Lippman fans should know that this has a very different tone and plotting from her usual but that's not a bad thing. Those same fans might remember Mrs Blossom from an appearance in a Tess Monaghan mystery (I didn't but no matter). She's a widow in her late 60s who found a winning lottery ticket, moved back from Baltimore, and now is taking a river cruise vacation with her BFF Elinor. And she's tangled up in a, to be honest, a very convoluted mystery that leads to the murder of Alan, a man she meets by chance at BWI airport on her way to Europe. A previous statue has been stolen and a pack of people are after it and later Mrs. Blossom who is believed to have it. Who is Danny, really? Sure he's great at helping her buy some new clothes but is he an FBI agent, as he claims? And is he the one who tosses her cabin and follows her? And what about the other people on the boat? Lots of questions and, as noted, I found it hard to follow the machinations around the statue. At the same time I really enjoyed Mrs. Blossom who is so relatable especially to those who feel invisible or unwelcome due to their weight. She's a treat. This has good atmospherics for the cruise, Paris, and the stops along the way. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I'm hoping we'll see Mrs. Blossom again, especially now that she's back in Baltimore.

According to Laura Lippman, Mrs. Muriel Blossom first appeared in the novel Another Thing to Fall in 2008. Lippman admits readers occasionally called her out for being ageist and anti-fat when it came to Mrs. Blossom, who did surveillance for PI Tess Monaghan at one point. In Murder Takes a Vacation, Lippman makes it up to Mrs. Blossom, giving her a mystery, an adventure, and an exotic trip.

When Mrs. Blossom found a winning lottery ticket in a parking lot, she wisely invested most of it, but also invited her best friend Elinor to take a Seine River cruise with her. Before she met up with Elinor, though, she met a man named Allan Turner on her flight to London. When she missed her connecting flight to Paris, Allan helped Mrs. Blossom find a hotel, and make future travel arrangements to catch up with her tour. She had a brief romantic fantasy before he disappeared from her life.. She didn’t expect Allan to be found dead in Paris since he was supposed to be working in London.

It’s a young man, Danny Johnson, who claims to be an FBI agent hunting for a missing Pakistani antiquity who suggests Allan may have planted something on Mrs. Blossom. Mrs. Blossom doesn’t quite trust him, though, and she suspects his glib stories might hide a lie or two. Once she and Elinor catch up on the river cruise, though, she begins to suspect there’s more to Allan’s death and Danny’s questions than appear on the surface.

Lippman reintroduces us to a wonderful character in Mrs. Blossom. She still mourns her husband who died ten years learlier. She’s only now learning to travel and live on her own, thanks to that lottery win. Elinor warns her, though, that she’s “in danger of letting her life grow smaller.” Lippman’s characters are well-rounded, including the villain of the piece. It’s Mrs. Blossom, though, who stands out as she tries to build “a life worth living”.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an e-ARC of Murder Takes a Vacation by the crically acclaimed author Laura Lippman. I have read several Laura Lippman books in the past but this book was like nothing of hers I have read before. Readers will fall in love with Mrs. Blossom as she slips into sleuth-mode while aboard the MS Solitare. As the ship makes its way down the Seine, Mrs. Blossom is trying to figure out why Alan was murdered and who (if anyone) she can trust, yet sadly all she can come up with are more questions than answers. This short book (less than 300 pages) packs an enteratining punch. Just the right amount of mystery and cozy while still managing to be thrilling up till the last page. Highly recommend picking this book up June 2025.

Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

*Murder Takes a Vacation*swept me into a whirlwind of Parisian intrigue, glittering artifacts, and a mystery that clung to me like the last notes of a haunting melody. There was something undeniably magnetic about Muriel Blossom—a woman who, after a lifetime of quiet resilience, finally lets fate pull her into the adventure she never knew she needed.
And then—*crash*—the dream twisted into a nightmare. Allan’s sudden death sent chills down my spine, and the introduction of Danny, a shadowy figure convinced Muriel held the key to a priceless artifact, cranked the tension to dizzying heights. The way Muriel navigated the glittering deception of the Parisian cruise, her instincts sharpened by years as a PI, had me utterly captivated. Every whispered conversation, every sidelong glance from fellow passengers, felt charged with danger. The payoff, while not entirely unexpected, delivered a rush of satisfaction—like the final, perfect sip of a rich, dark espresso.
But oh, how I *ached* for Muriel to be given the depth she deserved. Here was this fierce, intelligent woman—someone who’d lived, loved, lost, and was now stepping boldly into a second act—yet the story kept reducing her to two tired adjectives: *old* and *fat*. Not as a facet of her character, not as part of her lived experience, but as a relentless refrain, as if her body was the most interesting thing about her. What a wasted opportunity. Imagine if we’d gotten more of her wit, her grit, the way her mind worked as she pieced together clues—*that* would have been electric. Instead, the fixation on her appearance became a grating distraction, dulling the shine of an otherwise sparkling plot.
Still, I can’t deny the book’s spellbinding allure. The mystery coiled around me like the Seine at twilight, and Muriel—flaws and all—lingered in my thoughts long after the final page. If this is just the beginning of her adventures, I’d gladly follow her anywhere… as long as the next journey lets her truly *shine*.

