This was not for me. To be fair I have not read the other books in this series and it would have probably been helpful. The first chapter introduced so many characters which felt chaotic from the start. Riley Thorne and her boyfriend, Nick are detectives. Riley uses her psychic abilities to aid in their investigations. I think these books are supposed to be campy and satirical, but I would have liked to have the psychic ability plot have some substance.

This author and series introduced me to the world of Paranormal Rom-Com reads, and I will always be grateful to her. If you think you’re not a PR fan, this series should change your mind. It did mine. Although PR still isn’t my preferred genre, any PR book by Lucy Score is an automatic purchase for me!

In the previous installment, Riley Thorn and Nick Santiago were faced with the challenge of accommodating the arrival of several octogenarians who had relocated next door. They were next door, until an unexpected event occurred, prompting them to relocate themselves into Riley’s home, much to Nick’s dismay. Mrs. Penny, the wild card that she is, creates more chaos than these two can handle! When Riley’s ex-husband, Griffin, becomes the target of an unknown assailant, Nick’s PI company wastes no time in launching an intense investigation to uncover the truth. This is an engaging mystery, where literally anyone and everyone wants this guy gone. I laughed right out loud at the craziness those "houseguests" created! Poor Nick!!

With Gabe, her trusted spiritual adviser, and her spirit guides by her side, Riley unearths a growing list of concerns as the danger inches closer to her and Nick. I eagerly dove in, exploring the different aspects of Riley’s “psychic Cotton Candy World” and their investigation into potential suspects. Who was to blame was not who I thought, so that was fun!

If you want to fully appreciate the intricacies of this fantastic storyline, I strongly advise to read this series in the correct order. She has crafted the connection between characters so well that it is effortless to lose yourself in their world. This is so funny, engaging, nerve-wracking, and I absolutely adored the last part of the story! Nick and Riley are such a cute couple, with amazing chemistry and fun banter. I can’t wait for what’s next in this series!

Seriously, go get this one now. It’s fantastic. If you are new to this series - grab all four, and binge!! You’ll love it!!

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary copy from Bloom Books and Netgalley (thank you!) and happily leave my review.

The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score 💙
Riley Thorn, Book 4
Interconnected standalone, must be read in order

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance/Suspense
ARC Review
368 pages
🗓️ July 16

🔎 romantic suspense
💙 close proximity
🔎 whodunnit
💙 crazy found family
🔎 crazier family
💙 grumpy x sunshine

📌“You’re too good for me. I mean, I want you to know that I know that. But I also have no intention of letting you wander off to find someone more deserving.”

📌“This is us. Messy. Complicated. Slightly injured. Standing in the middle of yet another crime scene together after saving the day.

Dear Lucy Score,

Please never stop writing Riley Thorn books. Honestly, I never understood series with 20 books and the same characters. But I was young and naive. What did I really know about anything? Because I do now. I understand and I need more. And more. And maybe to see what the two best friends will end up doing 👀

Riley and Nick have become such a comfort. They make me laugh and swoon in the same sentence, and all I’m left with is this feeling of righteousness. They’re a home away from home. And I can’t even begin to explain the anxiety that takes over me when I think this might be the last one in the series. It can’t. It won’t. I refuse.

This case was also one of the best. I loved how we went full circle in a way, and hopefully we can put the past to rest because oof Riley, what were you thinking?! 😱

Lastly, chickens 🐓

With love,
Jess.

Riley and gang are at it again! This time, they are trying to figure out who is trying to kill Riley's ex-husband, Griffin. Laugh at loud funny from beginning to end!

This is laugh out loud funny. Riley, Nick and the gang are hired to try to figure out who’s trying to kill Riley’s ex husband Griffin. There’s no shortage of suspects because Griffin is such a jerk. The antics of Riley’s geriatric neighbors are entertaining and this was a joy to read.

I am so invested in this series and I really hope there are more to come! Riley, Nick and all of their relatives, friends, and random counterparts make this series so much fun to read! If you are looking for a cozy mystery, with lots of romcom fun thrown in, then this series is perfect! The Body in the Backyard is book 4 and I sincerely hope it’s not the last book in the series because there is still so much left that can happen!

Body in The Backyard is a hilarious addition to the Riley Thorn Series.
True to Lucy’s innate talent of being dramatically hilarious, watching Riley, Nick and gang work to save Griffin Gentry, Riley’s dramatically narcissistic ex-husband was exactly that. Lots of eye-rolling, laugh out loud fun. I hated to see the story end and can’t wait for the next story!

honestly this series is so refreshing

if you’re wanting a read where you’re actually laughing and having fun through the entire book this series is for you

the antics of our beloved senior citizens get even more unhinged but i’ve grown so attached. i want mrs penny to be my gam gam

as always riley and nick are everything to me and they only get cuter in this new installation

plus fiiiiinally getting to see he who shall not be named get shit on is chefs kiss

thank you netgalley for being the best and letting me read this ARC

and thank you lucy score for being my go to comfort author- you do the lords work!

I have, not ever, been done wrong by a Lucy Score novel.

Riley and Nick are back for book 4 with even more elderly neighbour antics. I felt this book did play a little more into some repetitive traits of the characters and less character growth, but at this point? This book really felt for the fun of it.

Side note - whenever I think of Griffin Gentry, I picture Gideon from Gravity Falls - just me?

Another totally fabulous book written by the amazingly talented Lucy Score! Oh My God, I love this series. Has just the perfect amount of mystery, wild fun, quirky characters and love to make it perfect. This is the perfect recipe for a book to read on the beach, in front of the warm fireplace during winter, on an airplane traveling, right in your back yard or literally anywhere. I adore how this book picks up right where the last book left off. We didn't jump light years ahead, and it made it so the story just continued. I Highly recommend this series to everyone, and if by chance you start out of order it is an easy pick up from where you started. However, I do recommend you pick up the books. prior and read the entire series.

