Murder by Death

A Henery Press mystery I hadn't tried yet, Finding Sky was mostly good.  It's well-written, well-plotted and has great characters.

She’s a parent. She’s (almost) a P.I. No one gets on your case like mom.

Suburban widow and P.I. in training Nicki Valentine can barely keep track of her two kids, but when her best friend’s adoption plan is jeopardized by the young birth mother’s disappearance, Nicki is persuaded to help. Nearly everyone else believes the teenager ran away, but Nicki trusts her BFF’s judgment, and the feeling is mutual.

It's right there in the summary, but I didn't expect quite so much evangelising about parenting and all the things she does to be a good parent.  There was a lot.  I was way more interested in what she was doing to solve the mystery than I was in hearing a detailed account of how she spent quality time with her kids.

Otherwise, I enjoyed it; Ms. O'Brien created complex and likeable characters.  I like that Nicki believes in and prays to God, without practicing any specific religion and talks about the possibility of visiting psychics (she doesn't).  I enjoy the perceived dichotomy and the inherent non-judginess.  This is not a Christian read and unless you're a militant atheist who hates any mention of faith, it shouldn't interrupt anyone's enjoyment.

The mystery itself was interesting too; no murder, but a missing pregnant teen that may or may not have run away on the eve of delivery.  

I'm not going to run out to buy the next one (the helicopter-mommy thing was annoying) but I'll definitely pick it up one of these days to see what happens next.