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PI Kelly Pruett's search to locate a former classmate's missing father ends in what appears to be a tragic accident. Kelly will play a high risk game of chance with a killer willing to gamble everything to win.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2021
7 people are currently reading
1883 people want to read
About the author
Mary Keliikoa
8 books787 followersMary 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.
www.marykeliikoa.com
https://www.amazon.com/author/marykel...
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.
www.marykeliikoa.com
https://www.amazon.com/author/marykel...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 5, 2021
Such an exciting new book in an amazing series -- strong female lead, awesome character development (which I ALWAYS love in a book), a twisty plot.. I couldn't put this book down.
June 6, 2021
When Private Investigator Kelly Pruett is asked by a friend to locate her father, she doesn't have the heart to say no. But the missing person case turns deadly when she does, indeed, locate the woman's father .... his body in a car that is submerged beneath the water.
She's told by the local police to back off her investigation, the local mafia type man and his bodyguard, her ex-husband, and her current boyfriend.
Having inherited her father's detective agency, and being her father's daughter .. she just isn't going to stop until the case is solved. She's tenacious if nothing else. Her stubbornness just might end her career ... and her life.
Packed full of twists and turns , lies and secrets, the plot is well constructed with plenty of suspects to follow who all have a reason to have wanted the dead man .. well, dead. The characters are solidly drawn and Kelly is intriguing in her view of the world around her. The suspense maintains a high level and leads to an unexpected explosive conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Camel Press Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this cozy mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
She's told by the local police to back off her investigation, the local mafia type man and his bodyguard, her ex-husband, and her current boyfriend.
Having inherited her father's detective agency, and being her father's daughter .. she just isn't going to stop until the case is solved. She's tenacious if nothing else. Her stubbornness just might end her career ... and her life.
Packed full of twists and turns , lies and secrets, the plot is well constructed with plenty of suspects to follow who all have a reason to have wanted the dead man .. well, dead. The characters are solidly drawn and Kelly is intriguing in her view of the world around her. The suspense maintains a high level and leads to an unexpected explosive conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Camel Press Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this cozy mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 23, 2021
Denied (Kelly Pruitt Mystery)
By Mary Keliikoa
Really enjoyed this book, DENIED - second book in the series which I didn't even realize was the second book, which shows this is could be read as a great stand alone novel. We start the story with Kelly Pruitt recovering from an injury - inflicted by a bullet wound from a previous case. Kelly burned out from being hired as a PI for cases involving infidelity, was ore than happy to take a case from a high school friend, a fellow Peanut Butter aficionado, whose father had gone missing.
I enjoyed the point of view of Kelly though the story is being told from the past found it to be quite interesting as I already do love police procedurals so having to follow a detective around as the case gets solved was quite the read for me - especially from a woman PI point of view. Kelly also has a complicated past dealing with her special needs daughter, co-parenting with an ex, while also still reeling her father's death.
Overall, this was a great read for thriller and murder mystery lovers - loved the short chapters, and this book packs a punch in just a little over 200 pages. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
By Mary Keliikoa
Really enjoyed this book, DENIED - second book in the series which I didn't even realize was the second book, which shows this is could be read as a great stand alone novel. We start the story with Kelly Pruitt recovering from an injury - inflicted by a bullet wound from a previous case. Kelly burned out from being hired as a PI for cases involving infidelity, was ore than happy to take a case from a high school friend, a fellow Peanut Butter aficionado, whose father had gone missing.
I enjoyed the point of view of Kelly though the story is being told from the past found it to be quite interesting as I already do love police procedurals so having to follow a detective around as the case gets solved was quite the read for me - especially from a woman PI point of view. Kelly also has a complicated past dealing with her special needs daughter, co-parenting with an ex, while also still reeling her father's death.
Overall, this was a great read for thriller and murder mystery lovers - loved the short chapters, and this book packs a punch in just a little over 200 pages. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.
October 2, 2022
This is the second book in a series featuring PI Kelly Pruett. I didn't read the first book, but I easily got to know the main characters. Kelly is divorced and co-parenting her daughter with her ex-husband and has to balance the demands of her job with the needs of her daughter. The dangers of the job cause many issues in her relationships, but Kelly is still willing to take a lot of risks in the name of justice when most people would have backed off.
I really enjoyed this book and the complex plot. Kelly is also coming to terms with the recent death of her father and learning that in many ways, he wasn't hte man she thought he was. I don't always agree with Kelly's decisions, but admire her bravery and dedication to her clients. There are several dramatic scenes and I enjoyed this suspenseful mystery. A third book in the series came out earlier this year, and I hope to read it in the future to see what's in store for Kelly in her detective agency and in her personal life.
I really enjoyed this book and the complex plot. Kelly is also coming to terms with the recent death of her father and learning that in many ways, he wasn't hte man she thought he was. I don't always agree with Kelly's decisions, but admire her bravery and dedication to her clients. There are several dramatic scenes and I enjoyed this suspenseful mystery. A third book in the series came out earlier this year, and I hope to read it in the future to see what's in store for Kelly in her detective agency and in her personal life.
May 21, 2021
Second volume in this excellent series featuring a female P.I. who's strong, resilient and tenacious without losing her humanity. Taking over the agency after the death her father in the first book, she continues by taking a missing person case in this book. Her client is a childhood friend, Stephanie, and the missing person is Stephanie's father. I love the way both books emphasize family and understanding relationships, but it only enhances a crackling good mystery never bogs it down. Not quite a five star read for me but close enough that I had think about it. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2021
I am super excited to have read this one. It is book 2 to Keliikoa’s Kelly Pruett Mystery series. From page one, we once again get the amazingly chiseled characters & captivating roller coaster, unforgettable mystery!
Keliikoa’s Kelly Pruett is a fantastic PI. We are brought right back to another mystery and Kelly jumping right in to solve it. This one, a former friend’s father has gone missing and it’s up to Kelly to piece the puzzle together. The mystery is full of ups and downs, twists, turns, and not to mention danger for Kelly.
