The Well-Kept Secret - An Interview, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Kari Lee Townsend back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Kari starts a new series with THE WELL-KEPT SECRET. The first Wishville Mystery was released last month.

Kathy: A fan of the Sunny Meadows Mystery series, I was delighted to see you start a new series. Was there a specific inspiration for this series?

KLT: Thank you! I’ve always adored cozy mysteries with a twist of the extraordinary, and The Well-Kept Secret grew from my love of small towns in the Northeast with big secrets. The idea sparked when I imagined what would happen if a magical wishing well sat at the center of a quirky New England town—and what if the person guarding it wasn’t entirely human? From there, Wishville, Vermont, and my half-human, half-Dweller heroine, Lyra Wells, came to life. 

Kathy: I love paranormal mysteries and fantasies. What do you think makes them so popular? 

KLT: I think they offer the best of both worlds—literally! Paranormal and fantasy cozy mysteries let readers experience the comfort of a cozy town, friendship, and community, while adding a shimmer of wonder and danger just beneath the surface. It’s the thrill of asking “what if” in a world that feels familiar. We all crave a little magic once in a while. 

 

Kathy: Wishville, Vermont has forest festivals, quirky locals, and a centuries-old wishing well. I love festivals of all sorts and would love to attend a forest festival. Have you been to something similar?

KLT: I’ve attended plenty of fall harvest festivals and renaissance fairs, and each time I’m enchanted by the mix of nature, creativity, and community. WishFest in my books was inspired by those events—the laughter, the flicker of lanterns in the trees, the smell of fried dough and pine needles. I wanted readers to feel like they were right there, wandering through the forest with a cup of mulled cider and a mystery unfolding nearby. 

 

Kathy: Lyra Wells is the half-human, half-Dweller Guardian of the Well. She must keep the peace between the mortal world and the magical realm of Elarion. Would you fancy such a job?

KLT: Honestly? It sounds equal parts thrilling and exhausting! I’d love the magic and the connection to nature, but the responsibility of keeping two worlds from falling apart might require more coffee than I can handle. Still, I think Lyra’s role speaks to something a lot of people understand. Balancing two parts of ourselves and trying to find harmony in the process. 

 

Kathy: Wishville's well allegedly grants one wish each season. If given the opportunity, would you make a wish here?

KLT: I would! There's something so magical about making wishes and hoping they come true. I’d probably wish for continued inspiration and time to write all the stories swirling in my head. (And maybe for my characters to behave once in a while!) But mostly, more time with my pets. I wish they lived a lot longer than they do.
 

 

Kathy: When it comes to writing I understand there are 2 general camps-plotters, who diligently plot their stories, and pansters, who fly by the seat of their pants. Are you a plotter, a panster, or do you fall somewhere in between? 

KLT: I’m a proud plantser—half plotter, half pantser. I love a solid roadmap before I start, but once I begin writing, the story often takes delightful detours. My characters tend to whisper (and occasionally shout) new directions, and I’ve learned to trust them. Some of my favorite twists were happy accidents.

 

Kathy: Authors are required to do a lot of their own marketing, especially for a new release. What's your favorite part of marketing your work? What do you dislike about marketing? 

KLT: I love the creative side like designing graphics, countdowns, and promotions that allow me to connect with my readers. It’s an extension of storytelling, just visual and interactive. What I dislike is how time-consuming it can be. I’d rather be writing magical murder scenes than wrestling with algorithms! 
 

 

Kathy: Will you share any other upcoming books? 

KLT: Absolutely! THE WELL-LAID TRAP, book two in The Well-Kept Secret series, arrives next 1-20-26. It follows Lyra, Chief Holden Thorn, and Dweller enforcer Calderis as they investigate the disappearance of a beloved physical therapist before the Summer WishFest—only to uncover a crack in the barrier between worlds. After that will be THE WELL-HIDDEN CLUE out 5-12-26 and THE WELL-PLACED LIE out 8-4-26. I will eventually get back to my other series, but for now I'm riding the fantasy cozy mystery train and hope you will all will join me on this journey.


