This was a very, very fun read. From the cast of characters to the mystery that reminded me very much of a good Agatha Christie, this was definitely a page turner. A retirement village full of retirees with a huge pool of knowledge and life skills along with a younger group of characters made for a rich character base. And I can't forget to mention the tortoise that plays such an interesting part of the story. Great spin on your normal cozy!

This was a fun ride. This book made me feel like I was a kid again watching murder she wrote with my mom. This is a very fun lets find the criminal type of book. I normally not the biggest fan of found family, but Berry did it so well. I cared about every character that popped up, even the ones that were negative I still felt for and despite not spending a whole lot of time with them they were fleshed out for me,

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

3.75 stars

Amber Winslow is not your average cozy heroine. She has just showed up on her grandma's retirement home doorstep in Arizona after parting ways with her boyfriend/business partner Bones, a private investigator in Seattle. Only Amber has never met her grandma, who isn't expecting her. Grandma and Mom couldn't be more different: Mom is religious, disapproving, and judgmental, and doesn't appreciate her mother's free-spirited ways and personality. Amber clearly takes after her grandmother.

And immediately a dead body shows up. Amber is intrigued by a true crime podcast which originates out of the nursing home and soon finds out her grandmother Jade (not her real name) and compatriots are the creators.

No one in the retirement home is what they seem. Amber can't quite figure out Jade. On the one hand, she appreciates her warmth and affection, so different from her other family. But clearly Jade has secrets too and somehow she and her friends are involved with the dead body. An escaped tortoise, a missing million dollar ring, a cranky young veterinarian recovering from hip surgery, and the arrival of Bones only complicate matters.

A fun read with a bit of serious content now and again on families and our perception of them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What would happen if your grandma started a true crime podcast? What if she then got arrested for murder? That's the deliciously chaotic world Tamara Berry drops us into with her latest mystery.

Meet Amber Winslow, a failed PI who's having the worst week of her life. First, she has to flee town in the middle of the night. Then her grandmother gets charged with murder. Oh, and there's a 98-year-old tortoise involved in the investigation somehow. Did I mention the missing £3 million ring?

Berry's genius lies in making this ridiculous premise work. Her cast of characters shouldn't fit together—millennial amateur sleuth, podcast-producing retirees, escaped reptile—but they do, creating a story that's equal parts hilarious and suspenseful. The pacing clips along nicely, never dwelling too long on the darker elements before hitting you with another laugh-out-loud moment.

What really sets this book apart is how it bridges generations. Berry weaves modern elements like true crime podcasts and millennial culture into classic mystery traditions without missing a beat. Yes, there are moments when keeping track of all the characters feels like solving a mystery itself, but the sharp dialogue and quirky interactions make it worth the effort.

The mystery itself? Clever enough to keep you guessing, but not so twisty that you'll need a flowchart to follow along. While some character relationships could use more depth, it's clear Berry prioritized entertainment over heavy emotional investment—and honestly, in a book featuring a geriatric tortoise on the lam, that feels like the right call.

Murder Runs in the Family hits shelves on April 29, 2025, and it's exactly what the cozy mystery genre needs right now: fresh, funny, and just a little bit absurd. If you enjoy your mysteries with a side of humour and don't mind your sleuths coming in unexpected packages, this book is for you. Just don't blame me if you find yourself checking your local retirement home for amateur podcasters."

very cute and cozy. well-done and interesting little mystery with cool vibes and a very cool cast of chars. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. This book was comical and I enjoyed it very much. Amber and her grandmother have estranged relationship, but when her grandma is arrested for murder, things get crazy, but also funny.

I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for my honest review! This book had everything. A murder mystery, family drama, hilarious old people, and a 98 year old tortoise named Tatiana. I sincerely hope this is going to get a sequel. The mystery storyline was “cozy” but really holds your attention with multiple suspects and twists.

