A dying wish. A secret world.Can this grieving investigator stay on the right track?PI Kelly Pruett is determined to make it on her own. And juggling clients at her late father’s detective agency, a controlling ex, and caring for a deaf daughter was never going to be easy. So she takes it as a good sign when a letter left by her dad ties into an unsolved case of a young woman struck by a train.… struck by a train.
Hunting down the one person who can prove the mysterious death was not just a drunken accident, Kelly discovers this witness is in no condition to talk. And the closer she gets to the truth the longer her list of sleazy suspects with murderous motives grows.
On a crash course with a killer, she must piece together the puzzle of what really happened to the victim that rainy night, before her own fate is sealed and she loses everything near and dear, including her life
“Winning series and debut launch…Keliikoa offers believable characters, valid motives, a shifting cast of suspects, and an appealing protagonist, who balances her life as a divorced mother of an eight-year-old daughter with her increasingly chaotic career. This is definitely a series to watch.” — Publishers Weekly
“The story is straight from the Kinsey Milhone school of private investigation, yet still manages to create a unique and complex main character.” — Kellye Garrett
“Mary Keliikoa’s debut novel is an important addition to the PI genre – strong with voice, a compelling protagonist in Kelly Pruett, and unforgettable family secrets. DERAILED was hard to put down – and I can’t wait to read the next book in this crackling new series.” –Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Blackout and Miami Midnight
“DERAILED has it all: an engaging heroine, a twisty, twisted crime, and plenty of food for thought about families and their secrets. I loved this debut and can’t wait to read about Kelly Pruett’s next case.” –Kristen Lepionka, Shamus Award-winning author of the Roxane Weary mystery series
“Intelligent, tightly plotted, and satisfying. Kelly Pruett is a new PI on the scene and I’m eager for her next case.” –Dianne Freeman, Agatha and Lefty award winning author of the Countess of Harleigh mysteries
“Mary Keliikoa’s DERAILED is a humdinger of a good read. Sharp, detailed writing, a riveting plot and well-drawn characters make it practically unputdownable. And how exciting to have another tough, smart, female PI to follow. I can’t wait for PI Kelly Pruett’s next case!” –Tracy Clark, author of Borrowed Time
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After years of helping her late father with his private detective business, Kelly Pruitt is working her first solo case while juggling life as a single mom with a clingy ex-husband and a bossy ex-mother-in-law. The case was closed by the police as accidental death by commuter train, but the mother of the victim isn’t convinced. Neither is Kelly once she digs into the shady lifestyle of the victim. As the investigation reveals more of the victim’s secret life, it brings to light the secrets Kelly’s father kept from her. The deeper she digs, the more her personal and professional lives converge until they meet in a very satisfying conclusion. Can’t wait for Kelly’s next case!
This mystery is packed full of suspense, twists, and turns. Kelly is a protagonist you really want to root for. She has been through a lot of in her life. We can all relate to trying to keep life going when you feel like you are falling apart inside. The mystery wasn’t at all what I was expecting and kept me guessing until the end. The ending left me entertained and ready to see what adventures Kelly Pruett has in future books.
https://cozyexperience.com/derailed-book-review/
Derailed by Mary Keliikoa is an outstanding mystery with lots of discovery and secrets revealed.
Will Kelly figure out who killed Brooke before she’s next?
Kelly Pruett
Kelly is our main character, point of view, mother, and private investigator. The past year has been rough for Kelly, as she was divorced and her dad passed away. Yet, now that she has grieved a bit, Kelly is finding out that she is tougher than other people think she is. Kelly’s daughter is eight, and she is deaf, which makes Kelly’s ex-husband overprotective and causes issues between the two of them.
I like that Kelly is an independent thinker and doesn’t let others’ opinions affect who she is or wants to be. It’s like a cloud has been lifted off of her while working this case. Kelly also is seeing her ex-mother-in-law in a different light, which will be good for both her and her daughter. I also like that Kelly isn’t settling and wants someone willing to accept her for who she is. I hope she and Kyle make it.
The Mystery
A young girl is killed when she falls in front of a train. The question is, did she fall or was she pushed? This question is what Kelly has been hired to find out by Brooke’s mother, Georgette. However, Georgette is also the person that Kelly’s dad’s last letter asks her to help if asked. Everyone, in this case, is lying, and Kelly is having a hard time figuring out what the truth is. It seems that with each confession, she finds another witness has lied.