Thank you so much for having me. For a list of all of my works and social media links, check out my website karileetownsend.com

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Review

THE WELL-KEPT SECRET by Kari Lee Townsend
The First Wishville Mystery 

Lyra Wells straddles two worlds. With a human father and Dweller mother she's part of both worlds yet doesn't fully belong in either. After her father's death and mother's disappearance the Well has chosen Lyra as its guardian. She's responsible for ensuring the four festivals happen each year in Wishville, Vermont thus keeping the treaty between humans and Dwellers intact and the worlds at peace, even though the human world has no recollection of the Dweller world below. But when the new chief of police wants to lower the number of festivals, saying they bring an unacceptable increase in crime Lyra knows she has to act quickly. Unfortunately, the chief isn't the only problem. Something is off and trouble is coming. When antiques dealer Samuel Greer is found dead next to the well Lyra realizes that trouble is already here and about to get worse. Fissures have opened and she sees Dwellers amongst the humans at the current Spring WishFest. It also seems as if the well's magic is blocked. If Lyra can't solve murder the well will not grant its spring wish, the treaty will be broken, and war will erupt once more.

I really enjoyed my first visit to Wishville and Elarion. Wishville, that mortal town filled with wacky characters, differs greatly from the more regal and solemn Dweller world. I like how Chief Thorn slowly opened himself up to possibilities. I'm not a fan of love triangles, but the dynamics between Lyra, Thorn, and Calderis are interesting. As Lyra isn't fully of either world, neither is a perfect match, yet now they must all work together-things could get very interesting! There's plenty of humor to keep you giggling, especially when the Wellies are in the scene, and I love how Vex keeps Lyra grounded, in a sarcastically humorous way.

Wonderful world building, a sassy cat (well half cat half Whispen), a hint of romance, and a bit of magic make THE WELL-KEPT SECRET an enchanting start to a new series. 

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 The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery) by Kari Lee Townsend

About The Well-Kept Secret

The Well-Kept Secret (A Wishville Mystery)
Cozy Fantasy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - Wishville, Vermont
Publisher: ‎ Oliver Heber Books
Publication Date: ‎ October 28, 2025

A Spring Festival. A Magical Murder. A Secret Buried Beneath the Well.

Wishville, Vermont looks like a storybook postcard—complete with forest festivals, quirky locals, and a centuries-old wishing well that allegedly grants one wish each season. But for Lyra Wells, the magic isn’t just folklore—it’s her full-time job. As the half-human, half-Dweller Guardian of the Well, Lyra must keep the peace between the mortal world and the magical realm of Elarion. That means overseeing every seasonal WishFest, keeping tourists entertained, and pretending her glowing cat sidekick isn’t judging everyone.

But when an all-too-nosy antique dealer is found mysteriously dead by the well—and a rare memory crystal is discovered at the scene—the fragile treaty between worlds begins to unravel, and the ethereal Dweller chief enforcer isn't happy. As the townsfolk whisper about curses and coincidences, something ancient stirs beneath the surface—and it’s not ready to stay hidden.

About Kari Lee Townsend

National Bestselling Author, Agatha, RT Reviewers Choice & Golden Duck Award Nominee. Kari lives in Central New York with her husband & 3 Samoyeds. She's a lover of wine & travel (especially cruising), obsessed with reality TV, loves to try new things, and thinks there's nothing better than getting lost in a good book with at least some element of mystery, romance & humor. She writes cozy mysteries & upper middle grade as Kari Lee Townsend, as well as suspense, romance, romantic comedy & women's fiction as Kari Lee Harmon. She's most known for her Sunny Meadows Mysteries, Kalli Ballas Mysteries, and a crossover series featuring Sunny, Kalli, their detectives, and their crazy families! The Tasty Trio and Greek Mamas are her favorite characters to write about. Granny Gert is based on her late grandmother and Great Grandma Tootsie is based on her husband's late grandmother who lived to be nearly 109 years old!

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Purchase Link - Amazon

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron. This book is the fourth in the Vintage Cookbook Mystery series and was released yesterday!

As Ricki James-Diaz prepares Miss Vee's Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop for Christmas her boyfriend, Chef Virgil Morel, has exciting news. He's creating and producing a holiday special featuring the food of New Orleans and filming it right at Bon Vee. As producer he can hire his own production team and was able to coax a talented cameraman out of retirement-Luis James-Diaz, Ricki's father! Thrilled that both of her parents have come from Puerto Vallarta and will be staying in town through the holidays Ricki can't wait to spend time with them and perhaps jog some memories out of her mom regarding her birth mother.While her adoptive parents have been nothing but supportive when it comes to Ricki's quest to find more information about her birth parents things change when Ricki discovers that Phyllis Gibbs, who worked in medical records at the hospital where Ricki was born, is alive and well and living in New Orleans. The mere mention of the woman's name shuts her mother down and a brief meeting with the woman even puts Ricki on alert. When Phyllis is found dead the next morning everyone is stunned and when her death is deemed suspicious Ricki is nervous, for if a list was made of people who wanted Phyllis dead her parents' names would be right on top!

