3.5 ⭐️

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is what happens when your dream vacation turns into a real-life version of Only Murders in the Building—but with more sunscreen and a suspiciously charming bartender who’s just a little too good at mojitos. Mia’s “forced fun” trip to St. Claire Island starts off with her trying (awkwardly) to be the carefree, impulsive version of herself she always reads about. Spoiler: she’s better at watching chaos unfold than starting it herself.

Then she picks up a paperback from the resort gift shop—one mysteriously left behind by a guest who vanished right before she arrived—and finds notes scribbled all through the margins. Some coded, some cryptic, and all of them basically screaming, “Hey, Mia, this isn’t just beach reading anymore.”

The vibes? Rich people secrets, accidental sleuth energy, vacation-core chaos, and just enough murder to make you side-eye the complimentary breakfast. Mia’s easy to root for—relatable, introverted, smart, and brave in ways that sneak up on you. She doesn’t fall into clichés; she grows into them, which I loved.

Now the romance… Jason is charming, sure. But let’s be real—I spent half the book muttering “Mia, don’t fall for the first shirtless guy with a cocktail shaker.” I didn’t fully trust him, but their dynamic still worked, and Mia gets an ending that fits her, not just the plot.

The mystery is clever. The annotated book is such a cool device—like a scavenger hunt woven into someone else’s thoughts. I stayed hooked the whole way through, even when the ending wrapped up a little too cleanly. Think vacation movie finale: justice served, secrets spilled, and everyone grabbing a sunset drink like nothing just imploded.

Tonally, it’s juggling romance, murder, and beach vibes like a tipsy cruise ship entertainer—and honestly? I was into the chaos. Sometimes it felt like two books crash-landing together, but that slightly messy genre mix is part of what makes it fun.

Thank you to Allison Brennan, MIRA Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. On Sale June 17th, 2025

Vacation turned into mystery solving! I love the mixed genres and actually a first for me. Mia discovers all kinds of secrets during her vacation.

White Lotus meets Murder She Wrote sound good? Mia, an accountant and avid reader, splits her vacation at a beautiful private Caribbean resort between trying to solve a mystery and flirting with the gorgeous bartender. Most of the ultra rich vacationers are miserable and all of them are hiding something.
The plot of this book doesn’t break any new ground and the romance is a bit forced, seeming to race and then stall every few chapters. Unfortunately for me, I clued into the big final plot twist at about 40% into the book and I think most people who have read a lot of mysteries will too. The pacing does pick up as the book goes along and I was satisfied with the conclusion. Overall, it is a quick cozy mystery with low stakes and a side of romance, without particularly graphic content.
I am grateful to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Mia Crawford, a self-proclaimed risk-averse bibliophile, leads a rather mundane life. However, her vacation at a luxurious resort takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a sacrilege—a written commentary in the book she’s reading. Initially annoyed, Mia can’t help but be intrigued. The notes in the book, along with the dialogue, ignite her curiosity and set her on a path of solving a mystery.

With a resort guest, Diana Harden, having gone missing, Mia becomes an amateur sleuth, determined to unravel the truth. But her quest for justice isn’t the only thing on her agenda. She also harbors a secret desire for a romantic fling.

The story unfolds smoothly, with quotes from various novels opening each chapter. Mia is a likable character, and it’s delightful to witness her gradually breaking free from her shell. As she compares the notes in the book she found, Mia draws inspiration from years of reading countless mystery novels. She hopes to apply her knowledge and skills to solve the mystery, following the clues she uncovers.

This captivating tale offers a delightful blend of mystery, personal growth, and the pursuit of love. The mystery is intriguing, Mia’s journey of self-discovery is heartwarming, and her dreams of finding romance hold a promise of being far more than just a fleeting desire.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

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!

3.5 stars rounded up. This is a fun little beach read. The mystery and romance elements were perfect. Some aspects could have been flushed out a little bit more though.

I was honored to receive an eARC of this book thru NetGalley and was so thankful to be introduced to the Romantic Mystery Genre.

This book had everything you could want for a summer read… Beach Resort Setting ✔️Murder Mystery ✔️ Book about a Book ✔️Romance with a splash of spice ✔️ Allison Brennan kept the plot moving, the plot twists twisting and had me still trying to guess who the murderer was till the very end. I especially enjoyed the romantic subplot woven into the the story… Jason was DREAMY! Highly recommend if you are a summer mood reader who likes both mystery/thrillers and contemporary romance.

Super cute and highly enjoyable. I typically don’t care for romance sub-plots but this one was done really well, I did not guess the Ethan twist and while I suspected the murderer, I wasn’t totally sure.

