I just love Lucy Score and her work! This is a very lighthearted, comedic mystery. The dual POVs is one of my favorite traits in a book, and the POV of both Nick and Riley is done so well!! The HUMOR in this is so good, much like the others in the series. I will say I think I enjoyed the others more because I am a huge fan of the mystery side, and this felt more comedy than mystery, but still an amazing read!!

Riley Thorn and the Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score is the fourth installment of the Riley Thorn series, which I lovingly refer to as cozy romantic suspense with a hilarious hodgepodge group of characters just waiting to investigate & support.

Riley Thorn and the Body in the Backyard is great for fans of…
💙 Cozy Mystery
💙 Small Town Romance
💙 Psychics
💙 Humorous Cast of Characters

I love going into a book, especially a mystery & not knowing where it’s going & I can almost guarantee that will be your experience going into any Riley Thorn book by Lucy Score. I say & mean that in the best & most entertaining way possible.

This is a series that is boiling over with mystery, suspense, humor, adventure, the best kind of ridiculous characters & the unforgettable romance that is the backbone of it all.

This series just keeps getting better & better.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Bloom Books for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviews/

I also plan to share on social media. I will add links once I have them!

The next installment in the Riley Thorn series is here! I couldn't wait to dive into this one. This book had me up late devouring the pages. Riley and Nick had me hooked again along with the colorful cast of characters. Our favorite senior citizens are up to their typical hilarious ways. Add in Riley has to help keep her narcist ex husband alive let the fun begin. That man sure does a lot of enemies. I laughed from start to finish. The testosterone filled battle between Nick and Weber and the favorite contest between Nick and Gabe were great material. One of my favorite scenes is the one when Riley and Nick babysit their nieces. Loved it to pieces! I can't tell you how much I laughed while reading this one. Plus you have the who done it mystery of who wants to murder Griffin. This book is so good! I can't recommend it enough. I really hope their is more to come for this gang. I just love them so much. I know I'm in for some really great entertainment with comedy and murder mystery.

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!

The Body in the Backyard is #4 in the series. Admittedly, this was my first Lucy Score novel.

I'm guessing that if you have read the prior novels, this one is probably very similar. If you liked prior Lucy Score novels, you'll probably like this one as well.

I'm sorry to say, this novel just wasn't for me. I feel like I lost some brain cells.

A bit of swearing in the book. It reminded me of some stand up comics, lots of swearing doesn't necessarily make a book funnier.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the opportunity to review The Body in the Backyard in exchange for an honest review. Release date is July 16, 2024. Approx 368 pages.

4.5/5
🖤🖤🖤🖤⚡️

Tell me how even in a book about a psychic that works with a PI company and has an elderly bunch of crazy neighbors Lucy Score is still able to have me truly relate to Riley?! This writing is brilliant. It’s hilarious. (I laugh so hard I cry at least three times in every single one of these books.) Riley tackling Burt (her dog) to the ground during a shot out has been the most relatable thing I think I’ve ever read. This is 100% something I would do. Nick being mad, but also like “okay I get it” is very much what my husband’s response to this would be, as well.

This is the fourth installment of Riley and it hit right on the mark. I throughly enjoyed this one, other than Griffin is probably my least favorite character. For obvious reasons. So, I was like “ewh not Griffin again” every time he’d be in the scene. Which was more often than the other books, considering this one is about him! 😂🤡


Things I loved & related to in this fourth adventure…

🎻 the reference to Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero on string quartet because I remember Lucy posting that she went to a show that we have in our area that an orchestra plays Taylor’s songs by candlelight and I hope she got this idea from that!

✨ Riley teaching Gabe sarcasm

💥 Riley finding it remarkably attractive when Nick gets the bad guys (“You being all defend-y and authoritative and stuff.” -Riley to Nick)

👻 Lily pretending they’re house ghosts

🐕 the Scooby-Doo reference

🌶️ Naked Tuesday

🔥 I need a whole book dedicated to Jasmine and Weber. The will they, won’t they is driving me crazy!!!! (Enemies to lovers is my fav trope, can you tell?)


