Thank you St Martin's Press for the review copy of The Expectant Detectives in anticipation for the next book in this fun but smart cozy mystery series. I admit, this was one I wasn't planning to read untilI got the review copy and it's a win! I don't read a lot of cozies, I am more a dark and twisty kind of thriller gal, but this was fun, smart and funny and filled with just enough mystery and entertainment to be a welcome change of pace. What ultimately resonates with me is the very idea that women, pregnant/caring for young children, can be doing more than just... that. That's a big stand out for a series like this and I appreciate it.

Thank you Minotaur Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book.. All opinions are my own.

I was sent a copy of this adorable and hilarious mystery to review along with the sequel which is coming out this summer. A book about womanhood, parenthood, and friendship with a fun murder mystery to solve. Our main character, a very pregnant Alice, recently moved from big city life in London to the small town charm of Penton with her partner and adorably aloof dog Helen. She meets other expecting moms in a prenatal class and they are all soon thrust into a very mysterious murder. Alice and her new friends continue to find themselves entangled in the small town drama while they try to solve the murder themselves.

For fans of the show Motherhood and the book series Finlay Donovan, this book offers banter, comedy, tons of hijinks, and a decent mystery plot with several twists. I am currently reading (and loving) the second book in the series equally as much as this one.

I picked this book up because the premise sounded fun. It started out with Alice and Joe moving to a new town because they are expecting. The first couple chapters had me invested in this couple. Once the murder was being investigated, There didn’t seem to be a convincing reason why these expectant moms really needed to solve the mystery. While I enjoyed some of the characters, overall this one didn’t engage me as I would have hoped.

If you’re a fan of mysteries, this is the book for you.

Murder, birthing classes, and a commune make for an interesting story that will leave the reader guessing.

This is a fun, quick read that will have you laughing out loud.

I cannot wait for book 2!

Thank you NetGalley, Kat Ailes, and Minotaur Books for this advanced copy.

4.5 stars rounded up.
What a surprise this book is! For anyone who has survived pregnancy either as a mother or partner, the humor of The Expectant Detectives is spot-on. I was not expecting the book to be as funny and entertaining as it is, and the murder mystery is just plain fun, too.

The main characters, four very pregnant women in a small English town with serious hippie vibes, were distinctive and likeable. Even more fun were the dogs, especially Alice's dog Helen, and their antics throughout. There were so many red herrings in the mystery that it was difficult to keep track of who was a suspect and why, which made it even more enjoyable to read.

I will soon be reading the next book in this series, Dead Tired, which publishes in June. I can't wait to return to these characters!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital copy of The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes. The opinions in this review are my own.

This was more fun than I thought it would be. The characters were all likable and the quirkiness of the story worked. If you like a light mystery that will make you chuckle, check out The Expectant Detectives.

This was such a witty and funny Cozy mystery about a couple who had recently moved to the countryside. Alice is nine months preggo and her husband go to their first prenatal class and see the birth, but also there’s been a death. There were such expertly placed lines. I can’t wait until the second book to see what mischief and adventures this group of pregnant moms get into.

The Expectant Detectives is Kat Ailes delightful and witty debut novel about a group of amateur and very pregnant detectives.

Alice and Joe are expecting their first baby, but bring a baby into a small flat in London is just not desirable. Along with their dog Helen, they move from London to the quaint little village of Penton where they can afford more space and a better place to raise a baby.

The village of Penton is holding a prenatal birthing class and for eight months pregnant Alice and partner Joe that have done little in the way of preparation for this baby they sign up. This also gives them a change to introduce themselves as the new kids in town. Aside from the lifelike and gross descriptions of childbirth all seems to be going well until Alice is dragged into helping one of the expectant mothers as she goes into labor and a dead body shows up in the store below .. it appears he was murdered. Everyone including Alice and Joe are suspects.

One of the other expectant mothers and Alice team to do their own snooping and sleuthing but find themselves deeply embedded in this recent murder but a suspicious occurrence that took place eons ago in the local commune.

It was a well written, some funny lines that had me chucking and likable characters, especially Alice and her dog Helen. My biggest complaint is that I felt the story was a tad dragged out. I am looking forward to the second book in this series.

