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Bad Day #3
A Bad Day for Scandal
When Prosper homegirl turned big-city businesswoman Priss Porter returns to town with a body in her trunk, she calls Stella Hardesty to dispose of it. Her uppity ways don?t convince Stella to take the job, and Priss attempts to blackmail her with a snapshot of Stella doing what she does curing woman-beaters by the use of force.
Stella refuses to cooperate and goes home, only to hear later that Priss and her brother, Liman, have gone missing after calling in a disturbance. Stella is implicated when Sheriff ?Goat? Jones discovers the scarf she left behind at the house. He warns her to stay local but Stella and her partner, Chrissy Shaw, go looking for Priss in Kansas City, where they discover that she runs an unusual business. When Priss herself?along with two other bodies?turns up in a pond belonging to one of Stella?s ex-clients, Stella must investigate a host of suspects, including a crooked but libidinous female judge, a coterie of jealous male escorts, and a Marxist ex-professor.
A Bad Day for Scandal is the third in Sophie Littlefield?s award-winning, critically acclaimed series. Written with passion, humor, and guts, this is a mystery to be savored.
Stella refuses to cooperate and goes home, only to hear later that Priss and her brother, Liman, have gone missing after calling in a disturbance. Stella is implicated when Sheriff ?Goat? Jones discovers the scarf she left behind at the house. He warns her to stay local but Stella and her partner, Chrissy Shaw, go looking for Priss in Kansas City, where they discover that she runs an unusual business. When Priss herself?along with two other bodies?turns up in a pond belonging to one of Stella?s ex-clients, Stella must investigate a host of suspects, including a crooked but libidinous female judge, a coterie of jealous male escorts, and a Marxist ex-professor.
A Bad Day for Scandal is the third in Sophie Littlefield?s award-winning, critically acclaimed series. Written with passion, humor, and guts, this is a mystery to be savored.
290 pages, Hardcover
Published June 21, 2011
20 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Littlefield
37 books803 followersCalled a “writing machine” by the New York Times and a “master storyteller” by the Midwest Book Review, Sophie Littlefield has written dozens of novels for adults and teens. She has won Anthony and RT Book Awards and been shortlisted for Edgar, Barry, Crimespree, Macavity, and Goodreads Choice Awards.
Sophie also writes under the pen name Sofia Grant.
Sophie also writes under the pen name Sofia Grant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 10, 2012
4.5 stars. When I think of Stella Hardesty one word comes to mind: BADASS. Now, lest you think I am taking advantage of marketing my blog in the text of this review – let me prove to you why Stella is so gosh darned BADASS.
A Bad Day for Scandal is the best in the series so far, which is saying a lot because this series is really really good. I listened to the audio (as I did for the first two), the narrator is different for this one and she is fabulous. What makes this one so good? The character and relationship development and the pushing of the overall story arc. Sophie Littlefield is skilled at including full conversations, rather than small snippets here and there. The full conversations might not be necessary for the overall plot line, but they are important to get a fuller picture of the characters and a richer context. We see Stella in the caretaker role in terms of her relationship with the neighbor boy and her relationship with her daughter. We see Stella in a blossoming and often times difficult romantic relationship. And we see Stella as a business partner with Chrissy. This series just offers so much to readers that I have not seen in other books/series. There is action, a decent mystery, really funny humor, a smidgen of romance and sexuality, interpersonal relationship drama and story/character progression. I think in the genre of crime fiction it is hard to find a story that has well rounded female characters and is decently funny. The setting of rural Missouri adds a lot to the storyline. There are so many books in crime fiction that take place in urban settings, but the rural atmosphere has so much flavor and potential.
Let me leave you with a Stellaisms from A Bad Day for Sorry:
To read more about this book and other reviews check out: www.badassbookreviews.com
1. At the age of 50 she redefined her body from chubby to svelte, powerful and able to endure a lot of physical activity.
2. At the age of 49 she killed (in defense and out of anger) her long standing physically abusive husband. (Note: I am not endorsing murder, this is simply a factor in her badassedness).
3. Stella knows how to use a gun, a knife, and various implements of torture - -and not for 50 Shades of fun but for the defense and protection of herself and other women.
