Book Review – The Good Byline

I was only about a quarter of the way through Jill Orr’s first Riley Ellison Mystery, The Good Byline, when I knew I was going to read the second…and the third when it comes out in June.

The Good Byline introduces us to Riley Ellison, a library assistant in her hometown of Tuttle Corner, Virginia who is trying in vain to overcome the emotional valley she’s in from being dumped by her longtime ex. When she’s asked to write the obituary for her childhood best friend Jordan after her supposed suicide, the red flags fly. Though Riley hasn’t talked to Jordan in years, she knows something is amiss—the Jordan she knew would never do something like that. When a quirky reporter lets Riley know she’s not being paranoid, she’s thrown into a whirlwind of organized crime, suspicious taco trucks, a hilarious dating site, a hunky and mysterious man and all manners of chaos too numerous to be mentioned here.

The Good Byline was just a really fun read that kept me up late for a couple of nights. It reminded me of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, but still unique. Jill Orr’s writing style is crisp, easy to read and keeps you turning the pages. The book is full of quirky characters that are well developed and relatable, and I loved the dating site interludes. Does it get a little convoluted toward the end and push the boundaries of believability as the plot lines are pulled together? Sure, and while it may cause you to slightly raise an eyebrow, it doesn’t stop you from turning the page and, most importantly, it doesn’t take away from what is a very well-written and enjoyable book. I look forward to the next installment.