A fun vacation cozy murder mystery that sees an accountant finding a used book that has observations about the people on the island where she's staying scribbled in the margins and she thinks it may help her solve the mystery about a missing woman she fears has been murdered. I really liked that there were book quotes at the start of each chapter. This was a quick paced, entertaining read that would make a great beach read this summer! Recommended for fans of books like Everytime I go on vacation someone dies. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Mia Crawford just wanted to sit on a beach, sip something cold, and finally read her way out of her workaholic tendencies without anyone emailing her about deadlines. Instead, she gets handed a literal murder mystery in paperback form because apparently fate said, "Surprise, girl, you’re the main character now!"

"Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds" is basically what happens when your cozy beach vacation turns into a high-stakes version of "Only Murders in the Building" but with slightly more sunscreen and one bartender who is way too charming for anyone’s good. Mia’s forced vacation on St. Claire Island starts off with her awkwardly trying to reinvent herself (spoiler: she’s better at reading about impulsive women than being one). But almost immediately, she picks up a book from the resort gift shop, left behind by a guest who mysteriously vanished right before Mia arrived, and finds strange handwritten notes scribbled in the margins. Some are coded, some are underlined passages, and all of them scream there’s way more going on here than bad room service.

The vibes here are basically rich people drama, amateur sleuth energy, romantic tension that sometimes makes you side-eye, and just enough murder to ruin the continental breakfast. Mia is one of those heroines you genuinely root for. She’s hesitant, overwhelmed, but also surprisingly brave when it counts. The best part is that she actually grows into the whole amateur detective role instead of falling face-first into tropes.

The romance? Look, Jason is objectively charming. But also... something about him rubbed me the wrong way. Not enough to make him a villain, but enough that I was mentally yelling "don’t fall for the first shirtless man with good mojito skills." That said, I liked where things landed for Mia. She gets an ending that works for her. The mystery itself is fully solved, but once the case wraps, everything else slots into place almost a little too perfectly. It’s like one of those tidy vacation movie endings where justice is served, everyone’s secrets are suddenly out in the open, and everyone walks away basically fine and ready to sip cocktails before sunset. A little too neat, but satisfying enough.

The mystery itself was solid. The clues tucked inside that annotated book were such a smart way to pull Mia (and us) deeper into the tangled web of secrets. Brennan threads the suspense just enough to keep the pages turning while still letting you soak in the tropical chaos.

Tonally? This book juggles romance, murder, and vacation vibes like a drunk cruise ship juggler. Sometimes the genre mash veers a little wobbly, like two novels colliding during spring break, but honestly, that’s part of its messy charm.

And yes, there are a lot of characters. At several points, I felt like I needed one of those murder board maps with string connecting everyone’s beach chairs.

Overall, this was pure bingeable vacation chaos. A cozy murder mystery with a resort backdrop, a side of romance that mostly behaves itself, and a main character who fully earns her happy ending. 3.5 stars for the clever mystery structure, rich-people-gone-bad drama, and the fact that Mia basically lives out every book lover’s worst best-case scenario.

Whodunity Award: For Turning Beach Reading Into a Full-Blown Homicide Hobby

The book is good, but Vanessa Johansson’s narration makes it even more enjoyable. She perfectly captures Mia’s voice, balances the mystery and romance, and brings every character to life. Huge thanks to Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC and early access to the audiobook.

I'm a bit conflicted on this one. (But you should know that comic mysteries and romantic suspense are hit or miss for me.)

I loved the idea of a buttoned-up CPA on vacation who decides to solve a mystery and have a vacay fling. It had a bit of a Romancing the Stone feel if you remember that movie. But combining suspense, romance and humor in one book is a lot. I think the book did succeed on some fronts. I found the mystery to be pretty good and that was the part that was new to this author, so congrats to her!

The romance was not my favorite part. (I have reasons, which are under spoiler protection in my Goodreads review.)

If Allison Brennan continues to write romantic suspense, I will try another. It used to be SO popular but has cooled in popularity a LOT so I'm ready for a comeback.

Allison Brennan takes on a new adventure in writing - a cozy romance/mystery - the perfect, as it says in the title - beach read. Mia Crawford is a workaholic who finds herself on a forced vacation to a private resort. The trip is set up by the partners of her firm, who are hoping to promote her to partner. They want her to relax and come back with a big yes. Just the vacation alone and then at a private resort, is completely out of the norm for Mia whose world is built around her job, her grandmother, her cat, and books. The cast of characters she meets are interesting, a little suspicious, and the employees - particularly the very cute bartender - are the perfect touch to the story. The mystery kicks off when Mia finds writing in the margins of a book she picks up at the resort. From there things escalate, note a guest is missing, and somehow trouble seems to follow Mia wherever she goes. Luckily her desire for a little romance appears in the person of that cute bartender. An enjoyable and fun read.

Such a fun summer read!!!