4. Stella protects women and children who are fleeing abusive situations.
5. Stella still has that something special – enough to turn the eye of the hot local sheriff in her direction.
6. Stella goes toe to toe and nose to nose with mobsters, drug dealers and local snobby women.
7. Stella can cook, sew and take care of kids in addition to wielding a gun and taking down villains.
A Bad Day for Scandal is the best in the series so far, which is saying a lot because this series is really really good. I listened to the audio (as I did for the first two), the narrator is different for this one and she is fabulous. What makes this one so good? The character and relationship development and the pushing of the overall story arc. Sophie Littlefield is skilled at including full conversations, rather than small snippets here and there. The full conversations might not be necessary for the overall plot line, but they are important to get a fuller picture of the characters and a richer context. We see Stella in the caretaker role in terms of her relationship with the neighbor boy and her relationship with her daughter. We see Stella in a blossoming and often times difficult romantic relationship. And we see Stella as a business partner with Chrissy. This series just offers so much to readers that I have not seen in other books/series. There is action, a decent mystery, really funny humor, a smidgen of romance and sexuality, interpersonal relationship drama and story/character progression. I think in the genre of crime fiction it is hard to find a story that has well rounded female characters and is decently funny. The setting of rural Missouri adds a lot to the storyline. There are so many books in crime fiction that take place in urban settings, but the rural atmosphere has so much flavor and potential.
Let me leave you with a Stellaisms from A Bad Day for Sorry:
He settled his big hands on her hips. He let them slide slowly down to cup her ass which she had jammed into a Spanx hide and seek high rise panty. Before slipping on the slinky purple faux wrap dress that her daughter had given her after surviving being held at gunpoint together gift the prior fall. Stella was fairly sure she would enjoy the sensation of Goat’s strong fingers kneading her flesh if it hadn’t gotten numb in its fierce polyester lycra prison hours ago.
How is a gun better than a man? If you admire a friend's pistol she'll probably let you try it out.
Oh, your mom is going to kill me. What was I think getting you practically murdered and on a school night too.
We are not spending company time trying to figure out how to do a dirty porno act!
To read more about this book and other reviews check out: www.badassbookreviews.com
September 19, 2016
I loved the first two books in this series, but this one just sort of fell flat for me. I don't know if I just wasn't in the mood, or if the book wasn't as interesting. The pace picks up a bit at the end.
February 3, 2016
There Stella is about to get her groove on with Sheriff "Goat" Jones when she gets a call from a person in her past needing her special kind of help. When she finally gets there, Priss Porter, a hometown snooty girl makes good, wants her to get rid of a dead body. When Stella turns her down, Priss shows Stella her blackmail hand. Darn, she is holding a pair of pictures...pictures showing Stella applying her special brand of justice to one of her "parolees". She tells Stella to think about it and before Stella can say kiss my grits, Priss and her brother have upped and dissappearred. Stella starts investigating, all the while trying to stay one step ahead of Goat as he is wondering how her scarf and finger prints end up at the missing person's house. There were some hilarious moments in this book, as we discover what Priss was really doing to make all her money.
We never discovered though what the heck did Turk have going for him. We wanted to know what he had that was against the laws of nature that the woman all wanted to have. Also please SL, please let Stella and Goat get to second base or something. We are as frustrated and turned on as they are. Stella struggles to balance her need for Goat and her night "job" as well as coming to terms with her daughters choices in life. There is a whole host of side characters that make this a fun mystery to read. While I seen the bad guy a mile off the trip getting there was well worth it.
If you haven't read this series, I would start with the first one so you can get the full Stella treatment. Just ignore all those pesky rumors about her, she just carries those zip ties, the ball gag and cattle prod just for looks...really! :-)
We never discovered though what the heck did Turk have going for him. We wanted to know what he had that was against the laws of nature that the woman all wanted to have. Also please SL, please let Stella and Goat get to second base or something. We are as frustrated and turned on as they are. Stella struggles to balance her need for Goat and her night "job" as well as coming to terms with her daughters choices in life. There is a whole host of side characters that make this a fun mystery to read. While I seen the bad guy a mile off the trip getting there was well worth it.
If you haven't read this series, I would start with the first one so you can get the full Stella treatment. Just ignore all those pesky rumors about her, she just carries those zip ties, the ball gag and cattle prod just for looks...really! :-)
May 6, 2015
This fun, fluffy little book is aimed at my demographic, 50-something women. I read the first two in the series, A Bad Day for Pretty and A Bad Day for Sorry. Both were amusing, so when I ran across this one at a discount, I was ready to add it to my shelves.
