This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone

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, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Adult, Cozy

352 pages, Hardcover

First published 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

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone is the third book in the Vacation Mysteries written by Catherine Mack. Let's start with the positives: witty writing, clever plot architecture, and interesting characters. It's evident how well-thought out these plots and characters are, a nod to the author's creativity and intelligence. Love the approach at building history and present together, connecting plot points across books without having to know (or remember) all the specifics. Murder makes sense. Red herrings are abundant. But... on the flip side, the audience for this is going to be a little tough to narrow down. It's not told in a typical fashion. The narrator crosses that line to talk to the reader a lot. There are a lot of footnotes which you can ignore. But for me, as a very diligent reader, I need to stop and check everything, so I find myself broken away from the story too much. I like this and I don't like this at the same time. But there's no arguing it's a very well plotted and intriguing story!

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 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

[sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 3.5⭐️
🫧 Vibes: when a work trip turns into a murder mystery
🎶 Song: i did something bad - taylor swift
📚 Would I recommend? yeah
💬 tldr thoughts: a fun book that doesn't take itself too seriously

In the package:
📦 trust no one
📦 murder mystery
📦 witty humour

Plot: Eleanor and her friends are on a work trip in the Bahamas to teach others how to write a murder mystery book. The second they arrive at the resort, a dead body is found in their room. Eleanor is determined to discover who did it, but as more bodies are discovered, it becomes harder to pin down who is behind it all.

Thoughts: This book was so cleverly written! I enjoyed the fact that the author broke the 4th wall, this was like a book within a book. The footnotes got old a little quick since there was so many of them and they made reference to Gen Z TikTok slang which I'm not a fan of. It's a unique concept so I would recommend reading a physical copy of this book as I imagine it would be tedious on a kindle. I also recommend reading the first two books before this one as they are interconnected. The murder plot was pretty convoluted so I think I would've understood this better if I had read the others first so that's my bad. Overall this was pretty fun and I love the author's witty writing!

Thank you Minotaur Books for the gifted physical copy!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bestselling author Eleanor Dash returns for another case when a body turns up in her hotel room during a murder mystery writing conference in the Bahamas. Was it a coincidence, or was Eleanor the real target? With so many familiar faces at the conference, each holding a grudge, anyone could be responsible. To survive the weekend, Eleanor has to solve the murder herself.

The Vacation Mysteries series is pure chaos in the best way. I love how Eleanor breaks the fourth wall through her inner monologue about the investigation and how she relates it to her writing process. I enjoyed This Weekend Doesn’t Go Well for Anyone, but I found it harder to get into than the earlier books in this series. There were so many returning characters that I struggled to remember who everyone was and how they fit into the story. However, I did enjoy how everything in this series was connected through the murder investigation. It looks like the series isn’t over, as the conclusion suggests Eleanor might be involved in another murder mystery.

I highly recommend the audiobook, as the audio highlights Eleanor's thoughts and goes over the footnotes, which many people know I hate because it makes me stop and search for the correct note. I have enjoyed this narrator since the first book in the series, as she does a great job of giving all the characters their own voices, and trust me, there are a lot of characters in the series.

This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone is out April 28th.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[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 we start to get into 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, not American, 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 😅

[Dee Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I received the email that I was selected for an advanced reader's copy of Catherine Mack's new book, I was ecstatic! I get so much joy whenever I get an ARC, especially from one of my favourite authors.

Let's start with the negative to get that out of the way: I did not enjoy this book as much as the first two in the series. To be fair, I gave books one & two 5 stars. And I'm giving this book 4, which is still a high rating.

What bothered me the most was the number of unlikeable characters. Am I supposed to like Harper, Connor & Vicki, for example? Connor is insufferable (I cannot fathom dating a man like that). Vicki is a bitch. And Harper is a terrible sister & friend (the number of betrayals keep stacking up). I was not rooting for any of them.

Now the good stuff: I do enjoy reading Eleanor's thoughts. She is quick & witty & so, so funny. She, however, is really slow at connecting some very obvious dots. I wanted to yell at her through my Kindle "THEY'RE TOGETHER!!!!". It's ironic that, as a mystery writer, she's not very good at solving mysteries. But that's part of her charm.

I also love Oliver. He needs more lines, more scene-time though. Get rid of Connor & make Oliver a main character!

In this book, Eleanor is attending a writer's conference in the Bahamas and, of course, bodies are dropping. They usually do whenever Eleanor is far from home. This new mystery was difficult for me to solve, but they usually are. That's okay though, because I like being stumped. The ending is that much more satisfying.