I loved getting to follow Kelly on this crime solving case. I found myself on the edge of my seat more often than not. I stayed up long into the early morning hours, turning page after page, trying to put the pieces together for Kelly. I love a good read like that!
This is definitely a great addition to the series. Keliikoa once again shows her talent, and weaves together a most unforgettable, intense, heart pounding storyline. Just as with Derailed, I definitely recommend you grab this one up and hold on for a wild ride! Great job, Keliikoa! Great job!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Keliikoa’s Kelly Pruett is a fantastic PI. We are brought right back to another mystery and Kelly jumping right in to solve it. This one, a former friend’s father has gone missing and it’s up to Kelly to piece the puzzle together. The mystery is full of ups and downs, twists, turns, and not to mention danger for Kelly.
I loved getting to follow Kelly on this crime solving case. I found myself on the edge of my seat more often than not. I stayed up long into the early morning hours, turning page after page, trying to put the pieces together for Kelly. I love a good read like that!
This is definitely a great addition to the series. Keliikoa once again shows her talent, and weaves together a most unforgettable, intense, heart pounding storyline. Just as with Derailed, I definitely recommend you grab this one up and hold on for a wild ride! Great job, Keliikoa! Great job!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
May 16, 2021
4.5 stars for the second book in the Kelly Pruitt mystery series. Our fav, very determined PI is all healed up and back out there on a new case.
She is working to find her high school friend’s father, Vince. They’re been estranged for six months after a bad fight. No one has seen him for 3-4 weeks. Kelly finds his body and so everyone assumes that she’ll stop looking. However, Kelly is pretty sure Vince’s death was no accident. The more Kelly probes, the more the danger level rises. Will she get to the bottom of this and still be alive?
When she isn’t out solving the case, she is still co-parenting her special needs daughter with ex-Jeff and dating Kyle who she met on her last case.
If you love mysteries with a female lead, this one is for you!
She is working to find her high school friend’s father, Vince. They’re been estranged for six months after a bad fight. No one has seen him for 3-4 weeks. Kelly finds his body and so everyone assumes that she’ll stop looking. However, Kelly is pretty sure Vince’s death was no accident. The more Kelly probes, the more the danger level rises. Will she get to the bottom of this and still be alive?
When she isn’t out solving the case, she is still co-parenting her special needs daughter with ex-Jeff and dating Kyle who she met on her last case.
If you love mysteries with a female lead, this one is for you!
May 13, 2021
This second book in the PI Kelly Pruett series is just as loaded with twists, turns, secrets, and lies as the first. Kelly thinks she’s taken on a simple missing person’s case for an old friend, but it quickly becomes clear that nothing is straightforward about this case or the victim. Though the plot is engrossing and suspenseful, the best part is Kelly Pruett herself, so well-developed she steps right off the page, full of tenacious stubbornness and humanity. I can’t wait for her next case.
June 12, 2021
I'm loving this series!
PI Kelly Pretty, still healing from an injury from her previous case, gets hired by an old classmate to find her missing father. Little did she know when she took the case just what the job would entail. She soon finds herself neck deep with an organized crime boss, discovering the father had a gambling problem and the company he last worked for might have shady dealings.
Kelly is a formidable, resilient and dogged investigator. Even though she's been warned off the case by everybody including her current Cop boyfriend, she just can't let it go. She's sure there's more to the case than meets the eye and she's determined to give her friend closure but that might just mean she meets her own end and where would that leave her deaf daughter?
I've become a real fan of this author's writing and her strong female protagonist. This fast paced mystery had me invested from the first page to the last. It can be read as a stand-alone as there's plenty of back story to keep your interest but I still recommend you start at the beginning of this captivating series. I, for one, can't wait for the next installment of the Kelly Pruett Mystery series.
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Thank you to the author, Camel Press and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
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PI Kelly Pretty, still healing from an injury from her previous case, gets hired by an old classmate to find her missing father. Little did she know when she took the case just what the job would entail. She soon finds herself neck deep with an organized crime boss, discovering the father had a gambling problem and the company he last worked for might have shady dealings.
Kelly is a formidable, resilient and dogged investigator. Even though she's been warned off the case by everybody including her current Cop boyfriend, she just can't let it go. She's sure there's more to the case than meets the eye and she's determined to give her friend closure but that might just mean she meets her own end and where would that leave her deaf daughter?
I've become a real fan of this author's writing and her strong female protagonist. This fast paced mystery had me invested from the first page to the last. It can be read as a stand-alone as there's plenty of back story to keep your interest but I still recommend you start at the beginning of this captivating series. I, for one, can't wait for the next installment of the Kelly Pruett Mystery series.
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Thank you to the author, Camel Press and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
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July 2, 2021
PI Kelly Pruit is healing nicely since her altercation with her last case that had landed her in danger. She is happy to be taking cases that don't envolve any danger. Kelly has her deaf daughter to think about and isn't in a hurry to get into a danger scrap again.
Then a woman she was friends with when she was younger comes to her and ask her if she could find her father. Stephanie had a falling out with him and hasn't spoken to him in a while and now she is pregnant and she wants him to know but she has been calling him for a few weeks and not getting an answer. She is afraid to go check his house because of what she might find so she wants to hire Kelly.
Kelly agrees to it because she thinks that it will probably be a pretty simple missing persons case, but she was wrong. When she goes to Vince's house to have a look around she finds some pull tabs and other gambling tickets, but nothing to give her a real idea of where Vince might be. She does find something nasty and disturbing in the trash can under the sink, a severed finger.
After calling the police to let them know what she found she decides to try the gambling place he seem to have a lot of tickets from as well as the last place she knew he worked to see what they knew. At the bowling alley where he worked she found out he wasn't a great employee and didn't work there anymore but he did gamble with the pull tabs and had been in an arguement with the owner. Then at the gambling place she learns real quick that some heavyweight people are looking for him when she is cornered by a big guy and his boss that says she should just not look for Vince. Of course that just makes her more curious about what happened.
