Alice and her friends are enjoying the last parts of their maternity leave with Jack now being one. During a picnic, Alice and her friends meet some interesting and naked members of a local environmental group and soon find themselves being chained to a tree in one of their protests. However, in the morning one of the members is dead. After the events that occurred during their last investigation, Alice is hesitant to start looking into this murder but soon Alice and her friends are right in the middle of it and possible suspects again.

I love these books and listened to Dead Tired in a couple of days. I couldn't put it down! Alice is the perfect main character for The Expectant Detective series, and I enjoy the chaos that surrounds her with Helen and now Jack while dealing with the realistic events of motherhood. I found myself enjoying this book more than the first. I am hoping that this is not the end of Alice and her friends.

Dead Tired is out now!

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review Dead Tired. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good mystery. Alice and her friends are amateur sleuths, and it is a wonder that they could solve a mystery. They are nosy enough to ask a lot of questions, but they seem to blunder on to clues. The friends are having a picnic in a field when a naked man and woman show up. They are protesting the company that wants to build a wind farm in the field. When the couple invites them to be part of the protest, Hen knows she can't be involved with the protests because she works for the company. When a young woman is found dead after she and others, chained themselves to a tree for the night, The women know they have to find answers. So, the other three set about investigating with their crazy children and dogs.

This was another good book by Kat Ailes. This was just as funny as the first book. I had a lot of laugh out loud moments through out because these woman have some interesting mom moments with their kiddos and of course Helen the dog!! I felt like the characters were well written and enjoyable. I didn't guess who did it so that was a nice twist at the end. This book leads us to believe there will be another book, so I'm excited about that. This was a fun mystery to read and I would definitely recommend this book and this series.

Thank you NetGallery and St. Martins Press Minotaur Press for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Another fun adventure with Alice and her friends. I love the characters and their witty (read: snarky) take on life in the country and childcare. The mystery in this one was creative and had me guessing the whole time. And while the mystery takes center stage, there are plenty of laughs. Highly recommend the series but start with the first one to really get to know the characters.

When Alice moved to the Cotswolds from London with her partner Joe to start a family, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She certainly didn’t expect to solve a murder with her prenatal group. And now that their babies are all a little over a year old, Alice didn’t expect to find herself chained to a tree in the middle of the night, but there she is.

While the new moms, babies, and dogs were on a picnic in the beautiful countryside, a naked couple walked past. They were painted and clearly ready to protest, so the new moms asked them about the protest. There was a local energy company that was planning on setting up a wind farm in the field where they were picnicking, despite it being a copse of 500-year-old chestnut trees. Raven and Leila, the protestors, explained that they were going to a photo shoot to try to raise awareness and invited the new moms to a meeting of their group, Earth Force.

While Alice loves the time she gets to spend with her baby Jack, she is also looking forward to an evening with grown-ups. She’s expecting a meeting where she can eat some cookies and maybe help paint a sign or two. And that’s what she finds. But somehow she also gets roped into participating in the protest, where the group is chaining themselves to trees to get their point across.

The company that they are protesting against is Aether, and it’s run by tech guru Owen Myers, who wants to create avenues for renewable energy. But the fact that he’s choosing to destroy this valuable green space makes Alice wonder if he really is dedicated to saving the planet. It’s clear that she’s not the only one questioning him when someone firebombs his house.

But it’s not until Alice finds herself chained to a tree, noticing as the sun comes up in the morning, that she’s sitting across from a woman slumped against her tree that she realized just how dark this fight had gotten. Because that woman was Leila, and she was clearly no longer alive. The protest ends suddenly as the police show up to start investigating, and Alice can’t seem to stop herself from doing a little investigating herself.

Alice and her new mom friends use their resourcefulness and their contacts to find out that Leila wasn’t who she presented to Earth Force. She had worked for Owen previously, and she had kept her family and their secrets to herself. But she wasn’t the only one in the group with secrets, and the new moms keep poking around until they uncover them all and unearth a killer.

With an adorable baby, exhaustion, Baywatch reruns, junk food, and a goofball dog named Helen, Alice takes on a second murder investigation in her sleepy Cotswold community in Dead Tired. Author Kat Ailes brings back together this group of new moms and all the challenges of the first year of motherhood along with the challenges of trying to solve a murder in this charming, sleepy murder mystery.

I loved Dead Tired, and not just because I resonate with that title. (No kids, just really tired.) But these books are filled with a big cast of interesting and diverse characters (some are dogs) and much talk of tasty snacks, which I am all for. While I have read the first book and had been introduced to the new moms already, it made for a especially large number of characters to keep track of, especially once you add in all the Earth Force members. I did struggle to keep everyone straight, but aside from that, I just had so much fun with this book. I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble the Expectant Detectives run into next.

