A dying wish. A secret world. Can this grieving investigator stay on the right track?
PI Kelly Pruett is determined to make it on her own. And juggling clients at her late father’s detective agency, a controlling ex, and caring for a deaf daughter was never going to be easy. So she takes it as a good sign when a letter left by her dad ties into an unsolved case of a young woman struck by a train.
Hunting down the one person who can prove the mysterious death was not just a drunken accident, Kelly discovers this witness is in no condition to talk. And the closer she gets to the truth the longer her list of sleazy suspects with murderous motives grows. Each clue exposes another layer of the victim's steamy double life.
On a crash course with a killer, she must piece together the puzzle of what really happened to the victim that rainy night, before her own fate is sealed and she loses everything near and dear, including her life.
Mary Keliikoa is the author of DON'T ASK, DON'T FOLLOW, a domestic thriller, and the award-winning HIDDEN PIECES, DEADLY TIDES and KILLER TRACKS novels in the Misty Pines mystery series. In addition, she is the author of the PI Kelly Pruett mystery series, which includes the Shamus Finalist and Lefty, Agatha and Anthony award-nominated DERAILED for best debut.
A Pacific NW native, she admits to being that person who gets excited when called for jury duty. When not in Washington, you can find Mary with toes in the sand on a Hawaiian beach. But even under the palm trees and blazing sun, she’s plotting her next murder—novel that is.
First in a new series, Derailed is an exciting mystery.
Kelly Pruett is a private investigator working on her own. She inherited her late father’s agency and is doing her best to leave behind her controlling ex.
Kelly finds a letter from her dad that is tied somehow to a cold case involving a woman hit by a train. Was it an accident or was it murder? Kelly is on the case and putting all the pieces together.
I really grew to love Kelly. She became stronger during the story and with the hardships she faced. There’s a touch of romance in this well-written mystery. I had a lot of fun with this one and found it exciting overall!
The best part? It’s a series so I can continue to follow along with Kelly and what’s next for her.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
First in a new series, Derailed is an exciting mystery.
Kelly Pruett is a private investigator working on her own. She inherited her late father’s agency and is doing her best to leave behind her controlling ex.
Kelly finds a letter from her dad that is tied somehow to a cold case involving a woman hit by a train. Was it an accident or was it murder? Kelly is on the case and putting all the pieces together.
I really grew to love Kelly. She became stronger during the story and with the hardships she faced. There’s a touch of romance in this well-written mystery. I had a lot of fun with this one and found it exciting overall!
The best part? It’s a series so I can continue to follow along with Kelly and what’s next for her.
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
I was lucky enough to read a pre-publication version of Derailed. This mystery ticks all the boxes for me: a strong female PI, a canine sidekick, a business that's on the rocks and desperately needs success, a dark, gritty atmosphere--and a grand cast of characters painted in strokes subtle enough that it keeps the reader guessing about which ones are good and which ones have truly questionable motives. As if that's not enough, Pruett's family life is such a pressure cooker that it tugged at my heartstrings.
Author Mary Keliikoa does an excellent job at planting clues. There are more than enough red herrings to keep readers wondering what's real, what's imagined, who ought to be spooked and who needs to really be spooked by what Pruett uncovers. There's so much deliciousness in the details--the sounds, the textures, the environments. Once I started, I couldn't put it down, and the ending was both a gut-punch and extremely satisfactory. I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author.
This is the first book in an exciting new series by Mary Keliikoa.
After years of helping her late father with his private detective business, Kelly Pruitt is working her first solo case while juggling life as a single mom with a clingy ex-husband and a bossy ex-mother-in-law. The case was closed by the police as accidental death by commuter train, but the mother of the victim isn’t convinced. Neither is Kelly once she digs into the shady lifestyle of the victim. As the investigation reveals more of the victim’s secret life, it brings to light the secrets Kelly’s father kept from her. The deeper she digs, the more her personal and professional lives converge until they meet in a very satisfying conclusion. Can’t wait for Kelly’s next case!
