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Riley Thorn #3

Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past

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Riley Thorn and her hot, tattooed, private investigator boyfriend are all moved into their new fixer upper. Not only do they finally have their own place, they also haven’t found any new dead bodies on the premises.

Yep. It looks like summer is over and so is Riley’s bad luck. Or is it?

While Nick gives up sleeping and showering to obsess over the cold case that still haunts him, his business partner Mrs. Penny is calling the investigative shots. It’s every bit as bad as you can imagine.

Meanwhile, Riley has her hands full fixing up the crumbling crime scene they call home and setting boundaries with the breaking-and-entering octogenarians next door. You know. Normal stuff.

But normal comes to a screeching halt when our favorite psychic is abducted by a stranger with candy, and her powers go on the fritz. To make matters worse, it becomes clear that Riley’s new house guests are definitely either in trouble or are trouble after bad guys deliver a warning with a severed finger.

Can Nick and Riley solve the case the old-fashioned way before they all end up in pieces? Or will a surprise birthday party, a dog doody bandit, an accidental arson, and a blast from the past be too much for them to handle?

354 pages, ebook

First published April 21, 2022

3836 people are currently reading
36078 people want to read

About the author

Lucy Score

66 books60.1k followers
Lucy Score is an instant #1 New York Times bestselling author. She grew up in a literary family who insisted that the dinner table was for reading and earned a degree in journalism.

She writes full-time from the Pennsylvania home she and Mr. Lucy share with their obnoxious cat, Cleo. When not spending hours crafting heartbreaker heroes and kick-ass heroines, Lucy can be found on the couch, in the kitchen, or at the gym.

She hopes to someday write from a sailboat, oceanfront condo, or tropical island with reliable Wi-Fi.

Sign up for her never annoying newsletter at https://www.lucyscore.net/subscribe-l....

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5 stars
12,586 (42%)
4 stars
11,210 (37%)
3 stars
5,109 (17%)
2 stars
755 (2%)
1 star
184 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,141 reviews
Profile Image for Kiandra &#x1f98b; .
264 reviews33 followers
August 28, 2024
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ✩
I absolutely loved everything about this series, especially the relationship between Nick and Riley. I really enjoyed seeing how much Nick developed. Although, in this book specifically I could’ve done with a lot less of Griffin, I’ve never been so irritated by a book character in my life. Besides the fact that this book was based on his tragic life, I still could’ve done with him not being on page so frequently. If anything he had way too much audacity.

This series was a really good palette cleanser and the first of Lucy Scores writing I’ve experienced. I was a big fan of the group of elderly they had even though they were a tad annoying, it made me laugh constantly. I also seriously hope at some point there’s a book focusing on Jasmine and Weber, they have so much potential for an enemies to lovers story. 💖






Pre-Read 💐:
I had to track down the third book, I only bought the first two thinking I wouldn't like the series lol. I was extremely wrong.
Profile Image for Bookstagrambrielle .
350 reviews21 followers
April 18, 2022
This book is even funnier than the last; I don't know how she does it! Reading this was like watching a sitcom. Every quirky character, all the sharp wit and of course the glue that holds it all together, the charming and adorably dimpled Nick.

This book features the investigation we learned about in the first book, the missing sister of Nick's ex-partner Kellan. Beth has been missing for 6 years and Nick feels guilty that he didn't do enough while he was still a cop and it's what led him to quitting the police force and the demise of his friendship with Kellan. Now running his own Private Investigation firm, he decides is time to look into Beth's disappearance again. He has his team taking on cases that aren't really cases and aren't paying, and he's locked himself in his office all the time, neglecting Riley. So Riley takes matters into her own hands without telling Nick. She figures if she can use her pyschic powers to solve the case, things with her and Nick can get back to normal. It doesn't take long for things to get out of control, driving Nick crazy in the process. Oh and special shout out to drunk Kellen, the only time he appeared without that stick up his ass!

This was an interesting story with so many twists and turns, great characters and brilliant writing. Because there are so many characters that appear in each book, I'd recommend reading the books in order to get to know them. The first book explains what you need to know to understand Riley and her family dynamic and who and why all the side characters are. Trust me when I say you will enjoy getting to know them.

