Going To The Bad by Nora McFarland

From Amazon - Working as a TV news photographer at her hometown television station, Lilly has documented Bakersfield’s most violent crimes and tragic accidents. To stay sane and avoid burnout, she’s developed a wicked sense of humor and a very thick skin. For her, a vicious shooting is just another day on the job. But what if the victim is someone she loves? Thrown off balance by the brutal attack on her uncle Bud in her own home, Lilly decides to handle the tragedy the only way she knows how. Using all her TV station’s resources and her own considerable skills, Lilly dives headlong into the investigation. But even with the assistance of her well-meaning but eccentric coworkers, this story may prove her last. Because as Lilly untangles a history of her uncle’s misdeeds and betrayals, a clever killer is preparing to strike again. Can she break the story in time to prevent another murder, or will Lilly be the next victim?

Lilly Hawkins is a news photographer and she is good at her job.  She takes grisly crime scene photographs and more often than not, finds herself caught up in the investigation.  Christmas Eve, she hears on the scanner that shots were fired, so she moves quickly when she gets the location, her house!  She knows that her boyfriend Rod is there and she's scared he's been hurt or worse.

But when she arrives, she realizes that it's her Uncle Bud who was shot.  She didn't even know he was in town. But neither here nor there, Lilly wants to know who shot him and why.  With some help of her newspaper co-workers, she dives into the investigation, not liking where some of it takes her - into Uncle Bud's shady past.  

What ensues is a hysterical, page-turning suspense that will keep you thoroughly entertained. McFarland has a knack at character development and dialogue that really brings them to life.  Lilly's sarcasm and wit gave me a few chuckles and I was impressed with the pace of this story.

This is the first McFarland novel I have read, but it is the third in the series.  Going To The Bad can be read as a standalone - I had no problems with backstory of characters or events.  However, I  urge you to get the first two in the series, A Bad Day's Work and Hot, Shot, and Bothered, just because if they are anything as good as this one - they can't be missed.  Mystery lovers won't want to miss this one!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.