DERAILED (P.I. Kelly Pruett Book #1) by Mary Keliikoa is the start of a new female P.I. series by a debut author. This is an intriguing mystery full of characters with secrets and plot twists which take you as well as this inexperienced P.I. down many paths before ultimately discovering the truth.
P.I. Kelly Pruett is trying to make it on her own after her divorce and the death of her father who left her his detective agency. Kelly has always been fascinated with her father’s P.I. work, but has yet to work a major investigation. Kelly is trying to move forward after the death of her father, support herself and her deaf daughter and deal with an ex and mother-in-law who are still much too involved in her life.
A client shows up looking for Kelly’s father, but retains Kelly to investigate the supposed drunken accidental death of her daughter. This is Kelly’s chance to prove to everyone she is capable of taking over her father’s firm. As Kelly investigates the life of the dead woman, nothing is as it first seemed. She had a secret life and the murder of her main suspect leads her further into a web of sleazy characters that all have their own secrets.
Kelly is learning as she goes. She is finding she has more suspects than she anticipated and their many secrets lead to a motive that the killer does not want revealed and is willing to kill again to protect.
This is a cozy P.I. mystery that is intricately plotted with deceitful characters and red herrings that kept me turning the pages as I follow this new P.I. Kelly’s personal life felt realistic and pulled me in with her determination to make her dream work, protect her relationship with her child and hopefully more of her budding relationship with the handsome police officer. I am impressed with this mystery by this debut author and I hope she will continue with many more books in this series.
I recommend this first book in this cozy P.I. mystery series.
Keliikoa has penned an exciting murder mystery, complete with a strong PI female protagonist, a budding romance with a sexy cop…and a lovable dog. Along with the fast-paced prose, snappy dialogue, and well-developed characters, the plot twists/turns kept me guessing and turning the pages until I finished the book. I absolutely adored tough and tender PI Kelly Pruett, the relationships she had with others, including her deaf daughter, her ex, and his mother, and how she refused to give up, even when her life was on the line. I’m looking forward to the next installment…
Private Investigator Kelly Pruett has inherited her father's detective agency. Although she's still a rookie, she is determined to make it on her own ... something she's sure her father would approve of. It won't be easy ... she's taking care of a deaf daughter, an ex-husband with control issues, and now her very first case.
The mother of a young woman who supposedly threw herself in front of a train wants Kelley to look into what really happened to her daughter. The police have it down to an accident, especially if she had been drinking .... or suicide, for the same reason.
There was one witness, but his statement seems a little dodgy to Kelly, but when she finds the witness ... someone has silenced him.
The more Kelly investigates, the more she finds the victim was not exactly who or what her family knew. The closer she gets to finding answers, the more suspects she finds, the more motives are revealed .. but someone doesn't want the truth to come to light...and will do anything to keep in the dark.
This is a cozy mystery with an intriguing female sleuth at the heart of the story. Well written, there are a few surprises along the way, with a possible budding romance thrown in the mix. I really enjoyed how the author blended Kelly's' personal life with her professional side.
Many thanks to the author / Epicenter Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
This is a dazzling debut by Mary Keliikoa. Kelly Pruett is a tough female PI you can really get behind. Pruett's tough, smart, determined, vulnerable, unsure at times, very sure at others, absolutely unstoppable. When Derailed begins, Pruett has just inherited her late father's detective agency and finds herself the sole operative on a complicated case of a young woman killed by a train. Suicide? Murder? Things get real as the number of shadowy clues and dodgy suspects mount, but Pruett more than rises to the challenge. I liked also that Pruett has a life beyond "the case." She is the mother to a deaf daughter, she has an ex-husband who is way too invested in her comings and goings, an ex mother-in-law, who (gulp) lives just next door and a burgeoning new relationship her ex-husband's none too thrilled about. In short, she's got a lot going on. This is a good read. You'll love Pruett and want to see more of her. Brava, Keliikoa! Keep 'em coming!
I love detective novels with a murder mystery. I enjoyed the characters. Kelly is so relatable. I liked her dynamic with her ex husband as co parents. Even though he cheated, they still care for each other. Her love interest Kyle is a beautiful soul. I kept turning the page eager fo find out what happened next. Whenever I thought the murderer was one person, more surprises came.