Bookstagrambrielle
Profile Image for TJ.
3,282 reviews274 followers
July 31, 2022
2.5/5.0

Okay the silliness and believability tips over into the ridiculous and unbelievable in this one. Still love the characters and the fun but I need at least some elements of reality in my contemporary romances.
Profile Image for Gigi.
296 reviews52 followers
July 25, 2024
I’m completely hooked on this series! Riley and Nick are amazing together, and their neighbors are a riot—even if they sometimes make things a bit crazy.

In this book, Riley and Nick are taking big steps: they’ve declared their love and Nick has bought a huge fixer-upper for them. But, of course, their peaceful life is anything but quiet. Riley gets followed and abducted early on, Nick’s past brings up some questions, and Riley has to deal with some weird psychic fog. Plus, Mrs. Penny, with her purple hair, has her own case to solve.

The characters are hilarious and loveable. Nick and Riley's relationship feels real, with ups and downs, but lots of love and growth. This series is endlessly entertaining!

Read this if you like:
🔮 Who Dunnit
🔮 Romantic Suspense
🔮 LOL Moments
🔮 Elderlies Gone Wild
🔮 Grumpy x Sunshine

🚨🚨 TW: Alcohol, Fire, Kidnapping, Stalking
Profile Image for Jenny.
518 reviews473 followers
July 2, 2024
This series is so amazing! It's such a fun read with plenty of quirks and action. Lucy gives us another entertaining glimpse into Nick and Riley's lives, and this book is just as amusing as the others in the series.

This series features a lot of heartwarming moments, mysteries, comedy, and paranormal activity along with the odd murder and talking ghosts.

This book continues the inquiry into the disappearance of Nick's ex-partner Kellan, whom we learnt about in the first book. After six years after Beth being missing, Nick remains obsessed and feels bad about not doing enough for her while he was a police officer.

I've become quite fond of these characters. Despite the numerous external and internal obstacles that Riley and Nick's relationship faces this time around, they still have a great time together. Especially when their neighbors, relatives, and friends become involved. To be honest, I think my favorite aspects of the book are the supporting characters. They made the narrative so much funnier and more entertaining!

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, both laughing and worried about what may happen next. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author took an unexpected turn.

I can't wait to read about Riley and Nick's next adventure!
96 reviews102 followers
Want to read
April 6, 2022
i really dont get how ppl can rate a book 1 star without reading it like????
Profile Image for Anita.
2,646 reviews218 followers
June 29, 2024
This was a great book to pass my vacation at the river with. It is, what I would call, Romantic-Suspense Lite. Nothing to tax your brain over, perfect to drop into and out of. With all the interruptions of vacation time, I loved being able to pick up where I left off without losing the thread of the story. This plot thread has been hanging out there since the first book and I liked how Beth/ Sesame just crashed into everyone's life with the answers to her disappearance coming straight from a Hollywood Rom-Com. The humor, senior moments and doggy good times made this a fantastic summer read.

Riley Thorn's grandmother dearest dropped a bomb on her and her sexy private investigator boyfriend and Nick has been on a mission ever since. They have just moved into a derelict fixer upper, and all Nick can focus on is finding Beth, who disappeared without a trace six years ago. Riley is feeling mighty neglected, and She want the old Nick back, not this obsessed model. Nick is even ignoring current cases, and everyone has just about had it with him.

Mrs. Penny and the Senior gang from next door just don't seem to understand boundaries. Like a closed, locked door means they don't want visitors. But Mrs. Penny has some cases and in order to get everyone off his back, Nick agrees to take them on. A bully, a clown thief and a doggy doody bandit. Such fun!

Life gets really weird when Beth Weber shows up calling herself Sesame and looking like she won the lottery, but with a real thin explanation for where she has been for six years. When Riley tries to read her, her psychic abilities go on the fritz which leaves her in psychic limbo. Then a deadly warning is dropped on her doorstep, and it looks like Beth may have been up to no good for those six missing years.

With Halloween fast approaching and with it, Nick's birthday, Riley is bulldozed into a Halloween/Suprise Birthday Party. Believe me, nothing good comes from this situation. But Nick finally has his answers as to what Beth was up to for all those years, and it was indeed no good.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Profile Image for Deanna Alves.
77 reviews20 followers
May 7, 2024
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!

