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The Preditorial Page (2014) by Amanda M. Lee is Book #5 in the Avery Shaw Mystery series, a cozy mystery that combines fast-paced newsroom reporting with small-town peril and one reporter’s stubborn refusal to play safe. It matters because it refines many of the series’ recurring strengths—snarky banter, layered characters, and a genuine sense of risk — while deepening the professional stakes for Avery Shaw.
Setting & Author Context
Amanda M. Lee places this story in suburban Michigan, where the local newsroom serves as Avery’s home base and the nearby riverfront becomes a dangerous scene. The setting shapes the tone by juxtaposing the familiar (family dinners, speed-dating events, newsroom gossip) with the unexpected (a naked body in the river, a stalking threat, the hunt for a killer). Lee’s background as a newspaper reporter shows up in details that feel authentic—deadlines, office politics, eccentric coworkers—and anchors the story so the suspense doesn’t feel forced. Her style uses humour and grit together: Avery cracks jokes but encounters real peril, so the novel balances cosy charm with credible tension.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
The story follows Avery Shaw as she expects a relatively quiet week—helping her cousin Lexie move, dealing with her mom’s nagging about dating, and juggling daily beats at her paper. Things go off script when a naked body is pulled from the Clinton River and the local sheriff, Jake Farrell, goes unusually silent. Avery smells a story. She presses in, aided by boyfriend Elliot Kane and the local medical examiner (who may have a crush on her). As she escorts Lexie to a speed-dating event for free investigators, the investigation ramps up: someone is watching Avery, someone is counting on her distraction, and the case morphs into a hunt for a serial-type killer who might be closer than she thought. The story builds by layering reporter chores with personal relationships and then tipping into danger: when Avery chooses to publish a lead no one else wants, she sets in motion consequences that ripple through her career, friendships, and safety.
Characters & Themes
- Avery Shaw – A local-paper reporter with a smart mouth and a big heart. She embodies professional perseverance: her belief that stories matter even when they’re inconvenient.
- Elliot Kane – Avery’s partner; he represents steadfast support and personal risk, showing what it means to stand by someone who thrives on chaos.
- Sheriff Jake Farrell – At once friend and frustration to Avery. He represents law enforcement’s limits and tensions when journalism pushes into danger.
- The Medical Examiner – Comic relief and unlikely ally; his awkward crush on Avery adds human texture and a reminder that reporting involves real people.
- Speed-Dating Event & the Clinton River Body – The unusual speed-dating subplot and the river body push the themes of appearance vs reality, hidden danger in familiar settings, and the cost of discovery.
Together, the characters explore themes of truth-seeking, professional identity, and personal courage. The question becomes not just What happened? but What will Avery do when the story finds her?
Tropes & Reader Experience
This novel uses familiar cozy-mystery tropes—small town, amateur sleuth (though Avery is “professional-ish”), banter, ensemble supporting cast—but Lee flips the formula by placing a reporter in scenarios involving undercover situations (speed-dating to gather intel) and direct threats (someone’s eye on Avery). The tone is witty, the pace brisk, and the setting unexpected enough to keep things fresh. Readers who enjoy “quirky female protagonist meets danger” or “workplace-meets-mystery” will find this a strong entry. The familiar setting reassures the reader, the tension pulls them in, and the humour keeps it fun.
Series Placement / Reading Order
The Preditorial Page is Book #5 in the Avery Shaw Mystery series.
Here’s the early sequence:
- Who, What, Where, When, Die (2011)
- If It Bleeds, It Leads (2012)
- Buried Leads (2013)
- Shot Off the Presses (2014)
- The Preditorial Page (2014)
- Misquoted & Demoted (2015)
… and so on.
While you can read Book #5 on its own, earlier books enhance your understanding of Avery’s relationships and background.
Reader Suitability / Why Read It
If you enjoy cosy mysteries that are witty, brisk, and driven by a protagonist who works a “real” job (reporter) and gets into real jeopardy, this book is a strong pick. The emotional impact comes from seeing Avery balance her personal life (family, romance, friends) with increasingly dangerous assignments. The tone stays light enough for comfort reading but brings credible stakes. It’s ideal for readers who want humour + heart + suspense rather than dark thrillers. Long-time fans will appreciate how the story builds on what came before; new readers will find it accessible enough to join mid-series.
Verified Book Facts
- Release year: 2014 (print edition July 23, 2014)
- Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (self-published imprint)
- ISBN-13: 9781500118181 (ISBN-10: 1500118184)
- Reader consensus: Goodreads rating ~4.48/5 from ~1,600 ratings.
- Audiobook: Narrated by Angel Clark.
Continue the Avery Shaw Mystery Series
Read other books in the Avery Shaw Mystery Series.