Is By A Thread Lucy Score Worth Reading For Suspense Fans?

I read it last month after seeing it all over BookTok, and my reaction is... mixed. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the small-town sheriff and the free-spirited newcomer is executed solidly, Lucy Score knows how to write that banter. But the plot felt incredibly familiar, like I'd read a dozen versions of it before. The third-act conflict, without giving spoilers, hinges on a miscommunication that made me want to shake both characters. It wraps up a bit too neatly for my taste. If you're deep into the genre and just want a reliably sweet, steamy read with a protective male lead, you'll probably enjoy it. I finished it in a weekend, but it didn't leave a lasting impression like some of her other books have for me. That said, the side characters are fun and clearly set up for a series, which is a smart move. I might check out the next one just to see where it goes, but it's not a top-tier recommendation from me.

So, this book is basically the blueprint for workplace enemies-to-lovers done right. The romance doesn't just develop; it explodes from antagonism. It starts with Dominic Rossi firing Ally from her department store job in the most brutal way, and her vengeful, public takedown of him. The initial development is pure, delicious spite—he hires her back out of obligation, and their daily interactions are a war of sharp words and simmering, hate-fueled tension. I love that Score lets them genuinely dislike each other for a solid chunk of the book; the attraction feels like a betrayal to them both. Then it pivots into this forced proximity when she becomes his assistant. Seeing the vulnerable, messy sides of each other—her financial struggles, his family trauma—is what really erodes the walls. The shift from wanting to strangle each other to a frantic, clandestine hookup in his office feels earned because of that built-up pressure. The 'romance' part, the softer feelings, creep in almost against their will during quiet moments, like when he silently helps her family or she sees how he cares for his daughter. It's a slow unraveling of defenses rather than a smooth courtship.

I dove into 'Knotted' during a sleepy Sunday and got pulled right into its web — it’s the kind of mystery that flirts with domestic unease and keeps you turning pages late into the night. The voice is tight and often unreliable, which I love: it makes every little detail feel suspect and every memory a potential trap. The author plays with perception in a way that reminds me of 'Gone Girl' and 'Sharp Objects', but 'Knotted' has its own quieter, more claustrophobic rhythm. The pacing creeps and then snaps; scenes that seem ordinary at first glance suddenly glow with menace. Characters are messy and plausible, not caricatures. There’s an emphasis on relationships and the small violences that exist between people — the kind of tension that turns a household into a set piece. If you enjoy psychological twists over hammer-blow reveals, this will scratch that itch. It also ties up thematic threads about secrets, shame, and the ways we rationalize behavior, which made the ending feel earned rather than flashy. If you’re the sort of reader who enjoys picking apart unreliable narrators and loves the slow burn of slowly revealed truths, give 'Knotted' a shot. It’s not perfect — a subplot or two could have been tightened — but it left me lingering on certain lines for days, and I find myself recommending it to friends who like their mysteries with bite.

Oh, I had such a mixed time with this one. The central hook is that Ali's dad, this supposed small-town legend, goes missing one night. He just vanishes, leaving behind his truck and a half-finished drink at the local bar. Everyone thinks he either ran off or had an accident in the woods, but Ali's convinced there's more to it, especially when she starts digging and finds out he was looking into some old property disputes right before he disappeared. It's less a whodunit and more a 'what exactly happened,' mixed with Ali trying to rebuild a life in the town she fled from years ago. The mystery itself is okay, but honestly, I was way more invested in the slow-burn tension between Ali and Dominic, the gruff bar owner who knew her dad. The book spends a lot of time on their bickering and the town's quirky cast, which sometimes makes the actual search feel secondary. The resolution of the dad's fate felt a bit rushed compared to the relationship build-up. Still, it kept me turning pages just to see if my hunch about the old county land records was right.