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Terri Reid
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Loose Ends (Mary O'Reilly Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Terri Reid (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 5,545 ratings
Dying is what changed Mary O’Reilly’s life. Well, actually, coming back from the dead and having the ability to communicate with ghosts is really what did it. Now, a private investigator in rural Freeport, Illinois, Mary’s trying to learn how to incorporate her experience as a Chicago cop and new-found talent into a real job. Her challenge is to solve the mysteries, get real evidence (a ghost’s word just doesn’t hold up in court), and be sure the folks in town, especially the handsome new police chief, doesn’t think she’s nuts. Twenty-four years ago, a young woman drowned in the swimming pool of a newly elected State Senator. It was ruled an accident. But now, as the Senator prepares to move on to higher positions, the ghost of the woman is appearing to the Senator’s wife. Mary is hired to discover the truth behind the death. She unearths a connection between the murder and the disappearance of five little girls whose cases, twenty-four years later, are still all unsolved. As she digs further she becomes the next target for serial killers’ quest to tie up all his loose ends.
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  1. Book 1 of 20
    Mary O'Reilly Series
  2. Print length
    429 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    1 Aug. 2010
  6. File size
    762 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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 See full series
There are 20 books in this series.

In this series (20 books)

Kindle Edition
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  1. She had named her computer Mel because – as she explained to Mary – anything that took this much time out a woman’s life, caused as many headaches and, on occasion, gave a woman pleasure beyond belief, had to be a man.
    Highlighted by 110 Kindle readers
  2. Men were so cute when their whole belief system was whipped out from underneath them.
    Highlighted by 58 Kindle readers
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003Y5H8IK
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 Aug. 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 762 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 429 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1452482958
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 20 ‏ : ‎ Mary O'Reilly Series
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 5,545 ratings

About the author

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Terri Reid

Terri Reid

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Terri Reid has been telling ghosts stories since she was a toddler. Her mother tells of a time when two-year old Terri would sit in her highchair, look past her mother into the dark back porch and say, “Look. Man.” When her mother would turn in horror, Terri would laugh delightedly.

Terri lives in the same area of the United States as her Mary O’Reilly character, Northwest Illinois. She lives on five acres of rolling land in a 100 year-old farmhouse, with her husband, children, dogs, cats and several dozen chickens (well, the chickens live in the barn.)

Her background is in marketing and public relations, but she has always enjoyed telling stories. For a while, she worked as a freelance journalist for the local paper and wrote the Halloween feature for many years, collecting as many local ghost stories as she could. She gave her collection of local ghost stories to the local historical society to use as a fundraiser, they are now in their third printing.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
5,545 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this paranormal mystery book entertaining and easy to read, with a clever storyline that balances thriller elements with supernatural elements. The writing is almost grammatically perfect, and customers appreciate how the show-and-tell technique brings characters and scenes to life. The book maintains a good pace throughout, and customers find it humorous and emotionally engaging, with one review noting it deals with sad and troubling events.

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ReadabilityStory qualityWriting qualityCharacter developmentPacingHumorEase of useHeartwarming
99 customers mention ‘Readability’95 positive4 negative

Customers find the book easy and enjoyable to read, with one mentioning it serves as a good filler between heavier novels.

"Having finished this novel which was entertaining and left a few unanswered questions as to Mary's earlier life which begs you to go looking for..." Read more

"...Overall, I found this novel an excellent read and would recommend it to fans of the mystery genre...." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it kept me on the edge of my seat...." Read more

"...Good characters and setting as well. On of the best books I've read in ages, I will surely be following this author from now on...." Read more

54 customers mention ‘Story quality’51 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, appreciating its clever and intelligent plot, with one customer noting its gritty paranormal elements and another describing it as a detective story with a twist.

"...The characters were well cast with a real mix of light-hearted paranormal activity...." Read more

"...Really gripping, the mystery was actually very clever, unlike many other books out there that are either too simple, too convoluted to the point of..." Read more

"...This book was an easy read with no sex, bad language or gory details of the murders. Maybe not..." Read more

"...The characters are great - there is a budding romance which is realistic, not forced or rushed to try and hook a reader in unecessarily...." Read more

33 customers mention ‘Writing quality’29 positive4 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its almost perfect grammar and page-turning nature, with one customer highlighting how the author captures readers' imagination.

"...and a wonderful read, a wonderful series each one page turners, leaving waiting for the next, entertaining reads." Read more

"...This book was an easy read with no sex, bad language or gory details of the murders. Maybe not..." Read more

"...Her friends, Rosie and Stanley, were just as well written and I fell in love with them too!..." Read more

"...Overall, a nice storyline, well told and a good start to a series." Read more

27 customers mention ‘Character development’27 positive0 negative

Customers praise the character development in the book, noting that the show and tell technique brings the characters and scenes to life, and they appreciate the likeable heroine and hero.

