The body in the backyard follows Riley, Nick, and the rest of the gang as they try their best to help her self-absorbed ex-husband find out who's trying to take him out. Natutally, Nick doesn't believe gentry until someone turns up dead. So the real question is, can Riley block out the usual chaos to focus on her psychic visions long enough to narrow down the list of suspects? Or will Griffin’s bad karma be the downfall of them all?

I love this series. The side characters are SO funny, and I love Nick and Riley together. The banter and bickering are so outrageous, but it's funny versus annoying... unlike Griffin.

SO FUCKING GOOD WHYYYYYY ugh this was my favorite one and I never ever want this to end. I refuse anything to do with this series ending

thank you so much to NG and Sourcebooks for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have now officially read all the released books in this series and while I enjoyed most to an extent, part of what pushed me through was the potential of the series. It is such a fun/funny idea and the main characters are great- no notes. Unfortunately, all the things that were continually obnoxious throughout the other books were just ratcheted up 100% in the latest installment.

The body in the Backyard is centered around keeping Riley's ex safe from attempts on his life and that may have been the catalyst for the bad to just bad so hard. Gentry isn't an idiot. He is written- intentionally- to not understand the world around him. He can somehow navigate a career and multiple affairs but doesn't know when a hostage situation is happening or when he's being directly threatened?? He was written as if to have an IQ of 70 or below. I was actually worried for his intellect. Not in a slap stick comedy way but in a 'this is wildly unrealistic' kind of way. Which brings me to major beef number two- Penny. As with Gentry, the tastes and teases you got of these two characters in previous books were funny and meant to be caricature of themselves, but you just got too much of them in this book. It began to pull me from the story the situations they would get themselves into or what they would do. It was absurd.

I wish that were the extent of my issues but in quick summary: Riley rarely even uses her abilities in the last couple of books. They offer no help to the solving of the crime. Speaking of, again, for the last 2 books the big reveal at the end was something that the reader was in no way clued into. The fun of a mystery is that you are fed a bit here and there.

I think this just isn't Lucy's genre that she thrives in and unfortunately- since I've read like 20 of her books- I think I need to take a break from her. This one was just too much of a let down. She get's one start for technical writing skill.

Fourth book in Riley’s series and it’s keeping me entertained! This book is yet another mystery to solve, this time involving Riley’s ex husband. The characters are still all over the top. Overall I enjoy this series so much. Don’t go into this expecting deep, intense story. Everything about this series is whimsical, and over the top. I loved that Nick and Riley’s own story continues on with this book.

I enjoyed this entire series. I loved the jokes, the crazy shenanigans and the funniness from all these characters. Out of all the books this one was my favorite. Lucy Score is a genius!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for the arc of this book.

I genuinely laughed out loud so many times through out the whole book! I really love Riley & Nick as individual characters and what they create together. I did find this one to be a slower start than the rest of the books in the series, and I felt as if Riley and Nick didn’t have as much romance in this as the other books. Although, I still enjoyed the overall theme for this book. I can not wait to see what they get into next & for their next big adventure! I highly recommend the series for a romantic comedy read!

Perfect addition to the series! This is definitely on my list of top reads of the year. I can’t wait for more Riley and Nick. Mrs. Penny and her gang always entertain me. Griffin is probably the most annoying character. I could really do without more of him and Bella.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Score, and the publisher for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Body in the Backyard follows Nick, Riley, and the rest of the group on yet another mystery. This mystery is a little different because it involves Riley’s ex husband, Griffin. Someone is after Griffin, will they manage to find out who?! Also, Nick and Riley are getting serious! Can the two find time for one another?

Hahahahaha I loved this. This series has been so fun and entertaining. I’ve loved it so much. I think the side characters are SO funny and I love both Nick and Riley. This is just a fun series for sure! Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I feel like every Riley Thorne book that comes out has me thinking hard to describe how delightful and fun this series is! The Body in the Backyard invited fans of the series to learn more about Riley’s turd wish troll of an ex husband as he finds himself finally being targeted for being a dirtbag. I liked the predicament given how we first met Riley, recovering from the mess her ex had landed her in.

This is book was as joyful as all others in the series. I do hope we get to spend some more time with roomies in the next, especially her spirit mentor, Gabe. I’d love a book exploring what he is exactly and Riley finally buckling down with her psychic lessons and making some breakthroughs!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I think I say this every time I finish a Riley Thorn book but this is by far my favorite Lucy Score series! As long as she continues writing this series I will be first in line to read them.

In this installment Riley and Nick take on Riley’s obnoxious ex husband as their client, because someone is trying to kill him! Which, if you know this character, you aren’t surprised in the least. The author did a fantastic job making me hate him! I don’t know how Riley and Nick had so much patience. So Riley and Nick, along with Miss Penny, Gage and their whole house help out to take down the bad guy this time.

4.5/5 stars and I will be buying this entire series in a physical copy for my shelf!!

if you liked the first three books you'll love this one. the dialogue and characters seemed a bit much for me at times, definitely more jokey. thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC!

