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Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds
In this sun-dappled mystery from New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan, a risk-averse bibliophile gets in over her head when strange notes in a book draw her into a real-life investigation.
Mia Crawford is responsible to a fault. She has to be. Between her high-demand job and taking care of her grandmother and her cats, she has little time for anything else. What time she does have, she pours into reading. Mysteries, romances, thrillers…books filled with women who are far more impulsive than she would ever dream of being. Now, forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself—for a little while, anyway. She can explore the island. Flirt shamelessly with a cute bartender. Have a vacation fling. Live like a heroine in one of her favorite novels.
Or she can curl up with a good book on the beach. Turns out reinventing yourself is easier planned than done. But when gossipy notes written in the margins of an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself diving headfirst into a dangerous adventure. With everyone at the resort hiding secrets of their own, she’ll have to solve this real-life mystery before she becomes the next target.
Mia Crawford is responsible to a fault. She has to be. Between her high-demand job and taking care of her grandmother and her cats, she has little time for anything else. What time she does have, she pours into reading. Mysteries, romances, thrillers…books filled with women who are far more impulsive than she would ever dream of being. Now, forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself—for a little while, anyway. She can explore the island. Flirt shamelessly with a cute bartender. Have a vacation fling. Live like a heroine in one of her favorite novels.
Or she can curl up with a good book on the beach. Turns out reinventing yourself is easier planned than done. But when gossipy notes written in the margins of an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself diving headfirst into a dangerous adventure. With everyone at the resort hiding secrets of their own, she’ll have to solve this real-life mystery before she becomes the next target.
390 pages, Hardcover
First published June 17, 2025
333 people are currently reading
17235 people want to read
About the author
Allison Brennan
109 books5,037 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes that life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through 카지노싸이트 or her website.
In 2019, Allison relocated from Northern California to Arizona with her family and assorted pets. She loves baseball, hiking, family game night, and (of course) reading.
RT Book Reviews called Allison “a master of suspense” and her books “haunting,” “mesmerizing,” “pulse-pounding” and “emotionally complex.” She's been nominated for many awards, and is a three time winner of the Reviewer's Choice award winner for RT Book Reviews as well as the Daphne du Maurier award. Most recently, she was nominated for Best Paperback Original by International Thriller Writers.
With over 45 books and dozens of short stories, Allison is writing multiple series and the occasional stand alone thriller. Her most recent book out now is THE MISSING WITNESS, part of the Quinn & Costa series. In June Allison is launching a new Phoenix-set series about a family of private investigators starting with YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME.
You can reach Allison through 카지노싸이트 or her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
June 8, 2025
♡ thank you to Harlequin Publishing and Allison Brennan for an ARC of this book! ♡
5/5 ⭐️
when i tell you, this book had me from the beginning & NEVER lost me.. this was the perfect mix of romance & mystery (my two favs) and i cannot think of a better book similar to this one!
📖 plot & pace: mia is forced to take a week long vacation by her employer. she hasn't taken a vacation in years and was just offered a promotion. she reluctantly takes the vacation to St. Claire, but when she arrives, she learns of a fellow visitor vanishing just the day before. she picks up a book from the gift shop from a table of books left behind by guests, and she soon realizes this book came from that missing guest.. and she's left clues to her disappearance.
even from chapter one, i was ENTICED by this book. there were so many twists and layers to this story that al flowed together SO WELL. the pacing was a perfect mix of fast and slow.
👥 characters: our FMC mia is such a perfect amateur sleuth. she almost backs out of the mystery but her morals prevent it. she meets so many great people on the island, like brie and jason. there's also some unlikeable characters (expected with an island full of rich, snobby people), but they just blended with the plot so well. i thought the characters were very well developed and all felt purposeful.
🤩 tropes: amateur sleuth, blackmail, rich people drama, everyone's a suspect
okay.. wow. i'll never shut up about this book, hope that's okay😆 this is a book i could read over & over without getting tired! i'm craving more 💕
5/5 ⭐️
when i tell you, this book had me from the beginning & NEVER lost me.. this was the perfect mix of romance & mystery (my two favs) and i cannot think of a better book similar to this one!
📖 plot & pace: mia is forced to take a week long vacation by her employer. she hasn't taken a vacation in years and was just offered a promotion. she reluctantly takes the vacation to St. Claire, but when she arrives, she learns of a fellow visitor vanishing just the day before. she picks up a book from the gift shop from a table of books left behind by guests, and she soon realizes this book came from that missing guest.. and she's left clues to her disappearance.
even from chapter one, i was ENTICED by this book. there were so many twists and layers to this story that al flowed together SO WELL. the pacing was a perfect mix of fast and slow.
👥 characters: our FMC mia is such a perfect amateur sleuth. she almost backs out of the mystery but her morals prevent it. she meets so many great people on the island, like brie and jason. there's also some unlikeable characters (expected with an island full of rich, snobby people), but they just blended with the plot so well. i thought the characters were very well developed and all felt purposeful.
🤩 tropes: amateur sleuth, blackmail, rich people drama, everyone's a suspect
okay.. wow. i'll never shut up about this book, hope that's okay😆 this is a book i could read over & over without getting tired! i'm craving more 💕
April 14, 2025
Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds was a very mysterious fictional novel! It also came with thriller and romance! This was a fun, easy book to read. A woman named Mia goes on vacation on a fancy private island, a much needed getaway from her real day to day life. She loves to read and gets lost in her books, while being on this vacation.
