We love a cozy mystery and we LOVE to hate mlms. This book is so funny and so unique while shedding light on the VERY predatory practices of multi level marketing companies.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Death in the Downline! This book was a wickedly clever and darkly funny mystery that hooked me from the start. Drew’s journey back to her small New Jersey hometown felt raw and relatable, and her dive into the glitzy, cult-like world of LuminUS was as hilarious as it was unsettling. The author did a phenomenal job skewering MLM culture with sharp wit and laugh-out-loud moments, while also weaving a compelling murder mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. The dynamic between the characters added depth to the story, highlighting the complexities of friendship and ambition. Equal parts satirical and suspenseful, this is a must-read for fans of biting social commentary wrapped in a page-turning whodunit. Highly recommend!

MLMs and murder??? I was so excited for this! For some reason MLMs have long fascinated me, and with more coming to light about their predatory and shady practices, there are so many interesting (and horrifying) stories coming out from previous members. Unfortunately, this didn't quite pull it off like I hoped it would, but I still appreciate what it was TRYING to do. Drew is newly single and newly unemployed when she moves in with her dad in New Jersey, at a total loss. She reconnects with Steph, a friend from high school with whom she had a falling out years ago. Of course, Steph has an AMAZING OPPORTUNITY for her with her direct marketing skincare company, LimunUS. You can imagine where things go from here. I just wish the writing would have been a bit better and the characters more developed, but this has promise!

I really enjoyed the premise of the book but felt that it missed the mark on all fronts - especially the plot twist.

A lot happened but we dipped so shallow each time that it felt as though someone was telling me the key story points, rather than me watching it unfold on the page.

MLM meets darkness and danger is right up my street, this book was very enjoyable and funny overall.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I’ve not been in someone’s downline, but I have been approached online with the same cringy script that promises my life will change if I just become my own boss selling someone else’s products.

That said, here is my honest review.

1) Talking about the negative impacts of MLMs is becoming more and more important as we are discovering how damaging on every level they can be. I am so grateful that there is media attempting to open conversations about it!

2) While the author is written to have some awareness of bigoted and racial stereotypes, they only keep their thoughts about what people say to the,selves and still nod along and respond with affirmations to just avoid the challenging conversation that can follow when you say something.

3) The plot has potential, but it takes too long to get to the inciting event and then the investigative part of the experience is rushed and shallow. With death in the title, the death needed to come way earlier in the book so we could all dig into the commentary around the problems with the company and the town as we investigated the deaths.

4) THE VILLAIN WAS THE HUSBAND?! I did not like this ending…
4a) Things are too convenient for the main character’s search for the truth. Cops not doing their jobs but only kinda mentioning that they might be buddies with the bad guy. People spilling their guts to her about convenient pieces of information. It just all works a little too well.

5) This is a super fast read (and I’m a medium? paced reader). I read it with my brain on and active (building theories!) and still flew through it in a weekend!

With some plot reorganizing and some more boldness from the main character in moments that deserved it. I would’ve enjoyed her as arc much more.

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
This was a great read - pacy and modern with enough new information coming in to keep the reader hooked. Unlike some of the characters, there’s no filler here. I would say it’s not really a murder mystery in the traditional sense, but very enjoyable nonetheless. If you enjoyed books like Counterfeit or Cover Story, I think you’ll find a lot to like here.

Probably the funniest murder mystery you’ll read this year, Death in the Downline is a thriller which pokes fun at your favourite MLM huns.

If you grew up in a small town, you’ll be sure to recognise the frequent “Hey Hun” messages and crushed velvet interiors in this novel, all wrapped up in a gripping thriller / murder mystery format. This book kept me engaged from cover to cover, with twists you never saw coming (and a few that you did), showcasing the dark-side of the pyramid marketing world.

If you're a fan of Self Care by Leigh Stein, then Death in the Downline is perfect for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Maria Abrams takes readers on a rollercoaster of suspense, satire, and social commentary in *Death in the Downline*. Blending the allure and pitfalls of multi-level marketing (MLM) culture with a cozy murder mystery, this novel delivers an intriguing yet flawed narrative that critiques a predatory industry while providing a lighthearted and fast-paced read.

The story centres on Drew, a former journalist recently laid off from her BuzzFeed role, who finds herself moving back to her small hometown. Struggling to navigate unemployment, heartbreak, and life back with her father, Drew reconnects with her old best friend, Steph, whose life now revolves around LuminUS, a glossy MLM promising empowerment and financial success. What starts as a seemingly harmless “boss babe” lifestyle quickly spirals into something darker when one of the company’s sellers turns up dead, leaving Drew to uncover the disturbing secrets behind LuminUS and its too-good-to-be-true promises.

Abrams shines in her critique of MLMs, skillfully highlighting the financial and emotional exploitation they bring, especially to vulnerable women seeking stability. Through Drew’s perspective, the narrative dives into the façade of empowerment, the relentless hustle culture, and the dreams that MLM schemes manipulate to trap their participants. The faux Instagram posts and fake news articles scattered throughout the book are a clever and humorous addition, offering a meta nod to how MLMs thrive in the age of social media.

Despite its strong premise and engaging tone, *Death in the Downline* has its shortcomings. The pacing is uneven, with a slow start that delays the mystery's central conflict. By the time the stakes are raised, the resolution feels rushed, leaving the ending underwhelming. The plot flirts with deeper, conspiracy-like revelations but doesn’t fully deliver, leaving some threads untied and the ultimate reveal less impactful than it could have been.

The characterisation is also a mixed bag. Drew is a relatable and empathetic protagonist, and her evolving friendship with Steph provides a heartfelt subplot that adds depth to the narrative. However, many supporting characters feel one-dimensional, serving as placeholders rather than fully realised individuals. This detracts slightly from the emotional weight of the story and the richness of the small-town setting.

