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The Deadly Life of Diana Penn: The Cheviot Hills Time Travel Series - A Middle Falls Universe Novel
All Diana Penn wanted was a quiet retirement. What she got was a chance to rewrite history.
When a demolition crew uncovers unexploded WWII bombs in a quiet Northumberland park, retired MI6 agent Diana Penn instantly senses danger. But before she can act, the bombs detonate.
Instead of peace, Diana wakes up in December 1944, in the body of her younger a Land Army girl posted in a seemingly sleepy English town. Beneath the wartime camaraderie and village gossip, predators lurk and suspicious activities hint at dangers far greater than German spies.
Armed with knowledge of the future and the instincts of a seasoned operative, Diana must race to prevent catastrophe. Because this time, dying isn’t the end—it’s only the beginning.
A gripping wartime thriller with a time-bending twist, The Deadly Life of Diana Penn is a powerful new addition to the acclaimed Middle Falls universe.
When a demolition crew uncovers unexploded WWII bombs in a quiet Northumberland park, retired MI6 agent Diana Penn instantly senses danger. But before she can act, the bombs detonate.
Instead of peace, Diana wakes up in December 1944, in the body of her younger a Land Army girl posted in a seemingly sleepy English town. Beneath the wartime camaraderie and village gossip, predators lurk and suspicious activities hint at dangers far greater than German spies.
Armed with knowledge of the future and the instincts of a seasoned operative, Diana must race to prevent catastrophe. Because this time, dying isn’t the end—it’s only the beginning.
A gripping wartime thriller with a time-bending twist, The Deadly Life of Diana Penn is a powerful new addition to the acclaimed Middle Falls universe.
- GenresTime Travel
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2025
138 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 24, 2025
Coming to this book as a big fan of the Middle Falls series. I was nervous at the news that a new author was coming in to try her take at what I first expected to be Middle Falls UK, given how easily an attempt to recreate or offshoot wonderful series can go awry.
Cutting to the chase, The Deadly Life of Diana Penn was truly enjoyable in that Cheviot Hills in the 1940s felt fully formed and realized. Some of the best books I read are time jumps, drop us into a setting, let me get comfortable for ten or so chapters and then jump ahead and repeat the process. I had been in Cheviot Hills very briefly before the plot pulled me into a different direction, where I found another fully realized and fleshed out setting, and then back again. That’s rare, and it was exceptionally well done.
I have more thoughts which I’ll add to goodreads for spoiler protection, but some of the best Middle Falls stories remind us that looks can be deceiving and we’re not necessarily here for the reasons we’d first expect, and this book carries that lesson as far as it can. This book did not end the way I expected it to, and that’s absolutely fine. I’m chomping at the bit for more.
Adding onto the goodreads review, in terms of questions that stuck out in my head, one of the universal life centers scenes confused me, but the universal life center scenes are inherently like that. We meet Trevor in one life when we start earlier in Diana’s time there and I can’t recall if he was engaged to Jenny the first time around, but easily could have been. Lastly, in the author’s note there was a reference to Moondog potentially being in this book? Did I miss him?
I expected by midbook a who-dun-it about Ellen Wilson’s disappearance, the culpability of Nancy Robbin’s, and the Hollister family and perhaps an RAF officer up to no good. I expected a romantic plot around Diana and Crawford. I expected lots of things really. What I got, like one of the excellent Middle Falls books, was a reminder that the journey here is for Diana, not the others. That’s perfectly okay. There’s a narrow line between confounding expectations and a cop-out. This feels solidly on the confounding expectations side of the line. I like fake outs that are well written, and this truly was.
What I am curious, and perhaps hopeful, is if sometime in the future we will see Ellen’s story and Trevor’s story play out. Perhaps we don’t need it. I have strong assumptions about what happened, but you know what they say about people who assume, but coming out of book one in a series and having so much more I want to know about this universe is an excellent problem to have.
All the stars.
Cutting to the chase, The Deadly Life of Diana Penn was truly enjoyable in that Cheviot Hills in the 1940s felt fully formed and realized. Some of the best books I read are time jumps, drop us into a setting, let me get comfortable for ten or so chapters and then jump ahead and repeat the process. I had been in Cheviot Hills very briefly before the plot pulled me into a different direction, where I found another fully realized and fleshed out setting, and then back again. That’s rare, and it was exceptionally well done.