Then something happens and she must get to the bottom of it! The lovely vacation turns upside down when someone was murdered there. As Mia starts to dig into what’s really happening, she discovers that this beautiful resort is full of hidden secrets! I think this book was very well written, it captured my full attention and the characters in this story were full of depth. A mystery book with thriller and romance is a completely new take on mixing genres together, yet it was perfectly done! Be sure to read the content warnings before reading this book. Overall, I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Allison Brennan and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!
This book is expected to be published on June 17, 2025!
Then something happens and she must get to the bottom of it! The lovely vacation turns upside down when someone was murdered there. As Mia starts to dig into what’s really happening, she discovers that this beautiful resort is full of hidden secrets! I think this book was very well written, it captured my full attention and the characters in this story were full of depth. A mystery book with thriller and romance is a completely new take on mixing genres together, yet it was perfectly done! Be sure to read the content warnings before reading this book. Overall, I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Allison Brennan and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!
This book is expected to be published on June 17, 2025!
June 12, 2025
3.5 stars rounded to a 3
This is a perfect beach read. A little mystery, a little romance, all set on a picture perfect island. It was fairly predictable, and I found it to be a slow read in the middle, but the end has you flipping pages because it picks up nicely. Definitely a nice, easy read. And, something quite different for this author.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a perfect beach read. A little mystery, a little romance, all set on a picture perfect island. It was fairly predictable, and I found it to be a slow read in the middle, but the end has you flipping pages because it picks up nicely. Definitely a nice, easy read. And, something quite different for this author.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 18, 2025
Mia Crawford is on what most would consider a dream vacation in the Caribbean. Mia as a careful planner, wouldn’t have splurged on such an extravagance if her work didn’t insist. Even so, she slowly unwinds and can’t help but soak in all the beauty, even with the news of a missing guest. Mia also can’t help but be drawn to the sweet and sexy bartender, Jason.
Things get interesting when she borrows a book for a beach read and finds notations about all the guests written in some kind of code. She starts to suspect that the notes are tied to the missing woman. Curiosity sparked, Mia starts asking questions about the missing woman, ruffling feathers in the process.
I enjoyed Mia’s friendship with eighteen-year-old Brie, a sort of sidekick in her mystery solving. In addition to finding out what happened to Diana, they teamed up to expose the gold-digging girlfriend of Brie’s father and I was really invested in their success. The girlfriend was awful! Mia had a methodical way of approaching the investigation I appreciated.
Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds was a fun and engrossing cozy mystery and romance! Mia’s romance with Jason gave her a fresh perspective on life, inspiring her to live with more gusto rather than always playing it safe. While the romance wasn’t front and center, it was spicy and just the right amount, IMO.
I alternately read and listened to Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds and can recommend either version. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Vanessa Johansson’s narration in the past and I thought she performed all voices, male and female wonderfully!
I voluntarily read/listened to an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Things get interesting when she borrows a book for a beach read and finds notations about all the guests written in some kind of code. She starts to suspect that the notes are tied to the missing woman. Curiosity sparked, Mia starts asking questions about the missing woman, ruffling feathers in the process.
I enjoyed Mia’s friendship with eighteen-year-old Brie, a sort of sidekick in her mystery solving. In addition to finding out what happened to Diana, they teamed up to expose the gold-digging girlfriend of Brie’s father and I was really invested in their success. The girlfriend was awful! Mia had a methodical way of approaching the investigation I appreciated.
Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds was a fun and engrossing cozy mystery and romance! Mia’s romance with Jason gave her a fresh perspective on life, inspiring her to live with more gusto rather than always playing it safe. While the romance wasn’t front and center, it was spicy and just the right amount, IMO.
I alternately read and listened to Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds and can recommend either version. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Vanessa Johansson’s narration in the past and I thought she performed all voices, male and female wonderfully!
I voluntarily read/listened to an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
June 30, 2025
the setup…
Mia Crawford is a successful financial planner at a crossroads in her life as she approaches her thirtieth birthday. Facing a serious promotion, she takes time off for an extended stay at the exclusive St. Claire island in the Caribbean, actually forced upon her by her well-meaning boss. He and her friends recognize she needs more in her life than work so Mia plans to make the most of it, hoping for the proverbial fling. But she can’t resist curling up with a good mystery thriller and picks up a book from the free table at the island gift shop. As she gets into the book, she can’t ignore the cryptic notes that the previous owner wrote in the margins and soon discovers that they are meaningful and may belong to the woman who recently went missing.
the heart of the story…
Mia loves thriller novels and decides to become an amateur sleuth after finding that book. It leads to some dangerous mishaps, curious alliances and a budding romance with Jason, a handsome bartender. This has all the feels of a cozy mystery, which isn’t my favorite, with lots of viable suspects among the island guests. But it was fun and sometimes a bit slapstick but always entertaining.
the narration…
Vanessa Johansson was a perfect choice for this mystery style, keeping things lighthearted and airy. She epitomized Mia.
the bottom line…
I’m a diehard fan of Brennan and will always read any story she writes, even if cozy mysteries aren’t typically my cuppa. That said, I found this highly entertaining and got caught up in the whodunnit aspects. The romance has that instalove feel but it fit with the story. I kind of guessed the big twist before the reveal but not the central mystery. Nicely done!