The more she tries to retrace Vinces last days she learns more and more about what he was doing and it involves a lot more than she bargained for and ends up getting herself in to way more trouble than she was looking for as well. She struggles with wanting to find out what happened and needing to make sure she is there for her daughter as well. She shares custody with her ex who also hands her some unexpected news that will effect her.
I really enjoyed this one and found myself really trying to figure out what happened and I must stay I was a bit surprised at the twist at the end on who the bad person was in the whole thing. I mean there was so many people it could have been but I just didn't expect that one so I liked that.
I like Kelly, she tries hard to balance spending time with her daughter with trying to make sure she found out what happened for her client. She also made time for her boyfriend who is a policeman, so he kind of knows how things go when she might cancel or be late for something. The relationship with her ex and his mother is very interesting to say the least. She has know her ex since they were kids and it was his fault for cheating that they split, so it makes for some heated arguements and tension at times.
You probable don't need to read book one to read this one but the first one was good so why wouldn't you start at the beginning. :) I would recommend this series to those who enjoy mysteries with Pivate Investigators.
Then a woman she was friends with when she was younger comes to her and ask her if she could find her father. Stephanie had a falling out with him and hasn't spoken to him in a while and now she is pregnant and she wants him to know but she has been calling him for a few weeks and not getting an answer. She is afraid to go check his house because of what she might find so she wants to hire Kelly.
Kelly agrees to it because she thinks that it will probably be a pretty simple missing persons case, but she was wrong. When she goes to Vince's house to have a look around she finds some pull tabs and other gambling tickets, but nothing to give her a real idea of where Vince might be. She does find something nasty and disturbing in the trash can under the sink, a severed finger.
After calling the police to let them know what she found she decides to try the gambling place he seem to have a lot of tickets from as well as the last place she knew he worked to see what they knew. At the bowling alley where he worked she found out he wasn't a great employee and didn't work there anymore but he did gamble with the pull tabs and had been in an arguement with the owner. Then at the gambling place she learns real quick that some heavyweight people are looking for him when she is cornered by a big guy and his boss that says she should just not look for Vince. Of course that just makes her more curious about what happened.
The more she tries to retrace Vinces last days she learns more and more about what he was doing and it involves a lot more than she bargained for and ends up getting herself in to way more trouble than she was looking for as well. She struggles with wanting to find out what happened and needing to make sure she is there for her daughter as well. She shares custody with her ex who also hands her some unexpected news that will effect her.
I really enjoyed this one and found myself really trying to figure out what happened and I must stay I was a bit surprised at the twist at the end on who the bad person was in the whole thing. I mean there was so many people it could have been but I just didn't expect that one so I liked that.
I like Kelly, she tries hard to balance spending time with her daughter with trying to make sure she found out what happened for her client. She also made time for her boyfriend who is a policeman, so he kind of knows how things go when she might cancel or be late for something. The relationship with her ex and his mother is very interesting to say the least. She has know her ex since they were kids and it was his fault for cheating that they split, so it makes for some heated arguements and tension at times.
You probable don't need to read book one to read this one but the first one was good so why wouldn't you start at the beginning. :) I would recommend this series to those who enjoy mysteries with Pivate Investigators.
June 21, 2021
Crafty, clever, and totally unexpected!
PI Kelly Pruett is recovering from her last case after taking over her father’s PI business, when she is approached by a friend from the past. A very pregnant friend is looking into why she hasn’t heard from her father since she has been trying to contact him for over a month. They had a falling out a few months ago and now she wants to make amends before she has the baby so that he or she can know their grandfather. As Kelly dives into the case, she discovers a world of gambling, mafia, sickness, betrayal, and illegal dumping. Can Kelly unravel the case before someone silences her from uncovering the truth?
I haven’t read the first book in this series, but the second pulled me in quickly and did a good job of filling in some backstory. I’m sure there would have been more had I read the first, but I think this can be a standalone. Kelly is a very strong woman to be going through everything with her ex-husband, ex-best friend, and PI business. Her persistence and perseverance was fun to watch when she just couldn’t let things drop. I also like the supporting role of Detective Kuni and hope to see more of him in future stories. I also thought that tying in the experiences of living with a deaf daughter was a neat aspect. I plan to go back and get the first to tie it all together, but I’m also looking forward to the next installment.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
PI Kelly Pruett is recovering from her last case after taking over her father’s PI business, when she is approached by a friend from the past. A very pregnant friend is looking into why she hasn’t heard from her father since she has been trying to contact him for over a month. They had a falling out a few months ago and now she wants to make amends before she has the baby so that he or she can know their grandfather. As Kelly dives into the case, she discovers a world of gambling, mafia, sickness, betrayal, and illegal dumping. Can Kelly unravel the case before someone silences her from uncovering the truth?
I haven’t read the first book in this series, but the second pulled me in quickly and did a good job of filling in some backstory. I’m sure there would have been more had I read the first, but I think this can be a standalone. Kelly is a very strong woman to be going through everything with her ex-husband, ex-best friend, and PI business. Her persistence and perseverance was fun to watch when she just couldn’t let things drop. I also like the supporting role of Detective Kuni and hope to see more of him in future stories. I also thought that tying in the experiences of living with a deaf daughter was a neat aspect. I plan to go back and get the first to tie it all together, but I’m also looking forward to the next installment.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
July 6, 2021
Thanks to @tlcbooktours & the author for my complimentary finished copy. All opinions provided are my own.
Private investigator stories are always fun to me—even more so when the lead is getting her sea legs & proving her instincts & mettle not only to herself but to those who don’t think she can handle it.
Denied is the second in Mary Keliikoa’s Kelly Pruett series. It’s entertaining, it’s layered, and the mystery is compelling, opening when lead Kelly takes on a case to look for a former classmate’s dad. When she arrives at his home she doesn’t find him but she does see lots of evidence of gambling & a severed finger in his trashcan.