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 novel was released on January 9, 2024 and gifted to me in anticipation to Dead Tired that will release this coming June.

DNF at chapter ten. I found myself zoning out and not paying attention to this one so I’m going to stop at this time. Thank you for my copy.

“𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬.”

I absolutely love a cozy mystery, and I LOVED the mystery and the humour of this one.

Kat Ailes’ writing is sharp and humorous, right from the first page. From comparing protagonist Alice’s dog Helen to “the blonde girl who things she can predict the weather with her boobs in Mean Girls” to calling out Chandler meeting the real estate agent in season 10 of Friends to acute observations about IKEA (an unexplainable love and always buying more than one thing), there were many remarks that had me laughing out loud. Throughout the book, I was reminded of the TV series Agatha Raisin, with its setting in the picturesque Cotswold Hills, a reference to a Great village Jam Off, and a self-deprecating main character. Ailes gathers an eclectic group of characters who are all hiding something, including Alice’s sweet partner Joe (who I couldn’t help but cheer for). I loved the development of the friendship between Alice, Poppy, Hen and Ailsa - especially since it just didn’t naturally happen right away, but rather that they were almost forced into it due to being in small town, the same prenatal class and all being present for a murder. The mystery is intriguing as each new layer gets added - I gasped in particular when Joe’s secret was revealed, and it all came to a satisfying (yet a little sad) conclusion.

The Expectant Detectives is a story of awkward encounters, falling out, new friendships, changes, and influence. I’m surprised another book is set to be published so soon after this one (in June), but I am so excited that it is. This is a five star start to a hilarious, fun and heartfelt new series! Thank you to Minotaur & NetGalley for the ARC!

“𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐦𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐞.”

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. The sleuths and setting were different from many other cozies. Alice and Joe decide to leave London and more to the country to raise their child. They move while Alice is nine months pregnant and not having any clue about country living. They join a local prenatal class to meet new people. When a dead body is found the mothers to be set out to solve the crime. I found Alice to be annoying but I enjoyed many of the other ladies. The mystery was good and there were plenty of suspects. The solution made sense. I am looking for word to the next book in the series after they have their babies. Enjoy

Such a fun, cute book! I’m loving the new trope of “incompetent civilian detective” that has broken out over the past few years. This one has taken it to a new level with a group of expectant moms gathering to solve a murder or two. I already have the next installment loaded and ready to go on my kindle! (Can’t wait to see what Helen gets into this round..)

Thanks to Kat Ailes, Minotaur Books/St Martin’s Press for the copy!

I absolutely loved this book! The humour comes off the page and had me laughing loudly. Helen, the dog, was the funniest animal addition to a book that I’ve ever read. I can’t wait to read more of this series!

I remember fondly my mom's group. Several of us were first timers and didn't have a clue. As an old fart, I am not the target audience for this book, but I found it funny with an offbeat humor, so beware. My favorite character is Maya. She is still a swinging single in London and can't quite understand why Alice actually likes country life. She is a riot and so funny. Alice has a sarcastic wit and has me in stitches over her observations about life as an about to be mum and I can't forget Helen, Alice's dog. She manages to sniff out a major clue and almost dies. The mystery took a great deal of time to develop but stick with it, it is well worth the time it took to develop. I really loved the "Midsomer Murders" and Miss Marple references, among others.

It has been quite a year for Alice. She met Joe, shagged him, got pregnant and they moved from London to the Cotswold village of Penton. Alice thinks she will really like the country, but she desperately wants a few friends. During a prenatal class the shop owner where the class was being held is discovered dead and everyone there is considered a suspect, as the death appears suspicious. In order to clear their partners, Alice and fellow expectant 30-sonething, Poppy, join forces to investigate on their own. What they discover is a lot of secrets centering around the commune in the woods outside of Penton. Alice is getting in deep in things that are none of her concern and could end up being downright dangerous.

My thanks to the Publisher and the Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

I had heard so much about this book I knew I was going to enjoy it. I did. It’s fun and interesting and the author has crafted a great story. The characters are what make it so good. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I also love this cover!