PI Kelly Pruett’s father left her two things… his investigative agency, and a message that said if Georgette Hanson ever came to her for help, she should give it, no questions asked. Less than a year after her father’s death, Kelly’s making her way mainly as a process server, just scraping by. So when Georgette turns up with a check for $3,000 and a request to look into her daughter’s death, Kelly’s not just putting food on the table for herself and her Deaf daughter Mitz, she’s fulfilling her father’s dying request.
Brooke Hanson’s case proves a tough one to crack, though, leading Kelly into some unexpected corners of Portland’s underworld, including a peek into high-end BDSM clientele Brooke worked with, and gradually Kelly begins to realise there are some powerful people who don’t want anyone looking into Brooke’s death. People who’ve already killed once… and then another body turns up.
This is very well written, and the author avoids falling into the traps which can come with writing about BDSM as an outsider. Kelly’s not part of the lifestyle and isn’t interested in participating, but she does her best not to judge, accepting people’s right to choose what they do in their private lives, and BDSM practitioners aren’t vilified - indeed, they are mainly the victims in this story, something that’s quite representative of the realities of the lifestyle. I also really liked Kelly’s relationship with her Deaf daughter, though I thought her judgemental ex who apparently wanted her to sit at home like a good little housewife needed a good slap upside the head.
First in a new series, this has the potential to turn into something really good. Kelly’s an excellent and sympathetic character with an intriguing cast of side characters around her. I’ll be interested to see where the series goes from here. Five stars for an excellent mystery novel with an exciting new heroine.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via the publisher.
I love PI fiction because we don’t have to play by all those pesky rules of law enforcement. In Derailed, Kelly Pruett takes on her first death investigation, and she’s happy to bend—or break—those rules when necessary.
Thank you, Mary Keliikoa for giving us a strong female lead who isn’t popping pills, drinking heavy, looking for a man to save her, or making ridiculous choices in her personal life. Kelly Pruett is a responsible, divorced woman trying to manage her fledgling career while raising a deaf daughter. She’s relatable and interesting, and I cared about what happened to her.
Derailed is a fast-paced, quick and enjoyable story with surprising complexities and emotional depth. The plot is believable and kept me guessing about the outcome.
This is the first book in the Kelly Pruett Mystery series. The case wraps up nicely at the end. No cliffhangers, which I always appreciate. I’m looking forward to the next book!
*I received a review copy as part of the Partners in Crime book tour.*
The first book of a new series, DERAILED has it all: a twisty plot, an engaging female PI, and plenty of shady suspects. The Portland, Oregon setting adds great atmosphere, and the realistic chaos of detective Kelly Pruett’s home life adds a layer that sets this book apart. This story wraps up nicely but leaves the reader with plenty to look forward to in the next book of the series. Fans of Kinsey Millhone should definitely check this one out.
Rounding up from 4 1/2 stars as I am delighted to read a fresh voice in the PI genre. Kelly Pruett inherited her father's PI firm, but has only been doing skip tracing and process serving. That is, until a woman asks for her help in looking into her daughter's death. As Kelly's father left her a letter requesting that she help if this woman of she ever needed it, Kelly felt she had no choice. Of course, her ex and his mother vehemently oppose her putting herself in danger. Kelly may be inexperienced, but she's smart and committed to finding the truth. Many twists and red herrings keep the plot moving and Kelly's slightly messy personal life make her a relatable heroine. Looking forward to seeing more in this series. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mary Keliikoa knocks it out of the ballpark with her debut mystery. Excellent writing, well developed characters, and nonstop plot twists make for an excellent read. Kelly Pruett, the P.I. protagonist, is a strong but caring woman, and readers will in turn care about her, both her complicated family life and professional career. I can’t wait for the sequel.
