Small town family drama with a side order of murder.

Genre : Mystery

Pages : 368

Format : E-book

First published : 2024

Original Language: English

Start date: 16th Feb 2025

End date: 21st Feb 2025

The plot: The women of the Rubicon family are divided. Lana, mother to Beth and grandmother to Jack, is an intelligent, successful businesswoman who has spent years building a real-estate empire in Los Angeles. Following an unexpected cancer diagnosis, Lana relocates for treatment and recovery, joining Beth and Jack at their home in a sleepy coastal town 300 miles away from L.A.

When Jack discovers a dead body whilst kayaking, and soon becomes a suspect in the ensuing investigation, the women are thrown into chaos. Needing a distraction from chemotherapy and their endless bickering, Lana investigates the murder and uncovers a web of land disputes, warring siblings, and lies under the surface of the quiet town.

What did I think of the book?

MDMN (as we’ll call it – that title is a bit of mouthful) – is an odd book, sitting somewhere between a cozy mystery (if you can call it a cozy mystery when the victim is killed by blunt trauma to the head), and a mystery thriller. The cozy elements come from the family drama which accentuates the narrative, but we are aware throughout that we are reading a murder mystery, with what is eventually revealed to be a double murderer at large. There’s a gritty edge which is mirrored in the grittiness of the women – each has their issues and feels abandoned by the other. I personally found the mystery elements less absorbing than observing them work through their demons and eventually find comfort in each other, even if this does come via the medium of death.

MDMN has been compared to the television series Gilmore Girls, and I felt this was merited. It’s gently paced and absorbing, even if I did correctly guess who the murderer was!

What was most interesting / intriguing / surprising?

There’s not a huge amount that is surprising about MDMN. It is the type of story to curl up with on a cold Sunday afternoon – the literary equivalent of a hot chocolate with a shot of something stronger to keep it interesting. The interplay between the Rubicon women is given a harder edge by the cancer storyline (Lana’s cancer is Stage 4, and can be treated but not cured – her dogged pursuit of the killer stems clearly from the fact that she knows her time is limited).

What am I going to take away from this book?

Lana Rubicon is the star of the show here – she’s the chief sleuth, clearly a more competent investigator than either detective assigned to the case (isn’t that always the way?) and the reason Beth and Jack become involved in the case. They are really just along for the ride. There’s a deliberateness to the book’s ending, as if the author is hoping to create a potential series from these characters. I’d hesitate to read another installment, but that’s my personal opinion (I’m not a big fan of procedurals or murder mystery series in general).

What did you think of Mother Daughter Murder Night?