Aside from not the most accurate title (as there was no actual carpooling) this was a riveting case from the start. I am one who generally likes the details, especially in true crime cases where I'm often questioning out loud--"well, what about this or that?!" Here you will learn even about the backgrounds of the four mom/investigators. And a little of that could have gone a long way. The constant Covid references were understandable at first but became tedious, especially because it seemed so blatantly inserted as to make sure you didn't think they were meeting without proper masking and social distancing. We get it. They were perhaps overly paranoid at first as many were, but they didn't let up for a long time. Perhaps they're still eating on a curb outside the restaurant six feet apart?
Overall I did like how the case unfolded and I felt like it was explained and written in a way that made keeping track of multiple people easier. I was very wary toward the end that we might not actually get any answers but they came, albeit maybe a little rushed and wrapped up quickly.
It looks like the moms may be moving on to solve another crime and if so, I'm here for it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

The Carpool Detectives is the compelling and captivating story of four moms who take it upon themselves to solve a cold case that is 15 years old.

Their tenacity, strength and determination is admirable and they certainly would not take no for an answer.

Its COVID and the four moms decide to investigate the murder of an elderly couple who found dead in their car at the bottom of a ravine.

Zoom calls were the order of the day as the ladies navigate and learn throughout the investigaton.

There are twists and turns to the story and it is a fascinating one to read let alone try and solve.

It will have the true crime junky thinking I could do that but I know I never could.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Carpool Detectives and read it one sitting as I just had to know.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity of reading and reviewing this intriguing book.

The Carpool Detectives tells the fascinating true story of four moms who decide to investigate a cold case. I was intrigued from the beginning by both the details of the case and the way the women came together through what was essentially a “COVID hobby” to actually solve a double murder.

I’m a big true crime fan, and this one worked pretty well for me. While the story was a bit disjointed and confusing at times ( especially keeping all the people and places straight), overall it was interesting and kept me turning the pages way past my bedtime last night.

An inspiring story about 4 moms who tackle an extraordinary feat- solving a cold case. Fascinating crime but the real story is in these women re discovering their identities after becoming mothers.

I just want to say that this book was a great read. If you like non-fiction and crime stories this is a book for you. The four women in this book are an example of people who will not let go of a mystery. . It takes place during the Covid years and it’s very detailed and very much like a crime podcast. I would highly recommend this book and give it five stars.

The Carpool Detectives is part satire, part mystery, and surprisingly heartfelt. When a group of over-involved parents form an amateur sleuthing team after a tragedy rocks their seemingly safe community, what unfolds is less Scooby-Doo, more Big Little Lies meets Rear Window. The tone walks a tightrope — equal parts biting social commentary and genuine suspense.

What makes this book standout isn’t just the mystery (which keeps you guessing), but the character work. Hogan paints each member of the “detectives” with messy humanity: flawed, funny, nosy, and shockingly capable when it counts. There’s a sense of escalation — from innocent curiosity to full-blown obsession — that mirrors the best domestic thrillers.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author, so I went into this one with high expectations. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver. The core idea—four women collaborating to solve a crime—had real potential. But that intriguing thread got buried under a constant rehashing of pandemic procedures and repeated reminders of how California handled things “better.” It felt more like a lecture than a story at times. I was hoping for a compelling mystery led by smart women, but instead I kept being pulled out of the plot by commentary I didn’t need. Disappointed, especially knowing what this author is capable of.

Four housewives in California are drawn into solving a 15-year-old double murder that has never been solved. With their lives upended by Covid lock downs, the four establish a friendship through zoom meetings and later socially distanced meetings in a local park. Putting their various background expertise to work after becoming stay-at-home moms excites these women and gives them a goal to attain. Getting minimal assistance from the case's retired detective (who cannot share case information) the four are thrilled when he tells them to keep going as they are unearthing information that the police at the time did not have. As motives and suspects start to shape the direction of their investigation the women suddenly realize that they are dealing with not just events from the past, but with a very much alive murderer(s). As their own safety comes into question, they begin to wonder if they should indeed continue with their investigation. Spurred on by a promise they made to the dead couple's daughter to find out the truth about her parents' deaths, the four continue sorting through the evidence and ultimately reach a conclusion that even law enforcement never saw coming.
Based on an actual case, readers will be drawn into the "whodunit" aspect of the investigation and wonder at the bravery and intelligence of these four "housewives."

I didn’t even finish this book. The beginning dragged and droned on and on. I feel like the introduction into the FMC’s life didn’t haven’t to be that long. Like we get it, you’re a stay at home mom looking for more.

Thank you to Random House for the ARC of this book. This is my unbiased review.

True crime stories are always interesting to me. The process of the investigation is intriguing. While this story did not focus on the gory details of the crime it was still compelling from a number of points. Naturally the mystery surrounding the deaths of two people and the familial response is what compelled these women but I also think the time and place is another story that is captured by this work.

The circumstances of the pandemic throw 4 women together as they become intrigued by a decades old mystery. The book does a good job capturing the pandemic and the attending response from the world: social distancing, Zoom calls, school at home so it becomes a reminder of our not so distant past. The steps the women take and the process of investigation mature throughout their investigation. They move from self doubt to empowerment as they learn not to take no moving from girls to gals to ladies. However, you also watch the women finding themselves as they navigate the investigation and a world held in the grip of the pandemic.