Egalleys for Dead Tired were provided by Minotaur Books through NetGalley, with many things.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Expectant Detective series and it is soooooo good. For anyone in a pare ting role you will relate to Alice and her friends. They are sleep deprived, exhausted, looking for anything to break up the monotony of taking care of children. This is definitely my new favorite cozy series!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy and to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Dead Tired is the second book in a cozy mystery series that started with Expectant Detectives. We again follow Alice in her new home in the English countryside. But now, she and her friends from the prenatal care classes all have infants. And somehow they manage to stumble across a dead body.

It took me a bit to remember who was who. I should have reviewed the characters from the first book before beginning to listen to this second one. But I was immediately captured again by the great deadpan humor. The first person POV is perfection. I had an easier time deciding who I trusted, and I enjoyed all the strange adventures Alice and her friends went on as they worked again to solve a crime. And of course, Alice's dog Helen continues to steal all the scenes she is in.

I was especially impressed by the absolutely amazing audio performance by Kitty Kelly. She had a fantastic feel for Alice's POV and her level of sarcasm and humor.

I am so glad this is a series and look forward to more to come. Both the mysteries and the comfort of bonding with other new parents are so well done.

"𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿."

𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙏𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 is book 2 in 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 mystery series. Last book we followed Alice and her pregnant group of friends trying to solve the murder of a man that occurred during a prenatal class. The ladies are back and adjusting to motherhood. They're finding they don't get out much these days and when the opportunity to participate in an eco-protest arises, they sign up. The friends finally get a chance to get some baby-free sleep, even if it's while chained to a tree. Unfortunately the protest ends when a fellow participant is found strangled. Alice and the group put their amateur detective hats back on and start their investigation!

The aspects I enjoyed most about 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 were the banter between the new friends, the mischief they got up to, and silly Helen the dog. While all these things were present in book 2, it also felt like something was lacking. I also got a little confused with so many new side characters. But overall it was still an enjoyable mystery and I would definitely read book 3 should the series continue. While this could be read as a standalone, I think it would best be enjoyed after reading book 1.

I am glad that the first installment has turned itself into a series. I’m not sure how many murders this small town can sustain but I’m really to suspend belief if they want to stretch it out. Bc these first two have been enjoyable. I guess they’d be in the cozy mystery genre but the fun kind.

I’ll be looking forward to more.

I tried to give this book a try with both the ebook and audio book. Unfortunately, despite it being slapsticky, the characters never grabbed me. I was hoping for a very easy read, and it is. But as far as the characters go, I felt it lacking. I felt same with the first book so it may be that the author's style is just not for me.

Before becoming proud new moms, Alice and her friends bonded more than a group of prenatal moms usually would, becoming accidental amateur sleuths and solving a crime together. Alice's son Jack is now already a year old, and Alice is keen to catch up on some sleep. When the opportunity presents itself to participate in an eco-protest, Alice and her friends chain themselves to trees and settle in for some overdue rest. The next morning, one of their fellow protestors is found strangled, leaving Alice and her friends entangled in a new crime that they can't help but want to get to the bottom of.

DEAD TIRED hits just the right spot. I ended up liking this one more than its predecessor, THE EXPECTANT DETECTIVES. I had so much fun revisiting the cozy town of Penton, as well as Alice, her group of friends, and their dogs. Honestly, Helen and the other dogs steal the show yet again, but I think that's to be expected. Helen is always up to no good and getting herself into some sticky messes. Alice is still a hot mess, although seemingly amplified in her postpartum state. She's still getting things done though, so I'd call that a win.

I really enjoyed the complex mystery with its many moving parts in DEAD TIRED. I had absolutely no clue who could be responsible for this whodunnit and ended up being quite surprised by the ending! Lastly, I love Ailes' writing style and sense of humour; I can't wait to see what's next for Alice and her friends.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.

Sequel to The Expectant Detectives. The women have all had their babies, who are now around a year old, and they find themselves in the midst of another murder investigation when a new acquaintance is murdered at a protest while chained to a tree. This is on par with the first book in the series, with Helen the dog getting into things and Alice and her friends getting into other things. Now we also have the added bonus of all the jokes about how tired new parents are, which gets old fairly quickly. 3 stars.

The Expectant Detectives are back! Dead Tired is the second book in this mystery series about a group of new moms in the Cotswolds who investigate crimes they just happen to stumble into. The moms met at a prenatal class in the first book, and this one picks up when the babies are all about a year old. The moms, babies, and dogs are enjoying a picnic when they encounter two eco protestors. Next thing you know, Alice and company are chaining themselves to trees as part of an overnight protest to protect the meadow from becoming a wind farm. The next morning, one of the protestors is dead. But never fear – the moms are on the case and about to get down to “detectoring”!

