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The Friday Night Mystery Club #4
Wednesday Wicked Ways
From bestselling cozy mystery author Joanna Campbell Slan comes a thrilling new installment in the Friday Night Mystery Club series, featuring a group of female amateur sleuths.
Decatur, Illinois/1986-- In this small Midwestern town, everyone has something to hide, from Japanese business interests eyeing a piece of property to an angry sharpshooter harboring a murderous obsession. Meanwhile, working women struggle to make their way in a man’s world, and their primary opposition might well be…other women.
Cragan Collins has a lot on her a demanding job as an advertising rep, a complicated love life, and an upcoming public speaking contest. But when a shooter targets a performer at one of her ad accounts, Fast Freddy's Gentleman's Club, and leaves a young dancer critically injured, Cragan and her mystery-solving friends spring into action. They suspect that Pru, the club's star performer and their housemate, may be the real target -- and the danger to her is far from over.
This page-turning cozy mystery features female amateur sleuths who love reading mysteries. The book blends humor, romance, and suspense while tackling themes of workplace equality and acceptance.
Perfect for fans of Wendy Delaney, Elaine Viets, and Tonya Kappes, or anyone who enjoys mysteries with a side helping of social commentary, a smidgeon of humor, and a dash of romance.
This is Book 4 in the Friday Night Mystery Club series, but can be read as a standalone novel.
Decatur, Illinois/1986-- In this small Midwestern town, everyone has something to hide, from Japanese business interests eyeing a piece of property to an angry sharpshooter harboring a murderous obsession. Meanwhile, working women struggle to make their way in a man’s world, and their primary opposition might well be…other women.
Cragan Collins has a lot on her a demanding job as an advertising rep, a complicated love life, and an upcoming public speaking contest. But when a shooter targets a performer at one of her ad accounts, Fast Freddy's Gentleman's Club, and leaves a young dancer critically injured, Cragan and her mystery-solving friends spring into action. They suspect that Pru, the club's star performer and their housemate, may be the real target -- and the danger to her is far from over.
This page-turning cozy mystery features female amateur sleuths who love reading mysteries. The book blends humor, romance, and suspense while tackling themes of workplace equality and acceptance.
Perfect for fans of Wendy Delaney, Elaine Viets, and Tonya Kappes, or anyone who enjoys mysteries with a side helping of social commentary, a smidgeon of humor, and a dash of romance.
This is Book 4 in the Friday Night Mystery Club series, but can be read as a standalone novel.
- GenresMystery
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 23, 2025
39 people are currently reading
1865 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Campbell Slan
165 books859 followersNational bestselling and award-winning author Joanna Campbell Slan was born in Jacksonville, Florida, but she grew up in a small town in Indiana. After graduating from Ball State University with a degree in journalism, she worked as a newspaper reporter, a newspaper ad salesperson, a television talk show host, a college teacher, a public relations professional, and a motivational speaker. In that capacity, she was named by Sharing Ideas Magazine as “one of the top 25 speakers in the world.”
Slan's work has appeared in five of the New York Times Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one of those became a television show. She is the author of nearly 80 books, nonfiction and fiction, including Death of a Schoolgirl, which won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.
Joanna's personal essays have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and one was made into a television program on the Pax Network. The college textbook Joanna wrote—Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience—has been praised as an invaluable resource by Benjamin Netanyahu’s speechwriter and endorsed by Toastmasters, International.
RT Book Reviews has called Joanna “one of mystery’s rising stars.” Her first novel—Paper, Scissors, Death—was an Agatha Award finalist. It features Kiki Lowenstein, a spunky single mom who lives in St. Louis. The sixth book in that series will be released Summer 2013.
Kirkus Reviews has said, “Slan’s mysteries are most valuable for the well-developed characters and the issues they raise.” RT Book Reviews has said, “Kiki is so darn entertaining that she’ll keep readers hooked.” A series of short stories featuring Kiki are available on Kindle.
Joanna’s newest series—The Jane Eyre Chronicles—began with Death of a Schoolgirl (Berkley) and continues with the release of Death of a Dowager. The series features Charlotte Brontë’s classic heroine Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth.
As “Lila Dare,” Joanna has penned the fourth book in the Southern Beauty Shop series—Wave Good-bye.
Joanna is married to David Slan. The Slans live on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Website: www.JoannaSlan.com
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbel...
Twitter: @JoannaSlan
Slan's work has appeared in five of the New York Times Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and one of those became a television show. She is the author of nearly 80 books, nonfiction and fiction, including Death of a Schoolgirl, which won the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.
