Without a Shadow of Doubt
Book 5 in the Olivia Penn Mystery Series
Series: The Olivia Penn Mystery Series
Title: Without A Shadow of Doubt
Subtitle: An Olivia Penn Mystery
Book: 5
Publication Date: November 2025
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-956270-18-1
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-956270-19-8
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-956270-17-4
Audiobook ISBN: 978-1-956270-20-4
Without a Shadow of Doubt
The Olivia Penn Mystery Series
Book 5
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.
What readers are saying:
“A fantastic cozy mystery with a smart, relatable sleuth and a cozy small town setting.”
“I devoured the book in one sitting!”
“A five star entry in a five star series!”
“The perfect balance of cozy details and strong plotting.”
“The many twists and turns kept me guessing.”
“Couldn’t put it down.”
“A wonderfully developed character – brave, determined, kind and loyal.”
“Readers simply cannot go wrong with this series.”
“Everything you could ask for in a cozy mystery.”
“The best of the series.”
“This story was entertaining and well written.”
“Top notch mystery with lots of interesting characters.”
“Very good storyline, kept my interest with lots of twists and turns.”
The Olivia Penn Mystery Series is a complete cozy mystery series set in Apple Station, Virginia. While each mystery can be read as a standalone, readers may enjoy following the books in publication order.
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“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
“Libraries and readers seeking mysteries that include cozy small-town settings, horses, cats, and other animals, evolving family connections, and historical backdrops will find Without a Shadow of a Doubt a powerful draw. It promises and delivers an outstanding consideration of not just motives for murder, but the impact of treasure and family secrets on the greater community.”
— D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest 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
“If you like your cozies with a little bit of thrill, then this is the series for you … This mystery just gets more and more mysterious, drawing the reader in with suspects and red herrings that had me guessing all the way to the end and the big reveal. I was turning page after page and didn’t stop until I got to the last page, making this book perfectly titled because it is Without a Shadow of Doubt that I thoroughly enjoyed this final book.”
—Kings River Life Magazine
“Olivia is a great, no-nonsense character. She and her friends are likable and relatable. The story moves along quickly, with unexpected discoveries to keep Olivia—and the reader—on their toes.”
—Christa Reads and Writes