Divergent Paths (Bradley's Story) : A Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery

by Terri Reid

Bradley Alden was at the end of his rope. He'd destroyed his career, lost his family, and was on the verge of bankruptcy. He had nowhere to go but up. When he was offered the job as Chief of Police for the Freeport Police Department, he jumped at the chance to get his life back on the straight and narrow path. Little did he realize that this decision would change his whole life and open him up to things he never could have imagined.
This new Mary O’Reilly story is Bradley’s point of view of the events in Loose Ends—A Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mystery (Book 1). So, please don’t read this book until you’ve read “Loose Ends”, or some things might not make total sense to you.
Divergent Paths is its own story—and you will get to know Bradley so much better and even get a different perspective on the events happening in Loose Ends—but the two books really work so much better together.
I really hope you enjoy this book. I really loved writing it.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2024

About the author

Terri Reid is the author of the Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mysteries. An indie author, Reid uploaded her first book “Loose Ends” in August 2010. By the end of 2012, “Loose Ends” had sold over 82,000 copies and, as of the writing of this bio, was the number one bestselling book in Amazon’s ranking of Ghost Stories in the Book/Literature & Fiction/Genre Fiction/Horror/Ghosts section and the number two in the same area in the Kindle eBooks section. She has eight other books in the Mary O’Reilly Series and has enjoyed Top Rated and Hot New Release status for many of them in the Women Sleuths category through Amazon US. Her books have been translated into Spanish and Portuguese and are also now available through CreateSpace and Amazon in print versions. She is also working on an audiobook for “Loose Ends.”
Reid has been quoted in several books about the self-publishing industry, including “Let’s Get Digital” by David Gaughran and “Interviews with Indie Authors: Top Tips from Successful Self-Published Authors” by Claire and Tim Ridgway. She was also honored to have some of her works included in A. J. Abbiati’s book “The NORTAV Method for Writers—The Secrets to Constructing Prose Like the Pros.” She has also had the distinct privilege of guest blogging for Joe Konrath.
Reid is from Northwest Illinois, near the town of Freeport, the home of her fictional characters. Her background is in marketing and public relations. She is married, the mother of seven children, and the grandmother of twenty-three.
She has her grandchildren convinced that she talks to fairies and animals - and they talk back.

Reviews

[Lindsey Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a retelling of book one of the Mary O’Reilly paranormal mysteries series but from Bradley’s perspective.
It’s been 10 years since I read Loose Ends and I’d forgotten a lot of the details which made this just as exciting as reading it from Mary’s perspective the first time around. Even knowing that everything will work out ok for the people we have all grown to love over the 20 main books in the series it still didn’t make the book any less exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

Terri Reid is a fantastic author and I’m always excited when I see another book has been released. (More Mary stories please Terri 😉)

[Amy Marnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!! I loved having a different perspective of Mary and Bradley’s story. Even though we knew the story through Mary’s eyes from Loose Ends, it was still exciting and entertaining. I hope there will be more from Bradley’s point of view in the future.

[Alicia Palpallatoc · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my humble opinion, Terri Reid cannot write a bad book if she tried! All of her books, whether it’s about Mary O’Reilly and her brothers, the Willoughby Witches or LJ and Kyle and their friends in Julep, MA, each book adds to my continued enjoyment of her books. And I’ve discovered a bonus - audio books!! Sometimes I will drive for a couple of hours just to listen her books. She is the best!!

[ANNE MATTY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the beginning

I felt like I was visiting with family. I almost forgot about the way Mary and Bradley met. It was really nice to get Bradley's side of how things went. I only hope we don't have to wait too long to see what the future holds.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect book for Mary O’Reilly fans

Loving the Mary O’Reilly books as much as I have, this “prequel” was the icing on the cake. Before there was Mary & Bradley, this story tells us how they met. It was delightful read!

[Thompson615 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

Holy cow a new Mary O’Reilly book! I have really missed my favorite series. This book was about Bradley becoming Police Chief and meeting Mary, and stumbling into a case with her. It was so good I read it in one sitting! Please Terri Reid give us some more Mary books!

[Karen Milner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved that she flipped the point of view.

I own all of the original series, so this was like an extra cherry on top of the sundae. I cannot wait for the next book!

[Tonya Hodgson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I REALLY wanted to like this story more than I did but I just didn’t. This is a retelling of Loose Ends from Bradley’s point of view. I love Loose Ends and have reread it several times so I have no clue why I didn’t enjoy this story more. I do recommend. It just wasn’t my cup of tea which doesn’t mean it won’t be yours.

6/13/24 After sleeping on it I figured out what MY problem with the book was. It isn’t really a mystery anymore. We don’t get the bread crumbs and the case knowledge we do with Loose Ends. And while I enjoyed Bradley’s point of view this has WAY too much of the killers point of view. I usually don’t mind this type of book and probably as a standalone I would have enjoyed it much more.

[Angelique Foss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bradley's Story

After having read the Mary O'Reilly Series, it was nice to gain a little insight to what Bradley Alden experienced when he met Mary. This book follows Bradley's journey about his missing wife and his search for answers. It also shows his struggles of whether or not ghosts are real.
This is another well written book from Terri Reid bringing the paranormal and a murder investigation together.
Thank you Terri Reid for showing that ghosts aren't just for scary movies.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this is a retelling of the first Mary O’Reilly book, but from Bradley’s point of view, I went back and reread Loose Ends. It was fun having some of the blank spots filled in by repeating sections of the story but adding info from Bradley. The villain was also given a more prominent role with more of his thoughts and actions highlighted. Overall, a fun revisiting of the opening story to this series.

[Katie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Divergent

I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for more Mary O'Reilly! I know for a fact that I've read and re-read every single story more than twice! Exciting story from Bradley point of view, Mary certainly held her own in this story as well as all the others! Wonderful series, please don't let it be so long before we get more from Mary and Bradley! Absolutely love this series!

[Dianne Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was wonderful, great to read about Bradley’s side of things.

[Christine Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m hoping she continues the series in the point of view of Bradley. It’s nice rereading the stories from a different perspective.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was like reading Loose Ends, which I just reread. I think I would have liked this more if I hadn't just reread Loose Ends.

[Anne Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANOTHER GREAT MARY O’REILLY STORY!

I have read the entire series and now this. It made me really miss all the characters. I want more!!! Please keep going!

[Teresa Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bradley was a goner

It seems Bradley was a goner for Mary long before he realized it. It was fun to see the start of the series from his perspective

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this side of the story. It is fun to see his perspective.
Great as usual.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Terri Reid has written an enthralling book and it was a nice touch to read Bradley’s side of the story.

As always Terri’s books didn’t disappoint. Well worth a read.