ARC Review: Death on Dickens Island by Allison Brook

Death on Dickens Island
Author: Allison Brook
Series: A Books on the Beach Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Crooked Lane (October 21, 2025)

Description: 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 Thoughts: This first in a new series stars Delia Dickens who has come home to Dickens Island after some years away in Manhattan. She is helping her father in his general store and writing some articles for her brother's newspaper. She is also trying to rebuild her relationship with her fifteen-year-old son who has spent most of his life living with her parents. 

When a young woman is murdered and Delia's uncle is one of the prime suspects, Delia becomes an amateur sleuth. She has the unexpected help of the ghost of her grandmother who knows the ins and out and who's who of the island past and present. 

The island is in turmoil because of the issue of purchasing a local farm and determining its future use. Delia's aunt and uncle who are both on the council have vastly different views of the future of the farm and the island. Their views are coming close to polarizing the rest of the island's residents.

Meanwhile, Delia's relationship with her son is going through its own ups and downs. When Connor skips school to hunt for treasure from a map purported to be left by Captain Kidd, it leads to a break-in at their house and the discovery of a long-buried body.

This was an engaging cozy mystery. I'm eager to read more about Dickens Island and its residents. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.