Derailed, (A Kelly Pruett Mystery Book #1), Mary Keliikoa, author For anyone who has been thirsting for another of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone mysteries, get ready for a treat. There is a new author in town, Mary Keliikoa. She has created a new girl in town, a private investigator to rival, if not surpass, Kinsey. Dear readers, please welcome Kelly Pruett! She will not disappoint. She is a spunky, perseverant young woman who, as a single parent, is trying to juggle a recent divorce, the death of her father and only remaining living parent, a wonderful daughter, and a business that she and her father used to run together. Her father was a well-known private investigator, and she was pretty much his Gal Friday, his main administrator, acting as a process server when needed, filing forms and registering documents, among other things. She did not engage in the heavy lifting, but that was all about to change as a tearful woman, very upset from the outset, knocked on her door and asked for her father, unaware of his death. Coincidentally, her dad had left her a note, with his papers, asking her to help a Georgette Hanson, if she ever came to the office. However, she was not to ask questions about how they knew each other. Sitting before her, was that very same woman. What was she to do? She had no experience, but how could she refuse to help both the woman and her father? Georgette’s daughter Brooke had supposedly fallen to her death in front of a train. The witnesses that had interacted with her on the night she died had testified to the effect that she was drunk. The death was ruled an accident, and the case was closed after a brief police investigation. Mrs. Hanson disagreed and was determined to find out who killed her daughter. She was certain that it had been neither a suicide nor an accidental fall while in a drunken stupor. She insisted her daughter was a good girl, and this could simply not be possible. When Kelly began to investigate, she discovered that this image of Brooke was flawed. She was leading a double life. Kelly had never done any kind of a murder investigation before. Although, her father had always promised that he would train her to do real investigations, somehow he never got around to it. Could she learn on the job? She wanted to fulfill her father’s request, but would she be able to wing it successfully? She wanted to prove to his memory that she was up to the task. She and her ex-husband Jeff, shared custody, and his mom lived next door to her. They both pitched in to help when needed, albeit often accompanied by judgment and resistance as her work became more and more dangerous. She knew that her work schedule could be pretty easily managed. |As secrets were revealed and Kelly’s investigation grew more intense, her lack of experience exposed her to more and more risk. The mystery kept pointing in different directions and she became consumed with following up on the leads, often needing more and more help with her daughter. As new questions arose, the story became more interesting, not more confusing or boring as so many mysteries often do. The twists and turns go in many different directions, keeping the reader guessing as to whether or not a crime had been committed, and if so, who had committed it. With each new page came a new idea that could be a theme in an, as yet, unwritten next book. I, as a reader, became hungry for more of Kelly’s adventures. I really enjoyed the book. I think it was a really good beginning for the series. It was light, but engaging. The character, Kelly, really grew into her own, as the book revealed itself. She became a more thoughtful and mature person with each experience, and I thought she became a much more likable character, which is the reason I look forward to meeting her again. For the benefit of the reader, here is a list of some of the characters that are in this book. We have Kelly, the perhaps over eager private investigator who finds herself suddenly in the midst of a maelstrom, Jeff, the ex-husband who wanted a more traditional wife who stayed at home; Arlene, the ex, but very present mother-in-law who offers advice on everything; Kyle, the very interesting and handsome police detective who may or may not become a love interest for Kelly; Mitz the young daughter of Kelly and Jeff who is hearing impaired, but very bright and social. Georgette Hanson is Kelly’s very first client. She has two daughters, Brooke, who has died on the train tracks in possibly suspicious circumstances, and Hannah, her sister. Charles is Georgette’s very protective husband. In addition, there are other villains in this book that will be revealed as the mystery is exposed, but they seem more pertinent to just this first book in the series. I received this book from Meryl Moss Media as an advanced copy to read and review. I buried myself in this book eagerly. I was not disappointed. The first page captured me and the following ones made me eager for more.
This is a fabulous book. I knew after the first chapter that I would enjoy it, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Mary Keliikoa has done a great job with this interesting and entertaining plot, however it’s the characters that are the standout, especially Kelly Pruett. You can’t help but like her. I also really enjoyed that I couldn’t guess what was going to happen from one moment to the next. Kelly Pruett was doing ok as a private investigator after her father passed away and she took over his business. The work wasn’t too demanding, and it was certainly easy doing things like process serving, stakeouts and court document searches. That all changed when Georgette Hanson turned up at her door wanting Kelly to investigate the death of her daughter Brooke Hanson. Brooke had fallen in front of a train and the police were confident it was just an accident. Georgette thought there was more to it, and Kelly had no problem with taking on a case that she could finally sink her teeth into and do some real investigative work. From start to finish this is a fabulous story. Do yourself a favour and read this book. 5/5 Star Rating.
