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Allie Lindell #1
Roadkill
When dead prostitutes begin to appear along the rural roads of Ohio, Allie Lindell cannot stay away despite the odds—the odds being her badge-toting sister; her partner, who only wants Allie to stay home and out of harm’s way; and two little girls in full potty-training and tantrum-throwing modes. But when an old friend from The Columbus Dispatch calls with an intriguing job opportunity, Allie can’t turn her away, Allie breaks all kinds of promises to track the killer, heat up a cold case, and discover what happened to a fallen police officer. As she navigates the backstreets of Columbus, following pimps, prostitutes, sullen teenagers, and seedy gamblers, the only thing more complicated is remembering all her aliases.
Enlisting the help of her neighbor, and with the annoying voice of Snow White drumming through her head, Allie and her newfound sidekick will have you falling in love with this wonderful cast of modern heroines with day-to-day problems. Gay, straight, sleek and sexy, or rumpled and ragged—no matter how much they bicker, they’re a mighty force when they all come together. Heigh Ho!
Roadkill is the first in a series in which a former journalist and at-home mom discovers she has a knack for investigating murders. While she longs for the crazy deadlines and adult conversations, she also wants to stay home and care for her babies.
With Disney tunes, tantrums, and potty-training woes on her mind, Allie Lindell must learn to juggle the highs and lows of her family and a career she never knew she always wanted. This is the funny, sometimes aggravating, ultimately heartwarming story of a woman trying to give everything to her kids, keep the love of her partner, and not lose herself in the process.
Enlisting the help of her neighbor, and with the annoying voice of Snow White drumming through her head, Allie and her newfound sidekick will have you falling in love with this wonderful cast of modern heroines with day-to-day problems. Gay, straight, sleek and sexy, or rumpled and ragged—no matter how much they bicker, they’re a mighty force when they all come together. Heigh Ho!
Roadkill is the first in a series in which a former journalist and at-home mom discovers she has a knack for investigating murders. While she longs for the crazy deadlines and adult conversations, she also wants to stay home and care for her babies.
With Disney tunes, tantrums, and potty-training woes on her mind, Allie Lindell must learn to juggle the highs and lows of her family and a career she never knew she always wanted. This is the funny, sometimes aggravating, ultimately heartwarming story of a woman trying to give everything to her kids, keep the love of her partner, and not lose herself in the process.
278 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2013
86 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Allred
17 books23 followersAlexandra Allred was born in Frankfurt, Germany and traveled the world as the daughter of a
US Diplomat and DIA attaché. She made sports (and medical) history through sport. When
she learned that women were not allowed in bobsled, she lobbied for equal status and would
ultimately win the U.S. Nationals in September 1994, making sports history as she was named to
the first women’s bobsled team. When the United States Olympic Committee named her Athlete
of the Year for her sport, it made international news as Allred was pregnant when she made the
team!
At the time, there was very little data on elite pregnant athletes and powerlifting/plyometrics.
While Allred became the “poster child” of the Case Western OB/GYN international study,
Allred was, at five months pregnant, squatting 375 lbs. and clocked at 20 MPH while
running. The results of this study changed how to measure the safety of baby in utero for
competitive athletes. Both the United States and International Olympic Committee use Alex’s
training data as a safety guide for pregnant athletes and she serves as a fitness/nutrition expert
for www.pregnancy.org.
Sports Illustrated also took interest, asking her to try out for a women’s professional football
team and write about her experiences in the award-winning book, Atta Girl! A Celebration of
Women in Sport (Wish Publishing). Allred went on to write for a series of publications and
appear on numerous television and print outlets, and was also the subject of a series of
documentaries.
Alex's professional athletic and writing careers have been based on empowerment. Alex
wrote the first ever US bylaws for the women's bobsled program and fought to have women
included in the Olympic Games; she changed protocol for elite coaches (as well as the USOC
and IOC) in regards to physical training while pregnant; testified before the IOC at the London
Games; served as an Air Ambassador and lobbied on Capitol Hill and was nominated as a White
House Champion of Change for Public Health and was invited to speak before the International
Thoracic Society on public health. She created an asthma commercial (aired before the US
Senate) with the League of Women Voters and when she saw a need for those within the special
needs populations, she returned to school so she could be an advocate for their cause. She is an
award-winning documentary filmmaker/author and continues to freelance nationally and
internationally, as well as public speaking on issues of empowerment, equality, business and
education. She has penned more than 20 books and continues to guest freelance for multiple
national publications.
She is an adjunct professor at both Tarleton State University and Navarro College, teaching
kinesiology lectures and classes, as well as leadership and success skills courses. Using her
students and faculty, including the Occupational Therapy Department, Allred created an exercise
and empowerment program for special needs that include those with a diagnosis of Down
syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, stroke, as we all other intellectual
and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) who need a health/wellness overhaul but also need
greater self-esteem and confidence building. 13 Able was created to spur on fitness, happiness
and empowerment.