It's largely a beach read. I say "largely", because although it is easy to follow even when the reader is a little sleepy (or for those of you who imbibe, probably when the reader has had a couple of drinks), it also raises questions, though that doesn't appear to be the writer's intention.
This was written before Trayvon died, and before Stand Your Ground laws became an item of controversy. I found myself wondering why, though I despise vigilantism, I have such fun reading about it. Because Stella, our protagonist, is a vigilante. Anyone in her part of rural Missouri who is being domestically abused calls Stella over, and she has a full bag of nightmarish tricks to make sure the abuser knows never, ever to do that again.
I think the attraction is the visceral fantasy. Most of us would not really want the situation handled that way, but we like to think about it. It feeds a certain wish for vengeance best handled between book covers.
There was a period early in the book where I felt the pace lagged. There was another so implausible that I found myself unable to buy the premise even in the interest of a good chuckle. (When concealed in bushes in the dark directly below the window of someone they are spying on, and while able to hear the entire conversation in the room they peer into, Stella and another character have a nonessential, several-pages-long conversation and no one in the room even slightly suspects that they are out there. Really?)
A couple of my favorite moments were the restaurant's piggy Easter decorations, and the moment when Stella finds someone she has been looking for is being held captive by bunglers. She walks in and says with dismay, "Oh for fuck's sake! You call this any kind of restraint?"
I'm not giving away any more of the fun bits. If this sounds like the type of book you might enjoy, then you should find a copy and read it.
It's largely a beach read. I say "largely", because although it is easy to follow even when the reader is a little sleepy (or for those of you who imbibe, probably when the reader has had a couple of drinks), it also raises questions, though that doesn't appear to be the writer's intention.
This was written before Trayvon died, and before Stand Your Ground laws became an item of controversy. I found myself wondering why, though I despise vigilantism, I have such fun reading about it. Because Stella, our protagonist, is a vigilante. Anyone in her part of rural Missouri who is being domestically abused calls Stella over, and she has a full bag of nightmarish tricks to make sure the abuser knows never, ever to do that again.
I think the attraction is the visceral fantasy. Most of us would not really want the situation handled that way, but we like to think about it. It feeds a certain wish for vengeance best handled between book covers.
There was a period early in the book where I felt the pace lagged. There was another so implausible that I found myself unable to buy the premise even in the interest of a good chuckle. (When concealed in bushes in the dark directly below the window of someone they are spying on, and while able to hear the entire conversation in the room they peer into, Stella and another character have a nonessential, several-pages-long conversation and no one in the room even slightly suspects that they are out there. Really?)
A couple of my favorite moments were the restaurant's piggy Easter decorations, and the moment when Stella finds someone she has been looking for is being held captive by bunglers. She walks in and says with dismay, "Oh for fuck's sake! You call this any kind of restraint?"
I'm not giving away any more of the fun bits. If this sounds like the type of book you might enjoy, then you should find a copy and read it.
April 26, 2012
Small town vigilante, Stella Hardesty, returns for a third installment in Sophie Littlefield's unique series of a women fighting back against domestic abuse and other manner of wrong doings. Brandishing a 'take-no-prisioners' attitude, a curvaceous sidekick, and a weapons arsenal sure to blush than bloody, Stella, is one hell of a women - get on her wrong side and you'll the wrath of the finer sex like never before.
Stella's latest case sees her momentarily assume the role of victim (but you know she's not going to let that be!) after an old town acquaintance returns with pictures of Stella 'working'. Soon enough Stella's knee deep in murder, vengeance, jealously, and an escort service ruled with an iron first, all the while being under suspicion of local law enforcement (even her relationship with Goat comes under fire).
'A Bad Day For Scandal' has its moments of action and true to form Stella Hardesty at her hardened witty best while at others straying away from the plot to focus on Stella's family (Noelle, and extended) and her budding relationship with Goat (and to an extent, barman BJ). While a nice side bar, I would've liked to see more action as evidenced in 'A Bad Day For Pretty'. That said, when the action came, Stella and sidekick Chrissy sure bought the pain!
A quick entertaining read that holds no punches, Stella is as a unique protagonist you're likely to find in genre fiction with a purpose so full of honestly and a sense of community it'll warm even the coldest heart. There is so much potential for this series - as always I look forward for the next installment (that being 'A Bad Day For Mercy' due out in June 2012). If you're after a refreshing revamp of the detective/crime genre, look no further than this series. 4 stars.
