“𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐠𝐮𝐲,” 𝐑𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. “𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝. 𝐇𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐞’𝐬 𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲’𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.”

this might be my absolute favorite out of the entire series!

the senior citizens are wreaking havoc in their home, their dog is having way too many people snacks, and her ex husband is being chased by hit men. just another day for psychic riley thorn and her boyfriend nick! 😂

the characters were amazing, per usual, but i particularly loved gabe in this book! he learns sarcasm and is still an angel built out of concrete, but he’s so sweet to riley’s sister and he made me laugh so many times! 🤍🥲

all around just a laugh out loud mystery that was satisfying from beginning to end! especially that end, wow *chefs kiss*

This is such a fun book, I had so much fun reading this one. It is different than my usual reads but I am so glad I gave it a shot. Great blend of mystery and romance.

I loved this! Probably my favorite in this series. I was hooked instantly and i can’t wait to read more from Lucy. I flew through this book and i loved every minute

In The Body in the Backyard, Griffin, Riley Thorne’s narcissistic ex-husband swears someone is trying to kill him and, against Nick’s better judgement, they’re hired to investigate and provide protection. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of suspects because it seems like everyone Griffin has ever met has a motive to kill him including Riley.

This is the fourth book in the Riley Thorne mystery series by Lucy Score and it may be the most entertaining and laugh-out-loud addition to the series yet. The secondary characters are, as always, quirky great fun and the mystery kept me guessing. This is the kind of book you read in one sitting and I can’t wait to see what Riley and tbe gang get up to next.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Such a tightly crafted offering - thank you so much for the opportunity to review. Lucy's work is an autobuy for us!

The saga continues. Gotta be honest, I binge read this series because I'd hate if it I read this first before reading the others. Was that a good choice? Yes, and no. I feel like I'm overload from this wiley group of characters. Nick, Riley, and their group of friends and family continue to do the craziest things. They're fully moved in together, and their house seems to be endlessly overrun by their closest people.

This book brought back in a past character that I could have done without: her douchebag ex who cheated on her and did other mean things to her. I gotta say, I wish Nick would have kicked him out the door. He reminded me of the newscaster boyfriend from that kids movie Monsters vs Aliens. If you've seen it, you'll know what I'm talking about.

This book, this series, is pure LOL fiction, so expect some wacky side characters, questionable decision making, and a romance that floats along in the background.

Again another fun and quirky story by Lucy Score. I loved the romantic comedy aspect and look forward to reading more! This series is just a fun read and should not be taken seriously. If you are looking for that type of book then do not pick these up. These are supposed to be ridiculous and fun.

Lucy Score’s exuberance and passion for Riley were obvious as I read her latest release, “The Body in the Backyard”; her enthusiasm for this series translates into her writing. Lucy once again proves that much happens post-HEA, and the memorable side characters continue to shine in scene-stealing chapters.

Riley, Nick, their elderly housemates, and family and friends use their unique skills to uncover who’s trying to kill Riley’s narcissistic ex, Griffin. Throughout the comedic pursuit, Nick’s grumpiness about the state of his home with Riley is constant, as all he wants is some alone time with her. Standout moments include Penny’s hyper-focused PI skills, Gabe’s education on sarcasm, and the quick banter among all the characters; no one misses an opportunity to deliver a funny line.

This made me laugh out loud, smile silly on the train, and bookmark multiple entertaining moments.

Thanks to Bloom Pub and NetGalley for an advanced copy in an exchange for an honest review.

What a fun book! Now I need to go back and read the earlier books in the series. In this book the main character Riley is hired to be a bodyguard for her ex-husband as someone wants him dead. Her boyfriend isn’t thrilled at the job but for $20k it’s worth it.

Overall this was a fun book! Suspenseful, funny, romantic and great characters.

The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score is definitely one that will keep you entertained. This is the fourth book in the Riley Thorn series. I enjoy the banter & wit between the characters. I have laughed as I read this book series. There's a little bit of everything in this novel - murder, detective work, family drama, romance, sarcasm, psychics.

