Murder Runs in the Family by Tamara Berry - Book Review

Publication Date: 29th April 2025

Genre: Cozy Humor Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Funny and entertaining 

Amber Winslow leaves her former life in Seattle and goes to a retirement center in Arizona to meet her grandma, a woman she has never met! While she is still coming to terms with the easy entry into Seven Ponds (the luxury retirement community center) and meeting her eccentric and modern grandmother, Amber is shocked to hear about the death of a resident, George Vincent, a.k.a. the Admiral. 

With the Admiral’s missing pet tortoise and the sudden disappearance of his family heirloom, the fingers point at Amber’s grandma, Jude. Amber may not know this woman, but she is determined to prove that her grandmother is innocent. Seems like it is time she used her sleuthing skills for her family. 

The story comes in Amber’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I’ve seen good reviews for the author’s cozy mystery series and decided to try her latest book. 

The book starts with Amber down on her luck and trying to meet her estranged grandmother, someone her mother doesn’t approve of. Not having anywhere else to go, Amber decides she would try a chance with her grandma. 

The death occurs fairly soon (less than 10%), so the book pretty much puts us in the mystery immediately. That said, we also get a glimpse into the backstory, the strained family relationships, the FMC’s career, and the eccentricities at the retirement center. 

While this feels like a lot, it is not. Sure, there are some laugh-out-loud moments, and Grandma Jude is a sparkling and OTT personality. However, we don’t feel overwhelmed with the information we get right at the beginning. There’s more than what we see at first, obviously! 

The mystery is really cozy. It’s a blend of drama and mystery, so think of something like Vera Wong (though grandma here isn’t gonna waste her time cooking). 

The themes of found family, friendship, living in a community center, sense of belongingness, etc., are also explored, but without making the book heavy or overwhelming. 

Humor is the highlight. Since it is subjective, if you don’t enjoy the lighthearted scenes, you may not like the book as much. 

We have a pet tortoise which plays a prominent role in the plot and is carried around by quite a few. Moreover, this ninety-plus tortoise inspires protective feelings in many people! 

I also like that the ex is not totally a bad guy. He has some good traits. In fact, most characters are the same. They feel realistic enough to be flawed and good. 

The ending very much makes it sound like this book will be a series. I hope it is! I’d be delighted to read more books with the FMC and her grandmother. 

To summarize, Murder Runs in the Family is a lighthearted and cozy read with a mystery (or two), a pet tortoise, and characters trying to make the best of their situation and be happy. 

A part of it reminded me of the reports we get from Kerala Airport (IYKYK). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #murderrunsinthefamily