Dead Tired takes on a whole new meaning for Alice as she navigates unexpected twists during her maternity leave. What started as a bonding experience among friends in a prenatal group turned them into accidental detectives solving a crime. Now, hoping for some much-needed rest during an eco-protest, Alice and her friends wake up to a shocking discovery: a fellow protester strangled.

Set in a sleepy English countryside village, the story unfolds with a blend of humor and suspense. Amid the chaos of baby care and dog antics, Alice finds herself drawn back into investigative mode, eager to solve this latest mystery involving rogue artists, a mysterious entrepreneur, and unconventional protests.

The novel cleverly juxtaposes the challenges of new motherhood with the thrill of amateur sleuthing. It captures the camaraderie among the new moms as they use their wits and determination to uncover the truth. With engaging characters and unexpected plot twists, Dead Tired offers a refreshing and entertaining read that keeps readers guessing until the satisfying conclusion.

It’s been a year since expectant mothers Alice, Ailsa, Poppy, and Hen first met at a birthing class and now, with the babies all a year old, the mothers have become fast friends. On a picnic near a small copse of trees, they are greeted by a pair of naked strangers who invite them to a protest meeting to protect the copse from a corporation that wants to bulldoze it. Ailsa, the most ecologically aware, thinks they should attend and they all agree except Hen who works for the corporation. However, at the protest, one of the protesters is murdered only it seems impossible since everyone was chained to the trees except one woman who has the key but why wouldn’t she wait until she wouldn’t be the prime suspect and how was it possible no one saw or heard anything? Despite warnings from Ailsa’s sister, the cop, to not get involved, the mums are intrigued by the mystery so, with babies and dogs in tow, they set out on their own investigation.

Dead Tired is the second cozy mystery in the Expectant Detectives Mysteries series by Kat Ailes and it is just as entertaining as the first. It is a fun, fast, and humorous read told in the first person by Alice who makes for a very self-effacing but charming and witty narrator. The mums all have distinct personalities but they are all likeable and work well together albeit with often hilarious results. But, don’t get me wrong, it’s not all fun and laughs - the mystery is interesting with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing with a surprising solution that I can honestly say I did not see coming.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

I was preapproved to receive this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the first in this series much more than this one. While there was nothing wrong with this novel, the story just didn't grab me as much as the first one did. It was a solid cozy mystery but just not my favorite.

Thanks to @stmartinspress & @netgalley for the gifted review copy of Dead Tired by Kat Ailes (Expectant Detectives 2).

This group of new moms met during prenatal classes. These interesting characters and the whodunits they stumble on are perfect for those who love Cozy Mysteries.

This series pulled me in after the first book, The Expectant Detectives, where I met these fun ladies.

This quote from the synopsis is the type of humor you’ll find in the book.

“Alice, whose success rate in solving countryside murder is at an all-time high (one out of one), cannot resist the chance to demonstrate her detective skills once more, and assembles her gang of new moms to investigate this latest mystery in their not-so-sleepy English countryside village.”

Alice and her friends find themselves embroiled in protesting and then discovering one of the protesters strangled to death after chaining themselves to trees for the night.

For those who love cozy mysteries, this is a series you won’t want to miss. This is standalone, but I’d suggest getting to know the characters by starting with the first book.

I enjoyed this book I read the first book last winter so it was nice to have all the ladies back solving the solid mystery. Helen the dog and her furry companions always provides some laugh out loud moments!
I love these books and listened to Dead Tired in just a couple of days. I couldn't put it down! Alice is a great main character for The Expectant Detective series even if I do not like how much she puts herself down, but I do enjoy the chaos that surrounds her with Helen and now Jack while dealing with realistic and less realistic events of motherhood.
The village of Penton ravaged by murder yet again, the sleuthing and the playdates make for a fun read with all the British charme and Cotswold atmosphere.

Alice finds herself investigating a murder, again. This time, she was at a protest, chained to a tree, when another person who was protesting is found dead. With the motley crew of moms, Alice investigates what happened.
Opinion:
This book was a great read. I love how Alice had to juggle being a mom to a baby all the while trying to figure out who murdered who. This book was just as good as the first and I expect to see a slew of books in this series (perhaps with Alice having more kiddos.) I think what makes this book different from other mysteries is that Alice definitely does not have it together and her friends are so unlike her, yet it all works together well.
I had the fortune to listen to the audio book while reading along and absolutely fell in love with the accent of the narrator. It was a job well done.
Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC and advanced audio book of this book.

