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Mrs Blossom Mystery #1
Murder Takes a Vacation: A Novel
Highly acclaimed
New York Times
bestseller Laura Lippman returns with an irresistible mystery featuring Muriel Blossom, a former private investigator and middle-aged widow whose vacation on a Parisian river cruise turns into a deadly international mystery…that only she can solve.
Mrs. Blossom is not the kind of woman to play the lottery. She is practical, a devoted grandmother, and has a knack for blending into the background, which was an asset during her days assisting private investigator Tess Monaghan. But when Mrs. Blossom finds a winning ticket in a parking lot, everything changes...including Mrs. Blossom. She is determined to see the world that sometimes feels as if it’s passing her by.
But when Mrs. Blossom booked her cruise through France on the MS Solitaire, she did not expect to meet Allan on her transatlantic flight. He is the first man who’s sparked something inside her since her beloved husband passed.
She also didn’t expect Allan to be found, dead, twenty-four hours later in Paris, a city he wasn’t supposed to be in.
Now Mrs. Blossom doesn’t know who to trust on board the ship, especially when a new, mystifying man, Danny, keeps popping up around every corner, always present when things go awry. He claims that Allan was involved in the transport of a stolen, precious piece of art, and he’s convinced that Mrs. Blossom knows more than she lets on, regarding both the artifact and Allan’s murder.
Mrs. Blossom’s questions only increase as the cruise sails down the Seine. Why does it feel like she is being followed? Who was Allan, and why was he killed? Most alarmingly, why do these mysterious men keep flirting with her?
What follows is a charming one-of-a-kind mystery from one of Time magazine’s “essential crime writers of the last 100 years.” The perfect combination of cozy and thrilling, this novel and the delightful Mrs. Blossom are sure to be unforgettable.
Mrs. Blossom is not the kind of woman to play the lottery. She is practical, a devoted grandmother, and has a knack for blending into the background, which was an asset during her days assisting private investigator Tess Monaghan. But when Mrs. Blossom finds a winning ticket in a parking lot, everything changes...including Mrs. Blossom. She is determined to see the world that sometimes feels as if it’s passing her by.
But when Mrs. Blossom booked her cruise through France on the MS Solitaire, she did not expect to meet Allan on her transatlantic flight. He is the first man who’s sparked something inside her since her beloved husband passed.
She also didn’t expect Allan to be found, dead, twenty-four hours later in Paris, a city he wasn’t supposed to be in.
Now Mrs. Blossom doesn’t know who to trust on board the ship, especially when a new, mystifying man, Danny, keeps popping up around every corner, always present when things go awry. He claims that Allan was involved in the transport of a stolen, precious piece of art, and he’s convinced that Mrs. Blossom knows more than she lets on, regarding both the artifact and Allan’s murder.
Mrs. Blossom’s questions only increase as the cruise sails down the Seine. Why does it feel like she is being followed? Who was Allan, and why was he killed? Most alarmingly, why do these mysterious men keep flirting with her?
What follows is a charming one-of-a-kind mystery from one of Time magazine’s “essential crime writers of the last 100 years.” The perfect combination of cozy and thrilling, this novel and the delightful Mrs. Blossom are sure to be unforgettable.
Audible Audio
First published June 17, 2025
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About the author
Laura Lippman
112 books6,347 followersSince Laura Lippman’s debut, she has been recognized as a distinctive voice in mystery fiction and named one of the “essential” crime writers of the last 100 years. Stephen King called her “special, even extraordinary,” and Gillian Flynn wrote, “She is simply a brilliant novelist.” Her books have won most of the major awards in her field and been translated into more than twenty-five languages. She lives in Baltimore and New Orleans with her teenager.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,622 reviews
December 30, 2024
Ack! To enjoy this pokey mystery one needs to suspend all rational thought and disbelief amid the very very goofy plot holes and twists.
We have a MC, a lottery winner, who near the end of the book mentions she’s never won anything other than a jar of candy! Darling…you’ve won THE LOTTERY….how would one forget that, especially as she mentions it a kabazillion times while stressing over whether to buy simple things like a slice of pizza. When not mentioning the lottery win, she talks about being fat and old….the book mentions being old nearly 400 million times on each page. We also get endless descriptions of what folks are wearing….why? Why? Why?
I’m a big believer in Chekhov’s Gun. If you give something importance in your plot then it should have a reason for being there. There’s too many unfired guns between this cover.
We’re supposed to believe our MC is smart and also a part time PI….she repeatedly makes mistakes scooby doo could see coming from miles away. It’s absurd, literally groan inducing and almost made me DNF. Additionally, I don’t believe any almost 70 year old woman could be such a flibbertigibbet around men. She swoons, she’s bitter if her friend gets a male gaze, she behaves like a 14 year old. I know a ton of 70+ women and none of them would behave so abysmally.
This is probably my sixth book this year where the reader is expected to believe we have a smart woman running the show and then she is portrayed as a bumbling fool who can’t figure her way out of an airport and crumbles at the sight of a man….I just can’t
Thanks (or maybe not) to the publisher and NetGalley for an early peek.
We have a MC, a lottery winner, who near the end of the book mentions she’s never won anything other than a jar of candy! Darling…you’ve won THE LOTTERY….how would one forget that, especially as she mentions it a kabazillion times while stressing over whether to buy simple things like a slice of pizza. When not mentioning the lottery win, she talks about being fat and old….the book mentions being old nearly 400 million times on each page. We also get endless descriptions of what folks are wearing….why? Why? Why?
I’m a big believer in Chekhov’s Gun. If you give something importance in your plot then it should have a reason for being there. There’s too many unfired guns between this cover.