I can't wait to read more books by this author!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for voluntarily letting me read this book & give my honest opinion.

A great read. Riley and Nick are trying to work out who is threatening Griffin Gentry, will they work it out before anyone else gets hurt. Love this series of books and hope there are more!

I’m always happy to dive back into this series, especially when it makes me laugh this hard every time.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Riley Thorn and the Nody in the Backyard by Lucy Score

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Riley Thorn continuous series. Book 4.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: E-book ARC on Kindle. 🆓 on KU.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Romantic suspense

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: LOL, found family, broody MMC.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: In the fourth installment of this series, Riley Thorn continues to hone her psychic abilities while tracking down who is terrorizing her ex-husband.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: This series is one of my favorites. Comforting, full of hysterical characters and situations that can only come from Lucy Score’s brain.

As always when I’m reviewing this series I like to mention it’s very romance light. I’m INVESTED in Riley and Nick, but there’s a lot more hijinx than romance here.

But despite that, I laughed a ton at this newest book. I am not sure how much longer the series can go, but I think one more book to close it out would be perfect.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 2.5/5 🌶🌶

📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲… None of these end on a cliffhanger, so you’re safe to pick up and read at your own pace if you’d like.

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

I really love this series! It’s funny, mysterious, thrilling and romantic - it has everything you want in a book. I enjoyed the growth of the characters. Not just Riley and Nick but Gabe, Wander, Ms. Penny, and even Webber. I really hope that she continues the series to see even more character growth, and see where these characters go. I think this is a type of series that can go on for a long time and never get old or boring.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never read a series as fast as I flew through Lucy Score’s Riley Thorn series. I fell so hard for all of the characters in these books and just couldn’t get enough of them.

The Body in the Backyard was especially entertaining for me because Riley and Nick find themselves stuck babysitting Riley’s obnoxious and vapid ex, Griffin Gentry because someone is trying to kill him. Griffin is so annoying that the list of people who may want to hurt him is a mile long and even Riley and Nick consider taking him out themselves along the way.

The only thing funnier than the snarky banter that fills the pages as Riley and Nick interview suspects, try to make sense of Riley’s psychic visions, and have to deal with Griffin on top of all of it is that Riley’s elderly roommates are running amok in the background the entire time like the hilarious chaos agents they always are.

I also loved the progression of Riley and Nick’s romantic relationship and the budding friendship between Nick and Gabe, Riley’s ice cream loving psychic advisor.

I laughed my way all the way through this series and cannot recommend it highly enough. The Body in the Backyard is the 13th novel I’ve read from Lucy Score and I can’t wait to read more from her.

4 1/2 stars

Who gets hired to be a bodyguard for their ex-husband? Riley Thorn sure just did. Her boyfriend, Nick, isn't enthusiastic about it but his partner in the detective agency jumps on the offer of twenty thousand dollars.
It's not as if they're already juggling a lot. Just a group of elderly people, at least one of whom is senile, moving into their house. And the house isn't exactly a welcoming place, what with everything being so old. And then there's their dog, Burt.
But Griffin Gentry has offered to pay. It's just too bad there So Many people that want to kill the man. He's refused to pay any number of bills, he put a giant statue of himself naked in his back yard, and then there's all of the women he's slept with, mostly while in a relationship with someone else.
A fun, fast and fluffy ride as per usual. I don't think you have to have read the other books in the series but it sure would help.

Four stars
This book comes out July 16, 2024
Followed Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past
ARC kindly provided by SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

“The Body in the Backyard," the fourth installment in the “Riley Thorn” series by Lucy Score, is not a stand-alone piece and should be read after reading the first three novels. This installment picks up directly after the events of the third novel, continuing the story of psychic Riley Thorn and Nick Santiago, a private investigator and former detective, as they navigate life following the reappearance of Beth Weber (Sesame” Hemsworth), Detective Weber’s missing sister.