This clever cozy mystery is so much fun! It’s light but twisty, with no shortage of potential suspects and motives. Fans of cozy mysteries will be charmed by this quirky cast of characters. Alice is hilariously endearing; she’s cute and chatty, sarcastic and completely socially awkward, and the way she stumbles through new motherhood is so relatable! Alice’s unruly dog Helen is such a hoot too, constantly getting herself and Alice into embarrassing scrapes. I am loving this series and am thrilled that the author is leaving the door open for future installments!

The audiobook version makes this story even more enjoyable. Narrator Kitty Kelly is perfect as Alice! Her delivery is wry and humorous, and her British accent really makes you feel like you’re in the English countryside.

Another fun book in what is now a favorite series of mine! This unexpected but seriously close friend group, who are willing to jump out of their comfort zone so easily for each other and to try new things is such a delight to read about. I feel like the MC is even more comfortable in this book so there are less gaffes and more genuine laughs. The fact that Alice and her new friends love to snoop and don't pretend otherwise is refreshing in a cozy mystery like this one and I totally understand them trying to find meaning and purpose for their lives outside of motherhood (which is of course miraculous and important, but also important for mom to find her own purpose as a singular person). As a newish mom I totally felt so many of the motherhood portions and wish I had such a close friend group, who would drop everything to help you and your new babe. The mystery had me all twisted up and very shocked by all the reveals at the end!

Dead Tired is a perfect choice for those in search of a cozy mystery with a large dose of humor. Mothers especially will relate to the zombie days of early motherhood. When Alice and her fellow maternity friends stumble upon two nude protestors, they soon find themselves chained to a tree to stop the development of a wind farm. They certainly didn't expect one of the other protestors to end up murdered. Naturally, they feel compelled to put their amateur sleuthing skills to work. It's pretty hard to conduct a discreet search for clues when they are accompanied by curious one-year old children and very naughty dogs. Even though this is the second book of a series, it reads fine as a stand-alone. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minootaur Books and the author for a copy to read and review.

DNF at 20%. I liked the first book in the series but this one was not for me. I couldn't get into the story and the characters fell flat.

Alice and her prenatal group friends are back! They have all had their babies and are navigating the first year with their babies. Maternity leave, play groups, and surviving on little sleep has become their everyday norm. Even with the changes that new motherhood has brought, the group is still hilarious and still wind up getting involved in a murder investigation.

I highly recommend this book and series if you are looking for a funny and lighthearted murder mystery story.

Thank you @minotaur_books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

They’re back! Those nosey, bored expectant moms are now mom’s of one year olds, and even though they are “dead tired” from parenting, they jump at the chance to do some “detectoring”. While this seems extremely irresponsible, no children or dogs are ever put in danger’s way!

All the characters return, and their friendship is stronger than ever. While picnicking in a local meadow, the women come across a couple of nude protestors on a photo shoot for their upcoming protest.From there the ladies get deeply involved with the protestors especially after one of the protestors is murdered during a sit in. I enjoyed revisiting this motley crew of friends in small town Cotswold, and I was again disappointed that the men in their lives were just mentioned, not much explored.

The laughs are primarily about parenting and unruly dogs. Some of the narrative felt like unnecessary filler - especially the multiple descriptors about junk food and purses filled with unhealthy snacks. Alice, the narrator of the story, is portrayed as the most out of control/ill-equipped for parenthood, yet, this former copy writer, brilliantly solves another murder in her new small town.

This cozy mystery read is fun and more frivolous than mysterious, but the characters are easy to identify with and highly likable. Dead Tired is a good summer vacation read-pool side, on the beach or on a plane.

4 stars. So I must admit, that I didn't read book 1. And because of that, the first chapter was a bit (aka a huge) info dump of characters and names, etc. And to be fair, names are not my strong suite... so I had a bit of a hard time in the beginning trying to sort through who everyone was. But once I did, Dead Tired was a really fun cozy mystery mom com. I loved Ailes's sense of humor as an author and even though the book is about murder, I found myself reading the entire thing with a smile on my face. I'm not a mom, but I could see how relatable these books would be to moms, especially new moms. Found family is one of my favorite tropes in a book, and I really appreciated the friendships of this new mom group! I loved the banter, loved the hijinks, and loved the zany. All in all, I had a fun time with this... yes... MURDER... mystery book. And I can easily see myself cycling back to book 1. Thanks so much to Ailes, Minotaur, and Netgalley for hooking me up with this one!

Second in series with a group of Moms who get involve in a few murders that they try to solve.
A good mystery with a few suspects and twists.
A fun easy read.
Voluntarily reviewed.