We’re supposed to believe our MC is smart and also a part time PI….she repeatedly makes mistakes scooby doo could see coming from miles away. It’s absurd, literally groan inducing and almost made me DNF. Additionally, I don’t believe any almost 70 year old woman could be such a flibbertigibbet around men. She swoons, she’s bitter if her friend gets a male gaze, she behaves like a 14 year old. I know a ton of 70+ women and none of them would behave so abysmally.
This is probably my sixth book this year where the reader is expected to believe we have a smart woman running the show and then she is portrayed as a bumbling fool who can’t figure her way out of an airport and crumbles at the sight of a man….I just can’t
Thanks (or maybe not) to the publisher and NetGalley for an early peek.
November 18, 2025
I love it when an author pivots from her usual hard-hitting gritty books and takes a more light-hearted path.
In this case it’s Muriel Blossom, the sidekick to the author’s Tess Monaghan character, who gets her own book.
Muriel was a delight from the first page to the last. A widow at 68, she’s a lottery winner who decides to take the trip of a lifetime to Paris along with a cruise down the Seine with her best friend, Elinor.
Things start to go sideways when a gentleman she meets on the overseas flight turns out to be part of a larger international mystery that Muriel finds herself embroiled in.
And of course, add a dead body. More cozy than hard-boiled thriller, there is a murder mystery to be solved and who better than Muriel to solve it, an older somewhat larger sized woman, and thus, invisible to most.
This was a delight! I absolutely loved Muriel, and the mystery took a back seat to her character. The author put a spotlight on second chance love, aging, body image, and the invisibility of older women, but in a lighthearted way. Her humor and observations were spot on and it was a delight to see her blossom (ha, pun intended).
Did I care about the mystery? Not really. I just wanted more of Muriel.
Muriel is a hoot and I loved the author’s note, where she explained why Muriel was given her own book. I hope this is the start of a new series, because I could not get enough of Muriel.
Fun & delightful! The audiobook narrator, Kimberly Farr, was excellent and had a lot to do with how much I enjoyed this book.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
In this case it’s Muriel Blossom, the sidekick to the author’s Tess Monaghan character, who gets her own book.
Muriel was a delight from the first page to the last. A widow at 68, she’s a lottery winner who decides to take the trip of a lifetime to Paris along with a cruise down the Seine with her best friend, Elinor.
Things start to go sideways when a gentleman she meets on the overseas flight turns out to be part of a larger international mystery that Muriel finds herself embroiled in.
And of course, add a dead body. More cozy than hard-boiled thriller, there is a murder mystery to be solved and who better than Muriel to solve it, an older somewhat larger sized woman, and thus, invisible to most.
This was a delight! I absolutely loved Muriel, and the mystery took a back seat to her character. The author put a spotlight on second chance love, aging, body image, and the invisibility of older women, but in a lighthearted way. Her humor and observations were spot on and it was a delight to see her blossom (ha, pun intended).
Did I care about the mystery? Not really. I just wanted more of Muriel.
Muriel is a hoot and I loved the author’s note, where she explained why Muriel was given her own book. I hope this is the start of a new series, because I could not get enough of Muriel.
Fun & delightful! The audiobook narrator, Kimberly Farr, was excellent and had a lot to do with how much I enjoyed this book.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
December 16, 2025
A new series from the author!
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set on a cruise ship. It is more about the characters than the mystery (especially Muriel Blossom who believes butter and cream make everything better)! She stole the show.
Mrs. Blossom is a sixty eight year old widow who wins the lottery. She is craving an adventure and decides to take a Parisian river cruise with her bestie, Elinor. They both meet some interesting characters who may have something to hide. She isn't sure who to trust and she values kindness above all things.
Recommend to cozy lovers who enjoy a light mystery with some delightful characters. I'll be happy to read book #2.
Came out June 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery set on a cruise ship. It is more about the characters than the mystery (especially Muriel Blossom who believes butter and cream make everything better)! She stole the show.
Mrs. Blossom is a sixty eight year old widow who wins the lottery. She is craving an adventure and decides to take a Parisian river cruise with her bestie, Elinor. They both meet some interesting characters who may have something to hide. She isn't sure who to trust and she values kindness above all things.
Recommend to cozy lovers who enjoy a light mystery with some delightful characters. I'll be happy to read book #2.
Came out June 17, 2025
September 24, 2025
Murder, she vacationed.
Muriel Blossom never thought finding a stray winning lottery ticket would change her life - but instead of quietly fading into the background, the practical grandmother and former PI’s assistant finds herself booking a Parisian river cruise. On the way, she meets Allan, the first man to spark something in her since her husband’s death… only for him to turn up dead in Paris a day later. Suddenly Mrs. Blossom is pulled into a tangle of stolen art, suspicious strangers, and flirtatious men who may or may not be lying to her. As the MS Solitaire winds its way down the Seine, Mrs. Blossom has to decide whether she’s truly out of her depth - or whether she might actually be the only one who can untangle the mystery.
Make no mistake: Mrs. Blossom is no Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher. Though she once assisted private investigator Tess Monaghan (readers may remember Mrs. Blossom's cameo in Laura Lippman's "Another Thing to Fall"), here Mrs. Blossom comes across as surprisingly naive and even helpless at times, starting with her flight overseas. That said, she grew on me, thanks in no small part to audiobook narrator Kimberly Farr, who lends Muriel both warmth and a no-nonsense attitude.
Overall, "Murder Takes a Vacation" is a pleasant cozy mystery: charming, lightly suspenseful, and perfect for readers who prefer their murders with more Seine-side ambiance than grit. A nice, easy listen.
Muriel Blossom never thought finding a stray winning lottery ticket would change her life - but instead of quietly fading into the background, the practical grandmother and former PI’s assistant finds herself booking a Parisian river cruise. On the way, she meets Allan, the first man to spark something in her since her husband’s death… only for him to turn up dead in Paris a day later. Suddenly Mrs. Blossom is pulled into a tangle of stolen art, suspicious strangers, and flirtatious men who may or may not be lying to her. As the MS Solitaire winds its way down the Seine, Mrs. Blossom has to decide whether she’s truly out of her depth - or whether she might actually be the only one who can untangle the mystery.
