William Morrow
Published June 17, 2025
Reviewed by Sharon Mensing
I so enjoyed meeting Lippman’s main character, Mrs. (Muriel) Blossom, in this France-based mystery. Some years after her husband passes on, Mrs. Blossom decides to take advantage of a windfall and bring a lifelong friend along on a cruise along the Seine. Unlike her friend, she isn’t thinking of finding a man, but she nonetheless manages to make a connection in the airport that ends up engaging her in light romance, much self-reflection, and sets off a convoluted mystery. Even though she has a background in investigation, Mrs. Blossom (who is referred to that way throughout the book) remains naïve and gullible as first a man who jumps in to help her navigate the intricacies of European travel and then a man who claims to have her better interest at heart seem to take advantage of her.
As the book progresses, she grows in both understanding of the mystery in which she has become a central character as well as understanding of herself. She carries a secret from the past that affects her self-esteem, as well as extra weight that does the same. She spends a significant amount of time reflecting on her age, weight and appearance, reminding us of how easy it is for a woman of a certain age to become invisible. Her interactions with the other characters, and with the French culture, help her learn to be “the star of her own story,” and less concerned about others’ opinions. While all this introspection is taking place, Mrs. Blossom is attempting to figure out why her room keeps getting searched and who is responsible for a suspicious death that seems related. It’s fun to follow her through all of the shenanigans that are taking place around her as she and the reader attempt to figure out what exactly is going on.
Another enjoyable trip for the reader is provided by the travelogue of the river boat’s trip along the Seine. She, and we, get to visit a number of historic and artistic sites, with Monet’s gardens at Giverny featuring prominently. There’s also a bit of a history lesson about WWII included in her travels, and some art history. The writing about setting is straightforward, but also descriptive. The narrative of this cozy mystery is mainly straight line, with a few flashbacks to Mrs. Blossom’s marriage. As the mystery comes to its conclusion, there is a bit too much of one character telling another what actually happened for my taste, but everything does come together in a satisfying manner. The book feels like a classic mystery, unique for the characterization, but not really for the plot. It’s more fun than it is an intellectual challenge.
There is a connection between this book and the author’s Tess Monaghan character, but Murder Takes a Vacation is functionally a standalone book. The real strength of the book is characterization. Mrs. Blossom is a very relatable character if you can get past her obsession with her age and weight, or maybe even because of that focus. She is fully fleshed out (no pun intended). The emphasis on character moves the book somewhat beyond a middle-of-the-road overall rating, but it isn’t enough to take elevate it from a standard cozy offering. Nonethless, it was a pleasure to spend some time in Mrs. Blossom’s company, and I can recommend it as a light mystery novel.