August Mystery of the Month
Where the Light Shines Through
An engaging small-town cozy mystery with heart
Olivia Penn Mystery (Book 1)
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Kathleen Bailey
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Olivia Penn Mysteries
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Paperback, hardcover, ebook, audiobook
Where the Light Shines Through is the first book in the Olivia Penn Mystery Series by award-winning author Kathleen Bailey. The amateur sleuth is Olivia Penn, an advice columnist who is returning home to visit her father in the picturesque Southern town of Apple Station, Virginia.
When a body is discovered on one of the town’s old estates, Olivia's plans quickly spiral into a high-stakes investigation. The police suspect one of her childhood friends committed the crime. Olivia is sure he’s innocent. She begins unraveling the cryptic clues left behind by the victim and dives headfirst into the shadows to untangle a knot of betrayals, buried grudges, and shifting loyalties.
To expose the actual killer, she’ll have to rely on her close-knit circle of friends and take a risky leap where the light shines through.
Reasons to Read Where the Light Shines Through
Where the Light Shines Through is a heartfelt and engaging story that cleverly mixes personal stakes with classic mystery elements. The plot twists and turns in surprising yet believable ways and keeps you invested in every revelation and emotional beat.
The characters feel like people you could actually know. Olivia is smart, determined, and relatable, and her friends and family are authentic people with complicated histories and believable emotions. They are likable and the type of people you want to spend time with.
The setting is also delightfully cozy. Apple Station, Virginia, comes across as one of those charming Southern towns you wish you could visit in real life. It's postcard pretty, and everyone knows everyone, which makes the secrets and suspicions all the more intense and personal.
Kathleen Bailey has a genuine gift for capturing details and bringing scenes to life with vivid writing. Her descriptions are warm and atmospheric and make you feel like you're walking alongside Olivia through Apple Station.
For readers who want a Nancy Drew-style mystery with a charming small town setting and a cast of characters that are fun to spend time with, Where the Light Shines Through is the perfect cozy read.
Where the Light Shines Through is available in ebook, hardcover or paperback (328 pages), and audiobook (7 hours and 23 minutes; narrated by Natalie Naudus). The ebook version can be read for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
What Readers Say About Where the Light Shines Through
“This was a delightfully charming read that I could not put down until all was said and done. The author knows how to tell a story where the tone was comfortable and the multi-plot whodunit had all the elements to keep me enthralled from beginning to end.”
“Olivia’s vividly sketched hometown of Apple Station is so alive with warmth and local color that it brings to mind a southern version of Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. ”
“Where the Light Shines Through by Kathleen Bailey is charming from beginning to end. The engaging writing voice instantly draws you into the story and keeps you glued to the page, with plenty of chances to grin and a hint of romance too. Olivia is a protagonist who is exceptionally easy to like, and the mystery is intriguing and smartly written.”
“This book has all the classic markers of a great cozy mystery series combined with beautifully descriptive writing. I really enjoyed the story, and loved the small town feel of this cozy. The characters were quirky, humorous, and realistic.”
“Great care is taken with the way this book is written. It’s filled with emotional depth that kept me engaged. Besides a cozy and engaging story with wonderful characters, the descriptions are beautifully written. The author takes the concept of “show don’t tell” to a new level.”
Where the Light Shines Through Reading Kit
If you're in a book club or if you just want to have some fun beyond the book, check out this free Where the Light Shines Through Reading Kit. It contains reader questions, book club activities, coloring pages, word search puzzles, a yummy recipe, and an interview with author Kathleen Bailey.
Where the Light Shines Through Mysteries in Order
The Olivia Penn Mysteries in order are:
The Case of the Broken Locket (Prequel short story)
Where the Light Shines Through (Book 1)
Silence Says the Most (Book 2)
Under the Cocoon Moon (Book 3)
When the Carnival Came (Book 4)
Without a Shadow of Doubt (Book 5)
Olivia Penn Mystery Books 1-5
Interview with Kathleen Bailey
Read a Cozy Crime Reads interview with Kathleen Bailey, the author of the Olivia Penn Mysteries. Learn what drew her to cozy mysteries, how she creates the cozy elements in her stories, and what she does to take a story from an idea to a completed book. Read more about Kathleen Bailey’s books, sign up for her newsletter, get book updates, find fun bookish extras, and more on her website, www.kathleenbaileyauthor.com.
Kathleen Bailey Cozy Mystery Bookshelf
Use the arrows on either side of the images below to see Kathleen Bailey’s cozy mysteries. Click on the book cover to see a book description, reader reviews, and a book excerpt on Amazon.
Where the Light Shines Through (The Olivia Penn Mystery Series Book 1)
Silence Says the Most (The Olivia Penn Mystery Series Book 2)
Under the Cocoon Moon (The Olivia Penn Mystery Series Book 3)
When the Carnival Came (The Olivia Penn Mystery Series Book 4)
Without a Shadow of Doubt (The Olivia Penn Mystery Series Book 5)
The Case of the Broken Heart: An Olivia Penn Cozy Mystery Short Story (The Olivia Penn Mystery Series)