Questions abound & the case is made more poignant to Kelly—& more interesting to the reader—by the parallels Kelly makes between this missing dad & her own complicated father who recently passed away & who owned their PI company.
Whereas Kelly had a rookie learning curve in the first book, in this one she’s obviously grown as an investigator & she hasn’t lost her tenacity or her bravery. She’s all too willing to pursue wherever the case’s leads take her to find her answers & that makes for a fun ride.
Romance readers: there is a romantic relationship in this series but it’s kissing only & not a real focus. The sweet spot of Denied for me is in offering a single mother heroine who isn’t afraid to take risks in order to give her clients the answers they’re seeking. A PI with integrity & a lot of guts.
4 ⭐️.
Private investigator stories are always fun to me—even more so when the lead is getting her sea legs & proving her instincts & mettle not only to herself but to those who don’t think she can handle it.
Denied is the second in Mary Keliikoa’s Kelly Pruett series. It’s entertaining, it’s layered, and the mystery is compelling, opening when lead Kelly takes on a case to look for a former classmate’s dad. When she arrives at his home she doesn’t find him but she does see lots of evidence of gambling & a severed finger in his trashcan.
Questions abound & the case is made more poignant to Kelly—& more interesting to the reader—by the parallels Kelly makes between this missing dad & her own complicated father who recently passed away & who owned their PI company.
Whereas Kelly had a rookie learning curve in the first book, in this one she’s obviously grown as an investigator & she hasn’t lost her tenacity or her bravery. She’s all too willing to pursue wherever the case’s leads take her to find her answers & that makes for a fun ride.
Romance readers: there is a romantic relationship in this series but it’s kissing only & not a real focus. The sweet spot of Denied for me is in offering a single mother heroine who isn’t afraid to take risks in order to give her clients the answers they’re seeking. A PI with integrity & a lot of guts.
4 ⭐️.
May 31, 2021
Denied by Mary Keliikoa
This is a Kelly Pruett mystery. It is the first one I’ve read. Kelly’s friend Stephanie is in a high-risk pregnancy and her father has disappeared. Stephanie asks Kelly, a private eye, to find him. Vince, the father, has many secrets which Kelly finds out painfully.
My biggest criticism of the book is that Kelly takes far more risks than I could handle. It is entirely possible that as much as I think I am a liberated man and can accept and see women in all roles, I cringed when Kelly did some things. I’m not sure I would have cringed if Jack Reacher did the same things. I suspect that is a factor of my age which is just shy of ancient. Kudos to Kyle, the boyfriend, for his unswerving support of his risk-prone girlfriend.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
This is a Kelly Pruett mystery. It is the first one I’ve read. Kelly’s friend Stephanie is in a high-risk pregnancy and her father has disappeared. Stephanie asks Kelly, a private eye, to find him. Vince, the father, has many secrets which Kelly finds out painfully.
My biggest criticism of the book is that Kelly takes far more risks than I could handle. It is entirely possible that as much as I think I am a liberated man and can accept and see women in all roles, I cringed when Kelly did some things. I’m not sure I would have cringed if Jack Reacher did the same things. I suspect that is a factor of my age which is just shy of ancient. Kudos to Kyle, the boyfriend, for his unswerving support of his risk-prone girlfriend.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
July 18, 2022
Filled with twists and turns- murder, mystery, family conflict, romance- a great quick read!
May 4, 2021
Private Investigator Kelly Pruett thinks she has signed on for a simple missing person's case when she agrees to look for her former friend/classmate's missing father. Not long after Kelly begins her investigation, the missing man's car is discovered submerged in a nearby river. Even thought Kelly found signs of a serious gambling addiction and a severed finger in Vince's house, the police take the accident at face value. Vince fell asleep at the wheel, ran off the road, and died when his car crashed over an embankment and into the river. But Kelly is tenacious, and she believes there is more to the case than meets the eye. Investigating Vince's gambling addiction put her in the crosshairs of local mobsters. and her questions about Vince infuriate some of the locals. When Kelly uncovers a shady land deal, she finds herself on the right track of determining why Vince was killed. And it also puts her in danger.
After a bit of a slow start, DENIED ramped up with the action. At first, Kelly is the only one who seems to think that something bad has happened to Vince. Not even the severed finger that she finds in his house is enough to get the local police involved beyond determining if the finger belonged to Vince. And then, after Vince and his car are found in the river, the police chalk it up to a tragic accident. If it wasn't for Kelly's tenacity to get to the truth and her willingness to put herself in danger, no one would know who killed Vince or why that person decided he had to die. There are a number of shady characters in DENIED, and they all make great suspects.
Having read DERAILED, the first novel in the series, I was excited to see what Kelly would get up to in the follow-up novel. Kelly continues to develop as a character, and her relationships with her daughter, ex-husband, former mother-in-law, and her new boyfriend grow and change as well. Kelly (and the reader) also learn more about her father—a private investigator who seems to have kept several secrets from his only child. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
After a bit of a slow start, DENIED ramped up with the action. At first, Kelly is the only one who seems to think that something bad has happened to Vince. Not even the severed finger that she finds in his house is enough to get the local police involved beyond determining if the finger belonged to Vince. And then, after Vince and his car are found in the river, the police chalk it up to a tragic accident. If it wasn't for Kelly's tenacity to get to the truth and her willingness to put herself in danger, no one would know who killed Vince or why that person decided he had to die. There are a number of shady characters in DENIED, and they all make great suspects.
