New Release: DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND - A Books on the Beach Mystery by Allison Brook

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crooked Lane Books  

Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 21, 2025 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

A divorced sleuth in her thirties must bring peace back to her small town after a murder tears neighbors and family members apart in this series debut from Agatha Award nominee Allison Brook, perfect for fans of Cynthia Riggs and Eva Gates. 

Delia Dickens has come home to Dickens Island, a small island in the Long Island Sound, after a twelve-year stint in Manhattan. She’s looking forward to helping her father revitalize the general store that the family owns as well as curating a small book nook. Most importantly, she wants to reunite with her fifteen-year-old son. But Dickens Island isn’t the peaceful town Delia remembers–and she might be in more danger here than she ever was in the big city. 

Delia’s Aunt Reenie and Uncle Brad, both prominent community leaders, are at odds over the sale of a farm and its future use. This has created friction, not only in their marriage, but amongst the citizens of the town. When a young woman, new to the town council and friendly with Brad, is found murdered, everything escalates and reaches a new boiling point. 

With Reenie and Brad both suspects in the case and at each other’s throats, the townspeople start to take sides. When the ghost of her grandmother visits her, Delia learns how past events have impacted the present, and it is up to her to expose the farm’s sordid secrets in order to catch a murderer and restore peace to her beloved island. 

AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, novels of suspense, and books for kids. Her books have received many accolades.

As Allison Brook she writes the Haunted Library series and the Books om the Beach mystery series.  D Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series, the Twin Lakes series, and Giving Up the Ghost. Her suspense, Come Home to Death, was released in April, 2024, and her suspense, Dangerous Relations, was  republished in March 2025.

Marilyn loves traveling, reading, knitting, doing Sudoku, and visiting with her grandchildren, Olivia and Jack, on FaceTime. She is co-founder and past president of the now defunct Long Island chapter of Sisters in Crime. 

Her website is:  https://www.marilynlevinson.com

 

Stop by and visit. She loves to hear from readers.

Book Review: WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT - An Olivia Penn Mystery by Kathleen Bailey

 Cozy Mystery 5th in Series 

Setting – Virginia 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rhino Publishing LLC 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2025 

About the Book

Find the cat. Crack the case. 

The Highland Games have arrived just outside Apple Station, Virginia, bringing bagpipes, kilts, and a tide of tartan-clad tourists to the cozy small town. Advice columnist Olivia Penn is ready for a weekend of fun now that her life has finally settled into a quiet, steady rhythm. But when a local turns up dead in one of the town’s most iconic homes, a cryptic message from a friend draws her into a tangled mystery. 

As Olivia investigates, family secrets and surprising motives surface, linking three brooches, an antique cross, and a 17th-century Scottish Bible. Clues connect seven suspects to the crime, and each has something to hide. When her friend can’t be found and the police start asking questions, the mystery hits closer to home and runs deeper than she ever imagined.  

After an unlikely witness makes a shocking revelation, Olivia enlists her friends and a heroic search and rescue golden retriever to help her follow the trail before it goes cold. The man she loves is caught in the crosshairs, and to protect him, she’ll have to risk everything. Justice hinges on a missing cat, a chase through the woods, and a stare-down with a mama bear.   

Without a Shadow of Doubt is the gripping fifth installment in the award-winning Olivia Penn Mystery Series. This fast-paced, heartwarming cozy mystery features charming characters, small-town intrigue, and a heroine you’ll love to root for. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, cozy suspense, and clean, feel-good mysteries with lovable cats and dogs. 

Review 

The story starts with the Scottish Highland flavor, complete with bagpipes and kilts but set in Virginia. The murder of a local amidst the festivities shifts the focus as Olivia, an advice columnist, gets involved. Olivia is resourceful, collects clues, and takes risk to uncover the killer, even if it might strain some of her relationships. 

This is my first book by Bailey and my introduction to Olivia, a great, no-nonsense character. She and her friends are likable and relatable. The story moves along quickly, with unexpected discoveries to keep Olivia - and the reader - on their toes. The setting lends itself to the story, the secrets, and the mystery.  Then there's the dog, the cat, and the mama bear. I'd recommend this book to those who enjoy a good cozy mystery - and easily read as a stand-alone. That said, I plan on reading the previous books in the series. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

About the Author

Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. For over twenty years, she worked as a pediatric physical therapist with children who have special needs, drawing on degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. 

She now writes in Virginia with her feline assistant, who insists on supervising every draft. When she’s not writing, Kathleen can usually be found covered in cat hair, surrounded by far too many sticky notes, and plotting new twists to keep readers guessing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime. 

 Author Links

 Website ~ Instagram ~  BookBub ~  GoodReads 

Purchase Links 

Amazon  ~ All Retailers

Giveaway

https://kingsumo.com/g/3zj82j1/without-a-shadow-of-doubt-an-olivia-penn-mystery-by-kathleen-bailey

Book Review: MISSING AT CHRISTMAS by Deena Alexander

About the Book

A dangerous family legacy. 

A race to save a baby in jeopardy.  

When journalist Lexi McKenna receives a desperate call for help, she rushes to her sister’s home, only to find her sister dead and one of her twin nieces missing. With her past mafia ties resurfacing, Lexi must go on the run with agent Noah Thompson to protect herself from her father’s enemies. 

Although Lexi is the daughter of the mob boss who murdered Noah’s brother, Noah will do anything to take down her family—even work with her. As danger looms from all sides, they must find the abducted baby and dismantle a criminal empire before Lexi and her nieces end up as collateral damage. 

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith. 

Review 

Escaping from her father and his mob with her sister, Lexi has done everything to stay disconnected from the 'family' for years. Her sister wanted to move back home, and they did. Now, with her sister dead and a niece missing, Lexi has no choice but to go to her father's home and beg for the money to get the twin back. A stand-off, as she leaves someone kills her father and she's the prime suspect and the heir to the mob finances. Enter Noah, his brother killed by her father, who steps in to help her find the abducted baby. 

This is another well-written mystery by Deena Alexander. Her characters are well-developed and the back story of why Lexi and her sister ran away, the only deal her father would make, and the cunning of the man who likely killed him and now needs to marry Lexi to take over the mob. It's convoluted with childhood memories of Lexi's mother, long deceased, and not knowing who she can trust. The pace of the story is steady, gaining in intensity as the story comes to a peak. An enjoyable read for any mystery lover. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Purchase Links

AMAZON ~ B&N ~ Kobo

About the Author

Publishers Weekly bestselling author, ​Deena Alexander grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, where she met and married her high school sweetheart. 

She recently relocated to Florida with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Now she enjoys long walks in nature all year long, despite the occasional alligator or snake she sometimes encounters. 

Deena's love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn't sleep through the night, and she now works full time as a writer and a freelance editor. 

Webpage ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter/X ~  Goodreads 

BookBub ~ Newsletter ~ Amazon Author Page