The Expectant Detectives #2
Dead Tired by Kat Ailes

All the soon to be babies from the first book have been born and and Alice and her friends (they are her friends aren't they, sometimes Alice isn't sure) are dealing with one year olds who keep any of them from sleeping at night. At least Alice has her partner to help out with baby Jack. One of her friends is single, with twins, another of her friends seems to be down since the birth of her baby, and Hen, perfect, perfect Hen, is now working for an eco friendly local company that wants to do something very un eco friendly. While Hen works, the others watch over her baby for her. Alice is very shady in the way she makes Hen's baby look pristine at the end of the work day...Alice has a LOT of shortcuts in life although they don't always take her where she meant to go.

I will admit that I was less interested in the actual mystery than in laughing at Alice and company attempt to get through early motherhood. Add to Alice's motherhood woes the fact that she's yet to have mastered pethood with her unruly dog, Helen, and it seems Alice is pretty much a mess all the time. I mean, a literal mess, along with her mess of a kid and mess of a dog. Her house is a mess, her beat up car is a mess, nothing about Alice is clean or well put together. Never having had kids and knowing if I had ever had a kid it would have been enclosed in bubble wrap until its twenty fifth birthday, Alice makes motherhood seem both very unsanitary (surely I'm not telling parents anything they didn't know), exhausting (ditto), and possibly not at all like books, TV, and your friends make it look. Or it could just be Alice...I don't know.

So when Alice and her eco minded friends do a wee bit of eco protesting, jumping in feet (or torso first) by getting chained to trees, they end up being present for a murder! Everyone is uncomfortably asleep when the murder happens so no one saw the murder but it is certainly causing a ruckus in this tiny Cotswold community. So of course, Alice and company are going to solve this murder despite the fact that Alice's partner put a nix on her ever solving murders again. What to do, what to do...guess what Alice does! Jam and whatever else stained baby, Jack, unruly Helen, and totally unorganized Alice have been bamboozled by her eco friends to do a lot of the dirty work in this murder solving caper. For me the fun is in the little things, the justification of McDonalds more often than is healthy or eco friendly, and Alice being shocked when the most militant of her eco friends turns to disposable diapers. What is the world coming to?!??!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

"Dead Tired" is the second book in the hilarious "Expectant Detectives" mystery series from Kat Ailes. I wasn't sure how this book would stack up to the first in the series, but it did not disappoint. This book was such a fun, lighthearted, and cozy mystery full of twists and surprises. Alice and her friends were hilarious, and I loved that this book took on real-life issues that we face as parents. I wasn't sure about the eco-protest storyline at first, but it ended up being a compelling mystery. I had many guesses and suspects in mind, and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. “The Expectant Detectives” is quickly becoming a new favorite series. Fingers crossed for book #3!
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another highly entertaining mystery featuring a bumbling but brilliant new mom just trying to juggle a baby, some friends and a couple of inconvenient murders.

I love Alice’s spunky demeanor and dry humor and find myself laughing out loud at some of her observations. She’s also a clever investigator, even covered in vomit and dog poo. I think you’ll love the friendships, the humor and the cozy sensibilities!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for my copy. These opinions are my own.

Bring on fun summer reading! Dead Tired is book #2 in the Expectant Detectives series. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. There are many references to #1 that made me very curious to check that one out.

This book follows a group of new moms that are innocently at a scene of a crime. The banter between the characters is hilarious. Alice in particular is very funny. They decide to participate in a protest to keep a copse (not corpse, ha!) of trees from developers. This involves chaining themselves to the trees for an undetermined amount of time and while chained, one of the protesters is murdered. They go into action to uncover the identity of the murderer. It's a murky endeavor and a great time to the conclusion. I recommend adding this fun cozy to your summer reading list!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for early access.

Part two in this wonderful series enjoyed as much as the first.The new moms had me laughing out loud.Can be read as a stand alone but the first is too much fun to miss.#netgalley #minator

This was a fun sequel!
The "expectant detectives" find themselves caught up in a protest to save a meadow from a developing wind farm. After a night chained to a tree, one of the protesters ends up strangled. Even though these ladies are new moms, they can't help but be intrigued by the mystery and end up once again investigating.
This group of new moms is fun. They are all different and have different lifestyles, but go well together. We get some old characters like Rowan from the first book, and new characters like the people from the protest. I wanted more Helen! She's too funny.
Something I appreciated was that this book does not make parenthood seem easy. It felt very real and was fun to read because of that.
Like the first book, this book did focus a lot on the mystery, but there was trips with the babies, and other things that focused more on the friendships and family. The plot moved along well and I did not see the ending coming.
I can't wait to see what antics Alice and the girls get into next!