This 4th degree black belt retired from competitive fighting long ago but continues to offer
free self-defense classes for women and health/wellness class for those living within the Special
Needs world.
Today, as she fights for her parents against Alzheimer's and dementia, Operation
Caregivers: #LifewithDementia is yet another battle to restore dignity for those who suffer
from the disease and empowerment for their caregivers. Today, she also offers free fitness
classes for those living with special needs as she believes EVERYONE deserves to be
empowered!
US Diplomat and DIA attaché. She made sports (and medical) history through sport. When
she learned that women were not allowed in bobsled, she lobbied for equal status and would
ultimately win the U.S. Nationals in September 1994, making sports history as she was named to
the first women’s bobsled team. When the United States Olympic Committee named her Athlete
of the Year for her sport, it made international news as Allred was pregnant when she made the
team!
At the time, there was very little data on elite pregnant athletes and powerlifting/plyometrics.
While Allred became the “poster child” of the Case Western OB/GYN international study,
Allred was, at five months pregnant, squatting 375 lbs. and clocked at 20 MPH while
running. The results of this study changed how to measure the safety of baby in utero for
competitive athletes. Both the United States and International Olympic Committee use Alex’s
training data as a safety guide for pregnant athletes and she serves as a fitness/nutrition expert
for www.pregnancy.org.
Sports Illustrated also took interest, asking her to try out for a women’s professional football
team and write about her experiences in the award-winning book, Atta Girl! A Celebration of
Women in Sport (Wish Publishing). Allred went on to write for a series of publications and
appear on numerous television and print outlets, and was also the subject of a series of
documentaries.
Alex's professional athletic and writing careers have been based on empowerment. Alex
wrote the first ever US bylaws for the women's bobsled program and fought to have women
included in the Olympic Games; she changed protocol for elite coaches (as well as the USOC
and IOC) in regards to physical training while pregnant; testified before the IOC at the London
Games; served as an Air Ambassador and lobbied on Capitol Hill and was nominated as a White
House Champion of Change for Public Health and was invited to speak before the International
Thoracic Society on public health. She created an asthma commercial (aired before the US
Senate) with the League of Women Voters and when she saw a need for those within the special
needs populations, she returned to school so she could be an advocate for their cause. She is an
award-winning documentary filmmaker/author and continues to freelance nationally and
internationally, as well as public speaking on issues of empowerment, equality, business and
education. She has penned more than 20 books and continues to guest freelance for multiple
national publications.
She is an adjunct professor at both Tarleton State University and Navarro College, teaching
kinesiology lectures and classes, as well as leadership and success skills courses. Using her
students and faculty, including the Occupational Therapy Department, Allred created an exercise
and empowerment program for special needs that include those with a diagnosis of Down
syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, stroke, as we all other intellectual
and/or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) who need a health/wellness overhaul but also need
greater self-esteem and confidence building. 13 Able was created to spur on fitness, happiness
and empowerment.
This 4th degree black belt retired from competitive fighting long ago but continues to offer
free self-defense classes for women and health/wellness class for those living within the Special
Needs world.
Today, as she fights for her parents against Alzheimer's and dementia, Operation
Caregivers: #LifewithDementia is yet another battle to restore dignity for those who suffer
from the disease and empowerment for their caregivers. Today, she also offers free fitness
classes for those living with special needs as she believes EVERYONE deserves to be
empowered!
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 15, 2013
Review:
Alexandria Allred has made me very happy. So many things to love about this book. The main reason is Rae Ann and Allie. I love the relationship and the fact that the history was given in little bits. They are in current time and flashbacks show the reader how they met and fell in love. So on to her job. Allie is an obituary writer. Interesting she is one and her Dad too. Now that is weird, but in a great way.
The kids that Allie and Rae Ann had were adorable. I especially loved the language and phonetic spelling of the characters in Dora the Explorer. Kelli and Krissy sound delicious and devilish at the same time. I wanna jump into the book and squeeze them.
The relationship Allie has with her sister is special and her character is great too. Being a cop as well as Rae Ann it lends to how alike but different they are. The next door neighbor Jenny who had MS was a treat. Another way of showing the Allie was a nurturing person.
The mystery and the was the Allie works is so interesting. I just so enjoyed this book and I am reading her others. I can see people saying the girls name that rhymes with "numb"as a similar style. NO there is no similar style for me. The relationship was unique and I loved them together. The author did a great job depicting natural family and home life in a relationship like Allie and Rae Ann. I love discovering a new author! Bravo great book!
Alexandria Allred has made me very happy. So many things to love about this book. The main reason is Rae Ann and Allie. I love the relationship and the fact that the history was given in little bits. They are in current time and flashbacks show the reader how they met and fell in love. So on to her job. Allie is an obituary writer. Interesting she is one and her Dad too. Now that is weird, but in a great way.