Stella's latest case sees her momentarily assume the role of victim (but you know she's not going to let that be!) after an old town acquaintance returns with pictures of Stella 'working'. Soon enough Stella's knee deep in murder, vengeance, jealously, and an escort service ruled with an iron first, all the while being under suspicion of local law enforcement (even her relationship with Goat comes under fire).
'A Bad Day For Scandal' has its moments of action and true to form Stella Hardesty at her hardened witty best while at others straying away from the plot to focus on Stella's family (Noelle, and extended) and her budding relationship with Goat (and to an extent, barman BJ). While a nice side bar, I would've liked to see more action as evidenced in 'A Bad Day For Pretty'. That said, when the action came, Stella and sidekick Chrissy sure bought the pain!
A quick entertaining read that holds no punches, Stella is as a unique protagonist you're likely to find in genre fiction with a purpose so full of honestly and a sense of community it'll warm even the coldest heart. There is so much potential for this series - as always I look forward for the next installment (that being 'A Bad Day For Mercy' due out in June 2012). If you're after a refreshing revamp of the detective/crime genre, look no further than this series. 4 stars.
June 16, 2019
First time reading a book in this series instead of listening to the audiobook, and it definitely took a little something away. I’ve always wondered if that would be the case. There are certain books/series I started out on with the audiobooks, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it any other way, because ... it would just be all wrong. The voices become very set as these characters, and I just couldn’t see it any other way. So, there are certain series which I will only ever experience aurally. The problem with that is my library stopped stocking the audiobook version of this series after the first two books. And I’m too cheap to buy Audible versions. So I gave the regular book a shot. And, you know...it was good and entertaining. Funny and strong. I’m still hooked on the series. But yeah...it’s not the same. I missed the voices. I might just have to spend the money to get the fourth one on Audible. Damn it.
August 29, 2023
Stella Hardesty’s life is just cruising along. Noelle, Stella’s daughter, is back home and happy, albeit making a major life choice that makes Stella take some deep breaths. And Chrissy, Stella’s employee at the sewing center, is getting along (somewhat) with Chrissy’s crazy, gun-toting family. But where or where had Priss Porter, Prosper’s notorious big-city wannabe gone to? And Liman, Priss’ is missing also.
August 8, 2017
I was really disappointed with this book. I've read the first two in the series and loved them, about a woman who teaches lessons to abusive men. But this one seemed to be trying too hard to be funny and witty and clever, and I didn't enjoy it at all, and probably won't read any more in this series.
July 7, 2019
This was a fun, quick read. Nothing spectacular, just what you want on a hot day. Quick and fun. I've never read anything in this series before and will probably read more when I'm taking a break between heavier stuff.
August 15, 2017
I don't know if I wasn't in the mood for this book or if it was the writing but it looks my interest and I eventually stopped reading.
October 27, 2017
Third one! Stella does not disappoint.
February 10, 2018
A light, entertaining read with a purpose.
October 5, 2018
Definitely not as good as the first two.
July 15, 2018
When is this series going to be made for television?!?!
September 2, 2019
Getting a little ridiculous, but I’ll finish the series
December 11, 2019
These are quick and fun fiction/ mystery. I'll be finishing the series
June 5, 2021
Love her books so fun and spunky.
December 17, 2023
I like the main character and the supporting. Breezy read.
August 31, 2024
I am going to say it was okay read. It took me forever to read it . It was just okay for me.
May 24, 2025
Okay for a beach read...not really stellar!
June 20, 2025
It was ok. Some things really didn’t make sense and didn’t really move the characters along.
March 6, 2017
It's part of a series it looks like. Kind of a spoof type read. I found myself hurrying through it. Not my style of reading I guess, there were a couple funny moments. Wouldn't search for more of this series to read.
October 1, 2013
Best yet in the series!
This Stella Hardesty book was different from the others: the "villain" is a woman, not a man. And Stella is neck-deep in what happened to Priss - the girl from their small rural Missouri town who got what she wanted by her smarts and wily ways of blackmailing or somehow getting rid of the competition. Priss hasn't changed all that much, she's just wearing fancier clothes and driving fancier cars.
