New York Times bestselling author Darynda Jones is back with the first novel in the brand-new snarky, sassy, wickedly fun Sunshine Vicram series—A Bad Day for Sunshine!“Laugh-out-loud funny, intensely suspenseful, page-turning fun.”—New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan”A Bad Day For Sunshine is a great day for the rest of us.”—New York Times bestselling author Lee Child Sheriff … rest of us.”—New York Times bestselling author Lee Child
Sheriff Sunshine Vicram finds her cup o’ joe more than half full when the small village of Del Sol, New Mexico, becomes the center of national attention for a kidnapper on the loose.
Del Sol, New Mexico is known for three things: its fry-an-egg-on-the-cement summers, strong cups of coffee—and, now, a nationwide manhunt? Del Sol native Sunshine Vicram has returned to town as the elected sheriff—thanks to her adorably meddlesome parents who nominated her—and she expects her biggest crime wave to involve an elderly flasher named Doug. But a teenage girl is missing, a kidnapper is on the loose, and all of this is reminding Sunshine why she left Del Sol in the first place. Add to that the trouble at her daughter’s new school, plus and a kidnapped prized rooster named Puff Daddy, and, well, the forecast looks anything but sunny.
But even clouds have their silver linings. This one’s got Levi, Sunshine’s sexy, almost-old-flame, and a fiery-hot US Marshal. With temperatures rising everywhere she turns, Del Sol’s normally cool-minded sheriff is finding herself knee-deep in drama and danger. Can Sunshine face the call of duty—and find the kidnapper who’s terrorizing her beloved hometown—without falling head over high heels in love…or worse?
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Even though I put this under “fiction, general” there’s a strong romantic element and a certain “woo woo” factor as well. Not as much as in some of Jones’ other series, but enough to make the reader wonder what’s up.
Snappy dialogue and great characters kept me turning the pages and following the mystery. I’m looking forward to the next “Sheriff Sunshine” novel later this summer.
Sunshine, the reluctant sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico, is a great character. The whole story takes place in only a few days. The “bad day” in the title was a full 185 pages of the paperback.
I really enjoyed the book and it would’ve been 5 stars but the end let me down just a tad. After so much buildup in the case, the denouement just happened fast and then the story moved on. It was almost disappointing.
There were other plot lines in the book, other than the main case. There is a backstory from Sunshine’s past, and it runs throughout the book. New evidence comes to light – but the conclusion is withheld, presumably for Book 2. I really hate when a book cuts off with a cliffhanger. On the other hand, it’s well-written and edited, the dialogue flows, and all the primary characters are very likable. It is SO close to 5 stars.
Unrealistic, cliched garbage.
Sunshine Vicram (along with her 14 year-old daughter) is returning to her New Mexico hometown as a newly elected sheriff having fled as a young woman following an abduction/rape. Her first day on the job she is faced with the abduction of a 14 year-old girl.
While I enjoyed the snarky humor, the colorful, zany characters and a town that’s a bit out of the ordinary, I had some issues here.
First, the abduction of a 14 yo girl seems to almost take a backseat to Sunny’s preoccupation with the men in her orbit, and the pace for a child abduction case is oddly unhurried. Second, while I think Sunny is meant to be seen as a scrappy, independent survivor, she is often seen as being either overprotected or inappropriately flirted with by the male characters around her…and this doesn’t bother her. Her young daughter is also developing a relationship with her own “knight in shining armor”.
For me personally there were a couple of disturbing flashbacks of Sunny as a 12 and 14 year-old being explicitly sexually harassed by boys three years her senior (freshman/senior), and she doesn’t seem that disturbed by it as an adult law enforcement officer.
I think maybe I took this one way more seriously than the author intended. It IS well-written and the humor is quite engaging. I do plan to give the second in series a go and see where things go from here.
A Bad Day for Sunshine is as fantastic as Darynda Jones Charlie Davidson series! The protagonist, Sun or Sunshine has many of Charlies qualities without the supernatural element, as far a we know. Her deprecating humor is just as hilarious as is her interaction with her family and her best friend but she takes her new job as sheriff seriously. All of the characters have great depth and dimension and carry a feeling that they have both a past and a future; an element not common for secondary characters. Of course, Ms. Jones brings us a heart-stopping, edge of our seats plot with frequent twists. The story line flips back and forth between Sun and her daughter Aura and readers are sure to fall in love with both, those two and a couple of guys!.
I requested an ARC from NetGalley and you can imagine how excited I was to be approved. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Darynda Jones
#NetGalley #ABadDayforSunhine
Different but so entertaining. I thought ‘really weird’ as I began but soon I was really cheering for all the wacky characters. Plenty of family drama and little surprises. Sunshine and her daughter Auri are just beautiful. Quincy and Levi giving them a shout out too. The whole town actually and the mystery of the missing deputy – priceless. I am so happy I only have to wait a few months before I can read the next one!
