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Mother-Daughter Murder Night
Mother-Daughter Murder Night: A Novel | Nina Simon
The Maid meets The Last Thing He Told Me in this fun, fresh, and twisty debut whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio who come together as amateur sleuths to solve a murder in their coastal California town. "A lively and tender story of family that Simon deftly transforms into an edge-of-your-seat murder mystery... One part The Maid and one part family drama la The Nest, Mother-Daughter Murder Night is a resounding and impressive triumph."--Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters Nothing brings a family together like a murder next door. High-powered businesswoman Lana Rubicon has a lot to be proud of: her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the L.A. real estate empire she's built. But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles north of the city, convalescing in a sleepy coastal town with her adult daughter Beth and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck counting otters instead of square footage--and hoping that boredom won't kill her before the cancer does. Then Jack--tiny in stature but fiercely independent--happens upon a dead body while kayaking near their bungalow. Jack quickly becomes a suspect in the homicide investigation, and the Rubicon women are thrown into chaos. Beth thinks Lana should focus on recovery, but Lana has a better idea. She'll pull on her wig, find the true murderer, protect her family, and prove she still has power. With Jack and Beth's help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the surface of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. But as their amateur snooping advances into ever-more dangerous territory, the headstrong Rubicon women must learn to do the one thing they've always resisted: depend on each other.
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Suet624
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Mehso-so

It was one of those ‘Oh, it‘s available on Libby‘ picks. I may not be fair in my assessment of it due to the fact I listened to it before and after the election and fiction on audio rarely works for me. However, there were just a few too many leaps in believability (I‘d be so happy if I ever had the energy this grandmother has while she‘s doing chemo) for me to fully invest.

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Deblovestoread
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Pickpick

#TrappedinaSpookyHouse

One down four to go.

Light pick for this murder mystery.

@Read4life @PuddleJumper

Read4life Making progress 🤓 2mo
57 likes1 comment
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AvidReader25
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Panpan

I wasn‘t a fan of this one. A woman is living with her brash mother who is undergoing chemo and her teenage daughter who works leading kayaking tours. They find themselves in the midst of a murder investigation. The plot felt unnecessary I‘ll convoluted. It lost momentum. It seemed like it couldn‘t decide if it was a murder mystery or a family drama completely unrelated to the murder. This was almost a DNF but I kept waiting for things to pick up.

SheReadsAndWrites I felt the exact same way! 3mo
28 likes1 comment
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Bec_lectic
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Pickpick

When young Jack stumbles across a dead body while giving a kayak tour, Grandma Lana comes to the rescue to solve the crime! This was decent mystery that did become a little cheesy in the end but kept me guessing until the climax. I liked the characters and how they all come to together to solve the mystery even though the mother is more resistant throughout the story. Still a fun, easy read.

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CaitlinR
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Mehso-so

This was a readable, but uncomplicated mystery. The most interesting aspect of the novel is how the mother, daughter and granddaughter find their way back to each other. Lana, a shark-like real estate mogul is diagnosed with a life threatening illness. She moves in with her estranged daughter and granddaughter and bored, tackles solving a murder or two. The granddaughter, Jack, is the best developed character although I grew to like Lana.

CaitlinR Photo of the author by Crystal Birns. 4mo
22 likes1 comment
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Yenya1954
Pickpick

This was a mystery with a couple of murders. The interactions between the daughter, mother and grandmother were filled with frustration. I enjoyed reading and wondered who the killer was. The grandmother insisted she was trying to help the police solve the crimes. It was a quick read. 4/5

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Susanita
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I don‘t necessarily want a Mother-Daughter Murder Night sequel, but I‘d be interested in seeing what this author does next. #sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern Totally understand not wanting a sequel! Thanks for sharing! 6mo
35 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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This was my #FavBkOfMarch #springskies

While it didn‘t win the Agatha award for best first novel, I did recommend it to a mother and daughter I met at breakfast.

Susanita This book was the winner, and it also looks good. 7mo
Eggs 🖤🧡🖤 7mo
40 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Blueberry
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Pickpick

3.5 ⭐
The characters were interesting and diverse. The murderer was hard to identify. But something was missing to make it 4 stars. It didn't compel me to read more.

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TamTracy
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Pickpick

I liked the mystery and story of the book but it just seemed a little dry for some reason. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Blueberry Agree 8mo
50 likes1 comment
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Susanita
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Two books for March book clubs. Two books for April book clubs. Two books read and returned to the LFL. One book read for #serieslove2024 with the next installment proving to be elusive.

My favorite read this month was the tagged book, though Tomorrow… is a close second.

