Book Review: The Body in the Backyard by Lucy Score

Get ready for a wild ride when you read The Body in the Backyard. Riley, Nick, and this crazy group of characters brings the outrageous fun and it's sure to bring a smile on your face!

The Body in the Backyard (Riley Thorn #4) by Lucy Score

Her self-absorbed news anchor ex-husband careening back into her life was not on this amateur psychic detective’s bingo card.

Not only does Griffin Gentry show up unexpectedly at Riley Thorn’s door—the real shock is that he’s begging her for help. 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 takes the lead on Griffin’s case. But when a dead body makes it clear someone really is out to get Riley’s ex, the mile-long suspect list means all hands on deck at Santiago Investigations. Even the wrinkly, retired ones.

It’s only a matter of time before Griffin brings the danger directly to their doorstep. And with Riley and Nick busy interviewing suspects, that leaves their elderly roommates to wreak havoc in the surveillance department. Can Riley block out the chaos to focus her psychic visions long enough to narrow down the list of suspects? Or will Griffin Gentry’s bad karma be the downfall of them all?

3 out of 5 stars

Riley Thorn is back and the crazy, fun chaos continues! The Body in the Backyard is over the top in a zany and comical way filled with great characters and an entertaining mystery. It's a light-hearted, easy read that made for a good time.

I liked getting more of Riley and Nick and how they navigated their relationship surrounded by all the meddling and overly helpful old folks. I liked the updates with Gabe and Wander and everything about the octogenarians. And of course, there is Burt the dog who is adorable as always. Plus, there is a mystery happening with Riley’s ex-husband Griffin, who is one of the most unlikable human beings ever. Riley and Nick along with Mrs. Penny and the gang have lots of investigating to do which creates a lot of entertaining scenes.

I was prepared for over-the-top craziness because that’s what this series has been, just outright fun. However, this story felt like it was high-octane almost the entire time and since there wasn’t always a lot of build to those outlandish moments, it took away some of the magic and entertainment value for me. I liked the mystery, it created some fun scenes, but it was a pretty low-key whodunnit with no major clues or guessing on my part. It was definitely an amusing and enjoyable read, but it was just a lot, all the time, and because of that it felt drawn out and repetitive at times.

There were a lot of characters and a lot happening right from the start and I thought it was a little overwhelming (and I’ve read all the books!). It was still exciting and I enjoyed it, just not as much as the other books in the series. If you want a fun, easy read with hilarious yet chaotically cute moments, this would be a great choice.

Complimentary copy received.