This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone: A Novel

The Vacation Mysteries #3

by Catherine Mack

The third in the witty and captivating series following bestselling author Eleanor Dash, who once again has to swap her sun hat for her detective hat, when a body is found at a murder mystery writing conference in the Bahamas.

Eleanor Dash can never catch a break. Not only has she had to solve two real-life murder plots in the past year, but both times it was when she was meant to be on vacation. Now she’s finally got a ticket to a relaxing weekend—an all-inclusive resort at the Bahamas where she’s speaking at a conference for murder mystery writers—but she arrives to find a body on the floor of her hotel room. Because of course she does.

With plenty of familiar faces at the resort, any one of them could have been the intended target or the culprit behind it all. Was it Oliver Forrest, Eleanor’s dashing boyfriend who’s in danger of getting dropped by his publisher because his sales are dwindling? Or Connor Smith, Eleanor’s infuriating ex-lover-turned-bestselling-rom-com-author with a sordid past of his own? Or her sister Harper, whose own stilted writing career has been a sore point for years as Eleanor’s has soared? Perhaps it’s one of the other writers also in attendance, as friends, frenemies and foes from Eleanor’s past all seem to be invited to the island.

Surrounded by mystery writers who know all too well the many ways to craft the perfect crime, Eleanor is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and do whatever it takes to get out of this weekend alive.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Summer Reads, Adult, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 28, 2026

About the author

Catherine Mack (she/her) is the pseudonym for Catherine McKenzie, the USA Today and Globe & Mail bestselling author of over a dozen novels. Her books are approaching two million copies sold worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages including French, German, Portuguese, and Polish. Television rights to Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies and its forthcoming sequels sold in a major auction to Fox TV for development into a series, with Mack writing the pilot script. A dual Canadian and US citizen, she splits her time between Canada and various warmer locations in the US.

Reviews

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. This is a stunning cover
2. This book is funny, irreverent and extremely enjoyable.
3. I want to read more of these

Hi friends and thank you for reading my review. Please do yourself a favor and read the other two books in the series. It is easy to get lost in the back story if you haven’t. But it does work as a stand alone if you’re gonna be stubborn about it.

NetGalley plays a part in this book, and as someone who typically reads an ARC well before the pub date, I was again humbled and a little freaked out by how impactful an early review can be and how authors really hate negative reviews.

This book breaks the fourth wall and is cozy-ish, or cozy-adjacent. If you like the Vera Wong or Ernest Cunningham or The Maid books, Finley Donovan, etc etc. please don’t miss Eleanor. This particular book is about a convention of learning to write a murder mystery. The book legitimately does walk the reader through how to structure a murder novel and the actual craft of writing. And it’s quite good advice, all of the mysteries I ended up not liking were ones that didn’t follow her advice.

Last note- the book has humorous footnotes. I love footnotes but I detest them on an e-reader because the touch screen can be finicky. So if you are wondering if you should do physical or e-reader, I’d recommend physical. I had a hard time getting the footnotes back where they belong.

It’s funny and a well written plot. I was rooting for Eleanor and Oliver the whole time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC. Book to be published April 27, 2026

[Ashley Cwiklewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book! I can not lie that I squealed with delight when I saw that I got approved!!

I must be honest, when I read the first book, I did not like it much. But as I have been reading them, I have come to the conclusion that I do really like this series. Its funny, and I do like the footnotes. The characters are so familiar and cozy, and they are always such a wild ride! Just a feel good mystery that makes you chuckle along the way.

I feel like this one did not have as many footnotes though?! But like whyyy?? I like them! I was worried that reading this on my kindle meant I would not get to see them, but they were there and I was happy!

I really would recommend this series. A little mystery, a little comedy, and a whole lot of chaos… what more could you really ask for?! ¡



¡ I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!!! (See what I did there trying to make it look like a footnote?!)

[Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

📱📖 Read on Kindle
📃 352 pages
⏱ Duration: 5 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Minotaur books / St. Martin Press
ARC provided by NetGalley
🗓️ Publishing date: April 28, 2026
🕵️ Genre: Cozy Mystery

Eleanor Dash is back, and she's in fine, fiery form!
After a slightly bumpy second book in The Vacation Series, Catherine Mack nails the tone, pacing, and clever structure in this third outing. The meta-touches, like Eleanor's tongue-in-cheek notes on how to write a fair-play, closed-room murder mystery makes this one feel extra satisfying for longtime fans of the genre. It's part locked-room puzzle, part writer's conference satire, and all-round delightful!