Bad day for Sunshine is the first book in a new series by Darynda Jones. In typical Darynda Jones style, this book has a copious amount of humor, intrigue, suspense and just enough romantic tension to have you begging for more. Sunshine Vicram is the new sheriff of Del Sol, New Mexico. She moves back home with her teenage daughter Auri. Her best friend Quincy is her deputy who also provides comic relief. Much to her chagrin, she runs into Levi Ravinder, the love of her life in town. Levi is working hard to make his family’s whiskey business legit. Within a short amount of time, Sunshine is dealing with Auri’s friend Sybil’s abduction, outside agencies coming in to investigate the abduction, an escaped convict, stolen rooster and the Dangerous Daughters. While all of this is going on, Sunshine is also dealing with flashbacks/memories of her own abduction at 17.
I couldn’t put this book down. The characters in this book are fantastic. I laughed out loud when a certain familiar bartender asked Sunshine if she also saw dead people like his last employer. While not giving anything away, we do get some closure for the events in Del Sol but we are left with questions not answered. I can’t wait for the next book.
Lightning can strike the same place twice. Or, in other words, Darynda Jones has another hit for us. It was like being back in a familiar world where the setting might be new as well as the faces, but I still felt like I knew them somehow. Giggleworthy wit, twisting plot threads, quirky characters, a bit of woowoo, and a riveting first in series that left me groaning for the next book.
A Bad Day for Sunshine opens on Sunshine Vicram’s first day of county sheriff in Del Sol, New Mexico, her home town. Oddly, she won an election she didn’t actually run in or want to win, but her adorable parents and her spritely teenage daughter, Auri, are tickled she got the job and is back. Not that she isn’t qualified- she was a Santa Fe detective for years, but a dark moment in her past drove her away and would have kept her away in spite of her deep feelings for one brooding hottie, Levi Ravinder.
But, her first day begins with a missing girl, a prison escapee, and trouble for Auri as the new girl. Sunshine quips her way through first day with best buddy Quincy as her chief deputy at her side. Don’t let the light manners and pretty face fool you. She has a first-class mind and can keep up just fine with all the craziness that Del Sol can throw at one. Too bad that dark nightmare and her childhood hot crush might be one and the same.
The book jumps right in a a clipping pace and the reader better fasten in or get left in the dust. Sunshine was an immediate reader crush for me as were every other character I encountered along the way including the secondary storyline of Auri, her daughter doing the treacherous gauntlet that is high school. Both are strong intelligent female leads that crack their jokes and have a strong mother-daughter bond because of Sunshine’s heartbreaking past. Her parents were salt of the earth and backed her up through all that and into the present.
This book set up the series and slid into a dire group of current cases and Sunshine’s own cold case. Sunshine and her posse work it all and the zany zinging around was no trouble to follow. I loved the intro to the group of older gals that pal around with Sunshine’s mom, her own circle of friends that are as loyal and fun as they come, the redneck and southern Ravinder clan who live ‘back in the hills’ of New Mexico making shine, and of course Auri’s growing circle of friends. Quite the colorful layers for this cast of characters.
There is a slow burn romance for Sunshine even as Auri has her first girl crush and romance with the school’s heartthrob, Cruz. Levi Ravinder is sizzling and there are some nice sultry teasers that foreshadow things though his connection to Sunshine’s own cold case does have her torn in two directions just as the trouble with his family clan is still problematic. Pretty sure these storylines will carry over through the series.
Woven through the book is a hint of magical realism in the form of psychic talent and one fun little crossover moment with the previous Charley Davidson series.
So, all in all, this was an abso-fab winner that will soothe Charley Davidson-loving hearts though will come to love Sunshine Vicram in her own right. Romantic Suspense fans should get in on this one from the beginning.
Darynda Jones’ super power is wit of the highest order. I was enthralled and delighted by her writing and the amazing characters she created. This small-town mystery with a hint of the supernatural will hit the spot for any mystery lover. I’m just in love with it.
What a fun and thrilling new series by Darynda Jones. Snarky humor, the mystery surrounding Auri’s father and an event from Sunshine’s past, and the race to discover an abducted teen before it is too late. Wonderful characters and an intriguing plot are what I expect from Jones, and that is just what you get in this one. Bonus: the audiobook was fabulous!
I love a good mystery with a side of snark and romance and Darynda brought it! It was nice to see mother and daughter solving a crime in their own unique way with the help of good friends and coworkers. I love the beautiful setting of New Mexico and the small town vibe. Sunshine and her daughter has such a great connection that brought tears to my eyes. Not only was this book entertaining, funny and suspenseful; it was beautiful as well. I can’t wait for the next book.
really great fun and great read
I’m a huge fan of Darynda Jones.
And once again she proves why she is one of the best writers today.