Overall, this was a great read, lots of fun. Eleanor is an entertaining & fun narrator. I look forward to her next book.

[Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy. I am so grateful.]

[Mandy K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Weekend Doesn’t End Well For Anyone(audio) 3.75⭐️

(Book 3 of Vacation Mysteries)

I’m hooked on this series and will keep coming back! At this point, Eleanor Dash can’t be surprised when bodies start dropping as soon as she arrives to the Bahamas for a work-cation writing conference, where the usual crew are also present and victims/suspects.

The first book of the series is still my favorite, but I can’t resist the pull of the book-writing inception, which makes this series so unique (a book in a book in a book, or maybe that’s too many “the books” 🤷‍♀️) Eleanor is an author and the reader is in her head from beginning to end as she constantly breaks the 4th wall with footnotes. I fully enjoy the wit and sarcasm, but… I struggle to stay focused on the actual murder mystery. Especially since Eleanor presents almost every possible outcome, so I forget what information is confirmed and what was just mentioned in passing.

The audio production is so well done. I highly recommend this consumption option if you struggle with the footnote layout in the physical book. Elizabeth Evans does a fabulous job narrating and absolutely brings Eleanor Dash and friends to life.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio
for this ALC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date Apr 28 2026

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first for the series but now I want to go back and read the rest! This was such a fun, cozy mystery. I really enjoyed the writing style and was invested in the characters. If you haven’t read any of the books, you’d still enjoy this story.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[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?!)

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun time.

I really enjoy this series, and this installment delivered exactly what I want from a cozy mystery with witty writing, an engaging plot, and a cast of characters that keep things interesting the entire time.

Eleanor continues to be such a strong, entertaining main character. Her inner thoughts are sharp, funny, and made me smile more than once while reading. I love how the story blends humor with the mystery, so even as things unravel, it never feels too heavy.

The setting and overall vibe were also a highlight for me. There’s something about this series that just feels immersive and easy to sink into, and I found myself flying through the pages.

The mystery itself kept me guessing, with plenty of twists, red herrings, and moving pieces to keep things interesting. I especially enjoyed how everything came together and how the story balances past and present elements.

Overall, this was an entertaining, clever, and fast-paced read that I had a great time with. If you’re looking for a cozy mystery with humor, strong voice, and a twisty plot, this series is definitely worth picking up.

[laurakellylitfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are so much fun!

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone
By: Catherine Mack
Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Publisher: Macmillian Audio

This book is 3rd in the Vacation Mysteries Series. Such a fun series.

This novel is about author, Elanor Dash. She always finds herself something to solve. She is on vacation and yet another murder has occurred. In HER hotel room, nonetheless. At a resort in the Bahamas is not where she expected to happen. She wanted to speak at the conference to mystery writers and relax in the sun.

No rest now! Lots of characters Are they trying to set her up? Her boyfriend, her ex, sister and others make this a who-done-it which will have you guessing. Witty dialogue and mayhem.

The other books in this series: Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies and No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding are worth reading as well.

Thank you Macmillian Audio for the advanced copy.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleanor Dash is attending a writing conference, but she should know better than to go on vacation, even a working one. Because when she and her boyfriend, Oliver, check into their room - there’s a dead body on the floor. Sure, sure, the police say it’s suicide - but this is starting very similarly to her last couple trips. And as she teaches the attendees (with A LOT of familiar faces) and the reader about writing a murder mystery, the bodies start to pile up.

It’s important to read this in order, because the characters are motivated by the events of the first two books. Eleanor is a snarky, fourth-wall-breaking narrator, with lots of footnotes and jokes, and it’s a fun ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inside look at a mystery writer… while reading a murder mystery? Say less.

This was a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley, and from the start I was hooked by the structure. It feels like you’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process while simultaneously unraveling a mystery, which made for such a fun and unique reading experience which made it so easy to write a voluntary review.

The inner monologue reads like a chaotic fever dream of word vomit—but in the best possible way—and the audiobook absolutely elevates that. It makes the quick-fire thoughts land harder and adds so much personality to the story.

Once again, I accidentally jumped into the middle of a series, but this one truly works as a standalone. I never felt like I was missing key backstory, which made it easy to settle in and just enjoy the ride.

That said, the writing style won’t be for everyone—and that’s okay. The author frequently breaks the fourth wall, which I personally found really effective, but I can see how it might not work for all readers. Interestingly, I think the audio format actually enhances this technique, but if that style tends to bother you, eyeball reading might be the better route.