I am very impressed by this first novel by author , Mary Keliikoa. Mystery novels are my favorite genre and she nails it ! Kelly Pruett is a private investigator , living in Portland , Oregon. She is the divorced Mom of an 8 year old daughter who was born deaf. She and her ex share in the caring for Mitz, their daughter. Kelly has taken over the PI practice of her recently deceased Dad. He left a letter for her to please help an old client, Georgette Hanson if she contacts her ....and she does. Her daughter, Brooke died in a horrible way, being hit by a train when she tripped on the tracks. But there are a number of unanswered questions as Kelly starts to probe into the incident. Apparently Brooke had a life hidden from her family and only as Kelly dives deeper into the case does she find a lot of surprises. Kelly has her father's instincts and she won't rest until she gets some answers even as events start that puts Kelly in imminent danger. This is a very powerful novel for a first time author . ENJOY !!
Private Investigator Kelly Pruett has inherited her father's detective agency after his death, and she is determined to make it work whilst juggling a controlling ex, and caring for her deaf daughter. A woman, a letter and a promise to her father see's Kelly delve into a cold case of a young woman struck by a train that brings to light all sorts of family secrets.
This case for Kelly is a tough one to crack and the closer she gets to the truth the more her life becomes in danger, and more she discovers the truth to the victims apparent double life . I had figured that something about the woman and her family was going to have some connection to Kelly's father and I loved hopw Keliikoa weaved the twists and turns into this story that lead Kelly down the same realisation.
Derailed was a great first book in this series and I honestly can't wait to read more from this author and this series. If you like a good mystery you will love this new series
There is nothing better than falling in love with a book, knowing it's the first in a series, and looking forward to the next as soon as you close the cover on the first.
I love secrets, especially secrets between family members. Derailed has lots of secrets, lots of hints, lots of "Whoa, I did not see THAT happening!" It definitely is my kind of book, and I was thrilled when a friend recommended it to me.
Character development is great; the female protagonist is strong, and there's a dog!
Lots of twists and turns. And a dog! Did I mention the dog?
"A request from beyond the grave, a deaf daughter, a failed marriage, and a murder."
Derailed is the first book in the A Kelly Pruett Mystery Series. All in all, it was a great read. Kelly has more than a few balls in the air and she's juggling as fast as she can! An ex-husband, an adorable daughter (who happens to be deaf), a former mother-in-law (who happens to live next door), a hunky new love interest, and a totally loveable dog!
My only complaints: 1) Kelly goes off on her own too often without telling anyone where she's going. Rather dangerous for a single mother who has so much she might lose. 2) The closer I got to the end of the book, the credibility started reeeally getting stretched.
A good first novel by Keliikoa, featuring an inexperienced P.I. continuing her recently deceased father's business. She investigates the death of a young woman whose mother does not think her demise was an accident. Lots of plot switches and exciting interactions. Recommended. This is the first of a series.
This book had me gripped from page 1. Kelly Pruett Private Investigator has had a difficult year. She discovered her husband had a affair with her best friend. Then her beloved Father passed away suddenly. Kelly has taken over her father's Private Investigation business. Her first client Georgette asks for help investigating her daughter's death. The police believe it was a tragic accident but Georgette is convinced otherwise. Kelly takes on the case as her father left her a mysterious letter asking her to help Georgette if she ever came to Kelly for help. The storyline is fast moving with a second murder and as Kelly begins to find out details of that night her own life becomes in danger. A gripping thriller I couldn't put down. I will definitely be looking out for more Kelly Pruett books
Thanks to #Netgalley I received an ARC of this book. I found out quickly that I loved it. I do love a mystery but this one had twists all through the book. From the beginning to the end just when I thought I knew what was happening, another surprise popped up.