This book was a lot of fun. Zany retirees, a missing tortoise, a nurse referred to as Nasty Nancy, and a wanna be PI running from a break up head first into the murder mystery at the retirement home made for a lot of entertainment. Oh, and of course there’s a podcast. This was an entertaining vacation read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Overall Thoughts (No Spoilers)

Murder Runs in the Family starts slow, with heavy description and not enough dialogue, making the first half feel sluggish. However, around the midpoint, the mystery picks up, and I found myself invested in figuring out who murdered the admiral. The ending delivered a twist I didn’t predict, which I appreciated, but it left some questions unanswered. There were also some character choices—like the presence of Amber’s ex, Bones—that felt unnecessary. Ultimately, this was an enjoyable but imperfect read, landing at a solid 3.5 stars for me.
An interesting mystery with a unique setting, but slow pacing and unnecessary characters held it back. Worth a read if you like cozy mysteries with a side of family drama, but be prepared for a slow start.

Plot Summary (Spoilers Ahead!)
Amber, in her 30s and fresh off a breakup with her PI boyfriend, Bones, arrives at a retirement home to meet her grandmother, Jade, for the first time. Jade, an eccentric crime podcaster, immediately pulls Amber into her world. But things take a dark turn when one of their fellow residents, George (a.k.a. "The Admiral"), is found dead in the podcast studio. His daughter seems more concerned about a missing $3 million ring than his murder, raising suspicions.
As Amber gets pulled deeper into the mystery, she faces complications: the police suspect her grandmother of stealing the ring, and then she gets outright arrested for murder. Meanwhile, Bones returns, revealing he tracked Amber via a hidden device in her backpack (ick). Forced to leave the retirement home, Amber moves in with Camille, a fellow resident who may not be as wealthy as she seems.
While investigating, Amber realizes the missing ring is inside the Admiral’s pet tortoise, Tatiana. She retrieves it with the help of a grumpy nurse and Ethan, a younger resident recovering from hip surgery. The ring’s return gets her grandmother out of jail, as the police’s only real evidence against her was the missing jewelry.
Amber pieces together the truth: the podcast group conspired to help the Admiral die on his own terms before he had to move into memory care. They hosted a farewell party and gave him a lethal mix of drugs. Since the Admiral’s perspective is never shown, it’s unclear if this was truly his wish or just how the group justified their actions.
Amber ends things for good with Bones and plans to stay with Jade until she gets her own place. There's a hint of romance with Ethan, but his character remains a total enigma. In the epilogue, Amber is now fully part of the crime podcast, and the group jokes about committing another crime for content.

Highlights of the Book
- The mystery picked up in the second half. The first half was slow, but once Amber actively investigated, I was engaged.
- The ending twist was unexpected. I didn’t predict the podcast crew helping the Admiral die, which was a fresh take.
- The setting was fun. A retirement home full of quirky characters added a unique backdrop for a murder mystery.
- Amber’s independence. I liked that she didn’t go back to Bones, proving her character growth.

Misses of the Book
- Too much description, not enough dialogue. The writing style felt overly detailed, making the first half drag.
- I wish Bones was simply an ex-boyfriend that is referenced, but never met. His presence added nothing but frustration at his demeaning tone towards Amber, and he could have been left out entirely.
- Ethan was frustratingly mysterious. We learned almost nothing about him, making it hard to care about the hinted romance. And, I could always use even a hint of romance in my books.
- The ending lacked confirmation from the Admiral’s POV. Without it, the podcast crew’s actions felt morally gray rather than fully justified. We also had to just take their word for it that they didn’t murder him.

Character Driven..
When disillusioned trainee private investigator Amber decides to flee her life she heads for her estranged and eccentric grandmother’s retirement community. Sneaking into the luxury accommodation, Amber is in for a surprise - in many more ways than one. Enjoyable character driven drama come murder mystery with a likeable and unlikely pair of amateur investigators, a frothy plot populated with a colourful cast of characters and a well imagined backdrop,

I thoroughly enjoyed this multi-generation cozy(ish) mystery. Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy of it. I liked that it wasn't yet another senior sleuthing book (although I'm a big fan of them), but that the detective was a relatable young woman with experience as a private investigator. She escapes her problems and relationships back home, seeking refuge with her grandmother, previously unknown to her. I liked the subplot of the seniors having a true crime podcast. The book had a little of everything: mystery, romance, family dynamics and humor. It is a quick and fun read, and I highly recommend it. I would be happy to read more about future adventures of this entertaining cast of characters.