Make no mistake: Mrs. Blossom is no Miss Marple or Jessica Fletcher. Though she once assisted private investigator Tess Monaghan (readers may remember Mrs. Blossom's cameo in Laura Lippman's "Another Thing to Fall"), here Mrs. Blossom comes across as surprisingly naive and even helpless at times, starting with her flight overseas. That said, she grew on me, thanks in no small part to audiobook narrator Kimberly Farr, who lends Muriel both warmth and a no-nonsense attitude.
Overall, "Murder Takes a Vacation" is a pleasant cozy mystery: charming, lightly suspenseful, and perfect for readers who prefer their murders with more Seine-side ambiance than grit. A nice, easy listen.
August 3, 2025
Only made it to page 49. So, so, stupid that a middle aged/senior woman would allow two men to follow her around in a foreign country. Take their medication, let them control her whereabouts and sit at the end of her bed, waiting for her to go to sleep. Really! No one is that trustworthy or stupid.. At least I hope no one is that stupid!
January 21, 2025
Laura Lippman’s fixation with weight is in full effect in this book. It was brought up so many times. It was a major feature of her Tess Monaghan books as well but it seems to have escalated. Who talks about their weight that much to strangers? And friends? She had virtually no other topic of conversation. I feel like she was trying to be sensitive and Blossom was not on some weight loss journey and was happy but who talks about it and fixates on it so much? It was distracting.
Speaking of Tess Monaghan, it was fun to “see” her again but why is she acting like 65 is old or that she herself is young? Tess was 30 in 1999, we can do that math! She is closer to Blossom’s 68 than she is 30.
The mystery was a bit silly and convoluted but I enjoyed the setting.
Speaking of Tess Monaghan, it was fun to “see” her again but why is she acting like 65 is old or that she herself is young? Tess was 30 in 1999, we can do that math! She is closer to Blossom’s 68 than she is 30.
The mystery was a bit silly and convoluted but I enjoyed the setting.
March 13, 2025
Mrs. Blossom is a sixty-something widow who has just won the lottery with a ticket she found on the ground. She decides to take a trip to Europe, and on the plane meets a very attractive man, Allan, who shows interest in her. She is shocked that when she is in Paris, the police come to her and inform her that he's dead. Did Allan hide something valuable in her luggage? Could that be why people are showing such an interest in her? Mrs. Blossom hopes she can find out before she suffers the same fate as Allan. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
November 30, 2025
For a full spoiler version of this review, please check out my book review blog here: https://spoiledbooks.blogspot.com/
⭐ 4/5 stars — A witty, wanderlust-fueled mystery that proves adventure (and trouble) can strike at any age!
Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman is exactly the kind of book I didn’t know I needed — part travelogue, part cozy mystery, and part hilarious romp through Europe with one unforgettable heroine. 🛳️💎
It follows Mrs. Muriel Blossom, a 68-year-old widow whose dream vacation down the River Seine turns into a whirlwind of flirtation, stolen jewels, and unexpected danger. She’s smart, sarcastic, and laugh-out-loud funny — the kind of character who makes you want to pack a suitcase and get into a little trouble yourself.
The setting sparkles (Paris! a cruise! champagne!), the humor lands, and the mystery stays clever without ever getting too heavy. While there are some darker themes beneath the surface, the story’s heart is pure fun — full of charm, wit, and second-act self-discovery.
Verdict: A delightful, funny, and globe-trotting cozy that reads like Murder, She Wrote meets Only Murders in the Building. Perfect for readers who love travel, humor, and heroines who refuse to fade quietly into the background.
⭐ 4/5 stars — A witty, wanderlust-fueled mystery that proves adventure (and trouble) can strike at any age!
Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman is exactly the kind of book I didn’t know I needed — part travelogue, part cozy mystery, and part hilarious romp through Europe with one unforgettable heroine. 🛳️💎
It follows Mrs. Muriel Blossom, a 68-year-old widow whose dream vacation down the River Seine turns into a whirlwind of flirtation, stolen jewels, and unexpected danger. She’s smart, sarcastic, and laugh-out-loud funny — the kind of character who makes you want to pack a suitcase and get into a little trouble yourself.
The setting sparkles (Paris! a cruise! champagne!), the humor lands, and the mystery stays clever without ever getting too heavy. While there are some darker themes beneath the surface, the story’s heart is pure fun — full of charm, wit, and second-act self-discovery.
Verdict: A delightful, funny, and globe-trotting cozy that reads like Murder, She Wrote meets Only Murders in the Building. Perfect for readers who love travel, humor, and heroines who refuse to fade quietly into the background.
June 19, 2025
Reviews by Stephen King and Gillian Flynn caught my attention as they praised Laura Lippman so I wanted to try one of her books. So this is my first experience with this author.
Description:
Mrs. Blossom has a knack for blending into the background, which was an asset during her days assisting private investigator Tess Monaghan. But when she finds a winning lottery ticket in a parking lot, everything changes. She is determined to see the world that she sometimes feels is passing her by.
When Mrs. Blossom booked her cruise through France on the MS Solitaire, she did not expect to meet Allan on her transatlantic flight. He is the first man who’s sparked something inside her since her beloved husband passed.
She also didn’t expect Allan to be found, dead, twenty-four hours later in Paris, a city he wasn’t supposed to be in.
Now Mrs. Blossom doesn’t know who to trust on board the ship, especially when a mystifying man, Danny, keeps popping up around every corner, always present when things go awry. He is convinced that Allan was transporting a stolen piece of art, and Mrs. Blossom knows more than she lets on, regarding both the artifact and Allan’s death.
