LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK THAT MADE ME LOL SO HARD!💀🤭😂

I very rarely read cozy mysteries, but when I saw this anti-MLM cozy mystery I HAD TO READ! This book is snarky and funny, too relatable, and I absolutely love the (faux) true-crime podcast that is integrated into the story. I would love to hear this as an audiobook because of that specific feature!

⭐️DEATH IN THE DOWNLINE, out JAN 14th⭐️

Special thanks to @quirkbooks for access to the review copy of this book💕

It was a lot of fun - I'm a bit obsessed with MLM content and it's insanity, and this has all of the interesting intrigue. I did find it a little repetitive and the twists were pretty predictable but it was a good ride.

I featured this book at our Winter Book Buzz, a program where we book talk upcoming titles. I described it as LuLaRich meets Only Murders in the Building. It was a quick read and a fun mystery.

As soon as I saw the cover and title of this book, I knew I had to get my hands on it. This was the first wish I've been granted through Netgalley, so thank you to them and Quirk for the advanced copy.

I've been a second hand witness to how damaging MLM's can be. We all know someone in one, or have been in one ourselves. We've all gotten the DM's about embracing our potential to become boss babes. They've infiltrated our society as a whole, from Tupperware, to skin care, to leggings, to press on nails. The danger of them is real, if not as extreme as in this fictionalized story, but still real.

I loved this book and ate every minute up. I caught myself nodding along and going "yep, heard that line before," throughout the story.

If you haven't heard of this one yet, thank me later. Death in the Downline is what a good modern m*rder mystery is made of. It's the story I didn't know I had been needing.

I read half the story with my eyes and half with me ears on Spotify and let me just tell y'all, the audiobook is so well done. It's narrated by Megan Tusing and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ 4.5 stars (rounded to five)

I am so thankful to Quirk Books, Maria Abrams, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this book before it hits shelves on January 14, 2025. This book encapsulated true horror, and it really resonated with me.

This book gave me flashbacks to when MLMs were really popular. When harassment from #bossbabes ran rampant. What I really liked about this book was the fact that I could actually envision some of my own friends who gave in to the MLM hype. This book shows us exactly how the MLM industry preys upon people and tricks them into thinking they'll be wealthy when really it's bankrupting them - not only financially but mind, body, and soul.

I liked the social commentary and the drama more than the murder mystery but really I just loved this book!

I love those stories about pyramid schemes and MLMs, always wondering how people fall for the obvious sales pitch and lies; Im also a big fan of a crime thriller so when the two stories combined, I was in.

Drew has moved back home after her New York journalism career came to an abrupt halt. She has no job, no friends, is living with her dad in her childhood home - and no idea what she's going to do. She bumps into old best friend Steph, who tells about this amazing business opportunity, Luminus. Steph has everything going for her, she looks great, they have a huge house, brand new car, designer wardrobe and more, all thanks to Luminus.

Drew signs up and her world suddenly changes, she is enveloped in this whirlwind of Luminus meetings, pressure to sell, pressure to recruit, and constant social media posts. Everyone she meets is also involved in Luminus - Drew has no-one to turn to about her concerns.

And then comes the death; one of Drew's associates is found dead at a conference. Is it a tragic accident or something more suspicious?

Entertaining and eye-opening.

I'm obsessed with Multi-Level Marketing schemes and will read/watch any and all documentaries on the topic, so when I saw there was going to be a fictional story centered on the topic it was a no-brainer I needed to read it.

LuminUs is the name of the game and becoming a top-level LuminUS lady is the goal. Yeah, it gives me the ick too!

I absolutely loved how Abrams brought LuminUS to life and all of the women working at the organization. There is everyone from your average participant (Steph) to your skeptic (Drew) to your Queen Bee (Leah). There is so much cringe, but also so much reality. Who here has been a victim of receiving a facebook invite to attend someone’s “product party”?? Yeah, same!

All of that is here, plus a murder mystery! I will say it does take a bit for the actual murdering and mysterying of the story to get started, but there is so much happening that it doesn’t feel like a drag.

❗ When I went to drop my review on Goodreads I saw that this book is listed as the first in a series, so I’m thinking the backstory was maybe needed for future books? Or will there be more MLMs to investigate? Either way, I’ll be stalking for book two’s release date!

I absolutely despise MLMs, so this was a fun read. Little bummed on the reveal of the killer, but overall fun quick read!

