Goodreads Blurb

Nothing brings a family together like a murder next door.

A lighthearted whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths. Gilmore Girls , but with murder.

High-powered businesswoman Lana Rubicon has a lot to be proud her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the L.A. real estate empire she’s built. But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles north of the city, convalescing in a sleepy   coastal town with her adult daughter Beth and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck counting otters instead of square footage—and hoping that boredom won’t kill her before the cancer does. 

Then Jack—tiny in stature but fiercely independent—happens upon a dead body while kayaking. She quickly becomes a suspect in the homicide investigation, and the Rubicon women are thrown into chaos. Beth thinks Lana should focus on recovery, but Lana has a better idea. She’ll pull on her wig, find the true murderer, protect her family, and prove she still has power. With Jack and Beth’s help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the surface of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. But as their amateur snooping advances into ever-more dangerous territory, the headstrong Rubicon women must learn to do the one thing they’ve always depend on each other.

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

A murder mystery that will bring a family together to sleuth their way to finding the murderer. The trio of grandmother, mother, and daughter will work on their relationship while helping to clear Jack of any suspicion. Lana Rubicon, who is the grandmother in the story, is a strong woman you don’t want to mess with. She will push all the buttons to find the truth. Beth and Jack have developed a close bond as mother and daughter, living a life free from secrets. Sometimes, secrets need to be kept to help solve this murder.

After Jack and a group of tourists find a dead body, the Rubicon family will work together to find the killer. This story features strong female characters who develop a close bond through their shared experiences. For years, Lana and Beth have grown apart. Lana’s cancer diagnosis and the surrounding murder mystery brought them closer together, rebuilding their relationship. The story was slow, yet it left you wondering about multiple characters and trying to determine who the real killer was.

Author Biography

I write crime stories about strong women. My first novel, MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT, is a New York Times bestselling mystery about a grandma, single mom, and teenage girl who come together to solve the murder of a naturalist who washes up in the Monterey Bay.

Writing has always been my joy. In college, I was an electrical engineering student by day and a slam poet by night. After a brief stint at NASA, I started designing interactive exhibits and eventually became a museum director. I wrote two books of nonfiction about creating participatory, relevant cultural institutions. Nonprofits were my “real” job; writing was on the side.

Then, my mom got sick. I quit my job to help care for her, and I found myself turning to fiction as a way to escape and find some pleasure during a hard time. My mom and I both always loved mysteries, and I decided to try to write one myself, with a detective/hero based on my mother. Now, my mom is doing better, and I’m gratefully spending my days reading, writing, and caring for my family.