#wrapup

Drnkpnkprincess I haven‘t thought about the house on mango street in over 20 years… might need to reread it one of these days! 8mo
29 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
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"Beth knew she couldn't leave for work until she dealt with the dead body on the beach."
How's that for an opening sentence! ?

50 likes4 stack adds
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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

This was a fun, quick read. Beth‘s mom has moved back in with her & her teenage daughter while undergoing treatment at a local hospital. One night Lana notices something mysterious outside her window. It was a fun take on solving a murder mystery. #bookspin #readyourkindle

CBee Yay! 8mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 8mo
julieclair Sounds fun! Stacked! 8mo
30 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Susanita
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Goodreads blurb calls this Gilmore Girls #withmurder and I can see that.

#ittakesallkinds

rubyslippersreads Now I‘m thinking of who I‘d most like to murder in Stars Hollow. 😂 8mo
julesG It has Gilmore Girls vibes. I really liked it. 8mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Looks good! 8mo
See All 7 Comments
Suet624 @rubyslippersreads your comment made me start thinking of who I‘d want to murder in Stars. Can‘t think of a single character. Although Christopher often ticked me off. 8mo
rubyslippersreads @Suet624 Christopher was the first one I thought of too. And maybe Mitchum. 8mo
Suet624 @rubyslippersreads ugh. You‘re so right. 8mo
Eggs Brilliant 👏🏻👏🏻 8mo
51 likes7 comments
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LatrelWhite
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Enjoyed this one!

14 likes1 stack add
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Erynecki
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Pickpick

This sweet murder mystery follows a grandmother-mother-daughter trio as they try to solve a California coastal whodunnit. For me, the compelling part of it all are the family dynamics and not so much the final solution. And now I want to go on the Elkhorn Slough Safari (not in the book, but definitely a real boat tour!).

Christine Ooh, is this set in Monterey County?? You had me at “Elkhorn Slough.” 8mo
Erynecki @christine yes, it does! 8mo
Christine Aww yay! I used to live there and miss it. Stacked! 8mo
12 likes3 comments
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wideeyedreader
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Pickpick

I saw this book on the shelf at work, and knew I just HAD to read it with my mom, @AmyK1 We enjoy reading murder mysteries and talking about them together, and we both liked this one a lot! Now I want to go kayaking, lol. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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AmyK1
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Pickpick

This was a fun, fast paced murder mystery that gave off Gilmore Girls and Thursday Murder Club vibes. But it‘s more about the relationships between 3 generations of strong women and I was happy to see the growth in those relationships throughout the book.

Definitely read the author‘s note at the end and be prepared for 😭

47 likes1 stack add
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wen4blu
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My plans for this rainy night.

BittersweetBooks Sounds perfect to me! Love a rainy day or night in especially when it involves a good book 🩶 (edited) 9mo
41 likes1 stack add1 comment
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readswellwithothers
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Pickpick

Am I the only one who finds that their rating goes from “so-so” to “pick” after reading the author‘s note/acknowledgements? 🤔

An easy, enjoyable read with a predictable cast of characters and unsurprising plot points. What felt underwhelming upon finishing the story turned more towards appreciation and kind regards after reading the author‘s end notes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

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SarahBookInterrupted
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Pickpick

At first I wasn‘t sure I was going to like this book. I couldn‘t relate to Lana, but as I continued to read and understand her complicated relationship with Beth I began to soften to her. I always liked Jack and her love for the water and her family. The murder was a good whodunnit and I loved all the descriptions of the natural environment that was the backdrop of the book. In addition I learned something about land trusts, so win-win for me.

Crazeedi I enjoyed this. Like you I wasn't sure at first 10mo
54 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Acoleman
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Pickpick

First read of 2024. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ok. A little longer than it needed to be. But I enjoyed the multi generational interactions

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Crazeedi
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Pickpick

I read a previous book by this author and liked. A success driven woman develops brain cancer and has to rely on her estranged daughter for help in her care. So she moves to the wild coast with her and her granddaughter. They all become involved in a mysterious death that occurred where her granddaughter works. Lots of growth happened between mother and daughter as the plot unfolds.
Definitely recommend

DebinHawaii I really enjoyed this one too! 11mo
Crazeedi @DebinHawaii I wasn't sure till I was a couple chapters in. But yes! 11mo
51 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Karisimo
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Pickpick

This is a fun mystery, perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club! Instead of four octogenarians, this one features three generation of women working (mostly) together to solve a murder.

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BossLady305
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Pickpick

It was a good read but wouldn‘t say a huge page turner. This is the author‘s first book. What made me keep reading was the cozy feeling getting to learn more about the family (3 women: grandmother, mother, and daughter). The grandmother, Lana, steals the show. They bond over solving a murder while dealing with health issues. It has some wit and a relatively fast read. Can‘t wait to see how this author grows.

