Join the Flub

The Worst Detective Ever #4

by Christy Barritt

There’s no business like show business . . . especially when a killer is involved.

Joey Darling’s local movie premiere was supposed to be a win-win for everyone involved. All the proceeds would go to the children’s wing at a local hospital, and the online buzz would create positive press for the area’s tourism. But things go awry when the event is sabotaged and Joey’s stunt double is seriously injured.

Suspects seem sparser than quality G-rated movies, and police fear the intended target was actually Joey. Detective Jackson Sullivan and neighbor Zane Oakley—two men competing for Joey’s affection—insist on trading off guard duty until the bad guy is behind bars. To make matters even worse, Joey’s ex shows up right before the release of his tell-all book about his life with the Hollywood sweetheart.

Someone seems determined to create real-life drama. But Joey isn’t one to be deterred. Though a movie-worthy villain wants to pull the plug on this production—and maybe even on a few people’s lives—Joey is determined that the show must go on.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2017

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

rating is 4.5...the stakes are higher in this book and even though I still love Joey and her personality this book felt more serious than the others :)

Have loved every cover in this series and Join the Flub is no exception! For some reason, this book felt much more personal to me than the rest and when Carli gets hurt, I really felt devastated. Such GREAT writing that a fictional character can become SO IMPORTANT to me in so little time of knowing her in the story, but that's exactly how it feels when a stunt Carli performs is sabotaged. When Joey is determined to solve this and get justice for her friend, my heart was with her all the way.

Joey's ex, Eric, shows up in this one.....he is one of the few characters in a book I actually want to see get hurt. Not for revenge but because he deserves to be taken down a level....or ten. He is so threatened by Joey and so determined to be famous because they were once married, but he is even worse in person than his reputation. He does get punched in the face in this book and man, did he deserve it!

"No, I'm good. But thank you, Joey. You're a real sweetheart, just like everyone says. Well, everyone but Eric. But don't worry--he'll get what's coming to him." Oh PLEASE let that be so, abusive men like him need to be humbled.

There are a few twists in the story, as always, one turned out to be the real villain and I hope this person gets locked away for a long time. Another twist at the end implies that Eric will finally get justice, but I TRULY hope the next book gives more detail to that plot point. Also, Jackson is quite the hero in this book and Zane, who has been a great friend through it all, kind of loses his zeal in this one. He disappointed me. Another plot twist is regarding Joey's parents, am hoping more is divulged about them in the next book also.

All in all, HIGHLY recommend this series and can't wait for the next book, which looks like the conclusion but hopefully there will be more.....because Joey Darling won my heart over from Book 1 and can't get enough of her story :) :) :)

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the fourth book of Christy Barritt’s Worst Detective Ever series, things hit close for Joey Darling. A movie premiere, sabotage, and Joey’s ex in town all raise the stakes for the actress.

I appreciated that I got to learn more about Joey’s Hollywood life between her stunt double, her ex-husband Eric, and her agent. The more personal aspect makes Join the Flub a little less light-hearted than the previous books, yet it works in this one. And don’t worry, there are still plenty of Joey’s trademark pop culture references, people believing her on-air persona is real, and romantic tension as our leading lady continues to hash out her feeling for the two men in her life.

With some more hints about Joey’s parents and a bit of a cliffhanger that suggests Eric may get what’s coming to him, you’ll be clamoring to start the next book in the series.

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.

[Kelly Bridgewater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book by Christy Barritt is usually a part of a series. She does a good job at writing serial novels where the characters are repeated over and over. She did this with her Gabby St. Clair series, and she is doing it again with her Joey Darling, aka Worst Detective Ever series. I always feel like I'm returning to a friend's house and watching my friend as she struggles through life, romance, and a different mystery in every book. I do love this! It brings me back every time.

With her latest addition to the Joey Darling series, Join the Flub, I still feel the same way. I feel like I'm following my friend Joey around as she struggles with her life and all the issues it brings. This time, if you have been reading the previous three novels, we come closer to realize who in the love triangle that Joey actually likes more. The sparks fly more in this book than in any of the previous ones. As for the plot, Barritt always does a great job at throwing the character into a difficult situation in the first chapter, then we have the rest of the novel to follow Joey around as she tries to solve the mystery and keep herself alive.

Overall, Join the Flub is a good addition to the Worst Detective Ever series, and I highly recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries with a hint of romance. The story speaks to the mystery loving person I am, and the characters are fascinating with a wonderful mystery to solve.

