Mother's Little Helper

The Margie Peterson Mysteries #3

by Karen MacInerney, Cris Dukehart (Reader)

In the third novel in Karen MacInerney’s madcap series, murder proves a welcome distraction to the zany adventures and quirky characters in PI Margie Peterson’s life.

Private investigator/single mom Margie Peterson barely has time for breakfast, let alone to hit the gym. But when Austin Heights PTA president Pansy Parker hires her to find out who’s been embezzling PTA funds, that’s exactly where Margie ends up…finding Pansy dangling upside down from a Nautilus machine. But the PTA president’s not alone: the dead body of a personal trainer is there, too. And now she’s facing murder charges.

To find out what really happened, Margie goes undercover as a Brazilian body waxer and an energy drink bottler. What she discovers stinks worse than a pair of sweaty gym socks.

But that’s not all. Margie’s husband is living with his Madonna-impersonating boyfriend; her boss keeps setting her up on disastrous dates, including one with a vengeful sock puppet named Marshmallow; her daughter’s fry phone is being held hostage; and her pet piglet, Twinkles, ran off after a sausage-smuggling streaker.

Can Margie pull out the big guns to find the real killer, save the fry phone, and recover Twinkles—before it’s too late?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Comedy, Humor

MP3 CD

First published May 16, 2017

About the author

I'm the author of the Agatha-nominated Gray Whale Inn mystery series, Tales of an Urban Werewolf. the Margie Peterson mysteries and the Dewberry Farm mysteries (plus a new fantasy in the works). My reading is like my writing: eclectic!

I grew up in the Northeast, but I currently live in Austin with my husband, two kids, and a houserabbit named Bunny. Feel free to visit me online at www.karenmacinerney.com; I love connecting with readers.

Reviews

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margie Peterson is a private eye with some of the same real-world problems most of us have. Don't read "Mother's Little Helper" if you want to read about a tough as nails spit-polished detective who always knows the answer. DO read it if you want to snort your soft drink out your nose when Single-Mom Margie tries to bring the miscreants to justice while dealing with dysfunctional people, in-laws, unpredictable kids and pets, and well meaning friends and relatives. I admit, sometimes it is all so realistic it aggravates me, but I still cheer on Margie to persevere in her own unique way. Mike Hammer couldn't handle it!

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

PI Peterson is dealing with the PTA parents and pigs. (Don’t ya just love alliteration?) So our heroine is picking up the ropes of becoming a PI while still dealing with all the ups and downs of motherhood, along with an ex husband who wants to share parenting now that he has come out.
Fun cozy mystery with madcap mayhem. 😊

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light-hearted romp

A quick, easy read that was at times light-hearted and humorous, and at other times more serious. One such serious subject matter dealt with 'health' drink additives and supplements; do we really know what's in the stuff on the shelves these days? Hoping for another Margie Peterson adventure soon.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Margie is portrayed as a typical mom, attempting to make every day life as easy as possible.
Unfortunately, Margie's typical day involves family pig Twinkles and a missing fry phone.

Throw in some missing PTA money and a couple of dead bodies and you have the makings of another fabulous book in this well written, original series.

[Karen Barber · Rating 2 out of 5]

The kind of book that made me so pleased to have no involvement in PTA events and a rather quiet life.
This PI really should try for another job. With a daughter that thinks she’s a dog, a pet pig and a soon-to-be ex-husband whose new partner is a Madonna impersonator, you get the idea that this is a woman on the edge.
Craziness of her personal life aside, the woman finds time to sort out a case or two. This one revolves around a fitness instructor and a supplement that isn’t quite what it claims to be.
I’m sure there’s a place for this, but it’s not my thing.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen MacInerney's Margie Peterson mysteries continue to be somewhat of a guilty pleasure for me. I mean, I feel bad that someone gets killed, but the situations Margie finds herself in . . . Wow! Just when you think things can't get any worse for her, they somehow do. And they're so funny! Think I'm kidding? Read the synopsis.

Synopsis: Private investigator/single mom Margie Peterson barely has time for breakfast, let alone to hit the gym. But when Austin Heights PTA president Pansy Parker hires her to find out who’s been embezzling PTA funds, that’s exactly where Margie ends up…finding Pansy dangling upside down from a Nautilus machine. But the PTA president’s not alone: the dead body of a personal trainer is there, too. And now she’s facing murder charges.

To find out what really happened, Margie goes undercover as a Brazilian body waxer and an energy drink bottler. What she discovers stinks worse than a pair of sweaty gym socks.