Thriller/mystery, comedy, and romance all together. Put reading this book at the top of your to-do list.

Thank you, @Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this E-arc.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,319 reviews
June 1, 2024
4.5/5 stars

This is the third book in the Riley Thorn cozy mystery series.

I love books featuring psychics. So I adore that Riley can talk to the dead and read minds of the living.

After the way book two ended I needed to start this book immediately. I have really grown attached to these characters. Riley and Nick are so great together. And their families and kooky neighbors add so much to the series.

This was another fun story. I can’t wait to see what the gang is up to next.

Thanks to Bloom Books and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
Profile Image for Laura.
731 reviews54 followers
July 30, 2022
I’m confused with what happened to this series. Book one was a five star read for me. This I could hardly finish. The antics of these characters stopped being amusing in the last book. This is grade school level stuff. The author promises more cases to solve in the future. I think I’ll pass.
Profile Image for Catherine Victor Simpson.
284 reviews16 followers
May 17, 2024
I was given the opportunity to read this book and the next in the series, however I had not read the first two instalments.
I'm glad to say I didn't necessarily feel like it is a must to read the others in order to follow this one. Yes the story continues and there are many characters to follow but you tend to get the gist of who they are and what they are all about.
We have Riley Thorn the made character psychic girlfriend of Nick Santiago former cop turned private investigator, Weber, Nick's cop best friend, Brian, Nick's cousin and Josie his wife who both work for Nick. Jasmine, Riley's best friend. Blosson and Wander, Riley's also psychic mother and sister. Mrs Penny and a whole host of geriatric neighbours who also seem to dabble in the PI world. Gabe, Riley's psychic guide.
Whilst I can easily say the characters and their interactions, communication with each other was my favourite part of the book, keeping the book moving along a somewhat dreary and lacking plot. If it wasn't for these characters I definitely would have DNF the book. I found it longer than it needed to be but it seems this author is fond of longer drawn out books.
The plot seemed childish and lacking in realism or depth. I felt like I was watching a bad 80s cop series.
I hope the next instalment has a better storyline although at least I will be well familiarised with this great cast of characters that definitely save this book.
634 reviews11 followers
April 16, 2022
This was so much fun! Riley has finally started to appreciate her special gifts and is using them still being led by Gabe. Nick is still working as a PI but is working on a case to the side. Mrs. Penny was hilarious as she always is. There were definite twists & turns and of course all of the comedy you'd expect from both Lucy & this series.
50 reviews
May 2, 2022
What. Happened.

I was so disappointed. I didn’t laugh one time. Not once. I was so excited for this book to come out. I loved the first two. This was a let down. I found the whole thing to be annoying, frustrating, and boring. What happened to the funny?
Profile Image for Samantha.
147 reviews51 followers
May 29, 2024
I love this series because it’s silly, quirky, and action packed. However, this one was just meh for me. Still looking forward to the next one though
Profile Image for ⊱✿⊰ Alicia ⊱✿⊰ .
675 reviews466 followers
July 27, 2024
4.5 Lost power stars!!



When Riley loses her psychic powers she is forced to do things the old fashioned way and she does old fashioned well. I am enjoying this series more and more, I think I just had to get used to the way it was written. I was slowly dragged into Riley and Nicks world, now I just need more!

It is definitely the cast of characters that makes this series good. Mrs Perry, the old lady with purple hair who invested in Nicks detective agency is a HOOT. The mystery was good but it is more about the characters than anything else.

Oh my gosh, the surprise dress up party was F#*king hilarious! Who knew a room full of drugged horny men (think Viagra) would be so funny. I was laughing so hard.



Best of the series so far!
Profile Image for Michele.
2,260 reviews
April 21, 2022
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
See the full review & more at HarlequinJunkie

Blast from the Past, the third book in Lucy Score’s Riley Thorn series, had enough zany shenanigans, lovable & trouble-making octogenarians, and Scooby Doo-style mystery plot twists to make this reader insanely happy to lose myself in its pages.

