Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door

Lucy Score

49 pages 1-hour read

Lucy Score

Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Riley is a 34-year-old, newly divorced proofreader working for a marketing firm called SHART. She lives in the attic apartment of a Front Street mansion and possesses psychic abilities that she actively tries to ignore in pursuit of a normal life. Her attempts to suppress her clairvoyance falter when she accurately predicts a neighbor's murder.

Key Relationships

Fake Boyfriend of Nick Santiago

Neighbor of Dickie Frick

Daughter of Blossom

Daughter of Roger

Sister of Wander

Best Friend of Jasmine Patel

Ex-Wife of Griffin Gentry

Mentee of Gabe

Nick is an enigmatic former police officer who now runs his own independent private investigation firm, Santiago Investigations. He values his bachelor lifestyle and personal freedom, preferring casual encounters over commitment. His strict boundaries are challenged when he recruits Riley for an undercover investigation to avoid raising suspicions in her building.

Key Relationships

Fake Girlfriend of Riley Thorn

Cousin of Brian

Business Partner of Josie

Former Student of Mrs. Zimmerman

Former Colleague of Detective Weber

Dickie is Riley's slovenly, middle-aged neighbor who lives across the hall in the Front Street mansion. He works for a seedy bar called Nature Girls and is involved in dubious local business practices. His untimely death serves as the catalyst for Riley and Nick's joint investigation.

Key Relationships

Neighbor of Riley Thorn

Nephew of Mrs. Zimmerman

Associate of Nolan Flemming

Nolan Flemming is the powerful mayor of Harrisburg who crosses paths with Riley and Nick. Behind his polished political veneer, he holds strict authority over local associates and vigorously protects his private business interests.

Key Relationships

Associate of Duncan Gulliver

Business Partner of Dickie Frick

Duncan, also known as Dun, is an imposing figure connected to illegal gambling rings in Harrisburg. He serves as muscle for powerful local figures and intimidates those who pose a threat to his operations.

Key Relationships

Associate of Nolan Flemming

Supporting Characters

Blossom is Riley's free-spirited mother who embraces her own spiritual talents and occasionally hosts tarot readings. She consistently pushes her daughter to accept her clairvoyant gifts rather than hide them from the world.

Key Relationships

Mother of Riley Thorn

Wife of Roger

Mother of Wander

Friend of Lily Bogdanovich

Roger is Riley's soft-hearted father. He shares his wife's spiritual inclinations and unconventional lifestyle, providing a quiet but steady source of emotional support for his daughters.

Key Relationships

Father of Riley Thorn

Husband of Blossom

Father of Wander

Wander is Riley's younger sister, a former homecoming queen who now runs her own successful yoga studio. She is highly driven and confident, often urging Riley to take more risks and stop brooding over past mistakes.

Key Relationships

Sister of Riley Thorn

Daughter of Blossom

Daughter of Roger

Gabe is a heavily muscled man who serves as Riley's spiritual counselor. Despite his intimidating physical stature, he possesses a patient demeanor and provides Riley with practical exercises to channel her psychic abilities safely.

Key Relationships

Spiritual Guide to Riley Thorn

Rival of Nick Santiago

Associate of Elanora Basil

Jasmine is Riley's closest friend and confidante. The two met in junior high, and Jasmine consistently relies on her natural confidence and athletic grace to push Riley outside her comfort zone.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Riley Thorn

Friend and Yoga Student of Wander

Griffin is Riley's ex-husband, a local television news anchor who ruined their marriage by cheating on her. He maintains a highly artificial public image, relying on heavy tanning and makeup to secure his screen presence.

Key Relationships

Ex-Husband of Riley Thorn

Fiancé of Bella Goodshine

Brian is Nick's cousin and business partner at their private investigation firm. He manages case files and acts as a sounding board for Nick's theories during active investigations.

Key Relationships

Cousin of Nick Santiago

Husband of Josie

Josie is Brian's wife and an integral part of the Santiago Investigations team. She actively assists in field work, driving suspects and helping extract Riley from dangerous situations.

Key Relationships

Wife of Brian

Coworker of Nick Santiago

Ally of Riley Thorn

Mrs. Penny is an elderly resident of the Front Street mansion. While she appears to be a typical nosy neighbor, she organizes a vigilante group of seniors who rescue abused animals in the dead of night.

Key Relationships

Neighbor of Riley Thorn

Detective Weber is a police officer and Nick's former colleague. He maintains a suspicious stance toward Riley and Nick's amateur sleuthing, frequently tailing them around the city to monitor their progress.

Key Relationships

Former Colleague of Nick Santiago

Colleague of Sergeant Mabel Jones

Sergeant Jones is a police officer who previously went on a few dates with Nick. She brings a layer of personal history to her professional interactions with him during the murder investigation.

Key Relationships

Former Colleague of Nick Santiago

Colleague of Detective Weber

Mrs. Zimmerman is Nick's former physical education teacher and the aunt of Dickie Frick. Despite acknowledging her nephew's flaws, she hires Nick to formally investigate his murder.

Key Relationships

Aunt of Dickie Frick

Client of Nick Santiago

Lily is an acquaintance of Blossom who owns the large, rambling mansion on Front Street. She rents out rooms to various eccentric tenants, creating an impromptu community of misfits.

Key Relationships

Landlord of Riley Thorn

Friend of Blossom

Bella is a local television news anchor who began a relationship with Griffin while he was still married to Riley. She currently works alongside Griffin at Channel 50.

Key Relationships

Fiancé of Griffin Gentry

Betsy is a waitress at the seedy Nature Girls bar. She inadvertently becomes entangled in the dangerous criminal activities surrounding the establishment due to her poor choices in partners.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Riley Thorn