Priss interrupts a small party at Stella's house - just when Sheriff "Goat" Jones might be gonna kiss her, too! - with a phone call to hire Stella. She makes Stella an offer she can't refuse to the tune of $10K. Stella's not at all sure that she's willing to work for Priss, but she's curious enough to find out what the job is all about. Turns out, Priss has a body in her trunk and wants Stella to take care of the disposal. When Stella tells her to take care of her own disposal, Priss shows her pictures... pictures that show Stella standing over one of her previous client's husband with a ball-ping hammer in her hand; and the guy is tied up with a look of unmistakable terror on his face and obvious signs of a beating. Priss tells Stella that she's got a bunch more photos of Stella's "hobby" on a flash drive and won't hesitate to mess up her relationship with the Sheriff if Stella doesn't decide to take the job.
But Stella decides to call Priss's bluff, and she walks away. Except Priss and her brother Limon both go missing hours later. And Goat is furious, calling Stella to ask why the heck her fingerprints are all over the scene if Stella wasn't at Limon's house. So Stella and Chrissy investigate in their usual style, that includes Chrissy's latest "training moments" of breaking and entering.
It's tons of laughs and a few cringes. And interesting phone calls from past clients about bodies in ponds and female judges who hire "escorts" and bring them to baby showers... judges who also hire thugs to search Priss's place and her brother Limon's place in search of other flash drives with blackmail pictures on them.
No one and nothing is ever quite what he or she or it seems... and that's the beauty of Stella's world of vigilante justice. Her daughter Noelle is working through her latest relationship with another woman, and Stella's doing her best to be supportive and not a fuddy-duddy about her daughter possibly being a lesbian. In her heart, she only wants Noelle to be happy; but Stella has to wonder if small town Missouri is ready to open it's minds and hearts to accept her daughter.
In the romance department, Stella's rethinking what happens when Goat finally gets wise to her antics. So BJ, the guy who owns the bar and has a thing for Stella, gets into the picture, too. Is there a smack-down between Goat and BJ in the future? From the next book's description, it's possible! Just hoping to see some more action between Stella and Goat. It's sweet and hot at the same time.
This Stella Hardesty book was different from the others: the "villain" is a woman, not a man. And Stella is neck-deep in what happened to Priss - the girl from their small rural Missouri town who got what she wanted by her smarts and wily ways of blackmailing or somehow getting rid of the competition. Priss hasn't changed all that much, she's just wearing fancier clothes and driving fancier cars.
Priss interrupts a small party at Stella's house - just when Sheriff "Goat" Jones might be gonna kiss her, too! - with a phone call to hire Stella. She makes Stella an offer she can't refuse to the tune of $10K. Stella's not at all sure that she's willing to work for Priss, but she's curious enough to find out what the job is all about. Turns out, Priss has a body in her trunk and wants Stella to take care of the disposal. When Stella tells her to take care of her own disposal, Priss shows her pictures... pictures that show Stella standing over one of her previous client's husband with a ball-ping hammer in her hand; and the guy is tied up with a look of unmistakable terror on his face and obvious signs of a beating. Priss tells Stella that she's got a bunch more photos of Stella's "hobby" on a flash drive and won't hesitate to mess up her relationship with the Sheriff if Stella doesn't decide to take the job.
But Stella decides to call Priss's bluff, and she walks away. Except Priss and her brother Limon both go missing hours later. And Goat is furious, calling Stella to ask why the heck her fingerprints are all over the scene if Stella wasn't at Limon's house. So Stella and Chrissy investigate in their usual style, that includes Chrissy's latest "training moments" of breaking and entering.
It's tons of laughs and a few cringes. And interesting phone calls from past clients about bodies in ponds and female judges who hire "escorts" and bring them to baby showers... judges who also hire thugs to search Priss's place and her brother Limon's place in search of other flash drives with blackmail pictures on them.
No one and nothing is ever quite what he or she or it seems... and that's the beauty of Stella's world of vigilante justice. Her daughter Noelle is working through her latest relationship with another woman, and Stella's doing her best to be supportive and not a fuddy-duddy about her daughter possibly being a lesbian. In her heart, she only wants Noelle to be happy; but Stella has to wonder if small town Missouri is ready to open it's minds and hearts to accept her daughter.
In the romance department, Stella's rethinking what happens when Goat finally gets wise to her antics. So BJ, the guy who owns the bar and has a thing for Stella, gets into the picture, too. Is there a smack-down between Goat and BJ in the future? From the next book's description, it's possible! Just hoping to see some more action between Stella and Goat. It's sweet and hot at the same time.
