A Bad Day’s Work

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Series: Lilly Hawkins Mysteries #1
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: August 3, 2010
Pages: 268
ISBN13: 978-1439155486

  

 
A Target Emerging Authors selection

Synopsis

For fans of Lisa Lutz and Janet Evanovich, the debut in a new series, A Bad Day’s Work is a fast-paced and funny mystery starring a wonderfully flawed TV camerawoman named Lilly who is caught at the right place but definitely the wrong time.

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 . . .

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Praise

A Bad Day’s Work, the debut novel of former CNN staffer Nora McFarland, is more than a compelling mystery—it’s a unique glimpse into the life of a small-town television news photographer. The story of Lilly Hawkins of Bakersfield, California, may be fiction, but the author’s fresh voice and careful attention to detail make the intrigue real… 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, July 2010

“Lilly is smart and funny, and the cast of characters that surrounds her is well-developed…The story will keep readers guessing, and the ultimate culprit will come as a surprise to most.  This is a fun one; Lilly’s future escapades will be eagerly anticipated.”
— Sacramento/San Francisco Book Review, July 2010

"Welcome to Nora McFarland and her unforgettable heroine, Lilly, who's as lovably dysfunctional as any character you'll ever read! She's funny, smart, and honest, albeit occasionally tactless - in short, fully human. 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 

"A wonderful debut novel! Action packed, with a heroine who's sure to win your heart."
— MARCIA MULLER, New York Times bestselling author of LOCKED IN

“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, July 2010

“McFarland, herself a former "shooter" for a Bakersfield TV station, nails the newsroom as well as her feisty, funny accidental sleuth…”
— Publisher's Weekly, July 2010

“A breath of fresh air to the world of lighthearted mysteries, Nora McFarland offers readers a charming new series with the introduction of "A Bad Day's Work". Off the wall in the best way, McFarland never lets you see what is coming as one crazy antic swiftly follows another. The sequel to this excellent debut will be worth the wait.”
— Suspense Magazine, September 2010

“Fortunately for us, A Bad Day’s Work reflects many a good day's work on the part of neophyte novelist Nora McFarland. Here’s hoping for more madcap exploits from Lilly Hawkins.”
— Mystery Scene Magazine, Online Exclusive, September 2010

"The action never stops in this first installment of a new mystery series. Lilly is surrounded by a colorful cast of characters, especially Uncle Bud, a scruffy homespun charmer."
— FreshFiction.com, July 2010

 

 

 

August 25, 2010


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