Nevertheless, Death in the Downline excels as a modern cozy mystery with a unique premise. It’s darkly funny and informative, offering biting social commentary on MLM culture without veering into preachiness. Fans of quick, entertaining reads with a touch of satire and intrigue will find plenty to enjoy here, especially those fascinated by the cult-like world of MLMs.

While it may not reinvent the cozy mystery genre, Death in the Downline is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, perfect for those looking for something light yet relevant. With its clever critique and engaging writing style, Maria Abrams proves she’s a voice worth watching in contemporary mystery fiction.

A hilarious, fast-paced page-turner that perfectly captures the experience of being approached by a #BossBabe. With sharp wit and empathy, it explores why and how vulnerable women get drawn into these schemes.

If you've ever been prey to an MLM or grew up in a hun infested small town, you will eat this right up. I was so intrigued by the premise of a mystery set around an MLM murder and this did not disappoint!

We follow Drew, a journalist recently let go from Buzzfeed, as she moves back in with her Dad from NYC to small town. Back home, recently single, unemployed and alone, she is enticed by the invitation to reconnect with an old friend over coffee. Quickly she realizes her old friend Steph is there to try and sell her some MLM BS. Drew is hurt, but finds herself in dire need of money and without a home once again.

I really wasn't sure what to expect from this and it exceeded my expectations. It really nailed the predatory aspect of MLMs in the right way. Dissecting the root evil of these creators and the victimhood deep behind the down lines. This dove deep into the questionable wellness products they sell, facade they put online, and debt they're willing to dig into to be 'part of the team'. I couldn't put this down and read it in one afternoon!

I'm almost morbidly fascinated with the cult-like nature of MLMs, so I was really interested by this book. This was a good book--fast paced with funny moments and characters that I found really compelling. This book could be a bit silly at times, and it wasn't exactly something that kept me on the edge of my seat, but I still had a good time. I had fun, and I got to scratch the itch that is my fascination of MLMs, so this was a fun read.

As a former victim of a Beautycounter sales pitch, this intrigued me from the jump! This was fast paced and fascinating- I imagine it to be not terribly far off from reality of the MLM world!

A comedic murder mystery about MLMs is very "sign-me-up" territory, and this one mostly delivered. It was a bit silly and predictable at times, but it was a fun book that can be read in a day or two, and it was highly enjoyable.

This book was so hilariously fun. Ever since I stumbled across r/antimlm and other snark pages on Reddit, I've been fascinated by MLMs and pyramid schemes, and how they prey on vulnerable women for the company's profit. Luckily no one I know personally has ever fallen victim to one and I'm too much of a homebody to be approached by MLM members, but they're so interesting to read about.

DEATH IN THE DOWNLINE is both a takedown of MLM culture and a fun cozy mystery. I found that the commentary on MLMs struck the perfect tone: the author is clear that the villains are those at the top of the pyramid. They've cultivated their scummy "networking" tactics to be hard to notice, and those who fall for it aren't stupid. The book is extremely informative but doesn't feel preachy.

I felt for our main character Drew--a desperate, out-of-work journalist--and enjoyed following along with her thought process as she realized that she had joined a pyramid scheme. I also enjoyed the progression of her friendship with Steph, especially how it resolved.

Give this one a read if you want to learn more about MLMs and their tactics while enjoying a fun cozy mystery.

Down on her luck, Drew moves back to her hometown, where she reconnects with her childhood best friend, Steph. As the two rekindle their friendship, Steph offers Drew the opportunity to join LuminUS, a skincare company that allows her to sell products and become her own boss, promising it would help get her back on her feet. Drew has her suspicions about the company, and it only gets worse when one of their sellers ends up dead.

This had a slow start, but once I got into it, it was really fun to follow along and watch as it all unraveled. It's nothing spectacular, but it definitely does its job, and it's an entertaining, quick read with an interesting plot. I do feel like it was a little underwhelming, as it sometimes felt like it was gearing up for something crazy to happen, but it... didn't. And the ending also felt somewhat very rushed, and not satisfying to me. It still was a very enjoyable, easy read, with a cast of interesting, vividly fleshed out characters, that were very fun to follow and try to understand. I appreciated the straightforward critique of MLM culture in general, and their predatory techniques. Overall, even with its flaws, it still was a really good time, and I would definitely recommend it.

Many thanks to Quirk Books & NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a very easy read. Perfect for anyone looking for a summer read. I thought it was quite enjoyable. Check it out!

I am the prime audience for this book. MLMs plus murder mystery??? Sign me up! Unfortunately, it didn't come together for me. The characters were flat, which I don't always mind for thrillers/mystery. However, the plot was not compelling or page-turning enough for me to not mind. The writing was alright but not great. Would have loved more humor to be infused into the book. That would have made it work a lot better for me. The reveals were not all that interesting or surprising. Not terrible, just not my favorite!

As someone who hasn't herself fallen victim to an MLM scam but knows people who have (luckily they got out before any significant damage was done), I REALLY enjoyed DEATH IN THE DOWNLINE. It has a lot of fun snark regarding MLM culture while also calling out how incredibly predatory they are, especially towards women in tight financial situations, and has a pretty solid mystery to. boot. I really liked watching Drew slowly piece together the secrets and dangers of LuminUS, and I also really liked her relationship with Steph and all of the earnest connection AND messiness that comes with time apart and a falling out that was never properly addressed. All in all a very enjoyable read and a fun one to start the New Year with!

Death in the Downline is not only an enjoyable read, but it turns a critical eye toward "boss babe" multi-level marketing culture. Would be a great snow day read!