The kids that Allie and Rae Ann had were adorable. I especially loved the language and phonetic spelling of the characters in Dora the Explorer. Kelli and Krissy sound delicious and devilish at the same time. I wanna jump into the book and squeeze them.
The relationship Allie has with her sister is special and her character is great too. Being a cop as well as Rae Ann it lends to how alike but different they are. The next door neighbor Jenny who had MS was a treat. Another way of showing the Allie was a nurturing person.
The mystery and the was the Allie works is so interesting. I just so enjoyed this book and I am reading her others. I can see people saying the girls name that rhymes with "numb"as a similar style. NO there is no similar style for me. The relationship was unique and I loved them together. The author did a great job depicting natural family and home life in a relationship like Allie and Rae Ann. I love discovering a new author! Bravo great book!
could-not-finish
June 19, 2020Allie Lindell is a newspaper obituary writer who gets so involved in the deaths she chronicles that she sometimes has to find out the reason for their deaths. A clever technique indeed. Allie is also the first mother of tots that I have come across in a lesbian mystery novel, so as far as uniqueness goes, the series begins on a couple of high notes.
But in the sample of the ebook I read, most of the other notes are sour. I think it is mostly because Allred can’t seem to decide the best way to start the novel, so she starts is half a dozen times. First we learn about Allie’s job as an obituary writer. Then we have a section about her sister, then a long one about a chocolate cupcake. Then we learn that, in fact, Allie is not an obituary writer and is in fact a stay-at-home mom. It is very disjointed and kind of confusing. She writes more about the cupcake than anything else in the first 2 ½ chapters that Amazon allows us to read. Further, Allie’s kids are fairly unpleasant and the author overuses the technique of flashbacks to describe new characters.
There are only a few things that an author can get away with in the first 40 pages or so. Or maybe I should say that an author should not be able to get away with any. So it is unlikely that I will pay the not-unreasonable price of $4.99 for the rest of the book. It’s beginning needs a thorough rethinking.
Final Rating: Did not finish
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
But in the sample of the ebook I read, most of the other notes are sour. I think it is mostly because Allred can’t seem to decide the best way to start the novel, so she starts is half a dozen times. First we learn about Allie’s job as an obituary writer. Then we have a section about her sister, then a long one about a chocolate cupcake. Then we learn that, in fact, Allie is not an obituary writer and is in fact a stay-at-home mom. It is very disjointed and kind of confusing. She writes more about the cupcake than anything else in the first 2 ½ chapters that Amazon allows us to read. Further, Allie’s kids are fairly unpleasant and the author overuses the technique of flashbacks to describe new characters.
There are only a few things that an author can get away with in the first 40 pages or so. Or maybe I should say that an author should not be able to get away with any. So it is unlikely that I will pay the not-unreasonable price of $4.99 for the rest of the book. It’s beginning needs a thorough rethinking.
Final Rating: Did not finish
Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.
September 23, 2013
(nb: I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley)
Allie Lindell is not enjoying a halcyon movie relationship at the moment. She’s a stay-at-home mom for her two young daughters, and Allie and Rae Ann, her partner, frequently find themselves arguing. Everything should be going fine. Allie could stay home with two-year-old Krissy and ten-month-old Kelli, while Rae Ann works. Perfect or not, that’s their arrangement.
Allie Lindell was a journalist before she resigned to pursue mommyhood. Once Allie became a fulltime mom and homemaker, she missed the job, so she took part-time research work from her friend and hotshot investigative journalist, Sandy. The small pay was worth less to her than was the chance to do something intellectually fulfilling.
So one day, she hits paydirt. Not only does Allie suspect something phony in a police detective’s murder--he’d been acquitted for abusing his niece, but something else doesn’t feel right--Sandy provides a story of her own. For months, a serial killer has been roaming the nation’s interstate highways. When a body is found on a small highway nearby, it becomes a local story.
Allie jumps into both cases as best she can. This irks her K-9 Officer sister, Michelle, who just wants her to stay away from cases and leave investigating to professionals.
Allie can’t do it. Between juggling naps and wondering why the toddler put her diaper on her baby sister’s head, Allie manages to piece together new information regarding the slain detective’s death. She also finds time to poke into the Highway Killer case, and before she knows it, she’s neck deep in two separate cases, just trying to solve them before they ruin her.
Potential danger aside, all of her extra work has put a huge strain on Allie’s relationship with Rae Ann. They disagree, they fight, they yell, they ice each other. The relationship is crumbling. Rae Ann can’t understand why Allie can’t just stay home and take care of the kids like she’d agreed to, and Allie can’t explain clearly enough how she needs something to occupy her mind, how it’s her nature to investigate and solve cases.
As Allie nears breaking-open both cases, her relationship comes close to breaking-up, and Allie just might not live long enough to make amends.
