The Dead Guy Next Door (Riley Thorn #1) by Lucy Score
A nice, normal life. Is that too much to ask? For Riley Thorn it is. Divorced. Broke. Living with a pack of elderly roommates. And those hallucinations she’s diligently ignoring? Her tarot card-dealing mom is convinced they’re clairvoyant visions.
Just when things can’t get worse, a so-hot-it-should-be-illegal private investigator shows up on her doorstep looking for a neighbor…who turns up murdered.
Nick Santiago doesn’t play well with others. Unless the “others” are of the female persuasion. Wink. He’s a rebel, a black sheep, a man who prefers a buffet of options to being stuck with the same entrée every night, if you catch his drift.
When the pretty, possibly psychic Riley lands at the top of the list of suspects, Nick volunteers to find out whodunit. Only because he likes solving mysteries not because he wants to flex his heroic muscles for the damsel in distress.
All they have to do is figure out who pulled the trigger, keep the by-the-book detective with a grudge at bay, and deal with a stranger claiming he was sent to help Riley hone her psychic gifts. All before the killer discovers she’s a loose end that requires snipping.
5 out of 5 stars
Holy hysterical Batman! This was so freaking FUN to read!
I can't even tell you how many times I laughed out loud! I loved all the
characters, the mystery, and this entertaining and crazy world. It was just
what I needed!
This story was outrageously entertaining and it had me
laughing and smiling and on the edge of my seat as the mystery played out and
Riley and Nick came together. Riley was so fun and quirky and Nick's
incredibly charming with a rebel vibe happening. I loved their attraction and bickering that they had going on, it brought even more fun
and laughter to the story. Riley and Nick were sweet and flirty together and I love how
their relationship evolved. There was an incredible and unique cast of
characters from Riley’s elderly neighbors, to both of their families and friends.
They all brought so much to the story with all these hilarious scenes and
scenarios, I couldn’t get enough.
Entertaining was pretty much the theme. Were some of
the scenes and situations outright crazy? Oh yeah. Where they incredibly comical
and had me laughing and totally engaged and invested? Absolutely! Riley is a psychic,
there’s a murder to solve, and sparks are flying left and right, plus there’s a
huge cast of zany characters… and don’t forget the action, mayhem, and excitement. Everything
together was fantastic.
There were so many working parts happening and I loved how
it all was pieced together with these elaborate details. I loved the dual POVs,
the flow, and the amazing slow burn that was happening. I kept laughing - the barks of
laughter that just take you by surprise - and I was pretty much that way
through the entire book as everything developed. The story wrapped up
nicely with an opening for more stories which has me thrilled. I need more
Riley Thorn in my life!
The Dead Guy Next Door was laugh-out-loud shenanigans at its best and I had a blast reading it. If you're
looking for an escape and need to get your laugh on, look no further. You have found your next read!
Original review posted September 4, 2020. Complimentary copy received.
Congratulations to Lucy Score, Bloom Books picked up the Riley Thorn series and it rereleased March 12, 2024. There was a small title change and a new cover. However, it still contains the same amazing story! Pictured above is the new cover for The Dead Guy Next Door, below is the original cover. I originally read this book in September of 2020 and it was one of my favorite books of the year.
Thank you to the team at Lucy Score for the advanced reader's copy.
Connect with Lucy Score
Lucy Score has a very large backlist of books that I am having a great time working my way through. From standalone stories to books in a series, she's got a ton to choose from. You can find her full book list on her website, HERE. Below are the ones I've read and shared on my blog so far. :-)
What's the last book that made you laugh out loud in a hysterical, crazy kind of way? Let me know!
