Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

This series debut is sure to delight fans of traditional mysteries as well as those who prefer a good CWC (cozy with corpses). Successful author Eleanor Dash is off on a publicity tour of southern Italy with a rather motley crew of fellow mystery writers; her sister, who is also her manager; a busload of fans; two ex-lovers; a stalker; and a few hangers-on. No sooner does the reader pour a refreshing limoncello than there is an attempt on one of the characters’ lives: that of Charles, one of the exes and a rather suave ladies’ man whom Eleanor has featured in her novels and who receives royalties from her books (what? it’s complicated). In fact, Eleanor would love nothing more than to see Charles dead, although she’s more likely to kill him off in her next book than in real life. As the group ambles about Sorrento and Positano—having fantastic meals and dishing on the publishing industry while managing to dodge the occasional murder attempt—we are treated to the best feature of the book: Eleanor’s witty, droll, and sophisticated voice, on display in dialog, interior monologue, and, best of all, the many footnotes that pepper the text. As roles are upended, and the crime writers become detectives, we also learn more about Eleanor’s personal life, from her complicated relationship with her sister to her remaining passion for Oliver, the other ex. Perfect for fans of The Magpie Murders; the Finlay Donovan series; and Only Murders in the Building.