I have more thoughts which I’ll add to goodreads for spoiler protection, but some of the best Middle Falls stories remind us that looks can be deceiving and we’re not necessarily here for the reasons we’d first expect, and this book carries that lesson as far as it can. This book did not end the way I expected it to, and that’s absolutely fine. I’m chomping at the bit for more.
Adding onto the goodreads review, in terms of questions that stuck out in my head, one of the universal life centers scenes confused me, but the universal life center scenes are inherently like that. We meet Trevor in one life when we start earlier in Diana’s time there and I can’t recall if he was engaged to Jenny the first time around, but easily could have been. Lastly, in the author’s note there was a reference to Moondog potentially being in this book? Did I miss him?
I expected by midbook a who-dun-it about Ellen Wilson’s disappearance, the culpability of Nancy Robbin’s, and the Hollister family and perhaps an RAF officer up to no good. I expected a romantic plot around Diana and Crawford. I expected lots of things really. What I got, like one of the excellent Middle Falls books, was a reminder that the journey here is for Diana, not the others. That’s perfectly okay. There’s a narrow line between confounding expectations and a cop-out. This feels solidly on the confounding expectations side of the line. I like fake outs that are well written, and this truly was.
What I am curious, and perhaps hopeful, is if sometime in the future we will see Ellen’s story and Trevor’s story play out. Perhaps we don’t need it. I have strong assumptions about what happened, but you know what they say about people who assume, but coming out of book one in a series and having so much more I want to know about this universe is an excellent problem to have.
All the stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2025
A tip of the hat to Kirsten McKenzie. I am a huge fan of Shawn Inmon and his Middle Falls series and McKenzie has taken his world and done it true justice. Instead of mid 20th century Middle Falls, Oregon (fictional) McKenzie has taken us to WWII and the 1940s in Cheviot Hills Northumberland.
Our FMC, Diana Penn, is a Cold War intelligence officer who has kept the world at arms’ length throughout her 80+ years of living. Although she was great at her job in MI6 and served her king and queen with honor, she lived a life unfulfilled with no friends or love. Now, thanks to the magic of Middle Falls (transplanted to the UK), Diana gets the chance to live her life over and learn to make connections. How many lives will it take until she succeeds? Only the magic of Middle Falls can tell. Look out for Easter eggs from Shawn Inmon’s previous stories. If you can’t spot them on your own, the author discusses them in her notes at the end of the story. Enjoy! I certainly did.
Our FMC, Diana Penn, is a Cold War intelligence officer who has kept the world at arms’ length throughout her 80+ years of living. Although she was great at her job in MI6 and served her king and queen with honor, she lived a life unfulfilled with no friends or love. Now, thanks to the magic of Middle Falls (transplanted to the UK), Diana gets the chance to live her life over and learn to make connections. How many lives will it take until she succeeds? Only the magic of Middle Falls can tell. Look out for Easter eggs from Shawn Inmon’s previous stories. If you can’t spot them on your own, the author discusses them in her notes at the end of the story. Enjoy! I certainly did.
November 17, 2025
The value of love and friendship
This was soooo good, I only stopped for a four hour nap from 4am to 8am. How often do you do something like that for a book, if ever?
Like all the novels in the Middle Falls Universe, our protagonist has something to learn, something to grow through in order to ‘graduate’ from the Earth experience. Upon death—usually accidental or suicide, but not always—their consciousness gets recycled into an earlier version of their life and physical body with all their memories intact. The core question is always, “What will they do with their reset?”
Diana Penn’s accidental death at 80-something is from an active WWII bomb buried in a children’s playground that detonated during renovation. Her lesson is the value of love and friendship. Her time loops are back to her WWII days before her lifetime as a MI6 Cold War operative. Her character arc is painstaking, organic, and beautifully written. So are the unique characters that move in and around her story. Well done!
My ONLY complaint is the mystery of Diana’s American friend, Ellen, and her disappearance was never fully explained. Perhaps—I say with hope—it will make way for another book in the series.
If the era of WWII and time travel interests you… and you’re curious about wartime doings away from frontline action but, rather, the emotional trenches of the folks back home supporting the war effort… then you might just find yourself fully absorbed in Diana’s story like I was
This was soooo good, I only stopped for a four hour nap from 4am to 8am. How often do you do something like that for a book, if ever?
Like all the novels in the Middle Falls Universe, our protagonist has something to learn, something to grow through in order to ‘graduate’ from the Earth experience. Upon death—usually accidental or suicide, but not always—their consciousness gets recycled into an earlier version of their life and physical body with all their memories intact. The core question is always, “What will they do with their reset?”