But that’s not all. Margie’s husband is living with his Madonna-impersonating boyfriend; her boss keeps setting her up on disastrous dates, including one with a vengeful sock puppet named Marshmallow; her daughter’s fry phone is being held hostage; and her pet piglet, Twinkles, ran off after a sausage-smuggling streaker.

Can Margie pull out the big guns to find the real killer, save the fry phone, and recover Twinkles—before it’s too late?

MacInerney has great talent for finding humor in what could be incredibly embarrassing and disheartening situations. The mysteries themselves are well-plotted and will keep readers quickly turning pages and playing armchair sleuths along with Margie Peterson, her family, and friends.

Rating: 5 Stars

I received a copy from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Mary Jane Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third installment in the Margie Peterson series did not disappoint. More PI Hi-jinks involving Twinkles the pot bellied pig, online dating, a daughter that thinks she is a pekinese and PTA politics.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for me

I wasn't into nor could I get into it. I don't think I'll be reading anything else by this author.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Mother's Little Helper - Margie Peterson Mystery Book 3
Author: Karen MacInerney
Publisher: Tom & Mercer
Published: 5-16-2017
Pages: 288
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuth; Private Investigators; General Humor
ISBN: 9781477820094
ASIN: B01NBBR3EQ
Reviewed For NetGalley and Tom & Mercer
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.75 Stars


n the third novel in Karen MacInerney’s madcap series, murder proves a welcome distraction to the zany adventures and quirky characters in PI Margie Peterson’s life.
Private investigator/single mom Margie Peterson barely has time for breakfast, let alone to hit the gym. But when Austin Heights PTA president Pansy Parker hires her to find out who’s been embezzling PTA funds, that’s exactly where Margie ends up…finding Pansy dangling upside down from a Nautilus machine. But the PTA president’s not alone: the dead body of a personal trainer is there, too. And now she’s facing murder charges.

To find out what really happened, Margie goes undercover as a Brazilian body waxer and an energy drink bottler. What she discovers stinks worse than a pair of sweaty gym socks.

But that’s not all. Margie’s husband is living with his Madonna-impersonating boyfriend; her boss keeps setting her up on disastrous dates, including one with a vengeful sock puppet named Marshmallow; her daughter’s fry phone is being held hostage; and her pet piglet, Twinkles, ran off after a sausage-smuggling streaker.

Can Margie pull out the big guns to find the real killer, save the fry phone, and recover Twinkles—before it’s too late?


The third book in the series and can be read as a stand alone. Filled with humor that will have readers chuckling as they read. I great cozy mystery with twist and turns to keep you guessing. The culprit's unveiling is well done as is the writing through out the book. You will fall in love with the many quirky characters.


My rating of "Mother's Little Helper" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.


Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBBR3EQ/...

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[Charlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book as part of a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. My rating leans more towards 3 1/2 stars.

Margie Peterson is a private investigator and newly single mom. When she is hired by the president of the PTA at her daughter's school to find out who is embezzling funds, she gets more than she bargained for. A killer is on the loose and Margie must figure it out before the wrong person gets convicted of murder.

First off, I have not read any previous books in this series but am glad to say it can be read as a standalone. That's always something I like to know when not starting with book one.

Ok. Now for my review. This is a well written cozy that has a lot of quirky characters and runs a bit on the zany side. From the soon to be ex-husband who is living with his Madonna impersonating boyfriend to the sausage smuggling streaker, I have to say there is never a dull moment in this book. It wasn't hard to figure out who the killer was, but it really wasn't a big deal since so much was going on. The murder almost took kind of a backseat to the story in my opinion. Not a bad thing in this case. The murder was actually the most uninteresting part to be honest. Luckily you are reminded periodically that someone was killed. Otherwise I think I'd forget. That might come off sounding like a negative, but it really isn't. It's a fun book and I definitely liked it.....I just can't say I loved it either. Part of that could be the push from Margie's mom and friend about dating now that she's getting divorced. And push they did. Even going so far as to set up a dating profile without checking with her first. I know it's ridiculous, but stuff like that bothers me. It did set up some humorous and interesting dating experiences for her....but I could have done without the overstepping of boundaries. Aside from that, I don't really have anything bad to say about it. It does run more on the quirky side than the cozy side. At least that's how it felt to me. I'd recommend it to anyone who really likes a little murder mystery with their wacky tales.