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Mia Crawford is a successful financial planner at a crossroads in her life as she approaches her thirtieth birthday. Facing a serious promotion, she takes time off for an extended stay at the exclusive St. Claire island in the Caribbean, actually forced upon her by her well-meaning boss. He and her friends recognize she needs more in her life than work so Mia plans to make the most of it, hoping for the proverbial fling. But she can’t resist curling up with a good mystery thriller and picks up a book from the free table at the island gift shop. As she gets into the book, she can’t ignore the cryptic notes that the previous owner wrote in the margins and soon discovers that they are meaningful and may belong to the woman who recently went missing.
the heart of the story…
Mia loves thriller novels and decides to become an amateur sleuth after finding that book. It leads to some dangerous mishaps, curious alliances and a budding romance with Jason, a handsome bartender. This has all the feels of a cozy mystery, which isn’t my favorite, with lots of viable suspects among the island guests. But it was fun and sometimes a bit slapstick but always entertaining.
the narration…
Vanessa Johansson was a perfect choice for this mystery style, keeping things lighthearted and airy. She epitomized Mia.
the bottom line…
I’m a diehard fan of Brennan and will always read any story she writes, even if cozy mysteries aren’t typically my cuppa. That said, I found this highly entertaining and got caught up in the whodunnit aspects. The romance has that instalove feel but it fit with the story. I kind of guessed the big twist before the reveal but not the central mystery. Nicely done!
(Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
May 14, 2025
Forgive me friends, I feel obligated to write a longer review because I received this ARC via NetGalley to give my honest opinion before this book’s release date.
Let me paint a picture. I join NetGalley to feel like a proper book reviewer and get excited about my first ARC approval!! The book I had requested had a sparkling review from an author I liked so I felt excited to read the book. The excitement quickly dies down within the first few chapters. I found the main character to be an incredibly huge pick me, scouring the island immediately for single hunky prey but (whomp whomp) everyone on the island is taken. This workaholic is then trying solve who murdered a woman who washed up on the beach during her vacation.
Now… I have read romance and I have read murder mystery…. Do I think these genres ~could~ combine.. sure… maybe? Do I think you have to walk a pretty thin line to make sure it’s not a weird and jarring when you are panning back and forth between romance and murder.. absolutely! I found this book incredibly jarring that the main character was absolutely lusting after someone and then in the next breath trying to solve the mystery of who murdered this woman. Maybe I am sensitive but it was startling to have this woman describing her sexual fantasies while self investigating a murder.
I also felt like there were a few things that were sprinkled throughout the book that I thought COULD lead to something but then never did.
I don’t even want to talk about the ending except that I had a visceral reaction to it and I could feel my body actively rejecting it.
I found this book grueling to get through and I do not recommend it for people who have similar book taste as me.
Trust me when I say I feel bad about writing something negative about something I got an ARC of… I’m so sorry!
Let me paint a picture. I join NetGalley to feel like a proper book reviewer and get excited about my first ARC approval!! The book I had requested had a sparkling review from an author I liked so I felt excited to read the book. The excitement quickly dies down within the first few chapters. I found the main character to be an incredibly huge pick me, scouring the island immediately for single hunky prey but (whomp whomp) everyone on the island is taken. This workaholic is then trying solve who murdered a woman who washed up on the beach during her vacation.
Now… I have read romance and I have read murder mystery…. Do I think these genres ~could~ combine.. sure… maybe? Do I think you have to walk a pretty thin line to make sure it’s not a weird and jarring when you are panning back and forth between romance and murder.. absolutely! I found this book incredibly jarring that the main character was absolutely lusting after someone and then in the next breath trying to solve the mystery of who murdered this woman. Maybe I am sensitive but it was startling to have this woman describing her sexual fantasies while self investigating a murder.
I also felt like there were a few things that were sprinkled throughout the book that I thought COULD lead to something but then never did.
I don’t even want to talk about the ending except that I had a visceral reaction to it and I could feel my body actively rejecting it.
I found this book grueling to get through and I do not recommend it for people who have similar book taste as me.
Trust me when I say I feel bad about writing something negative about something I got an ARC of… I’m so sorry!
April 24, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and MIRA for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mia is reluctantly made to go on an all expenses paid vacation to a private island before she is made partner. The horror I know. She plans to spend the time relaxing, reading, and just maybe a little flirting. But when Mia stumbles upon notes written in a book, by a murdered woman, she finds herself trying to solve a mystery.
This would be a good beach or pool side read. A mix of mystery and slow burn romance with a hot bartender.
Mia is reluctantly made to go on an all expenses paid vacation to a private island before she is made partner. The horror I know. She plans to spend the time relaxing, reading, and just maybe a little flirting. But when Mia stumbles upon notes written in a book, by a murdered woman, she finds herself trying to solve a mystery.
This would be a good beach or pool side read. A mix of mystery and slow burn romance with a hot bartender.
Read
June 7, 2025DNF. profanity
June 18, 2025
The publication date of this wonderful Beach Read comes right before my annual Colorado River Ski Trip, and I can't think of a more wonderful author to take with me on my own beach adventure!