I received a complimentary copy of Join the Flub by Christy Barritt from Christy Barritt, but the opinions stated are all my own.

[Amanda Tero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joey’s past clashes with her present, creating a very realistic tumultuous inner battle. This is along the vein of the former books with clean and a hint of Christian and moderate romance.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

JOIN THE FLUB is the fourth book in this series. Fans will want to read them in order to get the full story behind Joey, Zane and Jackson. The books are: Ready to Fumble, Reign of Error, Safety in Blunders, Join the Flub, Blooper Freak, and Flaw Abiding Citizen.

Christy Barritt is the Queen of funny, quirky, laugh-out-loud romantic suspense and cozy mysteries. This series is written in first person, so you know Joey's thoughts, but not the two potential heroes. The focus is more on the suspense than the slow moving romances.

Who is behind this newest attack, and is Joey the target? I sort of figured out who-dun-it when this person was introduced, but I wasn't completely one hundred percent sure until the end when it was revealed.

I absolutely LOVE this series by Christy Barritt and highly recommend it for those who love Cozy Mysteries. This series would be a great gift for a reader on your Christmas list. Grab your copy of JOIN THE FLUB now.

Stay tuned for my review of Blooper Freak coming later this month.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read what murder & blue eye shadow have in common!

Another wacky mystery starring The Worst Detective Ever, Joey Darling! OK, so this series is probably one of my absolute favorites from Christy Barritt. Join The Flub was a little different in that....I can't tell you that! You are going to have to check this story out for yourself if you want to know...

Anyway, Join The Flub was a great way to pass an afternoon, with the perfect blend of mystery and humor from the talented pen of Christy Barritt.

I tell you a little secret, at least for me, my opinion of Joey's two love interests really tipped the scales in favor of one of them....but who? That's another thing you'll have to read this book to find out!

(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)

[Sheila McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Christy Barritt's books!! I listened to the audio version of this book, and it was so good! This is the first in the series I have "read." While it is book 4 in the series, it can stand alone as I had no problem following the characters or events without reading the other previous three books. Joey is funny, quirky, and just plain interesting as she goes from one problem to another. It truly was a joy to hear Joey's story, and I highly recommend you getting the book for yourself!

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

[JaneReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review can be found here.

Ms. Barritt had me laughing, cringing and trying to decipher who the culprit right along with Joey. An accident happens at the movie premiere and her stunt double gets injured but was Joey the intended target? It appears that way after other incidents begin happening. Can Joey figure out who is behind everything? Of course she can with the help of Jackson, but will it be too late? Along the mystery that’s happening Joey is dealing with figuring out her feelings towards to the two guys in her life. There is one that I have been cheering for since the beginning of this series and was pleased with things that happened throughout this book.

(I received this book free from the Ms. Barritt; opinions expressed in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

**spoilers abound. You have been warned.**

CW: opioid addiction, eating disorder, domestic violence - this review will include an exact (under)weight mention and descriptions of of ED behavior. The book treats this behavior as normal or, at worst, as a weird Hollywood quirk that she does because she’s an actress.

The bad:

- predictable whodunnit. The crazy person did it!
- demonizing a lovable series regular for his addiction. The protagonist knew he had a history of opioid addiction and and still made him stay with her in her home while she popped Vicodin like candy for a….sprained ankle?? Then when he does the right thing (removes himself from the situation), he’s still made out to be a bad guy for ever having had a drug addiction.
- The psycho fan club is a complete nonentity (which is what I wanted from the first 3 installments) but still gets brought up over and over again. Just retcon it! It’s ok that it’s going nowhere! Scrap the whole idea and figure out new ways to sow suspense!
- Shut up about your diet, Joey.
- - - no seriously she lives off of smoothies and every time she eats anything she brings up how fat she’s getting and how guilty she feels for eating carbs/sugar/meat/anything of substance.
- - - - - what was with her getting high on painkillers and fixating on her double chin, only to have it later confirmed she weighs ~100lbs??
- I truly thought the author was introducing an actual addiction subplot but nope. She’s fine because she’s not an Addict™️. She was acting like a crazy person and literally H-nodding 20% of the time, but it was no biggie for her to switch to Acetaminophen when her meds went missing. Zane is an Addict™️. So even though he didn’t touch her meds he is still deserving of criticism for having ever done heroin and for not being able to be around drugs even though (quote) “he used to be an addict, but that was a long time ago.”
- actual quote about a character who’s been nothing but supportive, whose company she enjoys, and who has never done anything to imply a lack of integrity since he was introduced: “What does it say about me that I’m Zane’s friend?”