A copy of this review has been posted on my blog at Once Upon A Book

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the series of the mom who keeps losing her daughters fry phone and her husband is in love with another man. they broke up but hes more into his daughters life now.

she is a pi and gets into interesting cases. this time the pta lady called her to come over and help her out with a dead body in her living room when she was having a affair with her personal trainer. they put him in the bathroom when her husband came home early.

she still has the pig in her house but got rid of the cat from the last book. her mother moved in to help and only wants natural foods which of course the kids dont like. her daughter only eats white food and thinks shes a dog

the mom lost her fry phone and some lady held it for ransom. her friend paid her thousands of dollars to get it back. she also lost the pig but was able to get it back. it took off again at the soccer game (she should have left it home!).

she met her husbands boyfriend while she was working at a waxing store (she didnt wax him) but he turned out to be a nice guy and she likes him. his parents had a hard time about it but are coming around.

she figured out who killed the personal trainer but her car exploded so shes driving around in a banana car. her kids love it

i wish there was another book in this series.

[Sandra Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far it seems like this is the last book in the series but I have to say I’m torn. Margie is like your classic mom still has her baby weight even though her kid is now four. And let’s be honest she wears comfortable clothes as there’s no time in a day to look fancy. Blake and Frank seem to be doing really well even though you can tell she still loves her husband but she starting to slowly realize it’s not going to work out. I do hope she finds love with Michael and her kids seem to slowly be adjusting. In this book she goes on a bunch of bad dates. And there’s like four different cases she’s working on. So she’s very busy along with it there’s a murder. At time she frustrates me, I like how she still has twinkles. And I feel like both her kids are having some issues and I’m glad she’s trying to get help as her daughter does worry me. I’m glad Blake is becoming more involved and the coparenting is going good. She definitely is getting a hang of being a private investigator.
I’m not sure if they will come out with more books but this is not a bad series.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third installment of Karen MacInerney's mystery series centered around full-time mom and part-time private investigator Margie Peterson. Margie is a mother of two who is barely keeping it together. Her marriage is ending, her daughter pretends to be a dog, and there's a pig problem for her to deal with. In this book, Margie is hired by the PTA President to find out the source of missing funds and ends up investigating the death of a fitness trainer who is also an up and coming LifeBoost energy drink entrepreneur. The trainer had some mighty private sessions with half the PTA moms so there are a few who could have done him in. There's also a case of an anonymous streaker that bares all but a sock to the local garden club. It is never a dull moment when you're hanging out with Margie.

Karen MacInerney has a great sense of humor and it really comes out in this book. It's full of quirky characters and improbable situations. What will Margie get herself into next?

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother’s Little Helper (I find myself singing the song by the Rolling Stones when I say that) was a great read. I've been a fan of Karen MacInerney for a long time, beginning with the Gray Whale Inn mysteries and then her Dewberry Farm mysteries. The Margie Peterson mysteries are a little different. They have a more adult theme, including drag queens, unfaithful husbands, people in some very adult situations when they are murdered. Schools play a big part of the story, which includes students, administration, PTA, parents. As a retired teacher, this is my favorite part of the story! There are things I don't think would ever happen in a school but, with her writing, the author makes it seem plausible. She also makes it “laugh out loud.” This is the third book in the series and I'm already looking forward to reading about Margie’s next adventures!

[Julie Mink · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Margie Peterson mysteries is just as fast moving and funny as the first two.
I received Mother's Little Helper free as a Goodread giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

I love Margie Peterson. She can really roll with the punches. She is dealing with so many crazy things while trying to raise her two young children on her own. The cast of characters is hilarious. It is a wonderful mystery series in the laugh out loud vein of Janet Evanovich and Leslie Langtry. When I won this book I quickly read the first two books and then this one. I can hardly wait for the next one.

Karen MacInerney is also the author of the Gray Whale Inn mysteries set in Maine and the Dewberry Farms mysteries set in Texas. I love both of these series as well. They are more regular cozy mysteries, great but less hilarity.

I highly recommend Karen MacInerney.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

I enjoy this authors other books a lot. However this series is a flop. There are just so many things I find problematic with this series. From the treatment of drag queens. The stupidity of adderall being able to be the secret ingredient in a locally brewed herbal drink.
Then there is the way she and her husband are repulsed at the thought their daughter could have #autism. How stupid it was that she could walk in and get her daughter a neurologist appointment. Tben the doctor was like NBD here is a depression/anxiety med for a six year old?! With hardly any questions asked. Why would a school function be at a rando millionaires house with a drag queen performing?? I had to suspend my disbelief dar to much to enjoy the book