Loved this follow-up to The Expectant Detectives with all the same unique characters - and pups! Now the ladies have one year old babies. I loved all the nods to new parenthood and the mixed emotions that comes with it. The mystery was sudden and shocking. Alice and crew took a meandering path to find the culprit, and I did not guess who it was - just how I like my mysteries. The authors writing style is cozy, funny, and ironic. I hope she continues to write more books about Alice and Co. in the Cotswold countryside. All the stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was excited to read this. This is the perfect type of cozy mystery; there's plenty of intrigue and also silly antics that don't drag down the mood. I really enjoyed getting to see the world of motherhood through Alice's eyes (it was even more fun than reading about her being pregnant in the first book), and I love that she has this supportive circle of friends who can help her through whatever she's struggling with (including solving a murder!). This book also really benefits from its setting - it's so fun to read about this UK town. I'm really hoping that Ailes continues to write more in this series. It does seem like there could be more books and more mysteries for Alice and her friends to solve.

Dead Tired is the second installment in The Expectant Detectives mystery series and it is just as entertaining as the first book!

If you’re new to this series, the first book featured a group of soon-to-be-moms who become amateur sleuths when someone is murdered in the building where they were all taking maternity classes together. In Dead Tired, we’re back with the same characters, who are now first time moms, and murder has once again intruded on their already exhausting lives.

I’m loving this series so much. Alice and her silly dog Helen never fail to crack me up with their antics, and I constantly chuckle at the fact that Alice originally moved from London to the Cotswold because she wanted to raise her family in a peaceful environment. Who knew the English countryside would be so murdery?

The murder mystery is well crafted and fast paced, with just enough twists and turns to keep things interesting, while still allowing plenty of time for us to enjoy the wonderful friendships between this group of new moms.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries and books with Finlay Donovan vibes.

I didn’t realize how much I missed Alice and her whole crew until I jumped right into this book. It was so nice to see her and Joe as new parents and then her with her mom friends. I won’t lie, I was more invested in the women trying to figure out motherhood more than the actual mystery (which is a common thread with me and cozy-esque mystery book series). Still, though, this was a fun book and very enjoyable.

Alice’s love for McDonald’s was so relatable. I love her as a protagonist. If the series continues, I will definitely be reading it.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books and Netgalley, for the ARC!

DEAD TIRED is the second book in the Expectant Detectives Mystery Series. You do not have to read the first one to enjoy this book. The mothers from the first book have delivered their babies and have created a close bond. The ladies attend a protest chaining themselves to a tree, falling asleep and finding a protestor murdered. There are plenty of suspects and clues that kept me guessing. This cozy mystery has fun characters and a goofy dog that had me chuckling.

If you love cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this series and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you @minotaur_books and @netgalley
For the #gifted book.

I enjoyed the first book in this series a lot, but this one was just okay for me. I can't even put my finger on exactly what, but it just didn't spark the joy in me the first one did.

It was cute and worth finishing, but didn't love it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio for an ALC and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this is the sequel to the series and the pregnant detective is now a new mother. she is dealing with all the new mother issues and gets thrown into a new cozy mystery. this is a cute series for cozy mystery lovers.

This series brings a delightfully fun and fresh take on a cozy mystery. The sleuthing team is a group of moms with one year olds. They became unlikely friends last year when they met in their birthing class and had to solve a murder in which they all were suspects (Read Expectant Detectives!!!!). The group of women are a blast to follow in their motherhood journey and as they enmesh themselves in mysteries. Alice shared some REAL thoughts on parenting and breast feeding in this book and I am 100% here for sharing more of the raw moments openly. I’m excited to follow along in the future as the babies grow and the moms get into more trouble in solving cases!

Dead Tired is out now! I read the first in the series but I ADORED the audio of Dead Tired!! Thank you Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and MacMillan Audio for my advance copies!

Dead Tired by Kat Ailes is the second book in The Expectant Detectives series. Alice and all the ladies are back from The Expectant Detectives. The babies are all around a year old, the ladies are approaching the end of their maternity leave or are back at work.