What's extra fun in this installment is that it's not just a story you read. You can also use Eleanor's tips to write your own mystery. Each footnote and instructions is like a mini masterclass in plotting and clue placement. If you've ever dreamed of crafting your own whodunit, this book practically hands you the blueprint while you enjoy the story.

The murder plot itself? Tight as a drum. No forced reveals, no “wait, who?” culprits pulled out of thin air. I didn’t guess the killer (always a personal victory), but when Eleanor connected the dots I actually gasped and whispered “of course.” The Bahamas resort is dripping with sun-soaked suspicion, the author-conference setting is catnip for book nerds, and those footnotes remain undefeated comedy gold. Book 2 cracked my trust; book 3 superglued it back together and added glitter.

This series continues to be a gem for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy humor, clever puzzles, and a touch of romance in the mix.

Would I recommend it?
This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone reminded me why I fell in love with The Vacation Mystery Series. Pre-order it today. April 28, 2026 can't come soon enough.

Ready to plot your own murder (mystery)?
Tell me in the comments, are you tempted to try writing a cozy after Eleanor's masterclass? For the other The Vacation Mystery Series fans, among the last two books, which one did you like the most?

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a physical ARC of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

The first few chapters were a bit difficult to get through, but at about 100pgs the we start to get some action. And boy, does Eleanor seem super determined to jump to the wrong conclusions this time around.

The by now infamous footnotes and USA-centric modern slang in the Vacation books are both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it makes the book very 2025 and readers might enjoy seeing familiar and popular things, with the author breaking the 4th wall and knowing the same TikTok inside jokes or whatever (can you tell i have never been on tiktok).

On the other hand, the book is very 2025 😅 I'm not chronically online, nor am I familiar with most of the "famous" people and pop culture the author references constantly. So it began to grate on me a bit. Examples:
- Do we really need a Taylor Swift reference in every other chapter?? I know zero Taylor Swift songs.
- If someone says "obvi" one more time I might poke my eyes out.

All that being said, overall I DID enjoy reading this book. It gets 4⭐ from me. But I also think it has a significantly more convoluted murder plot than the first two, and was also less satisfyingly resolved.

Significant spoilers ahead
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I was fully convinced that the author was setting us up the whole time for an unreliable narrator twist. There were so many footnotes about Eleanor lying, or how she makes up stories for a living. And then... nothing came of it?

And so, the murder(s) were ultimately based on something that Eleanor didn't even do. I mean yes, a psychopath who orchestrates homicides for funsies probably ISN'T in their right mind and I shouldn't expect much, but Elizabeth's whole thing was just.... sad old crazy white lady, jealous over a less than mediocre man.

Involving Guy and the Guiseppes seemed needlessly complicated, nor were their exact roles or relationships completely explained. I'll admit, killing Guy off was a bit surprising too. Also, poor Brian?? He's Elizabeth's ghost writer, not her personal assistant. Why would he listen to her and go to the Bahamas for any of this?

Was happy to learn some more about Connor's past though. At least as much as we can trust what he said about it 😅

[Katie Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Mack has done it again and written a witty and fun but still twisty mystery that I could not put down. I am a huge fan of this series and the third installment does not disappoint. This time Eleanor and Co are in the Bahamas for a mystery writing conference and of course, immediately, someone is dead. And an out of the house Eleanor Dash trip wouldn't be complete without some folks she has bad blood with. Even though this is the third book in the series, I think it could definitely stand alone because Mack does an excellent job of getting the reader up to speed on events of the previous two books at appropriate times throughout the story. This is also very helpful if you're like me and have a bad memory and need a refresher. This story was fun because they're at this conference to teach writing workshops and dispersed throughout the book are Eleanor's lesson plans for her workshops on how to write a mystery book. It added the perfect amount of "something's about to happen" to keep you on your toes and get the anticipation up without giving much away so you're still surprised by the twists. And I was very surprised by the ending because I did not expect that outcome. This book also continues on with one of my absolute favorite parts of the series, footnotes. I love the footnotes. The footnotes in this series are done really well and genuinely add value to the story. They break the fourth wall, provide insight, and add a lot of humor. And of course, there are lots of Taylor Swift references, many of them covert and it's a "IYKYK" situation so I don't think this would make the story less enjoyable if you aren't a Swiftie. But if you are a Swiftie, there's tons of easter eggs that only we would get and it just adds to the fun. Definitely a 5 star read and I cannot wait for what's next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the advanced copy for review.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of books that keep you constantly wondering what will happen next, this series delivers. With every page, the tension builds and just when you think you’ve figured it all out, BAM, another twist. Red herrings are scattered throughout the story like breadcrumbs, leading you in one direction only to pull the rug out from under you moments later. It’s the kind of narrative that keeps you turning pages long into the night, desperate to uncover the truth (or at least try to).