February 6, 2015
There is a scene in Casablanca between the head of police, Louie, and the nightclub owner, Rick.
“Why CASABLANCA?’
‘I came here for the waters.’
‘The waters? What waters? We’re in the desert.’
‘I was misinformed.’”
I came to A Bad Day for Scandal for a mystery by an author, Sophie Littlefield, who has won or been nominated for many of the highest awards for mystery writers: The Edgar, Anthony, Crimespree...etc.
I did so having read some favorable comments by Marilyn Stasio in the NY Times. I was misinformed. For me, this story of rural Missouri fixer, Stella Hardesty, didn't make it.
Stella is Littlefield's go to woman in a series of books based on the premise that a woman may need some help extricating herself from an abusive relationship. Stella had to do so with her own husband, and now she helps others in need. She runs a little sewing machine shop in Prosper, Missouri, but can't often be found there. Her life is taken up with the challenges and traumas of a middle-age widow. "Another entire year had passed without her getting laid. Her daughter seemed headed for an epic heartbreak. She could barely afford to keep Johnnie (Walker) in the cupboard, much less fix everything that was broken around the house."
Much of her time is apparently spent responding to emergencies from abused women. Stella either finds forceful techniques to get these men to mend their ways, or finds ways to remove said men from any opportunity to abuse. Yes, this is justice outside the law. Everyone in Prosper seems to know about this second vocation. And this poses a lot of problems including her romance with local sheriff, "Goat" Jones.
In this story, Stella turns down a job only to find that bodies are missing or popping up all around Prosper with a connection to her. She has to find the reasons for that, and, would you believe, it might be tied to a male escort service? There are no great insights and minimal character development for less than three dimensional characters. The read is fast-paced and our heroine is left ready for the next adventure.
Some will find this excellent beach reading. They will likely have one or two Janet Evonovich books near it in the beach bag. Enjoy
“Why CASABLANCA?’
‘I came here for the waters.’
‘The waters? What waters? We’re in the desert.’
‘I was misinformed.’”
I came to A Bad Day for Scandal for a mystery by an author, Sophie Littlefield, who has won or been nominated for many of the highest awards for mystery writers: The Edgar, Anthony, Crimespree...etc.
I did so having read some favorable comments by Marilyn Stasio in the NY Times. I was misinformed. For me, this story of rural Missouri fixer, Stella Hardesty, didn't make it.
Stella is Littlefield's go to woman in a series of books based on the premise that a woman may need some help extricating herself from an abusive relationship. Stella had to do so with her own husband, and now she helps others in need. She runs a little sewing machine shop in Prosper, Missouri, but can't often be found there. Her life is taken up with the challenges and traumas of a middle-age widow. "Another entire year had passed without her getting laid. Her daughter seemed headed for an epic heartbreak. She could barely afford to keep Johnnie (Walker) in the cupboard, much less fix everything that was broken around the house."
Much of her time is apparently spent responding to emergencies from abused women. Stella either finds forceful techniques to get these men to mend their ways, or finds ways to remove said men from any opportunity to abuse. Yes, this is justice outside the law. Everyone in Prosper seems to know about this second vocation. And this poses a lot of problems including her romance with local sheriff, "Goat" Jones.
In this story, Stella turns down a job only to find that bodies are missing or popping up all around Prosper with a connection to her. She has to find the reasons for that, and, would you believe, it might be tied to a male escort service? There are no great insights and minimal character development for less than three dimensional characters. The read is fast-paced and our heroine is left ready for the next adventure.
Some will find this excellent beach reading. They will likely have one or two Janet Evonovich books near it in the beach bag. Enjoy
June 14, 2012
Poor Stella Hardesty. She burst out on the mystery world in 2009’s A Bad Day for Sorry and won a passel of awards from a bunch of city clickers who were taken (as was I) by her fresh voice and setting. (I gave it four stars mostly because of the nearly out-of-control ending.) Then came A Bad Day for Sorry (2010): her story was a little messier, herself a bit less unusual for a heroine (those workouts and newly-found gun smarts, I reckon), the plot more convoluted than quirky. But Stella was still good company, and a body can have an off day sometimes.
Now with A Bad Day for Scandal (2011), I can’t ignore it any more: Stella’s been rode hard and put up wet.
