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Lainie Lovett Mystery #1
Still Kicking
Lainie Lovett has three her two nearly-grown children, her fourth-grade students at the Hopwell School, and the Rockettes, her recreational soccer team. One evening after soccer practice, she’s startled to spot the husband of one of her teammates canoodling with another woman in a local eatery. She’s even more shocked when he turns up dead the next day. And more shocked yet when she winds up under suspicion as an accessory to murder. But Lainie is smart and she’s stubborn. She’ll figure out who killed her teammate’s husband—if she can stay out of jail, if she can stay alive, and if she can hang onto her sense of humor. “Still Kicking is a wonderful, fast-paced, cozy, page turner that will keep your interest to the last page.” – The Midwest Book Review “ Lainie Lovett is smart, sassy, and up to her shin guards in trouble when she offers evidence to the police during a murder investigation. Suddenly she’s the suspect! Don’t miss this mystery, or you’ll kick yourself for it!” Lorna Barrett, New York Times bestselling author
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2016
779 people are currently reading
779 people want to read
About the author
Judith Arnold
183 books173 followersBarbara Keiler
aka Ariel Berk, Thea Frederick, Judith Arnold
Barbara Keiler was born on April 7th. She started telling stories before shecould write. She was four when her sister, Carolyn, stuffed a crayon intoher hand and taught her the alphabet, and she's been writing ever since.
Barbara is a graduate of Smith College, where she learned to aim for thestars, and she received a master's degree in creative writing from BrownUniversity, where she took aim at a good-looking graduate student in thechemistry department and wound up marrying him. She says: "Before myhusband and I were married, I had a job in California and he was working onhis Ph.D. in Rhode Island. I became ill, and he hopped on a plane and flewacross the country to be with me. Neither of us had any money, but he saidhe simply couldn't concentrate on his research, knowing I was three thousandmiles away and facing a serious health problem all by myself. He stayed fortwo weeks, until I was pretty well recovered. That he would just drop whathe was doing, put his life on hold and race to my side told me how much heloved me. After that, I knew this was the man I wanted to marry."
Barbara has received writing fellowships from the Shubert Foundation and theNational Endowment for the Arts, and has taught at colleges and universitiesaround the country. She has also written several plays that have beenprofessionally staged at regional theaters in San Francisco, Washington, D.C.,Connecticut and off-off-Broadway.
Since her first romance novel's publication in 1983 as Ariel Berk. Shewrote one novel as Thea Frederick, and since 1985 she writes asJudith Arnold. Barbara has sold more than 70 novels, with eight millioncopies in print worldwide. She has recently signed a contract with MIRABooks. Her first MIRA novel will appear in 2001. She has received severalawards from Romantic Times Magazine, including awards for the Best HarlequinAmerican Romance of the Year, Best Harlequin Superromance of the Year, BestSeries Romantic Novel of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Certificate ofMerit for Innovative Series Romance. She has also been a finalist for theGolden Medallion Award and the RITA Award for Romance Writer of America. Hernovel Barefoot in the Grass has appeared on the recommended reading listsdistributed by cancer support services at several hospitals.
Barbara lives in a small town not far from Boston, Massachusetts, New England with her husband, two teenage sons, and a guinea pig named Wilbur. Her sister Carolyn died of breast cancer in 1998.
aka Ariel Berk, Thea Frederick, Judith Arnold
Barbara Keiler was born on April 7th. She started telling stories before shecould write. She was four when her sister, Carolyn, stuffed a crayon intoher hand and taught her the alphabet, and she's been writing ever since.
Barbara is a graduate of Smith College, where she learned to aim for thestars, and she received a master's degree in creative writing from BrownUniversity, where she took aim at a good-looking graduate student in thechemistry department and wound up marrying him. She says: "Before myhusband and I were married, I had a job in California and he was working onhis Ph.D. in Rhode Island. I became ill, and he hopped on a plane and flewacross the country to be with me. Neither of us had any money, but he saidhe simply couldn't concentrate on his research, knowing I was three thousandmiles away and facing a serious health problem all by myself. He stayed fortwo weeks, until I was pretty well recovered. That he would just drop whathe was doing, put his life on hold and race to my side told me how much heloved me. After that, I knew this was the man I wanted to marry."
Barbara has received writing fellowships from the Shubert Foundation and theNational Endowment for the Arts, and has taught at colleges and universitiesaround the country. She has also written several plays that have beenprofessionally staged at regional theaters in San Francisco, Washington, D.C.,Connecticut and off-off-Broadway.
