It’s a good enough read and I definitely didn’t see the twist coming but I wasn’t super engaged at any point.

After leaving her boyfriend, Amber turns to the only family member who hasn't lost faith in her, the grandmother she has never met. She ends up at Jade's retirement complex where a sudden death occurs and a family heirloom disappears. When Jade is suspected of murder, Amber steps in and uses her private investigation skills to try to clear her name. This was pretty good, with interesting characters, including an elderly tortoise, but not much real intrigue. 3.5 to 4 stars

With nowhere else to go, Amber shows up at her estranged grandmother’s retirement community where she is welcomed with open arms. This is the beginning of Murder Runs in the Family, a book filled with colorful, eccentric characters and great dialogue. Not to mention a slower-than-molasses-in-winter tortoise.

I enjoyed Tamara Berry’s new book. it’s a cozy mystery but with much more depth and believability than many other books in the same genre. The tortoise is a fun addition and isn’t overly used to the point of being obnoxious. The characters are quite realistic and I enjoyed their various personalities. So, overall, Murder Runs in the Family was a good read. My only complaint was that the ending seemed a little jumbled and the resolution a bit murky. Is this a start to a new series? I certainly hope so. This was 3.5 stars for me. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

maybe 3.5⭐ I'm not new to cozies (even cozies set in a retirement home) and i only really need one thing for me to enjoy them: to care about the (main) characters. and i didn't care much about these people... (already forgot their names)

Tamara Berry's Murder Runs in the Family introduces Amber Winslow, a former PI-in-training whose life takes an unexpected turn when she flees in the dead of night to the last place she ever expected: her estranged and eccentric Grandma Jade's retirement community in sunny Arizona. Amber, down on her luck and seeking refuge, sneaks into Seven Ponds, a luxury community she definitely can't afford and technically doesn't qualify for.

No sooner does she arrive than she's plunged into a baffling mystery. George Vincent, known as "the Admiral," is found dead the very night of her arrival. What's even stranger is the community's nonchalant reaction to his death and the disappearance of his prized pet tortoise. Instead, the focus is on a missing Vincent family heirloom, and fingers are quickly pointed at Grandma Jade for both the Admiral's murder and the theft of the priceless ring.

Amber, despite having just met her grandmother, refuses to believe the woman who so readily accepted her could be a killer. Determined to clear Jade's name, no matter the cost, Amber throws herself into the investigation. Murder Runs in the Family promises a delightful blend of humor, quirky characters, and a compelling whodunit, perfect for readers who enjoy their mysteries with a side of unexpected family bonds and a dash of senior-community intrigue.

Murder Runs In The Family by Tamara Berry is exactly the kind of cozy mystery that hits all the right notes. From the moment Amber arrives at the desert retirement community in Arizona, fresh off a breakup with her PI boyfriend, Bones, you know you’re in for a ride. She’s on a mission to find her estranged grandmother Judith/Jade, but before she can unpack, someone drops dead, and a tortoise has gone missing. Cue the super sleuth squad banding together to untangle the chaos. Here’s why this book is a must-read:

Vibe Check

Picture scorching-hot Arizona desert vistas, complete with tumbleweeds and “rocks” that may or may not be hiding tortoise Tatianna.
-Family and found-family hijinks
-One-liners and banter

Why You’ll Love It
Missing-tortoise confusion instantly establishes the tone...quirky, slightly absurd, and utterly charming. It also gives you a sense that nothing about this crew's investigative style will be conventional.

Amber’s Mission: Fresh off a breakup with her PI boyfriend, Bones, Amber rolls into a retirement community on a mission to locate her estranged grandmother, Judith. Instead, she winds up scrambling to find Tatianna first and then solve a sudden death that leaves everyone baffled.

Tatianna the Tortoise: Slow and steady, Tatianna may look like a desert rock, but is she?
Family & Found Family Dynamics

Clever Dialogue: Tamara Berry’s knack for zippy one-liners and perfectly timed sarcasm keeps the pages turning.

Emotional Stakes: Under the laughter is Amber’s genuine struggle: reconnecting with Grandma Jade after years of silence, figuring out what acceptance looks like, and realizing that found family can be just as loyal as blood.