Rock a Bye Bye Baby - A Guest Post, Excerpt, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome KittyKai to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find KittyKai on the pages of Rock a Bye Bye Baby by Debbie de Louise. This book is the sixth book in the series.

Meow and Purrs. This is KittyKai, the calico cat from Rock a Bye Bye Baby who lives at the Cobble Inn. I’m actually a series regular on the Cobble Cove Mysteries. My first appearance was in Love on the Rocks when I was brought back from Hawaii after the sheriff and my lady eloped. Since then, I’ve teamed up with Sneaky the Library Cat to help the humans in the books solve crimes. The main humans we help are Alicia, the director of the Cobble Cove Library, and Sheriff Ron Ramsay. Of course, my human, Abigail Ramsay, who her friends call “Gilly,” also gets involved in our cases. She is a bad influence for Alicia, according to Alicia’s husband, John, the co-author of a mystery series and editor on the Cobble Cove Courier. The humans don’t realize that we’re helping them, but the other pets in the book and the readers can see our conversations in italics and follow along.

Now that I’ve brought you all up to speed, I’ll discuss our current book. Rock a Bye Bye Baby features two mysteries. The first is that of an abandoned infant who is left on Alicia and John’s doorstep. The second is the murder of elderly poker playing men, one of whom is John’s father, Mac. The first man murdered, Bert, was writing a novel that seemed to be about his life and those of his four friends who, besides playing poker every week, served with him in Vietnam. Sneaky and I figured out early on, along with the sheriff, that this book had something to do with Bert’s murder. Below is an excerpt featuring me and KittyKai planning our investigation of the mysteries.

Gilly let Sneaky in this time. “I heard you were here last night, Mr. Sneaky. I guess you want to see KittyKai again. Let me fetch her.” In a few minutes, the patio door opened and KittyKai came out.

“Sneaky. You’re back.”

“I came as quick I could, but I fell asleep in a bush. I had a tough time last night. There’s been a murder, KittyKai. A guy named Bert. I don’t know much about him or what happened, but Ramsay is on the case. He was at a house a few blocks away with Gilly and Alicia. There were two young women with them.” As he filled her in, his tail whipped back and forth in excitement.

“Hold your whiskers, Sneaky. I know all about it and more. Gilly was talking with Ramsay before he went to the station. Bert was a poker player with Mac and two other men. He was shot in his house, and Ramsay thinks it had something to do with a book he was writing that’s missing. Money might be missing, too. The girls you mentioned are Bert’s granddaughter and Billy’s girlfriend, Cindy.”

“Good work, Kit. What’s our next move now that we have two mysteries to solve?”

KittyKai found a spot in the sun and rolled on her back.

“This isn’t a time for sunning.”

“Anytime is a time for sunning, Sneaky. It also helps me think.” She sat back up. “The only thing I can think of right now is that both of us need to keep our eyes and ears open to what’s going on. Ramsay is sure to tell Gilly everything that he finds, or she’ll get it out of him another way. You have to see what Alicia turns up. Knowing her, she’ll be consulting with Gilly to find the killer and the baby’s parents.”

Sneaky suddenly remembered the ring he’d taken from the dead man’s house. He’d spat it out when he’d fallen asleep, but he still had it. He’d carried it to the inn and dropped it at the cat door. “KittyKai, there’s something I need to show you. It’s outside. Follow me.”

“How pretty,” KittyKai, like Gilly, was attracted to pretty things. She was known to walk off with items guests left at the inn; hair ties, ribbons, bracelets, and other trinkets. She always brought them to Gilly to return, but it was fun finding and carrying them around.

“I found this in the dead guy’s house. I don’t think it was his.”

“It isn’t. It’s a lady’s ring. You should show it to Gilly, or I will.”

Sneaky passed it to her. “Alright. It could be a clue. Gilly will share it with Ramsay.”

“Maybe not, Sneaky. You know how she and Alicia do their own investigating.”

“True. They often find the killer before the sheriff. Anyway, besides showing Gilly the ring, what’s our next move?”

“I know you’re going back to the library tomorrow, Sneaky. I can drop by your house tonight, and I can let you know what Gilly makes of the ring.”