I feel like Melissa McCarthy made to look older would be hilarious as Mrs. Penny. I have trouble casting this one because she’s one of my fav supporting characters!!

Another adorable and hilarious book in the Riley Thorn series! Our neighbor psychic has found herself and friends in more trouble when her Ex-Husband hires them as body guards because he’s convinced someone is out to kill him. I will say, this has not been my favorite book in the series because I have a large annoyance with Riley’s husband. But the other quirky characters make up for it in this book! I can’t wait to see what trouble this crew gets into next. 4/5 stars! Thank you for the opportunity to ARC read this novel!

The Body in the Backyard was a humorous continuation of the series & provided everything I expected of Riley & her crazy crew. The comedic situations and witty dialogue are my favorite things about this series, & this addition did not disappoint. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is not the last installment, & look forward to more from Riley, Nick, & their unusual group.

Thank you Lucy Score, NetGalley, & Bloom Books for this E-ARC!

Another laugh out loud visit with psychic Riley Thorn and her love interest P.I. Nick Santiago. When Riley’s ex-husband, Griffin Gentry, arrives at their home, he tells them that someone is trying to kill him. If anyone wants to kill him it would be Nick as Griffin not only cheated on Riley, but then fired her from the station where they both worked. Griffin wants to hire Santiago Investigations to not only protect him, but to find out who wants him dead. With the entire troupe of elderly residents from next door now living in their home, they are ready to assist (?) Nick in his investigation. From a bullet hole in Griffin’s windshield to other attempts on his life, the number of people who may want him dead increases on a daily basis. Griffin has an entitled opinion of himself and believes that everyone he deals with does so, not for money, but to please him. Therefore, the list of those who mean him harm is quite lengthy. Has someone finally decided that if Griffin is not going to pay his debts with cash, then it is time that he does so with his life? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Thank you Net Galley and Bloom Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In book 4 of the Riley Thorn series, psychic Riley and private investigator dreamboat Nick Santiago team up to figure out who is out to kill her self-absorbed ex, Griffin. It’s a romantic
comedy mystery with a small amount of spice, but a lengthy amount of filler (some that I felt that, if taken away, wouldn’t alter the story line at all).

Griffin is just a garbage excuse of a human, literally, to the point where I was “ugh”ing out loud for so many things he said and how he acted. Part of me was like, dear god just let someone kill him already and get this over with. Nick on the other hand… okay the way he clearly LOVES Riley and is evidently smitten. I love it.

The slow burn was great and the buildup was somewhat of a let down since lack of spice had me crying a little. The sarcastic banter in this one had me laughing out loud at some points, and honestly my favourite person in this was Mrs. Penny. The woman gives zero f***s and I love that. I loved that it ended with Riley and Nick getting their happily ever after and Riley becoming partner in Nick’s business. I realize that a lot of the content was to introduce potential suspects but I really feel like the plot was dragged out a bit? Nevertheless, it was still an okay read!

(I’ll be honest that I haven’t read the rest of the series (yet), however I did read quite a few reviews and summaries to at least have an idea of what happens in book 4 (and also because I couldn’t not take advantage of having access to a Lucy Score arc!!!) - I am curious to see if my review changes once I read books 1-3.)

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘮.”

I really needed this book this week. This book literally transported me from a really bad place to a really happy place. I laughed, snorted, giggled and couldn't put my kindle down. I love all of these characters. You’d think by now the fart jokes would be getting old, but nope, not even slightly. I love Riley Thorn and her geriatric entourage and can’t wait to see what they get up to next. I so hope in the next one to see how Jasmine and Weber continue their 'dislike' of each other, how Wander and Gabe progress and to find out what mischief the young nieces can get up to as they develop their skills. Please don't make us wait too long!

It is not enough that Nick has just come back after spending way to long with his head you know where trying to find a missing person, who really wasn't missing after all. The PI biz suffered but Riley hung in there, now they need some paying gigs and fast. And it is a testament to how bad things are that Nick would even consider working for Riley's ex. Yes, they are that bad.