I am normally not a fan of first person, contemporary romance, but Allison Brennan is a masterful author and can make this mix of different genres work and work brilliantly. Mia, as the main character is just a wonderful mixture of likeable, relatable, determined, smart and very savvy. She is a great narrator for this story, but I really did miss having other points of view, especially Jason's. Oh, Jason. Wow. How could Mia not fall for the hot, adventure loving bartender? I had my doubts, but how could Mia not fall for him especially when he is exactly the romantic fling she came on this vacation to find. The mystery and all the sub-plots were so fun to follow and worked well with the romance. The twist ending was, while not exactly a surprise, fun to see play out to make this a fantastic beach read.
Mia Crawford is on, not exactly a forced vacation, but her boss is paying for her to spend a week at the exclusive island resort of St. Clare in the Caribbean. During this time away, Mia wants a fling and to make some firm decisions about her future, one she isn't exactly excited about. When she comes upon a tattered paperback book on the share table it sets her vacation on a whole different course. Discovering a body while on a midnight swim with Jason, the sexy bartender, definitely wasn't on her list of vacations plans.
She soon learns that the missing resort guest, Diana Harden, was murdered and as Mia reads the book she found, she begins to realize that the notes in the margins are from Diana, and they intrigue Mia. Overheard conversations and attempting to unravel the book's code send her and young friend, Brie, on a mission to find who killed Diana and uncover the secrets Diana hid in the book. Mia, being an avid mystery reader, is all about solving this real-life mystery. Finding romance along the way is just a wonderful plot twist.
My thanks to the Publisher and the author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
I am normally not a fan of first person, contemporary romance, but Allison Brennan is a masterful author and can make this mix of different genres work and work brilliantly. Mia, as the main character is just a wonderful mixture of likeable, relatable, determined, smart and very savvy. She is a great narrator for this story, but I really did miss having other points of view, especially Jason's. Oh, Jason. Wow. How could Mia not fall for the hot, adventure loving bartender? I had my doubts, but how could Mia not fall for him especially when he is exactly the romantic fling she came on this vacation to find. The mystery and all the sub-plots were so fun to follow and worked well with the romance. The twist ending was, while not exactly a surprise, fun to see play out to make this a fantastic beach read.
Mia Crawford is on, not exactly a forced vacation, but her boss is paying for her to spend a week at the exclusive island resort of St. Clare in the Caribbean. During this time away, Mia wants a fling and to make some firm decisions about her future, one she isn't exactly excited about. When she comes upon a tattered paperback book on the share table it sets her vacation on a whole different course. Discovering a body while on a midnight swim with Jason, the sexy bartender, definitely wasn't on her list of vacations plans.
She soon learns that the missing resort guest, Diana Harden, was murdered and as Mia reads the book she found, she begins to realize that the notes in the margins are from Diana, and they intrigue Mia. Overheard conversations and attempting to unravel the book's code send her and young friend, Brie, on a mission to find who killed Diana and uncover the secrets Diana hid in the book. Mia, being an avid mystery reader, is all about solving this real-life mystery. Finding romance along the way is just a wonderful plot twist.
My thanks to the Publisher and the author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
June 20, 2025
I loved this! It’s a great summer beach read. A little romance, some mystery, and a beautiful island filled with some interesting people. A lot are unlikable, but some good ones too.
June 11, 2025
Review coming soon.
June 17, 2025
I have read all of Allison Brennan’s romantic suspense series, so I wasn’t sure what to make of a new contemporary romance-mystery. Let me just say that the author hit it out of the park with this humorous, witty and serious at times mystery. Mia Crawford is totally relatable, a workaholic who is an accountant and thinks that details matter. Coerced into taking a special vacation to a private island, Mia isn’t sure what she will do there but she soon finds herself solving a murder mystery, helping a teen with dad issues, counseling a gay couple and maybe, just a little, falling head over heels for the bartender who flirts with her. The action is non-stop, the pacing is quick and perfect and the characters are mostly lovable and all realistic. The story is absorbing, with secrets and clues and twists galore. I really enjoyed this book and hope it will be the first of many in this genre for this author. The ending was perfect and I think that all readers will appreciate the theme of self-discovery and being willing to change if change is the best choice.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
May 25, 2025
Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan is the ideal summer mystery—smart, sexy, and just the right amount of sinister. Set on a sun-drenched private island, this novel blends a cozy whodunit with a slow-burn romance, all told through the eyes of Mia Crawford, a hard-working, no-nonsense woman who’s forced to take a break from her controlled, over-scheduled life.
Mia thinks she’s just here to relax: maybe flirt, maybe read, definitely not solve a murder. But when she stumbles upon a beat-up paperback with cryptic notes in the margins, her curiosity kicks in—and when a fellow guest goes missing, curiosity turns into full-on sleuth mode.
The pacing starts off easy like any good vacation but soon spirals into suspense, with hidden agendas, shady resort staff, and secrets hiding behind every palm tree. The bookish angle (clues inside a novel) adds a unique twist, and the tropical setting isn’t just window dressing—it becomes an active part of the plot’s tension and isolation.
