"The Blast from the Past" by Lucy Score is a delightful addition to the Riley Thorn series, blending humor, mystery, and romance in a thoroughly enjoyable package. This third installment finds Riley Thorn and her private investigator boyfriend, Nick, settling into their new fixer-upper home, only to be thrust into another whirlwind of crime-solving and quirky escapades.

Lucy Score’s knack for creating endearing and relatable characters shines through, especially with Riley and Nick’s adorable and believable relationship. Their interactions feel genuine, and their dynamic adds warmth to the story amidst the chaos of cold cases and unexpected guests. Supporting characters like Mrs. Penny, Josie, and Jasmine add layers of humor and excitement, making each page a joy to read.

The plot is packed with twists and turns, from Riley’s abduction to the severed finger warning, ensuring that readers are kept on their toes. The blend of psychic elements and traditional investigative work creates an engaging narrative that balances suspense and comedy perfectly. Score’s writing style, full of laugh-out-loud moments and witty dialogue, enhances the reading experience, making it feel like watching a beloved sitcom.

While newcomers to the series might find it a bit challenging to catch up initially, the story stands well on its own, offering enough context to enjoy the ride. However, diving into the earlier books might provide a richer understanding of the characters and their backstories.

Overall, "The Blast from the Past" is a fun, fast-paced read that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Lucy Score delivers a perfect mix of mystery, romance, and humor, making this book a must-read for fans of the genre. It's a delightful escape that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next adventure with Riley Thorn and her zany crew.

You can see my full review and more here on my blog: https://leylaslibrary.wordpress.com/2024/05/16/the-blast-from-the-past/

Poor Riley. Only she can become part of a hostage situation in her own house, during her boyfriends birthday party while dressed as Dolly Parton. You can't make this stuff up. ;) As usual Riley, Nick and their geriatric neighbors get themselves in some interesting situations. Nick and Riley bought the old fixer-upper next door to their previous residence in hopes of having some privacy... but when you have Miss Penny and company right next door, well, they were in for a rude awakening. Filled with comedy, intrigue, lies, dirty looks and a few of those little blue pills (in the wrong hands.) Perfectly written characters in a very entertaining story. There is some sexual content (but not in a smutty way, and not all that graphic.) There is some strong language and some subject matter that might be considered inappropriate for younger teens. It alternates POVs. While part of a series, each book can be read as a stand alone, but I would suggest reading in order to fully appreciate the characters.

*I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

An intricate tapestry of world-building, with multiple page inducing full-belly laughter. Seriously not sure how but the flame thrower may have been my favorite scene. A narrative as cunning as Batman's intellect, unraveling with the precision of my own deductions. A truly exhilarating read, both profound and wildly entertaining. p.s. it is a bit slow in some parts but the good parts are really good

If you enjoyed the previous ones in this series, it lives up to its predecessors.

Thank you to the author and publisher for letting me preview this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny all the way through. I can’t wait to see what happens next. #TheBlastfromthePast #NetGalley

The Blast from the Past by Lucy Score was a miss for me. I felt this book to be extremely slow. I almost didn’t finish it but pushed through till the end.

Lucy Score’s books can sometimes be hit or miss for me but one thing she does well is have very amusing characters and this story is no different. I highly recommend if you are looking for a new series to read.

Thank you Lucy Score and NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

I’ve read other Lucy Score books, but I started Riley’s story from the middle because this is the first Riley Thorn story I have read… and I loved it!

Riley and Nick are hilarious together, you can just tell how real the love is between them and I love that. It’s great to watch them figure out the mysteries together and solve their own things also. The Halloween birthday party was amazing in every way.

Mrs Penny is laugh out loud funny with her dooty duty and banter with all of the other characters.

I cannot wait to read the other books in this series now.

Just like the last 2 books, this one, The Blast From the Past, was absolutely fabulous! Funny, quirky, murderous and full of elderly neighbor high jinks!

I really can’t get enough of Riley and Nick, they’re just so darn cute together. Grumpy meets Sunshine for sure!

On this third installment, we find Riley and Nick are renovating their big ole’ mansion, and caught up on solving Beth’s whereabouts and her real truth.

I LOVED this book! I mean, really LOVED it! I can’t wait to read the next book, coming in July!

Lucy Score never misses!

Such a delightful genre-bending story including a romance, a mystery, a comedy and even a hint of paranormal? A hell of a combination and Lucy Score knocked it out of the park!

Such a fun read, totally recommend!

So much fun! Riley, Nick and the gang are back with tons of antics. Nick is determined to find Weber’s sister who they had previously thought was dead. To everyone’s surprise, she shows up with a lot of drama. This can only be described as a cosy mystery romcom.

“Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past," the third installment in the self-titled series by Lucy Score, is not a stand-alone piece and should be read after reading the first two novels.

The narrative unfolds after the ending of the second book. Riley "middle name unknown" Thorn and Nick Santiago, a private investigator and former detective, find themselves grappling with life following a harrowing hostage ordeal involving a bomb. Having resolved the case of the glitter bomb serial killer, Nick, who has never been in a committed, long-term relationship, relocates from the mansion inhabited by several octogenarians to the adjacent one, where the closet retains a permanent scent of death, courtesy of the corpse they found there.

The novel begins on October 30th, as Riley is abducted by two familiar figures, bound with duct tape, and faced with the imminent threat of her demise. It then shifts to the past, recounting events from five days prior to the kidnapping.

