You will never look at obituaries the same way again
The Good Byline
Jill Orr
Prospect Park Books
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date: 11 April 2017
Review
Who knew that writing the obituary of an estranged friend could change your life - and lead you to uncover murder? Since Riley’s fiancé left her to find himself, she has done little other than go to her job at the local library. Chance leads her to try reconnecting with a former friend - Jordan. Riley is shocked when Jordan's mother tells her that Jordan passed away the night before and it looks like suicide. That doesn't mesh with Riley’s memories of Jordan, so when Jordan's mother asks her to write Jordan's obituary Riley starts looking into what Jordan was doing at the time of her death.
There is nothing like trying to solve a possible murder to crack open your shell and encourage you to meet new people. The Good Byline has quite a few memorable characters including Riley's handsome love interest Ajay (who just might be involved), Will Holman, the geeky and extremely literal investigative reporter, and Ryan her loser of an ex who would like to get back together despite the fact that he is about to become a father. The Good Byline has all of the elements that make for a good cozy (including a great dog - Coltraine), including its unique “catch”. Each chapter begins with a quote about obituaries and their impact. Readers definitely won't look at the obituary page in quite the same way after reading The Good Byline.
Cute, funny and exciting, The Good Byline is a promising start to new series.
4 / 5
The Good Byline is available for preorder and will be released April 11, 2017.
I received a copy of The Good Byline from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Description
Meet Riley Ellison, a quirky young library assistant who has become known in her hometown of Tuttle Corner, Virginia, as Riley Bless-Her-Heart. Riley’s odd habit of living vicariously through people she reads about in the obituary pages hits a little too close to home when she is asked to write one for her childhood best friend, Jordan James. Jordan's unexpected suicide has left Riley desperate to understand why a young woman with so much to live for would suddenly opt out, so she steps out of her comfort zone and into the role of obituary writer.
Things get messy, however, when Jordan’s co-worker, a paranoid reporter with a penchant for conspiracy theories, convinces Riley that Jordan’s death was no suicide. He leads her down a dangerous path toward organized crime, secret lovers, and suspicious taco trucks. Eventually, Riley’s serpentine hunt for the truth leads to a discovery that puts everything she holds dear—her job, the people she loves, and even her life—in danger. Will writing this obituary be the death of her?
