Mother-Daughter Murder Night is a lively murder mystery by debut novelist Nina Simon. The novel centers around a three-generation trio: Lana Rubicon is a high-powered LA real estate developer, her daughter Beth is a nurse and single mother living in Monterey Bay, and her daughter Jack is an independent-minded 15-year-old who loves the water. While Lana’s life consists of boardrooms, sushi dinners, and stilettos, Beth and Jack prefer a quiet existence by the slough—a coastland wetland filled with wildlife and natural beauty—and, because of physical distance and emotional baggage, Jack hardly ever sees her grandmother. However, when a cancer diagnosis catches Lana off-guard, Beth agrees to take in her mother while she undergoes treatment, and suddenly the three Rubicon women are living under one roof for the first time. Getting reacquainted with estranged family members is never easy, but when Jack unexpectedly finds a dead body while kayaking—and is unfairly marked as a suspect—familial bonds kick into high gear. Lana is determined to clear her granddaughter’s name and goes into full investigative mode; she dons her wig and Armani suit, pops a fair amount of painkillers, and fearlessly hunts down potential murderers. But, this is one deal she won’t be able to broker solo—the three women will need to combine their skills and work together for their best chance at solving the case.

I had so much fun following the adventures of the Rubicon ladies. Lana, with her Samantha-Jones-esque bravado, is the perfect foil to Beth’s quiet watchfulness, and Jack rounds out the group with her warmth and enthusiasm. Together, the three make for a delightful mix of sensibilities, and watching them approach the murder case in their own distinctive ways made for highly entertaining reading. In documenting the various mother-daughter relationships of the novel, especially the rocky terrain between Lana and Beth, Simon writes with an emotionally astute eye; she expertly depicts the way unspoken grievances build up over time, the way a mother can unknowingly pass down the very trauma she’s trying to protect her children from. Throughout the novel, these relationships evolve in a heartwarming way and offer a surprisingly poignant backdrop to the murder mystery at center stage. The mystery itself is twisty and suspenseful (but never too scary, if that’s not your thing), and I loved the way Simon incorporates the natural environment and ecological clues into the case. Funny, compassionate, and a darn good mystery, Mother-Daughter Muder Night is a delight.

I’d recommend this book to…

• Anyone who loves when a big family takes on a murder case to heartwarming effect… it’s similar in theme to Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
• Anyone interested in a suspenseful mystery with slapstick-y interludes… it’s similar in style to Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
• Anyone looking for some (mostly) lighthearted escapism… it’s similar in tone to The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell