Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Death on Dickens Island: A Books on the Beach Mystery by Allison Brook. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews and more!

Death on Dickens Island: A Books on the Beach Mystery

by Allison Brook

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 and 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.

My review

Death on Dickens Island by Allison Brook is the first book in her new Books on the Beach series. It’s set on a small fictional island between Long Island and Connecticut. 

The series features Delia Dickens as the main character. She’s a single mom who has just recently returned to the island and to her 15 year old son. Delia is there to help revitalize and bring new life to the general store run mainly by her dad. Though her dad is reluctant (and resistant) to change, Delia manages to add more appealing stock, and she adds a reading area which she hopes will encourage people to discuss books and perhaps start a regular book club. The Book Nook is only established near the end of the book, so I’m looking forward to seeing how this adds to the series since the series is Books on the Beach. 

Though the book does have a murder to be solved, it mainly forms the foundation of the series including introducing the characters, explaining why Delia has just now permanently reconnected with her son, describing the island’s setting, introducing a paranormal aspect, and establishing conflict among the island’s residents regarding the future of the island’s economy. I think that as the series continues, solving mysteries will be the main focus in the plots.

It seems to be the norm now for cozies to have some language that wouldn’t have found their way into them several years ago, so prepare for some BS & p-d off. There’s also a past relationship involving two characters (not explicit) that seemed to only be included for the sake of “inclusion” which also seems to be the norm for cozies now too. Since the relationship occurred in the 50s or 60s, it felt forced. (I’m trying to not have spoilers, so I know this explanation is a bit rambling…Also, I’m not saying this in a negative way, but I know there are people who’d want to know these things before reading.) 

I enjoyed watching Delia and her son Conner settle into their new normal. The dog that finds them is so cute, and he definitely helps Conner’s (and Delia’s) mental health. I like that there’s a second chance romance involved and hope that it slowly continues through upcoming books. 

One of my favorite aspects of the book was how one of Conner’s friends became close to Delia and Conner’s little family. I thought it was very loving of Delia to include him knowing what she did of his family. This added the cozy feel that a cozy mystery needs. 

I think fans of Allison Brook’s Haunted Library series will enjoy starting this brand new series with Death on Dickens Island. I enjoyed it, and I look forward to future Books on the Beach books. 

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

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.

Author Links

Website/Newsletter Sign Up: http://www.marilynlevinson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook

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

Purchase Links: Amazon    B&N      Bookshop.org     PenguinRandomHouse

Enter the giveaway

Death on Dickens Island TOUR PARTICIPANTS

October 21 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

October 21 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

October 21 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

October 22 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

October 22 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 22 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT  

October 23 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

October 23 – Wine Cellar Library – SPOTLIGHT

October 23 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 24 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

October 24 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

October 24 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

October 25 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW

October 25 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

October 25 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

October 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

October 26 – Christa Reads and Writes – SPOTLIGHT

October 27 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

October 27 – Salty Inspirations – SPOTLIGHT

October 28 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

October 28 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW

October 28 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

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