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.

If you are looking for a book to tuck into your beach bag this summer, look no further than Allison Brennan's Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds. Set at a lovely resort on a beautiful island, the novel is a mashup of murder mystery and romance with a hefty dose of book loving main character energy. It is the perfect light, fun read for a summer vacation.

Mia Crawford steps into the role of amateur sleuth enthusiastically after picking up a novel left behind by a resort guest who has gone missing. The notes left in the margins of the book serve as clues to what Diana was up to before her disappearance and what may have happened to her. I enjoyed the way the clues led Mia to learn about her fellow guests and to piece together the solution.

Mia's romance was my favorite part of the story, and I enjoyed that it played as big a role in the story as the mystery. The character of Jason was almost too good to be true, and I kept hoping that he was going to be everything that Mia wanted him to be.

I listened to the novel as an audiobook with Vanessa Johansson as the narrator, and highly recommend this version of the novel. Ms. Johansson's voice is wonderful for bringing Mia to life, and she skillfully adapted her narration for a variety of characters as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC of Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan. The opinions in this review are my own.

Murder Mystery Beach Read, this was fun and engaging. I like a good murder mystery and a little vacation fling and the combination of both is always fun. The audio was well done, narration by Vanessa Johansson, I had no problem differentiating characters and enjoyed her narration, even at a high speed. I will be reading future works by Allison Brennan, this was fun.

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 really enjoyed this as an audio book! It was the perfect beachy, vacation thriller with plenty of twists and a little romance on the side. I liked the FMC! Honestly could see there being more books with Mia as the FMC stumbling upon more mysteries. I hope so anyways!

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.⁠
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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 👀).⁠
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Full of twists, danger, and sun-drenched suspense, this is the kind of mystery that pairs best with a beach towel and iced drink.⁠
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🎧 I highly recommend the audiobook—Vanessa Johansson nails Mia’s voice and the laid-back, high-stakes island vibe.⁠
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✨ Mystery | Romance | Island Vibes | Bibliophile Heroine

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds is the perfect mix of a cozy mystery, a touch of romance, and just the right amount of suspense—all set against the dreamy backdrop of a luxurious island resort.

I really enjoyed the setting and the cast of characters. Mia, the main character, is relatable and refreshingly down-to-earth, and I loved watching her step out of her comfort zone. The mystery had me hooked from the start, with clever clues and twists I didn’t see coming. It kept me guessing right up until the end.

The audiobook narration by Vanessa Johansson was excellent—clear, engaging, and easy to follow. It made for a great listen, especially during a relaxing weekend. This is the kind of book that makes you feel like you’re on vacation even if you’re not. Whether you’re lounging on a beach or just need a mental getaway, this is a fun and satisfying read that delivers both charm and intrigue.

Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a smart, beachy mystery with a little heart.

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

This was a fun, twisty and easy beach read. It was a great mix of mystery andf romance and I thought the narrator captured both sides of that really well. I always love some rich folks drama so this did not disappoint, and we got to meet some really interesting side characters along the way while Mia works hard to figure out whodunnit. My attention was held throughout, so I will definitely be recommending this one!

So good! Took me a minute to keep all the characters straight but loved it! Was an easy read with a lighthearted who-done-it. My favorite things. You’ll all in love with Mia as she learns more than she could have imagined about herself.

Mia lives vicariously through her books, her own life is busy, but decidedly dull. When she finally takes a much needed vacation, she ends up on a private island, where she decides to reinvent herself and behave like one of the daring heroines and one of her books. But when one of the other guests winds up dead, she decides that maybe her simple but boring life might just have been preferable

3 stars

Mia Crawford loves books, admires her bold grandmother, and has a great if stressful job. Though the title makes readers expect that the worst crime here will be murder, it's actually the fact that while Mia is presented as a whole person, she's still just sadly obsessed with finding some man. Ugh.

Mia Crawford, whose name I'm writing again because she and others say it so frequently throughout this novel, is heading BY FORCE to a beach vacation. A mystery unfolds around her, and while she tries to dig into that part-time, her full-time vacation mode is thinking about her friends' relationships and her lack of one and a guy she hopes might present her with the option.

I'd have loved to see this book go into cozy mode immediately. Mia would be a great heroine in that space, and some of her wackadoodle antics would serve her so well there. What turned me off completely in this book is Mia's extreme devotion to heteronormative ideals. WHY does she need to be so obsessed with this part of her life? So much else is going for her. This made me sad. Also, the romantic elements, particularly the physical intimacy? Nope. These did not work for me at all. It felt like accidentally watching a film with your parents that has a somewhat explicit scene. Like it's not the scene's fault, but why does it have to be HERE?

This is not a bad book but it did do some genre mashing that just didn't sit right with me. I would like to read more from this author - and even from this character - but I'll hope they take a slightly different turn next time! I'll add that having read this as both an e-book and audiobook, the audiobook format really added to my enjoyment of the novel.

This is a fantastic summer reading pick, set on a gorgeous island with mystery, death, romance, adventure, and bookishness. It is smart and charming. The narrator does a great job with subtle voices that enhanced the audiobook experience.

Audiobook/Book Review 📖🎧🏝️🦈
thank you so much partner @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio @htpbooks @readmirabooks 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 📖 🎧🏝️🦈