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Banner Headlines & Late Deadlines (2024) by Amanda M. Lee is the 24th entry in the Avery Shaw Mystery series, and it brings cozy‑mystery fans back into the world of newsroom mayhem with a fresh twist: a wellness‑retreat‑turned‑murder scene. This book matters because Amanda M. Lee uses her longtime familiarity with journalism settings to ground Avery Shaw’s latest investigation in humor, workplace‑dynamics and small‑town intrigue.
Setting & Author Context
The story unfolds in northern Macomb County, Michigan, where reporter Avery Shaw is sent to a high‑profile motivational retreat–a sharp contrast to the newsroom she usually inhabits. The retreat’s tree‑hugger serenity collides with Avery’s sarcastic, results‑oriented style, and the setting → influences tone by inserting discomfort and fish‑out‑of‑water energy.
Amanda M. Lee draws on her journalism background to infuse authenticity into the workplace dynamics: Amanda M. Lee → uses newsroom experience to craft realistic supporting characters and office banter. The retreat location allows the novel to explore both the professional (reporting deadlines, breaking stories) and the personal (wellness culture, hidden agendas).
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
In Banner Headlines & Late Deadlines, Avery Shaw is reluctantly assigned to cover a wellness retreat in the woods of Macomb County. The retreat → promises “inner transformation” and mystery huts in the trees, but when one guest turns up dead, Avery → is thrust into investigation. She soon discovers that the victim had an affair with a married man and that multiple female attendees were connected to the same man. As Avery → dives into the retreat’s secrets, the cozy atmosphere → cracks open to reveal ambition, betrayal and hidden power plays.
Although the retreat setup seems light and even absurd (Avery doesn’t believe much in manifestation), the death → forces her to confront real stakes and real risk. The story balances humor (Avery’s reluctance to eat healthy snacks and talk feelings) with tension (who killed the guest, and why?). By book’s end, Avery Shaw’s investigation is firmly anchored in both her professional skill‑set and her personal stubbornness.
Characters & Themes
Main characters:
- Avery Shaw (reporter protagonist) → represents determination and loyalty in the newsroom.
- Elliot Kane (pawn‑shop owner / ally) → represents grounded support outside of the newsroom.
- Sheriff Jake Farrell → represents institutional caution and complex personal history with Avery.
- Various retreat attendees → represent ambition, desire for reinvention, and the undercurrent of secrets.
Major themes:
- Workplace and personal identity: The retreat → challenges Avery’s identity as a hard‑charging reporter who is more comfortable in a newsroom than in a group circle.
- Image versus reality: The wellness movement at the retreat → masks power plays, affairs and hidden motives.
- Media and ethics: Avery’s position in the newsroom → forces her to navigate breaking news vs. verification, internal politics vs. public interest.
Tropes & Reader Experience
Fans of cozy mysteries will find familiar tropes: amateur‑adjacent sleuthing, quirky supporting characters, a small‑town vibe, and a murder investigation that begins in an unexpected place. Tropes → define reader expectations: the reluctant go‑along protagonist, the “odd retreat” setting, and multiple suspects with hidden motives.
Amanda M. Lee delivers humor, snappy dialogue and workplace interplay. The reader → experiences light banter, fast pacing and enough investigative detail to keep the puzzle engaging without veering into heavy suspense. The tone remains cozy, despite the murder: readers get safe tension, not gritty gore.
Series Placement / Reading Order
Banner Headlines & Late Deadlines is Book #24 in the Avery Shaw Mystery series by Amanda M. Lee. The series order (recent entries) is:
- #22: Opinionated & Out of Control
- #23: Overedited & Underpaid
- #24: Banner Headlines & Late Deadlines
- #25: Bossy Nos & Circulation Woes (upcoming)
Book #24 → builds on the newsroom persona of Avery Shaw while remaining mostly standalone. You can jump in here, but earlier books deepen the relationships and motifs.
Reader Suitability / Why Read It
If you enjoy cozy mysteries rooted in realistic workplace settings, witty protagonists, and newsroom drama, this novel → appeals to you. Readers who like smart, empowered heroines, twists around “what happens behind the scenes,” and the blend of professional life + sleuthing will relish Amanda M. Lee’s voice. The book → inspires laughter, curiosity and a sense of justice served—not with heavy torment, but with tenacity and humor.
Continue the Avery Shaw Mystery Series
Read other books in the Avery Shaw Mystery Series.