Valerie S. (VolunteerVal) -
Dead Tired by Kat Ailes is a fun cozy mystery that's much more about the vibes of new motherhood than the murder. The audiobook narrated by Kitty Kelly made me laugh out loud more than once.
In rural England, Alice and her friends are experiencing the joys and challenges of raising toddlers. Add in some partners, dogs - and of course, a few dead bodies - and chaos and humor abound.
While out for a walk, Alice accidentally encounters a clothing-optional environmental protest that leads to her and her friends being chained to trees. When a fellow protester is strangled, the women find themselves in the midst of investigating the murder.
I didn't raise children but could still relate to the struggles of raising young children, thanks to our grandchildren. This is book 2 in the Expectant Detectives series; I haven't read book 1 but may go back to it when I need some levity in my reading routine.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook.
In rural England, Alice and her friends are experiencing the joys and challenges of raising toddlers. Add in some partners, dogs - and of course, a few dead bodies - and chaos and humor abound.
While out for a walk, Alice accidentally encounters a clothing-optional environmental protest that leads to her and her friends being chained to trees. When a fellow protester is strangled, the women find themselves in the midst of investigating the murder.
I didn't raise children but could still relate to the struggles of raising young children, thanks to our grandchildren. This is book 2 in the Expectant Detectives series; I haven't read book 1 but may go back to it when I need some levity in my reading routine.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook.
Dollycas's Thoughts
Alice is almost to the end of her year-long maternity leave and she is tired, taking care of a baby that first year is hard. Truthfully parenting is hard no matter what age the child is. She spends most days with the friends she met at her prenatal class. Well except for Hen, perfect Hen, because her husband left her she is now working for a local green energy company. Ailsa has her hands full with her TWINS! Poppy is pretty lackadaisical, something is definitely off with her. The young women are usually joined by Poppy's dog Sultan and Alice's dog Helen.
The story opens with everyone on a picnic in a nearby meadow. They are joined by some unexpected visitors who invite them to a protest against a wind farm set to be built in the meadow where they are having their picnic. They sans Hen soon find themselves chained to trees thinking they may finally get a little albeit uncomfortable sleep. When they are awakened by screams they find one of the protesters strangled. It isn't long before they convince themselves they need to investigate the murder. Can they do it again? Can these new moms find the killer? Or will they wish they had just enjoyed what remains of their time off?
____
I think my problem with Alice is that I had four children over seven years and worked full-time with a leave of 6 weeks for each child. I maintained my house for the most part too, but it was never how Alice leaves hers daily. A year off per child would have been bliss. But I set that aside because I knew I was going to laugh and laugh often reading this book. These new moms, especially Alice find themselves in hilarious situations. Seriously, nude protestors! And oh my gosh, what Alice dressed her son Jack in when she took him with her to a funeral. I had tears in my eyes laughing. Plus, Alice's dog Helen is such a lovable naughty dog who gets into all kinds of mischief.
The mystery was very well done. With one solved murder under their belts, these ladies have no trouble diving into this one, often bringing the dogs and children right along with them. They have several suspects and they come up with ways to question them or set up diversions to enable them to snoop in interesting places. They uncover some important clues but they just don't fit together until Alice's a-ha moment. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns and was surprised by the ending.
Dead Tired blends motherhood and mystery together in a very entertaining way. The mystery will make you think and the young mother's and Helen's hijinks will make you laugh out loud. I hope there will be a book three because toddlers will drive these mothers crazy and I would love to see what happens if they have another murder to solve.
Alice is almost to the end of her year-long maternity leave and she is tired, taking care of a baby that first year is hard. Truthfully parenting is hard no matter what age the child is. She spends most days with the friends she met at her prenatal class. Well except for Hen, perfect Hen, because her husband left her she is now working for a local green energy company. Ailsa has her hands full with her TWINS! Poppy is pretty lackadaisical, something is definitely off with her. The young women are usually joined by Poppy's dog Sultan and Alice's dog Helen.
The story opens with everyone on a picnic in a nearby meadow. They are joined by some unexpected visitors who invite them to a protest against a wind farm set to be built in the meadow where they are having their picnic. They sans Hen soon find themselves chained to trees thinking they may finally get a little albeit uncomfortable sleep. When they are awakened by screams they find one of the protesters strangled. It isn't long before they convince themselves they need to investigate the murder. Can they do it again? Can these new moms find the killer? Or will they wish they had just enjoyed what remains of their time off?
____
I think my problem with Alice is that I had four children over seven years and worked full-time with a leave of 6 weeks for each child. I maintained my house for the most part too, but it was never how Alice leaves hers daily. A year off per child would have been bliss. But I set that aside because I knew I was going to laugh and laugh often reading this book. These new moms, especially Alice find themselves in hilarious situations. Seriously, nude protestors! And oh my gosh, what Alice dressed her son Jack in when she took him with her to a funeral. I had tears in my eyes laughing. Plus, Alice's dog Helen is such a lovable naughty dog who gets into all kinds of mischief.
The mystery was very well done. With one solved murder under their belts, these ladies have no trouble diving into this one, often bringing the dogs and children right along with them. They have several suspects and they come up with ways to question them or set up diversions to enable them to snoop in interesting places. They uncover some important clues but they just don't fit together until Alice's a-ha moment. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns and was surprised by the ending.
Dead Tired blends motherhood and mystery together in a very entertaining way. The mystery will make you think and the young mother's and Helen's hijinks will make you laugh out loud. I hope there will be a book three because toddlers will drive these mothers crazy and I would love to see what happens if they have another murder to solve.
