Welcome!
I’m Kathleen Bailey, and I write atmospheric cozy mysteries filled with heart, humor, and page-turning suspense.
Explore the Olivia Penn Mystery Series and the Wren Meadows Mystery Series, a collection of small-town mysteries featuring memorable characters, surprising twists, and Southern charm.
My Latest Book:
The Friar’s Last Curse
The Wren Meadows Mystery Series:
BOOK ONE
(Coming November 10, 2026)
A buried treasure. A murder rooted in local legend. Small towns hide the best secrets.
Wren Meadows is an animal communicator and ghostwriter living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain town of Covington Crossroads, Virginia. Between helping lost pets reunite with their families and meeting deadlines for her latest client, life in her charming small town is just the way she likes it—until a frightened woman appears at her door with a desperate plea for help.
When Wren receives a cryptic message that triggers a memory from eleven years ago, she gets pulled into a murder investigation that quickly lands her on the police radar. Clues link the crime to a local legend of a buried treasure rumored to be cursed. Everyone connected to the victim seems to be hiding something, including the one person Wren needs to trust most.
As old secrets surface, Wren must form an unlikely alliance with a suspicious filmmaker to protect those she cares about. When a treasure hunt leads to a shocking discovery, the proof Wren needs fits into the palm of her hand. To bring the killer to justice, she must rely on her instincts, her German shepherd Scout, and her ability to see what others don’t before another life is lost.
Someone in Covington Crossroads knows the truth. And they’ll do anything to keep it buried.
The Friar’s Last Curse is perfect for readers who love atmospheric cozy mysteries, found family, small-town charm, hidden secrets, loyal animal companions, and page-turning suspense.
The Wren Meadows Mystery Series blends folklore, Southern atmosphere, heart, and humor in emotionally immersive cozy mysteries featuring a strong female amateur sleuth you’ll want as a friend.
Come for the mystery. Stay for the characters.
Browse The Olivia Penn Mystery Series
The Olivia Penn Mystery Series, a complete cozy mystery series set in the small town of Apple Station, Virginia. Filled with heart, humor, memorable characters, and twisty mysteries, the series is available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, signed paperback, and audiobook editions.
Praise for Kathleen’s works:
“The whole series is fantastic.”
– Los Angeles Book Review
“Bailey’s writing radiates compassion … though she never lets her warm humanity come at the expense of danger and surprise.”
— BookLife Review
“Olivia is, as always, a delightful protagonist and savvy amateur sleuth, and she’s also a great daughter & a great friend. The skillfully-plotted mystery, the dashes of more danger & suspense, and the clever whodunit reveals keep me invested and engaged.”
—Reading is My Superpower
When the Carnival Came is a fast-moving, edge-of-your-seat, entertaining read for lovers of the cozy mystery genre.”
— Novels Alive
“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 … engaging, well-conceived characters, and expertly crafted twists that will keep readers guessing.”
— BookLife Review
“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.”
— Dru’s Book Musings
“Big Fun! Kathleen Bailey’s first book in her Olivia Penn Mystery series is a delightfully fun, complex mystery offering traditional cozy elements, a strong female lead, stifled “heart chakra,” diverse multi-generational personalities, small town connections, and interesting family dynamics. The mystery was a mystery within a mystery … Engaging. Couldn’t put it down … Bailey’s writing is entertaining, well-paced, and witty.”
— Kings River Life Magazine
“This book is written with such beautiful descriptions … Where the Light Shines Through has a brilliant cast of characters that exude the feeling of a small town.”
— Manhattan Book Review
“This enthralling small-town cozy abounds with suspense, surprise, and autumn atmosphere … Silence Says the Most also offers that crucial ingredient for the standout series cozy: a hero worth rooting for and capable of surprising readers … Bailey pulls readers in with charming descriptions and personalities … fans of small-town amateur detectives will be hooked from the start.
— BookLife Reviews, Editor’s Pick
“One thing I really appreciate about the way Bailey writes is that she doesn’t rush the story. Her description of her characters, their personalities, and the setting are all paced well so that the reader can really get a feel for the environment and its energy … The small town of Apple Station, Virginia gives Gilmore Girl Stars Hollow vibes but with mysteries … This is an excellent read for anyone who loves cozy mysteries mixed with an exciting action-filled plot.”
— Chicago Book Review
“Kathleen Bailey’s Without a Shadow of Doubt is an engaging and cleverly layered mystery that pulls you in with its warmth as much as its intrigue. Bailey balances small-town charm, emotional depth, and the tension of a good whodunit with a confident, steady hand … Set against the lively backdrop of Apple Station’s Highland Games, this cozy mystery shines with cinematic flair—quirky enough to charm but grounded enough to feel real. …With a strong, witty heroine, authentic relationships, and a clean, character-driven plot, Bailey delivers everything cozy mystery readers crave: heart, humor, and a satisfying puzzle set in a small town full of secrets.”
— Los Angeles Book Review
“A finely tuned whodunit with crisp writing, engaging dialogue, and a comfortable tone that pulls you right into the story … Boasting an eclectic cast of characters, a small-town atmosphere, and a warm feeling, this [Without a Shadow of Doubt] is one of the best books in this delightfully charming series.”
— Dru’s Book Musings
“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! I was immediately drawn into the story. Kathleen has a lovely writing style that strikes the perfect balance of cozy details and strong plotting so that the pages fly by. This new entry featured a complex mystery that I did not figure out ahead of time… She’s such a wonderfully developed character—brave, determined, kind and loyal. She’s like a grown up Nancy Drew! Readers simply cannot go wrong with this series, and Without a Shadow of Doubt is another five-star read!”
—Sarah Can’t Stop Reading