The narcissistic little slime-ball, Griffin Gentry, appears to have someone who hates him enough to want to kill him. Nick is loath to take this case, but he needs the money. With just about everyone who knows to this little troll hating him, the suspect list is long, really, really long. Lucky for Nick and Riley the senior squad from next door have moved in with Nick and Riley after their roof caved in and Nick can use them for surveillance on the top suspects. That was a hoot. When Nick takes a page from the old Thin Man Series, he finally nails the baddie, and managed to make Griffin pay up.

My thanks to the Publisher and the Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

This is the fourth book in the series, but it could stand well on it's own.

Riley Thorn has the absolute worst luck, and it all comes to a head when her ex-husband, Griffin Gentry, interrupts the birthday dinner for her boyfriend, Nick Santiago. Things go completely off the rails as Riley and Nick act as bodyguard for Griffin while the rest of the 'team' tries to find out who is after him. It's hilarious, steamy, and makes for a fun afternoon read.

Recommended for anyone who needs something lighthearted, and just wants to have a good time reading.

I have tried sticking with this series because I really like Riley and Nick. It has gotten really old reading about the stupidity and rudeness of her elderly neighbors. This part of the series is over the top along with Riley's ex. I really would love to get to know more of Riley's family and Nick's family but the elderly people need to take a backseat.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC to review.

Lucy Score has hit a home run with the fourth installment of her Riley Thorn series.
In Body in the Backyard, Riley and Nick have been hired by Riley’s obnoxious ex husband, Griffin Gentry. Someone is trying to kill Griffin, the problem is the list of suspects is long and getting longer by the minute. Good thing Mrs. Penny and the seniors have moved into the house. Just until they can get the roof fixed on their place.
Lucy Score has created and developed a cast whose antics and banter have me laughing out loud. I would encourage you to start the series from the beginning as characters develop and references are made to to action from the earlier titles. If you’re in the mood for a feel good romantic comedy, I would highly recommend this title and the others in the series.
I received an ARC of this book in enchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to both NetGalley and Bloom Publisher.

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

I must admit that I'm at fault here. I love Lucy Score and have read a couple of her books and enjoyed them thoroughly. This however was not for me and I think this was mostly because going in, I didn't realise it was actually book 4 in a series so this left me a little confused at times.

Fun characters and a readable plot, but maybe I should re-read this after I have picked up the first 3!

This is the fourth book in the Riley Thorn series.

Book three ended with a cliffhanger. And this book picks up right where that one left off. Each book does focus on a different mystery. However the series is meant to be read in order or you will not understand the characters.

This is a cozy mystery mixed with a romantic comedy. The series features psychic Riley Thorn and her boyfriend Nick (who is a private investigator). The book is full of quirky characters, including a group of octogenarian neighbors.

This book is focused on helping Riley’s ex-husband. And OMG he is such a tool. But overall this was another fun story. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

HE RUMBLE AND THE GLORY Sacred Trinity Book 1 by J.A. Huss
This is the start of a new series that J.A. Huss is creating. She is an excellent wordsmith and she has the ability to suck the reader into the story. Colin Creed and Lowyn McBride were high school sweethearts. After an incident, Creed left town and joined the military. Twelve years later, he is back in town and setting up a place where he and his team can set up a security business. Lowyn is still in love with Creed. This story has mystery, danger, intrigue, lies, a second chance romance, and a small town with plenty of dark secrets. I don’t like to give to much away in a review, I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. It’s definitely a good read.
I listened to the audio version and CJ Mission and Jill Redfield narrated. They did a good job with it. This is a 5 star story.

I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC, and this is my honest & voluntary review

I love Lucy Score.

Just a fun book to ready

Enjoy

This book was ridiculous and so much fun! Riley, Nick and their wacky circus of psychics and the elderly did not disappoint in ridiculous shenanigans as they tried to protect Riley's narcissistic ex husband. I had previously read books 1 and 2 but not book 3. I was able to read this book without feeling like I was missing any information. This mystery was full of quirky twists and turns and overall just a really fun read!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily give my honest review.

I didn't know this was book 5 of a series and I hadn't read the others. That's my fault and I had a hard time getting in to the story as I had no idea what was going on. I know Lucy Score is a very popular author and I will look for other books by her including the first in this series. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC on exchange for my honest review.