This story is an amazing mix of mystery, comedy, romance and suspense. And I can’t wait for the sequel.
5*
I was looking for a fast paced mystery, easy to listen to but with some interesting characters. “A Bad Day For Sunshine” fit the bill.
This is a lighter read for me but it was perfect as an audiobook. Sunshine Vicram returns to Del Sol, New Mexico after her parents somehow got her elected sheriff. Sunshine has a 14 y/o daughter Auri and the book is told from Sunshine and Auri’s point of view.
Sunshine is a little unsure about her new job and her first day sure ends up to be an unexpected one! She is just getting acquainted with her new staff which includes her long time best friend, Quincy, when some delicious muffins are delivered. The staff is nervous, why??? Because something bad always seems to happen when they get muffins.
Things quickly escalate as a distraught woman drives her car into the front window of the police office. After settling down she admits that she is beside herself because her daughter is missing. She also has a note that her daughter wrote predicting that she will die on her 15th birthday, which is just days away. Sunshine and her team get on the case fast as there is little time to waste. Before long we find that there are two teens missing and an escaped prisoner. Wow this is one long day!
Along the way we have lots of romantic banter between Sunshine and an old flame that she left behind, Levi Ravinder. The story does get a bit rom/com for a while since it seems every man Sunshine meets is a sexy hunk, including the US Marshall who has come to help. But behind the sometimes silly banter there is still a good mystery.
An unexpected snowstorm adds to the tension in the search for the missing teens. They are now up against a timeline and a snowstorm in the mountains where they have to search.
Auri has her own problems trying to fit in at her new school. The banter between her and her mother kept me laughing many times. In the end it is Auri who helps to solve the case.
This isn’t great literary fiction but it is fast paced, fun and quirky. The characters are well developed and unique and I had a lot of fun with this book.
I would recommend this if you are in the mood for an easy listen with mystery and fun thrown in.
There is a lot going on in this book and it is all good. Sunshine is a bada** hilarious woman, mom and now sheriff. Her friendships and relationships are full bodied and have history. Auri is a fascinating and charming young girl who had quite the interesting history.
This story deals with a crime from the past and several new crimes in Sunshine’s home town. There are some odd characters and events as well as more mundane items such as the first day at a new high school. All the characters are well developed and colorful. The use of humor and budding relationships is key to this story and I love the role the different family dynamics play.
Not all questions are answered by the end, but the excitement of a new series is there and I can’t wait to revisit Sunshine, Levi, Auri, Cruz, Quincy, Zee, and now the new deputy!
Thanks for the chance to read this book and share my opinions!
Darynda Jones always entertains with all of her novels. I didn’t think I could make an easy transition from her last series to this new one but I absolutely loved it!! I can’t wait for the next one <3
I’ve read Darynda Jones Grave series, so was a little taken back when I first started this story. But it grew on me. It’s a good, quirky story. Reminded me of Janet Evonavich’s, Stephanie Plum series. I’ll watch for any new ones with Sunshine.
Entertaining and easy to read…
The unanimous choice for our inaugural quarantine Zoom book club meeting. This is the first book I have read from author Darynda Jones but it won’t be the last! I loved the characters and how we learned more about each of them throughout the book. I loved the story lines and oh boy did I end up with a book hangover after finishing the last chapter. I am hooked and cannot wait for the next visit to DelSol. The story is full of charm,wit and quick one-liners. There was a good balance of romance and suspense. The mother daughter relationship was touching. The problem solving skills of the younger people in the book were intriguing. Oh, just read it, you won’t be sorry!
Terrific! Another home run for Darynda! Sunshine is the new Sheriff in town even though she did not place her name in to be voted on! Lol.
A Bad Day for Sunshine is a great start to Jones’ new series featuring Sunshine Vicram. I always enjoyed Jones’ Charley Davidson series, and I found that I really enjoyed this series as well. Sunshine and her daughter are moving back to Del Sol after Sunshine wins the election for the position of sheriff. Sunshine figures that cases should be easy to manage, but unfortunately she is proven wrong. When a teenage girl disappears, Sunshine is in a race to save the girl while also trying to keep memories of what happened to her as a youth at bay. Sunshine’s first day on the job definitely doesn’t go as expected, and she needs to solve this case before time runs out.
Jones does a great job at creating a new cast of characters as well as a new setting for this series. I do love that this series still combines humor with the mystery, intrigue, and suspense. Sunshine is very well developed, but the book still leaves more to be explored for future installments. I especially loved the cast of secondary characters that really added to the story. The book’s story captures the reader’s interest from the very beginning and never lets go. Full of twists and turns as well as plenty of page turning action and suspense, A Bad Day for Sunshine proved to be an entertaining read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a suspenseful, entertaining mystery that proves hard to put down. I look forward to reading Sunshine’s next adventure.
Received a copy of A Bad Day for Sunshine through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.