A Bad Day for Pretty: A Crime Novel

Sophie Littlefield

Jun 2010 · Stella Hardesty Crime Novels Book 2 · Sold by Minotaur Books

About this ebook

A New York Times Notable Book!

A Bad Day for Pretty is the thrilling sequel to A Bad Day for Sorry, Sophie Littlefield's award-winning debut featuring Stella Hardesty, one of the most applauded and exciting new heroines in crime fiction today.

Stella Hardesty, avenger of wronged women, is getting cozy with Sheriff "Goat" Jones when a tornado blows none other than Goat's scheming ex-wife, Brandy, through the front door. Adding to the chaos, the tornado destroys the snack shack at the demolition derby track, pulling up the concrete foundation and unearthing a woman's body. The main suspect in the woman's murder is Neb Donovan---he laid the foundation, and there's some pretty hard evidence pointing to his guilt. Years ago, Neb's wife asked Stella for help getting him sober. Stella doesn't believe the gentle man could kill anyone, and she promises his frantic wife she'll look into it.

Former client Chrissy Shaw is now employed at Stella's sewing shop and she helps with the snooping as Stella negotiates the unpredictable Brandy and the dangerously magnetic sheriff.

Ratings and reviews

Stella Hardesty returns after her adventures left her injured at the conclusion of "A Bad Day for Sorry." She had been abused by her husband for years and ended the abuse and her husband's life. Now, she helps other women get out of abusive situations. She's having dinner at Sheriff "Goat" Jones home. The two of them have been building up to a more physical relationship and just as things are looking good, the Sheriff's scheming ex-wife, Brandy, arrives. Brandy hasn't seen Goat in three years and each claims that the other never got around to signing the divorce papers, so they're still legally married. As this is transpiring, a tornado rips the town and blows over the snack shop at the demolition derby track at the fairgrounds. Under the rubble, a mumified body of a woman is found. Neb Donovan had been in charge of the construction and he becomes the leading suspect. His wife, Donna, hires Stella to look into it and clear Neb's name. Donna had asked Stella to intervene in the past when Neb had been addicted to Oxycontin. It appeared that Neb's recovery had gone well, until now. This is an entertaining novel. There are some laugh out loud moments and the author keeps the reader's attention as layers of the puzzle are peeled away and a possible solution is arrived at. It is refreshing to see a woman who had been abused get out of the abusive situation and Stella and her young associate, Chrissy, show that they have the strength to take matters into their own hands. Great fun.

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About the author

Sophie Littlefield grew up in rural Missouri. Her first novel, A Bad Day for Sorry, won an Anthony Award for Best First Novel and an RT Book Award for Best First Mystery. It was also shortlisted for Edgar, Barry, Crimespree, and Macavity Awards. Sophie lives near San Francisco, California.