Dead Tired: An Expectant Detectives Mystery

Ailes follows up The Expectant Detectives with another spirited cozy that finds new mother Alice and her friends investigating a climate protestor’s murder. One afternoon, Alice and her fellow postnatal sleuths Hen, Alisa, and Poppy are picnicking in a Cotswolds meadow when two naked environmentalists approach. The activists inform the women that a nearby thicket of 500-year-old chestnut is set to be razed to make room for a wind farm sponsored by the green energy company Aether. Each of the friends—except Hen, who’s recently begun working as a personal assistant for Aether’s CEO—readily agree to chain themselves to the chestnut trees in protest. The next day, Alice returns to the meadow and discovers one of the protesters strangled to death, with her arms still chained to the tree she was protecting. The friends agree to rejoin forces and launch an investigation. Soon, they turn up a web of deadly rivalries that places suspicion on activists, artists, and executives alike. Ailes once again marries quick wit, surprising reveals, and charming antics from Alice’s dog, Helen. This series has all the ingredients for a long and satisfying run. (June)