Since her first romance novel's publication in 1983 as Ariel Berk. Shewrote one novel as Thea Frederick, and since 1985 she writes asJudith Arnold. Barbara has sold more than 70 novels, with eight millioncopies in print worldwide. She has recently signed a contract with MIRABooks. Her first MIRA novel will appear in 2001. She has received severalawards from Romantic Times Magazine, including awards for the Best HarlequinAmerican Romance of the Year, Best Harlequin Superromance of the Year, BestSeries Romantic Novel of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Certificate ofMerit for Innovative Series Romance. She has also been a finalist for theGolden Medallion Award and the RITA Award for Romance Writer of America. Hernovel Barefoot in the Grass has appeared on the recommended reading listsdistributed by cancer support services at several hospitals.
Barbara lives in a small town not far from Boston, Massachusetts, New England with her husband, two teenage sons, and a guinea pig named Wilbur. Her sister Carolyn died of breast cancer in 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
December 4, 2025
This lighthearted murder mystery follows Lanie Lovett, a 4th-grade teacher, mother of two grown children, and avid soccer player with the Rockettes. After practice one day, Lanie and a couple of teammates head out for a drink and spot the husband of another teammate at the bar—only he’s with a different woman. The next day, she’s shocked to learn his body has been found. The victim had plenty of enemies, thanks to his destruction of forests to build McMansions, and even his employees disliked him. His foreman, Bill Stavik, often clashed with him and became a suspect after discovering the body. Lanie also lands on the suspect list when she visits the scene to confirm the death and is caught there by the police.
As Lanie and Bill grow closer, suspicion deepens, prompting Lanie to launch her own investigation to clear them both. Judith Arnold creates engaging, relatable characters in a setting that feels both familiar and refreshingly different. Lanie’s maturity and life experience make her a standout protagonist. While the mystery entertains, it’s baffling how Lanie pieces together the truth when the not-so-bright lead officer can’t, making for an amusing twist on the classic whodunit.
I loved that I was surprised to find out who the murderer was.
As Lanie and Bill grow closer, suspicion deepens, prompting Lanie to launch her own investigation to clear them both. Judith Arnold creates engaging, relatable characters in a setting that feels both familiar and refreshingly different. Lanie’s maturity and life experience make her a standout protagonist. While the mystery entertains, it’s baffling how Lanie pieces together the truth when the not-so-bright lead officer can’t, making for an amusing twist on the classic whodunit.
I loved that I was surprised to find out who the murderer was.
February 8, 2017
As a prolific book reviewer I am frequently given opportunities to review books. Recently, many of those opportunities have been in regards to murder mysteries penned by women where the main character is female. Most of them are a combination of humor with the malice, some certainly better done than others. While they all of course have significant differences in style, there are many similarities between them.
Other than the obvious murder, the main character is a suspect where they feel forced to solve the crime themselves in order to clear their name. The main character then does some free-lance sleuthing, often with comic results as quite logically, they are not very good at the acts of a spy or a cat burglar. The stories also have some form of obligatory romantic entanglement. This book is in that world.
Lainie Lovett is a player on an older female soccer team. While the players are generally mothers in their forties with older children, they have lost none of their competitive fire. They practice and play hard and their bodies are toned. When the husband of one of the players, a developer, is murdered by a nail gun at one of his job sites, the rather incompetent local police force books Lainie as an accessory to the murder.
Lainie is an elementary school teacher and the charge turns her life into a mess, she is suspended from every part of her life. The deceased was disliked by everyone, his employees, environmental groups and even his son struggles to say good things about him. The victim was also wealthy, so there is no shortage of potential suspects or motives.
The victim was clearly in love with his work and that sets the premise for the best joke in the book. When a surgically enhanced professional escort attempts to seduce him, his response was to tell her he wanted to “show her his tools.” Naturally, her thought was of sexual apparatus, but he took her to a construction site and showed her the collection of power tools that they used in the work.
While not all of the jokes are this good, many are rather flat, this book does keep you interested. Given the themes like a woman dressing for dates and other occasions, wondering about what underwear to purchase and wear on a date, a woman dealing with other women, ranking women by the size, large and small, of their chests, this is a book that is far more attractive to females than males. Except the chest part of course. Throw in dealing with two somewhat oppressive and domineering mothers (one an in-law) and most of the female cliché boxes have been checked.