“Roadkill” works pretty well as a mystery. Allie is a quick thinker, and clever at getting people to say more than they’d intended, plus there are some very interesting plot twists. I especially like Allie’s cop sister, Michelle, and her bad-ass police dog, Kipper. Michelle may pamper Kipper like a spoiled poodle, but when it’s time to work, you do not want Michelle commanding him to attack.
However, I think the strongest part of “Roadkill” is the relationship between Allie and Rae Ann. When you’re used to working full-time—as was Allie—and you stop to raise kids, it’s tough on the stay-at-home spouse. My best friend and his wife (both English teachers) went through the same thing. You love your kids, but you miss having something to challenge your mind and enable you to converse with someone who can answer in complete sentences.
As much as I could sympathize with Allie, I really get Rae Ann’s point-of-view: This is what you wanted, and this is how we agreed to do it, so why are you running around investigating dangerous things, and leaving our kids with sitters? I’m sure I’d feel the same way—just, leave the reporting and law enforcement to reporters and police officers.
And that’s the one problem I had with “Roadkill.” It’s neither a big nor crucial point, but I felt like Allie is portrayed as a superwoman, able to make dinner, change diapers, get the kids down for their naps, perform investigative journalism, and nab criminals, all better than anyone else. I’m not sure why Sandy would be unable to report the Highway Killer story without Allie’s help, and I’d certainly hope the city’s police force would be able to solve a crime, especially a cop-killing.
I get that Allie is the protagonist, but she seems a little too good at everything she touches, at least except for being a loving and supportive partner. I’m not saying she shouldn’t help out Sandy with research, and earn a little cash on the side, but that’s a far cry from constantly leaving your kids with sitters while you gad about town trying to solve murders—even moreso, when you drag the kids along on a stakeout. Honestly, there are times Allie really sounds like she resents her children. I think part of being a good life partner is not giving your beloved unnecessary reason to worry. When Rae Ann points this out, Allie blasts back that Rae Ann still spends free time on her softball team, with practices and beers after games, etc.
Total non sequitur. It’s not at all the same thing.
I don’t doubt Allie’s love for Rae Ann, but her behavior shows a pretty flagrant lack of respect for her feelings (and Rae Ann has pretty damn valid concerns, I think).
At the end of “Roadkill,” I’m glad Rae Ann and Allie are still together. If things don’t change, though, the biggest mystery will be how much longer they last.
Recommended.
Allie Lindell is not enjoying a halcyon movie relationship at the moment. She’s a stay-at-home mom for her two young daughters, and Allie and Rae Ann, her partner, frequently find themselves arguing. Everything should be going fine. Allie could stay home with two-year-old Krissy and ten-month-old Kelli, while Rae Ann works. Perfect or not, that’s their arrangement.
Allie Lindell was a journalist before she resigned to pursue mommyhood. Once Allie became a fulltime mom and homemaker, she missed the job, so she took part-time research work from her friend and hotshot investigative journalist, Sandy. The small pay was worth less to her than was the chance to do something intellectually fulfilling.
So one day, she hits paydirt. Not only does Allie suspect something phony in a police detective’s murder--he’d been acquitted for abusing his niece, but something else doesn’t feel right--Sandy provides a story of her own. For months, a serial killer has been roaming the nation’s interstate highways. When a body is found on a small highway nearby, it becomes a local story.
Allie jumps into both cases as best she can. This irks her K-9 Officer sister, Michelle, who just wants her to stay away from cases and leave investigating to professionals.
Allie can’t do it. Between juggling naps and wondering why the toddler put her diaper on her baby sister’s head, Allie manages to piece together new information regarding the slain detective’s death. She also finds time to poke into the Highway Killer case, and before she knows it, she’s neck deep in two separate cases, just trying to solve them before they ruin her.
Potential danger aside, all of her extra work has put a huge strain on Allie’s relationship with Rae Ann. They disagree, they fight, they yell, they ice each other. The relationship is crumbling. Rae Ann can’t understand why Allie can’t just stay home and take care of the kids like she’d agreed to, and Allie can’t explain clearly enough how she needs something to occupy her mind, how it’s her nature to investigate and solve cases.
As Allie nears breaking-open both cases, her relationship comes close to breaking-up, and Allie just might not live long enough to make amends.
“Roadkill” works pretty well as a mystery. Allie is a quick thinker, and clever at getting people to say more than they’d intended, plus there are some very interesting plot twists. I especially like Allie’s cop sister, Michelle, and her bad-ass police dog, Kipper. Michelle may pamper Kipper like a spoiled poodle, but when it’s time to work, you do not want Michelle commanding him to attack.
However, I think the strongest part of “Roadkill” is the relationship between Allie and Rae Ann. When you’re used to working full-time—as was Allie—and you stop to raise kids, it’s tough on the stay-at-home spouse. My best friend and his wife (both English teachers) went through the same thing. You love your kids, but you miss having something to challenge your mind and enable you to converse with someone who can answer in complete sentences.
