Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Mother-Daughter Murder Night

Definitely a slow beginning, but the middle and end absolutely delivered.

The mystery itself was well-put-together and quite excellently crafted. I suspected the murderer from the get-go but totally fell for the misdirect there at the end. Always trust your gut!!!

Lana and Bath’s character growths were really great and I enjoyed watching the family gradually come back together again.

And

I’m very glad Lana didn’t die in the end. I was sure she was going to and I’m so glad she didn’t.

The ending legit made me cry. So heartwarming.

Definitely recommend reading this one with your mom and grandma as a little book club!

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librarianjennifer's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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ktdakotareads's review

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mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

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jennabeck13's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Genre: Mystery

About 355 pages

Beth lives in Northern California with her daughter, Jack, on a peaceful slough. The slough becomes less peaceful when her mother, Lana, moves in with them while undergoing cancer treatment at Stanford Hospital. The peace diminishes even more when Jack finds a dead body in the slough one day. Her discovery of the body makes her a suspect in the police’s case. In defense of Jack and to help with her boredom, Lana sets out to solve the murder herself. This grandma is determined to clear her granddaughter’s name and gives the cops a run for their money throughout the case.

This was a solid cozy mystery to kick off the fall season. It didn’t have any huge twists and lacked a high suspense level which lowered the rating for me, but overall I did like it. It reminded me a lot of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, which I enjoyed earlier this year. I loved the main characters (Beth, Lana, and Jack) and their family dynamic. I would certainly read another book by Simon if she comes out with one, as I see a lot of potential!

Favorite Quote: “You know how you call me Prima?” Lana finally said. Jack nodded, too fast. “If it hurts your feelings, I could call you something else—” “No. I like it. In opera, prima donnas are the stars. Leading ladies. Some people say they’re demanding, but that’s just another way of describing women who have power, women who know their own worth.”

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