Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds (Original)

I really liked this slow burn of a story! The author does a good job creating a large cast of characters all the while increasing the suspense of the mystery. A truly enjoyable beach read.

Mia decides to take a vacation before starting her new job that she has worked hard for promotion. She leaves her grandmother in charge of her cats and decides to find a real life romance just like all the books she loves. When she picks up a used book at the island resort she finds notes in the margins from a woman who has recently disappeared, As she sets out to solve the mystery with the help of the handsome bartender, not all is it seems in paradise.

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.

Brennan is not the first name that comes to mind when you think of frothy beach reads. This novel is a significant departure for the thriller writer and will not be to everyone’s taste. I enjoyed Mia and her amateur detective escapades and hope to see more in this vein.

Mia is a financially conservative accountant who is on the verge of achieving partnership in a New York financial consulting firm. Before she signs a contract and gets her name on the door, the company sends her on a Caribbean vacation. She and her friends expect her to have a sexual fling and return home to her predictable life of work, caring for her financially impulsive grandmother, reading, and loving her two cats.When Mia arrives on the island paradise, she finds almost everyone there is already in a relationship. She resorts to reading a book left by another guest and flirting with a barkeeper. The book Mia is reading is filled with notes about blackmail schemes handwritten by the deceased previous owner of the novel. Most of the characters on the island are rich and unlikable—by Mia’s standards and mine as well. Mia is determined to break the code in the notes and discover the murderer.The first part of the book is very focused on Mia’s desire to “hook up” with a handsome man, any handsome man. Later that happens and the reader is brought along through several open bedroom door, or in this case naked romp-on-the-beach, scenes. Romance enters into the relationship but the preoccupation is lust.Various characters come under consideration as possible murderers, but with some of them murdered themselves along the way, the list of suspects is narrowed.Trust is a major issue for several of the characters including Brie, the college age daughter of a potential victim of a honey trap. I almost liked her until she showed no problem instigating illegal activities. Regaining trust, being willing to risk all you have in money and reputation, and following your dreams are themes for Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds. The mystery starts out slow, but picks up the pace later. Although I liked the ending resolution for the main characters, the conclusion is fairly sudden and not very believable. My favorite parts of the novel, unsurprisingly, encompass books whether in bookstores or libraries. If you are looking for a good, clean mystery, full of intrigue and interesting characters, then this is not the book for you.