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Opinionated & Out of Control (2022) by Amanda M. Lee is the twenty‑first installment in the popular Avery Shaw Mystery series. This cozy‑mystery novel follows reporter Avery Shaw as she tumbles into yet another high‑stakes investigation — and it matters because Lee combines journalistic intrigue, snarky humor, and real emotional stakes in a tight, engaging package.
Setting & Author Context
The story takes place in and around Macomb County and the Detroit‑area media scene — the familiar setting for the Avery Shaw series, where small‑town feel meets big‑city press pressure. Amanda M. Lee draws on her background in journalism to give the newsroom setting and reporter mindset an authentic feel. Lee’s style routinely fuses wry humor + professional newsroom detail + interpersonal tension, making her books not just mysteries but character‑driven escapades.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
The story follows Avery Shaw, a reporter with a knack for digging where others won’t, as she finds herself unexpectedly in the spotlight — not just chasing stories, but becoming one. With her media profile rising in the Detroit market, Avery thinks maybe things will calm down. Instead, she accepts a day‑off assignment covering what appears to be a straightforward quadruple murder at a lake. But she quickly realities this isn’t a crime of passion — it’s a calculated hit.
As Avery digs deeper into old mob connections and local power players, she also navigates family complications, newsroom rivalries, and the pressure of being “the story.” The central conflict pits Avery’s journalistic instincts (find the truth) against threats from both the underworld and the everyday world she thought she knew. Tension rises as choices she makes force her to question how much she’s willing to risk for a headline — and whether being in control is ever really possible.
Characters & Themes
- Avery Shaw – The central character, reporter‑sleuth who embodies independence, perseverance and the cost of speaking truth to power.
- Elliot Nash – Typically the law‑enforcement foil and ally to Avery; he represents structure, rules, and the tension of letting a reporter into the investigation.
- Supporting Cast – Family members, newsroom colleagues and local power‑brokers all add depth: they reflect themes of loyalty, professional ambition and small‑town vs big‑city exposure.
- Themes – The novel explores truth versus spin, visibility versus safety, and the cost of being the story. Being “under control” is revealed to be more illusion than fact in Avery’s world; being “opinionated” comes with consequences.
Tropes & Reader Experience
The book leverages familiar cozy‑mystery tropes — amateur sleuth (though professional in her world), small‑town setting with a broad cast of quirky characters, humor undercutting tension — but it also leans into reporter‑centric themes (media exposure, deadlines, newsroom politics). The tone remains breezy yet suspenseful: you’ll grin at Avery’s quips, worry when she pushes too far, and turn pages because Lee keeps the stakes real.
For readers who enjoy series like those by Janet Evanovich or Gretchen Archer, this blend of humor + investigation + strong female lead resonates. The pacing? Fast enough to keep momentum, but also giving space for character insight.
Series Placement / Reading Order
This book is number #21 in the Avery Shaw Mystery series by Amanda M. Lee. The sequence around this title is:
- #20: Fake News & Office Blues (2022)
- #21: Opinionated & Out of Control (2022)
- #22: Overedited & Underpaid (2023)
While Opinionated & Out of Control stands well on its own, reading earlier titles enhances character arcs and relationships. The series maintain continuity in setting and tone, so readers new to it can jump in, but long‑time fans will appreciate subtle callbacks and growth.
Reader Suitability / Why Read It
If you love a mystery with equal parts grit and humor — a protagonist who messes up but still pushes for truth — this book delivers. It is especially suited for:
- Fans of character-driven cozy mysteries featuring feisty women and newsroom settings.
- Readers who enjoy media‑centric storylines (reporters, editors, exposure) and don’t mind a little danger.
- Anyone looking for a series with a high page‑turner factor but without dark psychological horror — the tone remains accessible, witty and fun despite serious stakes.
From reader reviews: many praise the book’s “snark, intrigue, and the love of a good Eliot [sic],” and others say “the stories and characters just keep getting better.” If you like your mysteries with sass, newsroom flair and a protagonist who refuses to stay quiet, Opinionated & Out of Control is a solid pick.
Continue the Avery Shaw Mystery Series
Read other books in the Avery Shaw Mystery Series.