"PI Kelly Pruett is determined to make it on her own. But juggling clients at her late father's detective agency, a controlling ex and caring for her 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 - a young woman who was struck by a train." This book was interesting but not really compelling. I found myself frustrated with Kelly's lack of ability to balance her duties as a mom and a PI. Perhaps that was supposed to be part of the allure. Not for me. I found it extremely short sighted and immature. Overall, the story was unique and plotted out well. It just lacked a clear path to her decisions or lack thereof. ( )

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.* ( )

In Derailed, book one of the PI Kelly Pruett Mystery Series, author Mary Keliikoa transports the reader to Portland, Oregon for an intriguing private investigator mystery story that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.

PI Kelly Pruett inherited R & K Investigations from her father Roger, after he suddenly died from a stroke. The past year has been difficult as she grieves her father's death, while also dealing with her ex-husband Jeff, and his meddling mother Arlene.

When Georgette Hanson comes into the agency looking to hire Roger to investigate her daughter Brooke's death, Kelly remembers a letter that her father attached to his will, requesting that she assist Georgette if she needs help without asking why. With her father's request in mind, Kelly agrees to take on her first investigative case.

As Kelly delves into the case, the more she learns about Brooke, the more she discovers that Brooke wasn't who her family thought she was, and that her death may not have been accidental after all. The more information Kelly discovers, the more danger, potential motives, and suspects are added to the list, and one of them is determined to stop Kelly before she reveals the truth of Brooke's death at any cost.

Author Mary Keliikoa weaves a fast-paced and suspenseful tale written in the first person narrative that follows Kelly's first investigation to uncover the truth behind the death of Brooke Hanson.

I loved reading this action-packed story. Kelly's first foray into being a PI kept me intrigued as her investigative techniques were put to the test. The reader will be easily drawn into this richly descriptive plot that will keep them guessing as family secrets, a growing list of possible suspects, motives, and clues are uncovered. And if that's not enough, Kelly also has to deal with personal issues with her ex-husband over the shared custody of their deaf eight year old daughter Mitz, a meddling mother-in-law, the unexpected revelation of a family secret, and a budding romance thrown into the mix.

Derailed has enough drama, tension, action, dark secrets, intrigue, a touch of romance, and unexpected twists and turns that will take the reader on one heck of a thrilling roller coaster ride.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/09/derailed-by-mary-keliikoa-vbt... ( )

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 me. ( )