This book follows four (mostly three) friends and their babies as they try to solve murders.

Dead Tired made me tired. It was witty to the point where I got bored, and I tired of the constant dog and child interruptions. There was too much talking and not enough doing. And I connected with no one. I wanted to know more about Hen, but we only got little glimpses. The banter between these friends would have been entertaining if it didn’t take up 73 percent of the book.

I would have enjoyed the writing more if there had been more showing than telling. The author has a gift. It just didn’t shine here for me.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

The perfect follow up to The Expectant Detectives! The gang is back and more hilarious than ever! They’re really just trying to so good and be involved in their community, it’s not their fault that they are present for yet another murder!
So, with babies and Helen in tow, they’re off to solve another crime!

This is a funny story. I’ve read the first book in the series and this one doesn’t disappoint in the same tone. The group of friends are back at solving another murder and bringing their babies with them along for the journey.

Looking forward to the next in this series. It was fun catching up with the characters as they navigate motherhood. What is Alice going to do as her maternity leave ends? Just wish she would spend a little bit more time at home, though, with Joe.

This was a great follow up to the first book and I found myself so sucked into the story in this one as well. I really love the characters and how they formed an unlikely bond to solve yet another murder.

I am certainly interested in so many more books in this series because I have to know what the characters are up to and how many more cases they can solve. I look forward to more.

Honestly this is such an entertaining, cozy, funny mystery!

I love Alice, Helen and the girl gang of mystery solvers!

I ended up listening on audio and feel like the production is so well done! It was an easy and enjoyable read!

Thank you NetGalley and SMP for the eARC!

3.5 stars
The pregnant women of the first book are now new mothers with a new murder to solve. The book is very funny showing how these quirky women are dealing with motherhood while also trying to solve a crime. I think I enjoy the characters and their trials and tribulations more than the crime solving!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Continuing to read this series despite my pretty mixed review of the first book was definitely the right choice! I can definitely see Alice evolving as a person (and amateur sleuth), with the book giving me a lot less second-hand embarrassment. The storyline itself was pretty darn interesting, with the pacing a lot more even than the first book. I love seeing the relationships between the characters evolving, as well as more of the character of the town being brought forward. The representation of young motherhood is spot on, and the author successfully brings out the humour in the situations that ensue when one tries to investigate a murder with many babies and dogs in tow! Can't wait for the next one ;)

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of response from St. Martin's Press for the racist, Islamophobic, and queerphobic comments made by one of their employees I cannot review this title.I tried holding off on sending this "review" to give SMP time to do the right thing in response to this boycott, but I can't have this continuing to hurt my feedback ratio when it's out of my control.

Dead Tired is the second book in the Expectant Detective series. I am really enjoying this cozy mystery!!
Alice is back with her adorable mess of a life. Now a year into motherhood, she’s still juggling sleepless nights, a chaotic home, and her mischievous dog, Helen. When Alice and her friends get roped into an eco-protest for some much-needed rest, things quickly go awry. The protest turns deadly, and suddenly, Alice and her crew are up to their necks in mystery.

The book shines with its hilarious take on new mom life. Alice’s endless struggles with diaper duty, and messy home are both relatable and entertaining. The murder mystery is a fun side plot, but the real joy is in Alice’s over-the-top attempts to handle motherhood and amateur sleuthing. If you’re up for a laugh and a cozy crime, this one is worth a read!
Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was even more adorable than the first in the series! I like the seamless continuation, how her pup gets in the shenanigans, and the cozy mystery feel. Definitely a vacation read!

I dnfed (did not finish) this title. It was really hard to get into, it was really boring. I had no wish to pick it up and continue to read it.

This one was a bit slow for me. I did enjoy it a bit more than the first. I was interested to see how the new mom handled juggling momming and her detective antics. It was entertaining to see the funny bits within.

Alice and her friends are always getting involved in a murder mystery. I had a fun time reading this 2nd book in the series. There are some pretty hilarious moments in this story. While I enjoyed the mystery in the first book more, I still enjoyed following along with Alice and the other moms’ exploits as they tried to solve another murder. I love the characters and I love Helen the dog. Helen cracks me up!

I will definitely be continuing on in this series. I definitely recommend this series for cozy mystery lovers.

3.5 stars

Don’t read this LOL-inducing book around other people…

When I was offered a review copy of Dead Tired, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But what I found was a nicely plotted mystery with a lot of enjoyable moments of snark. I missed the first book in the series, during which, apparently, Alice’s group of expectant mothers and assorted dogs solved a murder. Now they’re all mothers for real, and so desperate for sleep that chaining themselves to a tree overnight during an eco-protest seems like a good idea. Hence the title: Dead Tired.

Of course they run into another dead body, chained to the next tree over, and with their past success in mind, they feel equipped to do some sleuthing again. Equally, of course, they don’t truly know what they are doing, so laugh-out-loud moments abound – arising from their investigations, but also from their dogs (Helen!), kids, and even their erstwhile jobs.

Dead Tired is a quick fun read that would be great for the beach or poolside, although maybe not so suitable for an airplane – see “laugh-out-loud” above. My only complaint, which is not the book’s fault, is the major suspension of disbelief that was required to accept the idea of a maternity leave that would be long enough to actually bond with a group of other expecting/recently delivered moms. Such a thing simply doesn’t exist in the US, so the moment I read about months of leave, I knew I was in some foreign land. And a much more rational and humane one at that!

Finally, my thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my review copy. Oh, and for once, I like the US cover better than the UK one!

This series is just delightful! The characters are fantastic, the mystery is compelling, and the setting is charming. I would love to live in this quirky little town!

There's so much humor in Dead Tired, and I love the way parenthood is portrayed. Kat Ailes has done an amazing job with this book and the last. I can't wait to get my hands on book three!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Dead Tired was a charming mystery that was solved by a group of friends while they are on maternity leave (12 months!) it explored the themes of energy and how even companies that have a good cause can be corrupted. Helen, the dog, was hilarious! Might have enjoyed this more if I had read the first book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Expectant Detectives and was glad to continue in the series.. Cozy mysteries with a liberal amount of humor are just right for some relaxing time by the pool or the fire! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

I had not read the first in the Expectant Detectives series, but had no problem learning the characters and relationships. This is a fun cozy mystery, with the new mothers learning to deal with toddlers, pets (especially the incorrigible Helen!), and an unexpected murder at an event. The mystery was good, and I was surprised at who the murderer was!

Recommended for those who enjoy lighthearted and somewhat wacky mysteries, or just want an enjoyable weekend read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This was a fun follow up to The Expectant Detectives. This type of madcap cozy mystery is my favorite.

The new moms are up to the same old antics. Alice and friends have all had their babies and are happily living the new mom life. It gets a little boring at times and they don't always feel like themselves, but life in the English countryside is about to liven up! When they get roped into joining a protest and one of their fellow protesters ends up dead, they are on the case.

I really liked this exciting second story from this series. Alice and friends are a fun group. I love their unique personalities. The mystery was entertaining. I also loved the look at motherhood and how it can be the most life-giving yet soul-sucking thing women do. I would love another read from this crew.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.