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Book Summary and Reviews of One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman

One Death at a Time

by Abbi Waxman

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  • Publishes:
  • Apr 15, 2025, 400 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

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.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Abbi Waxman is both irreverent and thoughtful." —#1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin

"Sparkling prose, quirky, well-drawn characters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and a murderous 'curse.' This is total winner with a satisfying ending." —Kathleen West, author of Are We There Yet?

This information about One Death at a Time was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Patricia L. (Seward, AK)

One Death at a Time
Natalie Mason is described as "an unusually pretty woman of twenty-five with extremely short hair and striking features that might have been overwhelming had they been paired with a more elaborate hairstyle…" In Hollywood everyone is judged first by their looks and second by their issues. Mason's issue is alcohol, which she is being forced to address by attending daily AA meetings while working as an Uber driver and delivery person. A child of Hollywood, Mason has been oblivious to its' glitz, glamour and underbelly. But that changes when Julia enters the room.
Julia Mann is a former Hollywood star turned convicted murderer, turned parolee, turned lawyer for the underdog, with a drinking problem. Her attendance at AA is mandated because after waking up from an alcohol induced black out, she found a body floating in her pool. She can't recall why or how it got there.
One Death at a Time is the story of Julia, Mason and friends trying to solve two murders. While Waxman's storyline may be long with extraneous details, the fast, irreverent, smart, sassy dialog moves the plot at lightening speed. Her characters are well defined and memorable. One Death at a Time is recommended for those who seek a fast read about glamourous people who aren't above a little self-deprecation and laugh out loud humor.

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Author Information

Abbi Waxman Author Biography

Photo: Leanna Creel

Born in England, Abbi Waxman worked as a copywriter at various advertising agencies in London and New York. Eventually she quit advertising, had three kids and started writing books, TV shows and screenplays, largely in order to get a moment's peace. Abbi lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three kids, three dogs, three cats, a gecko, two mice and six chickens.

Author Interview
Link to Abbi Waxman's Website

Other books by Abbi Waxman at BookBrowse
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