Narrated by Elizabeth Evans, who did a fantastic job. She sounded age-appropriate, kept a great pace at 1x, and it translated surprisingly well to 2x. Honestly, speeding it up added to the experience—the rapid-fire wit hits even better that way.

There’s so much to love here: imaginative writing, quirky characters, and a layered, intricate plot. On the flip side, it’s not perfect. There are a lot of details, characters, and relationships to keep straight, and at times it felt like it could’ve used a slightly heavier editorial hand. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the overall experience.

If you enjoy books about the writing process, this feels like a love letter to mystery authors and publishing. You’ll get pulled in, have a lot of fun, and maybe even learn something along the way.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone is a fun and thrilling addition to The Vacation Mysteries series! Mack’s Agatha Christie-style plots always keep me laughing, engaged, and guessing.

Eleanor’s on-page narration continues to be both witty and hilarious. It’s amazing to me how many enemies she’s managed to rack up through her travels — some deserved and so many more that are not. She could easily be unlikable, but I find her so relatable and can’t help but empathize with her many plights.

I loved the conference setting, and the breakdown of how to write the perfect murder mystery broken up throughout the novel. The best part of these stories is how Mack has Eleanor speak directly to the reader, making us active participants in the plots. I loved the first two books in this series, and while this one was a hit for me as well, I find myself wanting more from the side characters. This was first novel where Conner took more of a back seat, and Oliver didn’t quite step up to fill his shoes. Similarly, the dynamic between Eleanor and Harper is such a huge part of the series, but it’s clear there’s a lot of mistrust there I’d like to see explored more directly. With at least three more books planned, I’m eager to learn so much more about Oliver and to dive into the mystery behind the demise of Eleanor’s and Harper’s parents.

This series always makes for a fun reading experience. I can’t wait to see what mishaps are in store for Eleanor and crew next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and entertaining continuation of the series! Having read the first two books beforehand, I really do think it’s important to go in order—there’s so much history with the characters that makes this story even more enjoyable and meaningful.

One of my favorite parts, once again, was the main character’s relationship with Oliver. Their dynamic continues to be a highlight, adding both heart and humor to the story. At the same time, her chaotic relationship with her ex is still very much present, bringing plenty of drama, while her sister tagging along on the trip adds to the familiar, slightly unhinged energy that makes this series so fun.

The tone stays consistent with the previous books, filled with the same sharp jokes, sarcasm, and humor that I’ve come to expect and love. It balances the mystery with lighthearted moments really well, making it an easy and engaging read.

Overall, this was an enjoyable murder mystery that kept me entertained throughout. If you’re already invested in the series, this installment definitely delivers more of what you love.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publishers for an ARC!

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addictive, mysterious, and delightfully charming!

In the third instalment of the Vacation Mysteries series, THIS WEEKEND DOESN’T END WELL FOR ANYONE, we rejoin mystery writer Eleanor Dash and her entourage as they once again find themselves entangled in a police investigation, when a trip to the Bahamas for a murder mystery writers’ conference quickly takes a deadly turn when Eleanor arrives to find a man dead in her hotel room.

The writing is light, witty, and engaging. The characters are impulsive, creative, and endlessly entertaining. And the plot is a wonderful blend of snappy dialogue, familial drama, humorous mishaps, outrageous hijinks, intrigue, suspense, amateur sleuthing, friendship, and moments of genuine warmth.

Overall, THIS WEEKEND DOESN’T END WELL FOR ANYONE is a clever, compelling, thoroughly entertaining novel by Mack that’s another fabulous addition to this beloved, laugh-out-loud series.

[Bonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only regret is not reading it poolside! ⛱️

[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!

[Kiera Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the early eGalley of this third installment in Catherine Mack’s Vacation Mystery Series.

In this third book we follow our characters as they attend a murder mystery conference in the Bahamas and watch a collection of deaths unfold. I know some people read mysteries and try to solve the story, but with this series I just love to be along for the ride and watch as Eleanor Dash and her friends, and enemies, try to solve another mystery. Catherine Mack has a way of making you love and hate every character we meet in this series, and while there are deaths in every book, I was never scared or sad. There is a line of humor strung throughout this novel and I found myself giggling at certain points. There is some romance, but it is all closed door/fade to black and instead of bringing spice it just brings some lightheartedness.

