*Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Elise Bryant has done it again - a cozy laugh out loud mystery that manages to make you giggle while also examining micro (and macro, oof) aggressions, PTA drama, and multi-level marketing schemes. Oh and with a delightfully crafted plot where even the littlest detail matters. We also touch a little on mommy influencers and it made me feel oh so icky, which was definitely the author's intent. I loved that Mavis learned about self-care, even if it was at the cost of her rage-quitting her job. But as she quickly learns, it can be so hard to be mindful when you're also trying to keep a tiny human alive especially when your list of "have to do's" keeps growing. Also a little bit of love triangle action? All I know is that I'm Team Mavis and Team Pearl.

But seriously - I need a book 3, I NEED IT. What's going on??? I have SO many questions both from the ending and those that were left unanswered throughout the book.

This was another great read by Elise Bryant! I really enjoyed reading It's Elementary, so I was super excited to see that Mavis was in another book and her story wasn't over! This was a great cozy mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end, with sprinkles of humor and romance mixed in as well. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

I stopped reading this book 2 or 3 times. I never made it beyond page 50. It was boring and the characters were I don't have a word besides uninteresting. The protagonist had nothing exciting going on except this lump sum she received which was an ok storyline. It never works when people try to do it all and not ask for help. I wanted Mavis and Pearl to resonate with me but they never did.

I received a Galley in exchange for my thoughtful and honest review.

I was beyond excited to read The Game Is Afoot early on because I absolutely loved the first book in the series, and I needed the next one. So typical me read The Game Is Afoot as soon as I could when I was granted an early arc. And I have so many feelings about it, and I needed the next book in the series ASAP. Like, I am dead serious about having the next book. I need to know, especially with that ending at the end.

Besides my endless rant about needing the next book in the series, let’s talk about The Game Is Afoot. If you haven’t already read the first book in the series, then you need to now. Because I am going to spoil it since it picks up right after what happened in the first book.

Mavis is finally knowing her worth and quitting her job that never appreciates her. While it may be intimidating not having a job, Mavis is finally getting to know her true self and focusing more on herself. She kind of lacks self-care since she was the main parent while her daughter's father traveled for a musical job. However, ex-husband aka her daughter's father is back in town and staying for his father. Mavis doesn’t really take his words since he is known to drop everything for his music career. But never the worry; she has more important tasks when she becomes suspicious about her daughter's coach dying in mid-practice.

Mavis swears she was done investigating crimes when she was taken captive the last time. However, Mavis keeps running into suspicious people or gossips that connect them to the soccer coach murder. She got to investigate, but it’s going to be tricky when she promises to be safe with her new boo.

If you enjoy reading cozy mystery books with bits of romance and family drama, then you will enjoy reading this series.

clever, fun, cozy mystery with a fun protag and some very realistic people. the romance in the side worked well too. 4 stars. tysm for thea rc.

After rage quitting her job, Mavis finally has time to get all the rest she's been putting off. Or she should have the time. Hypothetically. Except she’s taken on a new role: Supermom. Her hours are filled with chauffeuring her daughter, Pearl, around to her extracurricular activities, somehow ending up class mom, and…investigating another mystery?

This is the second book that I have read by Elise Bryant and I found it just as good as the other book I have read! I enjoyed the characters, the mystery. It is definitely a top 10 book for this year.

I am in the vast minority here, but I just cannot find my way into this series... I tried the first book after multiple friends told me how hilarious it was, but struggled about a quarter of the way in. When I saw that there was a second, I thought I'd give it a go again - but unfortunately, I found the same lack of connection this time around. I don't know why - I love the characters and the plots are generously sprinkled with snark and relatable mom-moments. I think the first book focused a little more on romance than I tend to prefer - for me, the story would have been more enjoyable without that element, frankly - and there were elements of that here, although the blend of romance/humor/mystery felt more on key with this one. I think this might be a series that would work better for me on audio, so I'm going to give them a try from my local library.

Elise Bryant's masterful work in the romance genre blends so well with her newfound experience dabbling in the genre of mystery novels. I absolutely ADORED It's Elementary. Some cozy mysteries are too cozy without enough suspense, and there are some suspense books, which I wish were cozier / funnier.
But not for It's Elementary & The Game is Afoot.
When it comes to perfectly mixing humor and mystery, Elise just gets it.

I am thoroughly enjoying Elise Bryant's foray into the cozy mystery arena. Mavis as a divorced single mom protagonist trying to balance ALL THE THINGS is especially relatable. Ms. Bryant is also giving us some love triangle realness in the backdrop, staying true to her romance roots. And the mystery - well, I'm never great at figuring whodunnit and this was no exception. I thought I knew but was guessing right up until the end. And while the mystery was wrapped up in the end, we were left with a cliffhanger of sorts. I will be SAT for the next book in the series.

This book is sharp, funny, and unexpectedly heartfelt. Mavis is a force of nature, juggling motherhood, murder investigations, and an existential crisis with equal parts wit and chaos. The mystery is clever, but the real magic is in the humor and the painfully relatable struggle of figuring out who you are when life refuses to slow down. Definitely an unputdownable read.

The game is afoot picks up with our girl Mavis who just quit her job because she got tired of being the token black girl. Praised for all her efforts but constantly over looked and undervalued. She looks at this as an opportunity to finally do what she always wanted. Self care! But for some reason she can’t keep still and busies herself taking on roles for others and picked up another mystery case. When her kids soccer coach drops 💀 and foul play is expected her come Elsie aka madlock here to solve the mystery.

While this book was a fun read it was filled with so many gems that I could relate to, constantly moving the goal post when it comes to us taking care of ourselves and looking at it as a task or a job instead of something that we should do so easily such as breathing. Also, can we just say Ms Pearl is MAIN CHARACTER ENERGY! Thank you so much net gallery for this ARC copy I will be posting my review video soon on my social media TikTok/Instagram next week 3/10

📖 Book Review 📖 Was self-care even a thing before kids? It’s been so long since I have only cared for myself that I genuinely cannot remember if that phrase was
on my radar before becoming a mom. Elise Bryant captures the sentiment of struggling to balance it all, creating a warm welcome for countless women who will empathize. When Mavis makes a bold decision to quit her job, the opportunity to focus on that elusive self-care is within arms’ reach until her daughter’s soccer coach’s death on the field is ruled a homicide. Does being a wonder mom while attempting to solve a murder case in your gratitude journal as an amateur sleuth count toward the goal? Elise Bryant delivers a hilariously relatable murder mystery. The Game is Afoot is a delightfully honest book that flows seamlessly, serving up comic relief in the absurdity of keeping up with the overwhelmingly fast pace of being a superstar mom in a world with unrealistic expectations.

Thanks for the advanced copy of the book! This had a good pace and a good story to tell! I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a mystery with some romance thrown in!