Mrs. Blossom’s questions only increase as the cruise sails down the Seine. Why does it feel like she is being followed? Who was Allan, and why was he killed? Most alarmingly, why do these mysterious men keep flirting with her?
My Thoughts:
This mystery read like a cozy, so I enjoyed the read. I loved that Mrs. Blossom won the lottery and used some of her winnings to go on vacation to Paris. Just a chance meeting of a man who she ended up flying with and getting to know threw her into a web of intrigue which she certainly wasn't expecting and had no idea what was happening. The situations were somewhat humorous and the plot was interesting. I enjoyed following the happenings and clues. This was a fun book.
Thanks to William Morrow through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Mrs. Blossom has a knack for blending into the background, which was an asset during her days assisting private investigator Tess Monaghan. But when she finds a winning lottery ticket in a parking lot, everything changes. She is determined to see the world that she sometimes feels is passing her by.
When Mrs. Blossom booked her cruise through France on the MS Solitaire, she did not expect to meet Allan on her transatlantic flight. He is the first man who’s sparked something inside her since her beloved husband passed.
She also didn’t expect Allan to be found, dead, twenty-four hours later in Paris, a city he wasn’t supposed to be in.
Now Mrs. Blossom doesn’t know who to trust on board the ship, especially when a mystifying man, Danny, keeps popping up around every corner, always present when things go awry. He is convinced that Allan was transporting a stolen piece of art, and Mrs. Blossom knows more than she lets on, regarding both the artifact and Allan’s death.
Mrs. Blossom’s questions only increase as the cruise sails down the Seine. Why does it feel like she is being followed? Who was Allan, and why was he killed? Most alarmingly, why do these mysterious men keep flirting with her?
My Thoughts:
This mystery read like a cozy, so I enjoyed the read. I loved that Mrs. Blossom won the lottery and used some of her winnings to go on vacation to Paris. Just a chance meeting of a man who she ended up flying with and getting to know threw her into a web of intrigue which she certainly wasn't expecting and had no idea what was happening. The situations were somewhat humorous and the plot was interesting. I enjoyed following the happenings and clues. This was a fun book.
Thanks to William Morrow through Netgalley for an advance copy.
April 21, 2025
Wow, I could not stop reading this!
I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but it was so intriguing. Loved Mrs. Blossom!
Thanks to Edelweiss and William Morrow.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but it was so intriguing. Loved Mrs. Blossom!
Thanks to Edelweiss and William Morrow.
July 4, 2025
Oof.
For a book that was written, in part, to dispel fat phobia, the main character described herself as fat and worried about her weight A LOT. For a book about a smart woman, she made some really dumb choices. I very rarely figure out the mystery, but it all seemed pretty obvious to me well before the end. For a book about older people, a lot of the relationships were very junior high school.
There were numerous aspects that reminded me of Charade, one of my favorite movies, which I enjoyed. But I don’t think I’ll be traveling with Mrs Blossom again.
For a book that was written, in part, to dispel fat phobia, the main character described herself as fat and worried about her weight A LOT. For a book about a smart woman, she made some really dumb choices. I very rarely figure out the mystery, but it all seemed pretty obvious to me well before the end. For a book about older people, a lot of the relationships were very junior high school.
There were numerous aspects that reminded me of Charade, one of my favorite movies, which I enjoyed. But I don’t think I’ll be traveling with Mrs Blossom again.
April 23, 2025
This is fine, but it never really worked for me.
I appreciate putting a character like Muriel front and center, and I appreciate that we let her be interesting and desirable. But there is something about it that never feels genuine. Of course Muriel is going to be aware of herself as a fat woman, she's been one nearly all her life, and of course she's had a good amount of time moving through the world as an older woman. But when Muriel thinks of herself this way it never feels organic, it feels more like an exercise than immersion.
The mystery itself was lackluster. Not quite cozy in tone. There was clearly a lot of Intrigue but none of it really made sense. So many people following Muriel around all the time. This could have been something where we start to wonder who is genuine and who isn't, but that never happened. Everything ends up being much too complicated and by that point I didn't really care anymore.
I appreciate putting a character like Muriel front and center, and I appreciate that we let her be interesting and desirable. But there is something about it that never feels genuine. Of course Muriel is going to be aware of herself as a fat woman, she's been one nearly all her life, and of course she's had a good amount of time moving through the world as an older woman. But when Muriel thinks of herself this way it never feels organic, it feels more like an exercise than immersion.
The mystery itself was lackluster. Not quite cozy in tone. There was clearly a lot of Intrigue but none of it really made sense. So many people following Muriel around all the time. This could have been something where we start to wonder who is genuine and who isn't, but that never happened. Everything ends up being much too complicated and by that point I didn't really care anymore.
November 27, 2024
An extra star for how much Lippman loves Mrs. Blossom.
June 17, 2025
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
This took forever. What kills me is that it's a short book (only 269 pages) and it dragged. Terribly.
I have read all of the Tess Monaghan books, FYI there are 11 books and some novellas too. I was a huge fan of this series and I think only gave two of the books 2 stars, but I thought most were 3 stars or above reads. For the last book and novella in the series though, I gave "The Girl in the Green Coat" 5 stars and "The Bookshop Thing" 4 stars respectively. I bring this up since if you don't read that whole series, I think some readers may be lost a bit when they read "Murder Takes a Vacation". The main character of this book, Muriel Blossom or Mrs. Blossom was introduced to readers in the main series. Now with the end of the Tess Monaghan series, Lippman has given Mrs. Blossom another whirl.