Other than the obvious murder, the main character is a suspect where they feel forced to solve the crime themselves in order to clear their name. The main character then does some free-lance sleuthing, often with comic results as quite logically, they are not very good at the acts of a spy or a cat burglar. The stories also have some form of obligatory romantic entanglement. This book is in that world.
Lainie Lovett is a player on an older female soccer team. While the players are generally mothers in their forties with older children, they have lost none of their competitive fire. They practice and play hard and their bodies are toned. When the husband of one of the players, a developer, is murdered by a nail gun at one of his job sites, the rather incompetent local police force books Lainie as an accessory to the murder.
Lainie is an elementary school teacher and the charge turns her life into a mess, she is suspended from every part of her life. The deceased was disliked by everyone, his employees, environmental groups and even his son struggles to say good things about him. The victim was also wealthy, so there is no shortage of potential suspects or motives.
The victim was clearly in love with his work and that sets the premise for the best joke in the book. When a surgically enhanced professional escort attempts to seduce him, his response was to tell her he wanted to “show her his tools.” Naturally, her thought was of sexual apparatus, but he took her to a construction site and showed her the collection of power tools that they used in the work.
While not all of the jokes are this good, many are rather flat, this book does keep you interested. Given the themes like a woman dressing for dates and other occasions, wondering about what underwear to purchase and wear on a date, a woman dealing with other women, ranking women by the size, large and small, of their chests, this is a book that is far more attractive to females than males. Except the chest part of course. Throw in dealing with two somewhat oppressive and domineering mothers (one an in-law) and most of the female cliché boxes have been checked.
March 22, 2017
More than I expected.
The crime committed in small town Rockwell a murder which had a series of changes and twists to almost the very end but the book would have been stronger if it didn't have so many relationships interfering with the novel.
The crime committed in small town Rockwell a murder which had a series of changes and twists to almost the very end but the book would have been stronger if it didn't have so many relationships interfering with the novel.
March 5, 2017
Teacher Wins
When her soccer teammate's husband is killed, Lainie Lovett is accused of being an accomplice. The police are inept so Lainie has to find the killer to exonerate herself. A complex plot, interesting characters, and a likable heroine combine to make this an entertaining read.
When her soccer teammate's husband is killed, Lainie Lovett is accused of being an accomplice. The police are inept so Lainie has to find the killer to exonerate herself. A complex plot, interesting characters, and a likable heroine combine to make this an entertaining read.
September 29, 2016
Lainie Lovett's life is full. She's a widow with two grown children. She loves being a fourth grade teacher, but her true passion is playing soccer for the Rockford Rockettes. She is nearing fifty and feels restless. Her husband died two and a half years ago and she's ready to start living. She needs romance in her life. Instead she ends up a suspect in the murder of Arthur Cavanagh. How did her life go so off track? Lainie is my hero. She's an older woman who's smart and strong. She deals with adversity and tries to find out what really happened. A chance encounter with Bill Stavik who found the body makes her a suspect. The more she tries to help the Rockford Police, the more convinced they are of her guilt. How frustrating. Bill is the foreman for Arthur's construction company. He and Cav were always battling. He didn't like the man but he's not a murderer. He's a hard working man who stood up to Arthur. Now he's the prime suspect because he found the body at the work site. To further complicate matters these two become romantically involved. Lainie needs to get her life back so she's trying to find out who killed Arthur. There are plenty of suspects. The victim upset a lot of people. Thank goodness that Lainie has good instincts. There some unexpected twists that caught me by surprise. Judith Arnold ramped up the action when Bill and Lainie were arrested. I couldn't stop reading until the real culprit was found. I was on the edge of my seat. I couldn't figure out who did it. I loved the setting, the characters and romance. I want to see more of Lainie.
November 5, 2016
I thought I'd enjoy this book because I love soccer (as I write this I'm watching the rebroadcast of last week's Liverpool v. Crystal Palace game). I also love a good mystery. Unfortunately as far as this book goes I was dreadfully disappointed on both counts.
As if the mediocre plot and vague, dispassionate soccer references weren't bad enough, the chief character was an idiot. I was so sick of her stupidity by the time I got half-way through the book that I could hardly wait to finish it.
Needless to say, I won't be wasting my time with any more Lainie Lovett mysteries.