The story captures the resilience and tenacity of these women who would not take no for an answer. They solve the crime and grow along the way as do their children. My criticism is the title. I would have come up with something maybe a little less trivial and maybe the first 30 or so pages were a little slow but other than that it was a compelling story.

The Carpool Detectives is an absolutely fascinating true crime story of how four women with forensic investigative and journalism skills, find missed clues to the death of a California business man and his wife. The women are burden by pandemic homeschooling demands and their day jobs, but spend their free time researching the case that was originally labeled a murder suicide, but then changed to homicide. The amateur sleuths are so successful in their work, they are offered potential jobs at the sheriff's office or sheltering in the federal witness protection program. In the end, readers may be surprised the book includes a photograph of the women. Excellent read. Highly recommended,

I received a free copy of, The Carpool Detectives, by Chuck Hogan, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Nicole, Jeannie, Samira, and Marissa, are just living their lives until the pandemic happened in 2020 and shut everything down. These four women decided to investigate a crime, murder and money, from years earlier. This was an interesting read.

A Captivating Dive into True Crime, With a Few Bumps in the Road

The Carpool Detectives offers an undeniably intriguing premise: a group of true-crime-obsessed moms decide to tackle a baffling cold case, spurred on by the unique circumstances of the pandemic. As someone who enjoys a good real-life mystery, I was immediately drawn into the story of Marissa, Jeannie, Samira, and Nicole. Their transition from full-time careers to full-time parenting, followed by the quietude of lockdown, provides a genuinely clever and relatable backdrop for their amateur sleuthing.

The individual strengths each woman brings to the "Carpool Detectives Club" are well-defined and contribute effectively to the investigation. Marissa's forensic accounting skills, Jeannie's journalistic instincts, Samira's drive, and Nicole's research prowess make them a formidable, if unconventional, team. The detailed exploration of their DIY investigation, from poring over old documents to connecting with witnesses and experts (who suddenly have time on their hands!), is truly the highlight of the book. It's a fascinating look at the nitty-gritty of cold case work from a fresh perspective, and the breakthroughs they achieve are genuinely thrilling.

The narrative excels when it focuses on the women's dedication, their growing bond, and the intricacies of the mystery itself. The sense of "wish fulfillment" for true crime fans is absolutely delivered. However, the story occasionally veers into territory that feels a bit more fictionalized than a "true story" might suggest, particularly as the women find themselves in "real danger" and an Assistant District Attorney almost immediately enlists them in the official investigation. While exciting, these elements sometimes push against the more grounded, "everyday moms" charm that makes the initial premise so appealing.

The book is an engaging and often exhilarating read. It's filled with heart, a compelling mystery, and provides a unique angle on the true crime genre. Fans of amateur sleuths and anyone who's ever thought, "I could solve that!" will find a lot to love here.

From page one…to the last page…moms detecting…bored with their every day lives…excitement…disappearances…children and families…the recipe for suspense…enjoy this mystery by a talented author…this is a good read for an afternoon escape…thanks Netgalley.

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own. This book is the definition of true crime these days. The 4 women who got together starting during the boring days of the pandemic, and worked on this case is a great example of the good parts of “armchair detectives”. As someone into true crime myself, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about how these ladies got drawn into an old case and worked together on it. I’ve never heard of anything truly like this before so this was a really great read!

During COVID, four mothers work together to try to solve a more than decade old cold case mystery involving the homicide of a business owner and his wife.

Although it reads like a novel, this is a true crime account, with names of all but the “carpool detectives” and some aspects of the story changed. It was interesting to learn the backgrounds of these amateur sleuths and how their histories led to their interest in this case. I get that trying to do this during COVID while caring for one’s family was very difficult, but I thought sometimes the narrative dwelled on that a bit too much.

The author takes time to fully develop the characters involved in the case, and as with any murder, there are red herrings and twists in the investigation. It truly is incredible how much information these four women uncovered, despite being hampered by COVID restrictions and initial reluctance on the part of law enforcement to share details. I thought the ending felt a bit rushed. I would have preferred more time spent on the unraveling of the solution and all the logistics to truly understand it.

This read is a great treat and perhaps a motivator for armchair detectives!

The Carpool Detectives Club is a twisty ride with serious PTA-meets-Dateline energy. The idea of four moms using their pandemic downtime to crack a cold case is undeniably compelling, and parts of the story deliver that sweet spot between true crime and suburban chaos. But while the premise is killer, the pacing drags and the tone sometimes teeters between earnest and over-the-top. I wanted more grit, fewer mommy-blog vibes. Still, the real-life stakes and moments of genuine danger make this worth the read—just go in expecting more wine-sipping sleuths than hardened investigators.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House providing me with an eARC of The Carpool Detectives: A True Story of Four Moms, Two Bodies, and One Mysterious Cold Case prior to its publication.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the premise. I also liked that it felt like I was listening to a true crime podcast or watching a true crime tv show. there was definitely some repetition that I ended up skimming at times. Overall it was an enjoyable read.

Great read by the author of the book that became the movie The Town. 4 moms team up during Covid to dig into a missing-persons-turned-murder case. Super read for your true crime fans, with a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. I was a tad put off by the title - these were professional, educated women who would bristle at being summed up by driving carpool - but the author treated this area well by hitting on the identity issues that ran alongside the investigation.