Thank you St Martins and MacMillan audio for review copies of Dead Tired, a second in a strong new cozy series, perfect with the cozy tropes of unwitting detectives, small town themes, and a higher than expected body count. What stands out here is the recognition that new moms aren't robots, aren't just moms, but are perhaps, besides being dead tired (so true), are still people with brains, intellect, and interests/experiences that make them more than moms. I am grateful for that kind of gentle theme woven into a fun cozy mystery.
But the real win is Ailes' subtly snarky writing, her humorous turns of phrase about friendship and women and motherhood, and how for me this humor keeps the book real, makes me say I would befriend Alice in a second, messiness celebrated (and I would humor the dog). I get the chaos vibes, the uncertainty of new motherhood and female friendships and perhaps wanting something more outside of the day to day stuff... Ailes gets this and I love that her mysteries are funny, smart, and engaging, a great series of fans of Finlay Donovan!

This second book in the series about new mothers (the babies are all born in this book) was just as good as the first. Alice is such a memorable character and her friend group is diverse and help add to the chaos that is this book. Alice not only has baby Jack who loves to stuff food down his diaper, but her dog, Helen, is even more of a mess. None of the other mothers, who are also dealing with chaotic lives, even want Helen around ("Don't bring Helen!").

Of course, where their group is, there is murder. Alice and her group of mommy friends just can't help diving into the detective work to try to figure it out. The real detective in town is not a fan of Alice and her having her fingerprints all over every piece of evidence.

This was funny and very relatable for any mother. The messes are endless!

Hoping there's a third in the series so I can catch up with Helen and her band of mothers.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur books and Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

This is such a fun series! I love all the moms and babies. Helen the dog is such a fun addition. I suggest starting with the first book, although I think it would be fine as a standalone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The babies are here! And they're a year old! Maternity leave is coming to an end, and Alice and her friends are enjoying a picnic when naked protestors appear, embroiling them in yet another murder. The ladies (minus Hen, who had to get a job) chain themselves to an endangered copse of chestnut trees 0nly to wake up to find one of their number dead. But who did it? Everyone was chained to a tree!

This next installment in the Expectant Detectives series was just as fun as the first! I guess it's kind of weird to consider murder fun, but it's a cozy mystery after all. Alice is back, and now all of the babies are just over a year old. Alice is...a lot of us. She had to postpone jack's first birthday and he's coming up on 14 months and still no party. She's (and Ailsa and Poppy) are still super nosy, which again lands them right in the middle of a murder investigation. Hen, the voice of reason, has gotten a job as a PA to the area's most famous and most reclusive resident, the CEO of Aether Industries. I particularly loved this one because now we have the babies along to create chaos, not just Helen and Ronnie (though they're also still. up to no good!)

Thoroughly enjoying my return to the Cotswolds and looking forward to more mom and baby shennanigans!

Dead Tired by Kat Ailes

The gals are at it again. In the last book,The Expectant Detectives, the ladies were about to give birth. The little ones have arrived, but that has not slowed down the moms. They’ve promised not to do any more sleuthing, but trouble ensues.

During a peaceful protest, a murder is discovered. Afterward, Alice, the unofficial ring leader of the mom group, can’t help but ask questions where ever she goes. With son Jack and big dog Helen in tow, chaos follows.

There’s lots of baby and parenting talk in this story, but it works. Kat Ailes has a special wit when she writes, and Alice is especially funny. As the reader, you are dragged along (in a good way!) as the ladies investigate every clue.

There’s fun for everyone in this story published by St Martin’s Press, so I’ll give it a strong four stars. More please, Ms Ailes.

The very funny Expectant Detectives set the bar high and Dead Tired does not disappoint. After a year of parenting, Alice and her friends are sleep deprived and, after encountering naked protestors, involved in another murder. The incorrigible dog Helen continues to wreak havoc, while Ailes again had me laughing at things as varied as mastitis and a paternoster. Plenty of motives and suspects keep the mystery interesting and I didn’t guess the ending. It isn’t necessary to read the first to enjoy this entry in what I hope will be an ongoing series. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dead Tired is book 2 in the amazing Expectant Detectives series by Kat Ailes.
The writing was engaging and the characters so entertaining.
I have nothing negative to say.
A quirky, fun and entertaining murder mystery that hooked me immediately.
I loved the witty, upbeat of it all. This was an easy read that kept me guessing, and any fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy this book also.

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

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Dead Tired is the 2nd-installment to the Cozy Mystery series, The Expectant Detectives. I had a lot of fun with the 1st-book and have been anticipating this release ever since.

The main character, and our narrator, is Alice, a new Mom, who lives with her boyfriend, baby, and high-spirited dog, Helen, in the quaint country village of Penton. In the 1st-book, the couple had recently moved to Penton after discovering they were pregnant, and Alice ended up meeting the other characters, her now best friends, in a prenatal class. That's where they solved their first murder.