Allison Brennan’s Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is a clever, sun-soaked mystery that blends the charm of a cozy whodunit with the escapism of a perfect beach read. At its heart is Mia Crawford, a rule-following, book-loving woman whose idea of risk is living vicariously through her favorite fictional heroines. But when a forced vacation lands her on a private island, Mia is suddenly thrust into a real-life thriller—and she’s the unexpected sleuth.

What begins as a reluctant getaway quickly transforms into something far more sinister when Mia stumbles upon handwritten notes in a well-loved book—notes that hint at a missing guest and buried secrets. From flirtatious bartenders to shady vacationers, every character on the island has something to hide, and Brennan keeps the tension building with twists, humor, and just the right amount of romantic intrigue.

Mia is an endearing protagonist—relatable, cautious, and surprisingly brave when it counts. Her evolution from reserved reader to amateur detective is both fun and satisfying, especially as she begins to channel the fictional heroines she once only admired from afar.

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is perfect for fans of light mysteries with smart female leads, atmospheric settings, and just enough danger to keep you flipping pages long after the sun goes down. A delightful mix of escapism and suspense, this one’s a must-pack for your next vacation.

I can't recommend it enough! I really enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down, I finished it in a couple of days!

“Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds” (out June 17 from MIRA) is what happens when a cozy mystery gets sand in its pages, in the best way.

Allison Brennan serves up a sun-drenched mystery where a bookish accountant’s idea of paradise (quiet reading, light flirting) turns into a real-life thriller involving cryptic scribbles, shady resort guests and one very cute bartender.

It’s part romance, part whodunit and all vacation fantasy. Is it a little predictable? Sure. But with steamy moments, bookish Easter eggs and a dash of danger to keep your piña colada from going flat, it’s the kind of chaotic fun you’ll want in your beach bag.

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.

Not aware that this book is on Katie Couric's list of ten books to read after you watch the latest season of "White Locust", give her credit for being onto something. Mia is about to turn thirty and make partner at the accounting firm at which she works. The partners at the first send her on an all=expenses paid vacation before she assumes that role as vacations will be few and far between once she makes signs the partnership paperwork upon her return. Mia's main form of entertainment is ready mysteries and while she dreams of opening a book store life's realities keep her tied to her job.

Mia arrives on this private island located close to St. John's and fairly quickly realizes that this is a couples/family type resort not really a place to meet a single guy to hook up with for the week like her close friends hope. Having completed the novel she read on the way, Mia goes to the store at the resort to pick up something to read. She ends up selecting a worn looking paperback from the free books racks. She opens it to find someone has written in the margins and it appears to be in code. As in all mysteries, a dead body of a woman appears at the resort. Mia also finds herself attracted to the sexy bartender.

Mia tries to break the code to see if she can solve who the murder is while having several unsettling experiences. There is more than one mystery in this novel. Several were easy to decipher, but not all.

Highly recommend as a beach read escape!!!

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Mia Crawford is headed for a much needed vacation.
All she plans to do is read, read and read unless she can find a hunky guy to spend the week with.
I usually like this authors books. However I just wasn’t a fan of this one. Is it supposed to be a romance or a mystery? Some books can be both but for me this one fell kinda flat. I think I just didn’t love Mia.

Move over Nancy Drew, there’s a new sleuth in sandals. Meet Mia Crawford, a no-nonsense, to-do-list-loving bibliophile who just wanted to vacation like the heroine of her favorite paperbacks. You know, sipping something fruity, flirting with a bartender who could model for a rum ad, and maybe finally reading that 700-page historical romance she’s hauled on every trip since 2018. But fate, in the form of marginalia and murder, had other plans.

When Mia finds notes scribbled in the margins of an old novel (bookworms, unite—it is the dream), it’s not fanfiction. It’s a breadcrumb trail to a very real mystery, and suddenly her beach read turns into beach reality.

Set on a dreamy private island where everyone has a suspiciously good tan and a suspiciously sketchy alibi, Brennan serves up a delightfully meta whodunit that feels like Clue in flip-flops. Mia’s evolution from “responsible adult” to “accidental amateur detective” is equal parts relatable and ridiculous—in the best way possible.

There’s romance, there’s danger, there’s a grandmother who probably gives better advice than your therapist, and yes—there are cats (because priorities). If you love mysteries with a pinch of humor, a smidge of romance, and a plot that lets you live out your wildest “detective-on-vacation” fantasy without ever leaving your lounge chair—Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is your perfect summer escape. Just don’t trust anyone who offers to top off your drink…

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is a delightful blend of mystery and charm. The story is set on luxurious private island, but we actually first meet Mia Crawford on the boat ride to the island. Mia, a meticulous and risk-averse bibliophile, finds herself entangled in a real-life mystery during a much-needed vacation from her real life. This book starts off intriguing, with Mia already noting the side characterson on her way to the island. After that, I found the story repetetive and drawn out, and I lost interest in the read a few times with Mia herself being my biggest (immature) problem.