Diana Penn’s accidental death at 80-something is from an active WWII bomb buried in a children’s playground that detonated during renovation. Her lesson is the value of love and friendship. Her time loops are back to her WWII days before her lifetime as a MI6 Cold War operative. Her character arc is painstaking, organic, and beautifully written. So are the unique characters that move in and around her story. Well done!
My ONLY complaint is the mystery of Diana’s American friend, Ellen, and her disappearance was never fully explained. Perhaps—I say with hope—it will make way for another book in the series.
If the era of WWII and time travel interests you… and you’re curious about wartime doings away from frontline action but, rather, the emotional trenches of the folks back home supporting the war effort… then you might just find yourself fully absorbed in Diana’s story like I was
September 2, 2025
a wonderful introduction to the universe of Middle Falls
Ok hands up..I had never heard of Middle Falls or of Shawn Immon. My dip into these uncharted waters comes because of my love for Kirsten both as a writer and my friend. So I didn’t really know what to expect at all. The first few chapters felt a bit like Groundhog Day, but it soon became obvious that it was far deeper than that. Time travel books are sometimes hard to follow. There can be skipping back to check out previously read scenes but not as in this case and I followed the time lines with ease. And I loved the Old Curiosity Shop and my namesake’s cameo , my one frustration, what did happen to Ellen. Now off to download some more books in the series and find out more about Middle Falls
Ok hands up..I had never heard of Middle Falls or of Shawn Immon. My dip into these uncharted waters comes because of my love for Kirsten both as a writer and my friend. So I didn’t really know what to expect at all. The first few chapters felt a bit like Groundhog Day, but it soon became obvious that it was far deeper than that. Time travel books are sometimes hard to follow. There can be skipping back to check out previously read scenes but not as in this case and I followed the time lines with ease. And I loved the Old Curiosity Shop and my namesake’s cameo , my one frustration, what did happen to Ellen. Now off to download some more books in the series and find out more about Middle Falls
August 15, 2025
WWII Britain, redemption, and a story that has stayed with me
From the get-go, I was swept into the author's richly detailed world of WWII Britain, with the contrast between everyday village life and the shadow of war authentic and haunting. I especially loved how McKenzie handled eighty-year-old Diana suddenly inhabiting her twenty-something self, achieving the perfect balance of youthful strength and the wisdom of age. Characters who learn from their past have always been a favorite of mine, and this story captures that beautifully. Immersive, compelling, and deeply satisfying, I didn’t want it to end. I'll definitely be rereading while I wait for the next in this series to land.
From the get-go, I was swept into the author's richly detailed world of WWII Britain, with the contrast between everyday village life and the shadow of war authentic and haunting. I especially loved how McKenzie handled eighty-year-old Diana suddenly inhabiting her twenty-something self, achieving the perfect balance of youthful strength and the wisdom of age. Characters who learn from their past have always been a favorite of mine, and this story captures that beautifully. Immersive, compelling, and deeply satisfying, I didn’t want it to end. I'll definitely be rereading while I wait for the next in this series to land.
September 26, 2025
Hope there's many more
I'm glad this book had the same type of cover as the middle falls series, it's what made me click on it, I don't know how I missed this book, as I eagerly await every one in the series. I'm hoping there will be more, as I really enjoyed it, I thought Kirsten really brought to life how life was during the war, lovely characters doing there best in a tough time. My only thought was what happened to a certain character? Now there could be a story! Well worth a read.
I'm glad this book had the same type of cover as the middle falls series, it's what made me click on it, I don't know how I missed this book, as I eagerly await every one in the series. I'm hoping there will be more, as I really enjoyed it, I thought Kirsten really brought to life how life was during the war, lovely characters doing there best in a tough time. My only thought was what happened to a certain character? Now there could be a story! Well worth a read.
August 16, 2025
A great addition to middle falls
I am from the UK and have read shawns middle falls series on a number of occasions. I don't usually read British based books but had to make an exception for an extension of the middle falls series and I'm glad I did. I love the way that Diana grew and changed.Definitely worth a read. I'm hoping the next book will be based a little later in time like the 80s or 90s.
I am from the UK and have read shawns middle falls series on a number of occasions. I don't usually read British based books but had to make an exception for an extension of the middle falls series and I'm glad I did. I love the way that Diana grew and changed.Definitely worth a read. I'm hoping the next book will be based a little later in time like the 80s or 90s.
