The Full Scoop: A Riley Ellison Mystery

Riley Ellison Mystery #4

by Jill Orr

Reeling after tragedy hits close to home, young journalist Riley Ellison becomes obsessed with uncovering the secret that led to her grandfather’s murder years before and that just took another life in Tuttle Corner. Her desperate search for answers leads her down a dark path, both personally and professionally, as she struggles with how far she's willing to go to get answers. Just as she finally discovers the truth, she’s forced to choose between exacting justice and protecting the people she loves most. With pressure coming in from all sides, Riley has to look deep within to decide if she can let go of the past in order to hold on to the future.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Humor

280 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 2020

About the author

Jill Orr is the author of HOW NOT TO BE OLD (EVEN IF YOU ARE), which hit #1 on the Amazon Bestseller list in the categories of Internet & Social Media humor, Aging Parents, and Cultural, Ethnic & Regional humor in its first week after publication. She also writes the Riley Ellison mystery series, which has been called “delightfully comic” and “highly amusing” by Publishers Weekly. Orr’s work has garnered praise from industry professionals and readers alike and books have earned a Silver Falchion nomination, a starred review and “Best Book of the Week” from Library Journal, and a Midwest Connections pick.

A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Jill lives in Columbia, Missouri with her husband and two teenage children.

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poignant story about the lengths people will go to fight for those, and what, they love. The Full Scoop is part of a series and I recommend reading in order to avoid spoilers and understand the relationships and history involved.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.

[Yuckamashe · Rating 3 out of 5]

So glad to be back in the little town of Tuttle corner with Riley and the gang. It had been awhile since the last book in the series. Finally, all of the mysteries are solved regarding her grandfather and Flick. I think this might be the last book in the series. I'm sad to see it end.

[Janeene · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 Stars

Enjoy the author's character development. Hoping this isn't the last in the Riley Ellison series.

[Cayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as funny as the previous books in the series, but still enjoyable. 3.5/5

[Claire Schiopota · Rating 1 out of 5]

Finally done, last one worst one unfortunately… it really just went down hill for me as a series and this one ended abruptly and unsatisfyingly… glad to be done so hopefully I’ll be out of my slump

[Suzanne Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series..... now I have to wait fir the next!!!!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite thing about reading Orr’s books is that they make me laugh out loud several times throughout the story. This may be the darkest of the Riley Ellison series, but it is still a perfect read for a summer vacation ...or a quarantine. I was surprised by the ending. I liked that Orr kept me guessing until the very end. I will miss sweet quirky Riley (unless she has more mystery solving to do?!) but cannot wait to see what else Orr may have up her sleeve to bring smiles and giggles to her readers.

[Kidlitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DRC was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another year, another Riley Ellison mystery, courtesy of Jill Orr, whose perky, quirky young Southern reporter returns again to get into more mystery, danger and hijinks in Tuttle County, Virginia. This fourth outing starts with Riley a little sadder and madder, as she is now not only investigating the ongoing puzzle of why her beloved grandfather died an apparent suicide, but also coping with the sudden death by car accident of his best friend and Riley's journalism mentor Flick. Riley promptly sets out on another investigative journey which threatens more disillusionment and peril, not to mention the ruin of some of her many friendships and potential romances. One of the neatest tricks in Orr's snappy books is her interest in how Riley's cohort of twenty something working Millennials balance their careers with personal and professional demands, especially when they are often made to prove that "being young doesn't mean you're not capable."

Riley spends much of this book proving she is more smart and capable than ever in order to solve the riddles and outwit the bad guys, and if events leave her bruised, she still retains the sweetness of the Riley we first met, even as she matures into a formidable woman. The now familiar but still eye catching cover design featuring Our Heroine, and the hilarious self-help chapter headings - this time with an astrological theme - provide the cozy deja vu that only a well beloved series can supply. Orr is still on a streak with this series and her ever-lovable heroine, even as the reader looks forward to seeing what comes next for Riley, hopefully in 2021!

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Disappointed."
I was sitting here thinking about the book I just finished and that was what came to mind. I don't mind telling you I thought Riley could have handled things better at the end. She allowed herself to be intimidated and as a result she became a liar.
After 3 previous books, I thought I knew Riley. And I thought she was 100 percent brave and honest. But I was wrong.
I think it upset me because her grandfather and Flick would be crushed to know this is how she ended up.
And she was unfair to Ash.
She never wanted to listen to anyone when they might have an opinion different from hers if it was personal. No complaints about listening to people as she conducted business. No complaint about her friendship with Will or Ridley. But if there was any romance past or present, she shut them down.
So yes I was disappointed in this 4th book of the series. But also for a very different and important reason.
Proofreading! Or rather the lack of it! So many inconsistencies in details. They walked someplace---They talked.---They got back in the car... What?! That type of detail was goofed up several times and I was aghast that the publisher (Prospect Park Books) didn't have anyone proofreading the book carefully. As a reader who has had experience working with many authors to avoid such pitfalls, I know it could have been avoided.
And that left me feeling...disappointed.

[Gina Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish we could have the ability to rate a book with half stars- if this was the case, I would give "The Full Scoop" 3.5 out 5. Riley Ellison, an engaging millennial newswriter in the cozy (but increasingly crime ridden) Tuttle Corner, Virginia, has never accepted the "suicide" of her grandfather- a reporter and obituary writer who came upon a story that he could not survive. Now, she must deal with the death of her mentor Hal Flick- who dies in a car accident on the way to solving the mystery. I have enjoyed this series...Riley has a sense of humor mixed with her frailties. Managing to mix her personal life with her professional, the supporting cast in this series is stellar, including the socially-impaired Will Holman, her partner in the newsroom and newest friend. The mystery itself- involving the death of a family in a plane crash and identity theft- doesn't seem to connect neatly to the very personal deaths of Riley's grandfather and mentor. But still, an entertaining series.

