Book Review: One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman
Rating: 4 stars
Move over hard-boiled and cozy—there’s a new(ish) mystery subgenre in town, and it’s time for a soft-boiled comeback.
Abbi Waxman’s One Death at a Time is the perfect mash-up of satirical wit and cozy mystery charm. It’s clever, chaotic, and just the right amount of irreverent. If you’ve ever wished a Raymond Chandler novel had a sense of humor and a cast of lovable weirdos, this is the book for you.
Sharp Dialogue & Snappy Humor
What absolutely made this book for me was the writing. Waxman’s dialogue is razor-sharp and endlessly entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud, underlining lines, and rereading entire conversations just to enjoy the snark one more time.
This is a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously—but it is seriously fun.
A Dynamic Duo Worth Rooting For
At the center of the chaos are Natasha Mason and Julia Mann—an unexpected crime-solving team that works so well. Natasha is in her twenties, Julia is in her sixties, and their relationship is anything but typical. Natasha is Julia’s AA sponsor, assistant, and reluctant partner-in-crime-solving. Their dynamic is built on banter, begrudging respect, and a whole lot of mismatched energy that somehow makes perfect sense.
And no, there’s no romance here. Just an odd-couple pairing that had me grinning the whole way through.
A Few Bumps in the Clues
Not everything in this mystery was perfectly polished. A few red herrings felt more like unintentional detours than well-planned misdirection, and the big reveal at the end came a bit out of left field. It wasn’t completely unbelievable, but it did catch me off guard in a “Wait… seriously?” kind of way.
Still, the journey was so wildly entertaining that I didn’t mind the occasional stumble.
Hollywood Hijinks & Found Family Vibes
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its quirky, chaotic supporting cast. A ragtag group of Hollywood misfits help Julia and Natasha along the way, and it feels like the cast of a delightfully odd TV show you’d binge in a weekend. It’s giving Murder, She Wrote meets Only Murders in the Building, with a little LA flair thrown in.
There’s friendship, redemption, and a whole lot of heart tucked between the clues and quips.
Final Thoughts
One Death at a Time is a smart, snappy mystery with just the right amount of chaos and charm. If you love character-driven stories, clever dialogue, and mysteries that make you laugh while keeping you guessing, this one belongs on your TBR.
And let’s make it official: soft-boiled mysteries are back—and I’m so here for it.
3 responses to “Why One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman Is the Soft-Boiled Mystery You Didn’t Know You Needed”
💓Sounds like something I would like to buy.
Excellent review, Tessa💜 Off to check it out!
It’s a good one!