Murder Takes a Vacation

A Novel

By: Laura Lippman

Narrated by: Kimberly Farr

“Murder Takes a Vacation has all Laura Lippman's trademark razor-sharp insight and effortlessly absorbing writing, plus huge amounts of warmth and fun. Mrs. Blossom is a pure joy, and I'm already hoping for more.” –Tana French

Highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author 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 case…that only she can solve.

A New York Times “Best Beach Reads of Summer”

One of Washington Post’s “Best Mysteries to Read This Summer”

One of Boston Globe's "Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List"

One of Minneapolis Star Tribune's "24 terrific books for the beach, cabin or lawn chair you’ll want to read this summer"

One of Chicago Tribune's Summer Books 2025

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?

As the author stated at the end, it was refreshing to recognize a character who is overweight and proud to be so.

There were several reasons to enjoy this book, yet I felt that there was frequently too much explaining for words or actions. Had the writing been more mature/better edited and/or written, the extra spoon feeding about a character or scene, would have been unnecessary. As I read a book, I often consider if it would be appropriate for my young daughter, and for these reasons, I will recommend this book for her.

Long Live Mrs. Blossom!

I love Laura Lippman and her Baltimore.
Now she brings us a large as life ( no pun intended) character with smart, sensitive internal workings, a love of art, her family and closest friend, into the heart of an interesting mystery.
Won’t divulge any twists ( many)— but let’s hope Mrs. Blossom continues on as a detective in future novels.

What stood out was the fact that the author was not very experienced.

The story was too long and drawn out, shallow and disingenuous. it seemed to be written for a very young audience.

The extensive development of the characters without creating a box for them to fit into.

It was very entertaining and as a 80 year old widow I will try to be sure I don’t act my age and enjoy life.

Not interesting

I found the main character uninteresting and very stereotypical for an older woman .insulting to older women