Mother-Daughter Murder Night

Finished: February 2024
Book Source: Library
Book Publication Date: September 2023

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.

Characters

• Lana – real estate tycoon that ends up living with her adult daughter after a health incident
• Jack (aka Tiny) – 15 year old granddaughter, leads tours on kayaks
• Beth – Lana’s adult daughter, nurse
• Hal Rhoades – Patient of Beth’s, owns a ranch worth a lot of money in the area
• Diana – Hal’s daughter, enjoys equestrian
• Martin – Hal’s son, nano tech
• Ricardo – murder victim, worked for the land trust
• Victor – Owns the land trust
• Paul – owns the kayak hut
• Scottie – works at the yacht club

My Review

This was a cozy dive into family drama wrapped in a murder mystery blanket. With a slow burn pace, this book takes its time to explore the intricate web of relationships within the family rather than rushing to reveal the culprit.

Lana was my favorite character with her fiery determination to prove her worth by cracking the case and exonerating her granddaughter. Her character is a blend of determination and a hint of mischief, making her journey all the more entertaining.

What sets this book apart is its emphasis on family dynamics. It’s not just about solving the murder; it’s about unraveling the complexities of familial bonds, sprinkled with moments of humor that keep the narrative light-hearted.

While the pace was slow for me, it was still satisfying read – delving into the intricacies of relationships and character-driven plots filled with twists, turns, and a sprinkle of snarky charm.

Spoilers/Summary

Martin is the killer. He is jealous that Ricardo is back in their lives.

Ricardo and Hal Rhoads die around the same time, leading Lana, Beth, and Jack to suspect foul play due to their involvement with a land trust project. Lana investigates Diana while Beth investigates Martin, Hal’s son. Lana becomes suspicious of Victor Morales, a conservationist at the land trust, especially after a fire destroys documents in his office. They eventually discover that Martin, fueled by jealousy, murdered Ricardo and Hal. He was angry that he was going to lose out on the land sales to Ricardo and be put in the back seat just like he was when he was younger. Ricardo was the ‘angel baby’ that was the light in the family’s life after their mother died in the fire. It turns out that Martin accidentally set the fire that killed his mother and his dad said he would love him but never forgive him.

Martin plans to kill everyone who knows, but Jack intervenes, leading to Martin’s arrest. Lana and Beth reconcile, and Lana decides to move out but stay on the property to start a new business after completing her cancer treatment.

Paul and Scottie were growing different hybrids of marijuana on a portion of the land that Hal owned. That is why he was trying to hide stuff. Paul had found Ricardo’s bike the morning his body was found and put it in the shed for safe keeping.