Things are about to get interesting when the moms meet up with two nudist protestors that convince the ladies to attend a forthcoming protest. Murder of one of the protestors was not what they expected to happen, thrusting Alice and the ladies into another murder investigation.

Dead Tired is a lighthearted murder mystery involving a group of tired, bored and interfering women, babies and dogs.

I was looking forward to reading this installment but found it started a little slow, it seemed to focus more on babies and dogs .. I found the story was predictable and did not hold my interest.

Thank you, Kat Ailes, Minotar Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a great sequel to Expectant Detectives. I really love the vibe that the moms bring the the investigation table.

MOTHERHOOD MYSTERY and MIRTH

"Dead Tired", the follow up to the hit Kat Ailes cozy mystery, "The Expectant Detectives, is just as funny as the first. The expected children from the first novel are now all about one year old and the mothers do their best to handle the responsibility. Some better than others. Kat Alles has created a satisfying mystery. but it takes the back set to all the humor of motherhood with toddlers and the meyhem of owning a very stupid rambunctious dog. Having had both children and a big dog similar to the one in the book, I can attest that she has the humour in said life spot on. I alternated between the audiobook
and ebook and enjoyed both formats. Kitty Kelly's once again voiced these women and her narration is a sheer delight. Any cozy mystery reader who is also a mom will love these books. i can't wait for more of the series.

Like reading a slap-stick comedy
This book was full of mischievous critters, whether human or otherwise, lots of laughs, and a group of zany new moms bored after a year of maternity leave. A year! No wonder they needed a murder or two to keep the old grey cells operating.
The main character is Alice whose live-in-boyfriend Joe is most helpful except with Helen, their overly rambunctious doggie beast. And, their baby son, Jack. Then there is Poppy married to her wife, Lin and her son Noah. She however has two dogs, one of which is the majestic Sultan and his housemate, Ronnie, much like Helen and always into something. Next there is Ailsa who is single, secretive about the father and who is managing twins on her own! Lastly, in this book is Hen who does not want to lose her job so she is not involved in this murder caper. When Hen’s husband left her, she was forced to get a job. Her lifestyle before had been quite cushy: big house, nice everything, did not have to work. So now she is desperate to keep her job, letting the other three solve this murder. The first murder occurs during a protest over land use broadly speaking. The second one is simple treachery.
Honestly, I found some parts felt more like fillers but would appeal to new moms because they could definitely relate. Alice is a little too zany for my taste, but this was a well-written and enjoyable English murder mystery which took place in a small English village and environs. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

Dead Tired is Kat Ailes second book in The Expectant Detectives Mystery series. Although I have not read the first book in the series, where the characters meet during prenatal classes, it was not difficult to pick up on the relationships between them in the second cozy. I am certain though that I missed out on a lot of laughs in this hilarious series.

In Dead Tired, the babies have been born and the narrator Alice is on maternity leave with her son Jack who gets into the types of trouble one would expect from a small child, and her goofy dog Helen who defies expectations.

The book opens with the women and their babies picnicking in a meadow when they encounter two nude eco-protestors who are challenging a green energy company’s plan to destroy the meadow and an ancient copse in order to build a wind farm.

In order to do something that was not parenting-related for a change, Alice and her friends attend an Earth Force protest meeting, and ultimately stumble into participating in the protest by being chained to the trees in the copse before wind farm construction begins. The female nude protestor, Leila, arrives late but ends up dead, and the investigation is afoot!

Besides being extremely funny, the mysteries in the novel were complex with lots of suspects. However, I honestly felt like it was impossible to solve them with the information provided, and the solutions seemed rushed and haphazard in the end.

I did appreciate the social message in the novel — just as older women are not taken seriously, women who are pregnant or who have infants aren’t either, which gives them far more freedom to investigate. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary advance copy of this book.

Dead Tired is the second book in Kat Ailes Expectant Detective Mystery series, and it is honestly as charming as her first go around. Dead Tired brings back all of the quirky original group of women, now all first time moms. Together they find themselves stumbling into yet another murder mystery and having to solves the crimes simply out of curiosity (and maybe a little sleep deprivation).

Overall this novel is very enjoyable, and light hearted!