I wasn’t trying to solve the mystery, but I theorized the main person behind it at about 65% and I still had a fun time watching all of the characters think the same thoughts I did. If you are looking for a step into mystery, minus the scary, I definitely recommend this book. I can’t wait for the next book to come in the series, but I wish I didn’t have to wait until next year!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve loved this series but unfortunately this one was not my favorite. As always, I enjoy the witty writing, mixing a murder mystery with humor, the clever footnotes, and the breaking of the 4th wall to address the reader. The plot was straightforward and it was your typical entertaining whodunit.

I was very turned off in the first 25% of the book which I think affected my overall rating. There were FIVE references to Taylor Swift in the first quarter of the book, and seven total. I am not a Swift fan and references to her, let alone five so early on, are a major turn off. I don’t enjoy a ton of pop culture references in general so this was a tough one for me and made it hard for me to really get into the story.

Overall, I love the main characters of this series and the way the stories are written so I’ll def continue reading!

[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.

[Nanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

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

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor Dash has returned for a third Vacation Mystery, this time at a mystery writer’s conference in the Bahamas, where she will be instructing us on how to write a murder mystery while, of course, experiencing all of the necessary elements. We still have the long cheeky chapter titles like “Chapter 9: Shouldn’t You Have Just Said If You Wanted Me Dead?” And hail to the steady gang (none of whom ever escape suspicion and any of whom might not make it to the next book):
Connor — her antagonist/protagonist
Harper — her sister/assistant
Oliver — boyfriend/co-writer
Guy — Connor’s former partner
Vicki — editor
Inspector Tucci — Italian detective
Cathy — crazy stalker

This is a delightful cozy mystery, always from Eleanor’s POV and set in a cutthroat publishing world. It’s again filled with sarcastic footnotes (pro tip: listen to Elizabeth Evans’ sassy portrayal in the audiobook and you get immediate satisfaction on the pesky footnotes). The core group of characters gets re-introduced, thoroughly enough so that you really don’t need to read the previous installments. The plot is twisty enough and after every murder or attempted one, we get Mack’s now signature tableau — wherein the surviving characters gather (ala Agatha Christie) to discuss suspects, motives, and means (at least until the next twist).

If you enjoy Benjamin Stevenson’s or Kristen Perrin’s books (also with long sentence form titles), you’ll love Catherine Mack. The audiobook narration is incredible — Elizabeth Evans gives another bold performance as audacious, irreverent, impudent, drama queen Eleanor. And even though Eleanor swears off mystery writing, we know she and her gang are ready to show up in a fourth book, “You'll Never Murder in This Town Again” (read the footnotes!) 4.5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Blue and brown ones, but no green ones.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But we do get a brief mystery about who put the heart-shaped rose petals on the bed.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for advanced copies!

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eleanor Dash is back, and once again she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer. Or does she? When she arrives in the Bahamas to attend a mystery writing conference, the first thing she does is discover a body in her hotel room. With many of the attendees being people from her past who might want her dead, she must investigate—with the help of her boyfriend and sister—if she doesn’t want to end up dead before the weekend is over.

This Weekend Doesn’t End Well for Anyone is the third entry in the Vacation Mysteries series. Although the author/main character claims it can be read as a standalone and promises enough backstory, I strongly recommend reading at least Book #1 first.

In this installment, we get a lesson on how to write a murder mystery, which is easily my favorite aspect of the story. It’s really fun how, after the sequences and beats of the genre are explained, you can recognize how the author puts that theory to the test throughout the narrative. The writing remains very tongue-in-cheek, with plenty of fourth-wall breaks.

At the same time, this is an homage to Agatha Christie and some of her most famous works. My only complaint is that the storyline becomes quite convoluted at times, with a large number of characters and plotlines that tie back to the first book in the series. Additionally, while the inclusion of footnotes is a fun idea, there are simply too many, and accessing them in a digital copy becomes quite annoying.

Although it’s still funny and fresh, I hope this marks the end of the “When in Rome” storyline and of Eleanor always being the potential victim. After that epilogue, I’m fairly certain she’ll get at least a brief respite in the next book.

[bexbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Eleanor who is in the Bahamas for a writers conference. She has brought with her her sister and her boyfriend on this trip so she's also hoping to get some rest and relaxation as well. Like any other time she goes away bodies are dropping like flies in this book and she takes it upon herself as well as with her boyfriend and her other cohorts to find out who the killer is and solve the mystery. 