Would I Recommend This Book?
Absolutely, 100%. If you crave a cozy mystery that threads family drama, belly laughs, and a genuinely twisty whodunit, you need Murder Runs In The Family on your shelf. Grab this one and buckle up—your next favorite sleuth squad awaits.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. I loved it.

Murder in a retirement home? Sign me up. This was such a fun cozy mystery. I love Tamara Berry's books and this was no different. Amber was a great character and I loved the connection she created with her grandmother. The idea that her grandmother and all her friends were behind a famous murder podcast was also super fun. I loved the quotes from the podcast at the beginning of each chapter. It gave more of a behind the scenes look at things. Let's be honest I hated Bones but lovedddd Ethan! And Tatiana?? So cute. I loved watching Amber build her attachment to the tortoise. The ultimate solution to the mystery was a bit of a bummer to me but I did like how it continued with the concept between Jade and her friends. I would love to read another book with these characters.

I have read another series by this author and loved it so I jumped at the chance to read this one. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work as well for me as the other did. There is the same humor that can be found in the other one but the characters in this one came off as unlikeable and flat. Amber’s obsession with her ex-boss/ex-boyfriend was annoying and it seemed like this was trying too hard to be funnier and slapstick than mystery-centric. The family dynamic was frustrating and made enjoyment of the story difficult and the solution to the murder was disappointing. This one just wasn’t for me.

ARC Review

Thank you Tamara Berry, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As always, I try to have my reviews be spoiler free and focus on my feelings during and after reading the book.

Overall: This book was kitschy and a never-ending good time! I want a friend group like this!

Things I loved: the pacing, the humor, the friend group, the character growth

Things I wanted more of: the romance and the biological family drama.

Things I wanted less of: the ex-boyfriend

The characters are colorful, the mystery twisty, and the humor charming—but the slow start and frustrating main characters kept me from fully loving it.

Still, I enjoyed the found family theme, the podcasting seniors, and the delightful chaos of Seven Ponds. Perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club or Only Murders in the Building!

What a super read! This is such a fun murder mystery. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the humor. It’s a must-read!

3.75 ⭐️

Overall this was a good read! I did find it hard to invest in the characters and felt that certain plot elements could have been further developed, but the concept was definitely unique. I think fans of 'Only Murders In The Building' and 'A Man On The Inside' would enjoy this!

Thank you NetGalley for the copy!

Murder Runs in the Family was my first Tamara Berry mystery, and I can already tell it won’t be my last. The story takes place in a retirement community, where Amber lands on her estranged grandmother’s doorstep, looking for a fresh start and some distance from an ex who was seriously holding her back. But, of course, things don’t stay quiet for long—a baffling mystery unfolds, packed with twists, unexpected clues, and plenty of small-town secrets. The case keeps you guessing, balancing intrigue with a touch of humor and charm. A fabulous series debut—I’m already excited for the next installment!

Reflections:
This was such a fun twist on the cozy mystery genre—with all the sass, secrets, and small-town chaos I crave!

Murder Runs in the Family gave me the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud moments and slow-burn sleuthing, and I loved the fresh setting and wild cast of characters.

And speaking of characters—I’ve really come to love and appreciate the wave of books coming out right now that highlight the incredible partnerships, friendships, and support systems formed between characters of all ages, from teens to nonagenarians!

This is the first book I’ve read by Tamara Berry and suffice it to say, it won’t be my last!

Summary:
Amber Winslow rolls into the upscale Arizona retirement community of Seven Ponds looking to escape her messy life and awkward family vibes—only to land smack in the middle of a murder.

When a resident turns up dead in the recording station of Amber’s favorite podcast, her estranged Grandma Jade somehow ends up at the top of the suspect list. But Grandma Jade isn’t an ordinary frandma - she is a force to be reckoned with (seriously, she’s iconic), and Amber’s not about to let her take the fall.

What follows is a hilarious, slightly chaotic investigation filled with nosy neighbors, true crime podcasters, and a tortoise named Tatiana who completely stole my heart (among other things 🐢)! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll be able to return to Seven Ponds again!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Tamara Berry, and Poisoned Pen Press for this four star gem of a read in exchange for a review!