I really enjoyed Murder Takes a Vacation. Mrs. Blossom was amazing. She was so kind and courteous to everyone she met, even people trying to kill her and steal her things. She was so optimistic. What happens when a 68-year-old woman finds a lottery ticket floating in the trash and the Circle K parking lot? Well obviously, she goes on a holiday. I was a little angry that people seemed to take advantage of her kindness. I worried about her but you know what? She did OK! She solved the crime and seemed to have a good time along the way. Forget fat-phobia, you rock! Yay Muriel Blossom!!

Laura Lippman is a prolific writer and I’ve enjoyed several of her books, including some in the Tess Monaghan series and several standalone novels, all in the criminal genre or detective genre. Murder Takes a Vacation has more of a cozy mystery vibe. The main character, Mrs. Blossom (who was a minor character in the Tess Monaghan series), age 68 and a widow of 10 years, decides to take a luxury river cruise in Paris and ends up having much more of an adventure than advertised.

I found too many things to be improbable, the most striking the level of Mrs. Blossom’s naïveté. How any adult woman would accept a gummy from a total stranger without question just seems so unlikely. And just the use of Mrs. Blossom as her name throughout the entire book - why not go by her first name? Just out of touch in today’s world. The story was interesting enough and a quick read and perhaps works better for fans of the cozy mystery genre. I will continue to read Ms. Lippman’s novels as I have enjoyed her other works..

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman is a sharp, witty, and thoroughly engaging mystery that blends suspense with character-driven drama. Lippman's signature prose brings the seaside setting to vivid life, while the cleverly plotted murder investigation keeps readers guessing until the final page. It's a refreshing, smartly paced read that showcases her talent for blending intrigue with emotional depth.
This novel features Mrs. Muriel Blossom, former assistant to P.I. Tess Monaghan, one of Lippman's most beloved characters.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this digital e-arc.*

I've read most of Laura Lippman's books and she's good writer. This novel is not her best. The main character regularly makes decisions that make you roll your eyes. The plot seems thin.

This was a cute light easy mystery read about a woman in her 60s traveling in Europe. Of course a murder occurs as well as a missing statue and Mrs. Blossom is caught up in all of it. Thanks to William Morrow Books and Netgalley for this ARC.

Sixty-something Muriel Blossom is taking her first trip to Europe, spending time solo in Paris and then a planned river cruise with her best friend. She meets a man traveling who seems very interested in her who winds up dead. Did he use her as a mule for a stolen piece of art? All things will unfold in this fun vacation read. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy for an honest review.

This one wasn’t quite the cozy mystery I thought it was going to be. The plot ultimately didn’t work for me and that was its main downfall

Muriel Blossom is on a Parisian river cruise with her best friend when she finds herself in the middle of an international mystery. Luckily, she has years of working for private investigator Tess Monaghan under her belt to help her put the clues together.

This was a fun little murder mystery that was entertaining and intriguing. I have not read the Tess Monghan series - though it's on my list - so I don't know if that would have helped in any way to understand Mrs. Blossom but I enjoyed it just fine without that background. I don't know if this will be a series, but if so, I'd look forward to reading future installments. The story moved smoothly and Mrs. Blossom was a fun character to get to know.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available June 17, 2025.

I so enjoyed meeting Lippman’s main character, Mrs. (Muriel) Blossom, in this France-based mystery. Some years after her husband passes on, Mrs. Blossom decides to take advantage of a windfall and bring a lifelong friend along on a cruise along the Seine. Unlike her friend, she isn’t thinking of finding a man, but she nonetheless manages to make a connection in the airport that ends up engaging her in light romance, much self-reflection, and sets off a convoluted mystery. Even though she has a background in investigation, Mrs. Blossom (who is referred to that way throughout the book) remains naïve and gullible as first a man who jumps in to help her navigate the intricacies of European travel and then a man who claims to have her better interest at heart seem to take advantage of her.

