The Trouble with Speed: A Hale Mary Mystery

by Katrina Kyle

If only the missing French socialite was the least of her problems.

Managing a young, rich Formula One driver is like herding cats at 200 mph, but Hale Seton has it under control—until a French socialite vanishes after a wild night out, and her powerful family accuses Hale’s client, Javier Pova, of foul play. With the Monaco Grand Prix looming and the media circus kicking into full clown-show mode, Hale has one weekend to find the missing woman, clear Javier’s name, and keep her own career from crashing and burning.

But in the glamorous world of Monte Carlo, where secrets are currency and enemies lurk behind designer sunglasses, someone wants Javier out of the race permanently—and they’re willing to kill to sideline him for good.

Fast, sharp, and full of twists, The Trouble with Speed is a high-octane mystery that will keep you turning pages until the final lap. Buckle up and grab your copy now!

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 16, 2025

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good F1 romance or nonfiction book, those are the two genres I usually gravitate toward when reading about my favorite sport. So when I saw that a Formula 1 mystery was coming out, I was all in.

“The Trouble with Speed” is part of the Hale Mary Mystery series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. I had no trouble diving into the story and never felt like I was missing any background. The characters were well developed, and I instantly recognized who was who without any confusion.

The beginning threw me off a bit. It was kind of weird, to be honest. All the talk about her toenail (like why, spare me pls???) felt a little off putting, and the setup was a bit unrealistic for my taste. But that shifted fairly quickly, especially once the F1 elements kicked in. Her role as a manager and the behind-the-scenes details felt authentic and well researched.

The mystery itself was compelling. I liked Hale’s determination to find Sabrina and protect Javi, and the relationships and character dynamics were genuinely enjoyable. I’m definitely tempted to check out the other books in the series.

My issue, and the reason I’m giving it 3.5 stars, is the ending. Midway through, I had a hunch about the direction the story would take, and unfortunately, it played out exactly as I suspected. The motive behind everything and how it unfolded felt a little lazy. I wish it had leaned more into the “eat the rich” vibe. It would have made the finale so much more satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Booksnliftsdiary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Trouble with Speed
Author: Katrina Kyle
Genre: Mystery and Suspense
Pages: 318

Rating: 4⭐️/5

“He was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Hale Seton—an American, former pro snowboarder, only girl in a family of eight, and brand-new manager to rising Formula One star Javier Pova—thought her biggest challenge in Monaco would be keeping her reckless driver focused. But after doing Javi a quick favor and giving a very drunk Sabrina Bouchere—a French influencer with a reputation for scandal and addiction—a ride back to her hotel after a wild night out, things quickly spiral. Hale dropped Sabrina off at the Maison Hotel around 1 a.m. and saw her walk up the driveway with a scar-faced man named Adonay Beehane, who claimed to be her driver. The next day, Sabrina is missing. Her powerful family is pointing fingers at Javi, a video of him talking to her is going viral, and the media storm is exploding. Hale knows she has to act fast—not just to protect Javi’s name and his promising season, but because she and Sabrina had more in common than she cared to admit: complicated families, terrible taste in men, and habits that are hard to break. With the Monaco Grand Prix just days away and everything on the line, Hale has one weekend to uncover the truth before it all crashes down.

The Trouble with Speed is a fast, twisty mystery where an ordinary woman ends up playing detective in the high-stakes world of Formula One and the chaotic lives of the rich and reckless. It might take a little time to get familiar with the characters and their world, but once it clicks, the story hits hard. And the final chapters? Totally intense, emotional, and full of surprises. If you’re into international drama, messy secrets, and strong women who don’t wait around for someone else to fix things, buckle up—this one’s a ride!

A big thanks to Literary Inspired and Katrina Kyle for providing me with a digital ARC of this book!

Released yesterday, 06/18/25 on Amazon, KU and paperback.
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#AdvancedReaderCopy

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speeding to murder

Hale is trying to expand her business into the ultra popular worldwide sensation of F1 driving. She’s got a provisional contract with a young paid driver Javi Pova. Some problems he’s 19 and male with all the craziness that comes with being a 19 year old male. His mother is very rich, very opinionated and very used to getting what she wants when she wants it. I don’t think no is even in her vocabulary unless she’s the one saying it. There’s problems with the mom, the racing team and the young driver who’s got the impulse control and critical thinking skills of a 19 year old male. So Hale is in Monaco for a race that could be the beginning of something big for the kid and that’s when the trouble starts. There’s a girl and don’t things always start that way. She disappears and Hale is concerned, even when a proof of life video supposedly surfaces Hale has a feeling. So she keeps investigating and unfortunately her bad feeling proves correct. Under suspicion of murder, fired by the irate mother and in a foreign country where she doesn’t speak the language can Hale put the clues together and get herself out of this jam?
Lots of shady shenanigans. Powerful and rich people playing fast and loose with the truth. Fast cars, and slow moving investigations. This one is a trip. Love Hale and Norma! Loved the setting, the set up and the surprises. Starts fast, slows a bit in the middle but then picks up and speeds straight o the finish line. Ok I’m done with the racing metaphors lol. Everything you want in a Hale Mary book and a fantastically fun and funny mystery. Loved it!!

