Thank you, Random House for providing the copy of The Carpool detectives by Chuck Hogan. I used to read lots of True Crime and loved Ann Rules’ books. This one was different because it focused more on the women who tried to solve the murders instead of being about the murders. While it was a good story, I didn’t find it interesting learning about how the women responded to Covid and how they met. I think readers who listen to true crime podcasts and think about solving murders would love this book. It just wasn’t really for me. 3 stars

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It is considered non-fiction and is a true story about a group of women in the LA area who worked to solve an older crime in the midst of the pandemic. I loved the premise of the story and how the author included the details of each of the “detectives” into the narrative.

It is not until the last pages of the book do we learn what happened and a little bit of an unsatisfactory ending for me because even though we have an idea of who did the crime, pushing any other action toward is complicated.

It reads a little like a Dateline episode and I found it repetitive in some parts. However, I love the idea of working moms partnering to solve crime and would join that group in a minute

I was intrigued by the subject matter but it felt repetitive when introducing new characters. I was also not overly interested in figuring out what happened to the couple that was killed and never connected with any of the characters. It also did not feel like a true crime but more like a fictional story.

I absolutely loved THE CARPOOL DETECTIVES by Chuck Hogan. Like many people, I watch and read a lot of true crime. Since my high school days when I took my first psychology elective, I’ve been fascinated by the whole “what makes people tick?” question. That’s probably what led to me studying forensic psychology for my Masters degree. The four women in this book, Marissa, Jeannie, Samira, and Nicole each find themselves kind of questioning what’s next in their lives….married, with children,and in the midst of COVID limiting their social lives, they each feel like a small part of themselves is missing…the piece of them that is just for them. So when Marissa sees a piece of a news clip of an unsolved double homicide, it snags her interest and eventually takes over a big chunk of her life. She enlists the help of the other three women and the join forces determined to solve the cold case.

I was amazed at how hard these women worked. It wasn’t just a half hour here or there in their free time. They committed and worked extremely hard, each bringing their own specific talents to the hunt, and often going out of their comfort zones to follow where the clues took them. They put themselves in actual danger at times. Once they met the daughter of the murdered couple, it was clear that motivated them even more…they so desperately wanted to give her closure.

Their identities had to be hidden/names changed for their protection for this book, which alone shows how much of a risk they took fighting to solve this case with the people they were up against.
The writing style of the book is casual enough to pull me right in from the very first page. I felt like I knew these women, or at least wanted to know them.

If you enjoy true crime, I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR list immediately.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Release date July 29, 2025

The Carpool Detectives by Chuck Hogan is a mystery novel that brings together the seemingly ordinary world of a suburban carpool with the intrigue of a missing persons case. The story unfolds as a group of parents, who regularly carpool their children to school, find themselves drawn into a real-life mystery when one of their own suddenly disappears.

The characters, initially bound by their shared routine and the common goal of getting their kids to school, must now navigate a world of secrets, suspicion, and danger. As they begin to investigate, they discover that there is far more to their fellow carpoolers—and their seemingly idyllic community—than they ever imagined.

The Carpool Detectives is a compelling mystery that combines suspenseful plotting with rich character development. Chuck Hogan's skill in crafting believable scenarios and exploring the hidden depths of ordinary people makes this a satisfying and thought-provoking read. It will appeal to readers who enjoy mysteries with a strong sense of realism and a focus on the complexities of human relationships.