Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for Without a Shadow of Doubt: An Olivia Penn Mystery by Kathleen Bailey! Today we are featuring a review of book five in one of my very favorite cozy mystery series. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! There is also a Giveaway for a paperback copy of Without a Shadow of Doubt (US only). ENTER HERE! ⬅️

Without a Shadow of Doubt: An Olivia Penn Mystery
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rhino Publishing LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1956270174
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FQCNBQNQ

About the Book:

Find the cat. Crack the case.

The Highland Games have arrived just outside Apple Station, Virginia, bringing bagpipes, kilts, and a tide of tartan-clad tourists to the cozy small town. Advice columnist Olivia Penn is ready for a weekend of fun now that her life has finally settled into a quiet, steady rhythm. But when a local turns up dead in one of the town’s most iconic homes, a cryptic message from a friend draws her into a tangled mystery.

As Olivia investigates, family secrets and surprising motives surface, linking three brooches, an antique cross, and a 17th-century Scottish Bible. Clues connect seven suspects to the crime, and each has something to hide. When her friend can’t be found and the police start asking questions, the mystery hits closer to home and runs deeper than she ever imagined.

After an unlikely witness makes a shocking revelation, Olivia enlists her friends and a heroic search and rescue golden retriever to help her follow the trail before it goes cold. The man she loves is caught in the crosshairs, and to protect him, she’ll have to risk everything. Justice hinges on a missing cat, a chase through the woods, and a stare-down with a mama bear.

Without a Shadow of Doubt is the gripping fifth installment in the award-winning Olivia Penn Mystery Series. This fast-paced, heartwarming cozy mystery features charming characters, small-town intrigue, and a heroine you’ll love to root for. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, cozy suspense, and clean, feel-good mysteries with lovable cats and dogs.

My Review:

This is one of my most favorite mystery series, and I’m so happy to report that this latest addition was everything I had hoped it would be! Like the other books in the series, I was immediately drawn into the story. I love Apple Station, so opening my book felt like visiting my favorite place with many old friends. Kathleen has a lovely writing style that strikes the perfect balance of cozy details and strong plotting so that the pages fly by. I was fully immersed, only stopping to throw some dinner together for my family. 

This new entry into the series featured a complex mystery that I did not figure out ahead of time, but I sure did enjoy tagging along with Olivia as she pieced together clues and analyzed the suspects (so many suspects!).She’s such a wonderfully developed character – brave, determined, kind and loyal. I’d love to be her friend. She’s like a grown up Nancy Drew! 

The Scottish Highland Games in town was a creative subplot and added extra flavor to the details of the setting. Olivia is also surrounded by a wonderful cast of side-characters (her dad being my favorite), as well as adorable pets. 

Readers simply cannot go wrong with this series, and Without a Shadow of Doubt is another five star read! 

(Side note: see all my mentions of Kathleen and this wonderful series here.)

About the Author:

Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. For over twenty years, she worked as a pediatric physical therapist with children who have special needs, drawing on degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She now writes in Virginia with her feline assistant, who insists on supervising every draft. When she’s not writing, Kathleen can usually be found covered in cat hair, surrounded by far too many sticky notes, and plotting new twists to keep readers guessing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links:  Website ~ Instagram ~  BookBub ~  GoodReads 

Purchase Links: Amazon ~ All Retailers

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

• November 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
• November 4 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST
• November 5 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
• November 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
• November 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• November 7 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
• November 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
• November 8 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
• November 9 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• November 10 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
• November 11 – Christa Nardi Reads and Writes – REVIEW
• November 12 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT
• November 13 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
• November 14 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
• November 15 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• November 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT
• November 16 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
• November 16 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
• November 17 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
• November 17 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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