The Guncle meets Every Time I Go On Vacation Someone Dies in this fun, twisty mystery following a spoiled nepo baby forced to work at a struggling summer camp who stumbles into a real-life murder mystery he has no choice but to solve.

Rustic cabins. Lakefront bonfires. A painfully hot lifeguard. And a murder? Summer has never been this camp.

Mikey Hartford IV has coasted through his twenties in a distracted blur of yachts and sex and partying. But when his father discovers his latest million-dollar impulse buy and changes the terms of his trust, the party’s finally over. Now, unless Mikey can make a positive contribution to the world before his thirtieth birthday—one that doesn’t involve throwing cash at his problems—he’ll never see another yacht again. (Or even so much as a canoe.)

Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York where Mikey has to work as the oldest, least-qualified staffer to prove that he can “do good” alongside his twelve-year-old aunt. (Yes, aunt.) But Mikey isn’t sure he’ll be able to survive the camp’s ramshackle living conditions, let alone the gaggle of preteens who won’t leave his side. And when his campers become obsessed with a local legend set at an abandoned cabin on the grounds, Mikey’s chances of not making it through the summer become dangerously real—because it turns out there’s a murder hidden beneath Camp Lore. And someone there will stop at nothing to keep it that way.

Solving a decade-old cold case will surely be enough “good” for Mikey to earn his inheritance. He just has to stay alive long enough to do it…

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

This book is exactly what it promises to be. Campy, funny, queer, and self-aware. I’ve enjoyed every Nicolas DiDomizio book I’ve read so far, and this one was no exception. This time around, he steps away from the rom-com structure and leans fully into a cozy-ish murder mystery with a heavy dose of humor and nostalgia.

The main character, Mikey Hartford IV, is essentially the gay millennial version of Cher Horowitz from Clueless. He’s a spoiled nepo baby who has coasted through life on family money, charm, and minimal self-reflection. When his father finally cuts him off unless he proves he can “do good” in the world, Mikey is sent to Camp Lore, a struggling summer camp in upstate New York. This alone is enough to put him wildly out of his depth, but things escalate when a long-buried murder tied to the camp resurfaces.

Mikey is hilarious. He’s shallow, dramatic, self-absorbed, and surprisingly self-aware and unbothered about all of it. Watching him slowly stumble toward growth without losing his personality is part of the fun. DiDomizio doesn’t sand down Mikey’s edges. He lets him remain ridiculous while still giving him just enough heart to keep you invested.

The supporting cast is equally entertaining. There’s a mix of camp staff, preteens, locals, and a painfully hot lifeguard, all contributing to the tone without overwhelming the story. I especially enjoyed the 90s nostalgia sprinkled throughout. It never felt forced or gimmicky. It simply reinforced the playful, throwback vibe the book is going for.

This is not a tense, edge-of-your-seat thriller, and it doesn’t pretend to be. The mystery is meant to be fun, not harrowing. I figured out who was likely behind the murder about halfway through, but that didn’t bother me. The enjoyment here comes from the journey, the banter, and the ridiculousness of Mikey and a group of pre-teens trying to play amateur detective while barely surviving camp life.

There’s also a light “will they or won’t they” romance woven in, which balances the mystery nicely. It doesn’t dominate the plot, but it adds warmth and stakes in a way that fits the overall tone. DiDomizio has always been good at writing romantic tension, and even though this isn’t a rom-com, that skill still shows up in smaller, effective ways.

The pacing is spot on. The book moves quickly without feeling rushed, and the humor never undercuts the mystery completely. Even when things get serious, there’s always an undercurrent of levity that keeps it firmly in camp territory. The setting itself, a rundown summer camp with a local legend and an abandoned cabin, is perfect for this kind of story.

What I appreciate most is that the book knows exactly what it is. It’s not trying to reinvent the mystery genre or shock you with darkness. It’s a cozy, campy murder mystery with queer characters, pop culture flair, and a lot of heart. That confidence makes it work. This book is fun from start to finish. If you’re looking for something light, funny, and entertaining with a murder mystery at its core, this is a great pick. Just don’t go in expecting a gritty thriller. Go in expecting camp. Lots of it.