Her spray-tanned, self-absorbed news anchor ex-husband careening back into her life was not on this psychic detective's bingo card. But not only does Griffin Gentry show up unexpectedly at Riley Thorn's door—the real shock is that he's begging for her help. However, Riley's hot private investigator boyfriend Nick Santiago refusing to take the job is…well, less of a surprise! Good book! This book was definitely a decent read I’ve read most in this series and they’ve been very good! I do have to say this one isn’t my favorite but still worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Unfortunately this was not my favorite Lucy Score book. I started the book and was a bit confused but realized it was a jump in time which helped with the confusion. However, that wasn't the only thing I didn't enjoy sadly. There were a lot of characters in this book and it was kind of difficult to keep them all straight with the use of both their first and last names being used interchangeably even on the same page. A lot of the characters also had similar names or similar letters in names and that also added to a little of the confusion. I did enjoy Nick's character and him and Riley's banter throughout.

This was an entertaining wrap up to the cliffhanger in the last book. Really do enjoy this bumbling team and their band of merry misfits.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

This is the fourth book in this series and it was a BANGER. I love Nick and Riley and their adventures with their insane cast of characters. Their crazy family and friends make these mysteries fun and lighthearted instead of the dark, twisted version you so often read about everywhere. You don't HAVE TO read books 1-3 but you definitely want to! Score's writing is the appropriate balance of absurd and well plotted.
My least favorite part of this book was Griffen. He's too insane and crazy and narcissistic and stupid and like Nick, I'd also like to punch him in the face.

Her spray-tanned, self-absorbed news anchor ex-husband careening back into her life was not on this psychic detective's bingo card.
But not only does Griffin Gentry show up unexpectedly at Riley Thorn's door—the real shock is that he's begging for her help. However, Riley's hot private investigator boyfriend Nick Santiago refusing to take the job is…well, less of a surprise.
Too bad for Nick that his octogenarian business partner overrules him and decides to take the lead on Griffin's case. And when a dead body makes it clear someone really is out to get Riley's ex, the mile-long suspect list puts all hands on deck at Santiago Investigations. Even the wrinkly, retired ones.
It's only a matter of time before Griffin brings danger directly to Riley's doorstep. And with she and Nick busy interviewing suspects, their elderly roommates are wreaking havoc in the surveillance department. Can Riley block out the chaos and focus on her psychic visions long enough to narrow down the list of suspects, or will Griffin Gentry's karma be the downfall of them all?

Get ready for another delightful psychic adventure from Lucy Score with this fourth installment of the Riley Thorn series! I have been a fan of this series since the first book came out and was SO excited to be given a chance to read this one early. This 4th book finds Riley, Nick and their crazy gang of geriatric sidekicks trying to keep Riley’s idiotic, self-absorbed and very murderable ex-husband Griffin alive after someone does in fact try to murder him. Hilarity and chaos ensue as the PI firm tries to figure out who out of the many potential suspects actually took a shot at Griffin. And to make sure Griffin doesn’t try to weasel out of actually paying them. This book is great, light read that will be perfect for a summer escape! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

This fourth book in the Riley Thorn series picks up immediately where book three ended. Griffin Gentry, Riley’s idiotic ex-husband is in danger. And not just from a punch to the face delivered by the dimple wielding Nick. Someone is trying to kill the orange weasel. He hires Santiago Investigations, well Mrs. Penny accepting on their behalf, to find out who is trying to end his existence and to keep him safe. The list of people that hate Griffin is extensive, and includes Riley and Nick, or anyone who has spent more than two minutes with the man.
Solving the case includes all the antics you expect from a Riley Thorn novel and Lucy Score. Will Nick and Riley be able to figure out who is really trying to kill the tiny, tantrum throwing twit? And do it before they take over the murderers job and kill Griffin themselves?
I loved every minute of this book. And as usual, Lucy Score made me feel all the emotions, including how badly I wanted to just end Griffin myself. Worth every minute.

The fourth book in the Riley Thorn mystery series, finds Riley and Nick living with their octogenarian friends and trying to figure out who wants to kill Riley’s ex-husband. Besides Nick, that is.

All the fun characters are back from the previous books, including Gabe, Wander, Jasmine, Burt, and Mrs. Penny. Also includes action, humor, a bit of romance, and more psychic visions.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Body in the Backyard to come out July 16, 2024.

I have been a fan of Lucy Score since the first book of hers that I read, which was the first book in this series “Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door.” One of the things that I love about this series is that it starts off with a pretty suspenseful scene, and then backtracks so you could see how they get to that point. Starting it off that way helps hook me early on. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books in the series so far, and I was so excited to get a chance to read this one.

One of the things that I love is that it picked up right where the previous book ended. I really like that, while this book is a part of a series, there were so many little “nuggets” from the other books that this could very well be read as a “standalone.”

As always enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery right along with the rest of the characters in the book. Although this book is suspenseful, it is extremely comedic. It took me longer to read that book because I was constantly stopping to read sections to my husband so he could get a laugh as well.

I definitely enjoyed this book, and cannot see what is next. As I have stated before, I can see this series having many more books (Eve & Roarke from “In Death” level is what I hope)

**A received an advanced reader copy of the re-release for my honest review**

Lucy Score's books can be a lot of fun but this one was not it for me. The quirky cast of characters does not work. They are all so over the top and ridiculous to the point that they come across as insipid and dumb. Even our MC is flighty and often falls victim to the too stupid to live trope. I've loved other books by Score but this one really falls flat.