“I like that plan, Kit, but will you be able to get out?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way. I’ll follow a guest or try to get one of Gilly’s boys to let me on the patio, so I can use my cat door.”

“Sounds good.” Sneaky rubbed whiskers with the calico. She purred and gave him that sultry look through her green eyes.
 

There you have it. Me and Sneaky working together again to help solve crimes. Our photos are even on the cover of the book. However, there’s more to these mysteries than we expected with quite a few suspects and several twists. I hope you’ll pick up a copy soon to see for yourself. 

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 Rock A Bye Bye Baby: A Cobble Cove Mystery by Debbie De Louise

About Rock A Bye Bye Baby

 

Rock A Bye Bye Baby: A Cobble Cove Mystery
Cozy Mystery 6th in Series
Setting - Upstate New York
Publisher: Solstice Publishing (September 25, 2025)
Print Length: ‎ 250 pages

When a newborn baby is left on Alicia and John’s doorstep, Sheriff Ramsay sets out to find the parents, but his investigation is put on hold when Mac’s elderly buddy, Bert, is found murdered in his home. The top suspects are Bert’s poker pals who served with him in Vietnam, his ex-wife, and a woman who cleans his house.

Alicia and Gilly team up again to locate the baby’s parents and Bert’s killer while Sneaky conducts a private investigation with Gilly’s cat, Kittykai. Who will find answers to these double mysteries, and are they connected in some way?

About Debbie De Louise

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and retired reference librarian. She's a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, the Cat Writers’ Association, and the South Carolina Writers Association. She’s published over twenty books including three cozy mystery series, a romance, standalone mysteries, a time-travel novel, and a collection of cat poems. Her stories and poetry appear in over a dozen anthologies. Originally from Long Island, she moved to South Carolina where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and three cats. Learn more about Debbie and her books by visiting her website at https://debbiedelouise.com

Author Links:  

Website/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/  

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Deblibrarian  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_Louise  

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQ  

All Author: https://allauthor.com/author/debbiedelouise/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbie_writer/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiedelouise/  

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/debbie-de-louise 

 Debbie’s Character’s Chat Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748912598599469/\  

Sneaky the Library Cat’s blog: https://Sneakylibrarycat.wordpress.com  

Purchase Links - Amazon

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Review

THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL 
By Jaime Jo Wright

Traeger Hall is a mansion haunted by the past, perhaps even cursed by its cruel and vindictive owner. In 1890 Leopold Traeger had a stranglehold on Newton Creek, Wisconsin. He owned the sawmill, the bank, as well as several other endeavors. Then he and his wife were brutally murdered inside the home. His will decreed his ward, Waverly Pembrooke leave the house with only the clothing with which she arrived and Traeger Hall be sealed for one hundred years. Over a hundred years have passed and Newton Creek is no longer a vibrant community and the Hall remains sealed. Jennie Phillips has arrived in town, inheriting Traeger Hall, one of her father's acquisitions. But a skeleton on the property and a unique codicil thwart Jennie's plans. Has the evil of two men passed down into the house? Will opening Traeger Hall mean the discovery of treasure or will it open the world to the evil trapped inside?

Subtle unease, unspoken danger that makes the hair on your arms raise, knowing that things just aren't right infuse this atmospheric novel. What is it that haunts Traeger Hall and Newton Creek itself? Ghosts are real, but are they just the impressions left by the evil of men?

Traeger Hall is itself an allegory. What will you find if you dare to enter? Hidden secrets, lost masterpieces, should it be sealed forever, opened up, or razed to the ground? What does that mean for the people involved, including the reader? 

I really enjoyed the period detail, manners, and stifled repression of the historical portion of the book. However, I did feel a bit cheated when I discovered one trope used as its resolution, although it did explain a lot and brought things full circle. The 1950 interviews added a unique perspective. As for the modern aspect, I appreciated how the repression continued and how it slowly released, just as it did in the 1890. I liked the modern day ending, which served also as a beginning.  

THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL is a winding journey of self discovery where emotions and secrets boarded up, just like Traeger Hall itself.

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THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL

by Jaime Jo Wright

October 20 - November 14, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

An abandoned estate encased in stagnant darkness . . .
A haunting legacy intent on silencing all within reach . . .

In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle's and aunt's murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle's eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning the reasons for her uncle's paranoia. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly--as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek--are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended.

In present day Newton Creek, whispers of a family curse still cling to the century-old, abandoned property of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after her mother's passing, she is intent on solving the mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still plague the property. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.