After leaving her P.I. boyfriend in Seattle, Amber decides to comnect with her maternal grandmother Jade who
she has never met. SAmber ends up at a retirement community where Jade and her friends produce a true crime
podcast. When a member of the podcast team, the Admiral, dies, there is more concerm about his missing
tortoise .When Jade is arrested for the Admiral's death and a missing family heirloom, Amber joins forces with
the podcast team to clear her grandmother.As Amber investigates, more is learned about each podcast member
and the way they all support each other. Interesting characters, surprising twists in the story.
#MurderRunsintheFamily #PoisonedPen #NetGalley

Murder Runs in the Family is a perfect read to escape, for a few hours, the horrors that are currently engulfing us. When Amber Winslow leaves Bones, her PI boyfriend/mentor/employer, she goes to a gated retirement community in Arizona to find the grandmother she has never met. Jade McCallan is a glamorous, dynamic, energetic septuagenarian, not the horrible person Amber has always been compared to by her mother. Jade is the writer of Amber's favorite true crime podcast, Death Comes Calling. When the Admiral is found dead and a multi-million dollar ring is missing, Jade is arrested for his murder. Members of the community, always keen on gambling had bet on whether the Admiral or his 98 year old pet tortoise would die first, so finding the missing reptile keeps Amber busy while she investigates to free Jade from jail. Full of interesting characters and situations, this delightful cozy mystery is a lovely escape. While I'm not usually a fan of series, I would love to see Amber, and the two very exciting men in her life, again.

This was a struggle to get into, but once I did, it was so good! Having a family drama with serial killers is a great idea!

This well-written drama grabbed my attention immediately with the introduction of a varied and quirky cast of characters, each with their own idiosyncrasies that included Amber, her grandmother and the residents of Seven Ponds. The mystery was delivered with a panache of intermingling chapters and a comfortable tone making it easy to enjoy what is happening on the page. The dynamics of the characters, the engaging dialogue, and those they interacted with established the roles they were playing and how it factored in how well the mystery was set up where the more you read, the more the author’s direction led you to another possibility. When all was said and done, the outcome brought it all home to a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed this book, and I look forward to more adventures with Amber and her friends.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book. It was a cute cozy mystery. The best part was the tortoise, although I find it hard to believe that the MC was able to carry him around. He was my favorite “character.” I do wish there had been some explanation about why he ate what he did. Everyone was saying how unlikely it was.

I have to say I liked the side characters more than the MC and her grandmother. I wish we had gotten to spend more time with the podcast group. I liked Ethan as well, but I didn’t really understand the author’s description of him. She could have said he was just average instead of the MC constantly saying that she couldn’t distinguish his features. That was weird.

I had a pretty good idea what the solution was going to be from early-on in the book, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. If there are more books in this series, I would read the next.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

4.25 ✬
I went into this book thinking it would be a fun, engaging murder mystery, and it absolutely delivered. The characters were amazing, and from the very first page, I was completely hooked. The plot was also intriguing, and I truly think this book was time well spent. I would recommend it, especially if you enjoy stories with funny elderly characters and strong family dynamics. I’m excited to read more from this author in the future!

I've read Ms. Berry's Murder by the Book series which were enjoyable cozy mysteries. The same can be said for this new book which I can definitely see being part of a series. It's a solid set up with Amber — an unlicensed PI in training — tracks down the grandmother she has never met at an Arizona retirement community. And it just so happens that these seniors put out Amber's favorite true crime podcast.

The premise allows for a lot of kooky older characters and one younger man (and potential love interest) who's recovering from a hip replacement). And a very sweet tortoise.

But then one of the podcast crew is murdered and Amber's grandmother stands accused so she must figure out what has really happened. Nothing particularly ground breaking, but a charming and enjoyable book none-the-less.

.A fun cozy mystery read with a cast of quirky characters!
It is the perfect palate cleanser and I look forward to the rest of this series, and Jade and Amber's adventures, in the future.