As the book progresses, she grows in both understanding of the mystery in which she has become a central character as well as understanding of herself. She carries a secret from the past that affects her self-esteem, as well as extra weight that does the same. She spends a significant amount of time reflecting on her age, weight and appearance, reminding us of how easy it is for a woman of a certain age to become invisible. Her interactions with the other characters, and with the French culture, help her learn to be “the star of her own story,” and less concerned about others’ opinions. While all this introspection is taking place, Mrs. Blossom is attempting to figure out why her room keeps getting searched and who is responsible for a suspicious death that seems related. It’s fun to follow her through all of the shenanigans that are taking place around her as she and the reader attempt to figure out what exactly is going on.

Another enjoyable trip for the reader is provided by the travelogue of the river boat’s trip along the Seine. She, and we, get to visit a number of historic and artistic sites, with Monet’s gardens at Giverny featuring prominently. There’s also a bit of a history lesson about WWII included in her travels, and some art history. The writing about setting is straightforward, but also descriptive. The narrative of this cozy mystery is mainly straight line, with a few flashbacks to Mrs. Blossom’s marriage. As the mystery comes to its conclusion, there is a bit too much of one character telling another what actually happened for my taste, but everything does come together in a satisfying manner. The book feels like a classic mystery, unique for the characterization, but not really for the plot. It’s more fun than it is an intellectual challenge.

There is a connection between this book and the author’s Tess Monaghan character, but MURDER TAKE A VACATION is functionally a standalone book. The real strength of the book is characterization. Mrs. Blossom is a very relatable character if you can get past her obsession with her age and weight, or maybe even because of that focus. She is fully fleshed out (no pun intended). The emphasis on character moves the book somewhat beyond a middle-of-the-road overall rating, but it isn’t enough to take elevate it from a standard cozy offering. Nonethless, it was a pleasure to spend some time in Mrs. Blossom’s company, and I can recommend it as a light mystery novel.

I had the pleasure of reading Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman, published by William Morrow—thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, Libro.fm, and Harper Audio for the ARC/NALC of this book. I’m a longtime fan of Lippman’s work, so when I saw she was doing a cozy mystery with an older female protagonist, I was instantly intrigued.

The story centers around Mrs. Muriel Blossom, a 68-year-old widow who once worked as a surveillance assistant for PI Tess Monaghan. She has always had a knack for blending in, making herself unnoticeable—a skill that served her well in the past, but also left her feeling a bit invisible in her own life. Things change when she finds a winning lottery ticket and suddenly has the means to travel and live for herself. Her first big adventure? A cruise through France with her lifelong friend Elinor.

Things don’t go as planned, of course. On her transatlantic flight, Mrs. Blossom meets Allan, a charming man who seems to take a genuine interest in her—her first real spark of romance since her husband passed. But by the time she reaches Paris, Allan is dead under suspicious circumstances. Adding to the tension, Danny, a mysterious man with a knack for popping up wherever trouble brews, informs Mrs. Blossom that Allan may have been involved in transporting a stolen piece of art. Now, Mrs. Blossom finds herself swept into a mystery involving art theft, dangerous strangers, and murder—all while trying to enjoy her much-anticipated cruise down the Seine.

The concept here is delightful: an older, plus-size woman finally claiming her space in the world while solving a murder. I loved that Mrs. Blossom was given the spotlight—so often older women are either caricatured or sidelined in fiction, and Lippman gives her nuance and growth. Watching Mrs. Blossom navigate this new chapter of life, while reckoning with her self-image and her worth, added real depth to what could have been a simple whodunit.

I also loved the setting. The details of Paris, the river cruise, and the cultural elements were vivid and fun. The travelogue portions of the book were immersive—I could almost feel the sway of the boat and smell the buttery croissants. Lippman’s prose, as always, is crisp and engaging.

That said, there were parts that didn’t quite land for me. The focus on Mrs. Blossom’s weight and aging was a bit relentless. While I appreciated the effort to address body image and the invisibility older women often feel, it sometimes overshadowed the mystery itself. Her internal monologue was so dominated by self-conscious thoughts that it slowed the pacing, especially in the middle of the book. I wanted more mystery and intrigue and a little less commentary on her size. I also found Mrs. Blossom’s trusting nature to be a bit at odds with her background as a former PI assistant—though I understand that part of her arc is rediscovering her confidence.