Joanna's personal essays have appeared in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and one was made into a television program on the Pax Network. The college textbook Joanna wrote—Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience—has been praised as an invaluable resource by Benjamin Netanyahu’s speechwriter and endorsed by Toastmasters, International.
RT Book Reviews has called Joanna “one of mystery’s rising stars.” Her first novel—Paper, Scissors, Death—was an Agatha Award finalist. It features Kiki Lowenstein, a spunky single mom who lives in St. Louis. The sixth book in that series will be released Summer 2013.
Kirkus Reviews has said, “Slan’s mysteries are most valuable for the well-developed characters and the issues they raise.” RT Book Reviews has said, “Kiki is so darn entertaining that she’ll keep readers hooked.” A series of short stories featuring Kiki are available on Kindle.
Joanna’s newest series—The Jane Eyre Chronicles—began with Death of a Schoolgirl (Berkley) and continues with the release of Death of a Dowager. The series features Charlotte Brontë’s classic heroine Jane Eyre as an amateur sleuth.
As “Lila Dare,” Joanna has penned the fourth book in the Southern Beauty Shop series—Wave Good-bye.
Joanna is married to David Slan. The Slans live on Jupiter Island, Florida.
Website: www.JoannaSlan.com
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/JoannaCampbel...
Twitter: @JoannaSlan
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 1, 2025
This book took me back in time. I have always lived in Illinois. I went to college and grad school in downstate Illinois, in Macomb in the late 70’s and early 80’s. This book brought back lots of memories. I remembered what things were like back then at my first jobs and women’s rights back then. This book was well written with a wonderful heroine, Cragan Collins. I learned a lot about newspaper ad sales. Cragan had lots of bad luck with her boss and his treatment of her. Fortunately she had friends and support at work. In this book, a new supervisor is hired and she hates Cragan and purposely picks on her.The story revolves around a group of 4 women who have apartments in an old home. They became friends and start a club where they have dinner and drinks and discuss a book. After, things happened, they also discussed the murder and the implications. This story was about the shooting at Cragan’s best friend and neighbor Pru and her coworkers outside the gentlemen’s club they work at. The woman is taken to the hospital where it is discovered she leg is totally destroyed. It isn’t immediately clear that this was a murder attempt. After she tries to solve the mystery, she finds herself in a jam. Cragan also has bad luck with men. Her ex husband is a creep and now, her former love has arrived in Decatur. He’s the new homicide detective. She has also become involved with her new supervisor and noticed oone of her new ad clients. When this was written, things were going well in the country for women since 1986. However, now in 2025, many of the women’s and minority rights have been stripped away by the republican regime.
I highly recommend reading this book. I love all Joanna’s books and this series is fabulous!
I highly recommend reading this book. I love all Joanna’s books and this series is fabulous!
April 13, 2025
Dancing 💃 and Prancing pregnant
Cragen get stuck in the middle again! What’s new?
When someone shoots one of the dancers at Fast Freddy’s, confusion ensues. No one knows why., who as supposed to be shot, or what exactly happened. The only thing Cragen knows is her friend Pru, whowho dances there, isn’t hurt. All they were doing was going out to catch the first snowflakes of the year.
Anthony, the owner of Fast Freddy’s men’s club, is beside himself. He takes great pride in protecting his girls. So he’s at a complete loss, as how to do that now.
With hardly any clues And a police department that is definitely misogynistic, who thinks that dancers are no more than whores.’s
Kevin, Cragen’s friend on the police department, get together with the Friday night mystery club, to see if they can help him figure it out. Since no one else will.
Do you think they’ll figure it out before somebody else gets killed? I sure hope so. What are your thoughts on women’s rights??? Now remember, well if you’ve been there This is the end of the 80s. Most men still felt That Women should be staying at home. And taking care of the babies. Not working. And definitely not working at an exotic club. Although the women get pay, which means whatever they’re doing it for they can do it faster. And a lot of them are going to school., Or paying off student loans, so it helps them.
Thank you for an eye opening book Ms. Slan. Some of your topics are always enlightening.
Can’t wait for the next one . 😀
Cragen get stuck in the middle again! What’s new?
When someone shoots one of the dancers at Fast Freddy’s, confusion ensues. No one knows why., who as supposed to be shot, or what exactly happened. The only thing Cragen knows is her friend Pru, whowho dances there, isn’t hurt. All they were doing was going out to catch the first snowflakes of the year.
Anthony, the owner of Fast Freddy’s men’s club, is beside himself. He takes great pride in protecting his girls. So he’s at a complete loss, as how to do that now.