As if the mediocre plot and vague, dispassionate soccer references weren't bad enough, the chief character was an idiot. I was so sick of her stupidity by the time I got half-way through the book that I could hardly wait to finish it.
Needless to say, I won't be wasting my time with any more Lainie Lovett mysteries.
December 29, 2016
I received a copy of this book free through Fussy Librarian. I enjoy a good mystery and love soccer, so I thought this one would be a hit. Unfortunately, the mystery lacked suspense, characters were drab, and soccer references fell short.
I really wanted to like this book but found myself rushing to finish it (not in a good way). I won't continue the series.
I really wanted to like this book but found myself rushing to finish it (not in a good way). I won't continue the series.
March 27, 2018
I suppose it's because I am now a man of a certain age that I enjoy novels - especially mystery novels - featuring more mature men and women.
Or maybe I always have since I must admit that I've been a big fan of Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple" mysteries since I was a teen.
Whatever the reason, I find mysteries that revolve around characters who are not dewy-eyed 20-somethings more enjoyable than those featuring younger protagonists. They seem more realistic to me because the main characters have garnered enough wisdom and life experience to work through many issues that younger people often cannot since - while they may be smart and tech savvy - they just haven't been alive long enough to not just see what's going on around them but also understand people and events.
As a result, I find that - in general - mysteries featuring older man and women in starring roles do not disappoint and "Still Kicking" certainly does not. Its heroine is a 40-something widow who teaches fourth grade and still plays recreational league soccer. (I must say that, as someone who played rec league basketball and softball into my late 50s, I liked the fact the author created a middle-aged character who is physically active.) Lainie Lovett is smart, attractive, loyal to her friends and teammates, a great teacher, and a mom who has raised two children. She has borne the grief of losing her husband to cancer and carried on and that makes her an admirable character.
It also makes her a believable one.
That's important to readers like me because we need to be able to invest in the characters, to care about them if we are going to continue reading.
"Still Kicking" is a classic "wrong-place, wrong-time" mystery with a nice little twist. Lainie gets wrapped up in a murder case simply because she went to a crime scene after hearing some gossip that a local developer was murdered. From that point on the mystery unravels slowly as she tries to figure out who the killer is and why the victim wound up dead in an especially gruesome manner. There are a fair number of red herrings - always a good thing, in my opinion - and even a budding romance. Lainie isn't sure of herself when it comes to dating at her age and author Judith Arnold paints a nice portrait of a woman who is not only trying to figure out the identity of a killer but also her own emotions.
Arnold has a nice narrative style and that makes "Still Kicking" a relatively quick read. Her description of the Boston suburbs is well done and the dialogue is - here's that word again - believable.
The verdict: A well-thought-out, nicely plotted mystery with a great heroine and a novel I highly recommend.
Or maybe I always have since I must admit that I've been a big fan of Agatha Christie's "Miss Marple" mysteries since I was a teen.
Whatever the reason, I find mysteries that revolve around characters who are not dewy-eyed 20-somethings more enjoyable than those featuring younger protagonists. They seem more realistic to me because the main characters have garnered enough wisdom and life experience to work through many issues that younger people often cannot since - while they may be smart and tech savvy - they just haven't been alive long enough to not just see what's going on around them but also understand people and events.
As a result, I find that - in general - mysteries featuring older man and women in starring roles do not disappoint and "Still Kicking" certainly does not. Its heroine is a 40-something widow who teaches fourth grade and still plays recreational league soccer. (I must say that, as someone who played rec league basketball and softball into my late 50s, I liked the fact the author created a middle-aged character who is physically active.) Lainie Lovett is smart, attractive, loyal to her friends and teammates, a great teacher, and a mom who has raised two children. She has borne the grief of losing her husband to cancer and carried on and that makes her an admirable character.
It also makes her a believable one.
That's important to readers like me because we need to be able to invest in the characters, to care about them if we are going to continue reading.
"Still Kicking" is a classic "wrong-place, wrong-time" mystery with a nice little twist. Lainie gets wrapped up in a murder case simply because she went to a crime scene after hearing some gossip that a local developer was murdered. From that point on the mystery unravels slowly as she tries to figure out who the killer is and why the victim wound up dead in an especially gruesome manner. There are a fair number of red herrings - always a good thing, in my opinion - and even a budding romance. Lainie isn't sure of herself when it comes to dating at her age and author Judith Arnold paints a nice portrait of a woman who is not only trying to figure out the identity of a killer but also her own emotions.