[Karen Beris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish the ratings went higher then 5 stars. I love Karen MacInerney's books. I have read all three in this series and a couple from other series. The books are funny and entertaining. I read it just 4 four days. I love detective novels and hers never disappoint. I love that she write about Austin Texas where I live. I actually met her at book club event several years ago. She is very nice in person too. In this book she is trying to find out who killed a personal trainer. There are several side stories also that are entertaining. I love how she ties everything together in the end.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun installment in a unique cozy series featuring Margie Peterson- who has a LOT on her plate. As with all cozies, sometimes events stretch credulity and here sometimes the madcap is a bit much but this is the sort of novel you'll like as a diversion. It's entertainment. Margie's family with all their quirks are very real (who doesn't know a kid like hers?) as are the PTA problems. THanks to Netgalley for the ARC. If you haven't read MacInerney before, this is a good place to start and you'll be fine with this as a standalone.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wacky adult cozy mystery. When you think it is as crazy as it could possibly be, don't take a drink. That liquid will be shooting out your mouth or nose as you read what occurs next. Yes, there are children, pets, PTA, soccer, but also a gay, soon to be ex-husband with a drag queen boyfriend, a streaker, and more that takes this beyond the typical cozy. An entertaining series. The publisher provided a copy via NetGalley for my voluntary review.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother's Little Helper is the third book in Karen MacInerney’s Margie Peterson Mysteries series. What a zany, fun cozy.
Mother's Little Helper is the ideal cozy. It's a fun read that engaged me to the extent that I couldn't put it down. I kept thinking....'just one more page; just one more chapter' and then, I was finished.

I would smile, laugh our loud and ponder the situations as I read the book.

I love the description of the series... madcap... zany adventures and quirky characters.

[Rcc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book as part of a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. I have not read any previous books in this series but am glad to say it can be read as a standalone.
This book had lots of interesting characters and a lot going on almost too much in my opinion. There were blind dates, a streaker, a murder and a husband who is boyfriend is a Madonna impersonator. It reminds me of the series by Janet Evanovich.

[Sunnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zany, murder mystery farce

What do you get when you cross a murder, a geriatric streaker, a private investigator who doesn't seem particularly gifted in household management or anything else for that matter, and a runaway pot-bellied pig? If you didn't guess mayhem, madness, and a bumbling cast of characters, you would fit right into the middle of this book. How do authors think these things up anyway? A good read if you want something on the lighter side.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. This is book three in the Margie Peterson Mystery series, but can be read as a standalone.

This book was laugh out loud hilarious. Thank goodness I was reading alone, or my husband would have thought I was losing my mind. It's nice to read something like this after some of the darker murder mysteries that I have a tendency to read.

A definite recommendation from me and I will be getting the rest of the series.

[Roxx Tarantini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a dull moment

Margie is adjusting to life as an almost divorced woman, her mom has moved in to "help" with the kids, and Margie herself is "helping" the PTA at Elsie's new school find some missing money - among other things.

It's another madcap adventure that will have you in stitches and suspense right up to the very last paragraph!

Can't wait to see what's up next for Margie and Peaches!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good, easy read, entertaining book!

Of the three books in this series, I enjoyed this one best. There was plenty of mystery, lots of laughs (for me), and plenty of acton. Of all three books in this series, I enjoyed this one best. That being saiid, I cannot. imagine reading this one and missing the complete story of Margie's marriage, her children, and how she became employed as a private investigator. Now I'm anxious to read more of Karen Macinerney's books!

[Pam Bales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice little series. I would be interested in more of them, but haven't seen them listed as yet. Margie is living quite the life with a separated husband, two young children, a pig and a manic cat for pets, and her mother living with them for the time being. Margie is working as a PI and has quite a few accidents. Life is looking up at the end of the third book and I would like, as I said before, to have more.

[Rebecca Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure when I started the book. The names of the characters caught me off guard but as with any book I read at least three chapters before I decide I won't finish it. I am glad I did, I laughed so much and reading while I ride train to/from work I got lots of funny looks but I didn't care. How you came up with the names is beyond me but they so fit the part. Go Twinkles....

[Kathryn Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margie has a husband who wants to dress in women's clothes and has a boyfriend who does the same.
they are getting a divorce.
their daughter thinks she's a dog.
Margie is doing some investigating around the local PTA moms and a personal trainer who comes up dead and is found to be having affairs with all the PTA moms.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never boring......

My goodness the Peterson's life would never be described as boring. I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. Margie is certainly a woman with many skills and if they weren't perfected, she'd just wing it. Can't wait to see what her next adventure will be.

[Rachel Sakitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful

Mother's Little Helper, is a fun read. The story incorporates suspense along with tons of humor. There were moments I caught myself laughing out loud.

The book is about a PI who is also a soon to be single mom because her husband found a new love. However it is not what you might think.

Great read. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.