What really elevates this book, though, is the protagonist, Eleanor. Her snarky attitude and quick wit make her incredibly relatable and, honestly, a blast to follow. Every time she opens her mouth, I can’t help but think, “Yes, that’s exactly what I would say!” Her footnotes are the highlight of the entire reading experience. They add a level of depth and humor that’s both refreshing and downright hilarious. I swear, her comments feel like they come straight from my brain, and there’s something oddly comforting about that. It’s like she’s the friend who’s always got the perfect comeback or sarcastic remark at the ready.

This series has become one of my favorites, and once again, this latest book did not disappoint. The plot keeps you guessing, the characters are engaging, and Eleanor’s unique voice is one I can’t get enough of. As always, I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment—bring on more twists, snark, and, of course, those iconic footnotes. If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re missing out. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

[Sarah]

I'd like to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of thie book. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Once again, Catherine Mack delivers a fun romp that would make for perfect beach reading. It also made for a fun mid-winter escape.

In the third book in this series, Eleanor is off to an author event for mystery writing in the Bahamas. She has her usual entourage with her, Oliver (her boyfriend), Connor (her ex-boyfriend), Harper (her sister), Vicki (editor), and of course, Crazy Cathy (fan/stalker/...friend?). There's a cast of new characters as well, and altogether they flesh out the cast of suspects for this murder mystery.

I did find that the twists and turns, along with the extended cast members, made the story more complicated and harder to follow than it needed to be. The final 25% in particular felt very bogged down in explanations and red herrings that it actually slowed the pace of the mystery - in exactly the place where you want the least.

However, I did get what I came for - Eleanor's wit and narrative tone. I enjoyed that a lot in the first two books, the footnotes, the little asides, the absolute destruction of the fourth wall. I also like how there's already a promise of the next book with a title. It gives me something to look forward to.

I'd give this a 3.5 stars, but Goodreads won't allow it. So it's a 4 when rounded up.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

(ARC - out 04/28/26 via St. Martin's Press) (3.5 rounded up) This is the third novel in a mystery series, so you know what you’re getting. These novels are written from the perspective of a mystery author and they follow the trend of a popular subsection of mysteries nowadays where the narrator is aware of tropes and cliches and writes with a wink to their audience. This story revolves around Eleanor Dash, the narrator of the first two books in the series, constantly stumbling upon dead bodies and murderous suspects. This time she’s in the Bahamas partly to speak at a writers’ conference, but mostly for some R&R with her sister and boyfriend. Upon arrival, she finds a body on the floor of her hotel room, and any chances of a relaxing vacation are (dare I say) dashed. I really like this series for being exactly what it sets out to be. My only quibble is not at all related to the story, but more an issue of e-book accessibility. There are A TON of footnotes in this book (and in the previous two in the series), and with e-arcs, the footnote compatibility is kind of faulty, so I found myself frustrated with that. But that’s not a fault of the author or the publisher - this is just a series that I personally prefer to read physically! YMMV.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun low stakes series - El is chaotic (in the best way), the plots are always a little wild yet also solvable, and the cast of characters are entertaining.

The relationship between El and Oliver is grounding for this book in particular and I enjoyed them teaming up to pick locks and try to solve the murder together. Usually I really enjoy Harper and El's relationship as well, but this story I found Harper a bit tough to take. I'm hoping with her jumping into the podcast world things will even out in book 4 - at least until El has to ultimately write about the accident that took their parents.

I will say, of all the entries so far, book 3 is my least favorite and I struggled a bit between a 3 and 4 star rating, the plot goes a tad off the rails at times and I feel like Mack had to wrangle it back in to a suitable ending, which worked but was also, like El, a bit chaotic.

That said, I'm already hooked for the next book and the jump-on-jump-off tour sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

Thank you to the publisher via netgalley for this book.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of this series, so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy! The Vacation Mysteries are so much fun. I just love the snarky humor, the footnotes and the way Eleanor speaks directly to the reader. In this book, Eleanor is teaching a class on how to write a murder mystery and her tips are included. I really enjoyed those parts and liked how they paralleled the story we were reading. The usual cast of characters is back, and they were as entertaining as always. Although I have to say that Harper was irritating this time. I'm intrigued by where her storyline seems to be headed though! The mystery was very complicated, with plenty of twists and turns, and I did not figure out any of it. It was definitely an unexpected ending! As usual, the epilogue sets up the next book and makes you wish it was out already. I can't wait to read it! 4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars out of 5.

