Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies by Catherine Mack serves as the deliciously twisted debut to the Vacation Mysteries series, proving that sometimes the most dangerous thing about traveling abroad isn’t the pickpockets or the overpriced espresso—it’s the murder plots lurking around every corner. Set against the sun-soaked backdrop of Italy during the height of tourist season, this novel delivers a meta-mystery that readers of cozy crime fiction will devour faster than a perfectly prepared cacio e pepe.
Eleanor Dash: The Reluctant Detective We Need
The heart of this mystery belongs to Eleanor Dash, a bestselling author who’s as comfortable killing off fictional characters as she is uncomfortable with real-life confrontations. Mack has crafted a protagonist who feels refreshingly authentic—complete with neurotic tendencies, a complicated romantic history, and footnotes that read like the internal monologue we all have but never share. Eleanor’s voice, peppered with self-deprecating humor and pop culture references, makes for a narrator who feels less like a literary device and more like that witty friend who always has the best gossip.
What sets Eleanor apart from typical cozy mystery protagonists is her self-awareness about being thrust into a murder investigation. Rather than eagerly embracing her amateur sleuth status, she approaches the situation with the exhausted resignation of someone who’s read too many mystery novels to buy into the fantasy of solving crimes being fun or easy.
The Italian Setting: More Than Just Scenery
A Travelogue with a Body Count
Mack transforms Italy from a mere backdrop into an active participant in the mystery. From the crowded streets of Rome to the clifftop beauty of the Amalfi Coast, each location becomes both a potential crime scene and a character in its own right. The author’s descriptions of:
- The heat-soaked tourist traps of Pompeii
- The wine tastings that blur the line between research and reckless abandon
- The precarious coastal roads that seem designed for dramatic confrontations
These elements create an atmosphere where danger lurks alongside Italian charm, making readers simultaneously want to book a flight and double-check their life insurance.
The Supporting Cast: Suspects with Substance
A Gallery of Literary Personalities
The ensemble cast reads like a dramatis personae from the publishing world’s darkest corners:
- Connor Smith: The roguish private detective turned unwitting blackmail victim, whose charm is matched only by his talent for making enemies.
- Oliver Forrest: Eleanor’s ex-boyfriend and fellow mystery author, whose unexpected appearance adds romantic tension alongside the criminal kind.
- Harper Dash: Eleanor’s sister and assistant, whose fierce loyalty masks deeper resentments and secrets.
Each character brings their own baggage—literary and literal—to the investigation, creating a web of relationships complex enough to satisfy readers who enjoy their mysteries with a side of relationship drama.
The Plot: Pasta, Poison, and Plot Twists
Layered Like the Perfect Lasagna
Mack structures her mystery with multiple attempted murders, red herrings, and reveals that keep pages turning at a pace rivaling the best page-turners on Italian coastal roads. The plot unfolds across multiple Italian cities, each location bringing new threats and revelations:
- Rome: Where tourist traps become actual traps
- Sorrento: Where hotel rooms hide deadly secrets
- Ravello: Where ancient towers witness modern murders
The author weaves together past crimes, present dangers, and future publishing contracts into a narrative that feels organic despite its complexity. While some plot points require generous helpings of suspension of disbelief (particularly regarding Italian police procedures), the story maintains enough internal logic to keep readers invested rather than irritated.
Writing Style: Footnotes, Fourth Walls, and Flair
A Literary Love Letter to Mystery Conventions
Perhaps the book’s most distinctive feature is its liberal use of footnotes, which transform from mere trivia into crucial plot devices. These asides add layers of humor and insight while occasionally breaking the fourth wall in ways that feel natural rather than gimmicky. Mack’s prose style balances:
- Quick-witted dialogue that captures the rhythms of contemporary conversation
- Descriptive passages that bring Italian landscapes to vivid life
- Meta-commentary on mystery tropes that never feels pretentious
The author demonstrates particular skill in managing tone, maintaining suspense despite Eleanor’s often self-deprecating narration.
Cultural Authenticity: Italy Through Tourist Eyes
Bellissimo Details
Mack’s Italy feels authentic—not the romanticized version found in travel brochures, but the real experience of navigating tourist crowds, dealing with unreliable tour guides, and discovering that gelato really is that much better when consumed after nearly dying. The cultural details, from proper pasta terminology to the etiquette of Italian dining, add authenticity without overwhelming the mystery plot.
Series Setup: What’s Next in the Vacation Mysteries?
With Book 2, No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding, already on the horizon for 2025, Mack has clearly established a winning formula. The first installment successfully introduces recurring characters, establishes Eleanor’s reluctant detective status, and leaves enough loose threads to justify future adventures without feeling incomplete.
The Verdict: Four Stars and a Standing Ovation
Strengths That Shine
- Character Development: Eleanor Dash ranks among the most relatable and entertaining amateur sleuths in recent memory
- Setting Integration: Italy becomes a character rather than mere backdrop
- Humor Balance: Maintains levity without undermining genuine suspense
- Meta Elements: Footnotes and fourth-wall breaks enhance rather than detract from the story
Areas for Improvement
- Pacing: Some middle sections slow down as character relationships take precedence over mystery elements
- Plausibility: Certain plot conveniences strain credibility, even within cozy mystery conventions
- Police Procedures: Italian law enforcement is portrayed with broad strokes that may feel oversimplified
Final Thoughts: A Mystery Worth Solving
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies succeeds in delivering exactly what its title promises: a vacation filled with unexpected deaths, colorful characters, and enough twists to keep readers guessing. Catherine Mack has crafted a debut that honors cozy mystery traditions while bringing fresh perspective through Eleanor’s contemporary voice and meta-awareness.
For readers who enjoy their mysteries with a side of romance, their crime scenes garnished with cultural observations, and their suspects served with generous portions of personality, this Italian adventure delivers. While it may not revolutionize the cozy mystery genre, it executes the formula with enough style and substance to leave readers eagerly anticipating Eleanor Dash’s next deadly vacation.
Whether you’re drawn by the promise of Italian scenery, the appeal of a relatable protagonist, or simply the irresistible hook of a mystery novelist solving real murders, Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies earns its place on your summer reading list. Just maybe avoid planning any Italian vacations immediately after finishing—you might find yourself suspecting every charming tour guide and eyeing every gelato vendor with newfound paranoia.
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is a mystery that combines all the right ingredients—memorable characters, atmospheric setting, and just enough danger to keep you reading past your Italian bedtime.