I would ultimately say I am mostly disappointed because I thought this be more akin to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books and it was not. I mean you even have a cruise down the Seine! I was like please give me some "Caribbean Mystery" flavor. All in all this was a dud, the flow didn't help, but I got really sick of Mrs. Blossom. At one point I went, how in the world are you taking so long to figure out if someone is really who they say they are after everything that has gone on? I think the book is trying to say a lot about older women, their wants and dreams and how the need for love doesn't go away just because you are older. But it's so repetitive to the point I was wondering if Lippman was getting paid by the word. Also, Mrs. Blossom used to work for a PI (Tess) and did surveillance, and her naivety at this point was exhausting and annoying. It didn't make any sense after a while.
Lippman can still write though, and her love of Baltimore (though we change settings to London and France) still shine through. I just felt bored. I got a glimmer of her other works when Tess shows up in this book. Then the book grabbed me again. But when it focuses solely on Muriel and just everything that she has dealt with during and after her marriage to Mr. Blossom, her friends, her daughter, her son-in law Trout, how old and fat she was, etc. it just felt stuffed. Which is weird since again, this book was only 269 pages.
This took forever. What kills me is that it's a short book (only 269 pages) and it dragged. Terribly.
I have read all of the Tess Monaghan books, FYI there are 11 books and some novellas too. I was a huge fan of this series and I think only gave two of the books 2 stars, but I thought most were 3 stars or above reads. For the last book and novella in the series though, I gave "The Girl in the Green Coat" 5 stars and "The Bookshop Thing" 4 stars respectively. I bring this up since if you don't read that whole series, I think some readers may be lost a bit when they read "Murder Takes a Vacation". The main character of this book, Muriel Blossom or Mrs. Blossom was introduced to readers in the main series. Now with the end of the Tess Monaghan series, Lippman has given Mrs. Blossom another whirl.
I would ultimately say I am mostly disappointed because I thought this be more akin to Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books and it was not. I mean you even have a cruise down the Seine! I was like please give me some "Caribbean Mystery" flavor. All in all this was a dud, the flow didn't help, but I got really sick of Mrs. Blossom. At one point I went, how in the world are you taking so long to figure out if someone is really who they say they are after everything that has gone on? I think the book is trying to say a lot about older women, their wants and dreams and how the need for love doesn't go away just because you are older. But it's so repetitive to the point I was wondering if Lippman was getting paid by the word. Also, Mrs. Blossom used to work for a PI (Tess) and did surveillance, and her naivety at this point was exhausting and annoying. It didn't make any sense after a while.
Lippman can still write though, and her love of Baltimore (though we change settings to London and France) still shine through. I just felt bored. I got a glimmer of her other works when Tess shows up in this book. Then the book grabbed me again. But when it focuses solely on Muriel and just everything that she has dealt with during and after her marriage to Mr. Blossom, her friends, her daughter, her son-in law Trout, how old and fat she was, etc. it just felt stuffed. Which is weird since again, this book was only 269 pages.
January 16, 2025
When Muriel Blossom wins the lottery with a ticket she finds in a parking lot, she decides to finally take her first international trip to Paris for a Parisian River cruise. During her flight, she meets Allan. Allan is determined to help Muriel through her first Transatlantic flight and Muriel starts to feel a spark that she hasn't felt since her husband passed away. Muriel continues on with her trip to Paris with plans to meet Allan again when they are both back in the states, but only 24 hours later, police deliver the news that Allan was found dead in his hotel room. Now another man, Danny, seems to be following Muriel around Paris and believes that Muriel may have information on Allan's dealing with a rare but valuable artifact.
Murder Takes a Vacation fell a little flat for me. I wanted to enjoy Muriel as the main character. She is supposed to be a strong middle-aged woman who was a previous PI but the only description that was constantly mentioned was that she was old and fat. It seemed that every new interaction she had with other characters made mention of her size. This was a massive turn off for me. I love plus sized representation in books, but this seemed to be the main theme for Muriel as a character.
I enjoyed the mystery of the stolen artifact and Muriel's investigation into who she could trust on her cruise while strange occurrences were happening around her. Although the conclusion was predictable, I did enjoy the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the opportunity to review Murder Takes a Vacation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Murder Takes a Vacation fell a little flat for me. I wanted to enjoy Muriel as the main character. She is supposed to be a strong middle-aged woman who was a previous PI but the only description that was constantly mentioned was that she was old and fat. It seemed that every new interaction she had with other characters made mention of her size. This was a massive turn off for me. I love plus sized representation in books, but this seemed to be the main theme for Muriel as a character.
I enjoyed the mystery of the stolen artifact and Muriel's investigation into who she could trust on her cruise while strange occurrences were happening around her. Although the conclusion was predictable, I did enjoy the ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the opportunity to review Murder Takes a Vacation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 13, 2025
Man, oh man, this book was not easy to get through, and I was considering marking it as DNF The amount of times main character in this book either mentioned her own weight or the weight of how others view her, was infuriating and if I was reading this as a physical book would've attempted to thrown the book. It seems like it was going to be an interesting read, given the title and the synopsis on the back, but if character complaining about her weight and the fact she's not a size two for majority of the book is not your cup of tea, I'd advise you not to pick up this book, it might drive you as crazy as it drove me.
January 25, 2025
I'll start by saying I've read other books by Ms Lippman that I enjoyed a lot more. I wanted to like Mrs Blossom more, but was totally annoyed by the endless musings that I was skipping pages just to get thru them. I kept waiting for her to be taken advantage of, esp when she's supposed to be smart, but taking gummies from random strangers. I enoyed the descriptions and scenes of France much more than the interaction of the characters. Over all, this was just an ok read. Quick and easy, if you sped thru the dry spots.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.
October 17, 2025
This is a solid cozy murder mystery. If you are in a slump this may be your jam.
July 25, 2025
Fan of Lippman books. This one is a bit different from her others. A bit of a mystery here, art and murder combined. Some things the main character did were just baffling to me (take a pill from a complete stranger who said 'it's OK', and many others). A buddy read with Dana. While we are both OK on this one, agreed we probably would read the next of Mrs. Blossom.
