‘The Body in the Backyard’: A stellar, funny, romantic mystery

When done well, there’s nothing better than a funny, romantic mystery: tension between characters, suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat and laugh-out-loud moments to keep things light when you need them — really, what could be better?

Lucy Score, renowned #BookTok author most known for her bestselling Knockemout series, captures that rare and special rom-com-mystery magic in her Riley Thorn series. In the first book, we meet reluctant psychic Riley Thorn as she tries to prevent the murder of her next door neighbor, something she keeps seeing in her visions. Unfortunately for her, her heroic attempts (and apparent forethought on the death itself) make her murder suspect number one. Books two and three follow similar patterns and themes, with Riley sometimes teaming up with the police (who now recognize her abilities) and sometimes working under the radar with her love interest, private investigator Nick Santiago. The fourth and latest book, “The Body in the Backyard: A Riley Thorn Novel,” maintains the magic of the previous books and keeps readers swooning, laughing and on their toes, all at once. 

As in the previous books, “The Body in the Backyard” features psychic Riley Thorn using her ability to solve mysteries, assisted primarily by Santiago — and a wacky cast of elderly characters. In this book Riley finds herself trying to help her smarmy and self-centered ex-husband, Griffin Gentry, uncover the identity of whoever wants him dead. Riley’s family members, spiritual guide Gabe, best friend Jasmine and Nick’s ex-partner Detective Weber also pop in every now and then to wreak havoc in their own ways. 

What makes this particular amalgamation of genres so difficult to properly execute is that many authors struggle to maintain the right balance of their unique elements, often incorrectly weighing what to prioritize in particular moments. Sometimes the mystery outweighs everything else, and other times the romance becomes the primary plotline, overshadowing the comedy and mystery components. Those books aren’t bad, but they are more difficult to neatly categorize as a combination of all three genres, instead fitting into one genre and containing some elements of others. By limiting themselves to one “main” genre, they miss the opportunity to create richer, heightened and multifaceted reading experiences.

Score, however, masters that tricky balance with ease. The whole story is predicated on the mystery at hand — who’s out to get Griffin (beyond the hordes of people that he irritates every single day)? But the fact that the novel still feels character-driven allows for the sappy moments between Riley and Nick that every romance reader yearns for. In terms of the humor, it’s hard not to find yourself laughing when one of the best characters of the series is an 80-year-old, purple-haired neighbor who fancies herself a private investigator as well but often causes more trouble than solves any problems. Needless to say, Mrs. Penny is a fan-favorite and sure to continue being one of the best parts of the Riley Thorn books going forward. 

In some ways, these books feel like Hallmark movies … but better. They’re light-hearted yet suspenseful. Funny, yet real. Readers eagerly anticipate development of side characters and plots (for instance, when are we finally going to see Jasmine and Weber admit they like each other?). Whatever it is that you’re looking for from a fun beach read, this book will deliver. If you’re there for the romance, Riley and Nick’s banter will check that box. If you’re there for the mystery, looking for clues behind the attacks on Griffin’s life will have you embracing your inner detective. If you’re there for some laughs, Mrs. Penny will always, always leave you cackling. And if, like me, you want the perfect combination of all three, then Riley and her crew never miss.

Score has mentioned, both in the author’s notes of past Riley Thorn books and during her recent visit to Schuler’s Bookstore in West Bloomfield, MI, that this is not the end of Riley and Nick’s adventures. And it shouldn’t be. The idea behind a “Scooby gang” of characters solving mysteries is by no means new — but finding that perfect romantic, comedic mystery is rare. It’s a good thing we have Riley Thorn and her psychic abilities to rely on. 

Daily Arts Writer Sabriya Imami can be reached at simami@umich.edu.

The post ‘The Body in the Backyard’: A stellar, funny, romantic mystery appeared first on The Michigan Daily.


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