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Manchmal im Leben möchte man einfach nur «Zweite Klappe!»

Als ein Eisbaden furchtbar schiefgeht und jemand im eisigen Wasser stirbt, will Ex-Serien-Detektivin Joey Darling mit der anschließenden Ermittlung nichts zu tun haben. Aber als ihr Foto im Portemonnaie des Toten gefunden wird und Zeugen sie als die letzte Person benennen, die mit dem Mann gesehen wurde, merkt sie, dass man sie in eine Rolle gesteckt hat, die sie nie die der Verdächtigen.

Joey begeht den dramatischen Fehler, den Killer vor laufender Kamera herauszufordern, und nun ist es ein Wettlauf, den Bösewicht zu finden, bevor er sie findet. Gefahr lauert an jeder Ecke, und Verdächtige sind schwerer aufzutreiben als die verlorene Kolonie von Roanoke Island. Doch als Joey eine Verbindung zwischen diesem Fall und dem Verschwinden ihres Vaters entdeckt, weiß sie, dass es kein Zurück mehr gibt.

Je mehr Joey versucht, ihrem Superdetektiv-Alter Ego nachzueifern, desto mehr geht schief. Wird Joey diesen Fall lösen? Oder geht ihre Herrschaft der Irrtümer weiter?

Weitere Bücher in der Reihe Der schlechteste

Die Tollpatschige Detektivin

Die Irrende Detektivin

Die Missgeschickte Detektivin

Die Versehentliche Detektivin

Die Ungeschickte Detektivin

Die Fehlerhafte Detektivin

Die Peinliche Detektivin

Die Scherzende Detektivin

Die Festliche Detektivin

Die Pannenhafte Detektivin

Die Verpatzte Detektivin

Die Missratene Detektivin

Die Falsche Detektivin

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2017

682 people are currently reading
184 people want to read

About the author

Christy Barritt

300 books1,642 followers
Christy Barritt is an author, freelance writer and speaker who lives in Virginia. She’s married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. She’s only won one contest in her life—and her prize was kissing a pig (okay, okay… actually she did win the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery also). Her current claim to fame is showing off her mother, who looks just like former First Lady Barbara Bush
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.

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5 stars
386 (52%)
4 stars
262 (35%)
3 stars
80 (10%)
2 stars
6 (<1%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Profile Image for Suzie Waltner.
Author 12 books148 followers
August 30, 2019
Y’all, I am so far behind on Christy Barritt books. It’s only because a few of them are now available on audiobook that I’m able to make a slight dent in the backlist (but I like the narrator for this series).

Joey Darling played a detective on television. Now she finds herself embroiled in real-life mysteries.
While the series is categorized as romantic suspense, there’s a lightheartedness to this one too. The pop-culture references to actors, television shows, and movies add some fun to the stories. And Joey’s sometimes self-deprecating sense of humor ups that factor.

In Reign of Error, Barritt reveals more of Joey’s (and Jackson’s) past as she scrambled to find a murderer. The will-they-or-won’t-they push and pull between Joey and Jackson has me ready to dig into the next book.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Profile Image for Amanda Tero.
Author 28 books543 followers
June 10, 2022
This was a good continuation of the series. Some partial answers from Book One were answered… but only enough to keep the underlying mystery going and keep me curious.

The mystery itself in this book wasn’t solved. It’s like a continuing undercurrent that I wonder how long it will take.

Like the other book, this isn’t Christian but is clean.

The love triangle… or the one that is hinted at. I am unashamedly team Jackson.
Profile Image for Sheila McIntyre.
Author 1 book3 followers
December 26, 2021
Having read some of the other books in the series, it was good to come back to the beginning of the series and learn some of the basic pieces of information to Joey Darling! I loved getting to know the cast of characters! Great cozy mystery!

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 39 books653 followers
March 24, 2017
First, the disclaimer. "I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own." That done, REIGN OF ERROR is the second book in Ms. Barritt's newest series, The Worst Detective Ever Mystery Series. I have to admit, she is a really clueless investigator, but I can't say I'd do much better! I have to love following Joey around and trying to unravel the clues as she learned them... I'm anxious to follow her into the next book in the series Safety in Blunders to see what happens next!

I love both Jackson - the police detective - and Zane - the fun loving guy who was always up for anything, dangerous or not.

