A Bad Day's Work: A Novel (A Lilly Hawkins Mystery) [Paperback]

Nora McFarland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 3, 2010

Lilly Hawkins is having one of those days. . . .

The last thing she needs is a murder to solve.

Nothing seems to be going Lilly’s way. A TV news photographer at her hometown television station, she’s one of the hardest working "shooters" there, but her pit-bull personality and a series of unlucky blunders have put her job in jeopardy.

So when an urgent story breaks in the middle of the night, Lilly is determined to turn her bad luck around and get the respect she deserves. But the pressure is on; either she delivers amazing video or she’s fired. After busting her butt and dodging the cops, Lilly has what could be the biggest scoop of her career—exclusive video of a murder scene. Or does she have it? Lilly is stunned when the tape played in front of the entire newsroom is nothing but dead air.

Soon she’s on the run from criminals and police, both of whom claim Lilly’s video is the key to solving the murder and think she pocketed the real tape. Can she escape her pursuers long enough to catch the killer, or will she end the day as the next victim?

Lilly’s bad day just keeps getting worse, but the one thing she knows for sure is that she’d like to live to see more of them. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Photojournalist Lilly Hawkins’ bad day begins when she maneuvers her way past a police line to shoot a murder scene. When the tape she has just shot turns out to be blank, it seems like another of the recent screwups that are threatening a potential promotion and even her job as the only TV camerawoman in Bakersfield, California. But those prospects pale when she faces bodily harm or worse at the hands of crooked cops and the vicious leader of a local gang, all of whom are after the tape. Seeking redemption, Lilly pursues the murder story, calling on her somewhat disreputable uncle Bud for help after colleagues she considered friends sell her out. Amid nonstop action, she vacillates between two potential suitors, a detective known as Handsome Homicide and telegenic reporter Rod Strong. Former Bakersfield camerawoman McFarland clearly knows her technical stuff in this first of a projected trilogy, but the convoluted plotline can be confusing, and Lilly’s repeated self-analysis gets tiring. Still, McFarland has an appealingly flawed protagonist here, and fans of Julie Kramer’s Minneapolis TV reporter, Riley Spatz, will likely take to Lilly, too. --Michele Leber

Review

"McFarland's debut, the first in a planned series, is often both amusing and touching as Lilly discovers both the truth about the murder and enough about herself to change her life." -Kirkus Reviews

"A wonderful debut novel! Action packed, with a heroine who's sure to win your heart." -Marcia Muller, New York Times bestselling author

 "This cozy mystery-with-an-edge is especially appealing because the characters are not typecast. Far from bland, their zaniness is reminiscent of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. The next installment of this excellent new series can't come soon enough." -BookPage

"McFarland, herself a former "shooter" for a Bakersfield TV station, nails the newsroom as well as her feisty, funny accidental sleuth..." -Publisher's Weekly

"Packed full of adrenaline and attitude, A BAD DAY'S WORK is a roller-coaster ride of a mystery. Don't miss it!"

—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of Look Again

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (August 3, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439155488
• ISBN-13: 978-1439155486
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,168,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Welcome to my Author Page! Thanks for checking me out. The second Lilly Hawkins mystery, HOT, SHOT, AND BOTHERED, is now available! I'm hard at work on her third adventure, which is scheduled for release in the summer of 2012.
My publisher has kindly included reading group guides at the end of my books, as well as some possible discussion questions.
For additional information and updates, you can visit my website, www.noramcfarland.com, or become a fan on Facebook.
Thanks for visiting!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Bad Day's Work, August 5, 2010

By 

Kim Zachman - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Bad Day's Work: A Novel (A Lilly Hawkins Mystery) (Paperback)

This was a fun read. Since it was touted as similar to Janet Evanovich, I was expecting a quirky heroine and some humor and I was not disappointed at all. In fact, I like Lilly Hawkins better. And her Uncle Bud deserves a book of his own. He's fantastically funny. This book's pleasant surprise (except that it kept me up too late reading) was that it is a page-turner. Lilly gets herself into and out of some very sticky jams and it was hard to put it down till she finally solved the mystery. McFarland has created a series with twists, turns, action, suspense, humor and a flawed but endearing heroine that you can't help but cheer for. I will definately be reading the second Lilly Hawkins mystery.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Entertaining!!!, August 14, 2010

By 

Wombat - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Bad Day's Work: A Novel (A Lilly Hawkins Mystery) (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Very entertaining with great bits of humor. It's always neat to learn something new and the detailed exposure to life in a newsroom of smaller city like Bakersfield was great. The jacket says the author also worked at CNN so I imagine it includes some experience from working with CNN's staff as well. All I can say is I got sucked into the story and stayed up late to finish "just one more chapter". I'm very much looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!, August 16, 2010

By 

sharmoor - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Bad Day's Work: A Novel (A Lilly Hawkins Mystery) (Paperback)

This was such a fun read and a real page-turner. I am impressed that this is the author's first novel. I loved all the characters from Lilly to her Uncle Bud. There is suspense and humor that keeps you intrigued. I hope this is the beginning of a long series of Lilly Hawkins books.

Sharlene Moore