Captivation Creek

A Small-Town Romance (The Haven Brothers, Book 5)

De: Claire Kingsley

Narrado por: Alastair Haynesbridge, Vanessa Edwin

He’ll help her solve a mystery, but they can’t risk their hearts.

A devastating injury ended Theo Haven’s pro-football career, but he’s made a good life for himself in his hometown. The high school teacher and football coach might be single, but that’s by choice. And his work bestie, Penelope? She’s one of the best parts of his job, but they’re just friends. No, really. Not the sort of friends who are secretly pining for each other or destined to hook up. Just… friends.

Art teacher Penelope Fallbrook is stuck in a rut. When a locally renowned artist dies suspiciously, she channels her restless energy into amateur sleuthing. Who better than her best friend Theo to help her search for the truth?

When Penelope’s life comes crashing down, Theo is there, picking up the pieces and offering a place to stay. Best friends become roommates, and living one room away might be too much temptation. As they dig deeper into the mystery of the artist’s death, secrets unravel. Are they searching for a murderer? Or uncovering the work of a serial killer? And Penelope might be in danger of becoming the next victim.

Author’s Note: a fun twist on friends-to-lovers with work besties turned roommates turned lovers. A murder mystery, small-town shenanigans, feuding senior citizens, binge-worthy suspense, and a charming couple who will steal your heart. Captivation Creek can be listened to as a stand-alone.

©2026 Claire Kingsley (P)2026 Claire Kingsley

We got pranks

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Claire Kingsley gives us a lovely best friends to more, featuring two individuals whose lives are very different.

With Theo, we observe a family that offers him infinate love and support, which empowers him to seriously consider a significant life changing decision

On the other hand, Penelope, who lacks any support system, is looking at her own life carefully. After much reflection, she makes a difficult choice herself, only to face a test of her resolve hours later. Fully aware of the challenges ahead, she remains committed to her decision.

We get a better understanding of who Theo Haven truly is. Although he's mentioned often, we never really got a full picture until now. His feelings about why he doesn't date are truly heartbreaking, and on top of that, his biological father's actions add to his pain, no wonder he has barriers.

Penelope is truly endearing. I love that she embraces her true self and refused
to let Sean turn her into someone else. She recognizes the issues in their relationship, the changes she dislikes and took steps to address them; instead of settling for convenience.

There are many subtle references to all of Claire’s works. Melanie casually mentioning burning down a house, hearing someone loudly clear his throat, then turning to greet Firefighter Bailey. Reminding us how Penelope and Levi know each other, harking to the moment she was introduced in this series.
The suggestion of burning the bedding hints at the Miles’ family tradition of burning mattresses.
When Penelope visits Salishan Cellars; for her painting class and mentions the ocean beach she loved as a child as inspiration for her artwork, it feels like a nod to Jetty Beach.
The appearance of 'billionaire Shepherd Calloway, his wife, Everly’ was truly enjoyable.
And finally, the stories of Theo and Pen's little pranks on coworkers plus Theo offering Grandma Colleen advice on how to get back at Uncle Maury Haven at the Senior living village remind us that while the true feud may be over, the playful spirit is alive and well in Tillikum.

Friends to lovers with a mystery to solve

I am loving Claire's romantic suspense era! Captivation Creek follows Theo Haven and Penelope Fallbrook, coworkers turned best friends turned lovers. This is an amazing friends to lovers romantic suspense!

Theo Haven had a dream when he was younger, he was going to go pro in football but in his first year of pro ball he got a life changing injury that made it so he'd never play professional football again. So he went back to Tilikum to be with his family and heal up. After he was healed he got a job at the local high school and became the head football coach and a teacher. From this bad injury he then decided that relationships weren't for him, he was going to be the lone Haven to never have a significant other. Theo is awesome at nicknames for his work bestie Penelope.

Penelope is the art teacher at Tilikum High School and is work besties with Theo. They love to prank the other teachers and get all of the tea, not that they spread it but just because they are nosey. Penelope moved to Tilikum to spend time with her grandmother who is living in assisted living. At the beginning of this story Penelope is in a serious relationship with Sean, they live together but he's not very attentive or aware of what Penelope wants or needs.

After learning that an artist that Penelope admired had passed away, she goes to the funeral with Theo and she learns that she had been gifted a painting that he made. Shortly after the funeral she and Sean break up and she is stranded at a restaurant and she calls Theo to come get her and she starts living with him.

As the two are still just besties Theo gets the job offer of a lifetime that he wants to take, and Penelope discovers a cryptic note left in the canvas of the painting she got. After sharing with Theo they learn that the artist left a few other cryptic notes in paintings that make them curious what is going on with the paintings. They uncover a murder mystery and aren't sure if her teacher was a serial killer or if he just knew a serial killer.

While trying to solve this mystery Theo and Penelope start to develop feelings for each other and one night they explode! Theo is contemplating about taking his new job and about the possibility of having a serious relationship again after getting hurt in the past. Penelope just wants her life in Tilikum with her students, grandmother, and her bestie turned lover. Will they solve the murder mystery before someone else dies? Will they stay together in Tilikum or move away? Only one way to find out!!

Captivation Creek is book 5 in the Haven Brother's series, it is a standalone but is recommended to be read in series order so you can follow the past storyline. I'm rating this 5/5 stars and 4/5 on the spice scale. Alister Haynesbridge and Vanessa Edwin did amazing! This was the first audiobook I had heard that they had narrated and I think they did great!

Small town romance with suspense!

Captivation Creek is small town, workplace romance with a murder mystery to solve. Theo and Penelope were the sweetest, I loved their friendship and loved seeing it develop into so much more. I loved the way that Penelope was there for him and unlike people in his past and showed him that. Claire does the small town charm so good and makes it impossible not to fall in love with her characters. I love a good murder mystery thrown in and loved the twists and turns as they investigated. Theo and Penelope jumped to my new favorite couple of the series.

Vanessa Edwin and Alastair Haynesbridge narrate this story in dual and brought these two characters to life. Vanessa always does so good at embodying the characters she plays and makes you feel their emotions. Alastair is still fairly new to me and I loved his portrayal of Theo, he brought his sweet caring and protective sides to life. The story and narration was great, thank you to Claire for an alc and I’m so excited for the final installment of the Haven brothers series.

Another One Click

I have never been disappointed in a Claire Kingsley book! Captivation Creek is another solid HEA romance with a light crime suspense twist.
Solid audio readings by great narrators.

Obsessed!

I absolutely loved Theo and Penelope’s story. I’m a sucker for friends to lovers and this one had me grinning the whole time. The suspense was also so well done! The narration was phenomenal and really made the story even better. I can’t wait for book six!