June 22, 2025
Thank you GoodReads for the book !! This was my first giveaway I have received.
I just adored this murder/mystery. Mrs. Blossom goes on a vacation partially solo vacation and is meeting up with her best friend for an 8 day River cruise. Along the way murder and mysterious things seem to be following her …
Gave me total Murder she wrote vibes and I am here for it !
I just adored this murder/mystery. Mrs. Blossom goes on a vacation partially solo vacation and is meeting up with her best friend for an 8 day River cruise. Along the way murder and mysterious things seem to be following her …
Gave me total Murder she wrote vibes and I am here for it !
September 4, 2025
Weak story, weird characters. Lippman can do better.
May 26, 2025
Murder Takes a Vacation is a clever and witty mystery featuring Muriel Blossom, a 68-year-old widow who was an investigator working for Tess Monahan in some of Lippman’s previous books. While listed as a cozy this is not what I typically think of as a cozy. It is a beautifully written story of international intrigue, with an interesting cast of characters and a bonus look at the art world and artist Joan Mitchell.
December 10, 2025
Mrs. Blossom (Muriel) is a 68-year-old widow who is at loose ends, as her daughter and her family are moving from Phoenix to Tokyo, and her son-in-law has pointedly NOT invited Mrs. Blossom along. She finds a winning lottery ticket (my dream!) and decides to move home to Baltimore, and treat herself to a week in Paris followed by a cruise along the Seine with her BFF, Elinor.
Mrs. Blossom (always addressed formally, for some reason) meets a charming gentleman on her plane to London. He offers her a melatonin gummy to sleep on the plane, which she does so well that she misses her connecting flight from London to Paris. She spends the day in London with her new friend. All my alarm bells are going off, as Mrs. Blossom appears ripe for a romance scam, being an overweight older woman and all.
Mrs. Blossom's new friend convinces her to take the train to Paris. On the train, Mrs. Blossom sees a young man pointedly watching her. In Paris, Mrs. Blossom's new friend either ghosts her...or disappears. But the young man does not. When she confronts him, Danny - the young man - tells her that he is an FBI agent searching for a priceless statue that "disappeared" in a warehouse fire -- and his father was blamed for it. But is Danny telling Mrs. Blossom the truth? What about all the other passengers on her cruise ship, other than Elinor?
Lots of twists and turns. With the help of her old PI boss, Tess Monaghan (who figures in the author's previous works), Mrs. Blossom gets further info on Danny, and goes on to save herself and Elinor in the dangerous hunt for the statue.
I rounded up my rating as the denouement was tense and ingenious.
Mrs. Blossom (always addressed formally, for some reason) meets a charming gentleman on her plane to London. He offers her a melatonin gummy to sleep on the plane, which she does so well that she misses her connecting flight from London to Paris. She spends the day in London with her new friend. All my alarm bells are going off, as Mrs. Blossom appears ripe for a romance scam, being an overweight older woman and all.
Mrs. Blossom's new friend convinces her to take the train to Paris. On the train, Mrs. Blossom sees a young man pointedly watching her. In Paris, Mrs. Blossom's new friend either ghosts her...or disappears. But the young man does not. When she confronts him, Danny - the young man - tells her that he is an FBI agent searching for a priceless statue that "disappeared" in a warehouse fire -- and his father was blamed for it. But is Danny telling Mrs. Blossom the truth? What about all the other passengers on her cruise ship, other than Elinor?
Lots of twists and turns. With the help of her old PI boss, Tess Monaghan (who figures in the author's previous works), Mrs. Blossom gets further info on Danny, and goes on to save herself and Elinor in the dangerous hunt for the statue.
I rounded up my rating as the denouement was tense and ingenious.
August 19, 2025
A fun read for those of us over 60 and curvy. Muriel Blossom, a widow who has just moved back to Baltimore from Tucson, and who has just booked a river cruise starting in Paris, meets Allan as she checks in for her flight and is asked if she would like an upgrade to business class. (Wouldn't we all liked to be asked that as we board a flight to Paris via London?) He convinces her to take what he says is a melatonin gummy, and she wakes up later groggy and finding that she has missed her flight to Paris. Allan convinces her to stay overnight in a hotel and then take the train to Paris. She later finds out that Allan has fallen off a balcony in Paris and realizes that she has become embroiled in events, past and present, beyond anything she could have imagined. And in the course of it all, she gains self-confidence and a deeper understanding of her she really is.
July 4, 2025
As someone who grew up in Columbia, Maryland I have always enjoyed Laura Lippman's books. Murder Takes a Vacation is a fun book about a grandmother, Mrs. Blossom, who finds a winning lottery ticket and hits it big! Mrs. Blossom is a widow and wants to see the world now that she has the money to do it. She worked as an assistant to Tess Monaghan, a private investigator. Mrs. Blossom is great at surveillance because no one suspects an older woman. She's retired now and has booked herself and a friend on a cruise through France.
Mrs. Blossom arrives at the airport very early for her flight. They offer her an upgrade for free into business class and Mrs. Blossom accepts since it doesn't cost anything. While in line and considering her upgrade, Mrs. Blossom meets Allan. Allan is on the same flight, always flies business class, and offers to help her find her way around. There's a special lounge for business class and they get to board the plane first. There's something about Allan that Mrs. Blossom likes so she is happy for is help. Allan is very nice and is seated right across from Mrs. Blossom on the plane. Little did Mrs. Blossom know that Allan would be found dead at his hotel in Paristhe next day. Allan wasn't supposed to even be in Paris. Why had he lied to Mrs. Blossom?
