Good News, Bad News in Aussie Readers

Feb 06, 2013 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-are, provided-by-publisher, aussie-author

Good News, Bad News is the second entertaining book by Maggie Groff featuring investigative journalist Scout Davis. Though taking a break after her last case left her with broken ribs, Scout is intrigued when Hermoine Longfellow, one of Byron Bay's more eccentric characters, approaches her with a recent news article that includes a photo of her sister's husband, a man presumed drowned more than thirty years ago. A little digging suggests Nemony O'Leary nee Longfellow was the victim of a conman a
Good News, Bad News is the second entertaining book by Maggie Groff featuring investigative journalist Scout Davis. Though taking a break after her last case left her with broken ribs, Scout is intrigued when Hermoine Longfellow, one of Byron Bay's more eccentric characters, approaches her with a recent news article that includes a photo of her sister's husband, a man presumed drowned more than thirty years ago. A little digging suggests Nemony O'Leary nee Longfellow was the victim of a conman and Scout is on his trail.

Once again, Scout flirts with danger, disaster and romance in this entertaining contemporary mystery. As she traces Nemony's wayward husband, doing her best to avoid the abrasive Hermoine, she begins to develop a theory involving bigamy, insurance fraud and deception. I really like the way in which Groff allows Scout to unearth the clues that connect the past to the present through realistic investigation - trawling through paperwork, browsing Google and cultivating sources.

In Mad Men, Bad Girls and the Guerilla Knitters Institute (now retitled simply Mad Men, Bad Girls) Scout finally succumbed to the attentions of handsome police detective Rafe Kelly but with the return of her long time lover imminent she has to decide what, or rather who, she wants. Paired with Scout's sister's suspicions her husband is having an affair, Groff's subplots add interest and help to round out Scout's character. I like that Scout is so well grounded in her family, with her sister, nephews and daughters making regular appearances while the yarn bombing group (GKI) and her quid pro quo relationship with restaurant owner Miles illustrates her ties to the community.

I didn't think Good News, Bad News had quite the same fast pace or sense of danger that Mad Men, Bad Girls had. Most of the action is condensed into the last chapter or so when Scout travels to Gull Island to get the final piece of evidence needed for her story, however, there is a good balance between lighthearted moments and the more serious themes.

An engaging read to accompany a good cup of tea and a sunny afternoon, Good News, Bad News is an entertaining mystery with authentic characters. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review