PI-in-training Amber Winslow shows up at a swanky retirement community in Arizona, hoping to connect with the grandmother she's never met....only to become embroiled in a mysterious death, the disappearance of a priceless family heirloom, and a missing 98-year old tortoise.

This was a perfect cozy mystery....fun, lighthearted and nothing objectionable. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters, and the sense of 'found family' that Amber desperately needed. I learned lots of information about caring for tortoises, and loved the addition of handsome 30-something veterinarian Ethan....exactly *why* did he need a hip replacement?!

Looking forward to another adventure with this gang. Will Amber finally get her PI license?

This book was just ok for me. Nothing really jumped out and grabbed me as I read it.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Amber Winslow has had a tough run of luck and ends up at the last place she might be able to turn, her long lost grandmother’s retirement community. There she finds her grandmother and an eccentric cast of characters that make up the residents and staff at Seven Ponds. Crime and hilarity ensue during her stay. This one is for fans of “Psych”, “Diagnosis Murder” and crime podcasts everywhere. It’s thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarming.

*Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Pub date is April 29.*

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review and feedback. I am looking forward to reading this book - the expected release date is: April 29 2025.
Amber thought she had troubles before her grandma was arrested for murder… Former PI-in-training Amber Winslow has decided to flee her life in the dead of night, carrying nothing but the clothes on her back. Down on her luck and with no other choice, she heads to the sunny state of Arizona to the luxury accommodations of her grandmother's retirement community. Never mind that Amber's never actually met her estranged and eccentric Grandma Jade.
As soon as she sneaks her things into Seven Ponds (a place she technically doesn't qualify for and definitely can't afford), she's shocked to learn that George Vincent, a.k.a. the Admiral, was found dead the very night of her arrival. What's even more shocking is that no one seems particularly distraught over the news of the Admiral's death or the disappearance of his prize pet tortoise. All anyone can talk about is a missing Vincent family heirloom, and they're quick to blame Jade for both the Admiral's murder and the theft of the priceless ring. Amber doesn't want to admit the woman she's just met—and who accepted her without question—could be behind the Admiral's death, and she's determined to clear her grandmother's name no matter the cost.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the E-ARC!

This book was really engaging and fun. It was cozy without feeling too saccharine as well. I liked all of the characters and their growth throughout not to mention the use of found family themes even in a book that also prominently features a familial relationship. The reveal had a poignance that I appreciated and I think others will as well. Overall, this was a good read and I hope that there are follow up books.

Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry, is the first book cozy mystery series. Set in a retirement community in Arizona and following an almost PI named Amber as she runs from her past in Seattle and attempts to connect with her grandmother she's never met. I knew this was going to be a kooky and entertaining ride, because I read Berry's By the Book series. I was not disappointed. Finding out her Grandmother Jade runs a true crime podcast! Amazing. All Jade's friends also have interesting pasts and abilities that help with making life interesting and solving crimes. Amber is tasked with finding a missing tortoise, but that becomes less of a focus when Jade becomes the main suspect in a mysterious death and theft of a multi million dollar ring.
Amber needs to clear her grandmother's name, while finding her own power and her own place in the world. I really enjoyed this story, it lays the foundation for a great series and really endears the reader to Amber and Jade. The murder mystery was almost the least important part of the book. I enjoyed all the smaller mysteries along the way and getting wrapped up in the world being built by the author. Highly recommended.

Perfect cozy mystery!! Flew through this one.

Amber just left her PI boyfriend/partner Bones because he basically treated her like a secretary instead of a PI which she IS, minus the paperwork. Her obvious choice to go next is to find her Grandmother whom her Mother expressly forbid her from ever meeting. Amber winds up in the dessert in a posh retirement home with a cast of characters you would die to meet. And then her Grandmother gets framed for her murder and Amber gets to put her PI skills to good use.

There's also an adorable meet-cute (not Bones), a tortoise named Tatiana (it's a boy) and Nasty Nancy lurking at all times.

.A fun cozy mystery read with a cast of quirky characters!
I couldn’t put it down and left me wanting more. I finished this in one sitting. Look forward to the rest of this series, and Jade and Amber's adventures, in the future.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley, and Tamara Berry for the opportunity to receive an ARC of Murder Runs in the Family. I overall really enjoyed this read!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley, and Tamara Berry for the wonderful opportunity of allowing me to receive an eARC copy of Murder Runs in the Family.

A lovely cozy mystery read!
I couldn’t put it down and left me wanting more. Look forward to the rest of this series in the future.

A very funny and kooky book. I loved the relationship between Amber and her grandmother. Not my favorite ARC, but definitely a cute cozy mystery to pick up if you need a good cross between a light hearted yet fast paced read!

Amber takes a shot in the dark and runs away from her life's troubles to Jade, the grandmother who she has never met. The grandmother that has been estranged from her family her whole life now living in a luxurious retirement community. There not only does she meet an eccentric group of characters, but she gets drawn into the mystery of the murder of a resident and friend of Jade.

When Jade gets arrested for this murder, Amber dives in withe her private investigator skills to try to get her out of jail.

I really enjoyed this story from the start. It was quirky and something was always happening. The cast of characters were very unique and charming too. The author added just the right kind of humor for this story.

What I liked the most about this book was that it reminded me of the Hulu show, Only Murders in the Building. Jade and a few of her friends run a true crime podcast and plot to do a podcast of their friend who died in their retirement community.


Thank you to netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advanced reader's copy.

