Anything by Lucy is great! My only thing with this one is that you must read the books prior I didn’t read all of them and it left me a bit confused. The theme of this book was giving me mystery vibes. The characters were great.

This is my favorite Riley Thorn book so far, followed closely by the first. The entire cast is at peak zaniness with a dash of Scooby Doo mystery and more relationship building between Nick and Riley than the last two.

Honestly I really enjoy this series of books as a whole !! I’ve purchased the couple other books before this one !! I enjoy the writing and the romance thriller of it ! Nick and Riley’s banter and over all dynamic with each other is super light hearted and funny ! I just enjoy nick’s protective nature. I also enjoy all of the additional characters development through the series and the development of their personalities! And even though the story line is connected they all feel very individual and like the first introduction all at once !

Now this is book 4 and I didn’t read the others so at times I was a smidge confused BUT overall it was still easy to follow and it made sense.

I loved this book! It was such a fun read. I definitely want to read the rest of the series now. I’ll be recommending this book! The art design for the cover is also visually very appealing.

Absolutely loved Griffin, I hope he’s in the other books and is just as hilarious and chaotic as this book. He single handedly made me want to read more and more!

Such a funny, cute and intriguing story! Absolutely loved it and even though I haven’t read the other books in this series I had no problem following along! Highly recommend 😍

Title: The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Stars

Release date: July 16th 2024

Lucy Score does it again! I love this series and this book was no exception.

This time around, Riley’s chaotic life takes a thrilling and hilarious turn when her self-absorbed ex-husband, Griffin Gentry(ick), a news anchor with a flair for drama, crashes back into her world, begging for her help.

Riley Thorn is settling into her new life, enjoying the company of her hot private investigator boyfriend, Nick Santiago. But peace is short-lived when Griffin shows up unexpectedly at her door. The real shocker? He’s genuinely in need of assistance. When Nick flat-out refuses to take the case, it’s no surprise. What’s unexpected is Nick’s octogenarian business partner overruling him and taking the lead.

The plot thickens when a dead body confirms that someone is indeed out to get Griffin. With a suspect list as long as Griffin’s ego, Santiago Investigations is in full swing. This means Riley and Nick must juggle interviewing suspects while their elderly roommates handle surveillance, creating a delightful blend of humour and chaos.

What I Loved:

- Dynamic Characters: Riley is as relatable and witty as ever, and her interactions with the eccentric cast around her, including Nick, the elderly team members, and even her ex, are pure gold. The characters’ quirks and personalities shine through, adding depth and humour to the story.

- Humour and Chaos: Lucy Score masterfully balances suspense with laugh-out-loud moments. The antics of the elderly roommates in the surveillance department are particularly hilarious, bringing a lighthearted touch to the murder mystery.

- Engaging Mystery: The central mystery of who’s targeting Griffin keeps you guessing. With Riley’s psychic visions adding an intriguing twist, the investigation is both thrilling and unpredictable.

- Romantic Subplot: The chemistry between Riley and Nick is sizzling, providing a romantic undercurrent that enhances the story without overshadowing the main plot. Their partnership in both love and investigation is heartwarming and fun to watch.

- Series Continuity: Fans of the series will appreciate how "The Body in the Backyard" builds on previous books, developing the characters and their relationships further. Yet, it’s accessible enough for new readers to jump right in.

"The Body in the Backyard" is a delightful blend of humour, mystery, and romance. Lucy Score’s talent for creating engaging, funny, and relatable characters shines through, making this book an absolute page-turner as always!

Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer, Riley Thorn’s latest adventure will keep you entertained from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good mystery with a side of laughs and heart. I can’t wait to see what Riley and her quirky crew get up to next!

Thank you to The Publisher SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books ,The Author Lucy Score & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.