August 30, 2025
I am a UK reader so liked the idea of a Middle Falls book set in the UK with UK history. This book goes back to the 40s which was before I was born but there is plenty to recognise. Best complenent I can give this wis that it is consistent with the original series and just as good. I have felt that the middle falls series was getting stale and this is a good new aspect. I would like a story set in the 60s and 70s
August 24, 2025
Another great time travelling adventure
I always love these books & was amazed it was actually based in the UK this time round. Great writing once again & captured the war time spirits & downfalls. As always I’m always so sad when they end & always so keen for the next one to come out.
I always love these books & was amazed it was actually based in the UK this time round. Great writing once again & captured the war time spirits & downfalls. As always I’m always so sad when they end & always so keen for the next one to come out.
August 29, 2025
Amazing
Really enjoyed this book as a Londoner born after the war really enjoyed the parts about the blitz, brought back childhood memories of stories told by elder relatives. I really believe children should be taught about the hardships people endured & the sacrifices that were made.
Really enjoyed this book as a Londoner born after the war really enjoyed the parts about the blitz, brought back childhood memories of stories told by elder relatives. I really believe children should be taught about the hardships people endured & the sacrifices that were made.
September 22, 2025
Wonderful!!
Such a wonderful story. I love that Diane learned to give and receive love. I feel there was more to Jim’s story and felt it was a little rushed towards the end but I love that he was there waiting for her, alongside Rose and her mother. Wish Mr. Hayes and Mrs. Whitaker were there for her, too. Over all a WONDERFUL read!!
Such a wonderful story. I love that Diane learned to give and receive love. I feel there was more to Jim’s story and felt it was a little rushed towards the end but I love that he was there waiting for her, alongside Rose and her mother. Wish Mr. Hayes and Mrs. Whitaker were there for her, too. Over all a WONDERFUL read!!
August 17, 2025
Excellent book
Having read all of Shawn Inmon's other books, I had high hopes for this new take on his Middle Falls series. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the new locations and familiar characters. I am looking forward to the next book!
Having read all of Shawn Inmon's other books, I had high hopes for this new take on his Middle Falls series. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed the new locations and familiar characters. I am looking forward to the next book!
August 21, 2025
Excellent! Could not put it down.
I have read all the middle falls books and have enjoyed them. I was not sure about this one with it being done by a different author. But Ms McKenzie delivers and she smashes it out of the park (Rounders obviously)!
I have read all the middle falls books and have enjoyed them. I was not sure about this one with it being done by a different author. But Ms McKenzie delivers and she smashes it out of the park (Rounders obviously)!
August 24, 2025
On of my favorite ‘Middle Falls’ stories
This was so enjoyable to read. Shawn Inmon (and Kirsten McKenzie) make the plot, and the reliving of the characters life’s such an adventure. You find a little of your self in each telling.
This was so enjoyable to read. Shawn Inmon (and Kirsten McKenzie) make the plot, and the reliving of the characters life’s such an adventure. You find a little of your self in each telling.
September 6, 2025
Fantastic Story!
Really loved the story line and all that went with it. Also all the history and other characters. I enjoyed how the main character had changed with each return. If you liked Shawn Immon's books you will like this one too. Highly recommended.
Really loved the story line and all that went with it. Also all the history and other characters. I enjoyed how the main character had changed with each return. If you liked Shawn Immon's books you will like this one too. Highly recommended.
September 16, 2025
Truly worthy of Middle Falls <3
The writing was superb. I truly felt like I was back in the 40s and could feel the emotions and picture the countryside. Wonderful storytelling. Thank you for writing this.
The writing was superb. I truly felt like I was back in the 40s and could feel the emotions and picture the countryside. Wonderful storytelling. Thank you for writing this.
October 16, 2025
Loved this book
Absolutely loved this story! I couldn't put it down. I had to literally force myself to stop reading and go to bed. I'm fascinated by the time period of WWII and the Land Girls and I really loved these characters.
Absolutely loved this story! I couldn't put it down. I had to literally force myself to stop reading and go to bed. I'm fascinated by the time period of WWII and the Land Girls and I really loved these characters.
August 27, 2025
Wonderful !!!!!
I very much look forward to many more of these stories, as I love the Middle Falls books. This one was stellar!!
