Homemaker

Prairie Nightingale Mystery, #1

by

Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare

A Green Bay housewife becomes involved in the investigation of a missing woman from her former mothers' group.

Homemaker is the first book in authors Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare amazing new series, Prairie Nightingale Mysteries, and is one of the most entertaining books I've read this year. Prairie Nightingale notices things, and she knows something is off in the elementary school moms' group she used to be a part of, even before the news that Lisa Ratcliffe was missing. As she talks to the missing woman's closest friends, many of whom were involved in the same multilevel marketing business, Kitty Blue, she starts gathering important pieces of information that, when combined, could be critical to law enforcement in solving the baffling disappearance. Of course, the local FBI agent on the case wants her to back off and leave the investigation to the professionals while showing her a more personal side that could work out to something interesting for her Thursday night date nights. However, they both have access to resources that the other does not, with her having insider knowledge about the missing woman and an uncanny ability to see connections in the clues that others don't. 

Prairie Nightingale is a fun and relatable yet complex character with a unique backstory and an unusual post-divorce, co-parenting situation with her ex-husband. She's smart and witty, and her interactions with Special Agent Foster Rosemare are delightful as long as they are not discussing "his" case. I enjoyed how she developed some remarkably intricate theories about what happened to Lisa based on her observations and interviews with the woman's friends. 

The plot leaps off to a good start with the mystery introduced early in the story. The story unfolds from Prairie's point of view, so readers have full access to her thought processes and motives as he pursues her private inquiries. There are plenty of relatable moments with Prairie, the mother, and Prairie, the newly single woman, to enjoy as she slowly makes her way to the truth behind what happened to Lisa Ratcliffe. 

I recommend HOMEMAKER to readers who enjoy mysteries, cozies, and domestic thrillers.

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