With hardly any clues And a police department that is definitely misogynistic, who thinks that dancers are no more than whores.’s
Kevin, Cragen’s friend on the police department, get together with the Friday night mystery club, to see if they can help him figure it out. Since no one else will.
Do you think they’ll figure it out before somebody else gets killed? I sure hope so. What are your thoughts on women’s rights??? Now remember, well if you’ve been there This is the end of the 80s. Most men still felt That Women should be staying at home. And taking care of the babies. Not working. And definitely not working at an exotic club. Although the women get pay, which means whatever they’re doing it for they can do it faster. And a lot of them are going to school., Or paying off student loans, so it helps them.
Thank you for an eye opening book Ms. Slan. Some of your topics are always enlightening.
Can’t wait for the next one . 😀
April 4, 2025
Wednesday Wicked Ways is the fourth book in the Friday Night Mystery Club Series by Joanna Campbell Slan. The amateur sleuth is Cragan Collins, an advertising executive who is part of a club of mystery lovers who meet every Friday Night to chat about mysteries.
Wednesday Wicked Ways is a really great mix of mystery, humor, romance, and social commentary. I loved it!
This book is set in Decatur, Illinois in 1986.
Cragan and her friends (Pru, Zee, Rosie, and Winnie) are smart, independent women with jobs ranging from ad exec to dancer at a Gentleman's Club. In one way or another, they are all trying to make their way in a man's world.
The story reminds me (in the best ways) of the movie 9 to 5 because it gently shows how far women have come and how far there is still to go in society and the workplace.
Author Joanna Campbell Slan deftly weaves social commentary into the plot in clever ways that are always insightful and never preachy. It is the type of writing that makes you think and sticks with you afterward.
The mystery is also very good and kicks off quickly when a performer is attacked and horribly injured outside a club where Cragan's best friend Pru works.
Cragan, Pru, and their friends start asking questions and try to catch the culprit before someone else gets hurt. I enjoyed the investigation aspects and really liked the group approach to solving the mystery.
The climatic showdown was very dramatic and had me reading quickly to find out what was going to happen.
This is the first book I have read in the Friday Night Mystery Club Series. I had no problem jumping into the series and never felt lost at any point, so I think it can be read as a stand-alone. I did really like it, though, and have every intention of doubling back and reading books 1-3.
The Friday Night Mystery Club will appeal to anyone who likes the 80s era, female sleuths, and mysteries with found family.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced reader copy.
Wednesday Wicked Ways is a really great mix of mystery, humor, romance, and social commentary. I loved it!
This book is set in Decatur, Illinois in 1986.
Cragan and her friends (Pru, Zee, Rosie, and Winnie) are smart, independent women with jobs ranging from ad exec to dancer at a Gentleman's Club. In one way or another, they are all trying to make their way in a man's world.
The story reminds me (in the best ways) of the movie 9 to 5 because it gently shows how far women have come and how far there is still to go in society and the workplace.
Author Joanna Campbell Slan deftly weaves social commentary into the plot in clever ways that are always insightful and never preachy. It is the type of writing that makes you think and sticks with you afterward.
The mystery is also very good and kicks off quickly when a performer is attacked and horribly injured outside a club where Cragan's best friend Pru works.
Cragan, Pru, and their friends start asking questions and try to catch the culprit before someone else gets hurt. I enjoyed the investigation aspects and really liked the group approach to solving the mystery.
The climatic showdown was very dramatic and had me reading quickly to find out what was going to happen.
This is the first book I have read in the Friday Night Mystery Club Series. I had no problem jumping into the series and never felt lost at any point, so I think it can be read as a stand-alone. I did really like it, though, and have every intention of doubling back and reading books 1-3.
The Friday Night Mystery Club will appeal to anyone who likes the 80s era, female sleuths, and mysteries with found family.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced reader copy.
March 26, 2025
I loved the first book in the Joanna Campbell Slan's Friday Night Mystery Club series and that love has grown from book to book. I don't know if the series can get better, but for now Wednesday Wicked Ways is my favorite of the series. Cragan's life seems to reach a better balance as the friendships within the group strengthen and at work. Life at work there still is not fair even beyond the fact that even in the mid-1980's women are far from equal in the workforce and when things looked like they might improve, her boss ends up sticking around and bringing in a woman whose first assignment seems to be to get rid of Cragan. That problem seems a lot smaller when someone shoots at a group of exotic dancers including her friend, Pru. The police don't take much interest in the case, after all those women are just whores, so the Friday Night Mystery Club with one surprise addition decide to take on the case.
