Expectant Detectives

Motherland meets Midsomer Murders in this fresh and funny mystery about a group of soon-to-be mums who turn detective when there's a murder at their antenatal class.FEATURED IN THE EVENING STANDARD'S BOOKS TO WATCH IN 2023'COSY CRIME AT ITS FINEST' JANICE HALLETTI know people say that your hormones can play havoc with your emotions while pregnant - but in this instance I was more inclined to blame the murder.When Alice and Joe find themselves unexpectantly pregnant with their first child, they decide to be responsible, switching the dangers of London for the safety of countryside living . . . though the dead body at their local antenatal class has them rethinking their life choice.With everyone in the class considered a suspect and with little to do until the baby arrives, Alice sets out to solve the mystery and clear her name alongside her new friends. Between the discovery of a shady commune and the unearthing of a mysterious death years earlier, Alice is soon in way over her head.Can she uncover the truth before tragedy strikes again . . . or her waters break?'A SHARPLY WITTY DEBUT' SIMON BRETT

A wildly impressive debut. Pacy, energetic and best of all hilariously funny - without detracting from the shadowy mystery and genuine humanity at its core. Its characters and twisty plot feel absolutely real - you'll be on the edge of your seat, totally immersed in trying to work out who did it, but rest assured you're never far from a smile. Cosy crime at its finest!, Kat Ailes is a welcome newcomer to the ranks of cosy crime novelists. The Expectant Detectives is a sharply witty debut, A gloriously smart and witty telling of the darker side of NCT groups - this is really funny with edge, The epitome of fun and witty cosy crime, Murdering every mummy cliché with hilarity and heart, this book is a complete triumph. Perfectly plotted, brilliantly observed and just so much fun

Kat Ailes' debut novel was runner-up for the Comedy Women in Print Unpublished Prize 2021. She works as an editor and freelanced for several years to allow her to take a couple of belated gap years, including hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. She now lives in the Cotswolds with her lovely husband and son and her beautiful but foolish dog.