Set on November 2nd and flashing back to October 31st, the novel opens with a dramatic twist: Griffin Gentry, Riley's narcissistic ex-husband and a news anchor, survives an attempted murder. Struggling financially due to Nick’s preoccupation with Beth’s case, Santiago Investigations is in dire straits. To make ends meet, Nick and his partners reluctantly accept a job defending Griffin and uncovering the would-be killer, a case worth twenty thousand dollars.

Departing from the format of the previous novels, this installment embraces a classic Golden Age mystery approach. The narrative involves multiple suspects, with the identity of the criminal revealed in a dramatic scene where each suspect is assembled in one room. Their potential motives are examined, and suspects are eliminated one by one until the true culprit is unveiled.

The novel is brimming with colorful caricatures, including Chupaacabra Jones, a bodybuilder and personal trainer, and Burt, the flatulent dog from the first book. The eccentricities extend to Mrs. Penny, an octogenarian, and other characters, creating a lively, circus-like atmosphere that defines the book's tone.

Despite these exaggerated elements, Score’s writing has notably evolved throughout the series. This installment presents more suspense and investigative depth compared to its predecessors, where the focus often veered toward comedic antics rather than the mystery itself.

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

Big thanks to Bloom books and the author for providing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

“The Body in the Backyard” is the latest installment in Lucy Score’s Riley Thorn series, and it’s every bit as delightful as the previous books. Riley’s life takes another chaotic turn when her self-absorbed ex-husband, Griffin Gentry, shows up on her doorstep, begging for help. Not exactly on her bingo card, right? And, of course, Riley’s hot private investigator boyfriend, Nick Santiago, isn’t thrilled about taking on Griffin’s case. But when a dead body turns up and the suspect list keeps growing, it’s all hands on deck at Santiago Investigations—even the geriatric squad gets involved!

One of the things that makes this series so charming is its cast of quirky characters. Riley’s octogenarian neighbors are back, and their antics had me laughing out loud more than once. It’s not just about the mystery; it’s the way these characters interact and grow. Watching Nick and Riley’s relationship evolve adds depth to the story, balancing the lighthearted humor with some genuine heart.

If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries with a twist—think psychic powers, whodunit murder mysteries, and a dash of grumpy x sunshine romance—this book is for you. Lucy Score has a knack for creating a world you want to step into, full of laughter, love, and just the right amount of suspense. *The Body in the Backyard* is a fun, hilarious read that keeps you guessing and grinning until the very end. I can’t wait to see what Riley and the gang get up to next!

Overall Rating: 4 stars

Riley Thorn has been a serious comfort read for me. There is just something about the characters that give my heart a warm hug! Lucy's writing is some of my favorite out there!

After the cliffhanger in book 3 I could not wait to jump into this one! This mystery had me on my toes! What was going to happen to Griffen? How was this going to play out? I did not see the twist coming at all. I had my suspicions and they were WRONG. That's the one thing I love about this series is yes there's romance but the mystery is top notch. The humor in this is something I look forward to when reading. All of the side characters I just love seeing their shenanigans.

I really hope we get more Riley Thorn in the future!

Thank you NetGalley and bloom books for the gifted copy.

This book was funny, cute, and just such a fun time!

There was funny moments, cute moments, spice and all things nice in this book. Lucy's books never fail to make me laugh and this book was no exception to that. Lucy did it again with her characters and stories, and I can't wait to read more from her!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

Thank you to Lucy Score, Hambright PR, and Bloom Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Riley Thorn series has been such a journey and I have loved every second of it! This book was hilarious from the very first page. This ensemble cast of characters is written so well; each character is developed perfectly and has a personality that is wholly unique. Then found family aspect is huge and I love this little tag-tag crime-fighting group! Nick and Riley are two of my favorite MCs. They provide equal amounts of laugh and emotional connection. Their relationship is so fun and real. I honestly want more of Weber and Jasmine because I am obsessed with their banter. Gabe is a forever highlight in this series, I just want to give him a hug! The plot of this one was a wild ride I didn’t want to get off of! And I still hate Griffin Gentry😂 I can’t wait for the next Riley Thorn book!