Ms. Barritt has a very active mind, she comes up with such unique plots and stories that come alive due to them. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, then you'll want to read Ready to Fumble (first) followed by this book REIGN OF ERROR. Although I think you could read them out of order... I haven't... and the books are tied together (as in continuing). Must read.
Profile Image for Kelly Bridgewater.
1,202 reviews60 followers
April 4, 2017
Reign of Error by Christy Barritt continues her story featuring Joey Darling as she hunts for her missing father. From the first chapter, I was drawn into the suspense with a dead body coming on shore after the Polar Plunge. Throughout the novel, Joey with help from Zane and Jackson, tries to solve the murder of "Mark Hamill" as she refers to the dead man. As for the pace of the novel, it seemed to move a little too slow for my taste. Yes, Joey did chase the bad guys and hunt for clues, but Barritt does follow the convictions and formula for a mystery. The romance . . . there appears to be a love triangle brewing under the surface. Nothing has happened, but Barritt leaves you wondering what guy she will ultimately pick in the end. Even though the novel moved a little slow for my taste, I still enjoyed the novel and can't wait to read Safety in Blunders, which is the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of Reign of Error from Christy Barritt, and the opinions stated are all my own.
Profile Image for Jasmine.
1,286 reviews43 followers
October 29, 2018
Will she find a killer or die in the attempt?

Joey Darling is a quirky, mixed up, messed up, actress with a penchant for getting in trouble. And so begins another delightful mystery from the very talented pen of Christy Barritt. Thrills and chills, literally, abound in Reign Of Error! Hard to put down and a lot of fun to read!

There is something endearing about this flawed heroine. She makes mistakes, shoots off her mouth, big time in this story, and she has a past that isn't exactly pretty. But, oh, is she fun to read about!

Reign Of Error is another great addition to The Worst Detective Every Mystery Series. Fans of mysteries and cozy mysteries will definitely enjoy this series, it's sweet and sassy, funny and chilling. All the ingredients for perfect read under a fluffy blanket.

(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Profile Image for Cathy.
75 reviews3 followers
December 26, 2019
Joey can be annoying but she is fun! I just love her expressions and her referencing of Hollywood movies and TV shows that I have watched and loved. Sometimes I feel like there aren't enough people in the world doing this, and so Joey is like a fun weird friend who does this! Love her!

I have enjoyed reading the series so far. It is suspenseful and drawing without being overwhelming or gritty. Though the detecting in this 2nd installment is a bit similar to the 1st book in some bits, which is why 4 stars instead of 5. I guess I want more thrill and unexpected turns than in the 1st book. There were lots of shocking moments in the 1st and so you wanna have a lot more shocking moments in the 2nd too, you know? But it's okay, the journey to the truth behind the mystery keeps you completely in the dark just til before the end-which is exactly what a girl wants in her mystery novel.

There was some romance in here as well. It was actually really well written and I am totally rooting for one of the guys. It was nice to see some good development here. In fact sometimes I find myself looking forward to their litu romantic awkward interactions. It's cute and fun.

So I will definitely be digging into the 3rd book to see how my ship fares on and hopefully the 3rd mystery to be detected will give me more intrigue, gasps, danger and suspense than the 1st two!

Totally recommended
Profile Image for Ashley.
1,167 reviews43 followers
November 3, 2017
Reign of Error, book two in the Worst Detective Ever Series, was SO good! I think I might've even liked it better than the first. It's a fascinating mystery that left me guessing until the end. I read it as fast as I could. There was a lot of action and I found it to be unputdownable. (Is that a word?)

Joey's hosting and participating in the Polar Plunge Challenge. The event takes a turn for the worse when a body washes ashore... the body of a man Joey had just talked to right before the Plunge. She takes it upon herself to investigate his death.

Joey is such a likeable character. She does have a tendency to do occasionally outrageous things while she's investigating, leaving me shaking my head. But I think that makes her more likeable and relatable because she's trying to do something good (just maybe not in the best way, lol). There's a definite love triangle brewing and I honestly don't know who to root for. Jackson and Zane are both great guys. There was some progress made in the disappearance of Joey's dad, so I'm curious to find out what happens next. I love the setting of this series! The Outer Banks seems like a really great place to go for a visit. I had such a great time reading REIGN OF ERROR and am eager to start book three!
Profile Image for Danielle Turko.
379 reviews1 follower
September 3, 2019
Joey Darling has had enough of solving crimes. She promised Jackson that the first murder she solved was going to be her last. Besides, she was busy trying to find her dad and helping run all the town events as her condition to not being arrested for interfering in an investigation. But during the polar plunge she was hosting, a man is murdered right after warning her to be careful, and they find a picture of her in his pocket. She's still more than willing to leave the murder solving to the professionals, but when she accidentally challenges the killer to come get her, she ends up right in the middle of everything. To top it all off, she discovers the victim was a p.i. hired to watch her, by none other than her dad. Why did her dad do that, and not come warn her himself? And why does Joey plan to remain single but seemingly has 2 suiters?
I really enjoyed this book, and it's a fast read. It does leave you wondering about her dad so wanting to read the next book is always a good sign in a series. I'm relatively certain I know which guy she's going to end up with and already find myself feeling bad for the other guy, which if you connect to the characters like that there is a good author behind it all
Profile Image for KayLynn Zollinger.
571 reviews33 followers
February 28, 2025
I started this series like a bazillion years ago but never forgot it. So...finally I went back to it and it's just as hilarious as I remembered. Joey is hilarious. Even though the series is called 'The Worst Detective Ever' she's actually pretty damned good at it. I've read my fair share of cozy/amateur detective series and Joey is the real deal. She's always referencing celebrities and pop culture and I'm entirely here for it. (Not in a name dropping kind of way, it's in her thoughts. She just thinks in celebrity references.) The love interests are Jackson and Zane and I low-key love them both but for very different reasons. I kind of don't want to choose but I am pretty sure this isn't one of 'those' kinds of books. *shrugs* Can't have everything, I guess. Looking forward to the rest of the series, even if she will have to pick between the guys one day.

Quote:
I supposed within a person’s lifetime, he or she lived many different lives and played many different roles. I was no exception. But what I wasn’t sure about was how this portion of my timeline—this little beach movie—would end. Would it be a Shakespearean tragedy? A Hallmark-movie happy ending? Did happy endings actually exist in real life?
Profile Image for Charlotte.
20 reviews
December 21, 2022
I liked the first book because it scratched my Heather Wells-esque cozy mystery itch. Book 2 was disappointing. There are only so many times you can describe characters as “[actor] in [movie]’s doppelgänger” before it gets old. Off the top of my head: references to Mark Hamill, Teri Hatcher, Sigourney Weaver, and Julia Roberts. Additionally, the author’s mission to write stories that are “clean with underlying messages of faith” is more apparent - and off-putting - in this book. The protagonist’s borderline eating disorder is treated as completely normal. If this trend continues in book 3, I won’t be finishing the series. The fanboy stalkers subplot worked in the first book, but now serves only to complicate the narrative and make the mystery itself less engaging.

Lastly: the word the author is looking for is ADDICTIVE, but it’s a moot point; if you search every instance of “addicting” you’ll realize how many times it appears per chapter…ie far too many times, whether or not the word is correct.
Profile Image for Kim  Gregory.
1,149 reviews19 followers
April 21, 2018
Such a great series. This is the first series I've read by this author and I'm glad a friend suggested it to me. They are a light read yet full of suspense and wee bit of romance.

In this story Joey is still hunting for information on her father, which gets her into even more trouble than the last story did. Her crazed "encouragers" are still out there too, leaving her notes and pushing her to accomplish more than she feels she's capable of giving. But her friends are always there to help her out of the jams that she gets herself into, and in this story there are more than a few.

This is a clean read!
Profile Image for Katharine Showman.
60 reviews
May 31, 2017
As usual, I love the fast pace and suspense in Christy Barritt's books. Joey used to play a detective on TV. Now she is trying to figure out what happened to her father as well as identify her stalkers and keep from being implicated in a real murder. There are so many twists and turns. You will love this summer read. This is better #2 of the series called Worst Detective Ever Mystery Series. I will read #1 and #3 soon. You don't have to read them in order, but the characters do "talk" a bit about what happened previously.
Profile Image for Pam.
83 reviews
March 12, 2017
Love this character Joey who gets involved with a murder investigation that is also linked to her dad's disappearance. She is a bumbling detective who gets herself in more than one bad situation. She is very relatable and questions herself because of bad choices in the past. I enjoyed reading this second book in the series and look forward to the next one! This was a gift from the author however this review is my own opinion and words. Highly recommend !
161 reviews2 followers
May 21, 2017
Hijinks on the dunes