"...The characters were well cast with a real mix of light-hearted paranormal activity...." Read more

"...Good characters and setting as well. On of the best books I've read in ages, I will surely be following this author from now on...." Read more

"I loved this book, and I am insanely jealous of the lead character!..." Read more

"...The characters are great - there is a budding romance which is realistic, not forced or rushed to try and hook a reader in unecessarily...." Read more

20 customers mention ‘Pacing’20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, with several noting it maintains a good speed throughout. One customer mentions being hooked from the first page, while another says it kept them engaged right to the end.

"...Fast moving, Mary brings peace at last for the twenty year old case and the new death of a present day banker with a duel life hidden from his..." Read more

"...The novel was interesting, unusual and very quick and easy to read. Start of a fun series." Read more

"...n't get lost with the twists & turns on the plot, I felt that the pace was good, there was a good balance of humour and tension, the plot and..." Read more

"...are great - there is a budding romance which is realistic, not forced or rushed to try and hook a reader in unecessarily...." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Humor’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, with one mentioning the witty dialogue and another describing it as a funny Mary O'Reilly Trilogy.

"...on the plot, I felt that the pace was good, there was a good balance of humour and tension, the plot and relationship arcs progressed in a..." Read more

"...There were some very funny lines in it as well, I thought, in amongst the paranormal stuff and the murder mystery...." Read more

"...I also found the dialogue funny and the writing generally well crafted. I found the ending a little hard to credit...." Read more

"...The ghosts are well handled – sometimes funny, sometimes poignant...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Ease of use’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to use.

"An easy and entertaining read. I love the way it humorously looks at people's blinkered ideas about ghosts and the spirit world...." Read more

"...yourself drawn to her and her Police Chief hunk Bradley in easy, enjoyable steps...." Read more

"I wry much enjoyed this story. I love anything paranormal and it was really easy and enjoyable to read and I look forward to the next ones." Read more

"An easy, fun read..." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Heartwarming’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, with one customer noting how it deals with sad and troubling events.

"...The ghosts are well handled – sometimes funny, sometimes poignant...." Read more

"...'s style and use of language was fluid and engaging and parts of the story were touching and creepy when they needed to be, I just felt it wrapped..." Read more

"...It has a lightness in style while dealing with sad and troubling events. I look forward to reading another of Terri`s books" Read more

"...glad as i couldnt put it down, the humour but also the emotion make it a really great read...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • lonegunwoman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loose Ends.................................
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 June 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Having finished this novel which was entertaining and left a few unanswered questions as to Mary's earlier life which begs you to go looking for another Terri Reid novel, as a good novel should. We are treated to some of Mary's developing gift, which seems to place her in difficult situations some threatening
    her life, which begs how did it start and why did she move. One for another novel to answer.

    Mary finds the new Chief of police easy on the eyes and good at his job, he like wise is impressed by her former career, the beginning of what could be a promising romance always helps the story to flow, as the shooting when they are helping a cat from a tree of after following a ghost, this makes Bradley take Marys investigation seriously and he now has her followed which she evades only to place herself in another shooting one which Bradley comes to her aid again. The death of Renee an aid twenty years ago presumed an accident was murder, is now linked to the missing eight year old girls.

    Fast moving, Mary brings peace at last for the twenty year old case and the new death of a present day banker with a duel life hidden from his family adds to the mystery which the murderer pushes on to hide his dreadful life, in his arrogance.

    Further to reading Loose Ends I have enjoyed the second novel Good Tidies,were Bradley is welcomed in to Mary's family and more ghosts are helped, fast paced
    and a wonderful read, a wonderful series each one page turners, leaving waiting for the next, entertaining reads.
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  • KL.Caley
    4.0 out of 5 stars Light paranormal mystery novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 August 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This story follows Mary, a former police officer who has now moved to a new town and started her own private investigation practise – in the paranormal. She is thrown into the story very quickly when the town mayor’s wife approaches her to help with an old unresolved case of her husband’s assistant who had drowned. This case connects with another at around the same time involving five little girls who have disappeared. With a new police chief in town Mary has to convince him she is being haunted by the paranormal, stalked by a killer and that she isn’t insane – making for a fun combo.
    The characters were well cast with a real mix of light-hearted paranormal activity. I did think the love story with the new police chief could have been a bit more interesting but as this is the first in the series, perhaps the author is leaving room for this to progress. I think some of the other side characters who help Mary in this novel could have some really interesting stories later to tell later in the series.
    Overall, I found this novel an excellent read and would recommend it to fans of the mystery genre. The novel was interesting, unusual and very quick and easy to read. Start of a fun series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • LINDA WELLS
    5.0 out of 5 stars A totally unexpected thrill, a must read for mystery lovers!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 June 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept reading to the end, which came to quickly because I was gripped from the start and couldn’t put it down.
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  • Sera
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 January 2011
    Verified Purchase
    I never review book, ever, this is my first. And for good reason; this was a fantastic book. I read it travelling and juggled my two cases with my kindle just so I could continue reading throughout the plane, train and two metros. Really gripping, the mystery was actually very clever, unlike many other books out there that are either too simple, too convoluted to the point of ridiculous (when you stop caring) or rely on a piece of information that itn't actually divulged and would be impossible for the reader to even try to work out. Good characters and setting as well. On of the best books I've read in ages, I will surely be following this author from now on. If any of her books even come close to this one it will be worth it.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Mrs. Bruce
    3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars - an easy read without sex, swearing or gory murder details
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 June 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Although this is the first book in the series, I had already read 3 others before I found this
    one. I give them all 3.5 stars. Mary can see and talk to ghosts and helps them to move on
    to the next world. Some of the ghosts help her in her hunt for murderers. They are not
    frightening - more like friends!