Following Elanora Basil's revelation that Detective Kellen "Kelly" Weber's long-missing sister, Beth, is still alive after six years, Nick immerses himself entirely in re-investigating her case. Desperate to find her, he sacrifices sleep and forgoes showering. Nick's guilt over Beth's disappearance fuels his relentless pursuit, but it also blinds him to his deteriorating relationship with Riley and neglects his obligations to his business partners.

Elizabeth "Beth" Weber vanished without a trace six years ago. She arrives unexpectantly in her hometown of Harrisburg in a white limousine, but now under the guise of a new identity: Sesame Hemsworth. She spins a web of fabricated tales to account for her absence, drawing inspiration from the movie "Overboard." Despite Kelly and Nick's elation at her reappearance, Riley senses deception in the air. Attempting to utilize her psychic abilities, she calls upon her spiritual guides, represented by the pink and blue cotton candy clouds, to unravel the mystery. Yet, Beth's tangled history of deceit overwhelms Riley's spiritual energies, leaving her abilities depleted.

The entire novel is filled with farcical caricatures. Burt, the dog adopted from the first book, has a penchant for human food and is frequently depicted as flatulent. A subplot unfolds to expose the Dog Doody Bandit, a mischievous canine leaving a trail of feces across town. The excessive recurrence of terms like "fart," "poop," and "doody" is notable. Curiously, more attention is devoted to the dog's digestive woes than to the intricacies of crime scenes or the investigative efforts of Riley, Weber, and Nick. Nick's controlling and possessive behavior towards Riley has intensified since the previous book, marked by unsettling remarks about confining her to her room or closet and grounding her for disobedience or failure to comply with his demands. Riley's refusal to use the name "Halloween" and instead opting for "trick or treat day" comes across as nonsensical and annoying.

This novel felt disorganized and scattered. It lacked the promised suspense. Most of the novel contains over-the-top mannerisms and comments from the characters, which gives the impression of reading about a circus funhouse and its eccentric inhabitants.
Rating 2.5/5

Thank you to Lucy Score, NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Bloom Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door TBR
Riley Thorn and the Corpse in the Closet 2.5/5
Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past 2.5/5
The Body in the Backyard TBR

This book was hilarious, engaging, and the side characters make you love them as much as the main characters. I didn’t know that this was a series. If I had, I definitely would’ve read the first two before reading this one. With that being said, I still really enjoyed this book and plan on reading the previous two books and any future books that involve Riley Thorn. I feel like if I had read the other books first, I would’ve loved this book and given it 5 stars. Since that wasn’t the case there was a bit of disconnect for me with the characters at times because I didn’t fully understand the relationship between some characters and events that happened previously. Still a great mystery book and I’m looking forward to seeing what crimes Riley and Nick solve next!!

**Spoiler Free Review of The Blast From The Past**

I love Lucy Score and I love Riley Thorn! This series is so light hearted, fun, and makes you laugh out loud. Each book makes me love the characters even more. The found family in this series, specifically this book, is so sweet and special. My favorite thing about The Blast From The Past is Lucy Score’s humor, every chapter something even crazier happens than the last chapter. If you’re looking for a fun, laugh out loud series, this is it!

Thanks to Net Galley and Bloom Books for providing an ARC by one of my favorite authors!!

I liked this book a lot. It kept me interested and entertained from start to finish. Another great Lucy Score book! I recommend!

I’m kind of obsessed with romance novels; they are my go to and I don’t leave the bookstore without buying at least one. Knowing this, it’s actually really surprising that I haven’t read one of Lucy Score’s novels yet. I see her work all around IG, but haven’t had the pleasure of reading one yet. This one was my first foray into her work and into the world of Riley Thorne.

This book is delightful! It was super fast read for me since I got into the story quickly. It’s got a great mix of mystery, romance, magical realism (hello family of psychics!), and humor. I loved Riley as a main character; there were aspects of her journey in the story that I really related to, and it didn’t matter that our circumstances were different. Unfortunately, I am not a psychic investigator, but wouldn’t it be cooler if I was? I didn’t realize this was a whole series when I started it, but that’s it didn’t deter my enjoyment at all. There’s an intro to the characters and enough background given that you know what’s happening easily. I will be seeking out the rest of the series though, since this one hooked me from the jump!

🔮 Psychics
🕵️‍♀️ Mystery
🕰️ Long Lost Family
🔀 Twisty Plot
💗 Strong Romance

Another great adventure for Riley Thorn. I laughed probably more than I should have at the incident.
Excited to see what happens in book 4! I’m hoping there will be an enemies to lovers with Jas & Weber.

When I started reading this, I didn't realize that it is part of a series of books. I have read the books in the Knockemout series, and so I thought this was the next in that series.

I was mistaken.

Not having read any earlier books in the series, I was somewhat lost in the story. I didn't have the background to fully appreciate the situation or the characters. That being said.... this was just a little too 'wacky' for me. Too many zany characters for me to keep up with.

Fans of the Riley Thorn series will love this.

Another favorite couple of mine. Fun mix of romance and wit and lots of fun with some mystery mixed in.

I love this author but the series fell flat for me unfortunately. Can’t wait to read other books by her though.

While I've adored Riley and Nick thus far, I feel like I'm starting to get bored with them. This book was cute but it didn't grab me like the others and I struggled to finish it.