Joey finds herself in the middle of more trouble than she knows what to do with. All she really said to find her Dad, who has always been the stalwart in her life until he mysteriously disappears. Trying to dodge crazed fans, figure out her feelings for fun loving Zane and super cop Jackson, and avoids bad publicity and a pushy agent, while doing a little work in the local beauty shop might be a bit much for any woman.
1,405 reviews9 followers
March 28, 2018
In Christy Barritt's Reign of Error, Joey Darling's story continues. Joey balances life as a star with her new small town life. This is book 2 in the series, but I think it could still be read as a standalone novel. All of the books in this series are amazing! This series is fun and quirky full of interesting characters that continue to develop over time. In this book, Joey continues to search for her father and wonders at the dead man's connection to him. Don't miss this book or this series!!
63 reviews
February 14, 2019
Funny, yet great read!

This series is funny, Zany, yet it’s fun to read. It keeps you hooked from beginning to end. Who’s who in this book anymore, you got to figure out who’s the good guys, you just can’t always tell. Then is there love? Well.. maybe but who’s going to make up the couple. And what’s happening next? I’m heading for the next book in this series! This is fun stuff to read.
Profile Image for Eva North.
111 reviews35 followers
January 10, 2020
I have forgotten to post this when I first started the book, but I'm just now done with it and as always, Christy Barritt never lets me down with any of her books. This, like the rest of her books I've read, I gave five stars.
Joey darling has come back home from her acting, to find her father missing, people coming up dead, and her playing detective, like her acting character. I hope anybody else who decides to read it, enjoys it.
Profile Image for CarolynB.
626 reviews
August 20, 2017
I liked this second book in the series even better than the first book. Joey Darling is such a lovable heroine--she can't help herself, she just HAS to get involved and try to solve the mystery she's stumbled upon. I will keep reading because I have to find out what has happened to her dad and because I can't wait to see which of the two handsome hunks she'll end up with!
Profile Image for OG.
90 reviews
December 1, 2017
I'm totally getting into this series! This book was a great, fun read. I'm really loving the development of Joey's character. The vulnerability that shows through as we learn about her past, yet the courage, determination and spunk also. I like her. And a likeable main character is always a must in a good book series!
Straight onto the next book in the series for me.
339 reviews5 followers
November 26, 2020
Phew! Next?

This series is light and fun, making it a good read between other heavier stuff. I do find that it jumps about a bit, with new information dotted throughout, sometimes in the middle of plot-progressing scenes.
I think that this might be enough of Joey Darling for me for a while.
571 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2025
an winter police Charity sea plunge ends in Murder with twists and turns, truths revealed about Jackson and Zane, some information about Joey's missing father and Joey stumbling onto clueys and suspects but the the Raven fan club seems to be upping the stacks with their notes and break-ins. loving this series. im off to read the next on, its like Binge watching my new favourite show
Profile Image for Petula Darling.
842 reviews8 followers
August 29, 2017
The first book was silly and fun. This one just seems stupid. The protagonist seems to have learned nothing from the first book, and in the interim has become more judgmental while also managing to drop 20 IQ points.
Profile Image for Marcia-Lee Finocchio.
604 reviews6 followers
August 31, 2017
Joey Darling Mystery

Another awesome story by this Author. Story about a TV actress who played a PI on the show and now is trying to find her father and always seems to fine trouble along the way.
Profile Image for Valerie Waters.
1,210 reviews
September 6, 2017
I liked this book but I feel like we are running in circles. It's also being drug out a little too much. I feel like this book should have been the last in the series. Oh. And I'm totally team Jackson!!!!
321 reviews
June 13, 2018
Good clean mystery

I love mysteries and it is so nice to read a book that is free of sex and language. The mystery was good. Not easy to figure out and main character is fun. I am planning on reading the rest of the series.
188 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2019
She did it again!

I don't know how Christy does it. This detective is so different from what I thought she would be. I had to laugh at way she came up with some of her ideas. CAN NOT wait until the next book!!
Profile Image for April Perry.
41 reviews2 followers
January 25, 2020
Joey just keeps searching and getting farther into a mystery with more questions than answers and more twists and turns than a mountain road. I am not sure even with the clues she picked up in this book that she is any closer to finding her dad. Great story! Christy does a great job once again.
Profile Image for Sue Stinnett.
1,374 reviews3 followers
April 18, 2021
Outstanding

There are so many webs to untangle that it is almost impossible to the find the bad guys before the end of the book. However, this is a continuous series which adds more to the story in each book. Can' wait to start the next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews

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