Having read DERAILED, the first novel in the series, I was excited to see what Kelly would get up to in the follow-up novel. Kelly continues to develop as a character, and her relationships with her daughter, ex-husband, former mother-in-law, and her new boyfriend grow and change as well. Kelly (and the reader) also learn more about her father—a private investigator who seems to have kept several secrets from his only child. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 14, 2021
This is the second book in the Kelly Pruett Dectective series. I really enjoyed the first book and I like the character, her strength and ambition. Kelly is a detective always knee deep in a case that puts her in some dangerous situations. She also has a def daughter. In this next story,Kelly is asked by a classmate to find her father. As Kelly investigates she finds some gambling issues and shady deals that put her right in the crosshairs of the mob. I really liked this second book. There is more about Kelly and her personal life. The suspense kept ticking and I love any story that the mob shows up in. This was a fast read. Plenty of mystery and suspense. I'm really liking this new series.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY
June 3, 2021
Detective Kelly Pruett is back again! A huge fan of this series I was excited to dive back in and this did mot disappoint. While recovering from being shot and trying to avoid cases that put her in danger for herself as well as her daughter she finds herself deep into a missing persons case. While every case has a emotional connection this one hits home as the missing person is a father of one of her friends. But asking questions about his history she finds herself in deeper trouble than she could have imagined when she started. Will she be able to solve this mystery before she gets hurt or worse? You must read to find out! A fantastic read and love Kelly’s character and look forward to reading more books in this series. While it is a great easy read as a standalone I highly recommend you read both books because they are that good!
May 18, 2021
Denied by Mary Keliikoa is the second book in The Kelly Pruett Mystery Series. Even though when I started this book I felt it was a little slow, it did not take long to explode and then I couldn’t put it down!!! I read this as a stand-alone but that did not matter. Keliikoa has some very well developed characters and a strong female lead that kept me up very late reading!! Her great storytelling is filled with suspense, tension, family lies and secrets, with a twisty scheme that will keep you reading for hours! I highly recommend this book! I will definitely go back and read the first one!
Thank you NetGalley and Camel Press for an ARC of this book in e change for an honest review.
#NetGalley #Denied. # MaryKeliikoa #ARC
Thank you NetGalley and Camel Press for an ARC of this book in e change for an honest review.
#NetGalley #Denied. # MaryKeliikoa #ARC
June 9, 2021
Kelly is healed up from her last investigation and is taking on the case of finding an old high school friend’s missing father.
A friend’s missing father turns into a dead dad and Kelly suspects there is something rotten going on. As Kelly digs deeper into the victim’s life and associates, she puts herself in harms way.
The secrets, twists, and shady characters keep coming in this second installment of an outstanding mystery series with a strong female lead.
I love Kelly, our main character! She is smart and sassy but thoughtful and sensitive.
Kelly also has some continuing family drama that make for a multifaceted element and make the read more than just a mystery.
My favorite part..again.. Floyd the Bassett hound is back and better
A friend’s missing father turns into a dead dad and Kelly suspects there is something rotten going on. As Kelly digs deeper into the victim’s life and associates, she puts herself in harms way.
The secrets, twists, and shady characters keep coming in this second installment of an outstanding mystery series with a strong female lead.
I love Kelly, our main character! She is smart and sassy but thoughtful and sensitive.
Kelly also has some continuing family drama that make for a multifaceted element and make the read more than just a mystery.
My favorite part..again.. Floyd the Bassett hound is back and better
April 4, 2021
Well written and with great characters like in the first book, this is an easy book to read. The problem for me is that the main character still isn't very smart. Using phones for photos and recordings, for instance, should always be in the mind of a P.I.
May 27, 2021
#may2021release #booktour
"Life was a dance."-
🦜Choose!!
Isn't it a wonderful feeling;
-when you read more from the same author you liked,
-when you get to read book 2 from the series you liked & the wait is over?
❤️ Any #nancydrew fans here? 🙋🏻♀️
🦄 Are you close to your best friend's family too?
🦉 Do you like reading books on female, young, detective/ sleuths?
DENIED.
🦜Released 12th May.2021
Camel Press. Mary Kellikoa.
238 pgs; 36 chapters.
Book Series: A Kelly Pruett Mystery.
Book 2. (exactly after 1 year of DERAILED).
🦜Can be read as a STANDALONE.
🤐 PI Kelly Pruett's search to locate a former classmate's missing father ends in what appears to be a tragic accident. Kelly will play a high risk game of chance with a killer willing to gamble everything to win.
A smart, young sleuth, deep friendships, a mystery to-be solved & a dog 🐕. Also some dilemma & emotions with respect to Kelly's own love life🙃. The reader is going to have her hands full in all respects.
#noorthebookwormreviews
#denied
#netgalley
"Life was a dance."-
🦜Choose!!
Isn't it a wonderful feeling;
-when you read more from the same author you liked,
-when you get to read book 2 from the series you liked & the wait is over?
❤️ Any #nancydrew fans here? 🙋🏻♀️
🦄 Are you close to your best friend's family too?
🦉 Do you like reading books on female, young, detective/ sleuths?
DENIED.
🦜Released 12th May.2021
Camel Press. Mary Kellikoa.
238 pgs; 36 chapters.
Book Series: A Kelly Pruett Mystery.
Book 2. (exactly after 1 year of DERAILED).
🦜Can be read as a STANDALONE.
🤐 PI Kelly Pruett's search to locate a former classmate's missing father ends in what appears to be a tragic accident. Kelly will play a high risk game of chance with a killer willing to gamble everything to win.
A smart, young sleuth, deep friendships, a mystery to-be solved & a dog 🐕. Also some dilemma & emotions with respect to Kelly's own love life🙃. The reader is going to have her hands full in all respects.
#noorthebookwormreviews
#denied
#netgalley
May 20, 2021
I liked the book.
Starts kind of slow, but builds up a good story with lots of twists in it. Real raw emotion and insight along the way. The heroine defends herself against violence, but is not a violent or vengeful person. I liked the book.
Starts kind of slow, but builds up a good story with lots of twists in it. Real raw emotion and insight along the way. The heroine defends herself against violence, but is not a violent or vengeful person. I liked the book.
July 18, 2021
I was a huge fan of author Mary Keliikoa's first Kelly Pruett mystery DERAILED, so when I saw the 2nd book was coming out, it went on my buy list immediately.
After recovering from the injuries she received in the first book, Kelly Pruett has been lying low focusing on process serving rather than any of the more dangerous cases that she could have her hand in.