Mia is a relatable heroine: book-smart, hesitant, and completely out of her element—but never foolish. Her chemistry with Jason, the island’s charming bartender with secrets of his own, adds a romantic layer that doesn’t overpower the mystery but enhances it. If you’ve ever wished your favorite beach read would come to life—this is the story for you.
With notes of The White Lotus, Only Murders in the Building, and classic romantic suspense, Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is escapist fiction done right. While it may not offer mind-bending twists, it knows exactly what it wants to be: clever, fun, atmospheric, and just dark enough to keep the pages turning long after sunset.
Mia thinks she’s just here to relax: maybe flirt, maybe read, definitely not solve a murder. But when she stumbles upon a beat-up paperback with cryptic notes in the margins, her curiosity kicks in—and when a fellow guest goes missing, curiosity turns into full-on sleuth mode.
The pacing starts off easy like any good vacation but soon spirals into suspense, with hidden agendas, shady resort staff, and secrets hiding behind every palm tree. The bookish angle (clues inside a novel) adds a unique twist, and the tropical setting isn’t just window dressing—it becomes an active part of the plot’s tension and isolation.
Mia is a relatable heroine: book-smart, hesitant, and completely out of her element—but never foolish. Her chemistry with Jason, the island’s charming bartender with secrets of his own, adds a romantic layer that doesn’t overpower the mystery but enhances it. If you’ve ever wished your favorite beach read would come to life—this is the story for you.
With notes of The White Lotus, Only Murders in the Building, and classic romantic suspense, Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is escapist fiction done right. While it may not offer mind-bending twists, it knows exactly what it wants to be: clever, fun, atmospheric, and just dark enough to keep the pages turning long after sunset.
June 18, 2025
The perfect mix of romance + murder mystery! The FMC is a bibliophile that stumbles upon a book left by a missing guest with mysterious clues left in the margins. I loved the FMC in this one and her side amateur sleuthing was so relatable. If you love romance and mystery, you’ll want this for your summer TBR!
June 26, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Allison Brennan and and Harlequin publishing for this ARC! ❤️
This was a really fun summer read.. Beachy, a little sexy, a whole lotta Whodunnit. If you are up for a fast paced, true crime summer read, this is it. Lots of fun characters and it will keep you guessing until the end. I absolutely love when a MC is a fellow book lover and this woven through the entire story. Solid 3.5 star read!
This was a really fun summer read.. Beachy, a little sexy, a whole lotta Whodunnit. If you are up for a fast paced, true crime summer read, this is it. Lots of fun characters and it will keep you guessing until the end. I absolutely love when a MC is a fellow book lover and this woven through the entire story. Solid 3.5 star read!
June 21, 2025
3.75 rounded up. I liked the book quotes at the beginning on each chapter. It was a faced paced cozy set in St. John- so beach 🏖️ and ocean mischief.
June 27, 2025
Possibly 2.5 stars to be generous. I really thought this was going to be a cozy mystery with some romance but IMO I found it to be a romance with a side story of a mystery. I’m really not interested in how many orgasms someone has. I had to fast forward through many parts after a while. As for the mystery part (which was interspersed with the sex scenes) - it was just ‘eh’. Too much going on to even care.
So for me- a waste of time.
So for me- a waste of time.
June 24, 2025
An overworked accountant and book influencer finally takes a vacation and stumbles into a real-life mystery. I'm loving how different it feels from anything else I’ve read lately!
This was such a fun summer listen. It’s a mix of romance and mystery, which I didn’t know I needed, but now I want more of. I was completely hooked right from the start. The story had a great vibe overall, but I will say it started to slow down about halfway through and dragged a little in spots.
That said, I loved the bookstagram references (so relatable!) and the book quotes sprinkled throughout.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an Advanced Listening Copy of this book!
This was such a fun summer listen. It’s a mix of romance and mystery, which I didn’t know I needed, but now I want more of. I was completely hooked right from the start. The story had a great vibe overall, but I will say it started to slow down about halfway through and dragged a little in spots.
That said, I loved the bookstagram references (so relatable!) and the book quotes sprinkled throughout.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an Advanced Listening Copy of this book!
June 11, 2025
This book had potential but fell pretty flat in all areas. After the 2nd mention of not wanting her promotion, I ended up skipping the paragraphs and paragraphs of internal thoughts around this – I got it the first time! Unfortunately the repetition didn't stop there, it was everything. Rehashing info she learned about the murder over and over, and just a slow unveiling for not a great reward at the end.
Don't even get me started on the love interest in this book, and the FMC being so obsessed with what her friends thought of her that she fell instantly in love with the first guy she saw.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Don't even get me started on the love interest in this book, and the FMC being so obsessed with what her friends thought of her that she fell instantly in love with the first guy she saw.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Want to read
May 24, 2025Sounds like the perfect summer beach read!
April 16, 2025
Super fun beachy mystery that gave me Veronica Mars vines and had a great romance! Quickly devoured while at the beach! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 29, 2025
Not sure why this was rated 1 star with no review haha. All I know is if she writes it, I will read it and I will love it!
June 25, 2025
3.5 stars.
Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced listener copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start off with things that I DID like. I like the quotes in the beginning of each chapter. I’ve read so many of these that I could place the book before the narrator could finish and say what book the quote was from, so I really enjoyed that. I enjoyed the setting, and the author provided wonderful imagery that really transported you to Saint Claire. I like the narrator, and enjoyed her accents for the guests. I liked that it was very Murder on the Orient Express where you think anyone can be guilty. I liked majority of the characters in general, even the ones you love to hate. I loveddd the big reveal of Ethan Valentine.
Okay moving on to things I didn’t love. I was bored for the first 30-40% of this book. The introduction of the guests just didn’t translate well into a book for me. I understand if this were a movie, you would need that exposition and introduction to the characters, but it was just very long winded. I didn’t like that Mia was just full blown head over heels for Jason immediately after making out with him at the lagoon, and felt like Jason was pretty love bomby. Mia also describes their connection as intellectual, and I didn’t get that vibe at all. If anything, both of them were straight up condescending to each other unless they were hooking up. If I’m being honest Mia is quite insufferable. Like I get the struggle of needing financial security, but wanting to be a free spirit… but Mia was just annoying and tired to me. The third act break up just made me angry… then showing up 6m later without a single breath of contact? And everything is fine?! Ugh!!! Hate!!!
I like the writing style for the most part, but often felt my mind drifting because I was bored with this whole story. There were plenty of action parts, so I’m not sure what exactly about this story that I didn’t love. But I did not love this book. It was just very meh to me.
The idea is there! It was pretty rom commy and might translate great as a screen write! I would definitely watch it. I just don’t think it was a great book if that makes sense. I would like to read more from this author and see if it was just this story or the writing style that I’m not down with!
I really only do extended reviews like this for ARCs. Had I read or listened to this outside of NetGalley I would’ve given it 3.5 stars and called it a day.
All in all: this was just a decent book for me. If you’re looking for a summer mystery read with a little steamy romance subplot, check this out!
Thank you NetGalley for providing an advanced listener copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start off with things that I DID like. I like the quotes in the beginning of each chapter. I’ve read so many of these that I could place the book before the narrator could finish and say what book the quote was from, so I really enjoyed that. I enjoyed the setting, and the author provided wonderful imagery that really transported you to Saint Claire. I like the narrator, and enjoyed her accents for the guests. I liked that it was very Murder on the Orient Express where you think anyone can be guilty. I liked majority of the characters in general, even the ones you love to hate. I loveddd the big reveal of Ethan Valentine.
Okay moving on to things I didn’t love. I was bored for the first 30-40% of this book. The introduction of the guests just didn’t translate well into a book for me. I understand if this were a movie, you would need that exposition and introduction to the characters, but it was just very long winded. I didn’t like that Mia was just full blown head over heels for Jason immediately after making out with him at the lagoon, and felt like Jason was pretty love bomby. Mia also describes their connection as intellectual, and I didn’t get that vibe at all. If anything, both of them were straight up condescending to each other unless they were hooking up. If I’m being honest Mia is quite insufferable. Like I get the struggle of needing financial security, but wanting to be a free spirit… but Mia was just annoying and tired to me. The third act break up just made me angry… then showing up 6m later without a single breath of contact? And everything is fine?! Ugh!!! Hate!!!
I like the writing style for the most part, but often felt my mind drifting because I was bored with this whole story. There were plenty of action parts, so I’m not sure what exactly about this story that I didn’t love. But I did not love this book. It was just very meh to me.
The idea is there! It was pretty rom commy and might translate great as a screen write! I would definitely watch it. I just don’t think it was a great book if that makes sense. I would like to read more from this author and see if it was just this story or the writing style that I’m not down with!
I really only do extended reviews like this for ARCs. Had I read or listened to this outside of NetGalley I would’ve given it 3.5 stars and called it a day.
All in all: this was just a decent book for me. If you’re looking for a summer mystery read with a little steamy romance subplot, check this out!
June 17, 2025
2.5/5
Oh my god, this woman is insufferable! She is the most annoying, pick-me, main character syndrome person I have ever read about. (It feels weird saying she has main character syndrome because she is the literal main character, but that's the energy she gives. If she were a real person you came across, you'd say she had main character syndrome.)
And will she just shut up with the "I could be having sex with Jason Mallory right now" or whatever his name is. I don't care that you be getting it on with some random man! I really don't care, that had nothing to do with anything!
Sorry that this is such a dramatic review but I was so disappointed in this book. I thought the cover was so cool, I really really love the design. I thought this had so much potential to feel like a season of the show, The White Lotus (and there were definitely moments when it did feel like that like show, but they were constantly interrupted by our obnoxious main character.) She really thinks she's the smartest, most important person in the room. Wonderful moments were constantly interrupted by her, it was so confusing.
I would be thinking "oh, this is getting good, I am intrigued, maybe it was just a fluke that she was annoying, maybe that has ended." And I was wrong. It really ruined all of those good moments. This book could have been so good!! That's what I hate. When something is so close to being perfect, but one little thing keeps squandering it.
What this book is supposed to be about is the mysterious happenings on this remote resort island. There are lots of mysterious and suspicious people on this island, they do shady things and have mysterious and interconnected pasts. The drama was great and so was the mystery element.
Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Oh my god, this woman is insufferable! She is the most annoying, pick-me, main character syndrome person I have ever read about. (It feels weird saying she has main character syndrome because she is the literal main character, but that's the energy she gives. If she were a real person you came across, you'd say she had main character syndrome.)