The good:
- The protagonist’s experience grappling with the trauma from an abusive relationship is extremely poignant and accurate (at least to my own experience). The abuse subplot is the only reason I’m continuing with this series because it seems so well handled.
- easy read

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud hilarious and charming as always. Joey is just such a quirky big ball of fun! She's down to earth despite being Hollywood famous, a special kind of hilarious with all her witty thoughts and not afraid to get in trouble (she's kind of getting used to the trouble by now), and yet somehow always gets her perp in the end! hahaha I just love reading her thoughts and watching her fumble through these investigations, get into chaos and somehow catch the bad guys in the midst of it all! So fun!

It gets a bit too descriptive though during the little romance bits spilled here and there. It's great to see Joey develop a love interest don't get me wrong-and I absolutely adore him too (fangirl squeal), but if it's Christian fiction, we really don't need too much detail on those kiss scenes. You come to read Christian fiction because you want to be able to comfortably read this with Jesus looking over your shoulder you know? Well at least I do!hahaha But it's not too much though, keeps it mostly rated 16 by today's standards and I easily jump over them and keep on reading. The rest of the story is just a gem to read!

The plot mostly sticks to the general story of Joey detecting (well trying to anyway, hahaha) with a dash of romance (the good healthy for your heart kind and not the picture perfect Hollywood movies kind). To describe how romance fits into this story I would say it's like a condiment that's added to a whole large dish of tasty goodness. So it's not annoying and it doesn't overwhelm the story. It just fits in as part of Joey's every day life as a "worst detective". I really don't love when romance is too much in my reads and threatens to take over the whole plot! So I genuinely loved reading this!

[Marylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the latest book in The Worst Detective Ever series by Christy Barritt, and a great addition to the series.
Poor Joey is having quite the time trying to figure out who is behind all the “accidents” happening around her. Is it her ex-husband, her sneaky manager, the crazy reporter, the missing security guard, the person walking around looking like her? Oh... the choices seem endless.
Yet, at each turn, something new happens and the evidence changes. She feels like she's going in circles, she tries so hard to be just like her TV personality but it isn’t working.
On top of all this she's struggling with decisions about her life, both business wise and personal. Her connection with Jackson is growing stronger yet she still enjoys her friendship with Zane. Oh what’s a girl to do?
I really can’t say enough praise for Christy Barritt’s way of writing. She brings you right into the story and you don’t want to leave.
This story has suspense, action, drama, and bits of romance. It leaves you wanting to find out what’s next for Joey Darling.
I can’t wait for the next one to come out!
I was given this book by the author to give an honest review and I highly recommend it!

[Doreen Marr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Joey! No matter how hard she tries to avoid them, mysteries just keep falling in her lap! I loved this 4th installment of Christy Barritt's The Worst Detective Ever Series. Joey has had her share of success and miseries, but she is excited that her movie premiere in the small town in the Outer Banks of NC where she is currently living, is going to raise money for charity. And she is thrilled that Detective Jackson Sullivan is escorting her to the premiere. But nothing is simple with Joey. Neighbor and friend, Zane also shows up to escort her to the event. From there, it goes downhill. Her stunt double and good friend is seriously injured, she finds a bomb in her trailer, the event is evacuated before it even begins, and her ex-husband shows up with his newest girlfriend to harass Joey, thanks to Joey's manager. Jackson and Zane take turns playing bodyguards, while all three try to find out who is out to get Joey. And Joey just wants to get her ex out of town and get the show on the road! Fun, fast read. Looking forward to #5. I received a free copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Join the Flub is another awesome addition to the Worst Detective Ever series. Joey is becoming one of my all-time favorite detectives. She's far better at the job than she gives herself credit for. I've said this before, but I'll say it again because it's true-she's incredibly relatable. You wouldn't expect a Hollywood starlet to be, but there's times when she says or does something and I start laughing because... yep... I've thought or done it before too.