Once aboard the cruise ship, Mrs. Blossom goes to her cabin to await her friend, Elinor. She keeps seeing a man who seems to be following her. The man's name is Danny and he tells Mrs. Blossom that Allan was transporting a stolen piece of valuable art. Danny thinks that Mrs. Blossom could be his accomplice or at least knows more than she's saying. Danny tells her that Allan was murdered and it was likely regarding the valuable statue that he was carrying. Is Danny who he says he is, an FBI agent in the art theft division? Why does he follow Mrs. Blossom everywhere she goes? How does he know where she'll be and turn up there? Who has the valuable statue? Why does her room get ransacked as if someone is looking for something? Who can Mrs. Blossom trust? Why do people think she has something of Allan's?
I absolutely loved Murder Takes a Vacation and rate it 4 stars with a high recommendation. You will love reading about the adventures of Mrs. Blossom and finding out what happened to the valuable statue. Does Mrs. Blossom know anything? Did Allan tell her something on their long flight?I hope there's another book in the Mrs. Blossom series because it was a light, fun, enjoyable read! The book is out now and should be added to your TBR pile. I'd like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy of Murder Takes a Vacation in exchange for a fair review. #MurderTakesAVacation
Mrs. Blossom arrives at the airport very early for her flight. They offer her an upgrade for free into business class and Mrs. Blossom accepts since it doesn't cost anything. While in line and considering her upgrade, Mrs. Blossom meets Allan. Allan is on the same flight, always flies business class, and offers to help her find her way around. There's a special lounge for business class and they get to board the plane first. There's something about Allan that Mrs. Blossom likes so she is happy for is help. Allan is very nice and is seated right across from Mrs. Blossom on the plane. Little did Mrs. Blossom know that Allan would be found dead at his hotel in Paristhe next day. Allan wasn't supposed to even be in Paris. Why had he lied to Mrs. Blossom?
Once aboard the cruise ship, Mrs. Blossom goes to her cabin to await her friend, Elinor. She keeps seeing a man who seems to be following her. The man's name is Danny and he tells Mrs. Blossom that Allan was transporting a stolen piece of valuable art. Danny thinks that Mrs. Blossom could be his accomplice or at least knows more than she's saying. Danny tells her that Allan was murdered and it was likely regarding the valuable statue that he was carrying. Is Danny who he says he is, an FBI agent in the art theft division? Why does he follow Mrs. Blossom everywhere she goes? How does he know where she'll be and turn up there? Who has the valuable statue? Why does her room get ransacked as if someone is looking for something? Who can Mrs. Blossom trust? Why do people think she has something of Allan's?
I absolutely loved Murder Takes a Vacation and rate it 4 stars with a high recommendation. You will love reading about the adventures of Mrs. Blossom and finding out what happened to the valuable statue. Does Mrs. Blossom know anything? Did Allan tell her something on their long flight?I hope there's another book in the Mrs. Blossom series because it was a light, fun, enjoyable read! The book is out now and should be added to your TBR pile. I'd like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy of Murder Takes a Vacation in exchange for a fair review. #MurderTakesAVacation
July 3, 2025
I really wanted to like this book, but damn if it wasn't a struggle.
Mrs. Blossom finds a winning lottery ticket, and treats herself and her best friend Elinor to a cruise through France. Unexpectedly, she meets a man who she's attracted to, which he's the first since Mr. Blossom died ten years ago. Suddenly, their romance ends when the guy suddenly turns up dead. The end.
Look, in theory, Mrs. Blossom could be a likable character. However, she's just a constant contradiction. She loved her husband more than anything, She constantly complains about her body and how fat she is, (her words), and yet, she was boy crazy and loves sex. She just makes it out like she's this mousy homebody who's lived a sheltered life, and yet, she loves punk music, has taken multiple art history classes, and she's kind of a rebel. I wouldn't have minded if she implied the world saw her as the mousy housewife, and she's actually the rebel, but she seems to believe this herself. It's like she has dual personalities. And don't even get me started on her working for a private investigator for years, and yet, is completely clueless about this mystery.
Which leads to the mystery itself. I really didn't care at all about the mystery. I didn't care that a statue was stolen. I didn't care where it was. I also didn't really like or care about the characters. I really didn't like Danny. I never understood why we were supposed to like Pat. Elinor is fine, but falls flat.
The final straw for me was the author's note at the end. She wrote this book, and the character of Mrs. Blossom, because 'a lot of readers think she's anti-fat'. Well lady, you certainly haven't redeemed yourself with 1. having the nerve to write this sentence and 2. every few pages, having Mrs. Blossom talk about how fat she is.
I've never read a Laura Lippman book before this, and with this boring and insulting story, I see no reason to read any more.
Mrs. Blossom finds a winning lottery ticket, and treats herself and her best friend Elinor to a cruise through France. Unexpectedly, she meets a man who she's attracted to, which he's the first since Mr. Blossom died ten years ago. Suddenly, their romance ends when the guy suddenly turns up dead. The end.
Look, in theory, Mrs. Blossom could be a likable character. However, she's just a constant contradiction. She loved her husband more than anything, She constantly complains about her body and how fat she is, (her words), and yet, she was boy crazy and loves sex. She just makes it out like she's this mousy homebody who's lived a sheltered life, and yet, she loves punk music, has taken multiple art history classes, and she's kind of a rebel. I wouldn't have minded if she implied the world saw her as the mousy housewife, and she's actually the rebel, but she seems to believe this herself. It's like she has dual personalities. And don't even get me started on her working for a private investigator for years, and yet, is completely clueless about this mystery.
Which leads to the mystery itself. I really didn't care at all about the mystery. I didn't care that a statue was stolen. I didn't care where it was. I also didn't really like or care about the characters. I really didn't like Danny. I never understood why we were supposed to like Pat. Elinor is fine, but falls flat.