    There is a possible love interest in the new Police Chief, Bradley, who starts off thinking Mary
    is looney. He ends up changing his opinion.

    I loved the quirky characters of Mary's two friends, who being older (and nosy) try to "help" Mary
    as well as match-make. I laughed out loud about the inflatable doll!

    This book was an easy read with no sex, bad language or gory details of the murders. Maybe not
    as gritty as some readers would like, but it made a light-hearted change.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Flora
    4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this ghost story!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 July 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Read from July 22 to 24, 2015
    Kindle Edition

    It only missed out on a 5 star review because there are a few hiccups that should have been picked up when being proof-read but weren't.

    I loved our main character - Mary O'Reilly, she was intelligent, self-reliant, witty but had a big heart. Her friends, Rosie and Stanley, were just as well written and I fell in love with them too!

    This story has a few genres weaving through; the main one being paranormal (I see ghosts, I help some of them move on to a better place by solving their mystery), romance (lovely gently relationship building with hunky new police Chief, Bradley Alden) and detective (who's the child serial killer? who's the murderer? can Mary catch the psycho stalker before he kills her?).
    Without any spoilers, I place the detective genre last because it's less about who Mary needs to put behind bars but how she gets the evidence that can put them in prison.

    All-in-all I really enjoyed this book; it was easy to read and I didn't get lost with the twists & turns on the plot, I felt that the pace was good, there was a good balance of humour and tension, the plot and relationship arcs progressed in a believable way and I liked the way that while Mary O'Reilly's cases were solved by the end of this book other background story arcs were left "to be continued".

    There are 14 more books listed at the back in the Mary O'Reilly Paranormal Mystery Series and after reading this book, I will be buying book 2 " Good Tidings".
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Micha
    5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT AND INTERESTING READ!
    Reviewed in France on 15 May 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Ms.Reid writes a fast-paced, Interesting, and Intriguing story that will leave you wanting more!
    If you enjoyed the show 'GHOST WHISPERS' then you will LOVE this book. Mary ,the heroine, is a former police-officer who is now a private detective that can see and talk to GHOST. She`s tough and smart and ,most of all, she does not hide her GIFT. In this book you get ghost that want their stories told and you get murders that need to be solved.'LOOSE ENDS' is a GREAT paranormal mystery with FANTASTIC main and supporting characters that are interesting and humorous in their wit and antics. What else could you ask for, EXCEPT MORE!! THANK GOODNESS IT`S A SERIES!! I can not wait to read more! I highly recommend giving 'MARY O`REILLY PARANORMAL MYSTERY' series a try. HAPPY READING EVERYONE!
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  • Hoener, Birgit
    5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, fast paced, great story
    Reviewed in Germany on 19 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely loved this!!! Former Cop turned Private Investigator, Mary is able to see the ghosts of murdered persons, and makes her living (more or less) solving those murder cases. Her current case involves high ranking personalities, a case of murdered children 24 years ago, and a hunky charming new Police Chief.
    Add to that a brilliant narration style, a fast paced plots, quirky characters, witty dialogues and lots of humour, and you end up with a book you will not want to put down until you've read the last page.
    Praise as well for both author and editor, I only noticed one little error and was too busy continuing with the story to even bother reporting it.
    Definitely a recommendation from me, and I would love to read the other books in this series.
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  • Deena Shepard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect blend of real & paranormal.
    Reviewed in the United States on 27 March 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Easy read from beginning to end. Perfectly blended real life investigation with paranormal touch to both confirm suspicions & lead to facts. Held interest from first page to last.
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  • Mel M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
    Reviewed in Australia on 6 May 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A very entertaining read. Better than anticipated. My first book by this author. Will definitely read more in the series.
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  • Mariuca
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasía en el idioma original
    Reviewed in Spain on 25 April 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Lo lei por la recomendación de una amiga. Me ha resultado una historia muy divertida y entretenida y en Inglés. Prefiero leer a los autores en su idioma original (cuando puedo).
    Report

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