This is my first book by this author and I was happy to start with her new series. There is a paranormal element, which I wasn't sure of, but that is not a deal breaker for me as I enjoy paranormal cozies. There is a good mystery and intrigue, but the book is a bit slow to get started. I also liked that when the main character returns to her home town after being away for so many years it was not the same place as she left. Sometimes, in a cozy mystery, the town never changes but yet there are murders. In this story the main character realizes that home might not be how she remembered it.

Delia has moved back to the small island where she was raised. She is happy to be back but dealing with a teenage son, a father who dislikes change and a old boyfriend is stressful. Maybe a murder to solve will be a good thing.

Death on Dickens Island is the debut book in this cozy mystery series. Delia Dickens returns home to the island where she grew up and it's not the peaceful haven she remembers. A young woman is murdered, and when her aunt and uncle are implicated, Delia does her best to find the real killer. There is mystery, a little intrigue, romance, and a cute dog. The pacing of this book was a bit slow for my liking. I did like the characters, the family dynamics, and the unexpected paranormal visits from her grandmother. Overall, a nice cozy. I look forward to reading the next one in this new series.

Delia's sleuthing techniques and style left a lot to be desired; she wasn’t a convincing amateur sleuth. This story lacked the excitement I had expected, it was mildly entertaining with mild intrigue.

#DeathonDickensIsland #NetGalley is the first in a new series by a favorite author.
This book knocks it out of the park for me, an avid cozy mystery reader.
Delia returns to Dickens Island, and she is desperate to heal her relationship with her son.
Working at the family general store keeps her busy, but when a murder takes place, putting her aunt and uncle on the top of the suspect list, Delia knows she needs to ask questions.
There is so much to love about this book, I am so happy to have read it, and I'm hoping there will be more to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
I will be recommending #DeathonDickensIsland to other cozy mystery readers.

Big thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC!! I did DNF this book at 37%, but it was more of a user error than it was the story itself. Let me explain…

This book is a cozy mystery with elements of the paranormal (the paranormal element I totally missed, so I did not expect it).
The story follows the FMC, Delia, who’s from Dickens Island. She has been living in Manhattan until recently, when she moved back to Dickens Island in hopes of being able to spend more time with her 15-year-old son, who was being cared for by her parents. When she came home, there were marital issues between her aunt and uncle, a murder, and Delia realized the island is not how it was when she had left.

I loved the cover of the book—loved the dog, the books, the view of the island—it exuded cozy mystery vibes. But I will say, this is my first cozy mystery novel, and I’m not really sure it’s completely my jam. I think “cozy” and “mystery” together confuse my brain a bit. 😬 I also didn’t realize there are paranormal elements to this book, which is completely on me, as I just dove into it from the cover. I think all of the reasons why I DNF’d the book might be the reasons why someone would rate this highly.