[Recipe Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the whole series, but the final book was quite a letdown. It did not have enough of the usual quirks of the first 3 books, especially those of Riley’s emails from the ridiculous dating site. I was truly rooting for Riley and Ash after seeing how she had a failed relationship with Jay. But damn! This girl just doesn’t learn, and behaves immaturely all the time by jumping to conclusions and manifesting the worst possible ending in her head, all by herself. She pushed great guys in her life away with no good reason (not even any self righteous girl power reason), and that’s it. She’s alone again at the end.

The plot twist at the end of this book was also lukewarm compared to any other the first few. I didn’t care much about that weird disabled lady going around murdering people to keep the secret of the wife of a prominent church figure.

Overall, I enjoyed the first three books much more than the last, although I hope this is not the end of the Riley Edison series.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was lighter and fluffier than what I usually pick up and was recommended by Poisoned Pen, my favorite Scottsdale bookstore. The protagonist, Riley, is reeling from the death of her grandfather’s best friend and has still not gotten over her grandfather’s “suicide “ some years before. She works at a small town newspaper writing local stories of interest and obituaries. My first issue was the extended bereavement leave she was granted for the death of a family friend. My second issue was her access to a prisoner, the former sheriff, who is in protective custody from a vicious drug cartel. Third, for someone who is so widely loved and regarded in her small town, she is exceedingly dizzy and reckless. This book is evidently the 4th in a series, however, I won’t be rushing out to buy the first three!!

[Ida · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final installment in the Riley Ellison mysteries has the protagonist finally finding clues to the overarching mystery in her life -- how did her grandfather really die, and who was responsible? Also, was the more recent death of her mentor/ grandfather's best friend related.

Riley's personal life remains a cringingly hilarious mess, while the members of her endearing supporting cast each lends their own flavor of quirkiness to the story. They have all shown some character growth, which keeps the humor from getting old.

I felt the book could have used another editing pass in a couple of places. There were some distracting verb tense problems in two chapters, for instance. And I had a small problem with one story element that would be a spoiler to mention. I felt it should have been explained more fully. Pacing is good, though. Overall, I found it a fun, engaging read.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This does not have to be the end of Riley unless the author wants to move on to something else. These books have been fun to read, humorous, and yet suspenseful. Holman was probably my favorite character...so literal and lovable and frustrating. Riley is having a hard time making up her mind romantically and I almost missed the final clue.

It will be fun to see what this author comes up with next.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss for the advanced reader copy of this book for a honest and fair review.

I had never read any of the books of this series however I will read the other books for sure. I enjoyed this book it is a light hearted detective novel that reminds me of the Janet Evanovich number series. Even though this book starts with her attempting to deal with her mentor while struggling with the long ago "suicide" of her grandfather.

This series will be my new light read go to.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

FYI I haven't read any of the others in the series.

Was going to give 3 stars as it was an easy and fun read that definitely had me hooked on finding out whodunit....unfortunately the climax and ending felt super rushed. The "reveal" and "mystery" were quickly and easily wrapped up with a bow, with people dumping info into Rileys lap rather than her actually solving the mystery.
I don't regret reading it but it is a weak mystery with a not so satisfying ending.

[Stacia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Riley Ellison series comes to an end (boo boo!), and fulfills the promise of solving the mystery surrounding the death of Riley’s grandfather. As always, I was laughing out loud while trying to puzzle out who dunnit. Grab this last Riley adventure and put it in your beach bag for the perfect summer read.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written but rather average cozy mystery. Perhaps because I haven't read the others in the series, there were things that had my scratching my head. For example, what was the point of the horoscopes scattered through the book. After the first one or two, I just skipped over them and didn't feel like I was missing anything. Not demanding, this would work for a vacation read.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another romp through Tuttle corner, this is the one that ties up the original mystery of Riley's grandfather's death. It's good stuff, as usual, though I feel like I was promised more at the Gatsby party than I got:)

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrilling wrap-up to Riley's adventures! Such great characters, descriptive settings, and humor-filled dialogue. Orr knows how to write a series so both returning and new readers are similarly engaged in the story.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery, gripping and entertaining.
I liked the solid mystery, the rounded and likeable characters and the setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Whitney Sanchez · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fun read. The story didn't make a lot of sense and the motives for the murders were a little thin. But it's good if you aren't looking for too much substance and just need a light fluffy read.

[Meagan Shenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when I get to visit Tuttle Corner.. I have loved this series & if this was the last one.. I’ll miss Riley and all her friends. I thought the humor was missing a bit more in this book than the others but I still enjoyed this book.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Must be the last of this series. The main mystery of who killed Riley's grandfather, and why, is finally solved. Good read.

[Karen Slates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great ending to the series. I’ll miss Riley! I’m looking forward to Jill’s next book “ How Not to be Old”. Very timely!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Haley Hope Gillilan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this series finale wrapped up just a tisch too quickly but I love this series and love Riley Ellison!

[Jill Lucht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the treat I needed this holiday weekend after several long weeks at work. Thank you Jill Orr!! This book and the whole series are SO MUCH FUN!!!!!

[Tonya Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. But I hope this isn't the end of the series. I've come to love these characters and would enjoy reading more about them.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series was very fun.