What I liked:
• The humour.
• The light-heartedness feel of the book.
• The mystery behind the case and twists.

As far as debut novels go, Kat Ailes has knocked it out the park! The Expectant Detectives is a murder mystery, but is filled with lightheartedness, laughter and diverse characters. Who would have thought that murder and pregnancy together would make such an enjoyable and funny book?! To say I thoroughly enjoyed this would be an understatement.

All the characters within the book held their own personalities and that never got lost within the story. Alice’s character was hilarious with her remarks and thoughts throughout, while Hen was her polar opposite. I adored Poppy and Alisa was an intriguing character to follow too. It was definitely a group I would love to interact and become friends with. Overall, there were a lot of characters introduced, which got a bit confusing at first, but with time, it became easier to remember who was who.

As mentioned, despite this being a murder mystery, it wasn’t a dark, tense vibe. It was a lighthearted feel with moments of unease. There were definitely a few twists chucked in for good measure, some small and some big, some a little predictable and some not so much.

When the description on NetGalley said Motherhood meets Midsomer Murders, it couldn’t have been more precise! I could definitely see this as a TV show in its own right and I hope we get to see more of Penton (and Helen!) in future books of Kat’s.

Thank you NetGalley, Kat Ailes and Bonnier Books for accepting me as an arc reader in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really great, funny, well written murder mystery story. I know that murder mysteries aren’t supposed to be funny but the author manages to give us a really great plot with brilliant observations from a set of very pregnant down to earth soon to be mums and other characters. The writing and Alice, as the storyteller were so funny and relatable. A great five star read and definitely an author to look out for. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

The plot is as deep and dark as it gets, multi-layered with 'who knew what when?' as the strands come together and the finer details get filled in. This is an absolutely compelling, gripping book full of mystery and suspense. Only a few authors can write deeply involving psychological drama of the very highest quality.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

I was a little aphrenrsive for another book in an underrepresented group in society becoming detectives and solving crimes, bur I really enjoyed this and have recommended to some of my good mum friends. A brilliant (and realistic) set of sleuths and a plot line that kept my interested. Reminds me fondly of a local town, Stroud, where I imagined the whole case unfolding. A good and gentle read.

Finished the Expectant Detectives last night 💞💗

Motherland meets Midsomer Murders is how it's being described, and that's spot on! This is about a group of soon-to-be mums who turn detective when there's a murder at their antenatal class.

I loved this cosy crime drama, set in my favourite place, the Cotswolds! Alice is a hoot, very witty, silly, and slightly chaotic (I wish she'd put her feed up a bit more). Helen, her dog, cracked me up, similar to mine, a total nuisance. Alice meets three other ladies in her antenatal class, where they quickly form a connection. At first, they're only really bound together by the fact their having babies, with not much else in common. Soon, you can see genuine friendships growing as the story evolves.

There were moments where I felt some bits were a little drawn out, but as the story built pace & the details started to unravel, I was definitely finding it very hard to put down. Motherland meets Midsomer is spot on! Add this to your summer reading list, you'll thank me.

Released in June 💞 thank you @netgalley
@k.ailes 📚

A move from the city to the country when expecting a first baby isn’t unusual. Giving birth in an ante-natal class is! This book made me laugh out loud several times. There are murders, the remnants of a hippy commune with various mystical, alternative businesses. Old secrets long buried are influencing present events which the ante-natal group attempt to solve. I loved this book and look forward to a sequel - toddler taming can be murder! Highly recommended

Thank you to the team at net gallery and the publishers for allowing me to the pre-release book.

I very much enjoyed reading about Alice and the other expecting mothers landing head first in a crime scene, trying to work out what is going on past and present.

A journey of building relationships between friends, partners and family

I really enjoyed this book a lot! I felt like it flowed really well and intrigued me as a reader. I would highly recommend this book to anyone
5 stars from me

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Expectant Detectives was such an enjoyable read! A lovely little cosy crime that has a group of pregnant women in a small Cotswolds town solving a murder. I enjoyed all the characters and felt they all had unique attributes. I guess I would have liked to know more about Jane as she was a little flat.

The flow of the mystery was well paced and I liked that I kind of knew some of the elements of the story were coming up, but that just made me read faster to prove I was correct! I liked some of the unique references in the book which made me nostalgic in places. I don't think I've heard the term 'kecks' in years.

I hope Kat decides to write more about this motley crew... new mum detectives next?

I love this book. It is so well written and had me laughing out loud at times.

Murder, cults and communes in a small backwater of rural idyll. Who knew they would have their fair share of bigots, racists, pot smokers, and hippy dippy chakra healers?

Alice and Joe are hoping to bring their imminent new baby up well away from the smoggy dangers of that there London. I
Little did they know what crazy shenanigans they were entering into.
Recommended for readers of books like The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

The Expectant Detectives is a fresh, page-turning read that's funny in places. If you're looking for a fun escapist read that's a little different to other cosy crime books out there, I would highly recommend this title.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I liked the concept of this book, but found it slow going and the main character unlikeable.

I loved the premise of this story - a funny murder mystery where a gang of pregnant women team up to solve a murder in the shop beneath their antenatal class.
The characters were likeable (if a tiny bit stereotypical) and this was a fun, easy read. However, I did feel it could have got cracking a bit quicker and found the humour a bit overdone at times. A good beach read though.

This book really threw me back to expecting my first baby! Alice is a relatable character and we all know a Hen! I enjoyed this book, lots of twists and turns which kept me hooked, along with making me laugh! Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy I would definitely recommend this for a light read to my friends!

A cosy mystery as you would expect it. A lovely idea wonderfully executed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I feel as though, since Richard Osman's 'Thursday Murder Club' series, there has been an influx of cosy murder mystery type books and this is no exception.

The Expectant Detectives follows Alice, a pregnant city girl now living in a country village with her partner. We join her for the local ante-natal classes where she find a group of friends. But when someone is murdered during their first meeting, they take matters into their own hands and start doing some detective work of their own.

Having two young children myself, I thought this would be a perfect book for me but in reality I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with it. From the beginning, I felt as though it was just trying a bit too hard to be funny and this made it fall a little flat for me. It did get better though and I had a mild interest in what happened next.

Overall, it was 'ok'. Not something I'd rush to read again but enjoyable.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

A couple move out of London to a small sleepy village to have a new life in preparation for the arrival of their first baby. But an unexpected death during a group ante natal meeting involves the group of pregnant villagers try to solve the mystery of the unexpected death. A nice little fun, crime mystery

The blurb was accurate as The Expectant Detectives was an amusing cosy crime mystery. Pregnant women who meet at an anti natal class turn detective and try to solve a murder mystery. A nice read.

Alice and Joe have moved to the Cotswolds to await the imminent arrival of their son.
But within days of arriving and during a very practical antenatal class murder shrouds the village they have moved to.
This began as a lighthearted cosy read about four expectant women trying to find a killer but it quickly became more than this as old secrets are unearthed and we are unsure about who to trust.
I loved the relationship that developed between the four soon to be mothers and how they came to support each other in a time of uncertainty.

A really cosy mystery. A twist on your usual small town, almost closed room, mystery featuring a group of pregnant women and driving home that women can do anything even solving murders whilst heavily pregnant. This was really fun and funny with a group of quirky characters and very sweet relationships. I would recommend for a cosy mystery with some very funny moments.