As this story begins, it's been a year and the women are closer now than ever. It's on one of their regular picnics with the babies that they first encounter Rowan and Layla, eco-protesters, who are buck-naked at their first meeting. In an awkward conversation, Rowan and Layla mention that they are prepping for a photo shoot to help bring awareness to a wind farm that will soon be overtaking this lush and vibrant natural countryside.

Alice and her friends agree to help with the protest, thus finding themselves shortly thereafter chained to trees on an overnight protest. Ah well, anything for a bit of rest, I guess. The next morning, one of the protestors is found dead, still chained to her tree and a new investigation begins. Can Alice and friends discover the killers before anyone else is cut down?

I had so much fun with this. As with the 1st-book, I listened to the audiobook and cannot recommend it enough. Kitty Kelly's narration is Alice to me a this point. Her delivery, with the humor and everything else, is just so spot on! I also love Ailes sense of humor. These books don't take themselves too seriously and I cherish that. Ailes knows, we're here for a good time. Let's have some fun. Just because it involves murder, doesn't mean it can't be cute and cozy.

I'm so properly attached to these characters now, which is one of the best things about Cozy Mystery series. The longer they go on, the more attached to them I get. Alice, Ailsa, Poppy and Hen (the other mum) are such a dynamic group of women. I love being with them and spending time with them. There's a lot of differences among them, but they just fit so well together, as they navigate new motherhood, and amateur sleuthing, all at the same time.

This went by too quickly. I tried to savor it, but I just couldn't. The mystery was so compelling, the hijinks and banter, so good, I just ate it up.
Additionally, Helen, Alice's dog, is such a special treat. I appreciate so much the way she is written and Alice's relationship to her. I can relate to the non-stop chaos those four dirty paws can sometimes bring. Even reading about Helen's predictably wild ways puts a smile on my face.

Towards the final reveal, I did find it a little muddled. I was actually surprised by the whodunit, like so much so, I wondered what I missed; like, did we get all those clues? Nevertheless, in the whole scope, I didn't really care that much about all that. It was really the journey getting to that point that I loved the most. The way this left off, I'm definitely anticipating a 3rd-book, and cannot wait for it. You'll find me first in line!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This series is an absolute blast. I recommend it to all Cozy Mystery fans!

This is the 2nd book in the Expectant detective's series. The mothers to be from the first book has delivered and the babies are now a year old. These mothers have formed a close bond and decided to do something eco-friendly like protesting. Chaining themselves to a tree they fall asleep and awaken to a murder.

This is a cute cozy read for me and I loved it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a cozy mystery.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one just as much as the first, although I think I was drawn more the pregnancy aspect of the story.

I enjoyed another adventure with these ladies but I found myself losing interest. I haven’t decided if I’ll continue with the series. I’d still recommend it and perhaps I would need to try to read it again, but I was also granted the audiobook and I still found myself wanting to speed through it.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books | St. Martin's Publishing

Hilarious plot of a group of new mothers putting themselves in one situation after another as they work to solve a murder. The mystery was enjoyable and the writing was amusing as the author fills her plot with funny quips and situations. The protagonist, Alice, is a mess but you can’t help but love her as she works through her relationship, motherhood, and her friends.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

Alice and her friends are back for another adventure, this time with their babies in tow. This story takes place about a year after The Expectant Detectives, and all the ladies are settling into motherhood well.

Once again, they stumble into a murder and set off on another bumbling adventure to find the murderer. All the characters from the first book are back, including the dogs, and this book is just as funny as the first.

The mystery was solid, not too predictable, and Ailes' writing is wonderful. Light and funny, with enough twists to keep you guessing.

Thank you NetGalley for and ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am hooked on these funny cozy mysteries, featuring a small group of young moms who met during prenatal classes and solve mysteries that they just happen to encounter. I truly didn't know what to expect when I started the first in the series, but after finishing Dead Tired, I am eagerly looking forward to the next and future books in this fun series.

The characters are certainly the strength, from Alice, Hen, Elsa, and Poppy, to the long-suffering detective and even the dogs, the characters are individually entertaining, and together, they play off each other and the circumstances in perfectly charming fashion.

Readers of the Finlay Donovan and Stephanie Plum novels will love The Expectant Detectives. Thank you to Netgalley, and Minotaur for the digital ARC of Dead Tires by Kat Ailes. The opinions in this review are my own.

The follow-up to last winter's The Expectant Detectives left me expecting a little more. I loved the banter and camaraderie that happened between the mothers who met in birthing class. I also loved Helen the dog and her unintentional help on the case. Those elements appeared to still be there in this outing, but some felt a little flat and one-dimensional. I still enjoyed the mystery and the characters and will likely pick up another in the series, but I will hope it has a little more of what made it fun the first time around.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.