March 24, 2025
The book starts off with a bang, literally. The plot is full of suspense, a touch of humor, and loads of friendships. As always, the author’s characters are strong women learning their way in a world that wasn’t quite woman friendly. This is a great addition to the series, and could be read as a stand alone. Having said that, I think to truly appreciate the characters and settings the author has created within this series, you need to start with book one.
This review is entirely voluntary and reflects my personal opinions.
This review is entirely voluntary and reflects my personal opinions.
July 20, 2025
A bygone era depicted in Decatur, Illinois, is a reminder of how far women have come in terms of equality. A fictional story that includes public opinions and the norms of the time period.
One of the most surprising points made (of the many that Cragan illuminated in her speech) was pointing out the difference in pay between men and women at the newspaper. I love how Cragan handled the many stressful situations she faced, and usually had backup in place...just in case.
Yes this is a mystery, but it's so much more. It may be fiction, but it really is history as well.
One of the most surprising points made (of the many that Cragan illuminated in her speech) was pointing out the difference in pay between men and women at the newspaper. I love how Cragan handled the many stressful situations she faced, and usually had backup in place...just in case.
Yes this is a mystery, but it's so much more. It may be fiction, but it really is history as well.
May 22, 2025
Good easy read
This is the first book I've read of the series. I love the premise of a group of ladies getting together as amateur detectives to help their friend. Set in 1987,Cragan sells ads for the local newspaper. When one of her accounts has a shooting, she and her friends work diligently to find out who did it. I'm to of this, Cragan had to deal with a power-hungry boss who is making her work life a living hell. The characters are all likable, and the story had a great buildup. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
This is the first book I've read of the series. I love the premise of a group of ladies getting together as amateur detectives to help their friend. Set in 1987,Cragan sells ads for the local newspaper. When one of her accounts has a shooting, she and her friends work diligently to find out who did it. I'm to of this, Cragan had to deal with a power-hungry boss who is making her work life a living hell. The characters are all likable, and the story had a great buildup. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
May 21, 2025
What a delightful mystery set in my home state of Illinois! This story takes place in Decatur,Illinois, when a dancer at Fast Freddy's Gentleman's Club is critically injured and several amateur female sleuths decide to figure out what is really going on. The book has romance, humor and is a delightful suspense filled mystery. This book is the fourth book in the series but can be read as a stand-a-lone book.
June 3, 2025
I really liked Wednesday Wicked Ways. Another great mystery solved by the female amateur sleuths. Cragan is smart and funny. She loves her friends and will do anything to help them. A great ending. Looking forward to the next book.
I give Wednesday Wicked Ways 4 stars for its suspenseful read.
I would recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.
I give Wednesday Wicked Ways 4 stars for its suspenseful read.
I would recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.
March 24, 2025
Wednesday wicked ways
Book 4 of the Friday Night Mystery Club series was great. I couldn't put it down, I love when a book grabs you in the first chapter has keeps your attention all the way to the end.
Book 4 of the Friday Night Mystery Club series was great. I couldn't put it down, I love when a book grabs you in the first chapter has keeps your attention all the way to the end.
March 30, 2025
This series is just so good!! You get 2 complete story lines in one book...awesome! The story evoked a lot of anger in me as I can't stand for people to be repressed. As always, this author has a lot to say and she says it so well. Can't wait to see what Cragan (crayon) will get up to next!!
June 12, 2025
Loved it!
I love the way the characters have grown in this series. They become more than just friends. Watching that through the serious problems of this book was a real joy.
MS Slan has done her usual job of bring these people to life. Anxiously waiting the next book.
I love the way the characters have grown in this series. They become more than just friends. Watching that through the serious problems of this book was a real joy.
MS Slan has done her usual job of bring these people to life. Anxiously waiting the next book.
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September 2, 2025I’m so glad I won this book from the giveaway! It has such great reviews. I didn’t even know about Goodreads giveaways until yesterday, and this is my first win—so exciting! Since this book is part of a series and it’s the fourth one, I’ll save it to read after I finish the first three.
April 6, 2025
Wonderful book
I lived thru that time. It really appreciate the book. I also lived thru the 50's, 60 and 70'. It really hit home.
s,
I lived thru that time. It really appreciate the book. I also lived thru the 50's, 60 and 70'. It really hit home.
s,
April 14, 2025
I am a huge fan of Joanna Campbell Slan. I have read many of her books having gotten hooked on a series and binge-read the whole series. This is a very well-written book.
April 29, 2025
Goodreads Kindle Win
The group is back again solving the case. The growing relationships further their bonds. It’s a fast pced read as they solve the mystery collectively.
The group is back again solving the case. The growing relationships further their bonds. It’s a fast pced read as they solve the mystery collectively.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews