Bad Press

by Rachel Mucha

Crime reporter Evie Hartley was at the height of her career, but a series of ethical missteps cost her everything. Now, she’s working for a small-town newspaper’s culture section, trying to prove to everyone, especially herself, that she’s able to do her job by the book. When there’s an opening for the crime beat, Evie jumps at the chance. And while she manages to impress her boss, she makes an enemy of the detective she played to get the inside scoop. Her methods may straddle the line between professional and underhanded, but they work, and Evie solves a case the police haven't been able to crack. Detective Marcus "Penn" Pennington reluctantly calls a truce and becomes her go-to police source as she investigates more crimes for the paper. Evie’s thirst for the truth sets her on a dangerous path, and poking around in a cold case results in sinister anonymous threats. When she forms an alliance with someone who seems to know far more about the missing person’s disappearance than he should, Penn sticks to Evie like glue, blurring the lines between protection and possession. But even with a cop watching her back, Evie's willingness to do anything to get the story might just get her killed.

302 pages, Paperback

Published September 11, 2022

About the author

Rachel debuted with Another Day, Another Partner in 2022, but she's been writing all her life, whether it be short stories or satire articles. A graduate of Ithaca College, Rachel currently proofreads by day, and writes mystery novels by night. Her fascination with crime-solving started at a young age with Nancy Drew books, and carried into adulthood with countless detective shows and novels. Rachel currently resides in the Philadelphia suburbs, where you're just as likely to find her wrapped up in a dark police procedural as a mushy romantic comedy. When she's not reading or writing, Rachel enjoys playing tennis, mixing up fancy cocktails, and traveling to new states.

Reviews

[Rachel Mucha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, my favorite thing I’ve written is out in the world! This book is so special to me, from the crazy, twisty mystery to the slow-burn romance between my complete opposite leads. Evie is who I want to be when I grow up—strong, positive, and determined despite her past and flaws. There’s humor and heart and darkness in this book, and I hope you all love it as much as I do.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Mucha knocked “Bad Press” out of the park with mystery, romance, and death threats! What’s not to like?

Read full review in the 2022 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book led me on one heck of a wild goose chase; one interspersed with plenty of shiny red herrings to lead me astray. I loved the ultra slow burn between our leading “couple”. The question of “will they or won’t they?” kept me hanging on, rather desperate to find out which answer it would be. The villain had me baffled. I still hadn’t figured it out when Evie finally put the last pieces of the puzzle together. I consider any mystery that can keep me guessing until the end a very find mystery indeed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.

[Jessica S · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN READ!! Great voice with a twisty mystery.

I'd recommend this book to readers who enjoyed THE HATING GAME and who enjoy cozy mysteries.

I'm so glad I decided to read this one! It's not often I find myself unsure how a mystery book is actually going to end, but by the end, I was dying to know who actually "dunnit" or if it had even actually been done. LOL Really fun reading experience.

[Aliya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evie is stuck in Bristol Virginia after her crime beat career crashed and burned in DC. When she gets the chance to get back on to the crime beat in her small town she finds herself getting on the wrong side of the police department, including handsome detective Marcus Pennington.

This book really started off great! Right off the bat Evie showed that she was smart and a badass. The story sets up the antagonism but attraction between Evie and Penn really well.

However, that starts to fade a bit as we get into the story. The crime Evie investigates was interesting, and exactly what I would expect her to look into to boost her profile as a crime reporter. The crime part of this story worked really well. However, the way Evie allows herself to be manipulated by some of the main suspects was aggravating. From the description of her as a big city crime reporter and intelligent woman, it felt a bit out of character that she was so easily swayed by the male main suspect.

And in terms of the romantic part of the book, though we had a really great start. But the bulk of the middle of the story was a back and forth with Marcus but so much more back than forth. It took a bit too long for either of them to even acknowledge an interest in each other. The continued denial was tiresome. That being said, both characters were great, and I was rooting for them to get together (just like Grace!). And just a note that there is absolutely no spice in this book other than some light kissing.

Overall I think this was a good romantic suspense story, but was missing something to push it over to ‘great’.

Read and reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley.

[Skylar DiGuiseppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good press only for Bad Press!
I found myself going back and forth throughout the entire novel trying to figure out “who did it.”
The plot was engaging, and I found myself caring about ALL the characters.
This novel was the perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, humor, and romance. I’d recommend this book to ANYONE!
Can’t wait to read more by this incredible author!

[Charlene Groome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I love how Rachel mixes suspense with a little romance.

[Jess White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Mucha’s sophomore novel is somehow more riveting than her first book! Bad Press has it all: suspense, true crime, mystery, amazing sexual tension and a budding romance between a seemingly antagonistic pair who bond over their mutual attraction/annoyance for each other. The interactions and chemistry between Evie and Penn make this story so captivating - and the details of the case they’re “working on” together also kept me eagerly reading through each page. Stellar character development and a well-thought-out, interesting plot make this novel a standout! If you aren’t in love with Evie and Penn at the end of Bad Press, I don’t know what to tell you. Can’t recommend this one enough - especially for true-crime enthusiasts!

[Elise Kipness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad Press was a fun read with a witty, relatable reporter who was easy to cheer for. Rachel Mucha has an enjoyable writing style that keeps the reader engaged. Thoroughly enjoyed!

[Douglas Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our heroine got into trouble for breaking a few too many rules and now she is trying to prove herself all over again. And having our hero dog her steps every inch of the way is both good and bad. Bad because he is a stickler for rules and something of a distraction. Good because she might really need his help to survive this case.

This is a mystery story with a slow burn romance to boot. The story is well written and easy to read, but not easy to figure out. The mystery is very good with plenty of twists and turns that challenge even the veteran mystery reader to figure out ahead of time. The characters are also well done, with solid and realistic personalities that bring the story to life. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and look forward to exploring more from this author.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book by Rachel Mucha has just as much charm as the first. The character Evie is well written and the mystery that she and Pennington have to solve together before being killed is an interesting one. As always, things get a little steamy but not quite as steamy as some would like (these are definitely "cozy mysteries" and as such, they are charming). I look forward to reading more from Mucha, I miss these characters as much as I did the ones from Another Day, Another Partner. In fact, I can't decide which book I enjoyed more...so there better be new installments of both--soon. :)

[Alyssa Pedrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

BAD PRESS was such a fun ride! The main character, Evie, is perfectly imperfect - I was cheering for her one minute and wanting to lecture her the next! She had a past, has made mistakes - and I felt that made her super real and relatable. The bold risks she took made for a really compelling storyline, too.

The way Mucha balances romance and mystery in this story was masterful. Evie and Penn had a complex dynamic and incredible chemistry that kept me wanting more. And the cold case kept me guessing the whole time, with twists and turns that made me desperate to turn the page.

There was also a great balance of serious topics/conversations and light, fun humor. This book made me laugh, made me gasp, made my heart soften and made my heart race. I absolutely loved it and am already so excited for Mucha's next book!

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad Press was a fun read from beginning to end! I couldn’t figure out “whodunnit” but I was invested in the characters early on. I found myself rooting for Evie, despite her past mistakes. This book held my interest and wrapped up the story just the way it should. Great book!

[Kathryn Troy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this book, but it was a slow burn on both the crime side and the romance side, which is not usually the pace I like to go at. Especially in the case of the romance, it wasn't a whole lot of payoff for all that waiting. But overall I liked the plot and the characters. Would recommend for people who prefer a slow-burn book and dialed down heat.

[Ilona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evie Hartley – once a crime reporter for a big city paper is now the writing stories about up-and-coming local artists and cultural events in a small town. The current crime reporter is fired and Evie jumps at the chance of proving herself to take his place. Has she learned her lesson and will she be able to work by the book? Back to square one, with no connections in the police department how will she finish writing the story? Through process of elimination and some adventure her contact becomes Detective Pennington, or Penn as she nicknames him. The 2 develop a bit of a complicated relationship which makes the reading fun. Penn sticks to her and has her back but she still seems to find trouble.
I hope there will be more stories featuring Evie and Penn.
It’s a fun, easy but still interesting mystery read – a nice balance between a cozy and more thriller/mystery genre

[Illustrious Illusions · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bad Press" by Rachel Mucha is a gripping mystery thriller that delves into the dark side of media manipulation and scandal, keeping readers guessing until the very end.

[Between Pages with Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good!! It was a good mix of mystery, romance and bravery! I wished there was a litttleee more romance between Penn and Evie but I adored this book! My first real adult book in the romantic murder mystery world and im obsessed!

[tei hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

penn and evie are my babies and i love them and that is all

[Ali Molenaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime reporter Evie Hartley was at the height of her career, but a series of ethical missteps cost her everything. Now, she’s working for a newspaper’s culture section in Bristol, Virginia, trying to prove to everyone, especially herself, that she’s able to do her job by the book. When there’s an opening for the crime beat, Evie jumps at the chance. And while she manages to impress her boss, she makes an enemy of detective Marcus Pennington she played to get the inside scoop.
She writes a blog and decides to go on a story about Danielle who disappeared ten years ago.
First: fun? Yes absolutely, I liked Evie although she is a bit gullible and naive for a journalist, and I liked Marcus. They had chemistry.
Second: why oh why does she believe a guy who has almost certain something to do with the disappearance of Danielle? Why does she go out with the guy who is an obvious liar and a louse? Some stupid choices she makes for a smart journalist.
Overall: a nice detective / romance and absolutely worth reading.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this from Librarything. So thank you Owl Press.

Evie is a small town reporter who is desperately looking for a way out of reporting fluff stories. She had been a crime reporter at a bigger paper in a bigger city but was fired for indiscretions while looking for information.

She gets the opportunity to be the crime reporter once again and succeeds. She soon finds a cold case that deserves another look. She suspects an important affluent family is possibly involved. As she starts to investigate, it takes her into dangerous territories and begins to do stupid things to get her information.

I found Evie and most of the characters interesting and the red herrings abounded. However, there were gaping holes in the investigation that made the entire plot unrealistic. Both Evie, her newspaper and the police did things that were blatantly illegal and any bottom of the class lawyer would be successful in throwing evidence out. Because of all these illegal activities the author had to find a boring predictable ending

[Gordon Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small town reporter Evie Hunter used to be a crime reporter on the Washington Post. But she was fired and ends up in a small Virginia town, the only place she could find a job. Desperate to get back on the crime beat, she is determined to take her chance when it comes along.

Getting close to an attractive local detective seems a good start. And finding a serial rapist doesn't hurt either. So Evie decided to investigate a local mystery: the disappearance of a young girl almost ten years earlier.

Bad Press is a quick read. There is little depth to the characters and the plot feels rather Nancy Drew. Evie doesn't really work, alternating between young reporter and love sick teenager. I just couldn't see her as a city reporter on a prestigious paper at all. And the ending is all rather obvious.

[Cassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable!

This book was readable-ly average. It was a one night read for me. The characters were decently developed, but the interactions were on the cliche side. The plot had enough little twists to keep the reader from being bored. For a weekend read you won't be overly disappointed, but don't expect this to be an edge of your seat page-turner.

I would have really liked the hero and heroine to have developed a really good, strong friendship. Lust and sex are not the definition and construction of truly strong bonds and they are cheap and cliche plot mechanics that can decrease the value of the story.

[LP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out 5 stars. Halfway through I was rolling my eyes. Evie worked on a big DC newspaper as a crime reporter?? You'd never know it from the way she acts. She lies about everything to everyone. The cops seem too stupid to figure things out. The mystery isn't hard to solve. And yet....it was witty and the banter was good, and it was a really quick read. Not giving up on this author yet.

[Shari Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Nice mix of mystery/romance with a bit of “oh, no, really?” to it. Couldn’t put it down. Had to see how it ended!!