I thought this book was just ok and the 2nd book in this series was definitely better than this one. It was really over the top and I did not like the footnotes and the "how to write a murder" parts. It really took away from the story. Now the ending, that was really good, but getting there was hard for me. I liked that we got to see the cast of characters from the previous books and Connor is as annoying as ever. Overall though, this was just an OK read for me.

In This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone, we get to see the same cast of characters from the previous books. Eleanor is at an all inclusive resort in the Bahamas for a conference and guess what, someone is found dead in her hotel room! So now she has to figure out what happened which takes us on another wild ride.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this ARC.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I enjoyed the first two books in this series but this one was a little too much for me. While I enjoyed the inserts about writing a mystery and feel like they went well with the plot and I did learn a thing or two, they also distracted from my enjoyment of the actual story. The ending is really really good but I didn’t enjoy getting there as much as I could have. The FMC was particularly annoying in this book. It’s probably because she needs to be since people keep trying to murder her, but she grated on me this time in a way that she hasn’t before.

All that said, the end was great, the book is unique and I’ll definitely read the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you can see, this is the third in a very fun series and I am waiting for the fourth. Eleanor is a mystery writer who is often invited to seminars, this time she and crew are in the Bahamas. It's a bit of a surprise when other people they know also start showing up. Who invited them? Eleanor is there to teach students how to write a mystery, and she also explains her reasoning to us, her readers. This is called "breaking the fourth wall" in case anyone is doing a book challenge that calls for this prompt. Things start off with a literal bang when a staff member is found dead in the room she is suppose to have. There are many suspects and many solutions thrown out before we come to the end of the story. Many thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur for the early chance to read this.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t read the first two books in the series. But they were referenced so often (without really giving any of the backstory about the books). The snarky humor and excessive pop culture references, including multiple Taylor swift song/lyric references, were annoying and didn’t add to the story. The actual mystery was interesting but how it was solved was too long. The misdirects went were overdone.

Overall I didn’t enjoy it very much and won’t backtrack to the beginning of the series.

[Danielle D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book three in the Vacation Mysteries series follows Eleanor to the Bahamas, bringing back most of the recurring characters whose storylines I enjoy seeing develop. I love the series’ fourth‑wall breaks and the footnotes. That said, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as book two. The plot got a bit too convoluted, and I figured out the twist ending very early, which took away some of the fun. I do still love the humor and characters in this series and will definitely be coming back for book four!

I received an ARC of this ebook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Andrea Bartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

With her signature wit and skillful twists, Catherine Mack (or is it Eleanor Dash?) lures readers into another madcap whodunit, this time at a fiction workshop in the Bahamas. I'll say it: Mack's murder-mystery-conference murder mystery, packing irreverent observations, hilarious asides, and playful subversions of tropes, left this murder-mystery author gasping, groaning, and giggling with glee. So. Much. Fun!

[Jessica Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book in the beginning. After it got more into the story and the chaos started, it had me hooked. I needed to know who was going to die next and who was behind it all and how everyone was connected. I can’t wait to see where the next book goes with the epilogue in this book. I’m glad I got an advance copy of this book. This was a new author to read and I will be reading more of her books.

[J R · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic and well-written mystery that feels like it should be cozy but actually is by no means anything close. the ending is satisfactory but leaves it a little shaky, perfect for a sequel. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Catherine Mack! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone. I could not wait to dive back into the world of Eleanor Dash. The unique style, footnote humour and well written mystery keep me hooked from start to finish.

[Megan Fortas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun mystery read. Enjoyed the unusual style, the relatable main character and the setting. Recommend!

[Tami Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC book. I love the writing. I like how she talks to the person reading. I thought it held a person's attention. I love the footnotes. I can't wait for the next book!

[Nanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my gosh..I received this as a free giveaway contest.
Still wasn’t worth the price.

[Mirlou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hello,
I received this book to write a review. It's well-written. I enjoyed it. But I don't know if I'll read the first volumes.

[Meredith Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic continuation of this series! Catherine Mack blends the coziness of a lunch date with a friend and a closed door Christie mystery!

[Miss W Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone by Catherine Mack is the third book in the Vacation Mystery series, and I swear these books keep getting better and better!!!!

Eleanor Dash is a mystery author and always seems to run into murders, literally this time.
She is in the Bahamas where she is speaking at a mystery conference, but really there for vacation with her boyfriend and sister.

As soon as she checks in she finds a body in her hotel room. Because of course she does.
I of course love the FOOTNOTES, like obsessed with them.

The layout of the book is nice because the narrator, Eleanor also gives writing tips on how to write a mystery novel, which are integrated perfectly in the story.

The characters are fantastic. The mystery is filled with red herrings and twists and turns.

I absolutely love this mystery and so hopeful for more books in this brilliant mystery series!