Sunday, 8am
Today is my day off—from work and from being Riley Ellison. I wake up and make a vow not do any of the things I usually do. I am not going to make any phone calls, do any research, write any obituaries, or accuse anyone of murder. Today I am going to be the anti-Riley!

8:15am
Operation New Riley starts by shaking up my daily routine. Normally on Sundays I would pour myself a cup of coffee and read the Obit section in one the many newspapers I subscribe to online. Some people think my obsession with obituaries is ghoulish, but I think it provides a beautiful perspective on the things that matter most in this world. And now that I’m a professional obituary writer, like my beloved Granddaddy (may he rest in peace), I am able to help bring that perspective to the readers of Tuttle County.

Anyway, today instead of reading the obits, I do what most 25-year-olds do to start their day: I look at Instagram. I am immediately hit with the overwhelming sense that I’m doing it wrong—being 25, that is. When I scroll through my feed, it’s a constant barrage of duck face, peace signs, rosé all day, and partying all night. If I were the kind of person who actually ever posted anything on Instagram, my posts would include pictures of books, coffee, really nice pencils, and one particularly furry German Shepherd. Like I said, I think I’m doing it wrong. I make a pledge to fix that today.

Instead of coffee, I opt for a glass of water instead. Progress! I place my glass of water on top of a tray, set a bud vase with a pink Gerber daisy beside it, snap a pic, and post it to Instagram. #waterislife #hydrate #8glassesaday. And then I put my laptop in the oven. I figure if it’s in the oven, it’ll be harder for me to get to it and accidentally look at the obits.

9:45am
Regular Riley would take Coltrane (aka 94lbs of the sweetest German Shepherd in the world) for a walk, but New & Improved Riley decides to step it up by taking him on a run! I get about three blocks away when it becomes clear this is a bad idea. Running is horrible. I silently curse New Riley for making me do this—and without coffee. I’m beginning to resent her just a little. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’m dying. While I stop to catch my breath, I take a picture of my running shoes, apply a filter called Crema, and upload it to Instagram. #runnerlife #sundayfundayrunday #fitgirl. Then, I walk back home.

2:37pm
Holman, my friend and co-worker from the Times calls.
“Were you out running today?” he asks.
“Yes. How’d you know?”
“I saw your post on Instagram.” He pauses and then asks suspiciously, “Why were you running?”
“Why do you think? For fitness!” I say defensively.
“Hmm.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ve just never known you to willingly engage in physical fitness activities,” he says. “Or post about it on your social media accounts. Are you feeling okay?”
“Maybe I’m trying to improve myself, Holman. Maybe I’d like to do something other than read books, eat croissants, and get trapped by homicidal maniacs for once!”
He is quiet for a few seconds, allowing my mini-temper tantrum to die out. When he speaks again, it’s in a gentle tone. “For the record, I don’t think your ‘self’ needs improving.”

If I could hashtag a conversation, this one would be #aww #Holmanisthebest #weirdbutsweet

9:22pm
I decide to take a bath, something Regular Riley never has time for. I rummage through my cabinet looking for some bubble bath, but all I find is an old tube of shower gel from a Hampton Inn I stayed at years ago. The water is warm and the bubbles tingle and fizz on my skin. I enjoy this feeling for about seven and a half-seconds before feeling tragically, desperately bored. Why do people love baths? I grab my phone, take a pic of my toes popping up through the bubbly water, apply a filter called Reyes, and post it to IG. #bubbles #bathtime #relaxation. As soon as the pic uploads, I get out the tub and drain the water.

11:58pm
OMG, can this day be over already? I miss Regular Riley. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually excited to go to work tomorrow. Holman and I are reporting on this crazy story about a wealthy socialite who was found murdered in Tuttle Corner. And it just came out that our friend Rosalee (who owns the most amazing little French café downtown) may have been having an affair with her husband. I can’t believe that Rosalee could be involved in murder. . . but—oh wait! It’s midnight! I stop what I’m doing and run to the kitchen to rescue my laptop from the oven. #obitsatlast #freetobeme #thisisrileyellison

You can read more about Riley in The Ugly Truth, the third book in the “Riley Ellison” traditional mystery series, released June 18, 2019.

There’s been a shocking double murder in Tuttle Corner, Virginia, involving high-profile players from Washington D.C. This brings national attention―and big-city competition for the story―to junior reporter Riley Ellison’s little corner of the world. Beloved café owner Rosalee is the prime suspect in the violent crimes, but she insists on her innocence. In exchange for protection, Rosalee gives Riley and her fellow reporter Holman exclusive information that incriminates a powerful person.

Meanwhile, Personal Romance Concierge™ Regina H. is back, offering once-again-single Riley not just online dating expertise but also a new subscription self-care service that promises such benefits as “the sensation of emotional bravery on a micromolecular level.”

Riley and Holman eventually begin to wonder if Rosalee is telling the truth. They head down separate investigative paths until one of them finds the truth… and one of them finds the killer.

This third installment in the Riley Ellison mystery series is rich with all the suspense, humor, small-town charm, and captivating characters that made the first two books a hit with critics and fans alike.

Purchase Link
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About the author
Jill Orr is the author of The Good Byline and The Bad Break. A graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Orr lives in Columbia, Missouri, with her husband and two children. The Ugly Truth is her third novel. To learn more about Jill, visit her website at jillorrauthor.com.

All comments are welcomed.

Thanks to Jill Orr for donating a print copy of The Ugly Truth. Contest ends June 21, 2019 and is limited to U.S. residents. Please leave comment in box below. The winner will be notified by email (so check your spam folder). Good luck everyone!