Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

3.5 stars
Too slow to start, and too repetitive throughout the entire story. I didn't like that Mia was so down on herself for much of the book, but I did like how she grew towards the end. Jason and Brie were my favorite characters. The mysteries were fairly easily solved and the setting was great; you could absolutely picture it. The chapter headings were fun book quotes, and I loved seeing references to some of my all-time favorite book charaters: Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, Veronica Mars, Elvis Cole.

I applaud the author for trying something new. Would definitely read more in this genre from her, and even though i didn't love it, I do recommend it as a quick beach read.

Starting off, I didn't think I was going to vibe with this book that much but it ended up surprising me. While there was a lot of our main character's inner monologue throughout the majority of the book, I feel like it was needed so we could get a sense of her personality and obviously find out "who killed Diana". I found that after 60% into the book, it started to pick up and I couldn't put it down, I think part of that was due to the budding romance between our FMC and o he of the staff members on the beach. At first, I thought the romance aspect of a mystery book seemed a little Off to me but after finishing the book, I feel like it was much needed to fully tie the whole story together.

Read if you enjoy a good "who-done-it" mystery book with a little touch of White Lotus on HBO MAX.

From the blurb I expected more of a mystery than I found... I felt like there was more focus on one-night (or vacation-wide) stands than moving the story forward in the beginning. It made it difficult for me to settle into the story. I kept wanting to get to the mysterious book element, which the blurb made seem like the whole point of the story, and kept getting mired down in Mia's quest for sex... This one wasn't for me.

Release: June 17, 2025
Author: Allison Brennan
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing

Rating: 4 ★ 

Mia Crawford has always played it safe, balancing a demanding job with caring for her grandmother and her cats. Reading has been her only escape — losing herself in stories about adventurous women doing things she would never dare. When she’s pushed into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island, ready (in theory) to break out of her comfort zone. She dreams of flirting with a cute bartender, maybe even having a fling, or just relaxing with a book by the beach.

But Mia’s plans change when she picks up a well-worn novel filled with strange notes scribbled in the margins. What starts as curiosity quickly pulls her into a real-life mystery surrounding the disappearance of another guest. As Mia digs deeper, she realizes that everyone at the resort has secrets — and if she’s not careful, she might end up the next one to vanish.

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds was a fun and fast-paced mix of mystery, romance, and tropical escape. Mia Crawford, a hard-working financial advisor, is pushed into taking a much-needed vacation on a luxurious private island. She plans on spending her time reading and relaxing, maybe even flirting a little, but those plans quickly change when she stumbles across a book filled with hidden messages — clues possibly left behind by a missing woman.

The setting was a huge highlight — it gave me serious White Lotus vibes, with a beautiful resort hiding dark secrets and a whole cast of suspicious characters. I loved the book-within-a-book element and the overall Clue-like atmosphere where almost everyone felt like they could be a potential villain. The mystery kept me engaged, even if some of the twists were more predictable than others, and the romance with the hot, secretive bartender was a fun addition without taking over the story.

That said, the pacing was a little slow at first, and sometimes Mia’s choices didn’t exactly match her supposed intelligence. I also thought the final reveal felt a little more like a plot decision than something that grew naturally out of the story. But despite those minor gripes, this was an easy, entertaining read perfect for the beach or poolside — a sun-soaked thriller with just enough danger and steam to keep things interesting.

If you like your mysteries a little lighter but still packed with intrigue and fun characters, this is definitely worth picking up.

Favorite Quote:
"the truth doesn't care about your feelings. It doesn't care about your plans. It doesn't care about anything except being found."

The perfect story for a reader of murder mystery! When Mia discovers the clues to a missing woman are hidden away in her beach read, she becomes the Nancy Drew of her own story. There were so many secret connections and twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. And the sexy bartender didn't hurt either!

Mia Crawford has played it safe her whole life, and at 29 she is on track to make partner at her firm. While this has always been her plan, now that it’s happening, she’s not so sure and has a week in paradise to figure it out. Mia hasn’t taken a real vacation in over 5 years but is forced into one when her boss sends her to a posh remote island instead of a typical bonus. She has two goals: lounge on the beach with a good book and have a wild fling.

When she arrives, she finds out that a previous guest has gone missing and is obsessed with finding out what happened. After picking up a book off the free table she is drawn deeper into the mystery. The margins in the book are lined with codes and riddles that appear to be written by the missing woman. The mystery is consuming, but she hasn’t given up on the idea of a fling. The charismatic daredevil bartender has caught her eye and it seems she has caught his as well.

