The Fair Weather Friend: A Novel
Domestic Suspense Thriller
Setting – Michigan/Wisconsin
Publisher : St. Martin’s Press
Publication date : January 20, 2026
Print length : 320 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 : 1250364450
ISBN-13 : 978-1250364456
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 978-1250364463
ASIN : B0F5PBPJNZ
It’s always sunny in Detroit for Faith Richards. The popular TV meteorologist, endearingly referred to as “The Fair Weather Friend” by her viewers, has the world by the tail. But one night, Faith leaves work on a dinner break and never returns. Her body is found the next morning.
The town is reeling, suspects emerge, and long-buried secrets are uncovered. While her allies rally, her list of adversaries also grows. Little does anyone know that only the deepest secrets will expose the truth.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Faith Richards is Detroit’s favorite weatherperson. She has quite a following of fans who tune in daily to see what their “Fair Weather Friend” sees in the forecast. They can always get a clue by checking out her earrings. One night, Faith leaves the station for dinner and vanishes. Her fans are destroyed when her dead body is found the next day. The investigation begins with her coworkers. Could one of them be responsible for her death? Or was it a stalker? a fan? Secrets and lies are exposed, but will the truth ever come to light?
The Fair Weather Friend is told from several points of view, allowing readers to get into the minds of the different characters. Faith appears to have everything she wants with a large fan base and her dream job. Her coworker, the weekend meteorologist, Matthew, detests her with a passion. He feels he should have had her job. Carol and her husband watch Faith every day and feel a real connection with their Fair Weather Friend. Carol’s niece, Olivia, had just started interning at the station. Laura, executive producer at the station, has a baby at home but works tirelessly on each broadcast. Faith tries to mend fences with her former college roommate, Kelly. Steve is a creepy stalker and a dweller of his mother’s basement who turns up at all of the station’s events.
With the author’s background, she possesses the behind-the-scenes knowledge necessary to bring Detroit’s Channel 9 to life, in addition to penning a twisty mystery that blurs the lines between the watchers and the watched. Carol Henning is one of Faith’s biggest fans. She has a real fascination for famous people, and she adored Faith. She planned her days around Faith’s broadcasts. Carol was not alone; there was a huge crowd for Faith’s memorial.
The story had a good flow throughout, with a multitude of issues that brought each suspect into the limelight. There are layers to be peeled away as secrets come out, revealing much about them, and Faith, as well. The final twists caught me by surprise; as an armchair sleuth, I should have seen something like it coming. Part of it mystified me, but fiction makes us stretch our thinking. I did enjoy that Wisconsin was part of the story.
The Fair Weather Friend is a clever and compelling read with an interesting theme and intriguing characters. I have missed this author’s other books, but I hope to read them soon.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
Jessie Garcia is an award-winning sports journalist who has risen the ranks in television news, first as an anchor/reporter, then to newsroom management. She is the News Director at the CBS affiliate in Milwaukee. Her non-fiction books My Life with the Green and Gold: Tales from 20 Years of Sportscasting and Going for Wisconsin Gold: Stories of our State Olympians won Midwest Book Awards, and her documentary Leaps and Bounds: The Men Who Changed Track and Field was featured in over a dozen film festivals. She also taught journalism at four universities. A native of Madison, WI, Jessie has two adult sons and resides in Milwaukee with her husband, dog, and cat.
Learn more about Jessie Garcia and her books on her website HERE.
I am giving a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card!
The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page.
Subscribe to Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book via Email for 3 Bonus Entries.
Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads
for 3 Bonus Entries.
Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.
If you share the giveaway on Threads, Facebook, etc., you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
The Contest Will End on February 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST
The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org
The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
Discover more from Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Great Escapes Book Tours
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I read her book, The Business Trip, which is also about the disappearance and death of a woman in TV.