When Kelly figures out the connection between her father and Georgette, she is floored. Yet, this causes Kelly to dig deeper and figure out the culprit.
Five Stars
I love this new series. Although, as most of you guess, I pretty much read books that I like. However, I like Kelly and can’t wait to see what her next investigation brings. My rating for Derailed by Mary Keliikoa is five stars, and I recommend it to all you mystery buffs out there.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Derailed by Mary Keliikoa.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
It’s been hard to read these days, but I blew through Derailed in two days! It’s paced beautifully, and it describes a Portland that surely exists but I’ve seen little of. I’m looking forward to see how Kelly Pruett evolves as the series grows!
Mary Keliikoa knocks it out of the ballpark with her debut mystery. Excellent writing, well developed characters, and nonstop plot twists make for an excellent read. Kelly Pruett, the P.I. protagonist, is a strong but caring woman, and readers will in turn care about her, both her complicated family life and professional career. I can’t wait for the sequel.
The first book of a new series, DERAILED has it all: a twisty plot, an engaging female PI, and plenty of shady suspects. The Portland, Oregon setting adds great atmosphere, and the realistic chaos of detective Kelly Pruett’s home life adds a layer that sets this book apart. This story wraps up nicely but leaves the reader with plenty to look forward to in the next book of the series. Fans of Kinsey Millhone should definitely check this one out.
ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ᴀ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʙᴀғғʟɪɴɢ sᴜsᴘᴇɴsᴇ ᴛɪʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ.
ℎ ℎ @Mary.keliikoa.author
#qotd Why do we like to read a “Mystery Novel”
#aotd Mystery novels are fun because the entire premise of the book is intellectually engage the reader to try to “get the answer” to the problem the author created.
There are 5 basic elements that keep a mystery story, running smoothly & allow the clues to the solution of the mystery to be revealed in a logical way that the reader can follow, namely;
Characters, setting, plot, problem and the solution. This book, #derailed scores perfectly on all these points.
Although a debut novel by Author Mary Keliikoa, it ceases to look like one.
Beautifully penned down in 38 chapters, 236 pages her writing style keeps the reader involved and inquisitive.
It is suspenseful, a page-turner with a good pace and with ample red herrings to make the reader baffled, looking for more clues to reach the solution.
#blurb
A dying wish. A secret world.
Can this grieving investigator stay on the right track?
PI Kelly Pruett is determined to make it on her own. And juggling clients at her late father’s detective agency, a controlling ex, and caring for a deaf daughter was never going to be easy. So she takes it as a good sign when a letter left by her dad ties into an unsolved case of a young woman struck by a train.
Hunting down the one person who can prove the mysterious death was not just a drunken accident, Kelly discovers this witness is in no condition to talk. And the closer she gets to the truth the longer her list of sleazy suspects with murderous motives grows.
On a crash course with a killer, she must piece together the puzzle of what really happened to the victim that rainy night, before her own fate is sealed and she loses everything near and dear, including her life.
Thankyou for the ARC in lieu of an honest review.
Derailed (A Kelly Pruett Mystery Book 1) by Mary Keliikoa is an amazing story that I have read. This is book number one in this amazing start to a brand new series written by a brand new author for me to read. I loved reading this amazing story and I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading amazing mystery stories.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
I love detective novels with a murder mystery. I enjoyed the characters. Kelly is so relatable. I liked her dynamic with her ex husband as co parents. Even though he cheated, they still care for each other.
Her love interest Kyle is a beautiful soul.
I kept turning the page eager fo find out what happened next. Whenever I thought the murderer was one person, more surprises came.
Fun, fast-paced mystery that’s sure to hook you from the first page. Derailed is a total delight from beginning to end, offering wonderful characters, a canine sidekick, satisfying subplots, and a richly immersive setting that enhances the atmosphere. The mystery unfolds at a steady clip, with the author dropping just enough clues to keep the reader guessing without giving too much away. An enjoyable read with plenty of twists and a spectacular payoff. Can’t wait for the next book from Ms. Keiikoa!
