but plausible! It's atmospheric and vacation-y! It's exactly the kind of book I love reading in the summertime!
Main character Eleanor Dash is quirky, spunky, and full of vigor. She's a mystery writer, and there's just something I love about cozy mysteries with main characters who are authors! Simply put: I adore her!
This book has footnotes, which were handled really well in audiobook form!!! The insights they gave into an authors mind and the publishing industry were both enlightening and entertaining! Stylistically, the footnotes fill the reader into details in such a succinct way - which is brilliant author work if you ask me! (But Mack, I now need to know: do you write your own newsletter?)
Narrated by Elizabeth Evans, this audiobook is going to be one I recommend all summer (and after, because who doesn't want beach-y vibes in the middle of winter!?)! She truly added extra pizazz to Eleanor's character, and I love how she altered her voice to allow the footnotes to sound like asides to the main story!
If you like fun mysteries, this is the quick and easy read for you!
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

#ETIGOVSD:
Thank you @minotaur_books @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted copies.
This tickled my ADD brain in the best way, and audio is truly the way to go. The footnotes made total sense on audio and really tracked for my multiple track mind. I tried my kindle and threw a fit, did decent with the physical print, but audio? Elizabeth Evans, you made it shine for the reader.
If you like your snarky banter with your cozy mystery, look no further. If you want to crave an aperol spritz while dreaming of Italy, buckle up. Eleanor Dash makes both things happen as she breaks down her book tour from hell, in a place that’s nearly heaven. Someone is trying to axe her and the real life inspiration behind her MC, and she’s not having it.
With quite a few nods to Dame Aggie, it’s a great murder mystery that one could enjoy. Dare I say… it’s to die for? (I’ll see myself out) first in a series, it’s wonderful and kept my attention. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
Out April 30th!
QOTD: Where is your dream vacation?

This cozy mystery was so cleaver and funny! While cozy mysteries are not my go to genre, after hearing the synopsis and seeing the beautiful cover, I knew I needed to give it a try.
I went between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook, which in my opinion is the best way to read a book! I was hooked from the beginning but I felt that it was a slow build and lost some steam throughout most of the book. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and it caused me to struggle to keep my attention. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I was extremely surprised by the twists.
The narrator, Elizabeth Evans, was a new to me narrator and the female voices were enjoyable. However, I think the audiobook could have benefited by having a male narrator for the male characters since I was not a fan of her male voices.
If you are a fan of Finlay Donovan series, the you will like enjoy this series.
****Many thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for my gifted copies in turn for an honest review.