Arnold has a nice narrative style and that makes "Still Kicking" a relatively quick read. Her description of the Boston suburbs is well done and the dialogue is - here's that word again - believable.
The verdict: A well-thought-out, nicely plotted mystery with a great heroine and a novel I highly recommend.
September 9, 2020
I enjoyed this book. I read it a few years ago when it first came out and I remember enjoying then, so when I had a credit to spend I looked the author up and was pleased to see she had released it on audible so I had to get it. Glad I did because I enjoyed it just as much the second time round. I liked the characters, especially the main character Lainie and the fact that she is a teacher, children bring so much humour to people's lives that I can't wait to start book two in the hopes that with the case being centred around the school they will play a bigger part. This book had a good mystery plot which held my interest until the end and I hadn't worked out who the killer was. I did think a widow so In love with her saint of a husband was quick to jump into bed with a man she had just meet but then again if she hadn't she wouldn't have become the police's number one suspect and no reason for the book. Hope to start book two soon.
With football practice cancels Lainie and her friends decide to go out for a drink rather than return home to family life and responsibilities. Unfortunately for them they see a fellow team mates husband out with a woman who is not his wife. Torn between keeping it a secret and telling her the girls decide to sleep on and decide In the morning. The decision is taken out of there hands when he is found murdered. Lainie is sure the gossip is wrong and drives out to his work site where he is building new and controversial homes. In doing so she becomes the focus of the local police forces attention when she is seen talking to the man who found his body. Lainie didn't even know the man but that doesn't stop the police investigation. Lainie must now find some better suspects for the police or face the very real possibility of going to jail.
I liked the narrator and thought she did a good job with all the voices needed to bring the story to life and if she is reading the next book I will definitely be getting it.
With football practice cancels Lainie and her friends decide to go out for a drink rather than return home to family life and responsibilities. Unfortunately for them they see a fellow team mates husband out with a woman who is not his wife. Torn between keeping it a secret and telling her the girls decide to sleep on and decide In the morning. The decision is taken out of there hands when he is found murdered. Lainie is sure the gossip is wrong and drives out to his work site where he is building new and controversial homes. In doing so she becomes the focus of the local police forces attention when she is seen talking to the man who found his body. Lainie didn't even know the man but that doesn't stop the police investigation. Lainie must now find some better suspects for the police or face the very real possibility of going to jail.
I liked the narrator and thought she did a good job with all the voices needed to bring the story to life and if she is reading the next book I will definitely be getting it.
December 21, 2017
Lainie Lovett, fourth grade school teacher, and her soccer playing friends head to the local cantina one evening when practice is cancelled. While there, they see the husband of one of their team mates and a buxom blonde, who is not their team mate. Lainie, Angie and Sheila debate about telling their friend, but decide to let it slide, for now. The next day, while in the teacher's lounge, the school secretary, who knows all the town gossip, tells Lainie about the murder of a local land developer, who was found dead at one of his in-progress developments. Lainie realizes it is the husband she and her friends saw the night before. She can't believe this happened and decides to drive by the development just to try and get a handle on what happened. While there she meets the local, inept detective covering the case, and the developer's right-hand man, Bill. As they appear to be shaken by events, Bill asks if Lainie wants to meet him somewhere to talk. Well, as life would have it, the inept detective fingers the two of them as the primary suspect and accomplice in the murder. Lainie calls on the criminal attorney in the law firm who husband, who is now deceased, worked for, to try and untangle the mess her life seems to be spiraling into. She is put on leave from her school, asked not to join the soccer team for games and practice. Lainie decides the detective isn't doing much detecting and takes it upon herself to try and figure out what is going on. She is a spunky and yet someone you can relate to. She has a daughter with a Classics degree who has moved back home while working as a bank teller, and a son away at college. She is also drawn to Bill, even though her attorney keeps telling her to steer clear of him because, who knows, he could be the killer. I enjoyed the interesting and twisty story, and the well drawn character of Lainie.
February 3, 2018
I found it depressing.
The only reason I'm giving this book such high rating is for quality of the writing.Judith Arnold's is a talented author. But I suspect she must've been depressed when she wrote this book. The heroine was suffering for over eighty percent of the story. The ridiculous, idiotic police arresting her and ruining her life and her reputation is only part of it. She's constantly dwelling on her late husband's cancer death. For the first four fifths of the book everything she does fails. It's a litany of bad luck. Her daughter's boyfriend keeps eating her food. Even the biscotti she buys at the coffee shop is stale! And I found disturbing that she's repeatedly musing about her adult children's sex life (Eeeww!)