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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

#Rushathon

I enjoyed this book that was just as much about family relationships as it was a mystery. I will say that I didn‘t find Lana (Grandmother) & Beth (Mother) all that likable at first but they grew on me & really really liked Jack (granddaughter/daughter) a lot. The mystery seemed a bit simple, but the family dynamics were entertaining & I would read another book with these characters if it becomes a series.

DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 12mo
Andrew65 Excellent 🎄🎄🎄 12mo
56 likes2 comments
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Traci1
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Pickpick

The cover had me thinking this would be lighter and funnier than it actually was, but it was still enjoyable and relatively cozy. Audio narration was good, too.
(8hours×10×8thons)+16+(17words×10)=826
#wintergames #gangstawrappers @Bookwormjillk #20in4 #rushathon #littenlisten #cloakanddagger #atoz #wintercosy #candyland #adventathon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES @aperfectmjk @Texreader @BookmarkTavern @Catsandbooks @PuddleJumper

Bookwormjillk ❄️💙❄️💙 12mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 12mo
Andrew65 Excellent 🎄🎄🎄 12mo
See All 6 Comments
Catsandbooks 🍭❄️❤️ 12mo
bthegood 🎉 🎉 12mo
BookmarkTavern I love the title! 😂 12mo
57 likes1 stack add6 comments
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Traci1
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I need a little break from holiday stuff. Enjoying this one so far.

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Jen2
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Pickpick

Good story

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Arvena
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Mehso-so

A crime solving mother-daughter-granddaughter trio was well done. It was a decent mystery too, but characters felt like caricatures. And I kept waiting for the story to get engaging and then it finished :)

SheReadsAndWrites I struggled with it too! I wanted so much to love it but bailed. 😬 13mo
61 likes1 comment
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mcctrish
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Pickpick

I LOVED this murder mystery

TheBookHippie THE MUG 13mo
ShyBookOwl Love it 13mo
JenReadsAlot Love that mug! 13mo
See All 10 Comments
ShelleyBooksie Whatever you are drinking looks delisb 13mo
mcctrish @TheBookHippie got a love a Canadian maker who speaks my love language 🤣🤣 13mo
mcctrish @ShelleyBooksie extra strong coffee with a LOT of frothed milk thanks to my barista aka husband 13mo
mcctrish @ShyBookOwl @JenReadsAlot I do love a mug that forewarns people 13mo
Julsmarshall Love the mug, loved this book! 13mo
tpixie Stacked! Great mug & that foam is perfection!!! 13mo
59 likes1 stack add10 comments
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angel1
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
What a fun whodunnit murder mystery read. I loved how the characters relationships developed while working together to solve this crime.😀

marleed Nice pic! 13mo
angel1 @marleed thank you!😊 13mo
Blueberry Your posted picture ❤️ 8mo
15 likes3 comments
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mcctrish
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It has been a legit WEEK that ended in what felt like sheer madness and then I realized there‘s a full moon tonight so everything makes sense. Teaching full time and a new to me grade is kicking my ass and these bloody full moons sneak up on me every time 🤪 and my reactions to the madness is just as baffling until I know why. Here‘s to a weekend dedicated to self medication 🎉

LapReader We had a drop of 10 degrees with wind and rain. The kids were horrid. 13mo
mcctrish @LapReader that happened last night for us so no doubt it added to the descent into chaos 13mo
LiteraryinPA Ugh, it sounds like you need all the coziness and self care right now! 💗💗 13mo
See All 9 Comments
mcctrish Ah thank you @LiteraryinLawrence I wish there were some long weekends coming up 🤣🤣 13mo
Tamra Deep dive into relaxation. ☺️ 13mo
mcctrish @Tamra absolutely diving head first into relaxation 13mo
Ruthiella I hear you on wanting a national holiday to recover from work! 😢 Unfortunately I have to wait until Thanksgiving. 13mo
mcctrish @Ruthiella I have to wait until Christmas 😢😢 I‘ve got a long stretch in front of me 13mo
Ruthiella @mcctrish Oof! That is long. You have my sympathy. ❤️ 13mo
47 likes1 stack add9 comments
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mcctrish
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This is the looonnggeesstt week! I just want to stay home and read. No more school 👎🏻 let me read

kspenmoll Yes! 13mo
40 likes1 comment
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SheReadsAndWrites
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Bailedbailed

I tried. I tried so hard. I gave it 160 pages. 🙈 And I WANTED to LOVE it. The author seems lovely - I adored her author's note. The writing is great. It was just...sloooow. The mystery moved slow. The relationships between the women moved slow. I couldn't slog through anymore. An unpopular opinion, I'm sure. And I'm sad about that! ☹️ But I DNF. #sadtoleave #dnf

