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!

A perfect beach read! Great combination of mystery and romance.

Mia is a wonderful character that captures readers right from the start. She's relatable and interesting. Her need to get to the bottom of the mystery is what makes her a lovable mystery heroine too.

The mystery here is full of intrigue and thrills. Plus it's set on a private island, making the stakes even higher. The pacing of the plot was well done and the suspense kept me guessing until the end.

The romance is a satisfying slow burn with a hot bartender, what's not to like?

This book gave off Veronica Mars vibes and I devoured it. A great read for vacation or sitting on the beach/pool. Highly recommend!

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.

Allison Brennan has another winner in Mia Crawford. While this is not as mysterious and suspenseful as some of her works, it is not meant to be; it is meant to be a fun lighthearted mystery read with a dash of romance, and it does it very well. On an all paid vacation before starting a huge promotion at work, Mia is on the beautiful island of St. Claire. While the resort strives to provide perfection for all of their guests, a missing woman is putting a damper on things. Mia, one of the only single people there is hoping to find a romantic diversion for the week. But, her love of good books leads her to secret notes, putting her on the trail of the missing woman. Along the way, she finds herself enjoying the attention of bartender Jason Mallory, who comes with his own mystery. With the help of a good book and some new friends Mia may just be able to sort out what is really going on on St. Claire...and find love after all. Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is a fast paced and entertaining read.

It’s just about time to get read for summer beach reads and I have one you need to put at the top of your list. Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the e-arc!

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan is a fun and entertaining romantic thriller. Mia is a book loving financial planner who’s on a vacation at an exclusive resort on a private island. Mia finds a book that belonged to a guest who recently went missing from the resort. When the missing woman’s body is discovered, Mia is sure the woman was murdered. While Mia searches for answers, she’s also on the lookout for some fun and finds it in the form of a very handsome and hot bartender. As Mia’s romance heats up, so does the danger. It seems everyone at the resort has secrets and Mia just might be the next target.

This is an easy breezy read perfect for reading during a day at the pool, on the beach, or in your backyard. Mia is a likable and smart main character. The pacing of the story is steady and there’s lots of tension - both spicy and suspenseful. There’s plenty of suspects because it seems like almost everyone at the resort has secrets and there’s plenty of red herrings. Overall this makes for an entertaining romp of a mystery with some spicy scenes for extra fun.

loved this murder mystery on at a resort . Loved that she tried new things and ended up solving the mysterious death on the island. Loved that she found love and also ended up having her dream. Loved the many characters that we meet on the island.

I tend to enjoy Allison Brennan's writing and while Beach Reads And Deadly Deeds sounded a bit different than her usual books, I couldn't resist added it to my shelves anyway. I love a story with a travel and/or bookish element, so having both in one book was definitely a bonus for me. I also loved the idea of an old book being the clue for the main character to start her investigation... And this definitely turned out to be a fun thriller that would be the perfect vacation read!

One of the things I loved was without doubt the Caribbean setting. The story is mainly set on a private island right next to the US Virgin Islands, and the descriptions made me wish I was right there next to the main character. The resort and tropical setting sure sounds like a dream destination! I also liked that the setting itself played an active role in the plot as it helped create the perfect backdrop for certain key situations and scenes.

Beach Reads And Deadly Deeds is what you can call a beach thriller, which means that it is definitely on the cozy side and there is quite a lot of focus on the romance element. Sure, there are moments of suspense and the mystery around the disappearance of one of the guests is interesting. I especially loved the clues in the old book and how every guest seems to be hiding something... But the story also took quite some time to get going, and the pace was slower than expected in the beginning. If you are looking for a proper crime thriller like the author's usual stories, this definitely isn't the book for you... But it works really well if you are looking for something fun and easy to read while on vacation.

As for the characters... I'm not sure I actually like Mia all that much, mostly because she kept talking herself down and that became frustrating after a while. She did become better in the second half though, but I can't deny that I liked some of the side characters a lot better (Jason, Brie!). I especially loved the friendship between Mia and Brie, and the romance itself with Jason worked great to balance out the plot. The many bookish references were such a great touch, and I loved the little quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Some of the secrets and twists were way too obvious though, and I basically guessed the truth about Jason almost straight away.

If you are looking for a fun romance/thriller cocktail set on a tropical island, Beach Reads And Deadly Deeds would work very well as your next vacation read. The crime is definitely on the cozy side, but that doesn't mean the story isn't entertaining to read! The bookish references are without doubt a bonus.

While I have Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds 4 stars, I consider it more 3.5, but because it was a quick and easy read, I bumped it up. I was looking for a light and fun read, and this definitely fit the bill. The vivid descriptions of St. Claire island had me absolutely dying to book a flight to the beach ASAP. Brennan did a good job with keeping me guessing, only giving a few small hints towards the very end as to who the murderer might be. I was definitely completely thrown off guard to learn Mia's love interest's true identity. Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is a great beach read with both romance and mystery - toss it in the beach bag for sure!

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 plot, 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.

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.