How does the Riley Thorn series just keep getting funnier and even more entertaining? After a bit of a bombshell thrown at Riley, Nick, and Kellen at the end of book two (Corpse in the Closet) by Riley’s scary psychic grandmother, this installment continued the search for Kellen’s sister Beth, who had been missing for six years. And what a tangled web that turned out to be. In a nutshell, expect the unexpected as the truth unravels... Read More
Profile Image for Bree.
71 reviews8 followers
April 24, 2022
Once again, Lucy delivers a laugh-out -loud peek into the lives of Nick and Riley, and it is every bit as entertaining as the first book in this series. You don't have to read the others to enjoy this one, but all the books follow the same couple and supporting characters, and they're all hilarious, so definitely start at the beginning and read them all.
What makes the Riley Thorn books so incredible is the cast of characters. The octogenarian former roommates are now Riley and Nick's neighbors, and their shenanigans are every bit as over-the-top and unapologetically intrusive as before. Wander and Gabe have this quietly blooming relationship, Brian and Josie are badass and in love, and the tension between Kellan and Jasmine is enough to make me blush! I especially love the primo cases the group takes on, making every small issue important and handing out justice in the most satisfying ways. And then there's Nick and Riley, and the way they complement each other while still driving each other nuts. The party scene in this one is so unexpected and perfect, I really did laugh out loud. Of course, everything comes together so sweetly in the end. I could go on and on about the nuances in these books and how consistently Lucy writes these characters from one book to the next. But that would ruin your fun - go read them all for yourself!
Profile Image for Shabby  -BookBistroBlog.
1,933 reviews985 followers
April 23, 2022
Well first of all Riley and Nick are surrounded by a bunch of Quirky (read looney) characters and then on top of that Halloween is approaching. I mean it's like a perfect storm waiting to happen!!
Nick is still obsessed with trying to find Beth, his partners sister who disappeared 6 years ago.
The psychics and twins and gate crashers all are urging him to divide his attention elsewhere to earn more cash, but nick being nick can't let go.
And then sesame turns up.
In bagels and in person.
It's a whole lotta fun, baskets of giggles and a wheredunnit, howdunnit going on before all the knots are unravelled.
Enjoy the laugh fest with mystery thrown in the indistinguishable style that is Score
4 stars for i love Lucy
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Profile Image for Heathers_readss.
847 reviews168 followers
January 9, 2025
Riley and Nick are back once again, only this time no one is dead (yet?)..
Quite the opposite.. we found out that a certain somebody is in fact alive and Nick is on the case determined more than ever to find answers from the mysteries in his past.

I will say Nick spends the first 40% of this book being one big grump.. but Riley’s family of psychics makes up for it by being as fun and quirky as ever.

We get more silly shenanigans from Polly with the purple hair , gabe the spirit guide and the stinky dog who insists on eating Taco Bell.

This series is full of feel good, dysfunctional family fun, mysteries with the side of occasional murder, spirit guides, psychic abilities and talking ghosts. We are here for the drama and the jokes.

My favourite Lucy score series by far. I will say out of the 3 books released I think book 3 lost a little bit of steam, but the end surprise birthday party scene certainly made up for it, safe to say I laughed out loud a LOT.

I am extremely excited for the upcoming book 4 and have a feeling it’ll come back with a vengeance and pack a punch for the reader.

Thank you to Lucy Score, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the EARC.
Publish date; May 14 (available now on KU)
81 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2022
I needed about 90% less Penny &friends in this book and more plot/character building of Riley & Nick. I jumped from 30% (because Mrs. Penny annoyed the eff out of me) of the way through the book to 80% (to read the ending) and didn't miss a thing. I gave the first 2 books 4 stars each, so this was disappointing.
Profile Image for Samantha Selig.
Author 2 books3 followers
May 22, 2022
I wanted to love this....but it just fell so flat. WAY too much poop / fart / "doody" and an emphasis on a non-sensical plot made for a very boring read. Nick was an asshole for a large part of the book and there are WAY too many storylines about the elderly neighbors. Also I thought Jasmine and Kellen might end up together but that seemingly went no where.
Profile Image for ✨⚡  Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨.
643 reviews586 followers
July 8, 2023
3.75 stars

This ended up being another overly ridiculous one and really just gave me Thor Love and Thunder vibes. Doubled down on the comedy so that it became more annoying than funny.