Things finally changed in the last few chapters and I welcomed seeing some evolution on the character to take some control of her life, but that didn't make up for the annoying negative tone of most of the book. I bypassed entire passages where Lenny dealt with the moron detective and only kept reading till the end because I'm too OCD not to finish something I started.
I'm sorry. I read for distraction and entertainment, not for torture. I will NOT be reading the rest of the series.
The only reason I'm giving this book such high rating is for quality of the writing.Judith Arnold's is a talented author. But I suspect she must've been depressed when she wrote this book. The heroine was suffering for over eighty percent of the story. The ridiculous, idiotic police arresting her and ruining her life and her reputation is only part of it. She's constantly dwelling on her late husband's cancer death. For the first four fifths of the book everything she does fails. It's a litany of bad luck. Her daughter's boyfriend keeps eating her food. Even the biscotti she buys at the coffee shop is stale! And I found disturbing that she's repeatedly musing about her adult children's sex life (Eeeww!)
Things finally changed in the last few chapters and I welcomed seeing some evolution on the character to take some control of her life, but that didn't make up for the annoying negative tone of most of the book. I bypassed entire passages where Lenny dealt with the moron detective and only kept reading till the end because I'm too OCD not to finish something I started.
I'm sorry. I read for distraction and entertainment, not for torture. I will NOT be reading the rest of the series.
November 6, 2017
Lainie Lovett is a 47-year-old widow with two mostly-grown children, living in a town that I think I used to live in back when my children were growing up. Seriously - the leafy Boston suburban setting is what made me choose this book, and her description of Rockford makes me wonder where in the Littleton-Acton-Westford area Rockford would turn out to be. She is an enthusiastic soccer player, in a women's under-50 league. One night, when soccer practice is canceled, she and two friends go out for a drink, where they see another team member's husband out with another woman. The next morning, that apparently-cheating husband is dead.
I really enjoyed this book, and not just because of the familiarity of the setting (although I was still marveling over that when I turned a page and found out her daughter Karen had just graduated from my alma mater!). There is a little too much amateur detective work in settings that are not only dangerous but also illegal, but it was still fun to read. I will be reading the other books in this series.
I really enjoyed this book, and not just because of the familiarity of the setting (although I was still marveling over that when I turned a page and found out her daughter Karen had just graduated from my alma mater!). There is a little too much amateur detective work in settings that are not only dangerous but also illegal, but it was still fun to read. I will be reading the other books in this series.
October 5, 2019
I'd have given this book a 5-star if it weren't for:
1) Fat Phobia. All the descriptions of how fat the dumb police officer is. Low blows: "He sounded thinner on the phone." Because, hey, using phobic fat cliches is an easy way to write about dumb and stupid cliche cops.
2) The number of times the main character imagined her daughter having sex. (What??)
3) How the entire case against her hinges on an unbelievably stupid small-town cop. (Must be because he's fat, eh?) This really annoyed me because it would have been easy to write a couple of more sentences where the main character got out of her car and poked around at the scene (and was caught snooping by the police.) The fact that no one calls the friends to verify that they all saw the murder victim with a blond woman drives me up the wall. And a judge supposedly signed out an arrest warrant??????????? Not only a dumb cop in this town, I guess.
The writing is good, the pace is great, the scenes are solid, the main character is - judgmental.
1) Fat Phobia. All the descriptions of how fat the dumb police officer is. Low blows: "He sounded thinner on the phone." Because, hey, using phobic fat cliches is an easy way to write about dumb and stupid cliche cops.
2) The number of times the main character imagined her daughter having sex. (What??)
3) How the entire case against her hinges on an unbelievably stupid small-town cop. (Must be because he's fat, eh?) This really annoyed me because it would have been easy to write a couple of more sentences where the main character got out of her car and poked around at the scene (and was caught snooping by the police.) The fact that no one calls the friends to verify that they all saw the murder victim with a blond woman drives me up the wall. And a judge supposedly signed out an arrest warrant??????????? Not only a dumb cop in this town, I guess.
The writing is good, the pace is great, the scenes are solid, the main character is - judgmental.
May 25, 2025
I am pretty sure the author has seen a soccer game before, well at least she knew "goal", "assist", and running and kicking a ball are involved. That's pretty much the limit of the soccer involved other than the lives of several 30-50 year old women seemed to center around playing for their local team the Rockettes.