Mia tries to balance her new love interest with her need to solve the mystery. There’s plenty of thrills, from the precarious situations she finds herself in to the steamy interactions with the bartender, your heart will be racing. I enjoyed the plot and characters. I wasn’t on the edge of my seat, but I definitely was invested in the outcome. Allison Brennan did an exceptional job balancing mild suspense with bits of spice in this romantic mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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.

A murder mystery with sunscreen and a cast of suspicious characters

Boots off, toes in the sand, and… a body in washing up on shore? Yep. That’s the vibe.

Mia, a 30-year-old financial advisor (and newly minted partner-in-waiting), gets voluntold to take a pre-partnership vacation to a billionaire’s private island in the Virgin Islands. Poor thing. The horror. Naturally, her coupled-up friends suggest she find a fling before the corporate handcuffs click shut. Enter Jason: the hot bartender with a not-so-subtle “I’m hiding something” energy.

What worked:
• The mystery. Total Clue-board energy—everyone on this island gave off an I am an awful person and could murder someone vibes.
• Loved the book-within-a-book element—Mia picks up a beach read with hidden clues. Nerdy gold.
• The romance wasn’t center stage, and I was fine with that—it let the mystery lead.

What didn’t:
• Mia’s murder obsession felt a bit… convenient. Yes, the victim was a solo female traveler too, but the drive didn’t quite hit.
• The twisty-twist ending didn’t land for me—the killer felt like a plot choice, not a character truth.
• Mia’s intelligence? Questionable. You work in finance but can't decode a paperback cipher?

Overall? It’s a breezy, plot-heavy read with a bit of steamy romance and a side of murder. It may be great for some, but it just didn’t quite make my re-read list.

A sun-soaked mystery with a touch of romance, Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds follows overworked accountant Mia Crawford on what’s supposed to be a relaxing island getaway—until she stumbles into a missing persons case. The book is packed with flirtatious banter, an intriguing book of clues, and a cast of real quirks, this is an escapist read. While some plot twists are predictable, others genuinely surprised me.. Fans of White Lotus vibes and modern-day Nancy Drew antics will love this. A fun, fast-paced beach read with just the right amount of danger.

Mia Crawford is due a big promotion at her financial firm—name on the door and all. That she would rather stoke her passion for reading by owning a bookstore aside, she looks forward to her new position. More or less. But, before that, her boss forces her to take some much-needed R&R at an exclusive resort on the sun-soaked Caribbean island of St. Lucie. He wants her to unwind, her friends want her to get her nose out of a book, enjoy life, make new friends, and maybe have a little NSA sex. Mia would rather read..

Upon arrival at the resort, she learns that a woman has gone missing from the island and no one seems to have answers. Mia picks up a paperback from the resort’s discard table, heads to the pool, and dives in. The book, not the pool. But what are all the cryptic notes the previous reader scribbled in the margins? A puzzle Mia struggles to solve. Then she realizes the book had belonged to the missing woman, and the notes might suggest she was blackmailing other guests. Who, and why? Was one of her targets the killer? If so, which one? There are plenty to choose from. Of course, there are other bodies, mysterious security staff, the hot bartender, and enough murder suspects to fill a clown bus. Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is the perfect beach read. Fun characters, twisty plotting, and loads of suspense and humor. Allison Brennan has given us another best-seller—no doubt.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly and Cain/Harper thriller series

I'm a sucker for mysteries set on or near beaches, so I was looking forward to this one. The story did take a good while to pick up steam, with the first chapters adding little to the story that couldn't have been condensed into one. But the intrigue did eventually pick up, with many red herrings and twists-the final I figured out 2/3 through, but wasn't 100% certain-and served as a fun, beachy quick read. I'm not in general a fan of wishy-washy female characters, so that for me did detract from the story, but was able to overlook this with character growth and secondary characters.

First off, this is NOT a typical book by Allison Brennan, it was even better! She is pure talent and I hope she writes some more like this. This is not a typical cozy, whodunit, or beach read but has the best of all those genres wrapped up in one book.

The way it starts, sets up the story perfectly but you don't really realize it until a couple chapters in. The characters are well written and very relatable with a Caribbean setting that makes you wish you were there. There were also nods to other authors/books that I really enjoyed.

Super fun beachy mystery that gave me Veronica Mars vines and had a great romance! Quickly devoured while at the beach!

