Synopses & Reviews
Stella Hardesty dispatched her abusive husband with a wrench shortly before her fiftieth birthday. A few years later, she's so busy delivering home-style justice on her days off, helping other women deal with their own abusive husbands and boyfriends, that she barely has time to run her sewing shop in her rural Missouri hometown. Some men need more convincing than others, but it's usually nothing a little light bondage or old-fashioned whuppin' can't fix. Since Stella works outside of the law, she's free to do whatever it takes to get the job done---as long as she keeps her distance from the handsome devil of a local sheriff, Goat Jones.
When young mother Chrissy Shaw asks Stella for help with her no-good husband, Roy Dean, it looks like an easy case. Until Roy Dean disappears with Chrissy's two-year-old son, Tucker. Stella quickly learns that Roy Dean was involved with some very scary men, as she tries to sort out who's hiding information and who's merely trying to kill her. It's going to take a hell of a fight to get the little boy back home to his mama, but if anyone can do it, it's Stella Hardesty.
Sophie Littlefield possesses all the verve and confidence of a seasoned pro. This debut novel rings true at every heart-stopping turn, utterly bewitching us with its gutsy, compassionate voice and boasting some of the most captivating, complex characters in crime fiction today.
Review
“A Bad Day for Sorry is another of the years best debuts, a standout mystery distinguished by its charming protagonist and her compelling voice. We dont get many characters like Stella in mystery fiction, but we should. Shes fresh and sassy and an awful lot of fun to read about.”--David J. Montgomery, Chicago Sun-Times
“In her debut novel, Sophie Littlefield shows considerable skills for delving into the depths of her characters and complex plotting as she disarms the reader.….Littlefield keeps the plot churning with realistic action that doesn't let up. She also allows the moral ambiguity of vigilante justice to enhance this story….Littlefield's exciting debut should be the start of an even more exciting series.”South Florida Sun Sentinel
“Ass-whuppin 50-year-old Stella is nothing if not inventive….Littlefield puts a new spin on middle-age sleuths in this rollicking, rip-roaring debut.”--Booklist
"Expect the unexpected with Stella Hardesty, who's quite the intriguing character....From Stella's opening remark...the reader can't help but be drawn into her world and wonder where it all will lead."--Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 Stars)
Review
"Crime fiction hasn't seen a character as scrappy, mean, and incredibly appealing as Stella in a long time."--
Entertainment Weekly “An abundance of violence is leavened with humor and heart in this debut novel in what I hope is the start of a new series.”—Hallie Ephron,
Boston Globe“Markedly original…The story's compelling, the dialogue perfect--and Stella is one of the most memorable characters of this summer or any other.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch
“A Bad Day for Sorry is another of the years best debuts, a standout mystery distinguished by its charming protagonist and her compelling voice. We dont get many characters like Stella in mystery fiction, but we should. Shes fresh and sassy and an awful lot of fun to read about.”--David J. Montgomery, Chicago Sun-Times
“In her debut novel, Sophie Littlefield shows considerable skills for delving into the depths of her characters and complex plotting as she disarms the reader.….Littlefield keeps the plot churning with realistic action that doesn't let up….Littlefield's exciting debut should be the start of an even more exciting series.”—South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Synopsis
Winner of the Anthony Award for Best First Novel!
Stella Hardesty dispatched her abusive husband with a wrench shortly before her fiftieth birthday. A few years later, shes so busy delivering home-style justice, helping other women deal with their own abusive husbands and boyfriends, that shes barely got time to run her sewing shop. Since Stella works outside of the law, shes free to do whatever it takes to be convincing—as long as she keeps her distance from the handsome devil of a local sheriff, Goat Jones.
When young mother Chrissy Shaw asks Stella for help with her no-good, husband Roy Dean, it looks like just another standard job. But then Chrissys two-year-old son is taken, and Stella finds herself up against a much more formidable enemy.
A Bad Day for Sorry won an Anthony Award for Best First Novel and an RT Book Award for Best First Mystery. It was also shortlisted for Edgar, Barry, Crimespree, and Macavity Awards, and it was named to lists of the year's best mystery debuts by the Chicago Sun-Times and South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
About the Author
Sophie Littlefield is an Anthony and RT Book Award winner. She lives with her family near San Francisco, California.