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Who, What, Where, When, Die (2011) by Amanda M. Lee launches the Avery Shaw Mystery series — a witty, fast-paced cozy mystery about a small-town reporter whose curiosity gets her caught in murder, mayhem, and newsroom chaos. This first book matters because it establishes Avery’s snark-filled world, introduces the newsroom as her battlefield, and defines the humor-meets-danger tone that drives the entire series.
Setting & Author Context
Set in the fictional Macomb County, Michigan, the story unfolds through the daily grind of the Macomb Daily newsroom — an environment Amanda M. Lee knows well from her own years in journalism. That professional background shapes the book’s realism: deadlines, source rivalries, and small-town gossip feel authentic, but they’re framed with laugh-out-loud banter.
Lee’s hallmark style — sarcastic dialogue, female camaraderie, and small-town absurdity with genuine stakes — begins here. Her Michigan backdrop provides both comfort and menace: a place where everyone knows each other… and secrets never stay buried.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
Avery Shaw is a young reporter who’d like nothing more than a quiet week covering local news — but small-town life never stays calm for long. When a routine assignment leads her to the site of a grisly murder, Avery’s instincts kick in. She can’t help poking around despite police warnings to stay clear.
As Avery investigates, she clashes with Sheriff Jake Farrell, an old acquaintance whose patience for nosy reporters wears thin, and she teams up with a persistent intern determined to make a name for himself. The story escalates when Avery discovers that the murder isn’t random — and the killer may have links to city politics, journalism, or both.
From stakeouts gone wrong to awkward dates and newsroom pranks, Avery navigates a world where truth has consequences. The novel strikes a balance between laugh-out-loud humor and legitimate suspense, showing that in small towns, the truth is always personal.
Characters & Themes
- Avery Shaw — Smart-mouthed, bold, and nosy to a fault, Avery embodies the journalist’s dilemma: curiosity is her gift and her curse.
- Jake Farrell — The sheriff torn between procedure and friendship; he represents authority versus transparency.
- Elliot Kane — A mysterious new face whose chemistry with Avery sparks immediately, laying the groundwork for the series’ long-running romance.
- Avery’s Family & Newsroom Colleagues — Provide humor, chaos, and warmth, showing that investigation isn’t just about work — it’s about relationships.
Core themes:
- Truth vs comfort: reporting can expose what the town doesn’t want to face.
- Humor as defense: sarcasm as Avery’s shield against danger.
- Independence vs connection: how doing her job challenges her ties to family and law enforcement.
Tropes & Reader Experience
Readers will recognize cozy-mystery favorites:
- Small-town murder with quirky suspects.
- An amateur sleuth (professional reporter in Avery’s case).
- Romantic tension simmering under investigation pressure.
- Humor that offsets dark discoveries.
The tone is breezy, irreverent, and self-aware — more newsroom sitcom than grim thriller — yet the mystery satisfies. Lee’s humor doesn’t undercut tension; it sharpens it. This debut is lighter in violence than typical crime fiction but heavier in personality than most cozy debuts.
Series Placement / Reading Order
This novel is Book #1 of the Avery Shaw Mystery series and the perfect entry point.
Suggested 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)
Starting here lets readers experience Avery’s growth from a sarcastic rookie reporter into the seasoned (and perpetually stressed) investigator of later books.
Reader Suitability / Why Read It
You’ll love this book if you enjoy:
- Cozy mysteries with snappy humor and newsroom realism.
- Female-led mysteries where the protagonist is competent but chaotic.
- Series that grow character arcs over time.
The emotional pull comes from Avery’s voice — sharp, funny, and occasionally self-deprecating. She’s the kind of narrator who turns danger into a punchline but never loses focus on justice. Fans of Janet Evanovich or Gemma Halliday will find a familiar spirit here.
Verified Book Facts
- Release year: 2011
- Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
- ISBN-13: 9781466220041
- ISBN-10: 1466220045
- Pages: ≈ 310
- Format: Paperback / eBook / Audiobook (narrated by Angel Clark)
- Reader Consensus: Goodreads rating ≈ 4.3 / 5 from 3 k + reviews — praised for humor, pacing, and character chemistry.
Continue the Avery Shaw Mystery Series
Read other books in the Avery Shaw Mystery Series.