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for the ARC.

For me, just an average beach mystery read. I did enjoy the setting! The cover is also gorgeous so I am sure it will be appeal to the casual reader so bravo there!

As a fan of the Moreno and Hart mysteries, I was looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, the story was very slow to get into. The pacing dragged through the first half. While the setting is enjoyable and the concept has potential, I found it hard to stay engaged early on. The mystery does eventually pick up, but getting there required more patience than I expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Just finished Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan and let’s just say… murder has never been so sunny-side sinister. 🏖️🔍📚

This book is like your favorite beach day—complete with snacks, suspicious characters, and a page-turning plot that refuses to let you relax. One minute you’re soaking in the seaside charm, and the next, BAM—someone’s dead, and everyone’s got a motive.

Allison Brennan delivers a pitch-perfect mix of cozy mystery and classic whodunnit—with bookish banter, smart sleuthing, and just enough twists to keep you guessing until the final wave crashes. The amateur detective energy? Immaculate. The tension? Deliciously tangled. The vibe? Murder mystery meets beach book club—and I’m absolutely here for it.

If you love stories that are light on the surface but laced with dark secrets underneath, Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is the perfect escape. Just don’t trust anyone holding a mimosa. 😉

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!

⭐️ 5/5 | 🌶️ 3.5/5
First Person POV, Single Narrative (other than the prologue)
FMC: Mia
Linear timeline
Romantic Mystery
MF Open Door Romance
Setting: St. Claire- private island in Caribbean

I loved this book SO MUCH! I’m obsessed with romantic mysteries but sometimes one genre over powers the other and the storyline can appear a bit scattered. But the spicy romance and the suspenseful, dangerous mystery were blended so well together in this book! I devoured this story and couldn’t put it down.

The author, Allison Brennan, weaves a narrative that balances the charm of a beach vacation with the suspense of a gripping mystery. Mia’s character is both relatable and inspiring, showcasing the transformation from a reserved reader to an unexpected sleuth.

The setting was so beautifully written and described in great detail. The island environment is vividly described, making it easy to visualize the sun-soaked beaches and hidden secrets lurking beneath the surface. The level of danger and adventure was so fun!

There’s a lot of self discovery, relationship growth, intergenerational friendships, and of course a fast paced, thrilling and complex murder mystery. All that plus the steamy chemistry between Mia and Jason added more depth to the story. The details for each character was just so well done and it all tied together perfectly.
Fans of Lucy Score’s Riley Thorne Series will enjoy this read too!

Thank you so much Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA Books for an electronic ARC of this book which was provided to me via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #BeachReadsandDeadlyDeeds

4.5 Stars!

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is exactly the kind of escape I've been looking for—sun, sex, murder, and a main character who’d rather be reading than socializing? Yes, please. Mia Crawford is a super-responsible bookworm and financial advisor who gets forced into a fancy vacation on a private island before her big work promotion to partner. She’s planning to read, relax, even flirt a little. But, when she finds cryptic notes scribbled in the margins of a book that belonged to a missing-found-murdered woman that hint at something very off, she ends up turning her vacation into a murder mystery.

I love a good beach read, especially one with romance, and the mystery has just enough twists and red herrings to keep things interesting. This is the first cozy mystery I have read that I did not figure out whodunit prior to the reveal, and I've read almost 50 books so far this year! That is some good writing if you tell me. It was fast paced, but the plot kept me hooked from the first chapter. 10/10 would recommend!

The only thing I didn't like—the chapter-openers with quotes from other mystery and romance novels. I loved all the quotes individually, in their respective books, but it's a big pet peeve of mine. They take away from the plot, slow the pacing, and add unnecessary foreshadowing (especially considering the length of the chapters). I stopped reading the quotes around chapter 20.

This book is quite a bit different from Ms Brennan’s previous books but every bit as good. Actually if she writes it I want to read it. The book is primarily set on a private island in the Caribbean. Mia is sent to St. Claire on a mostly forced all expenses paid vacation before she becomes a partner in the firm where she works. She is looking for a single guy for a short-term fling before she goes back to work. Are there any single men on this island? She discovers a woman went missing from the island a few days before she arrived. As she finds out more of the circumstances she thinks maybe she can solve this mystery while on the island. I was shocked by the almost ending of the book right before she leaves the island to return home. It was totally unexpected. The author does a wonderful job of describing all the surroundings and the characters in the book. This is another book by Ms Brennan I would definitely recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.