Author: Abbie Waxman
Publisher: Berkley
Series: Mann & Mason #2
Genre: Romance; Women’s Fiction
Date of Publication: July 21, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
When Natasha Mason’s AA sponsor is in deadly danger, she turns to the cranky yet brilliant Julia Mann for help, in this exciting new mystery novel from the USA Todaybestselling author of One Death at a Time.
Mason, a Gen Z adrenaline junkie, and Mann, an ex-con, ex-actress, and lawyer turned sleuth, have already solved one murder together. United by their commitment to sarcasm and general disappointment with the human race, they now face a second crime that’s way too close to home. Alexa Rousso keeps having accidents, and no one but her thinks it’s a coincidence. Could her checkered past be coming back to get her? Mason and Mann’s investigation takes them to the Bay Area, to the Central Coast, and – of course – to the hippest spots in Los Angeles. Will the Berkeley boho vibe convert Mann from vintage couture? Will the wine snobs of Ojai drive Mason to drink (or to vinicide, which isn’t even a thing)? More importantly, will they solve the mystery before the murderer’s sights settle on the detectives themselves, or will this new challenge also be their last?
MY THOUGHTS:
Natasha Mason and her boss, Julia Mann, had been successful in solving a murder previously. Perhaps the opportunity is before them once again. Both Mason and Julia are smart, funny and sarcastic, each with a colorful past. Julia is an ex-con, ex-actress and lawyer, but is becoming a private investigator something that she’s truly meant to do? Meanwhile, there is Mason. She is much younger than Mann, yet shares many of her qualities.
This time around Mason’s AA sponsor, Alexa Rousso, is in trouble. In fact, she is in danger. Mason asks Julia to help, but with this case hitting closer to home, they really have their work cut out for them. Is Alexa suddenly accident prone or is something far more sinister at play?
This series by Abbi Waxman is proving to quite enjoyable. I love Mason and Julia together, even when they see things differently. With excellent pacing, this story delivers wit and mystery while giving real weight to the struggles of alcoholism.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Abbi Waxman was born in England in 1970, the oldest child of two copywriters who never should have been together in the first place. Once her father ran off to buy cigarettes and never came back, her mother began a successful career writing crime fiction. Naturally lazy and disinclined to dress up, Abbi went into advertising, working as a copywriter and then a creative director at various advertising agencies in London and New York. Eventually she quit advertising, had three kids and started writing books, mostly in order to get a moment’s peace.
Abbi lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three kids, three dogs, three cats, a gecko, a snake, five pigeons, four chickens, and two guinea pigs. Every one of these additions made sense at the time, it’s only in retrospect that it seems foolhardy.
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