The only time the main character doesn't seem like an idiot are a couple of scenes that involved her interactions with current or past students. The romance would make most teens, let alone adults, look at it askance. It is so sudden and baseless that it is surely Lust-at-First-Sight. The dumb detective trope is so overplayed it is ridiculous.
The resolution makes no sense with the mad rush to the finish and motives that are so thin they barely exist at all.
The only time the main character doesn't seem like an idiot are a couple of scenes that involved her interactions with current or past students. The romance would make most teens, let alone adults, look at it askance. It is so sudden and baseless that it is surely Lust-at-First-Sight. The dumb detective trope is so overplayed it is ridiculous.
The resolution makes no sense with the mad rush to the finish and motives that are so thin they barely exist at all.
November 3, 2018
Lainie Lovett may be close to fifty but she could still play soccer better than anyone else. After her husband died two years ago, Lainie threw herself into the game even more. It became her lifeline. But one night after seeing her soccer friend Pattie’s husband in public with another woman will change her world forever. The husband turns up murdered the next day and when Lainie tries to help the police, she becomes their number one suspect.
It didn’t take me long to figure out the true culprit. The clues were everywhere. I don’t know why Lainie couldn’t see it. Even so, I enjoyed this mystery, as well as the characters and plot. This is the beginning of an interesting series.
It didn’t take me long to figure out the true culprit. The clues were everywhere. I don’t know why Lainie couldn’t see it. Even so, I enjoyed this mystery, as well as the characters and plot. This is the beginning of an interesting series.
November 14, 2017
Lainie Lovett is fast approaching 50, a recent widow, fourth grade school teacher, and star soccer player. When she shows up at a crime scene, and there makes the acquaintance of the man accused of the murder, she finds herself charged as an accessory. Things keep going from bad to worse for Lainie as she is forced to try and prove her innocence. This book is equal parts romance and mystery. While I am not a fan of romance novels, I found this one thoroughly entertaining. I felt for Lainie, got sucked into her plight, and couldn’t stop reading till I reached the last page.
October 31, 2025
Lainie decides to fight
I like the fact that at age forty seven, Lainie did not feel that her life was going downhill with one of her feet approaching the grave. She was self assured, feisty and as competent on the soccer field as she was in her fourth grade classroom.
I was a bit disappointed though, when her thought processes veered to the illogical rather than the logical and she put unnecessary anguish on herself.
However, everything came together at the end.
Great characters, strong friendships and extra special Peter.
Well worth reading.
I like the fact that at age forty seven, Lainie did not feel that her life was going downhill with one of her feet approaching the grave. She was self assured, feisty and as competent on the soccer field as she was in her fourth grade classroom.
I was a bit disappointed though, when her thought processes veered to the illogical rather than the logical and she put unnecessary anguish on herself.
However, everything came together at the end.
Great characters, strong friendships and extra special Peter.
Well worth reading.
May 5, 2017
[Barnes and Noble free ebook]
A bit of a cozy mystery, but with spicy language and some sex. An almost-50 widow, school teacher and soccer league player leads this story. She solves the murder in spite of no one taking her seriously and being denigrated by the small time police department in her Boston suburb. Helped by the bad guys - being the real estate developer victim and his trophy wife - being involved in real estate development.
I'd read another.
A bit of a cozy mystery, but with spicy language and some sex. An almost-50 widow, school teacher and soccer league player leads this story. She solves the murder in spite of no one taking her seriously and being denigrated by the small time police department in her Boston suburb. Helped by the bad guys - being the real estate developer victim and his trophy wife - being involved in real estate development.
I'd read another.
November 7, 2017
A mystery like none other. Lainie is a widowed fourth grade teacher who plays soccer for exercise. She has recently become a detective - after she and a friend were accused of murder. The police seemed quite willing to blame her and charge her for the murder. In this book - she becomes involved in determining what happened to the missing 150 thousand dollars that have gone missing from the PTO account. A quick read and enjoyable too!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2020
Started because of the soccer aspect, stayed for the story
Good story. I like a good chick flick every once and a while, but I do not read chick books. Traditional romance novels repulse me - but this was billed as a mystery. Sure - somewhat far fetched, but it is fiction so - go with it. I didn’t even mind the romance aspect. There is some profanity (part of the story line) but I was glad it was not laced with it. Overall an entertaining read. I will try another one.
