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ksilvio's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Death
Minor: Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Medical content
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
What a good time this book was! I'm so amazed that it was a debut novel haha some people are just too talented. (And also too cool?? Ms. Simon's career history is so heckin' impressive.) I loved the relationships in this family between these very different and complex women. I also really really enjoyed having a kind of disabled sleuth! I loved Nancy Drew back in the day, but there was the running joke that she was knocked out all over the place and just totally okay an hour later. It's not very human. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Bullying
Moderate: Abandonment, Medical content, Murder, Classism, and Death
Minor: Infidelity, Gun violence, Death of parent, Blood, Grief, Abortion, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, and Racism
There's some cops in this book that made me reallllll mad. No police brutality, but you will want to punch one in the face : )kaylahcc's review
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Pregnancy and Abandonment
mj_86's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cancer, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol and Pregnancy
leebeeloves's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Cancer
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Racism, and Blood
katiemack's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The cozy mystery aspect of this book is fun, but I found the multigenerational dynamics between Lana, Beth, and Jack far more interesting. As the formidable matriarch recently diagnosed with metastatic cancer, Lana is a force of nature in her ability to track down clues--but her newfound vulnerability makes her more human and relatable. I also loved the teenage Jack; she reminds me a bit of myself when I was that age. I wish Nina Simon had spent more time on Beth, but it was great to see how she raised not only Jack but herself starting at age eighteen.
Also, the author's note at the end about Simon's own mother's lung cancer made me cry (and made me appreciate the book more).
The cozy mystery aspect of this book is fun, but I found the multigenerational dynamics between Lana, Beth, and Jack far more interesting. As the formidable matriarch recently diagnosed with metastatic cancer, Lana is a force of nature in her ability to track down clues--but her newfound vulnerability makes her more human and relatable. I also loved the teenage Jack; she reminds me a bit of myself when I was that age. I wish Nina Simon had spent more time on Beth, but it was great to see how she raised not only Jack but herself starting at age eighteen.
Also, the author's note at the end about Simon's own mother's lung cancer made me cry (and made me appreciate the book more).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Minor: Death, Murder, and Pregnancy
jillwedemeier's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Gilmore Girls" meets "Only Murders in the Building" in this whodunnit about a grandmother, mother, and daughter who become amateur sleuths.
After Lana Rubicon is diagnosed with cancer, she leaves behind her real estate empire in Los Angeles to live with her daughter, Beth, and teenage granddaughter, Jacqueline ("Jack"), 300 miles away in Monterey County, California. When Jack happens upon a dead body while on a kayaking tour, she quickly becomes a murder suspect. Beth thinks Lana should focus on her recovery, but Lana decides to find the true murderer and protect her family. With Beth and Jack's help, Lana uncovers lies, family vendettas, and land disputes in their sleepy coastal town. As the three women become amateur sleuths, they must do the one thing they have always resisted and depend on each other.
Reading this book reminded me a lot of two of my favorite shows, "Gilmore Girls" and "Only Murders in the Building." Based on the book's description, I was expecting a cozy mystery, but this book was definitely more of a family drama. I was disappointed by this at first, but I ended up really enjoying the family dynamics of the three headstrong Rubicon women, with Lana being my unexpected favorite. I didn't find the mystery that compelling, and I couldn't get past the fact that law enforcement initially considered a 15-year-old as their prime suspect, which was just too far-fetched for me. Overall, an entertaining debut from author Nina Simon, and I look forward to reading her future novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After Lana Rubicon is diagnosed with cancer, she leaves behind her real estate empire in Los Angeles to live with her daughter, Beth, and teenage granddaughter, Jacqueline ("Jack"), 300 miles away in Monterey County, California. When Jack happens upon a dead body while on a kayaking tour, she quickly becomes a murder suspect. Beth thinks Lana should focus on her recovery, but Lana decides to find the true murderer and protect her family. With Beth and Jack's help, Lana uncovers lies, family vendettas, and land disputes in their sleepy coastal town. As the three women become amateur sleuths, they must do the one thing they have always resisted and depend on each other.
Reading this book reminded me a lot of two of my favorite shows, "Gilmore Girls" and "Only Murders in the Building." Based on the book's description, I was expecting a cozy mystery, but this book was definitely more of a family drama. I was disappointed by this at first, but I ended up really enjoying the family dynamics of the three headstrong Rubicon women, with Lana being my unexpected favorite. I didn't find the mystery that compelling, and I couldn't get past the fact that law enforcement initially considered a 15-year-old as their prime suspect, which was just too far-fetched for me. Overall, an entertaining debut from author Nina Simon, and I look forward to reading her future novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Murder
Minor: Pregnancy
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