Dead Tired

Alice and her new mom friends are back in Ailes’s series sequel (following The Expectant Detectives). One year after solving two murders in their usually sleepy town, the moms get pulled into an environmental protest while out on a picnic with the babies in their favorite meadow. In support of the group’s cause, to protect the forest surrounding the meadow from being cut down, Alice and her friends join the protesters in chaining themselves to the trees overnight, only to wake up the next day to a nasty surprise: one of the protesters has been murdered. The exhausted sleuths take a much-needed break from new motherhood to follow leads, track down clues, and get involved in silly hijinks that will have readers laughing out loud. The novel’s rich cast of characters, including environmental activists, urban artists, and members of the wealthy elite, provide for an entertaining array of suspects. However, while fans of cozy mysteries, witty banter, and Ailes’s characters will enjoy this story, new readers may be put off by a lackluster ending.