Good story. I like a good chick flick every once and a while, but I do not read chick books. Traditional romance novels repulse me - but this was billed as a mystery. Sure - somewhat far fetched, but it is fiction so - go with it. I didn’t even mind the romance aspect. There is some profanity (part of the story line) but I was glad it was not laced with it. Overall an entertaining read. I will try another one.
September 19, 2023
This cozy mystery features Lainey Lovett, a middle aged widow, who teaches fourth grade and is obsessed with soccer, stumble into a murder of a local housing developer, whose wife is on her ladies' soccer league.
Great whodunit, I didn't guess the murderer. I love when that happens!
I found Lainey and her daughter a bit tedious. I did love the mother-in-law who could have been more present as a delightful foil.
Great whodunit, I didn't guess the murderer. I love when that happens!
I found Lainey and her daughter a bit tedious. I did love the mother-in-law who could have been more present as a delightful foil.
May 28, 2017
I so enjoyed this book!! Great story & of course I didn't want to put it down. Loved Lainie the main character. Judith takes you on a winding road & keeps you wondering who the real killer is to the very end. Awesome book & highly recommend it to any mystery or cozy reads. Can't wait to read the rest in the series!!
July 11, 2017
I was really enjoying this book right up until the two-thirds mark - which was the point that Lainie started 'investigating' and doing things that were out of character for her and seemed rather ridiculous. The story lost me at this point, but I did read through to the end just to see how it all concluded. An okay read, but not one that makes me want to keep reading the series.
October 27, 2017
I liked it. Lainie was a straight laced teacher with a good heart. You had your typical motor mouth gossip and other characters to get up enough interest to finish. Patty Cavanaugh was a cold piece. It ended kind of rushed and abrupt. There was so resolution with Patty's son, or Slavik. I was disappointed with that.
October 11, 2018
If you love a good mystery murder, than this is the one
to pick up and read. Its about friendship,along with betrayal. The plotting, skimming with anger to murder. The old saying " Tell hath no treachery like a scorned woman." Also the greed for riches that greases the wheels to hell. This book has it all. The author will keep you on your toes to the very end.
Debra H.
to pick up and read. Its about friendship,along with betrayal. The plotting, skimming with anger to murder. The old saying " Tell hath no treachery like a scorned woman." Also the greed for riches that greases the wheels to hell. This book has it all. The author will keep you on your toes to the very end.
Debra H.
September 28, 2020
Strong female lead
An excellent mystery and romance interest. I was impressed with the depth of this Cozy Mystery. The plot was fully developed throughout the book and subplots were strong and provided good red herrings for the reader trying to guess the conclusion.
This is a great series to pursue for strong characters and good strong mysteries.
An excellent mystery and romance interest. I was impressed with the depth of this Cozy Mystery. The plot was fully developed throughout the book and subplots were strong and provided good red herrings for the reader trying to guess the conclusion.
This is a great series to pursue for strong characters and good strong mysteries.
May 8, 2025
5/25. Lainie is a teacher in a small Massachusetts town, mom of two grown children, on a women's under fifty soccer team. The husband of a teammate is found murdered. Lainie meets a fellow near the scene of the crime who is eventually accused of the murder, and Lainie is charged as an accessory to murder. Are they guilty or can Lainie figure out the truth? Fun read.
November 12, 2017
You'll get a kick out of this mystery
A quick, easy read with a good pace and believable plot. Lainie is a likable heroine who proves capable of determining her fate. Overall, an enjoyable experience.
A quick, easy read with a good pace and believable plot. Lainie is a likable heroine who proves capable of determining her fate. Overall, an enjoyable experience.
November 28, 2017
Soccer and murder
If you love a good mystery , then this one is for you.
Dramma, murder, and betrayal, along with loyalty of
true friends and family. Make this book a must read.
It's a great mystery that will keep you guessing
till the end.
If you love a good mystery , then this one is for you.
Dramma, murder, and betrayal, along with loyalty of
true friends and family. Make this book a must read.
It's a great mystery that will keep you guessing
till the end.
June 2, 2018
Teacher turned sleuth
A fun cozy with our protagonist being a soccer playing teacher. Lainie is framed for a murder she didn’t commit and works to clear herself and a possible new love interest.
A fun cozy with our protagonist being a soccer playing teacher. Lainie is framed for a murder she didn’t commit and works to clear herself and a possible new love interest.
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