I’d been afraid Stella would be done wrong by the third-book whammy. She’s started making her own problems (the same thing that happened to Kinsey Millhone and Stephanie Plum); much of her tearing around in this story is motivated by her attempt to keep from her heartthrob Sheriff Goat Jones secrets much worse than the personal doings she’s protecting. Much of the action would fade away if she sat down with her almost-sweetheart over coffee and pie and just said, “Now, look here, Goat…” a perfectly valid and doable option for her if she’d only take it. The crime at the center of the story never makes a whole lot of sense, and the culprit comes out of the back forty with scarcely a how-do-you-do. Stella spends way too much time fussing over her daughter Nicole—never the most interesting character—while Chrissy (a ray of piss and vinegar whenever she appears) is mostly put out to pasture. And don’t get me started about the already broke-down necking interruptus trope between her and Goat, or the red-herring “rival” to Goat who’s truly no such thing.
I do take a shine to Stella and hope she got to put up her feet a while before jumping into this year’s A Bad Day for Mercy. Maybe she can set a spell with Sophie Littlefield and explain that things move slower in the country, and that if she gets more time, Stella might scare up a few more awards and make sure the guests don’t leave the party too soon.
Now with A Bad Day for Scandal (2011), I can’t ignore it any more: Stella’s been rode hard and put up wet.
I’d been afraid Stella would be done wrong by the third-book whammy. She’s started making her own problems (the same thing that happened to Kinsey Millhone and Stephanie Plum); much of her tearing around in this story is motivated by her attempt to keep from her heartthrob Sheriff Goat Jones secrets much worse than the personal doings she’s protecting. Much of the action would fade away if she sat down with her almost-sweetheart over coffee and pie and just said, “Now, look here, Goat…” a perfectly valid and doable option for her if she’d only take it. The crime at the center of the story never makes a whole lot of sense, and the culprit comes out of the back forty with scarcely a how-do-you-do. Stella spends way too much time fussing over her daughter Nicole—never the most interesting character—while Chrissy (a ray of piss and vinegar whenever she appears) is mostly put out to pasture. And don’t get me started about the already broke-down necking interruptus trope between her and Goat, or the red-herring “rival” to Goat who’s truly no such thing.
I do take a shine to Stella and hope she got to put up her feet a while before jumping into this year’s A Bad Day for Mercy. Maybe she can set a spell with Sophie Littlefield and explain that things move slower in the country, and that if she gets more time, Stella might scare up a few more awards and make sure the guests don’t leave the party too soon.
August 15, 2012
Sophie LIttlefield is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Her protagonist, Stella Hardesty, is so deliciously beyond the limits of what's allowed in good girl behavior -- but in the BEST ways. And I love seeing abusive schmucks get what they deserve.
Having said that, I dragged my heels buying this book. I just didn't believe Littlefield could jump the formula. She'd written two books about Stella beating up pricks to teach them a lesson and then nearly dying in the process. And they were good! Heck, they were wonderful. But I was done. I wasn't interested in another variation of the same theme (yes, I get bored easily).
Then I had a really lousy year, personally ... yadda, yadda, yadda ... and I desperately wanted both a FUN read (unadulterated FUN, that is) and a sense that a woman can regain power in a man's world. So I bought both A Bad Day for Scandal and A Bad Day for Mercy ... and read them in about a day and a half each.
Stella is a fabulous character: principled and noble, but not above bending the law when the spirit of the thing is better served by ignoring the letter.
So it's not literature. It's a fabulous read, and an important message to young girls in a country where women's rights (and their personal power) seem to be eroding every day.
You rock, Sophie! Keep cranking out more Stella. I'll keep reading.
Having said that, I dragged my heels buying this book. I just didn't believe Littlefield could jump the formula. She'd written two books about Stella beating up pricks to teach them a lesson and then nearly dying in the process. And they were good! Heck, they were wonderful. But I was done. I wasn't interested in another variation of the same theme (yes, I get bored easily).
Then I had a really lousy year, personally ... yadda, yadda, yadda ... and I desperately wanted both a FUN read (unadulterated FUN, that is) and a sense that a woman can regain power in a man's world. So I bought both A Bad Day for Scandal and A Bad Day for Mercy ... and read them in about a day and a half each.
Stella is a fabulous character: principled and noble, but not above bending the law when the spirit of the thing is better served by ignoring the letter.