Thank so much NetGalley and bloom books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review 💞
Omg when I got approved for the ARC I almost cried. I love Lucy Sorce and very recently binged the Riley Thorn series!
I’d say this is definitely a series you need to read in order.
In this book Riley and the gang help her ex-husband 🙄🙄 who is absolutely ridiculous the man was in a shootout and he was worried about grass stains be so for real 🤦🏻‍♀️ none the less Nick and Riley need the 20k he’s offering to protect him and find out who is trying to kill him and the list of subjects is 6 miles long.
There were a few spots where I just lost interest so it made it hard to pick back up after something else grabbed my attention but all in all I was laughing in every chapter. Lucy Score knows how to do an easygoing rom-com 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Lucy Score for the ARC!
Very fun read. Admittedly, I did not realize until I was a little ways into this that it was number 4 in a series, so it made sense why I was kind of confused. There were a lot of interesting characters that had clearly already been fleshed out in the previous books, and I didn’t feel like I understood all of them. It didn’t take away too much from this story, though, and I actually am going to go back and read the first book in the series.
A little bizarre and over the top, but I really liked following the crazy characters. The descriptions were great and the story moved at a fairly fast pace. A lot of the writing was a little limiting in the accentuation of tropes or character flaws, which did take me out of it a little.
Overall, I’d recommend this story as a fun investigative mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but I would probably recommend reading the other books in the series first.

Riley's ex-husband Griffin shows up at her door and asks for her help. Her bf Nick refuses to to help but his business partner overrules him. The case brings danger AGAIN to them...

It's the fourth book but still so much fun. Love Nick and Riley and their LOL scenes. still very fast-paced. A fun refreshing read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Another winner by Lucy Score. I enjoyed getting caught up with Riley! I hope she has more stories to tell!

This cozy mystery is the fourth in the Riley Thorn series and was a fun, quick read. I love this series and the hilarious characters.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I hope Lucy Score never stops writing this series because I have loved every book! The Body in the Backyard was no exception. Riley, Nick and co are just as hilarious as ever, and I swear each book is funnier than the last.

What a fun romance/mystery! I loved Riley and Nick together, and Lucy Score really knows how to write a unique book. I laughed a lot and I appreciated the depth that Lucy Score really gave this book. It has all the same gang of side characters from the first book. They are all crazy and very entertaining. It feels like we're in a found family of friends with this series!

Another fun romp in the Riley Thorn world! Once again, psychic Riley and her hot PI boyfriend Nick take on a ridiculous case with the help of their septuagenarian neighbors (and sometimes roommates), and sexy Gabe. This time they are hired by Riley's horrible ex-husband Griffin when he claims someone is trying to kill him (even though he is positive EVERYONE LOVES HIM). There are reappearances from some fun characters from the past, including Alistair, the fashion icon. This whole series is a ton of fun and I look forward to the next one!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in advance!

First, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book follows psychic Riley, her new boyfriend PI Nick, and a cast of odd and mostly senile elderly characters (and some ghosts) in their effort to figure out who is trying to kill Riley’s insufferable ex-husband.

This was my first Lucy Score book, and with this being the fourth in a series, I think readers may be better off to read the prior books before diving into this one. For me, I spent most of the book thinking “wtf did I just read”. Based on other reviews, I’d say if you already know and love the character Riley, then this book will probably be a win for you.

The humor in this book did not hit for me. It felt scattered, over the top, and unfocused though I believe that was the point. I love a good satire, but this didn’t have the depth of a typical satire nor did the story lure me in. For some readers, this book will be a comedic hit.

I still really enjoy the antics of Riley, Nick and their entire laugh out loud crew. This time, they’re all protecting Griffin (Riley’s horrible ex husband) from someone attempting to murder him. The storyline is super unlikely and outrageous but it’s fun! I just wish there was more progress on Jasmine and Weber - 2 really underrated characters and I feel a total missed storyline!

Ah I love this series so much! I hope there’s 20 more books in this series. I know when I pick up a Riley Thorn book, it’s going to be a great day. Something about this series just makes me happy :)

In Body in the Backyard, Riley’s ex-husband, Griffin, hires Santiago Investigations to find out who has been trying to kill him. The only problem is everyone hates Griffin and everyone in the entire city is on the suspect list.

I was so excited to be back with Riley and the gang. I love her and Nick’s relationship. They both even out each other’s crazy. Of course the elderly neighbors/roommates are a big part of the story. Their shenanigans are always entertaining.

Even though I say this with every Riley Thorn book, I think this one is my favorite. I love that we get to see Nick and Riley after they’ve moved in together and how they’re dealing with all the craziness.