I very much look forward to many more of these stories, as I love the Middle Falls books. This one was stellar!!
October 3, 2025
Another middle Falls delight
As always a compelling book to read. Each mystery reworking a delight, though some not solved.
Next book already ordered.
As always a compelling book to read. Each mystery reworking a delight, though some not solved.
Next book already ordered.
September 23, 2025
Looking for a Middle Falls novel?
Look no further than The Deadly Lives of Diana Penn!
Co-written by Shawn Inmon, Diana lives in the UK, and the novel takes place in a small village in Northumberland (and all over the world!)
You'll not regret the pleasant time spent learning about Diana Penn!
Look no further than The Deadly Lives of Diana Penn!
Co-written by Shawn Inmon, Diana lives in the UK, and the novel takes place in a small village in Northumberland (and all over the world!)
You'll not regret the pleasant time spent learning about Diana Penn!
October 7, 2025
well done
I don’t usually care for time travel stories but this was very well done. It was not tiresome nor repetitive and it left me sitting on the edge of my chair for more.
I don’t usually care for time travel stories but this was very well done. It was not tiresome nor repetitive and it left me sitting on the edge of my chair for more.
November 26, 2025
Excellent work.
You know it is a great story when you can not put it away even though it is not a favorite genre. Also when you have tears in your eyes at several places in the book. Thank you , Kirsten for making this available for us.
You know it is a great story when you can not put it away even though it is not a favorite genre. Also when you have tears in your eyes at several places in the book. Thank you , Kirsten for making this available for us.
February 13, 2026
What a great addition to the Middle Falls Universe
Kirsten's storytelling ability and her quick wit provide an English take on the Middle Falls universe and she absolutely knocks it out of the park with a story of a seemingly successful person who finds personal redemption and inner happiness to pair with their professional success.
Kirsten's storytelling ability and her quick wit provide an English take on the Middle Falls universe and she absolutely knocks it out of the park with a story of a seemingly successful person who finds personal redemption and inner happiness to pair with their professional success.
September 3, 2025
Love the setting, and the writing style, but docked a star for the inclusion of a mystery that is never solved. Something about how this part of the story was handled seemed sloppy or deceptive; from the start it’s treated as the whole point of the MC’s reset, yet not only is it never solved, it’s never even investigated.
I would have enjoyed this much more had there been a lot less emphasis on Ellen’s disappearance and a bit more time given to her spy activities (which are also glossed over after many strong hints of what a major part of her life it was) and relationship with Jim Crawford.
The writer has a lot of potential, but I felt shortchanged in several respects here. Had all the threads been tied up, this would have been a 5 star review. As it is, the book feels like an unfinished work in progress.
I would have enjoyed this much more had there been a lot less emphasis on Ellen’s disappearance and a bit more time given to her spy activities (which are also glossed over after many strong hints of what a major part of her life it was) and relationship with Jim Crawford.
The writer has a lot of potential, but I felt shortchanged in several respects here. Had all the threads been tied up, this would have been a 5 star review. As it is, the book feels like an unfinished work in progress.
December 28, 2025
Such a beautiful book! I’ve never been a particular fan of war-time stories, but I think that’s starting to change thanks to Kirsten!
Always a fan of Shawn Inmon’s Middle Falls series, I find this a perfect marriage of Kirsten and Shawn’s worlds colliding in a truly magical way. You won’t be sorry giving this a read!
Always a fan of Shawn Inmon’s Middle Falls series, I find this a perfect marriage of Kirsten and Shawn’s worlds colliding in a truly magical way. You won’t be sorry giving this a read!
December 29, 2025
it's the usual time travel experiences on reads in Shawn's books. This time with a lot of information about britain and it's life during WWII. IT just fell kind of flat for me. same thing over and over with little resolution
January 3, 2026
Wasn't sure about this initially but it grew on me. Middle Falls relocated to Northumberland and it works. Same concept as the Middle Falls series which is a great thing. Also got me minded to check out the works of Kirsten McKenzie.
September 14, 2025
Too many loose ends and it took too long to get going, I almost gave up on it. I love the Middle Falls Series but I think I will forgo these in the future.
January 10, 2026
Great read.
I've read all of Shawn's books, and am making my way through Kristen's now. I'm so happy to see a collab with the two. I couldn't put this book down!
I've read all of Shawn's books, and am making my way through Kristen's now. I'm so happy to see a collab with the two. I couldn't put this book down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews