A Long Stretch of Bad Days

A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis

Lydia Chass doesn't mind living in a small town: she just doesn't want to die in one. A lifetime of hard work has put her on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind -- until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating. Undettered, Lydia has a plan to earn that credit: transform her listener-friendly local history podcast into a truth-telling expose. She'll investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days: a week when Henly was hit by a fornado and a flash flood, as well as its first -- and only -- murder, which remains unsolved.

But Lydia needs help to bring grit to the show. Bristal Jamieson has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs a credit to graduate. The unexpected partnership brings together the Chass famly -- a pillar of the community -- and the rough-and-tumble Jamisons, with Bristal hoping to be the first in her family to graduate. Together, they dig into the town's worst week, determined to solve the murder.

Their investigation unearths buried secrets: a hidden town brothel, lost family treasure, and a teen girl who disappeared. But the past is never far, and some don't want it to see the light. As threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.

This gripping mystery from award-winning author Mindy McGinnis shows the power of a name and one lie and how two girls can use their voices to change a town forever.

Katherine Tegen Books, Hardcover, 1st Edition, 1st Printing, 2023