And will she just shut up with the "I could be having sex with Jason Mallory right now" or whatever his name is. I don't care that you be getting it on with some random man! I really don't care, that had nothing to do with anything!
Sorry that this is such a dramatic review but I was so disappointed in this book. I thought the cover was so cool, I really really love the design. I thought this had so much potential to feel like a season of the show, The White Lotus (and there were definitely moments when it did feel like that like show, but they were constantly interrupted by our obnoxious main character.) She really thinks she's the smartest, most important person in the room. Wonderful moments were constantly interrupted by her, it was so confusing.
I would be thinking "oh, this is getting good, I am intrigued, maybe it was just a fluke that she was annoying, maybe that has ended." And I was wrong. It really ruined all of those good moments. This book could have been so good!! That's what I hate. When something is so close to being perfect, but one little thing keeps squandering it.
What this book is supposed to be about is the mysterious happenings on this remote resort island. There are lots of mysterious and suspicious people on this island, they do shady things and have mysterious and interconnected pasts. The drama was great and so was the mystery element.
Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
June 9, 2025
Audiobooks/Book Review 📖🎧🏝️🦈
thank you so much partner @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio @htpbooks @readmirabooks @netgalley for the gifted copy and audiobook!
Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds
by Allison Brennan
Narrated by Vanessa Johansson
About the book 👇🏽
Mia Crawford is responsible to a fault. She has to be. Between her high-demand job and taking care of her grandmother and her cats, she has little time for anything else. What time she does have, she pours into reading. Mysteries, romances, thrillers…books filled with women who are far more impulsive than she would ever dream of being. Now, forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself—for a little while, anyway. She can explore the island. Flirt shamelessly with a cute bartender. Have a vacation fling. Live like a heroine in one of her favorite novels.
Or she can curl up with a good book on the beach. Turns out reinventing yourself is easier planned than done. But when gossipy notes written in the margins of an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself diving headfirst into a dangerous adventure.
🏝️ My thoughts:
I had the best time hybrid reading this book. I would say I spent my time 50/50 physically reading and listening to the audiobook, which is my favorite way to dive into a book. And let me tell you… it’s the best way to go! I enjoyed both of these versions equally and truly can’t pick a favorite. The narrator did a wonderful job and the transition between the two versions was seamless. Both had me binge reading/listening and if I didn’t have to put it down to adhere to responsibilities, there’s no way I would have been able to switch between the two. This is literally the perfect summer mashup of mystery and romance! Plus it’s a book about books with quotes from other books that made this one extra special for book lovers. This should be on your summer TBR to take with you on vacation, to the beach, or binge by the pool! Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is out 6/17/25!!
Happy reading 📖 🎧🏝️🦈
thank you so much partner @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio @htpbooks @readmirabooks @netgalley for the gifted copy and audiobook!
Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds
by Allison Brennan
Narrated by Vanessa Johansson
About the book 👇🏽
Mia Crawford is responsible to a fault. She has to be. Between her high-demand job and taking care of her grandmother and her cats, she has little time for anything else. What time she does have, she pours into reading. Mysteries, romances, thrillers…books filled with women who are far more impulsive than she would ever dream of being. Now, forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself—for a little while, anyway. She can explore the island. Flirt shamelessly with a cute bartender. Have a vacation fling. Live like a heroine in one of her favorite novels.
Or she can curl up with a good book on the beach. Turns out reinventing yourself is easier planned than done. But when gossipy notes written in the margins of an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself diving headfirst into a dangerous adventure.
🏝️ My thoughts:
I had the best time hybrid reading this book. I would say I spent my time 50/50 physically reading and listening to the audiobook, which is my favorite way to dive into a book. And let me tell you… it’s the best way to go! I enjoyed both of these versions equally and truly can’t pick a favorite. The narrator did a wonderful job and the transition between the two versions was seamless. Both had me binge reading/listening and if I didn’t have to put it down to adhere to responsibilities, there’s no way I would have been able to switch between the two. This is literally the perfect summer mashup of mystery and romance! Plus it’s a book about books with quotes from other books that made this one extra special for book lovers. This should be on your summer TBR to take with you on vacation, to the beach, or binge by the pool! Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is out 6/17/25!!
Happy reading 📖 🎧🏝️🦈
May 29, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for letting me have an e-arc of this!
I really enjoyed this book. I saw a lot of myself in Mia. This was my first romance mystery novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 29 year-old Mia is sent on her first vacation in years and is struck by three things- the beautiful resort, the hot as hell bartender, and the fact that there has been a murder only a few days prior to coming to the resort.
Mia lives her life playing it safe- she has a steady career, is going to make partner by 30, and is set up for her future. But is she really living? She starts flirting with Jason- the hot as hell bartender- and tries to enjoy her vacation. She finds a used book to read and figures out it's encrypted with little notes that might help her solve the murder.. if she doesn't get hurt first.
Mia is a lot like me- i.e. a total book nerd. I loved her quips, and her feeling at a crossroads from how she spent her twenties and how she will spend her thirties felt a little too on the nose. I loved the mystery, the guests, and the witty banter. It reminded me a lot of White Lotus vibes, minus Jennifer Coolidge telling people the gays are after her.
I highly recommend this and can't wait to pick up my copy in June!
