Parts of this book I really enjoyed and some dragged. I enjoyed when Lucy is in the Dolomites and trying to find figure out the mystery of the necklace. However all the case files in the middle of these chapters ruined the flow of the story for me.

This is such a unique book! The premise (not to mention the cover!) immediately captured my attention. Lucy is a down on her luck hairdresser who, after some relationship heartache, takes a chance on a job in Italy, with the adventure that follows involving a mystery, drama, humor, and so much more.

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like it, and I especially enjoyed the woven in hints at the end of the chapters related to the mystery. I can’t wait to see what Dini does next!

This was a prescient, timely, must-read dual timeline WWII story debut that was able to take on the genre in a fresh and unputdownable way. This book is the NEEDED-reminder that history always repeats and being indifferent leads to evil leaders. Drawing on the wisdom of philosophical greats like Plato, who said lines like "The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men," Dini reinforces just how IMPORTANT it is for present day citizens to stand up against tyranny and racism. 10/10 recommend this debut that was fantastic on audio narrated by Carlotta Brentan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy @simon.audio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I really hope we get more books about Lucy and her new 'Bearer of bad news' profession.

After finding out her fiancé is a cheater Lucy Rey is down on her luck and money. She is willing to do almost anything for a job including reusing to a posing requesting someone be a Bearer of Bad News. The job will send her on an all expenses paid trip to the Italian Dolomites just to locate an individual and deliver a message. What Lucy doesn't realize is this job is about to get far more complicated than she could have dreamed.

I had a really great time with this book. I was expecting a lighthearted cozy style mystery but this also had a very interesting historical aspect to it. Lucy was a lot of fun. She is smart but also not afraid to make some wild moves in her life. I loved how the mystery came together in the end. I'm not sure if this will be a series but I would love to read more stories involving Lucy. This was my first Elizabeth Dini book but will not be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of The Bearer of Bad News immediately grabbed me — a young, unemployed hairdresser taking a job to deliver bad news to an estranged family tucked away in the Dolomites? It sounded quirky, adventurous, and full of potential.

Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the promise. What started off light and intriguing quickly got bogged down in a convoluted plot involving feuding sisters, a WWII Nazi-stolen artifact, and an all-expense-paid journey that felt more muddled than thrilling.

The story jumps between two timelines, and while dual narratives can be great when done well, I found the historical sections confusing and hard to connect with. The modern storyline wasn’t much better — between our hairdresser heroine and her aging movie-star grandmother, I struggled to find anyone I truly cared about.

A little mystery and misadventure is what you’ll find in this story of Lucy, a barely adept hairdresser who lands an obscure job after her life implodes. Not exactly sure how one decides to apply for and accept a job that requires you to sign a NDA and track someone down to deliver them a message, but Lucy’s kind of desperate. She travels to Italy, where things go upside down, and she inadvertently stumbles upon a mystery.

The story is kind of goofy, and also has a serious undercurrent to it with parts of it being told through letters written during WWII, and other parts told as secret reports. Suffice it to say that there are connections and eventually Lucy stumbles onto them.

Highlights:
* Single POV, mystery, epistolary
* Down on her luck FMC, accidental spy
* Italy, Dolomites

This was an interesting bit of storytelling. Dini reaches into her former career as a prosecutor to inform the historical aspect of the story. I thought I was getting a rom com, and got something else entirely - a curious mystery where the FMC just stumbles upon things. If you’re up for something a little quirky, I’d say pick this up!

Thank you @gallerybooks for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the cover and I was sold with the Elinor Oliphant comparison- but in the end, I don't think this really loved up to either point. It's a quirky story of a millennial woman trying to find herself post-breakup, and it was okay. It felt like it jumped around a lot, and I drifted a lot as I read.
Not my favorite book of the year, but not my least either.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, in return for an unbiased review.

This debut novel is an interesting attempt to defy genres: Not "yet-another-white-millennial-girl-who-acts-like-a-teenager" romcom; not another "women's historical fiction" retread (meaning another romance set in WWII); not a mystery; not aspirational travel fiction. It's kind of a mix of everything...and while I appreciate the innovation and creativity, the book didn't really work, IMHO. Why not? To me, it felt as if I were reading two entirely different books simultaneously, as the voice and narrative changed from "white girl has hijinks on holiday" to "epistolary historical fiction" for the last portion of every chapter. And aside from the whiplash of storytelling format, there were just TOO MANY CHARACTERS, with far too much complexity than necessary. So! On the plus side, I would have enjoyed these as two separate books; the characters were entertaining and the settings were interesting. But as a whole, this wasn't my thing.

Bearer of Bad News was a cute read, but nothing particularly memorable for me. Lucy Rey, a Las Vegas hairdresser freshly dumped and low on cash, takes on a strange (and very well-paid) job delivering bad news in the Italian Dolomites. What starts as an odd gig quickly turns into a twisty mystery involving old family secrets, stolen WWII-era jewels, and a sister who doesn’t want to be found.
The setting in Italy was lovely, and the premise was definitely unique. But while the plot had potential, the story didn’t fully hook me, it was fun, but a bit forgettable. Nice for a quick escape, just not one that left a big impression.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher for the chance to read this book in preview in exchange for my honest opinion.

