Publication Date: April 15, 2025
A cranky former actress teams up with her Gen Z sobriety sponsor to solve the murder that threatens to send her back to prison in this dazzling new mystery novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.
When Julia Mann, a bad-tempered ex-actress and professional thorn in the side of authority, runs into Natasha Mason at an AA meeting, it’s anything but a meet-cute. Julia just found a dead body in her swimming pool, and the cops say she did it (she already went to jail for murder once, so now they think she’s making a habit of it). Mason is eager to clear Julia’s name and help keep her sober, but all Julia wants is for Mason to leave her alone.
As their investigation ranges from the Hollywood Hills to the world of burlesque to the country clubs of Palm Springs, this unconventional team realizes their shared love of sarcasm and poor life choices are proving to be a powerful combination. Will secrets from their past trip them up, or will their team of showgirls, cat burglars, and Hollywood agents help them stay one step ahead? Are dead piranhas, false noses, and a giant martini glass important clues or simply your typical day in Los Angeles? And will they manage to solve the crime before they kill each other, or worse, fall off the wagon? Trying to keep it simple and take it easy is one thing—trying to find a murderer before they kill again is a whole other program.
One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman is a mystery filled with murders and corpses. Set in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, there are actors, actresses, directors, iconic movies, and an interesting cast of characters.
There are laugh-out-loud moments as Julia Mann, a retired actress/attorney, and the rag-tag team she surrounds herself with at her hillside home in the mountains set out to clear her name as she’s accused of another murder. This time, she intends to clear her name and not go back to prison for another murder she didn’t commit. We watch the interrogations as Mason, her AA sponsor and now personal assistant is sent all over doing Julia’s bidding to get answers.
There are multiple storylines and complex characters. There is a depth to the story, but also some hilarious moments. It was interesting to see how Julia’s mind works and how she and her “team” manage to put the clues together, solve the multiple crimes and reveal whodunnit. There are a few loose ends and I’d love to see a connected story to give me better closure. There are beautiful and vivid descriptions adding to the flavor of the story.
One Death at a Time is filled with clues, dead bodies, and multiple crimes to solve. I was sometimes on the edge of my seat and other times laughing or chuckling with a smile on my face.
Abbi Waxman, USA Today bestselling author, is a chocolate-loving, dog-loving woman who lives in Los Angeles; has three daughters, three dogs, and three cats; and lies down as much as possible. She worked in advertising for many years, which is how she learned to write fiction.
