Murder, Mayhem, and a Retirement Home Full of Secrets—This Cozy Mystery Has It All!

My love for cozy mysteries strikes again, and Murder Runs in the Family is an absolute delight! Tamara Berry delivers another clever, laugh-out-loud whodunit that’s packed with charm, quirky characters, and just the right dose of danger.

After a tough breakup with her longtime boyfriend Bones, Amber decides to skip the usual heartbreak routine and instead seeks refuge with the grandmother she’s never met—at a retirement center, no less. But what she finds there is far from peaceful. On her very first night, a resident known as “The Admiral” is found dead in the recording studio.

As it turns out, Amber’s grandmother and her spirited friends run a true crime podcast—and they’re more than a little interested in solving the case. While Amber isn’t quite ready to join the podcasting crew, she dips her toes into sleuthing by trying to track down a missing tortoise. But things escalate quickly when her grandmother is arrested for murder.

Now, with the help of her ex-boyfriend Bones, the charming Ethan, and a cast of eccentric retirees, Amber must unravel the mystery and clear her grandmother’s name before it’s too late.

This book is pure cozy mystery gold—funny, fast-paced, and full of heart. The banter is sharp, the twists are satisfying, and the characters are impossible not to love. If you’re looking for a feel-good mystery with a side of sass and suspense, this series is a must-read! Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this adventure!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the complimentary e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amber runs away from her past life as an assistant of a PI to her grandma at a retirement community. This is her the first time meeting her eccentric grandma who turns out to be a creator of her favourite true crime podcast. The family reunion doesn’t last long as one of the podcast colleagues is found dead and Amber’s grandma is a main suspect.

This story had some vivid characters that were easy to imagine and easy to get attached to. I enjoyed that besides the main mystery there were a lot of suspicious characters with their secrets. It was an enjoyable cozy read.

This was a really good book! I liked it better than I expected. Would recommend for a next read if you’re looking for you

If you’re craving a cozy mystery that’s light on gloom but heavy on charm, Murder Runs in the Family is the perfect pick. The story kicks off with Amber, our down-on-her-luck main character, showing up at the doorstep of her estranged grandmother, Jude, hoping for a place to stay.

The murder happens within the first few chapters, so there’s no long, dragged-out wait for someone to drop dead (which I really appreciated). What really seals the deal for me, though, is the humor — it’s genuinely funny in that perfect cozy-mystery way.

And then there’s Tatiana — the real star of the show and easily my favorite character — a ninety-something pet tortoise who practically steals every scene. He’s not just comic relief either; Tatiana is cleverly woven into the plot.

Another favorite of mine is Ethan, a young resident with a hip replacement. When he was first introduced, I didn’t expect to care so much, but he completely grew on me and became one of my standouts. And I adored the podcast team — every single one of them. I loved how they immediately took Amber in and made her feel like part of their found family.

Honestly, I’d be thrilled to follow Amber, Jude, and Tatiana into another book.

Murder Runs in the Family is the definition of a fun, lighthearted cozy mystery: found family vibes, a quirky community, a hilarious tortoise sidekick, genuine laugh-out-loud moments, and just enough mystery to keep your inner armchair detective entertained. Highly recommend if you love your whodunits with a big dose of humor and heart!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tamara Berry for the opportunity to read this.

I’ve never listened to a podcast but get quite a kick out of reading about them. This is part cozy and part humor to round out the mystery.

I loved the quotes from podcast episodes between chapters.

This is the epitome of quirky characters covering quite the spectrum of ages. Both youngish adults and seniors in a nursing home. But don’t let that scare you off. It’s a ragtag group that gets into a lot of mischief and adds to the humor.

With Tatiana the hula doll and Tatiana the turtle vying for a prominent place in the story, the mystery had enough red herrings to keep me on my toes.

It’s an entertaining tale that made me smile while engaging my brain to figure out whodunnit.

“They didn’t even drain the pool after a man died in it.”

Thank you to the publisher @poisonedpenpress for the NetGalley approval. I borrowed the audio from Libby.

This was a NetGalley find. The bright colors of the cover and the title drew me in. This is my first book from this author and I definitely need to read more.

Amber is a great character. But Jade stole the show for me. I loved it when she was around. She and Amber both are too smart and savvy for their own good. That is what I loved most about them. I enjoyed the discovery of their relationship, since Amber has never met her grandmother, throughout the book. Amber’s family is complicated and I enjoyed how Amber’s knowledge about her family unfolded and both Jade knew about her.

Each chapter heading is a quote from the Death Comes Calling podcast Jade and her retirement community friends put on and I enjoyed those a lot. One of their friends is murdered and Amber takes the case, having PI experience. Amber is resourceful and smart, and suspects everyone, even as she gets closer to each of them. All of the center residents were favorites honestly. Each unique and so funny.

There is humor, red herrings, a page turning mystery and found family with the residents. I loved how they take Amber under their wings when circumstances change. Don’t forget Tatiana. That was fun!

The audio narrators were great! The epilogue was the best! Hillary Huber delivers a great performance. The variation of voices she used made for a great listen.

I am looking forward to reading more books from this author.

A fun mystery romance. I wanted to keep going to figure out what was going to happen next. The grandmother was a fun character.

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!