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kathydavie's review against another edition
3.0
First in the Maternal Instincts Mystery series based in San Francisco and revolving around a new mother who doesn't want to go back to work.
My Take
I'm torn. Orgain writes well. And I can't stand her stupid protagonist. What mother takes her newborn baby out to chase down a murderer? This just boggles my mind. And stupid. Omigod, she's constantly forgetting stuff---I will give her points for never forgetting her baby. She doesn't want to go back to her job because she just wants to stay home with her baby. Okay, yeah, I get that. And maybe the post-partum aspect is affecting her mind and that's why she's making all these incredibly dumb moves.
And, again, I get that Orgain is using a mother's need to be with her baby to ramp up Kate's panic about finding a way to make an income that will let her stay with her baby. But, private detective? As clueless as Kate is? I just ain't buyin' it.
It's something of a Keystone Kops with half-truths and lies and Kate running into danger with baby and without. Every other moment finds Kate missing, losing, or forgetting something. God only knows what she's missing when she's talking to people. And she trusts everybody! She thinks they're all telling her the truth. I mean, duhhh. Of course she's also running around accusing people right and left. It's a darn good thing Kate stocked the freezer with frozen dinners and they have all those takeout menus, 'cause Kate never seems to get to the grocery store.
Then there are the break-ins on her car. And she keeps carting her kid around with her. In the first six weeks of giving birth.
On the plus-side, it was a very realistic rendition of a new mother with all the frustrations, aches and pains, and panic over her daughter. I adored Jim's patience. And the wrap-up at the end was cute.
The Story
Kate is two days overdue, so naturally her water just has to break when they get some fearsome news on the phone. It's a worry that Kate and Jim put on hold until a few days after Laurie's birth when Kate goes down to the morgue to pick up George's personal effects. Where she meets Michelle on the same errand. Just not picking up effects.
People are dying right and left with Kate poking her nose in everywhere.
The Characters
Kate Connolly is pregnant and on maternity leave from her job as an office manager for an architectural firm. She's a fanatical list maker, which I'm assuming is supposed to be cute. Jim Connolly works for an advertising firm that isn't particularly loyal to its employees. Laurie is the new baby. Kate's mom is amazing. She's always there to help out, and she adores Jim. Hanks is a guy mom hooks up with on Match.com.
George Connolly is Jim's ne-er-do-well younger brother. Uncle Roger took George in when their parents died, and just never left. Until recently. The pregnant Kiku Ajari met and fell in love with George at El Paraiso. Even she doesn't know the truth.
Paula is one of Kate's best friends but currently living in France.
Michelle Dupree Avery is an old school friend/rival of Kate's. Her husband Brad was planning on leaving her. Rich Hanlen is Brad's best friend and the assistant manager of El Paraiso, Michelle and Brad's restaurant. Svetlana Avery is Brad's first wife; their daughter Penny drowned when she was three. Jennifer Miller used to work at El Paraiso and switched to Svetlana's store, Heavenly Haight. KelliAnn Dupree is Michelle's half-sister.
Nick Dowling is with the medical examiner's office. Inspector Patrick McNearny, a major jerk with discretion issues, and Jones are with the SFPD. Josh Garner is a top partner at Jim's firm and plays poker with McNearny. Investigator Galigani was hired by Brad's mother, Gloria, to find out the truth, only he has a heart attack and Kate just slips into place.
Dr. Clement is Laurie's pediatrician who spends more time on initial interviews than in follow-up appointments. Charles Crane is the lawyer they hire when George wants Jim arrested.
The Cover
The cover fits the style perfectly with its cartoonishly messy kitchen littered with baby toys, carriers, and accessories, mom's endless lists, and, just in case we miss the theme, mom holding the baby and a magnifying glass.
I suspect the title is meant to refer to the baby; in my mind, the Bundle of Trouble is mom. �
My Take
I'm torn. Orgain writes well. And I can't stand her stupid protagonist. What mother takes her newborn baby out to chase down a murderer? This just boggles my mind. And stupid. Omigod, she's constantly forgetting stuff---I will give her points for never forgetting her baby. She doesn't want to go back to her job because she just wants to stay home with her baby. Okay, yeah, I get that. And maybe the post-partum aspect is affecting her mind and that's why she's making all these incredibly dumb moves.
And, again, I get that Orgain is using a mother's need to be with her baby to ramp up Kate's panic about finding a way to make an income that will let her stay with her baby. But, private detective? As clueless as Kate is? I just ain't buyin' it.
It's something of a Keystone Kops with half-truths and lies and Kate running into danger with baby and without. Every other moment finds Kate missing, losing, or forgetting something. God only knows what she's missing when she's talking to people. And she trusts everybody! She thinks they're all telling her the truth. I mean, duhhh. Of course she's also running around accusing people right and left. It's a darn good thing Kate stocked the freezer with frozen dinners and they have all those takeout menus, 'cause Kate never seems to get to the grocery store.
Then there are the break-ins on her car. And she keeps carting her kid around with her. In the first six weeks of giving birth.
On the plus-side, it was a very realistic rendition of a new mother with all the frustrations, aches and pains, and panic over her daughter. I adored Jim's patience. And the wrap-up at the end was cute.
The Story
Kate is two days overdue, so naturally her water just has to break when they get some fearsome news on the phone. It's a worry that Kate and Jim put on hold until a few days after Laurie's birth when Kate goes down to the morgue to pick up George's personal effects. Where she meets Michelle on the same errand. Just not picking up effects.
People are dying right and left with Kate poking her nose in everywhere.