I really enjoyed this book. I saw a lot of myself in Mia. This was my first romance mystery novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it! 29 year-old Mia is sent on her first vacation in years and is struck by three things- the beautiful resort, the hot as hell bartender, and the fact that there has been a murder only a few days prior to coming to the resort.
Mia lives her life playing it safe- she has a steady career, is going to make partner by 30, and is set up for her future. But is she really living? She starts flirting with Jason- the hot as hell bartender- and tries to enjoy her vacation. She finds a used book to read and figures out it's encrypted with little notes that might help her solve the murder.. if she doesn't get hurt first.
Mia is a lot like me- i.e. a total book nerd. I loved her quips, and her feeling at a crossroads from how she spent her twenties and how she will spend her thirties felt a little too on the nose. I loved the mystery, the guests, and the witty banter. It reminded me a lot of White Lotus vibes, minus Jennifer Coolidge telling people the gays are after her.
I highly recommend this and can't wait to pick up my copy in June!
May 3, 2025
Never in a million years have I expected to like this book, I was absurdly thinking I was going to hate it.
If you know me, you know that I VERY RARELY read mysteries/thrillers, but since it wasn’t all about murder-solve, and there was a romantic, humorous plot, it kept me reading!
Jason’s and Mia’s story wasn’t the best but as a mystery/thriller, I wasn’t surprised for it to be imperfect.
This felt like a suitable beach read, with these curiosities and Mia trying to make up the story to find the killer.
I would 100% recommend this if mysteries/thrillers weren’t your cup of tea! This is my first Allison book (seeing she has many others). Another thing about Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is that the writing was really good!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
If you know me, you know that I VERY RARELY read mysteries/thrillers, but since it wasn’t all about murder-solve, and there was a romantic, humorous plot, it kept me reading!
Jason’s and Mia’s story wasn’t the best but as a mystery/thriller, I wasn’t surprised for it to be imperfect.
This felt like a suitable beach read, with these curiosities and Mia trying to make up the story to find the killer.
I would 100% recommend this if mysteries/thrillers weren’t your cup of tea! This is my first Allison book (seeing she has many others). Another thing about Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is that the writing was really good!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
June 22, 2025
I have probably read every book that Allison Brennan has written. Was this book even written by her? It did not read like one of her books. The prologue was good. Then I started the first chapter and thought I was reading a different book. This book is written in first person. Which I have said many times in reviews that I hate. None of the author's other books are written in first person. I saw that Allison Brennan had out a new book and bought it immediately. I will be checking from now on as to whether it is first or third person. This will be the 4th author in less than 2 years that I have dropped because they switched to first person. Is it an easier way to write?
The main character, Mia, is unlikable. I made it through chapter 1 and then skipped to the last 2 chapters. I could not manage anymore of the book.
Please, please go back to your other series, especially the Quinn and Costa series.
The main character, Mia, is unlikable. I made it through chapter 1 and then skipped to the last 2 chapters. I could not manage anymore of the book.
Please, please go back to your other series, especially the Quinn and Costa series.
June 2, 2025
As a fast simple read with a few interesting moments and a little romance, this book hits the mark. In every other way it misses. The writing is extremely repetitive, with the protagonist endlessly rehashing what she knows about the mystery, the plot, and herself. Even going so far as to say her own name over and over. “I, Mia Crawford, an accountant who needs stability…” as if she (and we) might have forgotten. The mystery itself isn’t very interesting because it unfolds so slowly and very few of the “clues” are leading the reader anywhere. I also found the constant references to pop culture (other bestselling books, movies, TV detectives) to be annoying. The book had some potential but spent way too much time telling and not enough showing.
June 18, 2025
mia is a CPA who is getting promoted to partner and was forced on a vacation before she officially starts her new position. she would much rather stick to her comfort zone: being too invested in work and reading at home with her cats during her free time. her first day on the private island, she finds a used book in the gift shop and takes it to read on the beach. she soon realizes that the previous owner of the book is the woman who went missing from the island a few days prior to her arrival, and she left clues in the margins of the book. mia finds herself super invested into the investigation, finally stepping out of her comfort zone to figure out what happened to the missing woman.
this book had me hooked literally the moment i picked it up. it has the perfect blend of summer romance, whodunnit murder investigation, and beachy private island vibes. i loved how bookish mia was and i related to her so much! i’m always a sucker for book references in books, so this book was right up my alley.
the plot was super interesting and i loved following along with mia as she investigated. there were a few twists that i was so surprised by and that fit into the story so well - they weren’t just included for shock factor. i absolutely loved the ending, it was the perfect wrap up for mia’s character and showed how the week on the island and the people she met there influenced her.
thank you so much to harlequin/mira and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book early!
this book had me hooked literally the moment i picked it up. it has the perfect blend of summer romance, whodunnit murder investigation, and beachy private island vibes. i loved how bookish mia was and i related to her so much! i’m always a sucker for book references in books, so this book was right up my alley.
the plot was super interesting and i loved following along with mia as she investigated. there were a few twists that i was so surprised by and that fit into the story so well - they weren’t just included for shock factor. i absolutely loved the ending, it was the perfect wrap up for mia’s character and showed how the week on the island and the people she met there influenced her.
thank you so much to harlequin/mira and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book early!
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