Tons of fun, if not the sharpest mystery. The depiction of the MLM was spot on from the crappy products to the Stepford "independent consultants". Things got a little extreme with the level of injury from the products, but I just went along for the ride. I was a little surprised that the killer ended up being who our main character thought it was toward the end because I was expecting a twist there, so the resolution to the two murders ended up a little unsatisfying for me. I also think you might be confused by some of the MLM jargon if you were not already familiar with their terms before going into the book as none of that is explained. Our main character mentions being lost in initial conversations with the huns, but then we never see a scene where she learns what the terms mean.

It was so fun to see our "Hey hun!" internet reality reflected in a cozy mystery, and I so related to the main character's insecurities. A fun read!

This was a fun cozy mystery about the dangers of multi-level marketing companies and their predatory nature! I thought it was well written and kept me on my toes.

I love stories about MLMs, I feel like it isn’t talked enough how friggin weird they are. This book was good and fun!!

4 Stars for this fun and funny murder mystery!

The scene is a familiar one: A woman running back to her home town with her tail between her legs, looking for purpose and validation only to then run into her former bestie who not only looks AMAZING but seems happier than Drew could ever dream? Unfair. Uncool. Unacceptable. Except said ex friend is more than willing to tell the secret: an MLM company called LuminUs. But when people start dropping like flies, this new #BossBabe needs to uncover the (even darker) secrets of the company before its too late.

I've seen people lauding this as "cozy horror" and I absolutely agree. It definitely gets darker in spots than you would expect for a murder mystery based around MLM culture. Which, as we know, doesn' need any help painting itself as both bizarre and insideous. There was just something -fun- about this book. I loved the voice, I think Maria Abrams had a solid grasp on what this story was and where she wanted it to go. It runs slow at times, but that didn't detract from the experience to me (and definitely settles this more into 'mystery' rather than 'thriller' by that trait). If you want a soapy read to breeze through, pick this one up!

It feels weird to describe a murder mystery as “delightful”, but Death in the Downline truly was! The characters were simple yet compelling and the twists were well executed. Need more books like this ASAP

Maria Abram’s Death in the Downline is a compelling thriller that delves into the manipulative and dangerous world of multi-level marketing schemes. The story follows Drew, a young woman desperate to support herself and her ailing father after a long string of rejections in the job market. When she crosses paths with her glamorous, successful former best friend, now thriving thanks to the wellness MLM LuminUS, Drew reluctantly joins despite her skepticism.

What unfolds is a gripping exploration of the pressures and pitfalls of MLM culture. From the crushing debt incurred to afford starter kits and inventory, to the relentless expectation of social media self-promotion and cold-messaging distant acquaintances, Abram paints a vivid and unsettling picture of how people are drawn in and trapped.

The tension ratchets up when Drew discovers the cracks beneath LuminUS’s polished surface, culminating in a shocking murder that shatters the illusion of the perfect MLM lifestyle. The novel deftly balances Drew’s personal struggles with sharp commentary on exploitation, manipulation, and desperation that underpin these schemes.

While the pacing slows slightly during some of the MLM-related exposition, the authentic and relatable portrayal of Drew’s journey keeps the story engaging. If you’re fascinated by the world of MLMs or enjoy thrillers with a social edge, Death in the Downline is an exciting and thought-provoking read.

I need more books about MLMs! This clearly captured “hun” culture as I felt like I was watching stories of Beachbody ladies from 2014 lol. The characters were unique even though they all were following the same script. If you enjoy this one (you will!) make sure you check out the Luluaroe documentary, aptly titled LulaRich, which was very well done.

For me the biggest marker of a five-star book is when I lose sleep because I just can’t put it down. This book is a popcorn thriller that is somehow still thought provoking and funny. I felt that the twist was really well done because it fit so well with the story as a whole. It felt authentic.

The book is a thriller based around a popular MLM. Drew is desperate to find a job to support herself and her ailing father with no luck, when she bumps into her old best friend, who is living an expansive, glamorous lifestyle thanks to LuminUS, a wellness MLM. She is extremely skeptical but reluctantly joins because she feels like she has no other option.

Drew’s story reflects on a lot of issues prevalent in MLMs, from going into debt to afford a starter kit and product, to being expected to post constantly on social media and cold messaging of people you haven’t seen in years. If MLMs are of interest to you, this is a really fun read.

I loved this book! Laugh out loud hilarious. As a former MLM’er this book hit everything about them out of the park . The jargon that is used right down to the “posts” .
I hope the author writes another. One .

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. A good thriller that should entertain anyone whose ever gotten a "hi girly" message from someone they haven't spoken to in 20 years. One note - palette is for paints, palate is for food