So it's not literature. It's a fabulous read, and an important message to young girls in a country where women's rights (and their personal power) seem to be eroding every day.
You rock, Sophie! Keep cranking out more Stella. I'll keep reading.
July 29, 2016
Stella Hardesty is middle America personified, living outside of Kansas City in small town Prosper, and she takes no crap from anyone. She freed herself from an abusive marriage (OK, maybe she killed him) and she has since helped other women who had similar problems. This time around she is approached by someone she doesn't like, who tries to coerce her into helping her dump a body. Stella doesen't take well to arm twisting. The situation with nasty Priss Porter gets worse, and Stella needs to sort out what is going on before her heartthrob, Goat Jones, gets too involved. When you are working the shady side of the street it isn't wise to have a crush on the local sheriff.
I enjoyed this heroine, who is much older than the usual lady, and never a damsel in distress. She and her sidekick Chrissy speak a colloquial English and don't put on airs. This is not a cosy mystery, as there are lots of dangerous, risky things going on that cosy readers usually avoid, but the folksy character are a refreshing change from the suave and incredibly brilliant heroes and heroines usual in thrillers and detective mysteries.
I enjoyed this heroine, who is much older than the usual lady, and never a damsel in distress. She and her sidekick Chrissy speak a colloquial English and don't put on airs. This is not a cosy mystery, as there are lots of dangerous, risky things going on that cosy readers usually avoid, but the folksy character are a refreshing change from the suave and incredibly brilliant heroes and heroines usual in thrillers and detective mysteries.
September 27, 2013
I am in love with this series, and bummed that there are only 4 novels so far - although it looks like there may be a 5th in e-reader format only. Alas, I still rock it old-school and read actual books. This may be the series that pushes me to make the change to modern technology.
I find Stella & Co. utterly charming and entertaining. I don't find the mysteries themselves to be all that gripping, but it doesn't matter because I love seeing what Stella and her friends are going to do next. I am not typically a fan of romance novels either, but I do really like the whole Stella & Goat storyline. Stella is written as such a vivid, relatable character that I can't help but root for her and laugh at the mishaps that come up between her and that man. All the characters have distinct personalities and have come to life in technicolor in my head.
I just finished this 3rd installment. I'm waiting with baited breath for number 4 to come in the mail - I am having a really hard time being able to read anything else right now.
I find Stella & Co. utterly charming and entertaining. I don't find the mysteries themselves to be all that gripping, but it doesn't matter because I love seeing what Stella and her friends are going to do next. I am not typically a fan of romance novels either, but I do really like the whole Stella & Goat storyline. Stella is written as such a vivid, relatable character that I can't help but root for her and laugh at the mishaps that come up between her and that man. All the characters have distinct personalities and have come to life in technicolor in my head.
I just finished this 3rd installment. I'm waiting with baited breath for number 4 to come in the mail - I am having a really hard time being able to read anything else right now.
February 13, 2014
Funny amateur-sleuth series with a bit of romance.... I thought maybe the Sheriff would get in this book a touch more than the first ones. Stella needs to get her groove on!!!! Always something going on when Stella is in need to solve a relationship problem but when blackmailing shenanigans touch her world, Stella fights back only to have another problem arise as bodies are being left.. suggesting she might have done the killing. Will Sheriff Goat and Stella get their relationship off the ground, will he tolerate her involvement in future petty crimes helping other women get rid of their troubles? One can only imagine the madcap race it will be for Stella and her co-hort Chrissy as they tackle future cases. Add in a daughter who is in the middle of a relationship realization and the neighborhood boy, Todd, who Stella is partially raising.... life is messy and sometimes a hoot in Prosper, Missouri.
July 15, 2011
I am a huge fan of this series! I love that Stella Hardesty is a very realistic middle-aged woman with imperfections galore yet at the same time has overcome incredible obstacles to become an amazing take charge woman. As a very discrete vigilante who sets about pointing abusive men in the right direction, she is a heroine to all women! In her latest adventure Stella is dealing with a former Prosper resident, Priss Porter who calls upon Stella for help then disappears thus the adventure begins! The characters in these novels and in particular Stella's extended family and friends are realistic and fun to read about!
Highly recommend A Bad Day for Scandal as well as Ms. Littlefield's two earlier Stella adventures in the Bad Day series.
Highly recommend A Bad Day for Scandal as well as Ms. Littlefield's two earlier Stella adventures in the Bad Day series.
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