Family secrets, literary laughs, and a murder that hits too close to home—Tamara Berry’s latest By the Book Mystery is cozy crime at its cleverest. Author-turned-sleuth Tess Harrow is back, navigating genealogical twists and small-town chaos with wit and grit.
Smart, sharp, and just the right amount of quirky—this mystery is a page-turner with heart.
#murderrunsinthefamily #NetGalley

I feel like this review needs to be split into two parts.
First, the positives, I genuinely loved the humor and the sheer hilarity brought on by the innocent, orphaned turtle. It added such a charming, whimsical touch to the story. I'm also a sucker for a bumbling detective who somehow manages to solve the case before anyone else, and that element was executed well here. Another aspect I appreciated was the focus on an often overlooked demographic of the elderly. It's refreshing to see stories told through their perspectives.
Now, onto the down side. I found myself constantly frustrated with the main characters. Amber, for instance, spends so much time complaining and playing the victim it’s exhausting, especially coming from a middle aged woman who seems to have no interest in getting her life together. Even when she's handed a once in a lifetime opportunity to live rent free and have a job provided by a grandmother she’s never met, she still manages to grumble about it. Then there’s Jade, the grandmother, whose steamroller personality pushes everyone into doing her bidding through guilt and manipulation. And finally, the narcissistic mother, who takes every opportunity to berate both her daughter and her own mother, with no real explanation or depth to her behavior.
I truly wanted to love this book, the premise was unique and had so much potential but I struggled to feel any real connection to the characters, which made it hard to fully engage with the story.

*Thank you to Tamara Berry, Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the digital copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

This was such a fun murder mystery filled with red herrings, amateur sleuthing, and a cast of likable—but not always trustworthy—characters. The twists kept me guessing, and the storyline had me turning pages and wanting more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

In Murder Runs in the Family, we meet Amber, an aspiring private investigator who stumbles into a murder investigation when she shows up to meet her estranged, eccentric grandmother for the first time. Lighthearted and funny, this is a solid opening to a cozy mystery series, and I look forward to getting to know these characters more in the next installment!

The only part that pulled me out of the story was a subplot involving post-hip replacement care. It didn’t quite line up with my real-world understanding and made me think there was more to the storyline than there turned out to be, though it may not stand out to readers without a background in that area.

I’ll be recommending this to:
– True crime podcast fans, who want to imagine finding themselves helping their favorite show investigate a case
– Anyone already multiple books deep in a handful of other ongoing detective se
– A friend who lives in an Arizona condo community and would get a kick out of the setting

In Murder runs in the family, the main character, Amber, visits her grandma who resides at a retirement home in Arizona. While at the retirement home, she learns that her grandma is part of a podcast and a dead body is found at the podcast recording studio. Amber embarks in the journey of investigating the murder and the disappearance of the victim's tortoise and valuable ring.

Cozy mystery that takes place in a retirement home in Arizona; while reading this story, it reminded me a lot of the Netflix Show, A Man on the Inside, with Ted Danson. The overall story was well written and entertaining; will definitely be reading more from Tamara Berry.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was my first time reading Tamara Berry; I loved the writing. I can't wait to read more. This book had eccentric characters, a lovable found family (maybe), true crime podcasts, wannabe P.I.s, and a missing tortoise.

When Amber decides to leave her ex ( a famous P.I.) and working as his assistant/apprentice, she heads for her Grandmother. A woman she has never met, but has heard a lot of stories about from her Mom. Hoping she can crash with her till she figures out what to do with her life. When she arrives at Seven Ponds, a retirement community filled with Senior Citizens, that will keep her on her toes. Starting with her Grandma, it turns out she is Jade McCallan, known for her True Crime Podcast. Jade and her friends all run the podcast and enjoy getting into trouble. As soon as Amber arrives, The Admiral winds up dead, and his family wants to know what happened to a family heirloom. Now her Grandma is under arrest, and everyone is looking at her to find some clues and a missing tortoise.

Will she be able to help her Grandma and find out what happened to The Admiral? Before the Director kicks her off the property, or Nasty Nancy gets rid of her? Just wait till her Ex shows up. This book is filled with twists and Turns that keep you guessing.

Fair warning… this Book will have you laughing out loud. If you don’t want weird looks, avoid reading in waiting rooms. :) Learned the hard way.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.