Bearer of Bad News by "Elisabeth Dini" was an absolute delight from start to finish! As someone who calls Italy home, I was absolutely thrilled to read about the stunning Dolomites, and it made the experience of reading this book even more special. The picturesque descriptions of the Italian landscape brought back so many memories, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as Lucy Rey embarked on her adventure in the beautiful mountains.
The premise of the book was so unique and captivating — a Las Vegas hairdresser caught up in a whirlwind mystery, involving secrets, stolen jewels, and a World War II-era conspiracy. But what really elevated the story for me was the setting. The Dolomites were not just a backdrop; they felt like a character in their own right, adding an incredible sense of atmosphere to the entire narrative.
Lucy herself was a refreshing and relatable protagonist. Her journey from heartbreak to solving a tangled web of secrets was both thrilling and endearing. The intrigue surrounding the "Bearer of Bad News" job, the tension of uncovering long-buried secrets, and the high-stakes mystery kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved how the author seamlessly wove together suspense with moments of warmth and humor, making Lucy's quest feel personal and meaningful.
In conclusion, this book is a thrilling, heartwarming, and wonderfully atmospheric read. If you're looking for a book that combines mystery, adventure, and an authentic Italian backdrop, look no further. Thanks to Netgalley and the author for this book, and the chance to read it in advance.

For me, this book struggled to find its identity. I felt a little duped by the cover art and description, which made it seem kind of fun and cozy - along with the book description that called it "sharply funny". I didn't find that to be the case, and instead found it to be slow moving and also heavier than I expected while not really picking a genre lane of any sort. I ended up putting it down ~30% of the way through as I just couldn't get into it. Hopefully others enjoy it more than I did!

Bearer of Bad News is an engrossing adventure from Vegas to the mountains of Italy. Lucy is immediately likeable and relatable and I was rooting her throughout all the twists, turns and uncovered secrets. Hoping to see more from Elisabeth Dini!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

I can't decide how to rate this book. It wasn't my favorite book of 2025, but it was not the worst book I have read this year by any means. If I had to describe this book in one word I would probably choose "quirkly". I can't quite put my finger on what I didn't love about this book, but I would say some parts of this story could've come off as slow or confusing. Still, I think at the same time, this added to the books charm. Even if it wasn't my favorite book of 2025, I still quite enjoyed it, and I would consider reading more by this author in the future. Furthermore, Carlotta Brentan did a great job with the audiobook narration and, at times, I would describe this book as mesmerizing.

'Bearer of Bad News' follows Lucy, facing an unlucky streak as she's roped into a fascinating adventure. This story is modern, with elements of the aftermath WWII. I enjoy serious historical fiction and contemporary women's fiction so the blend is satisfying. Unfortunately, once discussion of sexual aspects took place I realized this wasn't my speed and stopped reading. I am fascinated by the many mysteries queued up by the author. For anyone not sensitive to explicit content, the plot of the book would be intriguing.

Special thanks to the Publisher, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you SO much to Gallery Books for the gifted book!

Judging by the cover alone, I went into this expecting some cute and cozy mystery, and then with the Eleanor Oliphant comparison, I was even more excited! (The cover truly is adorable)

I'm not sure this fits in a neat and tidy genre box, which is totally fine and usually something that I love. With this one, I struggled to find the balance between the fun hairdresser and then the jump to super heavy wartime talk. It just felt like it wasn't sure exactly what it was trying to be at any given point. It actually felt more historical fiction to me than anything else!

Overall, I was rooting for the main character and she was fun to me, but I struggled with keeping up with the plot!

I hope this is a win for many!

Loved this mystery/spy book! The WWII backstory was great! Very serious but then the present day had so much humor that it balanced it out.

Lucy is a train wreck and we love her!

I did get confused with all of the characters and I think I finally understood who was who by the end.

Loved the authors note too and how she decided on names for the characters!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

The book took some interesting turns. Lucy, sure did go through a lot. It was a little bit of history, mystery, romance (in a way). I found really interesting the way the letters were included in the chapters. Gave you a little more to think about.
I hope we get more of Lucy and her adventures!

This was different...the main character is down on her luck and quickly responds to a strange opportunity - travel to Europe, find the sister of the employer, and deliver bad news.
From there the story takes off with a cast of characters. Then it starts to flash back to WWII, and a relational drama unfolds. Lies, secrets, stolen jewels, etc.
At times it felt like this book was trying to find its identity...it's not historical fiction, it's not funny, it's not a love story, it's not a thriller. At times I was wondering where the story would go, but I was intrigued enough to keep reading.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

🔎✨This book is NOT FUNNY or HUMOROUS in any way🌍💌

This had a unique blend of mystery, history, and personal discovery set against the stunning backdrop of the Italian Dolomites. While this intriguing journey begins with a great premise, it quickly transforms into a series of nonstop flashbacks of betrayal, secrets, and family dynamics. 🏞️🔍

Lucy Rey, a Las Vegas hairdresser reeling from her fiancé's infidelity, finds herself in an unusual job delivering a mysterious message across the globe. What starts as an adventurous escapade with the promise of financial reward soon morphs into an unexpected dive into World War II secrets and stolen jewelry—a past that is more intricately linked to her than she ever realized. 💫🔒

Dini’s story is layered, intertwining a light, modern-day quest with the weighty echoes of historical events. As the narrative unfolds, Lucy is more than just a bearer of bad news; she becomes a catalyst in a saga of long-held grudges and secrets buried since the wartime era. While the book addresses themes of history and legacy, some might find the transitions between timelines and the complexity of the family drama somewhat challenging to navigate. 🕰️💼

The flashbacks and layered storylines feel overwhelming, with the pacing occasionally disjointed, affecting the smoothness of the reading experience. Some readers might find the mix of modern quirkiness juxtaposed with historical gravitas created a huge tonal imbalance. 🤔📜

Overall, I have no idea what I just read. Was this a serious tale of family betrayal told in annoyingly placed flashbacks or a women's fiction book for finding yourself after being cheated on? I don't even know how to describe this to someone else if they asked - is it a mystery, a romance, women's fiction...???

I’m not the target audience for this book, though I’m sure others will enjoy it. While the book is quirky, it’s not funny the way I expected based on the description. The opening is slow-paced, with more telling than showing. DNF after chapter 2.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.