As much as I could sympathize with Allie, I really get Rae Ann’s point-of-view: This is what you wanted, and this is how we agreed to do it, so why are you running around investigating dangerous things, and leaving our kids with sitters? I’m sure I’d feel the same way—just, leave the reporting and law enforcement to reporters and police officers.
And that’s the one problem I had with “Roadkill.” It’s neither a big nor crucial point, but I felt like Allie is portrayed as a superwoman, able to make dinner, change diapers, get the kids down for their naps, perform investigative journalism, and nab criminals, all better than anyone else. I’m not sure why Sandy would be unable to report the Highway Killer story without Allie’s help, and I’d certainly hope the city’s police force would be able to solve a crime, especially a cop-killing.
I get that Allie is the protagonist, but she seems a little too good at everything she touches, at least except for being a loving and supportive partner. I’m not saying she shouldn’t help out Sandy with research, and earn a little cash on the side, but that’s a far cry from constantly leaving your kids with sitters while you gad about town trying to solve murders—even moreso, when you drag the kids along on a stakeout. Honestly, there are times Allie really sounds like she resents her children. I think part of being a good life partner is not giving your beloved unnecessary reason to worry. When Rae Ann points this out, Allie blasts back that Rae Ann still spends free time on her softball team, with practices and beers after games, etc.
Total non sequitur. It’s not at all the same thing.
I don’t doubt Allie’s love for Rae Ann, but her behavior shows a pretty flagrant lack of respect for her feelings (and Rae Ann has pretty damn valid concerns, I think).
At the end of “Roadkill,” I’m glad Rae Ann and Allie are still together. If things don’t change, though, the biggest mystery will be how much longer they last.
Recommended.
November 8, 2013
This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.
==
“I never set out to become an obituary writer. Who does that? (p. 1)”
Allie Lindell never set out to do a lot of things. She didn’t plan on writing obituaries, but because there were no job ads for traipsing around New Guinea, she got good with obits, and even became emotionally invested in them. Never a romantic, she fell in love almost at first sight. And though she loved working at The Columbus Dispatch, she quit to become a stay at home mother.
But taking care of two babies all day -- five hundred screenings of Snow White included -- isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Allie needs adult conversation, an escape, something beyond staying at home all day and losing part of herself. Yes, Allie loves her daughters, and her wife, but she needs something more.
ROADKILL is a story with a lot packed into it. There’s a couple of mysteries, including a serial killer who refrigerates bodies before dumping them, and a murdered cop who was once accused of molesting his niece. Allie gets tangled up in the investigations because she freelances for her old paper on the side, as part of her quest to not lose herself. But investigating the cases is about more than just that — because of her experience as an obituary writer, Allie wonders about the dead. Why they ended up as victims. What happened in their life.
There's a theme in the book that I like, stemming from the title, ROADKILL. Allie muses that the unfortunate dead like the serial killer's prostitutes are only important when they die, and even then, they're only mentioned because they were murdered by someone making the news.
Aside from all that, there's more to the book. Allie struggles to find the right balance between investigating and her personal life. She's in the midst of some big problems with her wife, Rae Ann. They're the sort of problems every couple goes through — drifting apart after having children, having trouble communicating, etc. I liked that the author didn't make a big deal out of them being a same-sex couple. They're a couple, period, same as any husband and wife, or husband and husband.
The author created some truly memorable characters. One of my favorites was Kipper, the canine partner of Allie's sister, Michelle. I always have a soft spot for well-done animal characters. It was great to see Kipper as a big softie when playing with Allie's daughters, and then a vicious attack dog when on the job. Allie herself was another favorite, and I think a lot of readers will identify with her struggle in juggling a partner, children, and home life without losing part of herself. Lastly, Jenny was a sweetheart. Allie and Rae Ann's neighbor, she was always willing to watch the girls when Allie needed to run some "errands." AKA investigate. I liked Jenny because she was a good example of someone sort of isolated — she has MS, and her family would rather coddle her than allow her to live her life.
I did have some difficulty believing that, when investigating, Allie was able to get so many people to spill their guts to her. She also knowingly put herself in danger — because she didn't think — which is always a peeve of mine.
Overall, I enjoyed ROADKILL and I am very curious as to what the author has in mind for Allie, Rae Ann, and the rest of the bunch. Because I know Allie is not going to keep the bargain she made with her sister, to keep from "investigating" for a month!
==
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews:
==
“I never set out to become an obituary writer. Who does that? (p. 1)”
Allie Lindell never set out to do a lot of things. She didn’t plan on writing obituaries, but because there were no job ads for traipsing around New Guinea, she got good with obits, and even became emotionally invested in them. Never a romantic, she fell in love almost at first sight. And though she loved working at The Columbus Dispatch, she quit to become a stay at home mother.
