Book Review - Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack

Title: Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies (Vacation Mysteries #1)
Author: Catherine Mack
Genre: Mystery/ Fiction
Published: 2024
 
Description: 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 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 then years ago and now can’t get out of her life, Eleanor’s enlisted to help solve the case.
 
Contending with literary rivals, rabid fans, a stalker and even her ex Oliver, theories are bandied about, and rivalries, rifts, and broken hearts are revealed. But who’s really trying to get away with murder?
 
Review: “Every Time We Go On Vacation Someone Dies” is a fresh, humorous whodunit set against the beautiful backdrop of Italy. We follow Eleanor Dash, a murder mystery novelist who is stuck with her arrogant ex-boyfriend Connor (and the main character of her books) during a book tour. When an actual assassination attempt is made on him, Eleanor must use her own detective skills to find the culprit.
 
The biggest strength of this book is its pace. Author Catherine Mack writes fluidly, the chapters are short, and the Italian atmosphere practically jumps off the pages. The concept is cleverly conceived: a murder mystery packaged as a satirical look at the book world and influencer culture. As the narrator, Eleanor regularly speaks directly to the reader through footnotes, which creates a very fun and unique dynamic.
 
The humor is very present and sometimes teeters on the edge of being too cynical. As the main character, Eleanor is quite sarcastic (which I loved about her) and self-centered (which I hated about her). While that is part of the book’s charm, it sometimes makes it hard to really empathize with her. The central murder case gets a bit buried under the constant bickering between the characters and the many subplots, causing the tension to drop half-way through.
 
“Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies” is a delightful, unpretentious beach read for fans of whodunits with humor and a healthy dose of sarcasm and slightly chaotic characters.  
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5