This is the first book written by Kat Ailes and i found out that it's a saga!
I had the privilege of being able to read this book thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for this chance!
Alice is pregnant with Joe's first baby, they decide to move to a quieter town, and what's better than Penton?
They also decide to start a prenatal class, during the first lesson, one of the women is in labor, and in the hustle and bustle of the moment,
no one notices that there is a murder in progress in the shop downstairs. So from now on Alice, start an investigation withe her new pal Helen.
Little by little, the duo becomes a small club of pregnant women investigators!
This story reminds me a lot of the stories of Agatha Raisin, we can define Alice as a young Agatha, dealing with a pregnancy,
swollen feet and murders! The setting is totally British style, Cotswolds, and what's better than a cozy mystery, set in rainy England?
Indeed, even better, in the heart of rural English countryside?

Oh my goodness this was super cute!!

I really enjoyed the team of pregnant women trying to hunt down a mystery!

Fun, cozy, and with playful pups.... just loved it!

Can't wait to read the next in this series. Fresh, funny, and so unique!! I think I fell in love with pup Helen the most <3.

Ailes debut is super fun but a very light feeling mystery. I heard the next in the series picks up more of mystery!!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for my copy.
3.5/5 stars

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur, NetGalley, and Kat Ailes for the chance to review The Expectant Detectives in exchange for an honest opinion. This was one of my anticipated series to read this year and I was excited to read book one. Alice and her partner Joe are expecting their first child have moved to a small village in the country away from their friends in London and are thrust into the complete opposite of their life. In a hurry to make new friends they join a pregnancy class and after only a couple sessions have gotten to know a couple of them well. However when one of them goes into labor during class and the shopkeeper of the building where they hold their class is found murdered suddenly they all are looking at each other a lot differently. The only one that truly has an alibi is the new mom since she was rather occupied. So Alice and a couple of the other expectant moms begin trying to find out who was responsible for the murder especially when the police want to pin it on one of them. And then another murder happens in the village! Someone has a big problem and time is running out fast. This is so fun and I was up late reading it because I just had to know who was the was responsible and why. The final twist was a huge surprise for me. I look forward to book two.

This is a lovely lighthearted debut that will pave the way for
the next installment, ‘Dead Tired,’ which comes out 3 June 2024.
When Alice and Joe find themselves unexpectedly expecting,
Joe suggests they abandon the busy life they have in London
and put down roots in the village of Penton, where life seems
more conducive to slower pace of life with their anticipated
child, and, of course, their much loved, though often a bit
troublesome dog, Helen.
From the beginning, things are just not quite what they were
expecting~and finding a prenatal group did not bring the
warm welcoming home they were hoping.
Things do not improve and decades of secrets are slowly’
coming to the surface with consequences they must deal
with ~ hoping before they have their baby.
This is the debut novel from Kat Ailes, with ‘Dead Tired,’
due out 4 June 2024. I look,forward to reading this book
to see what adventures the new Mom’s and the
hidden people might be up to as Alice and Joe settle
in to life as a family and as they take on new roles in the
village.
My thanks to Minotaur Books via NetGalley for the download
copy of, this book for review purposes.

When you want something light, fun, and silly…The Expectant Detective is a winner. This entertaining book introduces us to Alice & Joe, who have moved to the small town of Penton to begin a new lifestyle with the pending arrival of their new baby. I have been to the Cotswolds, and I can tell you, this would be where I would love to buy a home. It is so charming, and the small-town vibe will capture your attention. But what’s on the outside isn’t always what is on the inside, and there are secrets, murder, and shenanigans happening (hello, hippy commune). The prenatal class is where the action starts with one participant going into labor, the discovery of a dead body downstairs, and the class preggers group deciding to figure out whodunit. Pandemonium ensues. This isn’t Agatha Christie, and that is just fine with me. I remember my prenatal classes where I was fearful and bored, so I could relate to pregnant women wanting to solve a murder. But the real star of this story is the dog, Helen. Helen is the “Legally Blonde of the dog world,” and her antics ratchet up the fun. I didn’t know what to expect, but I did laugh out loud on more than one occasion. This is not War and Peace but light-hearted fun. Easy read, funny, set in the Cotswolds, with raging pregnant hormonal detectives…what more could you want?