MURDER RUNS IN THE FAMILY, by Tamara Berry, is the first book in what I hope will turn out to be a long-running series! Since I loved the author’s By the Book series, I picked this up right away and am so glad I did. The author, once again, proves she can craft captivating characters, be they sleuthing senior citizens, a PI-wannabe 30-something year old, or a 98-year-old tortoise sidekick! The protagonist, Amber Winslow, has a self-deprecating, sarcastic sense of humor that sets the tone for a hilarious read. But it’s her estranged Grandma Jade and senior posse members who steal each scene with their zany antics and zest for life! Her grandma is the brains behind a highly popular true-life podcast, and when one of her friends is murdered, Jade is a suspect in his death. Amber and the rest of the senior crew start investigating not only the murder, but the disappearance of Tatiana the Tortoise, and the theft of an extremely valuable heirloom ring. There are twists and turns you’ll never see coming and all the while, laugh-out-loud humor to lighten the read. I can’t wait to find out what happens next with Grandma Jade and Amber!

This entire setup and story was kooky and weird but in a lovable kind of way. It was very much trying to be like Thursday Murder club and that was fine by me - I like the old folks home vibes and characters.

The cast of characters in this story is incredible. I thought Amber and her grandmother had a wonderful relationship! It was the ideal balance of heart and humor. The writing was excellent! Despite their inherent evilness, I enjoyed the characters, and the book moved along at a nice, fast pace. All in all, it was a fun book that I highly recommend! I can't wait to read more from this writer.

I enjoyed this book, it gave vibes of the Thursday Murder Club.
I can see potential for a sequel!
I didn’t like the way Ethan was described, I like being able to picture my characters and his description made this difficult.
The unveiling of the “murderer” wasn’t to my liking, I think Nancy should’ve been the killer or maybe the Admirals children, I just didn’t feel satisfied the way it all happened.
Overall, an enjoyable read with a strong female lead

A charming murder mystery with the most unlikely of duos: 98-year-old Jade McCallan and down-on-her-luck millennial and unofficial PI, Amber Winslow. 
 
Description
"Former PI-in-training Amber Winslow has decided to flee her life and she heads to the sunny state of Arizona to the luxury accommodations of her grandmother's retirement community. Never mind that Amber's never actually met her estranged and eccentric Grandma Jade.

As soon as she sneaks her things into Seven Ponds (a place she technically doesn't qualify for and definitely can't afford), she's shocked to learn that George Vincent, a.k.a. the Admiral, was found dead the very night of her arrival. What's even more shocking is that no one seems particularly distraught over the news of the Admiral's death or the disappearance of his prize pet tortoise. All anyone can talk about is a missing Vincent family heirloom, and they're quick to blame Jade for both the Admiral's murder and the theft of the priceless ring.

Amber doesn't want to admit the woman she's just met—and who accepted her without question—could be behind the Admiral's death, and she's determined to clear her grandmother's name no matter the cost.”

My personal thoughts:
🐢Title is a little misleading
🐢Love the family-like friendship between the group
🐢Was satisfied with the reasoning for the “murder” and how they all came together for their loved one. I would not have guessed that outcome.
🐢Would love to be apart of a community like that when I get old

Would I recommend this book: YES! Definitely a fun and easy read.

Thank you to this author and @netgalley for this advanced copy for my honest feedback.

Arizona, cozy-mystery, falsely accused, families, family-drama, family-dynamics, grandma, investigations, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, murder, podcaster, quirky, read, retirement-community, septuagenarian, situational-humor, suspense, suspicion, tortoise, verbal-humor*****

Amber is 31, nearly a PI, and living with her septuagenarian Grandma Jade in a high-end retirement home with a slew if VERY quirky residents. She did a midnight flit from her boyfriend/mentor and finds herself looking for Tatiana the lost tortoise, looking for a missing priceless ring, and dodging the relatives of a murdered man. Good fun and a laugh a minute!
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected e-file from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Avail Apr 29, 2025
#MurderRunsInTheFamily by Tamara Berry @poisonedpenpress @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @waterstones ***** Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk #CozyMystery #Murder #GoodFun #PrivateInvestigator

Fresh from a break up with nowhere to turn and with only the clothes on her back, Amber Winslow goes to the only place she can think of - an upper class retirement community which is home to the grandmother she has never met. Glamorous and intriguing, Grandma Jade welcomes Amber with open arms. Is she all that she seems?

Everything appears to be going well for Amber, finally. Until the Admiral - a fellow care home resident and a worker on Jade's true crime podcast - dies, potentially murdered. And bizarrely nobody seems bothered. That is except for Amber, who puts her skills from being a 'PI in training' into action. Skills she definitely requires as Jade becomes the number one suspect.

A murder, a missing £3m ring and a tortoise on the run - this story truly has it all.

Whilst not breaking any new ground, it's an easy and engaging read - well written and well paced.

The chaos and charm of the eccentric retirement home residents is great and the book has a wonderful sense of comradery. Plus, I do love a closed community (and a charming and curious one at that) mystery.

It's been a long time since I've devoured a book like this. However only 4* as I didn't love the ending as much as the rest of the book.

It is the first book of Tamara Berry's that I have read but not the last. I do hope there are more Amber Winslow stories in the making.

This was an interesting cozy mystery read. Some of the characters were hard to keep track of. It was a quick read.

Murder Runs in the Family is the first in a new series by Tamara Berry. I have enjoyed both of Ms. Berry’s previous series so I was looking forward to trying this one. The book did not disappoint. Set in a fancy retirement village in Arizona, the mystery had lots of twists and turns and was lots of fun to try to figure out. This book was a little darker than I expected in the way it addressed how we treat the elderly in our country, but it was very honest and is certainly something that needs to be discussed. I appreciated how Berry just worked it into the mystery without being preachy, but with lots of honesty and care. I also enjoyed that the characters were all more than they first appeared. The character development was great and I would like to learn more about these people in future books. I especially enjoyed Tatiana and I hope that he will be in future books and help solve crimes and eat lots of lettuce!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.