But when an old schoolfriend shows up on her doorstep asking Kelly to find her missing father, she can hardly say no. It's been weeks since the daughter has talked to her father, the results of a falling out they had around the time of Thanksgiving. But she's pregnant and wants to make amends with her dad so that he'll be part of her baby's life.
Kelly starts off by searching the man's home, a decision that immediately takes the case in a far darker direction. Amidst the detritus of life, she finds a detached human finger in the trash. Is it the missing dad's finger or does it belong to someone else.
As Kelly continues to investigate, she's being warned off the case by the cops, some apparent muscle for a loan shark and just about anyone else she questions about the man's disapearance. But as she uncovers more and more information, it appears her friend's dad was in serious trouble. He owed money to everyone he knew and they all wanted their money.
Figuring he's run off to avoid those people, Kelly figures the man will turn up eventually. But when his body shows up, having been apparently dead for weeks, she soon learns that he had a plan for getting a lot of money to clear up all his debts. The particulars of that deal elude her but Kelly pushes forward so that she can set her friend's mind at ease.
But finding out who wanted the guy out of the way proves difficult when she's stonewalled at every turn. A former employer has nothing but bad things to say about him, his son-in-law is squirrelly about his father in law and each new round of answers Kelly uncovers reveals more questions AND soon Kelly is put in the crosshairs of a killer looking to end her case...PERMANENTLY.
Keliikoa's writing is pretty intense. Not only with the investigation itself but with the consequences resulting from said investigation. She's dealing with intractable witnesses doing their best to steer her wrong, a fractured family who become potential targets for the killer and a new love life she's slowly navigating through as well. I loved the way she continues to peel back what Kelly thought she knew of her father's life as a P.I. and those new discoveries throwing a cloud on what she thought of him. And though she's just eight years old, I like the stubborn, independent streak developing in Mitz, Kelly's daughter.
While Kelly Pruett may not be seeking out these cases that bring havoc, drama and the possibility of death into her life, readers are thankful that Mary Keliikoa is out there doing that for us. The twisty path to the truth in DENIED kept me glued to the book and at the edge of my seat!
After recovering from the injuries she received in the first book, Kelly Pruett has been lying low focusing on process serving rather than any of the more dangerous cases that she could have her hand in.
But when an old schoolfriend shows up on her doorstep asking Kelly to find her missing father, she can hardly say no. It's been weeks since the daughter has talked to her father, the results of a falling out they had around the time of Thanksgiving. But she's pregnant and wants to make amends with her dad so that he'll be part of her baby's life.
Kelly starts off by searching the man's home, a decision that immediately takes the case in a far darker direction. Amidst the detritus of life, she finds a detached human finger in the trash. Is it the missing dad's finger or does it belong to someone else.
As Kelly continues to investigate, she's being warned off the case by the cops, some apparent muscle for a loan shark and just about anyone else she questions about the man's disapearance. But as she uncovers more and more information, it appears her friend's dad was in serious trouble. He owed money to everyone he knew and they all wanted their money.
Figuring he's run off to avoid those people, Kelly figures the man will turn up eventually. But when his body shows up, having been apparently dead for weeks, she soon learns that he had a plan for getting a lot of money to clear up all his debts. The particulars of that deal elude her but Kelly pushes forward so that she can set her friend's mind at ease.
But finding out who wanted the guy out of the way proves difficult when she's stonewalled at every turn. A former employer has nothing but bad things to say about him, his son-in-law is squirrelly about his father in law and each new round of answers Kelly uncovers reveals more questions AND soon Kelly is put in the crosshairs of a killer looking to end her case...PERMANENTLY.
Keliikoa's writing is pretty intense. Not only with the investigation itself but with the consequences resulting from said investigation. She's dealing with intractable witnesses doing their best to steer her wrong, a fractured family who become potential targets for the killer and a new love life she's slowly navigating through as well. I loved the way she continues to peel back what Kelly thought she knew of her father's life as a P.I. and those new discoveries throwing a cloud on what she thought of him. And though she's just eight years old, I like the stubborn, independent streak developing in Mitz, Kelly's daughter.
While Kelly Pruett may not be seeking out these cases that bring havoc, drama and the possibility of death into her life, readers are thankful that Mary Keliikoa is out there doing that for us. The twisty path to the truth in DENIED kept me glued to the book and at the edge of my seat!
May 16, 2021
Mary Keliikoa, the author of “Denied” has written an edgy, intense, and suspenseful novel. The genres for this novel are a mystery, suspense, romance, and fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
The protagonist PI Kelly Pruett is persistent and courageous. Kelly manages to raise her deaf daughter, sharing the responsibility with her ex-husband Jeff. Kelly and Jeff are friends now, but at times there is tension, especially when Kelly’s handsome boyfriend Kyle is around. Arlene, Kelly’s ex-mother-in-law wishes that Kelly and Jeff would be together. Often, Kelly goes on the investigation with her dog.
This is the second in the PI Kelly Pruett series but can be read alone. Kelly follows in her late father’s footsteps and tries to fill them by being as successful in being a detective. A pregnant acquaintance has asked Kelly to help locate her missing father. Kelly is totally unaware of the dangers that await her. There are twists and turns, adventure, threats, and murder. Also involved are the Mafia, and other mean-spirited characters, and greedy characters. The more involved Kelly becomes, the more danger she is in.
I would highly recommend this intense mystery to other readers.
The protagonist PI Kelly Pruett is persistent and courageous. Kelly manages to raise her deaf daughter, sharing the responsibility with her ex-husband Jeff. Kelly and Jeff are friends now, but at times there is tension, especially when Kelly’s handsome boyfriend Kyle is around. Arlene, Kelly’s ex-mother-in-law wishes that Kelly and Jeff would be together. Often, Kelly goes on the investigation with her dog.
This is the second in the PI Kelly Pruett series but can be read alone. Kelly follows in her late father’s footsteps and tries to fill them by being as successful in being a detective. A pregnant acquaintance has asked Kelly to help locate her missing father. Kelly is totally unaware of the dangers that await her. There are twists and turns, adventure, threats, and murder. Also involved are the Mafia, and other mean-spirited characters, and greedy characters. The more involved Kelly becomes, the more danger she is in.
I would highly recommend this intense mystery to other readers.
April 7, 2021
A slow starter that just didn't grab me. It is book 2cin the series, but I didn't have any problem following the story. It eventually developed into a decent mystery.
August 20, 2021
Denied is the second book in the Kelly Pruett Mystery series; and, like Derailed (Book 1), it’s another 5 star rating from me. For the past several months, Kelly’s PI caseload has been pretty dull…which means safe, and that’s just fine with her ex-husband, ex-mother-in-law, and current boyfriend. Her last case put her in a lot of danger and left her pretty battered. Just when she’s finally almost at 100%, a case comes in. And this case will be anything but safe.
Since the case comes from a former classmate, Kelly can’t say no. She’s hired to look for the classmate’s missing dad. Granted, she hadn’t talked to him much in the past several years, but now that she’s expecting a baby, she wants her dad in her life. All of her efforts to reach him have been in vain, so Kelly agrees to look for her friend’s estranged dad. Finding him should be easy, right? Go to his house, look for some clues, and probably find out that he’s taken a trip out of the country. But what she finds is a bloody finger in the trash and lots of evidence of gambling.
And Kelly’s back in the business of being a real PI who gets into sticky, dangerous situations. Those sticky, dangerous situations make Denied such an exciting read. Action abounds throughout this mystery book. Along with the action, multiple clues are discovered, and you’ll think you’ve got the case solved. Like Derailed, you’ll be guessing until those final chapters.
I really enjoyed getting to know the main characters in this series a little better. Kelly is a strong female protagonist to whom many of us can relate. She’s got people who care about her, and she finds that she cares for some of them more than she’d previously thought. Furthermore, the characters who are essential to only this mystery are very strong supporting characters and potential suspects.
Though you can read Denied as a stand-alone, I recommend reading Derailed first. Both are page turners that you won’t want to put down! I highly recommend this exciting mystery!
Since the case comes from a former classmate, Kelly can’t say no. She’s hired to look for the classmate’s missing dad. Granted, she hadn’t talked to him much in the past several years, but now that she’s expecting a baby, she wants her dad in her life. All of her efforts to reach him have been in vain, so Kelly agrees to look for her friend’s estranged dad. Finding him should be easy, right? Go to his house, look for some clues, and probably find out that he’s taken a trip out of the country. But what she finds is a bloody finger in the trash and lots of evidence of gambling.
And Kelly’s back in the business of being a real PI who gets into sticky, dangerous situations. Those sticky, dangerous situations make Denied such an exciting read. Action abounds throughout this mystery book. Along with the action, multiple clues are discovered, and you’ll think you’ve got the case solved. Like Derailed, you’ll be guessing until those final chapters.
I really enjoyed getting to know the main characters in this series a little better. Kelly is a strong female protagonist to whom many of us can relate. She’s got people who care about her, and she finds that she cares for some of them more than she’d previously thought. Furthermore, the characters who are essential to only this mystery are very strong supporting characters and potential suspects.
Though you can read Denied as a stand-alone, I recommend reading Derailed first. Both are page turners that you won’t want to put down! I highly recommend this exciting mystery!
June 30, 2021
Private eye Kelly Pruett is having a bad few months. She’s just recovered from a gunshot wound that was a result of her last case, and she’s promised herself she’s going to take it easy.
Cue an old childhood friend, Stephanie. Stephanie is in the middle of a high risk pregnancy, and her father, Vince, hasn’t returned her calls for months. Kelly hopes he just hit it big at the racetrack and is sipping a Bahama Mama somewhere on a beach. But as she delves further into the mystery, she starts to think Vince’s radio silence is a clue that something more sinister occurred.
Is it just me, or are most mystery/thriller books these days a little…outlandish? I love them, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I’ll be reading the latest thriller and I’ll think…”Okay, this would never happen in real life though.”
Denied is a different kind of mystery. It wasn’t just that Vince’s disappearance seemed more grounded in reality than I’m used to recently (is it a symptom of a gambling addiction? Does he owe money to the local mobsters?), but the characters jumped off the page. Kelly Pruett seems like someone you know. She eats peanut butter off a spoon for dinner, takes her dog Floyd with her everywhere (until it gets to hot for him to stay in the car, of course!), and is dating someone new after a messy divorce, albeit tentatively. She loves her daughter and has a tricky but warm relationship with her mother-in-law. She’s a little hardheaded but softhearted. Overall, she’s an incredibly likeable character.
The mystery itself seems straight from a Law and Order episode or even something you’d watch on the evening news, but not in a bad way. Its a mystery that I just knew would be solved with a logical explanation, and it was! There was a great twist at the end, though, and enough surprises for the pages to turn easily. Plus, I loved her witty MIL Arlene and Officer Kuni, her reluctant police officer liaison (Arlene + Kuni = forever).
Cue an old childhood friend, Stephanie. Stephanie is in the middle of a high risk pregnancy, and her father, Vince, hasn’t returned her calls for months. Kelly hopes he just hit it big at the racetrack and is sipping a Bahama Mama somewhere on a beach. But as she delves further into the mystery, she starts to think Vince’s radio silence is a clue that something more sinister occurred.
Is it just me, or are most mystery/thriller books these days a little…outlandish? I love them, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I’ll be reading the latest thriller and I’ll think…”Okay, this would never happen in real life though.”
Denied is a different kind of mystery. It wasn’t just that Vince’s disappearance seemed more grounded in reality than I’m used to recently (is it a symptom of a gambling addiction? Does he owe money to the local mobsters?), but the characters jumped off the page. Kelly Pruett seems like someone you know. She eats peanut butter off a spoon for dinner, takes her dog Floyd with her everywhere (until it gets to hot for him to stay in the car, of course!), and is dating someone new after a messy divorce, albeit tentatively. She loves her daughter and has a tricky but warm relationship with her mother-in-law. She’s a little hardheaded but softhearted. Overall, she’s an incredibly likeable character.