Book Details:

Genre: Dual Timeline Gothic Suspense
Published by: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780764243806, paperback
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub | Baker Book House

Read an excerpt:

 

 

Author Bio:

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of thirteen novels, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. Jaime has also written two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines.

Catch Up With Jaime Jo Wright:

JaimeWrightBooks.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @JaimeJoWright
BookBub - @JaimeJoWright
Instagram - @JaimeJoWright
Threads - @JaimeJoWright
YouTube - MadLit Musings
Spotify - MadLit Musings

 

Tour Participants:

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This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Jaime Jo Wright. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL by Jaime Jo Wright (book + gift card)

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Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! On this rainy All Hallow's Eve I thought I'd share some favorite spooky reads.

 

I don't read horror, but I do enjoy a spooky read once in a while. If you want something spine tingling good you need to read the Pluto Snitch Mystery series by Carolyn Haines. THE BOOK OF THE BELOVED is the first book in the series. While Carolyn does write cozy mysteries, this isn't one of them! I'd classify it as Southern Gothic. Speaking of Gothic, I just finished reading THE BELL TOLLS AT TRAEGER HALL by Jaime Jo Wright.You can check out my review Sunday!

If you're looking for a book set at Halloween you could try SHUDDER PULP by Vanessa Westermann, FRENCH QUARTER FRIGHT NIGHT by Ellen Byron, GHOST AND THE HAUNTED HOUSE by Carmen Radtke, ONE OF YOU by Lorie Lewis Ham, FATAL FUDGE SWIRL by Meri Allen or MINESTRONE MISCHIEF by Rosie Genova. You could also try TROUBLE BREWING by Heather Day Gilbert, DEATH RANG THE BELL by Carol Pouliot, MRS. MORRIS AND THE VAMPIRE by Traci Wilton, or MIDNIGHT SPELLS MURDER by Mary Angela.

If you enjoy reading about the Headless Horseman you're sure to appreciate THE LEGEND OF ACORN HOLLOW by Maureen Klovers.  

If you want to mix Halloween and Christmas try MRS. CLAUS AND THE HALLOWEEN HOMICIDE by Liz Ireland.

Of course any paranormal mystery would fit the bill, but especially one set at Halloween like the sixth Ghostly Fashionista Mystery, CORSETS AND CASUALTIES by Gayle Leeson. 

What about a whole series set in a town that is devoted to this holiday? CHAOS AT THE LAZY BONES BOOKSHOP by Emmeline Duncan is the first book in the Halloween Bookshop Mystery series.

There are so many wonderful books out there, books with ghosts, witches, and vampires, books set at Halloween, spooky books, funny books! No matter what kind of books you enjoy I hope you're able to curl up with a great one this Halloween!

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright. This standalone novel was published last week.

Traeger Hall is a mansion haunted by the past, perhaps even cursed by its cruel and vindictive owner. In 1890 Leopold Traeger had a stranglehold on Newton Creek, Wisconsin. He owned the sawmill, the bank, as well as several other endeavors. Then he and his wife were brutally murdered inside the home. His will decreed his ward, Waverly Pembrooke leave the house with only the clothing with which she arrived and Traeger Hall be sealed for one hundred years. Over a hundred years have passed and Newton Creek is no longer a vibrant community and the Hall remains sealed. Jennie Phillips has arrived in town, inheriting Traeger Hall, one of her father's acquisitions. But a skeleton on the property and a unique codicil thwart Jennie's plans. Has the evil of two men passed down into the house? Will opening Traeger Hall mean the discovery of treasure or will it open the world to the evil trapped inside?

Death on Dickens Island - A Guest Post. Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Delia Dickens to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Delia on the pages of the Books on the Beach Mystery series by Allison Brook. DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND is the first book in the series and was released last week.

Hi, Everyone. My name is Delia Dickens. Yes, I'm one of the Dickens family that founded Dickens Island in the Long Island Sound between Long Island and Connecticut. I'm thirty-eight, divorced, and I've just moved back to the island to live with my fifteen-year-old son Connor in the beautiful Victorian house that Helena, my grandmother, left me. Connor has discovered a small secret room lined with bookshelves. Here, unknown to anyone but Riley, our Bearded Collie, Helena appears to me in ghostly form and reveals secrets that help me solve two murders fifty years apart.

