Catherine Mack’s debut cozy mystery thriller, “Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies,” serves up a deliciously meta premise that will resonate with anyone who’s ever wondered about the lives of bestselling authors when they’re not crafting fictional murders. Eleanor Dash, our protagonist and narrator, is a successful mystery writer trapped in a literary purgatory of her own making—she’s been writing about Connor Smith, a charming con man turned detective, for a decade, and she’s desperate to kill him off. The irony? Someone might beat her to it.
“Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies” opens with Eleanor confessing her murderous intentions to a priest in Rome, setting the tone for a story that seamlessly blends dark humor with genuine suspense. As the first installment in The Vacation Mysteries series (followed by “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” in 2025), this book establishes a unique voice that’s part Agatha Christie, part modern rom-com, and entirely entertaining.
The Players: A Cast of Compelling Suspects
Eleanor Dash: The Reluctant Detective
Eleanor is refreshingly flawed—she’s honest about her shortcomings, prone to day drinking, and terrible at reading the room. Her self-deprecating humor and extensive footnotes (over 200 of them!) create an intimate reading experience that feels like getting book gossip from your most candid literary friend. Her complicated relationship with success, family trauma, and imposter syndrome add depth to what could have been a mere comedic device.
Connor Smith: The Infuriating Muse
Connor represents everything Eleanor wants to escape—he’s handsome, manipulative, and has been essentially blackmailing her for royalties since the first book. The chemistry between them crackles with tension, though thankfully Mack avoids falling into the tired trope of romanticizing toxic relationships.
The Supporting Cast: A Murderer’s Row of Suspects
From Harper (Eleanor’s sister and assistant) to Oliver (Eleanor’s ex-lover who shows up unexpectedly), each character is carefully constructed with believable motives and distinct personalities. The BookFace Ladies—superfans on a contest-winning tour—add both comic relief and genuine menace, particularly the stalker-ish Cathy.
The Italian Job: Setting as Character
Mack’s descriptions of Rome, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast are vivid without becoming travelogue-heavy. The Italian setting provides perfect cover for the escalating body count, while the group tour format cleverly keeps all suspects in one place. The contrast between tourist hotspots and actual crime scenes creates a disorienting atmosphere that mirrors Eleanor’s own confusion about who she can trust.
The Meta Marvel: Structure and Style
Footnotes and Format
The extensive footnoting system deserves special mention—it’s not just pretentious decoration but an integral part of Eleanor’s voice. These asides range from publishing industry insights to Eleanor’s self-aware commentary on her own story beats. Some readers may find them excessive, but they add layers of meaning and humor that genre traditionalists might miss.
Plot Construction
Mack demonstrates impressive skill in balancing multiple plot threads while maintaining proper mystery etiquette (all clues are present for readers). The revelation of connections to Eleanor’s first book creates satisfying full-circle moments without feeling contrived.
The Murder Mystery Mechanics
Fair Play and Red Herrings
“Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies” is a properly constructed mystery where readers can theoretically solve the crime alongside Eleanor. Mack plants legitimate clues while maintaining enough misdirection to keep experienced mystery readers guessing. The solution, when revealed, feels both surprising and inevitable—the hallmark of a well-crafted whodunit.
Tension Building
The pacing occasionally sags during the middle chapters, particularly during some of the touring sequences, but Mack compensates with sharp dialogue and character development. The final act crescendos appropriately, with genuine tension despite the humorous tone.
Publishing Problems: Where Reality Meets Fiction
Industry Insider Knowledge
Mack’s skewering of the publishing industry—from the pressure to write to market, to the commodification of authors as brands—adds satirical bite. Eleanor’s dilemma about ending her successful series reflects real anxieties many authors face.
Character Authenticity
The portrayal of Eleanor as someone who stumbled into success rather than planning for it feels genuine. Her struggles with imposter syndrome and her complicated relationships with fame ring true.
Critical Considerations
Strengths
- Clever meta-commentary that enhances rather than distracts
- Strong, memorable voice with excellent use of first-person narrative
- Well-constructed mystery with satisfying resolution
- Keen observations about publishing and literary celebrity
- Effective blend of humor and genuine suspense
Potential Weaknesses
- Pacing occasionally slows during transitional scenes
- Some readers may find the footnotes gimmicky rather than charming
- The sheer number of suspects can sometimes feel crowded
- Certain plot conveniences strain credibility (even for a cozy mystery)
The Verdict: A Mystery Worth Unpacking
“Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies” succeeds as both a traditional mystery and a modern commentary on the genre itself. Mack has created something rare—a cozy mystery that manages to be both self-aware and genuinely suspenseful. Eleanor Dash is a character readers will want to spend more time with, making the upcoming “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” a highly anticipated continuation.
For fans of Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series who appreciate literary depth, or readers of Tana French who enjoy intricate character work, this book offers similar satisfactions with a distinctly contemporary flavor. It’s also perfect for anyone who enjoyed the meta-fictional aspects of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” or the publishing industry satire in “Yellowface.”
Final Thoughts: A Series Worth Following
With television rights already sold and a sequel on the horizon, Mack has clearly struck a chord. This debut, Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, establishes The Vacation Mysteries as a series with both longevity and substance. While it may not revolutionize the mystery genre, it certainly refreshes it with wit, warmth, and a genuine understanding of both literary craft and publishing realities.
“Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies” proves that sometimes the best mysteries are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously—but still take their readers seriously enough to craft a proper puzzle. Catherine Mack has given us a heroine worth rooting for and a series worth following, even if it might be deadly to vacation with Eleanor Dash.
For readers intrigued by this blend of cozy mystery and publishing satire, check out other titles in The Vacation Mysteries series, including the upcoming “No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding” (2025). While this is Mack’s debut under this name, her experience as a USA Today bestselling author shows through in the polished prose and industry insights.