There was a big sense of danger throughout which made Join the Flub have a bit more of a serious vibe to it. There were still plenty of laughs, too, though. A lot happened in this book. The mystery was great. I was sure I had the culprit figured out... Yeah... not so much, lol. Eric, Joey's ex husband, showed up in the flesh. And wow... what a complete and total jerk! I just thought he was bad before “meeting” him. He's terrible! But I do believe I'm developing quite the crush on Jackson. He's an awesome guy. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book, Blooper Freak!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

[Danielle Turko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joey is hosting a movie premiere that doubles as a hospital fundraiser when her stuntwoman has a terible accident and falls, breaking her back in the process. When it's discovered it wasn't an accident and that the harness had been intentionally cut, Joey is asked by the husband to find out who did it. When they discover a bomb in Joey's changing room, they start to wonder if maybe Joey was the target. They are concerned enough that Jackson and Zane are taking turns staying with her at all times. When the "accidents" start piling up, they all start to get concerned they won't discover who is at the heart of the matter, especially not when all the suspects start to be proven innocent. This might be one case that's too hard for Joey to crack.
This book actually had me fooled. The actual bad guy was someone they made look obvious but then supposedly proved innocent so I had no clue who to look for, and the whole premise for the why was kind of far fetched but I am still very excited to start the next book

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joey's crammed into a limo with, oops, two dates. Then, in the midst of her Family Secrets premiere, her stunt double, Carli, is seriously injured. With a stunt gone awry...on purpose...a bomb threat and persona non grata, ex-husband Eric's appearance, Joey cannot get a break.

Forcefully, I worked to slow down reading speed competing with the desire to know who, what and why. The satisfying ending will keep Joey Darling and Christy Barritt fans returning for the next book in The Worst Detective Ever series. Since Joey is pocketing sleuthing skills as quickly as the next crisis occurs, she may hand that title to someone else. Don't worry, she continues to have missteps in the process which will keep you laughing and cringing at the same time.

I received an copy of the book without obligation. This review is my own opinion.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find out what murder & blue eye shadow have in common!

Another wacky mystery starring The Worst Detective Ever, Joey Darling! OK, so this series is probably one of my absolute favorites from Christy Barritt. Join The Flub was a little different in that....I can't tell you that! You are going to have to check this story out for yourself if you want to know...

I read the print version of this book a couple of years ago but that didn't dim my enjoyment of the audiobook one iota. The production was well done and the choice of narrator was spot on for Joey and friends.

Whether reading or listening, Join The Flub, from the talented pen of Christy Barritt, is a great way to pass an afternoon. It has the perfect blend of mystery and humor, with a touch of romance. Don't miss out!

(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)

[KayLynn Zollinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book brought us closer to Joey's smarmy ex, Eric. He is such a fucking douche nozzle. Zane is going through some stuff, which sucks. He hurt Joey, so I'm way less thrilled with him than in previous books. So that leaves Jackson. He's the sweetest porcupine ever. Good things (minus all the attempted murders) are happening for Joey.

Quotes:
Part of me thought I should use my acting skills to conceal any bad feelings. But as someone who got paid to pretend to be someone else, I’d learned that there was a lot to be said for authenticity. Some people misunderstood or abused the idea of being real. They used it as an excuse to indulge in and justify all the ugly sides of themselves. I didn’t want to be that person. But I did want to be honest and have integrity.

“The truth is that relationships are hard,” I started. “They’re not what they’re presented to be in the movies. Guys aren’t always prince charmings, and women aren’t always princesses. There are fights in real life. There’s bad breath. There’s moments you want to give up. There’s no promise of happy-ever-after.”

“I know. Men are jerks sometimes. But the beautiful part about marriage and relationships are when two broken people with all their faults and shortcomings decide to stick it out, despite the hard times.”
“What’s romantic about shortcomings?” Helena snorted.
“They’re real,” Jackson said. “There’s something refreshing about realizing your love story doesn’t have to be perfect to be great.”

[Christie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book

Another enjoyable story from Barritt that I couldn't put down. I love Joey's wit and sense of humor (although the pop culture references were a bit much in this one). I love seeing how the characters grow and can't wait to see how the relationships continue to unfold. The only criticism I have is in the formatting. I hate thinking I've got pages, or even chapters more to read only to be surprised that the book actually ends at the 89% mark. With SO many books in her repertoire I think its time to let go of the summaries at the end and just go with a list of links. I need to prepare myself for the end of a book that I love. Its disappointing to have to leave that world earlier than expected.

[Julia Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better! I loved this one so much! Joey ends up with all sorts of mishaps in this one but her detective skills are getting better and so is her love life. I love to see her settling down more in life and thinking things through more with her love triangle. You'll have to read the book to find out which direction it looks like she's headed. The Author does an amazing job with these characters. I had already fallen in love with them but this book keeps me wanting more! Can't wait for the next one!