The mystery was enjoyable but fairly light. If you’re looking for a gritty, twisty thriller, this isn’t it. The art heist plot and Allan’s death were engaging enough to keep me reading, but the tone is more cozy and character-driven than edge-of-your-seat suspense. I did enjoy the cast of side characters, though some felt a little underdeveloped. Danny was a standout—charming, ambiguous, and the perfect foil for Mrs. Blossom’s journey.

The audiobook, narrated by Kimberly Farr, was excellent. Her performance added warmth and personality to Mrs. Blossom and helped smooth over some of the pacing issues I noticed in the print version. It’s a great listen if you prefer audiobooks for cozy mysteries.

Overall, I had a good time with Murder Takes a Vacation. It’s a breezy, fun, and heartfelt mystery that celebrates second chances and finding adventure later in life. While I had a few quibbles with pacing and tone, I loved spending time with Mrs. Blossom and would absolutely read another book featuring her. Lippman shows that she can flex her style and deliver a different kind of story without losing her trademark wit and sharp eye for character. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, travel settings, and unconventional sleuths, this one is worth adding to your TBR.

I've enjoyed Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan series, so when I saw what sounded like a cozy mystery with one of her minor characters from that series, I was intrigued. In typical Lippman fashion, she has crafted a riveting story with interesting characters.

Sixty-eight-year-old Muriel Blossom, who has been a widow for ten years, finds a winning lottery ticket worth millions and decides to take a luxury boat cruise up the Seine. Not used to international travel or traveling in style, she is befriended by the attentive Allan Turner, who takes charge when Mrs. Blossom misses her flight from London to Paris. The attraction appears to be mutual, and the pair spends a romantic day in London before Allan puts Mrs. Blossom on the train to Paris. Once in Paris, Mrs. Blossom is soon visited by the police who tell her Allan has died from a fall from a Paris hotel room when he was supposed to be in London. When the mysterious Danny Johnson tries to strike up a relationship, Mrs. Blossom is suspicious and doesn't know whom to trust. Throw in a stolen art treasure and some misadventures, and Mrs. Blossom's life gets more complicated.

Mrs. Blossom is a wonderful character. Both naive and savvy at the same time, she is a strong woman who is trying to cast aside her comfortable life and spread her wings. I found the book a wonderfully written page-turner filled with wit and intrigue. The plot is clever and the characters engaging. 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 17, 2025.

I’m not sure what I was expecting for this book, but I was a little disappointed. The story line could have been great, but the perspective threw me off the whole time and it started to get a little confusing. I may try to give this another chance in the future because it wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t what I was expecting.

Murder Takes a Vacation is was a fun mystery surrounding Mrs. Blossom. As the first introduction to to the character it was interesting to learn why she thinks the way she does.
The mystery was there from start to finish, but allows you to put together pieces of it as you go. Everything comes together in the end, that allows you to fully grasp why each thing was done through it.

3.5/5 stars.

This was a lot of fun and I loved Mrs. Blossom! A quick mystery that kept me entertained. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

3.5⭐️

This fell a bit flat for me. I think we're supposed to believe that Muriel is this strong, middle age woman who is finally enjoying her life after being married young and never having much experience outside of motherhood/grandmother hood. Unfortunately the focus seemed to be more on the fact that she was old, fat and gullible. Even though most character's went out of the way to tell her she was beautiful and that her weight wasn't a focus, Muriel's internal monologue was so loud about being 'fat' that it overpowered everything else. Mentions of her past as a PI assistant and cheating on her husband felt like throw away lines to force a 'see, I was cool once' narrative that didn't work for me.

The mystery was interesting and I love a good art heist. But in the story the mystery almost felt like an afterthought to Muriel's loneliness and desire to prove she's not too old or fat to do things. The whirlwind romance with Allan was so quick and lackluster that her grief over him almost felt over the top. There were a lot of side characters met on this trip but there was never enough of a connection with any of them for me to even be suspicious of them.

Ultimately I wish this would have focused more on the mystery than Muriel's second chance.

Thanks Netgalley and William Morrow for providing this ARC to me!

Aww, this was such a cute little mystery! I really liked the main character Mrs. Blossom. She was so fun to read from. The plot was a little bit frustratingly obvious (and if I could figure it out, that's saying something) and I rolled my eyes a few time, but overall, I liked it!!!