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.

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!!!

.

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.

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.

If you’re looking for the perfect summer mystery, this one’s calling your name. Think: island vacation + murder mystery + a sexy bartender + a book-loving heroine who gets pulled into a real-life whodunnit after finding strange notes in a novel.⁠
⁠
Our FMC Mia is basically all of us—she never goes anywhere without a book, loves sharing her reading life online, and somehow ends up investigating a murder (with a little help from that irresistible bartender 👀).⁠
⁠
Full of twists, danger, and sun-drenched suspense, this is the kind of mystery that pairs best with a beach towel and iced drink.⁠
⁠
✨ Mystery | Romance | Island Vibes | Bibliophile Heroine

I just finished reading Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan, and this is a standalone romantic mystery with a tropical, beachy vibe. I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, I couldn't. I was just bored. It was a lot of day-to-day, telling vs. showing, and repeating. I kept waiting and waiting and waiting and nothing. Just kept falling flat.
I was actually feeling bad for the main character. I mean she projected so much desperation. So much so that it was pathetic and painful to read.
I did love the beach, island and tropical scenes created by the author.

I loved this book!!!!! It started off a bit slow but then wrapped me up in the story!!

Yes, there was a murder. A overworked financial planner, by the name of Mia Crawford, was sent on vacation to a luxury resort. Mia loves to read. She picked up a free book left behind by the person murdered. There are hints of what that person was up to on notes throughout the book.

The group was of characters on this all-exclusive resort are fun, quirky and some have ill intentions. This book will have you have you hooked. Beach read must! Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA Boojs for this advanced read.

This book had a lot of promise, but ultimately fell a little flat. The clues for the mystery were fun and interesting, but I felt super disappointed by the ending - I hoped for so much more! I also felt like the romance was a little fast and forced. Ultimately, it was a quick read that I enjoyed enough - but wouldn't jump to recommend to a wide audience beyond a quick beach read.

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds was an enjoyable read with a compelling mystery at its core. I really appreciated that the main character was a fellow book lover turning 30—it gave the story a relatable, grounded perspective, especially for readers who love books about readers.

The mystery kept me intrigued throughout, and the island beach resort setting added a cozy, summery backdrop that made the stakes feel both light and sinister in a great way. The cast of characters was quite large, and I did find myself getting a little lost at times trying to keep track of who was who. Thankfully, the author wove in small reminders and context clues that helped ground me again as the story progressed.

My only real complaint was that the ending felt a bit rushed. After such a well-paced buildup, I would’ve liked a little more time spent on the resolution. Still, it was a satisfying conclusion that tied up the key threads.

"Mysteries were only in books. My life was far too calm and organized to have time for adventure— and I certainly wasn’t looking for trouble. A risk-averse CPA–slash–financial planner? As boring as they come."

I just finished reading Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan, and this is a standalone romantic mystery with tropical, beachy vibes. Unfortunately, this one didn't hit the mark for me. I wanted to love it, but I was just bored. It was a lot of day-to-day, telling vs. showing, and repeating herself.

Mia, the main character, is relatable to a point, but she starts to frustrate me almost immediately. She is about to get a great promotion at her job, and gets "forced" to take an all-inclusive vacation on a beautiful island resort because she never takes time off. She complains about how she wished she could have skipped the vacation to have the money go into her retirement fund instead.

There was also a weird obsession with finding someone to "date" once she got to the island, and the thought that she'd never have a life or another vacation after taking this promotion was depressing. Her friends constantly harass her about hooking up with guys while she's there because once she comes back, everything will change. It was like her life was over, and she was just barely turning thirty.

The murder mystery aspect was good though, and I enjoyed the side characters, especially Brie. Overall, it was an easy read but not as quick as I expected. It took me a few weeks to get through because I wasn't hooked.

This book gets released on June 17th, and is available for pre-order now!

A huge thank you to The Hive, NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this book in advance! These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read this ARC!

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds* was an incredibly enjoyable and entertaining mystery! I really loved following Mia around the island as she not only sought to solve the murder but also tackled several smaller mysteries! It gave me vibes reminiscent of Riley Thorn or Finlay Donovin, which I thoroughly enjoyed! Although the story is narrated from a single point of view, the abundance of characters made it a bit confusing at times. Overall, this book makes for a fantastic summer or beach read!