Note: I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and all opinions are my own.

[Michelle Castaneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Join the Flub by Christy Barritt is book 4 in the Worst Detective Series. In this book, Joey Darling is attending a variety of events for the premiere of her new movie. She's also dealing with the attention of the two men of her life-- Zane and Jackson. At an event, a stunt is sabotaged and it looks like Joey was the target. Jackson and Zane work tirelessly to protect Joey and Joey is still trying to figure out the mystery. This is a fun book in an amazing series. It can still be read as a standalone novel. Don't miss any of these books because they are all fun and well written with characters that you will love.

[Megan Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the series and I really got hooked in this one. Joey is hosting a movie premiere for her new movie "Family Secrets" to raise money for the children's hospital. The premiere starts with a stunt using Joey's stunt double Carli, but something goes wrong and she is injured. The question is, who was the target: Joey or Carli? Joey wants to find out what happened because she feels personally responsible for Carli, especially if Joey was the one targeted.

Joey has two potential romantic partners - Zane Oakley and Jackson Sullivan - two very different men who can provide different things to Joey. Zane - fun, adventure, and spontaneity; Jackson - stability, protection, and comfort.

Joey's trying to solve the mystery using her connections without telling Jackson who fears for her safety, especially since she's been in danger multiple times since her arrival at the Outer Banks. How does Joey always seem to get involved in the mysteries?

I am fully engaged in this series now and will have to jump immediately into the next book to see if we're any closer to finding out what's happened to her father. It seems her mother might somehow be involved (who disappeared from Joey and her dad's life when Joey was a toddler). I like that there's a mystery in each book along with the bigger mystery of Joey's dad.

[Deena Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Christy Barritt's fourth book in the hilarious "Worst Detective Ever" series. Just when you think Joey Darling can't possibly get into more trouble trying to put her 'Raven Remington' skills to the test, along comes "Join the Flub", my favorite WDE story! I don't know how she does it, but Barritt's books are addicting, engaging, and loaded with three of my favorite things: Faith, fun, and foul play.

Don't miss this fantastic novel, releasing late August, 2017!

[Ce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Joey, it seems what can go wrong does go wrong, but she keeps at it in this new adventure. I love it that she seems human in her emotions and how she deals with those around her. She doesn't always sugar coat it and says what she means unless someone is helping her to remember to keep it under control. Another great adventure.
I received a copy from the author, the review is entirely my own.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joey feels bad that her stunt double was injured when it should have been her. Someone is after her again and she needs to get to the bottom of it before her and her friends get hurt or worse. Can she draw out the perpetrator in time? Add in what I have come to enjoy which is the love triangle between Joey, Zane, and Jackson and their vastly different but lovable personalities and you have yourself a great read!

[Beverly Brader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this 4th book in the Worst Detective Ever Mystery Series. The main character, Joey Darling, has once again gotten mixed up in a fast-moving story of “who dun it”. I really liked that there were not any killings in this mystery, only an attempt at it. There are many possible suspects but not till the end does the real suspect get revealed. True to Christy Barritt’s ability to have the ending a complete surprise, I was pleasantly surprised as to who the actual suspect was.

[Heather Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many suspects, so little time

I liked that we were introduced to Eric. It made their marriage more real. I like that Joey promotes integrity and values. Clean read. I like that the romance factor was upped a smidge too. I really like Jackson. While I can respect Zane and his ability to lighten life's burdens, Jackson is one who's in it for the long haul. Team Jackson all the way. On to book 5

[Necee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, mayhem, and romance...
My fav of the series..at least so far. I loved the witty banter, romantic moments, and the mystery was great. This is such a fun mystery and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Jackson and Zane are vying for Joey’s attention as her big movie premiere debuts. As usual, everything goes wrong and another mystery begins. Loved it!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Joey

Another amazing book by Christy Barritt. Whenever I read these stories I get so drawn in that I lose all track of time. I can not wait to see what comes next for these characters.

[Rachel Brantley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot get enough of this series! I love Joey and her humour! So glad that scumbag Ex-husband of hers is getting his due. I hope this means Joey will be stronger and be an even more likeable character. Can't wait for the next book!

[Linda Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this latest book in the Worst Detective Series.
Joey Darling and Jackson race to find who is trying to kill Joey.
Suspense abounds and pulls you through the story with vivid characters, an intriguing storyline and an interesting locale.