My parents live nearby. My father sees himself as the family's patriarch and responsible for the island's residents' peace of mind and well being. However, Dad dislikes confrontation, and so he usually relies on my mother to resolve conflicts. Dad runs the Dickens General Store. Mom has moved into my Manhattan apartment to take a break from Dad's depending on her to resolve problems and his refusal to accept her suggestions to modernize the store, and has taken up writing a novel. Sales have improved since Dad's agreed to let me order new merchandise. I'm doing my best to work around his stuck-in-the-mud attitude about making changes that the general store sorely needs if its going to survive.

My brother, Wayne, a well-known author, lives with his partner on the island part-time. He owns and edits the island's weekly newspaper, for which I've been writing articles.

Right now my aunt and uncle, who love each other dearly are having one of their public squabbles. Aunt Reenie, my mother's younger sister and Dickens Island's manager (mayor), is all for more housing and a ferry line to Connecticut while Uncle Brad, Dad's younger brother and the town council's president, wants to keep the island the same way it's been for years. Also suspecting him of having an affair with Missy Faraday, Aunt Reenie has thrown Uncle Brad out and he's staying with my dad. With Mom away, Dad expects me to convince my aunt and uncle to make nice and stop squabbling. An impossible job.

Riley came into our lives when he followed Connor home one afternoon and seemed to adopt us. While I was happy to have him live with us, I knew that, despite his badly matted coat, a wonderful dog like Riley had to belong to someone. And so I contacted our local vet, Jack Morrison. Reluctantly. Jack and I were an item years ago when I was sixteen and he was nineteen. Then he broke my heart. Believe me, I had no intention of rekindling our relationship, but one thing led to another . . .

And so you see, my life is rather full at the moment. Even more so, when Uncle Brad brought Missy Faraday to dinner at Dad's and the next morning she was found dead in her house. Of course Uncle Brad became Suspect Number One and I felt obliged to prove his innocence. So much goes on in a supposedly sleepy island, and I, being a Dickens, am right in the middle of everything.

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Review

DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND by Allison Brook
The First Books on the Beach Mystery 

After years living in Manhattan Delia Dickens has returned to Dickens Island living with her 15 year old son, Connor, in the house her grandmother left her. All is not peaceful on the island however. Her mother, claiming she needs a break from Delia's dad, is living in Delia's Manhattan apartment. Delia's aunt and uncle are leading members of the town with diametrically opposed views on what's best for the island. Their contentious behavior has divided the town and Aunt Reenie has thrown her husband out! Then, of course, there's the drama of living with a teenaged boy. But things come to a head when Missy Faraday is found shot to death in her own home. Missy was manipulative, at least in regards to men on the island, but why would anyone want to kill her? As Delia tries to deal with her family, she can't help but be interested in solving the murder, especially as both her aunt and uncle make good suspects. Unexpected help comes in the form of her grandmother's ghost who help her uncover secrets from the past that just may be impacting the present.

I enjoyed meeting Delia Dickens in the first Books on the Beach Mystery. I appreciate how she has taken past trauma, and while it still affects her, she learns and evolves from it. Delia has a solid supporting cast too, my favorite being Helena, her ghostly grandmother. I also love Riley, who shows how dogs can bring people together and help mend hurts.  

The mystery was satisfying. I particularly enjoyed how the past played a big part in the present with a pirate log, Helena's youth, and family drama adding to the mystery. As for the present, who would want to kill Missy? And why? I admit I figured it out the motive well before Delia, but it was fun seeing her catch up. 

With likeable characters and a well thought out mystery DEATH ON DICKENS ISLAND is a charming start to a new series.

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 Death on Dickens Island: A Books on the Beach Mystery by Allison Brook

About Death on Dickens Island

Death on Dickens Island: A Books on the Beach Mystery
Cozy Mystery 1st in Series
Setting - On Dickens Island, a fictional island in the Long Island Sound between Long Island & CT.
Publisher: ‎ Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: ‎ October 21, 2025
Hardcover Print Length: ‎ 320 pages

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.

About Allison Brook

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. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. 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, will be republished in 2025. Death on Dickens Island is the first book in her Books on the Beach series.

Marilyn's juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Children's Choice and has recently come out in a new edition. Rufus and the Witch's Drudge, the second book in the series, has been released, and the third, Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic, will be out later this year. And Don't Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards. Her YA horror, The Devil's Pawn, came out in a new edition in January 2024.

Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids, and playing with her kittens, Romeo and Juliet.

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Purchase Links: Amazon B&N Bookshop.org PenguinRandomHouse