ARC Review: Deadly Does It by Abbi Waxman

Deadly Does It
Author: Abbi Waxman
Series: A Mason & Mann Mystery (Book 2)
Publication: Berkley (July 21, 2026)

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 Today bestselling 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: The second Mason and Mann mystery begins when Mason's AA sponsor Alexa had problems. The event she's organized is sabotaged when the extremely large vegetables used as decor fall from the ceiling causing chaos. Then she mentions that she has been receiving threatening letters.

Juliet Mann, ex-alcoholic, ex-con, ex-movie star turned lawyer, agrees to take Alexa's case and try to find out where the harassment is coming from. Mason, also an ex-addict and Gen Z adrenaline junkie, is Mann's assistant who has a special interest in this case.

As Mann and Mason try to unravel Alexa's past to discover what secrets she might have and not remember or not say, they travel to Northern California which is also Mason's home turf. She needs to see her parents since her father has had a recent heart attack and is being harassed at work in the hopes that he will resign his teaching position. 

Problems with her sponsor and problems with her family add a lot of stress to Mason's investigation. Luckily, she has the help of Juliet Mann and her eccentric cast of associates as they unravel old secrets and new ones too.

I enjoyed the large cast of interesting characters. I like the relationships between them all. The mystery was also satisfyingly complex. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.