Like any good mystery book everyone is a suspect with the exception of Eleanor because it would be a little weird to follow a mystery book being solved by the killer. Not that that hasn't been done before. As well as a really good mystery there is a lot of other aspects of this book. There's family drama because her sister is a character she's incredibly unlikable and I just don't understand if we're supposed to like her or if she was specifically written to dislike. And you also get Eleanor's ex-boyfriend on the trip and he's drama all on his own. 

I really liked the dynamics that you see throughout this book between all of the characters. It was filled with humor and mystery some romance and a lot of charm. But overall one of my all-time favorite things about this book and the other two in this series is that at no point did I ever figure out the unveiling of the killer before it happened. And let's face it that's what we all want in a good mystery book. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an arc of this book.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sad to have to write this review, because I think this series started off well as a fun spin on the beach read Mystery.

The humor is good and I like the light tone and the characters, but the mysteries themselves have gone from okay enough to truly badly plotted in just three books.

It’s been a steady decline, and that bums me out because I love the concept of these and in some ways I still think they make for a good light read.

But unfortunately, the same plot is being recycled over and over, and with each entry it becomes more repetitive and also more convoluted, to the point where there’s no fair play aspect to the mystery and the solving of it becomes so nonsensical that it’s neither fun nor logical in the end.

The books have also wandered into a habit of indulging in one of the worst traps that Mystery writers often fall into, which is a protagonist who’s route to solving the mystery involves accusing every single character until they run out of options. It makes even less sense than usual here, where we mostly have a small circle of characters who appear in each book. The protagonist has yet to make it through a novel without convincing herself that her sister is the killer, which feels completely ridiculous at this point.

A shame, because the premise for these was good and I do like the humor, but this is probably the end of the line on this series for me.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much of this book references an earlier one that I don't recommend it as a stand-alone, even though the introduction assures me it is fine. For the most part, I didn't have any trouble following the story, but there are a LOT of characters to keep straight. Had I met half of them in books #1 or #2, I would likely have had an easier time. That being said, I quite enjoyed the "voice" of the narrator - snarky and self-obsessed, who guides us through this murder mystery whilst explaining how to write one. She's at a murder mystery writing conference in the Bahamas, leading one of the breakout sessions, but someone seems intent on killing her. To avoid being dead, she must figure out who and why. I enjoyed all the BookTok and NetGalley references (it's thanks to NetGalley that I received early access to this audiobook), plus the vicarious thrill of being at a writing conference. I am guessing the rather long, extended ending was meant to be a jumping-off point for the next book. 3.6 rounded up.
The audiobook narrator captured the snark beautifully (as well as the French accent of a frienemy).
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #ThisWeekendDoesntEndWellforAnyone for review purposes.

[Janereads10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third book, third vacation, third dead body. Eleanor Dash's luck is terrible.

If you've been following the series, the cast are back solving the latest murder with Eleanor front and center. I can't lie - to me she did seem full of herself and a little bit selfish, which I didn't notice in the past books. However, I loved her snarky comments and humor.

Knowing what to expect here, I had to brace myself for its meta-fictional narrative. I'm not a fan of footnotes in novels - I find them distracting. In this case I skipped them as per Eleanor's advice.

This sequel took place at a resort in the Bahamas. The earlier books transported me to their settings. This resort felt contained and distant.

I liked Cathy and Eleanor's interaction the best. Hilarious.

The red herrings sent me the wrong way, suspecting the wrong characters. When the big reveal came, it caught me off guard. I wouldn't have guessed it right.

I was here for the group dynamics - chaotic and hilarious.

Eleanor's curse shows no signs of ending. I'm here for wherever she goes next.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Rachel b00ksrmagic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @stmartinspress @minotaur_books and @Netgalley for the chance to review this ARC.

Read this book if you like zany characters, breaking the fourth wall, trapped on an island, murder mysteries

Eleanor Dash, author of the Vacation Mysteries, yet again finds herself wrapped up in a murder. This time she’s a speaker at a “How to Write a Murder Mystery” conference in the Bahamas. When she checks in, she finds a dead body in her room. She and her boyfriend Oliver, end up in the middle of the investigation as it seems someone is targeting them. Full of the humor and footnotes you’ve come to expect from the series, Eleanor talks us through her thoughts as she races to find a killer.

I got to meet @catherinemckenzieauthor last night at @mjudsonbooks. I really enjoyed hearing about her writing process and how she’s combined mystery with humor and romance. This book is just that—a wild ride of a mystery, full of zany characters spouting funny dialogue. And the FMC continuing her romance. The mystery was so twisty that I couldn’t figure it out. And the characters were so much fun. I’m already looking forward to book 4 in the series!