The Characters
Kate Connolly is pregnant and on maternity leave from her job as an office manager for an architectural firm. She's a fanatical list maker, which I'm assuming is supposed to be cute. Jim Connolly works for an advertising firm that isn't particularly loyal to its employees. Laurie is the new baby. Kate's mom is amazing. She's always there to help out, and she adores Jim. Hanks is a guy mom hooks up with on Match.com.
George Connolly is Jim's ne-er-do-well younger brother. Uncle Roger took George in when their parents died, and just never left. Until recently. The pregnant Kiku Ajari met and fell in love with George at El Paraiso. Even she doesn't know the truth.
Paula is one of Kate's best friends but currently living in France.
Michelle Dupree Avery is an old school friend/rival of Kate's. Her husband Brad was planning on leaving her. Rich Hanlen is Brad's best friend and the assistant manager of El Paraiso, Michelle and Brad's restaurant. Svetlana Avery is Brad's first wife; their daughter Penny drowned when she was three. Jennifer Miller used to work at El Paraiso and switched to Svetlana's store, Heavenly Haight. KelliAnn Dupree is Michelle's half-sister.
Nick Dowling is with the medical examiner's office. Inspector Patrick McNearny, a major jerk with discretion issues, and Jones are with the SFPD. Josh Garner is a top partner at Jim's firm and plays poker with McNearny. Investigator Galigani was hired by Brad's mother, Gloria, to find out the truth, only he has a heart attack and Kate just slips into place.
Dr. Clement is Laurie's pediatrician who spends more time on initial interviews than in follow-up appointments. Charles Crane is the lawyer they hire when George wants Jim arrested.
The Cover
The cover fits the style perfectly with its cartoonishly messy kitchen littered with baby toys, carriers, and accessories, mom's endless lists, and, just in case we miss the theme, mom holding the baby and a magnifying glass.
I suspect the title is meant to refer to the baby; in my mind, the Bundle of Trouble is mom. �
socorrobaptista's review against another edition
4.0
No dia em que Kate Connolly entra em trabalho de parto, seu marido recebe um telefonema informando que foi encontrado um corpo que poderia ser de George, cunhado de Kate. Com o nascimento de Laurie, Kate não quer voltar ao trabalho, mas precisa de uma fonte de renda, o salário do marido não seria suficiente. Então, mesmo confirmando que o corpo encontrado não é do cunhado, Kate decide investigar, e se tornar uma Detetive Particular como forma de fazer algum dinheiro ao mesmo tempo em que pode ficar mais tempo junto à filha. Com cenas hilárias e também emocionantes, embora lidando com temas sérios, este livro nos leva a refletir sobre questões como maternidade, capitalismo, e gênero. Intrigante, muito bom.
mizele20's review against another edition
3.0
Just easy reading, a little silly. Amateur PI can't quite figure out her career, motherhood, or home life. How she stumbles into solving mysteries seems pretty unrealistic. At least they;re light and quick.
sophlf13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
reneek84's review against another edition
4.0
A fun 'cozy' mystery. I look forward to reading the rest in the series.
reneek84's review against another edition
4.0
A fun 'cozy' mystery. I look forward to reading the rest in the series.
caitkom's review against another edition
3.0
I have had this is TBR stash for a while and started it a couple months ago, but it didn't quite grab my attention. I restarted it for this challenge and enjoyed it!
Kate Connelly is a brand new mom, and the book starts with her and her husband, Jim receiving a call from the ME's office that Jim's brother, George may be the dead body they found washed up in the bay. Kate goes in to labor and delivers a beautiful baby girl, but can't stop thinking about George. It turns out the body in the bay was actually her high school friend, Michelle's husband, Brad. When a PI shows up on her door step, wanting to know more about George, as he is the main suspect in Brad's murder, she starts following the PI to find out more! She also starts dreading returning to work, and somehow worms her way in the investigation. I was a little irritated when she started pretending to be a PI because I'm a total rule follower! More and more people start dying and Kate does eventually solve the murder. I was caught off guard by the murderer, so I appreciated that!
Kate Connelly is a brand new mom, and the book starts with her and her husband, Jim receiving a call from the ME's office that Jim's brother, George may be the dead body they found washed up in the bay. Kate goes in to labor and delivers a beautiful baby girl, but can't stop thinking about George. It turns out the body in the bay was actually her high school friend, Michelle's husband, Brad. When a PI shows up on her door step, wanting to know more about George, as he is the main suspect in Brad's murder, she starts following the PI to find out more! She also starts dreading returning to work, and somehow worms her way in the investigation. I was a little irritated when she started pretending to be a PI because I'm a total rule follower! More and more people start dying and Kate does eventually solve the murder. I was caught off guard by the murderer, so I appreciated that!
lynwarner's review against another edition
3.0
Not a cozy fan—yet
I read this book to see if I liked the cozy mystery genre. I don’t really care for it. I’m more of a thriller, suspense, edge of your seat mystery reader but this book was, well, cozy. A nice break from the madness of 2020 and kind of soothing even though several people were murdered by a truly despicable person. Not a page turner, can’t wait to get back to my book kind of story for me but interesting with surprises throughout. Sprinkled with humor it is a pleasant read.
I read this book to see if I liked the cozy mystery genre. I don’t really care for it. I’m more of a thriller, suspense, edge of your seat mystery reader but this book was, well, cozy. A nice break from the madness of 2020 and kind of soothing even though several people were murdered by a truly despicable person. Not a page turner, can’t wait to get back to my book kind of story for me but interesting with surprises throughout. Sprinkled with humor it is a pleasant read.
bee_interrupted's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0