There were so many great moments, Gabe learning sarcasm, Nick and Riley at the spa, Mrs. Penny and Mr. Willicott breaking into a suspects house. Be prepared to laugh out loud and enjoy the gang’s latest adventures. Thank you Bloom Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early!

4 stars. I keep saying this, but I love the Riley Thorn series! It’s cozy mystery perfection. Riley is a reluctant (becoming less and less reluctant) psychic who runs a PI agency with her very grumpy but very handsome and very lovable boyfriend. And they solve crimes with the help of their very large dog and octogenarian roommates (of which, there are several). If hijinks and romance and mystery and a little bit of magic are your jam, then you must check out these books! Each book features its own case, and in Body in the Backyard, Riley has to help save her ex husband from someone who may or may not be trying to kill him. He is quite possibly the worst human on the planet, which means the suspect list is almost as long as the book itself. He sucks. But as with all of the other books, solving the case with Riley and Nick is just a ton of fun and a ton of laughs. Because each book features its own mystery, these could all probably be read as standalones. But there are a LOT of characters. Because of that, I think most people would enjoy the books more if they read them in order, or in the very least, read book 1 first (since you’ll be introduced to all of the main players). All in all, I love these books. It’s unclear based on the ending if Score will continue with this series, but I really hope she does. And I also found out that it’s a little autobiographical. No, Lucy is not psychic. But she did help her now husband solve mysteries when they first met and he was working for a PI. How cool!

Thank you so much to Score, Bloom, and netgalley for the ARC!

Nick and Riley…at it again! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐶🕵🏻‍♂️🕵🏻👮‍♂️👨‍💻🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m not sure about everyone else, but sometimes after reading intense books, I just need a light, fun read. That is exactly what Riley Thorn is about. Is it crazy, and absurd, and irritating? Yep! But fun, and exciting, and unpredictably, as well.

So, we are now 4 books in with the Riley Thorn series, so if you haven’t read any of them, I don’t think you want to start here. Well, you can, but you may be a bit confused. I recommend you read them in order as the series progresses with time. Anyway, if you haven’t read, there will be spoilers, so you’ve been warned.

As we know, Riley is a psychic, and for a while she didn’t want anything to do with her powers. But as time goes by, she is finally starting to appreciate her abilities and wants to better her skills. I will say here, that I am not much of one to read paranormal things, but this is not over done in anyway. Other than Riley and her family, it’s Riley using her abilities to help with crimes. That’s it. Easy peezy.

Nick is her boyfriend and he runs a PI business. He use to be a cop but didn’t like all the rules so went out on his own. Riley helps him with the business, as well as their geriatric, hot mess, friends. Ok, back to the story.

Book 3 left off with Riley’s ex husband (a massive terd) needing Nick and Riley’s help. Oh course, Nick wants no part of it, but they need the money. Riley doesn’t want to help him either but she’s a good person, so they all agree. Book 4 picks right up with the ex needing help and hiring Nick and Riley. The ex….imagine the most awful, cheap, ecotistical, arrogant, entitled person and he is worse. Like seriously, I really, really hope we get to see him crash and burn. Sorry, not sorry. So someone is after the ex and now Nick, Riley and the friends have to keep him safe and try to find out who is behind the threats. Between Nick, Riley, the family and friends, and the geriatric crew, you know any and all plans are going to go out the window, crap is going to hit the fan, and nothing is going to go the way it’s intended. Add in Nick and Riley’s horse of a dog and you’ve got an entertaining story.

So without giving away any major plot details, I really like this series. It is a great way to just sit back, laugh, and go along with the insanity. If you need a fun, PI, who did it read this summer, this is it. Add it to you TBR list.

I received this book via ARC and am leaving my review voluntarily. Thank You #NetGalley, #BloomBooks, and #LucyScore

Griffin, Riley’s ex-husband, comes begging for help. Ms. Penny agrees to take on the job, even though Nick is reluctant. Riley and Nick go through the long list of suspects to determine who is out to get Griffin.

I’m so glad Riley’s psychic powers are back! Another adventure packed book with our favorites from the prior books.

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