The mystery itself seems straight from a Law and Order episode or even something you’d watch on the evening news, but not in a bad way. Its a mystery that I just knew would be solved with a logical explanation, and it was! There was a great twist at the end, though, and enough surprises for the pages to turn easily. Plus, I loved her witty MIL Arlene and Officer Kuni, her reluctant police officer liaison (Arlene + Kuni = forever).
May 2, 2021
"Denied" is a suspense/mystery. This is the second book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the mystery of the previous book. However, the book description led me to have some wrong expectations about the book. Kelly's deaf daughter was a minor character who was mainly cared for by her ex, who seemed like a fairly nice guy. The puppy was just a pet, usually asleep on the passenger seat of the car. Until, suddenly, he was out sniffing out clues. It wasn't clear if the dog had some training or if this was simply an innate instinct for his breed, but it was rather unexpected at that point.
Kelly was a very human heroine, wanting to live up to a high ideal but feeling like she was failing. She's very determined and cares about others. She's quite competent in the sense that she asked good questions, was observant, followed up on clues, and even survived quite a few dangerous situations. But she also made some wrong assumptions and mistakes. She broke some laws and once suffered consequences for those actions. I initially understood her motivation for continuing to search for the truth despite the danger (threats, exploding cars, knives, etc.) to herself. I was baffled, though, by why she couldn't let go when a trustworthy detective said they would seriously investigate everything she had found, so she could now focus on staying safe (and being the good mom that she aspires to be).
There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Kelly was a very human heroine, wanting to live up to a high ideal but feeling like she was failing. She's very determined and cares about others. She's quite competent in the sense that she asked good questions, was observant, followed up on clues, and even survived quite a few dangerous situations. But she also made some wrong assumptions and mistakes. She broke some laws and once suffered consequences for those actions. I initially understood her motivation for continuing to search for the truth despite the danger (threats, exploding cars, knives, etc.) to herself. I was baffled, though, by why she couldn't let go when a trustworthy detective said they would seriously investigate everything she had found, so she could now focus on staying safe (and being the good mom that she aspires to be).
There was a fair amount of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting mystery.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
August 23, 2021
This is a strong second book in the Kelly Pruett PI series, with a fast-moving plot that picks up a few months after the events in Keliihoa’s multi-award-nominated debut novel, DERAILED.
Kelly is carrying on her deceased dad’s PI business, mostly with routine surveillance and process-serving cases. But when a pregnant former classmate asks Kelly to find her missing father, the challenge resonates with Kelly. When the father turns up dead, the case quickly becomes much more complicated. The cops say his death was an accident, but Kelly can’t drop the case: she feels her client deserves answers, even if it means putting herself in danger.
Along the way, there are issues with the people in Kelly’s personal life: her deaf daughter Mitz (not a teen yet, but with all the attitude); her protective ex-husband Jeff; her ex-mother-in-law and next-door-neighbor, Arlene; her dishy new romantic interest, police officer Kyle; and her loyal basset hound Floyd.
Kelly’s investigative probing takes her down some twisted byways and into confrontation with some dangerous figures, leading to a heart-pounding climax and an ultimately satisfying ending.
Kelly is carrying on her deceased dad’s PI business, mostly with routine surveillance and process-serving cases. But when a pregnant former classmate asks Kelly to find her missing father, the challenge resonates with Kelly. When the father turns up dead, the case quickly becomes much more complicated. The cops say his death was an accident, but Kelly can’t drop the case: she feels her client deserves answers, even if it means putting herself in danger.
Along the way, there are issues with the people in Kelly’s personal life: her deaf daughter Mitz (not a teen yet, but with all the attitude); her protective ex-husband Jeff; her ex-mother-in-law and next-door-neighbor, Arlene; her dishy new romantic interest, police officer Kyle; and her loyal basset hound Floyd.
Kelly’s investigative probing takes her down some twisted byways and into confrontation with some dangerous figures, leading to a heart-pounding climax and an ultimately satisfying ending.
August 26, 2021
*edit to add review*
PI Kelly Pruett is back in yet another roller coaster of a story. When an old classmate Steph hires Kelly to look for her missing father Vince, her investigation leads to discover the missing man had gambling debt and mafia ties - both of which could account for his disappearance. Her trail seemingly comes to an end when his car is discovered in a creek, with his body - the police deem it to a fatal accident though his daughter doesn't want to believe it to be so and asks Kelly to keep investigating.
What started as a simple missing case now turns to a murder investigation for Kelly, and it brings her more than she bargained for when she is warned off looking into it anymore by the mafia.
This was a great story and one that will keep you on your toes, Kelly is juggling her job, co-parenting her deaf child Mitz with her ex-husband and her new relationship with Kyle! To say Kelly has lot going is an understatement, but she is one tough cookie and strong woman to boot.
I am loving the series and cant wait see what is in store for her next.
PI Kelly Pruett is back in yet another roller coaster of a story. When an old classmate Steph hires Kelly to look for her missing father Vince, her investigation leads to discover the missing man had gambling debt and mafia ties - both of which could account for his disappearance. Her trail seemingly comes to an end when his car is discovered in a creek, with his body - the police deem it to a fatal accident though his daughter doesn't want to believe it to be so and asks Kelly to keep investigating.
What started as a simple missing case now turns to a murder investigation for Kelly, and it brings her more than she bargained for when she is warned off looking into it anymore by the mafia.
This was a great story and one that will keep you on your toes, Kelly is juggling her job, co-parenting her deaf child Mitz with her ex-husband and her new relationship with Kyle! To say Kelly has lot going is an understatement, but she is one tough cookie and strong woman to boot.
I am loving the series and cant wait see what is in store for her next.
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