Devi Nair
š±š Read on Kindle š 320 pages ā± Duration: 4 hours š Read as part of MOTIVE 2026 lineup š·ļø Publisher: Viking š Published May 12, 2026
Look, I'm a sucker for multi-generational women solving crimes together, and MOTIVE lineup promised exactly that. What hooked me here wasn't the usual "woman escaping bad relationship, opens a charming bookshop" setup. It was Maude becoming a court clerk. That's different. That's access to sealed documents, whispered hallway conversations, and front-row seats to small-town justice going sideways. I was so ready for courtroom drama meets amateur sleuth brilliance.
The character work was wonderful. Val and Rhette click immediately, as any grandmother-granddaughter duo would, but so comforting to watch/read. Maude trying to find her place within that dynamic added a nice emotional layer, especially as the murder investigation became the thread tying them together. The evolution felt genuine and was easily my favorite part of the story.
But the mystery itself was where things started to wobble. Small-town police inexperience is one thing, but the Kirby women stumbling into clues like they're following a treasure map written in neon, was just too much to process. Straight up accusing people of murder, demanding alibis from longtime neighbours like official investigations, Rhette's nighttime snopping going unchecked. Nobody calls the cops. Nobody lawyers up. Nobody even seems annoyed (except some mild inconvenience scattered here and there). Maude playing dumb during court depositions in front of the judge stretched my suspension of disbelief past its snapping point.
Cozy mysteries ask for some imaginative generosity, but this one wanted me to ignore basic human behaviour and small town gossip dynamics entirely.
Would I recommend it? For strong female relationships, and a cozy vibe with a legal twist, this is a good book. The Kirby women are delightful company, and the small-town Canadian setting has charm to spare. Just don't expect procedural realism or subtle sleuthing. This is a comfort read with training wheels, perfect for a lazy afternoon reading when you want to cheer for good guys without working too hard.
š±š Read on Kindle š 320 pages ā± Duration: 4 hours š Read as part of MOTIVE 2026 lineup š·ļø Publisher: Viking š Published May 12, 2026
Look, I'm a sucker for multi-generational women solving crimes together, and MOTIVE lineup promised exactly that. What hooked me here wasn't the usual "woman escaping bad relationship, opens a charming bookshop" setup. It was Maude becoming a court clerk. That's different. That's access to sealed documents, whispered hallway conversations, and front-row seats to small-town justice going sideways. I was so ready for courtroom drama meets amateur sleuth brilliance.
The character work was wonderful. Val and Rhette click immediately, as any grandmother-granddaughter duo would, but so comforting to watch/read. Maude trying to find her place within that dynamic added a nice emotional layer, especially as the murder investigation became the thread tying them together. The evolution felt genuine and was easily my favorite part of the story.
But the mystery itself was where things started to wobble. Small-town police inexperience is one thing, but the Kirby women stumbling into clues like they're following a treasure map written in neon, was just too much to process. Straight up accusing people of murder, demanding alibis from longtime neighbours like official investigations, Rhette's nighttime snopping going unchecked. Nobody calls the cops. Nobody lawyers up. Nobody even seems annoyed (except some mild inconvenience scattered here and there). Maude playing dumb during court depositions in front of the judge stretched my suspension of disbelief past its snapping point.
Cozy mysteries ask for some imaginative generosity, but this one wanted me to ignore basic human behaviour and small town gossip dynamics entirely.
Would I recommend it? For strong female relationships, and a cozy vibe with a legal twist, this is a good book. The Kirby women are delightful company, and the small-town Canadian setting has charm to spare. Just don't expect procedural realism or subtle sleuthing. This is a comfort read with training wheels, perfect for a lazy afternoon reading when you want to cheer for good guys without working too hard.