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Great debut! Solid mystery, full of compelling family histories that keep you rooting for them. With a grandmother, daughter, and granddaughter struggling to find how they fit together and can help each other. I loved them all, but especially Lana the driven, independent grandma who is determined to solve the mystery! #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 14mo
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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AllDebooks
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Pickpick

#Scarathlon #Littenlisten #TEAMBooklovers

I picked this up as it's Reese's book club pick for October. I absolutely devoured this excellent family drama/mystery. The trio of MC's are just wonderful. I loved Lana Rubicon.
Highly recommended

@Clwojick @StayCurious @Bookwormjillk @aperfectmjk

Bookwormjillk 🎃👻🎃👻 14mo
Julsmarshall I‘m reading this now and really enjoying it! 14mo
Hooked_on_books I agree—this one was fun! 14mo
See All 6 Comments
AllDebooks @Hooked_on_books it really was a fun read! 14mo
AllDebooks @Julsmarshall I'm so glad, it's so entertaining 😂 14mo
Clwojick Such a fun title! Totally want to check this out 😆 14mo
49 likes6 comments
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bookandbedandtea
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Pickpick

I liked this. The mystery isn't terribly compelling (and the cops are ridiculous) but the interpersonal relationships between these three generations of women- and their very different ways of looking at the world- made me happy. I'll be interested in reading the next in the series to see which direction the author takes these characters.

28 likes2 stack adds
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Julsmarshall
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
38 likes1 comment
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bookandbedandtea
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Saturday morning reading ☀️

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NikkiKey94
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Pickpick

Reese‘s Book Club has yet to steer me wrong. I haven‘t read all of her picks but the ones I have read I have enjoyed. This was a mystery that has twist all along the way and I enjoyed every minute of it. This book had been on my radar since I heard about it before it was published and I couldn‘t wait to read it. I listened to the audiobook and it was very good.

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Addison_Reads
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Mehso-so

Popular mysteries don't always work well for me. I listened to this one, and while it was entertaining, I kept wanting more depth to the characters and to the mystery.

I was expecting a bit more on the "fun" side as well, but even that felt lackluster and forced.

I'm sure, though, that many people will love it for its easy, predictable readability.

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marleed
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It‘s mystery/thriller grid time for me! But it was picturing 3 generations of Gilmore Girls solving a murder that gets the tag as my fav!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

AmandaBlaze Glad someone else liked The Stranger Upstairs even if the MC was a bit...extra throughout the book. (edited) 1y
ChaoticMissAdventures Ohh great books on this grid! 1y
marleed @ChaoticMissAdventures It‘s been such fun. My TBR this year seems to getter bigger threefold for each book I‘ve read. I deliberately pushed some mysteries, thrillers, and fantasies out to Sep and Oct. it‘s been a fun month and October is still calling! 1y
marleed @AmandaBlaze oh yes, Sarah was extra! 1y
55 likes1 stack add4 comments
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rachelsbrittain
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Pickpick

This fun cozy murder mystery follows three generations of women living together after the matriarch, Lana, is diagnosed with lung cancer. The formidable real-estate tycoon and her daughter Beth are constantly at odds, but when teenage Jack discovers a dead body during a kayak tour, they come together to pick apart what really happened. It took me a minute to warm up to Lana but eventually she won me over just as she does everyone else.

49 likes3 stack adds
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Mpcacher
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Pickpick

This was a light mystery that I found entertaining, particularly as it did not become too zany as many of this type of books do. While there was humour, there were still serious moments. I enjoyed the main characters and the comp to 'The Gilmore Girls' with murder is appropriate. I would be happy to read a sequel as I think the characters are the real star here and there is room to develop them more. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the ARC. 3.75

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sherrisilvera
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Pickpick

I was recommending even before Reese!

A grandma and her daughter and granddaughter become a trio of mystery solvers after overcoming their own dysfunctional relationships. Hopefully the start of a new cozy series!

Thank you to NetGalley & William Morrow for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

31 likes1 stack add
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Lana finds herself living with daughter Beth and granddaughter Jack in a way that seriously cramps her style when Jack is part of a group that finds a body on the mudflats. Lana decides to investigate, throwing the family into further chaos. I really enjoyed this! It‘s a lot of fun with good characters, though I wish Beth had been a little more fleshed out.

jlhammar I've been curious about this. Sounds fun! 1y
dabbe Hello there, sleeping sweetly pup! 🖤🐾🖤 1y
57 likes2 comments
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mcctrish
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I think I need this book