The final straw for me was the author's note at the end. She wrote this book, and the character of Mrs. Blossom, because 'a lot of readers think she's anti-fat'. Well lady, you certainly haven't redeemed yourself with 1. having the nerve to write this sentence and 2. every few pages, having Mrs. Blossom talk about how fat she is.
I've never read a Laura Lippman book before this, and with this boring and insulting story, I see no reason to read any more.
August 27, 2025
Absolutely not.
This was a difficult book to finish (although I pushed through so I could give an accurate rating). For something that was marketed as a cozy whodunnit mystery, no actual investigation by the main character (Muriel Blossom) for the entirety of the novel. The "mystery" just happens around her and instead of caring about the crime spends all of her time being critical of others and being SO sensitive about her weight. We're told that she's fat and happy with her weight - excellent; I'm happy to read that. But then EVERY chapter thereafter goes on ad nauseam about how she thinks people are looking at her and judging her for being fat. Girl, if you're happy with who you are, you're not looking or caring at what others are thinking. Apparently, her entire personality is that she's overweight and has a major chip on her shoulder about it.
-SPOILERS BELOW -
Although mentioned to be strong and smart, Muriel Blossom is anything but. She basically runs around chasing after romance, but denying it, and getting upset at her friend who is doing the same thing. At one point her friend goes missing and she thinks "do I call the police? do I go to the consulate? no, that's stupid" and instead decides against any investigation of her missing friend whatsoever. Smart? I think not.
I don't know who would call this a whodunnit, as we get some very random info-dumping 65% through and then the crime gets wrapped up within 2 chapters near the end of the novel. Mrs Blossom (how she is referred to throughout the book even in her own mind) does not investigate herself or do any sleuthing. Instead, the readers are taken on adventures through France with slight detours into the lives of some shifty people and a little bit of romance. Any fans of cozy mysteries will be sorely disappointed.
This was a difficult book to finish (although I pushed through so I could give an accurate rating). For something that was marketed as a cozy whodunnit mystery, no actual investigation by the main character (Muriel Blossom) for the entirety of the novel. The "mystery" just happens around her and instead of caring about the crime spends all of her time being critical of others and being SO sensitive about her weight. We're told that she's fat and happy with her weight - excellent; I'm happy to read that. But then EVERY chapter thereafter goes on ad nauseam about how she thinks people are looking at her and judging her for being fat. Girl, if you're happy with who you are, you're not looking or caring at what others are thinking. Apparently, her entire personality is that she's overweight and has a major chip on her shoulder about it.
-SPOILERS BELOW -
Although mentioned to be strong and smart, Muriel Blossom is anything but. She basically runs around chasing after romance, but denying it, and getting upset at her friend who is doing the same thing. At one point her friend goes missing and she thinks "do I call the police? do I go to the consulate? no, that's stupid" and instead decides against any investigation of her missing friend whatsoever. Smart? I think not.
I don't know who would call this a whodunnit, as we get some very random info-dumping 65% through and then the crime gets wrapped up within 2 chapters near the end of the novel. Mrs Blossom (how she is referred to throughout the book even in her own mind) does not investigate herself or do any sleuthing. Instead, the readers are taken on adventures through France with slight detours into the lives of some shifty people and a little bit of romance. Any fans of cozy mysteries will be sorely disappointed.
June 3, 2025
I have been a Laura Lippman fan for years and have enjoyed many of her books but her latest, “Murder Takes a Vacation”, is my favorite by far.
In “Murder Takes a Vacation”, widowed millionaire, lottery winner, and former private investigator Muriel Blossom is on her way to her first European vacation, a river cruise with her best friend Elinor, when she meets a kind stranger, Allan, who sweeps her off of her feet. But suddenly Allan dies under mysterious circumstances and another stranger, Danny, appears and gives Muriel a makeover and tells her he is investigating some funny business that Allan was involved in. Next thing you know, Muriel, Elinor, and Danny are off on the river cruise where they seem surrounded by unusual characters and strange events at every turn.
This book was just so fun. Cozy mysteries aren’t usually my jam but Muriel was such a lovely and relatable character that I couldn’t stop reading and was really rooting for her. I found the last 10% of the book confusing but in a way that didn’t really bother me. There is a lot of talk about Muriel’s weight, but I thought it was handled well and it wasn’t triggering to me or overly distracting from the storyline.
I highly recommend this short, fun, and low stress little mystery and I very much hope it isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of Muriel. I think this story lends itself very well to adaptation and would make for a great series, too.
PS: Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
In “Murder Takes a Vacation”, widowed millionaire, lottery winner, and former private investigator Muriel Blossom is on her way to her first European vacation, a river cruise with her best friend Elinor, when she meets a kind stranger, Allan, who sweeps her off of her feet. But suddenly Allan dies under mysterious circumstances and another stranger, Danny, appears and gives Muriel a makeover and tells her he is investigating some funny business that Allan was involved in. Next thing you know, Muriel, Elinor, and Danny are off on the river cruise where they seem surrounded by unusual characters and strange events at every turn.
This book was just so fun. Cozy mysteries aren’t usually my jam but Muriel was such a lovely and relatable character that I couldn’t stop reading and was really rooting for her. I found the last 10% of the book confusing but in a way that didn’t really bother me. There is a lot of talk about Muriel’s weight, but I thought it was handled well and it wasn’t triggering to me or overly distracting from the storyline.
I highly recommend this short, fun, and low stress little mystery and I very much hope it isn’t the last we’ll be seeing of Muriel. I think this story lends itself very well to adaptation and would make for a great series, too.
PS: Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
July 7, 2025
What a pleasant surprise to revisit one of the characters that Lippman created in her Tess Monaghan series, Muriel Blossom! This is a standalone novel, but Tess does make an appearance here and there. Mrs. Blossom has had some amazing luck and finds herself living back in Baltimore, but now is heading off to a cruise on the Seine out of Paris. Mayhem ensues.
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