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Hard Hitting & Misleading (2021) by Amanda M. Lee is the nineteenth entry in the Avery Shaw Mystery series. Amanda M. Lee uses her experienced reporter‑sleuth protagonist, Avery Shaw, to dive into a murder case that lands uncomfortably close to home, blending humor, personal stakes and investigative tension. The novel matters because it pushes Avery’s world into higher danger, tests her professional identity and deepens series relationships in a way that longtime fans have flagged as a standout.
Setting & Author Context
Amanda M. Lee sets the story in suburban Michigan—specifically around Macomb County—where Avery lives and works, and where a sudden murder near her home becomes headline news. The setting is familiar for the Avery Shaw series: the newsroom world, local crime‑beat roots and small‑town but high‑stakes environment. Amanda M. Lee draws on her own background as a former newspaper reporter to give authenticity to the newsroom atmosphere and the investigative process. The author’s style blends snarky dialogue, rapid professional energy and emotional depth in character relationships.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
In Hard Hitting & Misleading, Avery Shaw returns home from her honeymoon and immediately sets out to prove that marriage hasn’t mellowed her investigative edge. Then the unexpected happens: a body drops in her neighborhood—just blocks from her house. When the victim turns out to be divorced, in an affair and generally disliked, Avery finds multiple targets and motives. As if that isn’t enough, another woman dies nearby and the dynamic of the investigation shifts. Avery’s husband, Eliot Kane, is worried enough to pull in the local sheriff, Jake Farrell. Avery is supposed to cover the news—not become part of it—but now the story is very personal and the danger is real. The opening conflict (body drops → Avery investigates) sets the journey (Avery must protect herself, navigate professional and personal risk) and the stakes climb as the case closes in on her world.
Characters & Themes
Main characters:
- Avery Shaw: Reporter‑turned sleuth; determined, witty and ethically driven. → Represents professional integrity and resilience in a world of danger.
- Eliot Kane: Avery’s husband; supportive yet protective, the personal anchor for Avery. → Represents the personal cost and partnership that come with Avery’s career.
- Jake Farrell: Sheriff and former acquaintance/romantic history for Avery; now collaborator and foil. → Represents authority, complication and unresolved tension.
Themes:
- Danger hitting home: The story explores how investigative work can cross the boundary into personal life—work → invades → home.
- Journalistic ethics and identity: Avery’s role as reporter is challenged when she becomes part of the story—reporter → becomes → subject.
- Trust and collaboration: Avery must decide who to trust, both professionally and personally—investigation → demands → alliance.
- Balance of career and life: Avery must balance her job, her marriage and her safety—career + life → collide → tension.
Amanda M. Lee uses her voice to hold humor and heart while raising the stakes for Avery. The author leverages the “regular reporter” background of Avery to make the danger feel real, immediate and emotionally rooted.
Tropes & Reader Experience
The novel uses familiar mystery and reporter‑sleuth tropes: the protagonist who uncovers more than she bargained for, investigations that draw too close to home, and the newsroom setting as backdrop. The tropes → define → reader expectations of investigative risk, witty dialogue and a strong female lead navigating danger. Amanda M. Lee → delivers → that blend of snark, suspense and character depth. Reader reviews highlight Avery’s mixture of humor and tenacity, and many long‑time fans regard this book as one of the more intense in the series. For readers, the experience is entertaining but also adds a heavier emotional undercurrent compared to lighter earlier entries in the series.
Series Placement / Reading Order
Hard Hitting & Misleading is Book #19 in the Avery Shaw Mystery series by Amanda M. Lee.
Here’s a snapshot of surrounding titles:
- Book #18: Weddings & Whodunits (2021)
- Book #19: Hard Hitting & Misleading (2021)
- Book #20: Fake News & Office Blues (2022)
While Hard Hitting & Misleading can be read on its own, readers familiar with earlier books will benefit from established character relationships (especially Avery’s evolving dynamic with Jake and Eliot). The series → created by Amanda M. Lee → continues to build forward momentum in character arcs and investigative intensity.
Reader Suitability / Why Read It
Hard Hitting & Misleading is a strong pick for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with a professional‑setting twist (especially journalism), and those who follow series characters rather than standalone mysteries. The tone is witty yet suspenseful, making it appealing to fans of reporter‑sleuth narratives, character‑driven mysteries, and readers who appreciate a heroine who can laugh at chaos while still taking action. The novel appeals to fans of investigative thrillers that don’t abandon character growth—Avery’s journey is entertaining, and the stakes feel real. If you’ve been reading the Avery Shaw series, this book deepens relationships and raises the ante. If you’re new to the series, you’ll still find an engaging mystery around a smart reporter pushing boundaries.
Continue the Avery Shaw Mystery Series
Read other books in the Avery Shaw Mystery Series.