But taking care of two babies all day -- five hundred screenings of Snow White included -- isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Allie needs adult conversation, an escape, something beyond staying at home all day and losing part of herself. Yes, Allie loves her daughters, and her wife, but she needs something more.
ROADKILL is a story with a lot packed into it. There’s a couple of mysteries, including a serial killer who refrigerates bodies before dumping them, and a murdered cop who was once accused of molesting his niece. Allie gets tangled up in the investigations because she freelances for her old paper on the side, as part of her quest to not lose herself. But investigating the cases is about more than just that — because of her experience as an obituary writer, Allie wonders about the dead. Why they ended up as victims. What happened in their life.
There's a theme in the book that I like, stemming from the title, ROADKILL. Allie muses that the unfortunate dead like the serial killer's prostitutes are only important when they die, and even then, they're only mentioned because they were murdered by someone making the news.
Aside from all that, there's more to the book. Allie struggles to find the right balance between investigating and her personal life. She's in the midst of some big problems with her wife, Rae Ann. They're the sort of problems every couple goes through — drifting apart after having children, having trouble communicating, etc. I liked that the author didn't make a big deal out of them being a same-sex couple. They're a couple, period, same as any husband and wife, or husband and husband.
The author created some truly memorable characters. One of my favorites was Kipper, the canine partner of Allie's sister, Michelle. I always have a soft spot for well-done animal characters. It was great to see Kipper as a big softie when playing with Allie's daughters, and then a vicious attack dog when on the job. Allie herself was another favorite, and I think a lot of readers will identify with her struggle in juggling a partner, children, and home life without losing part of herself. Lastly, Jenny was a sweetheart. Allie and Rae Ann's neighbor, she was always willing to watch the girls when Allie needed to run some "errands." AKA investigate. I liked Jenny because she was a good example of someone sort of isolated — she has MS, and her family would rather coddle her than allow her to live her life.
I did have some difficulty believing that, when investigating, Allie was able to get so many people to spill their guts to her. She also knowingly put herself in danger — because she didn't think — which is always a peeve of mine.
Overall, I enjoyed ROADKILL and I am very curious as to what the author has in mind for Allie, Rae Ann, and the rest of the bunch. Because I know Allie is not going to keep the bargain she made with her sister, to keep from "investigating" for a month!
==
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews:
October 6, 2013
Reviewed by Marissa
Book provided by NetGalley for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Alexandria Allred’s writing is refreshing and straightforward. The opening paragraph drew me right in and the story kept pulling at me, tugging me this way and that. I couldn’t wait to see where Allie went next, which character would show up, and how long her kids lasted in the back seat, not to mention which name she would use.
As a single mother, my daughter went everywhere I went and Allred’s descriptions of life spent hauling around a two-year-old are spot on. As Allie succumbs to French Fries to quiet a tantrum or quietly closes a car door so as to not wake a sleeping child, I know this is written from real life. The scene where the adults cannot understand that “tic” means “I want to go to the store and get a sticker” is hilarious.
Yet her description of a simple cupcake made my mouth water – “Franconia’s frosting is pure sugar, butter, yogurt, and sprinkles of something that could only have come from the flutters of a fairy’s wing.” I could taste the chocolate in this cupcake, I could feel texture of the cake and the frosting coming together in my mouth for that one sinful bite, and I think I gained those 800 calories just reading about them; but they were such delicious words and so worth every calorie.
I loved that we got both sides of the story of how Rae Ann and Allie first met. We read as Allie tells how she watches Rae Ann play softball and Rae Ann doesn’t know she’s in the bleachers, yet later we find out Rae Ann did know Allie was there and contrived to meet her. The descriptions of that day were so touching, I could feel the emotions of that first “zing” and then came that line – “In that moment, I’d known exactly who I was. I had spent two decades in uncertainty, but in those two seconds, I’d figured out exactly who I was and who I wanted.” – and tears came to my eyes.
I had such a good time with Allie in Road Kill. It was pure fun to follow this woman around picking up clues while she toted babies, soothed ruffled partners, and deterred those trying to stop her from putting a little excitement back into her life. Allie was real, she could be any one of us, and I can’t wait for her next adventure.
Favorite Quote: Obituaries are little bits of history. No, they don’t tell you how a person made the decisions he did or why life events happened the way they did, but they do tell you how a person ended up: four kids, a military career, and so on. Every now and again, however, if you dig a little deeper, you can find a really interesting person – someone who’s done all the things you wanted to do. Someone who invented the golf cart or stood next to MacArthur during the Korean War – and that’s the obit that makes you ponder your own life experiences, what you have accomplished, and where you are going. What will be written about you when you die?
Book provided by NetGalley for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Alexandria Allred’s writing is refreshing and straightforward. The opening paragraph drew me right in and the story kept pulling at me, tugging me this way and that. I couldn’t wait to see where Allie went next, which character would show up, and how long her kids lasted in the back seat, not to mention which name she would use.
