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Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies: A Novel (The Vacation Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery/ Women Sleuths
1st in Series
Setting – Italy
Publisher : Minotaur Books (April 30, 2024)
Hardcover : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 1250325854
ISBN-13 : 978-1250325853
Kindle ASIN : B0CGRZSXXN
All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next in her Vacation Mysteries series—is that too much to ask?
Clearly, because when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life—the handsome but infuriating con man she got mixed up with ten years ago and now can’t get out of her life—Eleanor’s enlisted to help solve the case.
Contending with literary competitors, rabid fans, a stalker—and even her ex, Oliver, who turns up unexpectedly—theories are bandied about, and rivalries, rifts, and broken hearts are revealed. But who’s really trying to get away with murder?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Eleanor Dash is the bestselling author of the Vacation Mystery Series and she has had enough of her protagonist Connor Smith. Connor is based on a real person with the same name and that mistake has cost her dearly. It all started 10 years ago when a real attempt was made on his life, she got involved and decided their experience would make a great book. Now with the final book in the series under contract, she has decided she needs to kill the character off so that she can get him out of her life and get on with her own.
While on a book tour in Italy with other authors and super fans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 1st Vacation Mystery tour Eleanor is contemplating the perfect way to kill the character but it appears someone is actually trying to kill off the real Connor Smith or are they? Could she be the real target?
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a book written by an author about an author being an author. Eleanor Dash talks directly to the reader at what seems at breakneck speed with a lot of footnotes. Eleanor is a flawed individual who depends on her younger sister Harper to keep her entire life in order. Connor too is flawed. He has a past with Eleanor, first as a love interest, but even broken up he has inserted himself into her life as a “consultant/inspiration” for her books and made sure he receives a percentage of every dollar she makes. He is also sure someone is trying to kill him. Another ex, author, Oliver Forrest is on the tour too. Eleanor may still have feelings for him. Oliver may still have feelings for her. Eleanor cracked me up several times throughout the story. I would label her as snarky but very funny. The author has surrounded her with the perfect cast of characters. They all play off each other very well. The dialogues and interactions are crisp and feel real.
There were several murder attempts in the book, along with Eleanor’s thoughts about how to kill Connor, the character, okay, and maybe the man too a few times. There were a couple of actual murders as well. Ms. Mack served up plenty of twists and turns that kept both the characters and this reader misdirected. The mystery was very well-plotted. I started to put things together before they were revealed or spelled out. One character drew my attention for several different reasons so I had them at the top of my suspect list. I wasn’t expecting the true grandeur of the scheme though.
Eleanor Dash is not a fan of reviewers like me and can’t believe anyone would give any of her books under 4 stars. She also calls GoodReads “MeanReads” claiming people are allowed to post reviews there for books that haven’t even read. I won’t let Eleanor’s feelings affect my review.
I have to address the footnotes. I was reading a digital copy. At first, they were funny and entertaining and placed well within the text. As the story continued I found myself flipping pages to follow the number to the footnote because they were not lining up well at all. They messed with the flow and took away from the story. I know this is the price I pay for receiving an early copy. I hope these issues are fixed in the actual for-sale digital copies readers receive. Placed well, they make the writer’s style of breaking the fourth wall unique.
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is full of humor, quirky characters, a little romance, and a clever mystery set in picturesque Italy that takes readers behind the scenes into the crazy publishing world. It was an entertaining read. I hope there is a sequel.
4 Starfish! That should make Eleanor happy.
About the Author
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of America’s favorite storyteller. It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favor that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the center of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications—and once again endangers his colleagues, friends, and family. Mitch has become a master at staying one step ahead of his adversaries, but this time there’s nowhere to hide.
in 1991 when it was released and have watched the film starring Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and many other big Hollywood names several times. I will admit I always wanted to know what happened to Mitch and Abby so I was thrilled to see that John Grisham was working on a sequel and that it was going to be released this year. I was excited when the book was offered to me to review.
is full of suspense and more thrilling moments than I can count. With a slow build to pull you in it soon becomes impossible to put the book down. While the current story wraps up within the pages the bad guys are still out there. Are Mitch and Abby really safe? I wonder if Mr. Grisham has more in store for them.
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has some good bones. The setting is idyllic and I enjoyed my virtual visit. But I want to get to know the characters better and feel more engaged by them. The story could use some editing in places to tighten things up and make it flow better. I am curious to see how Bria’s life changes when the B & B is open and filled with a variety of guests. It is a familiar theme for a cozy mystery series but the location sets this series apart.
About the Author
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