[Chantal Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Trouble with Speed" by Katrina Kyle is a thrilling dive into the high-stakes world of Formula One, blended seamlessly with a gripping mystery. As a new reader, I found myself immediately drawn into the fast-paced life of Hale Seton, a quick-witted manager trying to keep her chaotic F1 driver, Javier Pova, out of trouble.

The book kicks off with a bang when a French socialite vanishes, leaving Javier as the prime suspect. What follows is a whirlwind race against time, set against the glamorous backdrop of the Monaco Grand Prix. Kyle masterfully weaves a complex web of secrets and suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat as Hale navigates the cutthroat world of elite racing, suspicious characters, and a relentless media circus.

The characters are well-developed, particularly Hale, whose sharp mind and determination make her an engaging protagonist. The author's vivid descriptions truly bring the glitz and intensity of Monte Carlo to life. "The Trouble with Speed" is a high-octane read that delivers on its promise of twists and turns, making it a perfect pick for anyone who loves a good mystery with a unique setting. I couldn't put it down!

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another enjoyable story in a great series. It's different this time in that Hale is in Monaco. She is trying to get her agency known in the international market and her new client is a young Formula One driver, complete with a very demanding and bossy mother in tow. When her client involves her in a situation one night which soon escalates when a woman is declared missing and the finger of suspicion points directly at the client, Hale finds herself investigating things.

I really enjoyed this. The insight to the workings behind the scenes on the racing circuit were fascinating and I enjoyed the various levels of deception that were occurring. The escalation of events later on had me reading more quickly and I loved the shocking reveal at the end which I definitely didn't see coming. Although events take place in Europe, there's still some welcome involvement from Norma which really adds to the overall enjoyment of things.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christa Nardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trouble with Speed by Katrina Kyle
Hale Seton, a former pro snow boarder, is now agent to a number of pro-athletes across multiple sports. She decided to try her hand as agent for Javier (Javi) Pova, a Formula 1 driver who needs a babysitter to keep it out of trouble. If Hale didn’t know it before his frantic call (after curfew), she soon realizes it. He’s the primary suspect in a socialite’s disappearance. Hale is determined to figure out who set him up (and her by default). Her business partner and friend, Norma, also gets involved.

The plot moved quickly with unexpected twists and red herrings as Hale plows through all possible suspects and witnesses. Even when Javi is cleared to race, she keeps looking gfor the answers, and she finds them. Although this is a stand-alone, I always recommend readers to start at the beginning of a series to see how she ended up in Monaco.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

[Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of The Hale Mary series, and this one has a different flavour in that it’s based in Europe and features Formula 1 motor racing. Her new client is a teenage racing driver, Javi Pova, with the mother of all mothers. It’s already a hard enough job for Hale, keen to promote her company, but definitely not helped by Mrs Pova.

This has the same depth that the rest of the series has, although I would have liked to have a sprinkling of some of her family too but Hale is strongly supported by her friends. As always, well written, nicely paced and a satisfying story. It helps to have read some of the previous books in the series but still a standalone read.

Thanks to the author for an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well thought out murder mystery by Katrina. It featured formula 1 driver Javi, who drove for his domineering mother Povla and Meidas sponsor.

Liked Sabrina, the well know French Influencer and her loyalty to Pavi in maintaining his secret. Her sister, Beatrice on the other hand, was deceitful behind Sabrina’s back with Zach, Sabrina’s boyfriend.

The story had to be read with a clear mind because it would be easy to start from the story and the killer. The story took quite a few detours to keep one guessing with too many characters to keep retract of.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Carol Stefanik · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an okay story. Some action, some intrigue. I think what bothered me the most was that none of the characters came across as particularly mature. Feels like the blind leading the blind. But still a readable mystery.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set on a F1 background this mystery story starts at a slower pace, lets put in F1 terms. The first stint of the book is slow, the middle stint catches up and starts putting in some interest, while the final stint is full pace, just vrooms off at top speed. Over all a good racy book.