As a single mother, my daughter went everywhere I went and Allred’s descriptions of life spent hauling around a two-year-old are spot on. As Allie succumbs to French Fries to quiet a tantrum or quietly closes a car door so as to not wake a sleeping child, I know this is written from real life. The scene where the adults cannot understand that “tic” means “I want to go to the store and get a sticker” is hilarious.
Yet her description of a simple cupcake made my mouth water – “Franconia’s frosting is pure sugar, butter, yogurt, and sprinkles of something that could only have come from the flutters of a fairy’s wing.” I could taste the chocolate in this cupcake, I could feel texture of the cake and the frosting coming together in my mouth for that one sinful bite, and I think I gained those 800 calories just reading about them; but they were such delicious words and so worth every calorie.
I loved that we got both sides of the story of how Rae Ann and Allie first met. We read as Allie tells how she watches Rae Ann play softball and Rae Ann doesn’t know she’s in the bleachers, yet later we find out Rae Ann did know Allie was there and contrived to meet her. The descriptions of that day were so touching, I could feel the emotions of that first “zing” and then came that line – “In that moment, I’d known exactly who I was. I had spent two decades in uncertainty, but in those two seconds, I’d figured out exactly who I was and who I wanted.” – and tears came to my eyes.
I had such a good time with Allie in Road Kill. It was pure fun to follow this woman around picking up clues while she toted babies, soothed ruffled partners, and deterred those trying to stop her from putting a little excitement back into her life. Allie was real, she could be any one of us, and I can’t wait for her next adventure.
Favorite Quote: Obituaries are little bits of history. No, they don’t tell you how a person made the decisions he did or why life events happened the way they did, but they do tell you how a person ended up: four kids, a military career, and so on. Every now and again, however, if you dig a little deeper, you can find a really interesting person – someone who’s done all the things you wanted to do. Someone who invented the golf cart or stood next to MacArthur during the Korean War – and that’s the obit that makes you ponder your own life experiences, what you have accomplished, and where you are going. What will be written about you when you die?
August 5, 2014
Braine's Talk Supe review
ROADKILL by Alexandra Allred is Allie Lindell's series, former obituary writer now moonlighting as an investigative journalist while taking care of two toddlers with her partner, Rae Ann. Allie's fascination with criminal investigation and justice is a combination of boredom and a true passion for whodunit mysteries. The feel of ROADKILL and the series is a mom-jeans version of Janet Evanovich's, Stephanie Plum, series. The novel is filled with different female archetypes ranging from bad girls, career oriented women, and mothers and tackles women's issues like friendship, sisterhood, motherhood, career and murder (?).
ROADKILL has overlapping mysteries and issues. Aside from the dead refrigerated prostitutes left on the rural roads of Ohio, Allie is also investigating the case of a fallen dead cop. The mystery/suspense element is focused more on Allie's investigations than the crime scene itself. Allie's task was to interview witnesses and persons of interest under the guise of a news blogger. Aside from these murders, Allie also struggles with balancing her family life. She has two toddlers with her partner, Rae Ann, and their relationship has become strained since having the kids and Allie's pseudo private investigator gig is making matters worse. The tension between Allie and Rae Ann is my favorite part of the story. Their relationship is just like a husband and wife, two people overwhelmed raising a family while trying to maintain a semblance of their former selves. However Allie and Rae Ann's friendship is so strong I'm touched by their loyalty to each other. I don't know what will happen between these two but I'm rooting for their marriage to survive.
ROADKILL by Alexandra Allred is Allie Lindell's series, former obituary writer now moonlighting as an investigative journalist while taking care of two toddlers with her partner, Rae Ann. Allie's fascination with criminal investigation and justice is a combination of boredom and a true passion for whodunit mysteries. The feel of ROADKILL and the series is a mom-jeans version of Janet Evanovich's, Stephanie Plum, series. The novel is filled with different female archetypes ranging from bad girls, career oriented women, and mothers and tackles women's issues like friendship, sisterhood, motherhood, career and murder (?).
ROADKILL has overlapping mysteries and issues. Aside from the dead refrigerated prostitutes left on the rural roads of Ohio, Allie is also investigating the case of a fallen dead cop. The mystery/suspense element is focused more on Allie's investigations than the crime scene itself. Allie's task was to interview witnesses and persons of interest under the guise of a news blogger. Aside from these murders, Allie also struggles with balancing her family life. She has two toddlers with her partner, Rae Ann, and their relationship has become strained since having the kids and Allie's pseudo private investigator gig is making matters worse. The tension between Allie and Rae Ann is my favorite part of the story. Their relationship is just like a husband and wife, two people overwhelmed raising a family while trying to maintain a semblance of their former selves. However Allie and Rae Ann's friendship is so strong I'm touched by their loyalty to each other. I don't know what will happen between these two but I'm rooting for their marriage to survive.