But I still enjoyed the series overall and the relationship with Riley and Nick.
2,692 reviews25 followers
April 13, 2022
5*
Riley has slowly come more to terms with her abilities and using them more with the guidance of Gabe.
Nick has his head down desperate to find Beth who they now believe isn't dead.
However not everyone is jumping for joy and the truth isn't always what you want it to be.
I absolutely loved the book I love the humour Lucy puts into the characters a definitely must read.
Profile Image for Jess - Reader of Books.
1,021 reviews72 followers
May 12, 2024
The Blast From The Past by Lucy Score 💞
Riley Thorn, Book 3
Interconnected Standalone (must be read in order)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance • Mystery
ARC Review
352 pages
🗓️ May 14th

🔎 romantic suspense
🏠 laughing out loud moments
🔎 just propose already!!!!😜
🏠 grumpy x sunshine
🔎 close proximity
🏠 found family + crazy family

📌“Four months into this relationship thing, and she still made him feel weird glowing s*** in his chest whenever she walked into a room.”

📌 “This is my first birthday with you. It’s already the best.”

Dear Lucy,

Just between us two, here where no one can hear us… What’s her middle name? This is a safe place. You can tell me. Seriously. WHAT’S HER MIDDLE NAME?! I’m losing my mind here 🤯 please. Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaassssseeeeee. I have tacos 🌮👀

Also, I’m manifesting 100 more Riley Thorn books and a detective you-know-who + you-know-who best friend book. Like really manifesting. Pretty please, cherry on top manifesting. Because these books are everything that was missing in my life and I had no idea.

I’m laughing countless times.
I’m coming home with each book.
I’m rooting for these flawed characters so fiercely that you might think they’re my own family and friends.

This summer do yourself a favor and pick up this series. It’s funny, 🥵, with tons of heart and a whole lot of mystery. 👏🏼
Profile Image for Nanasbookreviews.
1,814 reviews52 followers
April 16, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Riley Thorn and the Blast from the Past by Lucy Score is a cozy mystery. It's the third book from the Riley Thorn series.

To say that this book is the best mystery I have read this year, would be absolutely true. It's incredible, unique, and downright hilarious. It's a great mix of comedy and mystery with an engaging plot and magnificent characters. From the first few chapters, you realize what a gemstone this will be. It begins with a captivating scene and then it slowly unfolds the storyline. My favorite
parts are the comedic scenes between the octogenarian neighbors and the younger generation. Mrs. Penny is the best character in the whole book.

Even though it's a part of a series it can be read as a standalone. Although I highly recommend you to read the previous two books before this one. I regret not doing it but I will soon.

If you are having a bad day read this book and I guarantee you that it will make you feel so much better. I will rate it with five bright stars.





1)She held up another burrito in a threatening manner. “Come at me, bro.”
2)“Looks like the po-po is about to poo-poo his pants,”
3)“Yeah. Good times. Hey. What do you think couples who don’t find dead bodies everywhere talk about?”
502 reviews5 followers
April 18, 2022
I didn't think Lucy Score could beat the first two books in this series. But she has!
Riley and Nick's lives are crazy. No two ways about it. From the ex roommates that now are next door neighbors, to Riley's family, to Burt the massive dog, to Riley's mentor Gabe to Nick's ex partner and his sister's disappearance, to smelly closets and self locking doors, this book will make you laugh, snort, and giggle.
Riley Thorn and the Blast From the Past is the perfect escape. Need to get away from your reality for a while? Read this book. Need a break from work stuff? Read this book. Just want a wonderful laugh out loud, feel good, oh my goodness how does she come up with this stuff story? READ THIS BOOK!
1,623 reviews6 followers
April 21, 2022
OMG!! I never knew anyone could have such an imagination or a propensity for crazy. However, Lucy has shown us that she does in this crazy, hilarious story. As I continued to turn page after page I wondered how so much funny stuff could get put in one book. While the humor is laugh out loud funny, the excitement of the suspense and criminal elements are quite unbelievable and outrageous. So my honest opinion on this book is if you want to laugh your butt off, get introduced to the wackiest characters, and just enjoy a memorable read, go buy this book.
Profile Image for Mindy Lou's Book Review.
2,997 reviews799 followers
May 24, 2024
Another entertaining installment of the Riley Thorn series! The whole gang is back and up to even more mischief as they try to solve another case. These audiobooks are fun and I love the narrator. I think she does a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life. I’m looking forward to book four!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,141 reviews

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