Kelly Pruett is a P.I. following in her father's footsteps. When she gets a case that her late father instructed her to take, she gets totally involved. And finds out it was more than just investigating whether the client's daughter was killed by accident or really was murdered.
Her involvement is also affecting the relationship with her ex-husband and deaf daughter. Another thing Kelly has to balance in her life. This book was just released on May 12, 2020 and it is definitely worth putting on your TBR list.
Kelly Pruett, PI, is a new, scintillating character joining the pantheon of female detectives we know and love, such as the late Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone. Kelly Pruett lives in Portland, Oregon, where she grew up with a father whom she adored, and who taught her much of the work of private investigating. Kelly’s father died recently. While sifting through his papers, she finds a mysterious letter urging her to help a friend, Georgette Hanson, no matter what may be involved – almost at the same time as Georgette pounds on her door, asking for help to find her daughter’s killer. Although the case was closed by the police as a tragic accident, Kelly, honoring her father’s wishes, agrees to help the distraught mother. But Kelly is unprepared for the rabbit hole into which her investigation descends. She must deal with her overly protective ex-husband, Jeff, her adorable Deaf daughter, Mitz; and her critical ex-mother-in-law, Arlene, while trying to manage her grief over the loss of her father. Kelly chases down a sordid cast of characters who had contact with the deceased Brooke Hanson. There’s the scared waitress, the questionable property manager, the missing sister, the slimy lawyer and more. All of them elevate lying to an art form, and it is Kelly’s job to unearth the sordid truth, which leads her to discover more than she or Georgette Hanson ever wanted to know about Brooke. When her own life is threatened, and her ex threatens to sue for sole custody, Kelly’s determination and feistiness propel the story to a shocking climax that I, who usually figure out “whodunits,” did not guess. In this book, we have a new rising star of crime writers. Keliikoa’s writing is fluid, easy reading, and her plotting is sinuous yet tight. She never stops throwing curve balls at the reader. Her characters are so believable, I could imagine some of them dropping by my house for coffee. And the gentle changes in relationships that come at the end of the book augur well for a series readers will be watching for with eager anticipation. Well done, Ms. Keliikoa! (I received an advance copy of this book for an objective review.)
I became aware of the debut novel in Mary Keliikoa's Kelly Pruett series thanks to the Jungle Red Writers blog.
And as usual, discovering books via the blog paid off quite nicely (as an aside, when the copy I ordered arrived at my home I discovered that my copy is signed but I don't know how that came about).
Kelly Pruett is a PI. Newly divorced and running her late father's private investigator agency, she's saddled with a husband who tries to control her, a mother-in-law who abets his attempts and daughter that she's trying to be a good mom to.
Running the agency has been mostly legal serving and the like but when a woman shows up on her doorstep asking for help, Kelly can't refuse. For reasons that you'll discover, it is actually important for Kelly to assist the woman.
The client's daughter died when hit by a train. The police have closed the case, ruling it an accident from the daughter being drunk. But the mother doesn't believe it. She questions the witness accounts and needs Kelly to investigate to find out what the truth really is.
If the first rule of being a PI is that everybody lies, DERAILED goes to great lengths to prove that adage. Kelly's investigation leads on her a twisty path and she comes into contact with a large group of witnesses who pretty much tell her a story even a 5 year old wouldn't believe. Spurred on by her continually uncovering a new lie, Kelly discovers the victim lived beyond the means of her job and a secret, salacious life that she hid from her family.
Along the way, readers are introduced to a potential love interest for Kelly and learn more about her familial supporting cast. Secrets abound on a professional and personal level and will definitely keep viewers glued to the turning pages.
Perhaps because I am myself very stubborn or obstinate, I admit that I wondered about why Kelly would put up with her ex's meddling ways. I know the idea of keeping the peace as they raised their daughter is likely a deciding factor in that but I would've liked to see her be a bit more ruthless in laying down the law about crossing boundaries.
That said, I think that Mary Keliikoa has crafted a very strong debut and I know that I'm going to be looking forward to more Kelly Pruett mysteries.