October 8, 2014
While I liked a lot about Roadkill I didn't feel it lived up to the first two books by this author, White Trash and Damaged Goods. I also don't know why she picks such depressing titles!
Allie trained as a journalist but worked on the obituaries for five years in Columbus, Ohio. She's now a stay-home mother of two little 'uns, with a female life partner. She has a sister who's a K9 unit detective.
Allie gets freelance work from a journalist on the local paper and looks into both the death of a former cop who turns out to have run wild parties and gambling nights from his home, and a series of women being killed by a supposed trucker who picks them up at truck stops and dumps them on lonely highways. She has to keep arranging sitters, taking a child or two along otherwise, and has long conversations about Snow White and fries and so on with tiny kids. It's not going to interest everyone and her desperate need for freedom and adult conversation doesn't excuse all the lies she tells to get information. Mind, the people are remarkably keen to be interviewed about neighbours and relatives they disliked. There is also a degree of repetition as Allie gets the same story from various people, but that is checking your research.
Ayelet Waldman wrote the Mommy Track mysteries, if you want to read about sleuthing with kids in tow and putting their needs first, which this Allie doesn't do quite so much of, to the reasonable-sounding despair of her partner. We get to consider what society thinks of women today.
Overall this is a good, readable amateur sleuth story, I just happen to prefer the first two by this author.
Allie trained as a journalist but worked on the obituaries for five years in Columbus, Ohio. She's now a stay-home mother of two little 'uns, with a female life partner. She has a sister who's a K9 unit detective.
Allie gets freelance work from a journalist on the local paper and looks into both the death of a former cop who turns out to have run wild parties and gambling nights from his home, and a series of women being killed by a supposed trucker who picks them up at truck stops and dumps them on lonely highways. She has to keep arranging sitters, taking a child or two along otherwise, and has long conversations about Snow White and fries and so on with tiny kids. It's not going to interest everyone and her desperate need for freedom and adult conversation doesn't excuse all the lies she tells to get information. Mind, the people are remarkably keen to be interviewed about neighbours and relatives they disliked. There is also a degree of repetition as Allie gets the same story from various people, but that is checking your research.
Ayelet Waldman wrote the Mommy Track mysteries, if you want to read about sleuthing with kids in tow and putting their needs first, which this Allie doesn't do quite so much of, to the reasonable-sounding despair of her partner. We get to consider what society thinks of women today.
Overall this is a good, readable amateur sleuth story, I just happen to prefer the first two by this author.
December 4, 2013
Thank you to NetGalley and Ms. Allred for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Looking for an enjoyable mystery? Learn a little bit about what makes a stay-at-home mom tick? What life is like when you have an inquisitive nature but no outlet to explore? This book is for you. It's not an intense read, but it makes for an interesting and sometimes scary journey.
Allie is the main character and her personality and needs are clearly identified in this book and tells a story about what happens when a woman chooses to stay home to care for her young children which then blends in with an opportunity to sleuth.
Many relationships are examined in this book. Mainly between Allie and a multitude of others such as the newspaper writer, Allie's sister (who happens to be a cop), her partner, Rae Ann... each one is unique and differs based upon the situation going on between them. The one that stood out the most is the one between Allie and her partner, Rae Ann. There are many difficulties in their relationship and I can totally see why. I suppose this just adds to the storyline so I won't lower my ratings on the book. It's just a slight annoyance. The good thing is that it kept me reading so I suppose it worked!
In any case, pick this book up and get to know the characters. I can certainly see them coming back in the future.
Looking for an enjoyable mystery? Learn a little bit about what makes a stay-at-home mom tick? What life is like when you have an inquisitive nature but no outlet to explore? This book is for you. It's not an intense read, but it makes for an interesting and sometimes scary journey.
Allie is the main character and her personality and needs are clearly identified in this book and tells a story about what happens when a woman chooses to stay home to care for her young children which then blends in with an opportunity to sleuth.
Many relationships are examined in this book. Mainly between Allie and a multitude of others such as the newspaper writer, Allie's sister (who happens to be a cop), her partner, Rae Ann... each one is unique and differs based upon the situation going on between them. The one that stood out the most is the one between Allie and her partner, Rae Ann. There are many difficulties in their relationship and I can totally see why. I suppose this just adds to the storyline so I won't lower my ratings on the book. It's just a slight annoyance. The good thing is that it kept me reading so I suppose it worked!
In any case, pick this book up and get to know the characters. I can certainly see them coming back in the future.
February 5, 2016
Former journalist Allie Lindell, now a stay at home mother, tries to balance her love of the investigation by pursing answers to two unsolved crimes and keeping her balance in her family relationship with her wife, who wants Allie to stay at home out of harm's way, her policewoman sister, and her ever-present responsibility to her children.
March 4, 2015
Review to come.
August 7, 2013
lots of intertwining stories into one mystery. enjoyable and I never guessed most of it!
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