I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this book. This whole series is light and love while delving into murder and mayhem. We are again immersed in the banter between Nick and Riley, which is engaging and keeps the reader on their toes. The story was well-paced, with enough meat in the plot that solving the mystery quickly is not bound to happen. As with the other books in this series the side characters with their adorable wackiness round out the story, creating laugh-out-loud moments with Nick and Riley center stage. This is such a fun world that it is always sad when the story is over. I look forward to more from Nick and Riley, with all of their friends and cohorts. Disclaimer: I received an early copy of the book from NetGalley for an honest review.

What a fun fourth book to the Riley Thorn series! Thank you to Lucy Score and Netgalley for providing me a copy for my honest review!

To start, I have been loving getting into the world of Riley and her kooky group of misfits. They have been a joy to follow along! I love the humor, the lightheartedness, the romance, the thrill - this book (and series) truly has a little bit of everything to appeal to any reader!
This fourth book I especially enjoyed because, let’s face it, we all love to see Griffin Gentry crying like a little baby. I also love that we see more progress and growth in Riley and Nick’s relationship. It was so refreshing to see that flash forward scene not pointing to one of the last few chapters - I felt that really kept the suspense up!

My only gripe with the book is just how quickly Nick and Riley are progressing. As an avid romance reader, the timeline doesn’t add up for me. However, I do think that this book (and this series) is more of a lighthearted read. As such, it’s not fair to hold it up what I tend to prefer for romance reads. Definitely a great read for an in-between book, funny palette cleanser, or for a humorous pull out of a reading slump!

All in all, this latest addition has got to be my most favorite installment of the series and I’m so beyond excited for this book to be released to everyone!

Publish date: July 16, 2024

4/5 ⭐️ What a way to cap off the Riley Thorn series! In this book, Nick and Riley take on their most difficult client yet - Riley's ex, Griffin Gentry. This book had so many twists, turns, and interesting characters to keep you guessing until the very end. No matter how much I think I know who is going to be the 'villain' at the end, I always end up completely surprised. My only critique is that some of the side characters, like Riley's neighbors/roommates, are a little too over-the-top for me at times.

I am sad to be finished with the series but I cannot wait to jump into my next Lucy Score book!

Thank you to Bloom Books, Lucy Score and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eACR for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

These books are like candy. They’re light and sometimes crazy but fun reads every time. Riley & Nick cannot escape the octogenarians next door and get little time alone.

2.75 rounded up because it is definitely not bad and I think only bad books deserve to be given a 2. This was just meh. I feel like this entire book I kept waiting for something that never came. I was hoping for a turn around, something to make me interested and excited to keep reading.

There’s nothing TRULY, terribly wrong with this book, it just fell so incredibly flat that it was so hard to find a good thing about it.

It took 100 pages of a 300 page book for something to happen…that’s too long. The first third of this book felt so slow and like nothing was happening. It just felt like I was watching absolutely random conversations between friends that had nothing to do with the story.

Even when THE thing happened, the pace still did not pick up and it still felt like nothing was happening. And like what was happening had nothing to do with THE thing. Very strange.

I was really excited for this book, the premise sounded so fun, but I was left feeling very disappointed (and I hate to say it, but bored) with this book. SO MUCH POTENTIAL!

A positive thought - SUPER fast read (even if the pacing is painfully slow most of the time)! I knocked this out in an afternoon.

Sadly, this was so unsatisfying.

Are these children really named Wander and Blossom? I am disturbed by that. That is disturbing (in a silly way).

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me the e-ARC of this book! My review on Goodreads is already up and my TikTok review will be up with my June monthly wrap-up at the end of the month.

All the books in this series are full of fun and quirky psychic investigative adventures. From the characters to the "who done it" scenarios I enjoyed all the parts of this story!

While you don't need to read the other books I believe it to be a better reading experience if you have. Riley Thorn has come a long way as well as her cohorts; Nick & the elderly roommates. The addition of Griffin as the character in trouble just doubled the laughs. Great addition to the series!

I love Riley! She's one of my favorite book characters. This book was hilarious, as usual. I loved the mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

The Body in the Backyard, book 4 in the Riley Thorn series, is as hilarious as the first three in the series!

Riley Thorn isn’t prepared for the trouble headed her way when her ex-husband shows up at her door, claiming to need her help, along with her private investigator boyfriend, Nick Santiago.

But when a body is discovered, it becomes clear that he might be in some actual trouble.

Just like the rest of the series, this book had me giggling constantly! These books are such a good time to read.

I loved seeing the relationship between Riley and Nick move along as well. I had butterflies in the middle of my giggling fits!

The Body in the Backyard is perfect for fans of crime dramas, hilarious banter, eccentric side characters, romantic comedy and a good time!

I was so excited for this book and it did not disappoint! I breezed through this book just like the rest of them. I love how this series feels like a quirky cozy mystery with the spice you expect from Lucy Score. I love Riley and Nick and was so excited when I saw there was going to be another book in the author's note. Can't wait!

3 star ⭐️ read for me! Thank you for the ARC NetGalley and Bloom Publishers. This is a cozy and fun romantic comedy! A fairly easy read for me and I enjoyed the dynamic characters, banter, and thrill. Lucy Score is a wonderful author and the main characters were a perfect duo. I enjoyed the witty psychic shenanigans but would have preferred to see more focus on the psychic powers and supernatural. I felt like some of this was predictable without even having read the previous books but followed along for the ride. For someone who’s a fan of Rom-Coms this is just for you.