This was a non-stop, suspense filled ride from the beginning to end. So much mystery surrounding the accidental fall of Brooke Hanson onto the train tracks of an oncoming train. Or was it on purpose?
That seems to be the question when Brooke’s mother hires Private Investigator Kelly Pruett to look closer into her daughter’s death. This is PI Pruett’s first case since inheriting her late father’s business. One that she grew to know and love working under his wing throughout growing up.
Despite a recent divorce and co-parenting their Deaf child with her ex-husband Jeff, there is no question that Mitz is very loved. No one anticipates the trouble, time and risk that comes to them all when PI Pruett dwelves deeper into the case that puts them all in danger. Soon, threats and physical assaults are at play.
Brooke’s blood alcohol content was indeed high at the time of the fall but the more people that are questioned that knew Brooke, unearths a little more about Brooke’s life and surprisingly those who played a role in it. There are many suspects, even her own mother! PI Pruett remains undeterred and is risking it all to find out the truth. How much is too much to risk?
I loved the one main POV for this novel. It kept it finely detailed and rich with very realistic characters that I did not lose interest at any point. I was mesmerized by Mrs. Keliikoa’s writing, as it was greatly researched and had a brilliant thought out plot. I loved that our protagonist was a novice and we got to see her growth and I’m looking forward to more novels with PI Pruett in the future.
Wow, just wow. Fans of Janet Evanovich novels will love Derailed. A novice female investigator, a sexy cop, a criminal to locate, this book has all the makings of a Stephanie Plum novel! The story was fast pasted and full of twist and turns. The author has a way with making you fall in love with the main character and although she has little skill you’ll find yourself cheering her on. I read the book in one sitting! Kelly Pruett has inherited her fathers P.I. business and although she has no formal training, she’s learned a lot from her dad growing up. So far Kelly has only done a few stakeouts,process serving and court document searches. When a new client knocks at her door she’s not sure she’s ready to help solve a murder, but she finds Georgette Hansen’s name in her fathers files with a note to help her if she ever needs it. As a single mother Kelly really needs the money to support herself and her daughter, so she decides to use what little her father taught her along with her own natural instincts to see what she can find out. What she’ll come across is a whole lot of resistance from everyone who has come in contact with the victim. Kelly wants answers and she won’t leave any stone unturned even if her own life is put in jeopardy. Is this the life her father wanted for her? Is this the life she wants for herself? This case will give her the answers to these questions.
Wow! This is a fantastic debut series! Keliikoa's writing talent shines strong with this first installment to her Kelly Pruett Mystery series. From start to finish, I was on a roller coaster ride, following Kelly through the twists and turns of her first solo PI mystery.The plot line and the amazing characters that Keliikoa chiseled were fantastic! I stayed up late into the night, turning page after page, needing to know what was happening, who did what and was Pruett going to solve the case.
If you love a good mystery novel, filled with incredible who dun it's, edge of your seat unexpected turns, mind blowing twists, then grab this new book up now. Keliikoa will keep you guessing with each page turn, and by the end of the book, you'll be ready to solve another mystery with this awesome female PI! Well done, and hats off to the author! I'm a forever fan!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
This the debut novel for the Kelly Pruett Mystery series, and my first but not last book by the author. In this book, Kelley has been training to be a PI to work in her father’s business when he suddenly died. She has been doing mostly skip tracing and process serving until she is asked her to investigate a death from falling in front of a moving train. The police have closed the case, but her mother believes it was murder. Kelly and all the other characters are well defined and very real. A female investigator intrigued me, and it was interesting to watch as she pursues the case, and eventually finds out who committed the murder. This is a page turner with many twists. Although it becomes clear about 25 pages from the end who committed the murder, the story is only wrapped up through Kelly’s tenacity. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
I was so happy to learn that DERAILED is the first book in a new series. This is private eye fiction at its best: gritty, atmospheric, riddled with secrets and red herrings. I tore through this thriller in a single sitting and am already looking forward to seeing where Kelly Pruett's P.I. business takes her next!