Kelly Pruett’s life changes when her father passes and a woman shows up at her door requesting help for finding out more about her daughter’s accident. Kelly begins her first ever investigation in a race against time to find out what happens before she is found!
Mary Keliikoa’s writing is fast paced, keep.me up all night reading type of book. She portrays Kelly as a strong woman, who wants to protect her child along with showing her that she can be independent.
Thank you Mary Keliikoa and KateRockBookTours for the opportunity to read this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Mary Kelikoa released this fantastic mystery earlier this year. It’s the first in a new mystery series featuring a female PI.
I was sucked in, literally, as soon I started this one. Kelly, the main character, is learning how to run her dad’s PI business alone, after his recent passing. She has other problems in her personal life, including raising her daughter & dealing with her ex. She is thrown into a mystery surrounding the death of the daughter of a client(who just happens to be a mysterious, important person to her dad).
So many twists and turns come out in this one causing you to not know what’s going to happen next. I am always happy when a mystery keeps me guessing along the way & has such a “what?!” ending. Keliikoa is so good at writing this genre & this won’t be the last I read of this new, to me, author!! I am excited to read more of her Kelly Pruett series!
Absolute Page Turner!
Derailed is an exciting, addictive, page turner! Packed with mystery and suspense, I couldn’t get enough!
Mary Keliikoa hooks you right from the very beginning. I barely came up for air. This story was so engaging and full of twists!
This is a fantastic start to a new series, I will absolutely be sure to read!!!
Derailed is the first book in a new mystery series featuring Private Investigator Kelly Pruett. If you were a fan of Veronica Mars (the original, not the Hulu reboot!), then you’re going to be a fan of these books. Like Veronica, Kelly’s been helping her dad with his PI business for years, but Kelly’s father died unexpectedly several months ago. Now Kelly’s in charge. Her cases mainly involve safe stuff like serving papers. However, when a woman comes in looking for Kelly’s dad, things quickly change.
The woman wants Kelly to investigate her daughter’s death which was ruled an accident. Kelly only takes the case because of a note her dad left telling her to help this woman if she ever came in. I’m sure if her dad had known what that was going to entail, he wouldn’t have!
Derailed is a mystery/cozy mystery. Without giving anything away, a few of the side characters are involved in some seamy stuff . The stuff is mentioned but not in a graphic way. I’d characterize it as clean, but you can decide for yourself! The story is excellent, and I didn’t guess whodunit until near the end. I kept changing my mind!
I really loved Kelly’s character because she’s definitely realistic. Her life and family are kind of dysfunctional but whose family isn’t…at least a little bit! Her ex is always popping up; she lives next door to her ex mother-in-law; and she’s got a new guy she’s interested in. She has a young daughter, so, naturally, her ex and MIL are concerned. Kelly handles it all like any of us would…with a bit of impatience and then a bit of understanding. For a first book, Keliikoa does an excellent job fleshing out these characters.
I can’t wait to see what case Kelly’s going to solve next.
DERAILED (P.I. Kelly Pruett Book #1) by Mary Keliikoa is the start of a new female P.I. series by a debut author. This is an intriguing mystery full of characters with secrets and plot twists which take you as well as this inexperienced P.I. down many paths before ultimately discovering the truth.
P.I. Kelly Pruett is trying to make it on her own after her divorce and the death of her father who left her his detective agency. Kelly has always been fascinated with her father’s P.I. work, but has yet to work a major investigation. Kelly is trying to move forward after the death of her father, support herself and her deaf daughter and deal with an ex and mother-in-law who are still much too involved in her life.
A client shows up looking for Kelly’s father, but retains Kelly to investigate the supposed drunken accidental death of her daughter. This is Kelly’s chance to prove to everyone she is capable of taking over her father’s firm. As Kelly investigates the life of the dead woman, nothing is as it first seemed. She had a secret life and the murder of her main suspect leads her further into a web of sleazy characters that all have their own secrets.
Kelly is learning as she goes. She is finding she has more suspects than she anticipated and their many secrets lead to a motive that the killer does not want revealed and is willing to kill again to protect.
This is a cozy P.I. mystery that is intricately plotted with deceitful characters and red herrings that kept me turning the pages as I follow this new P.I. Kelly’s personal life felt realistic and pulled me in with her determination to make her dream work, protect her relationship with her child and hopefully more of her budding relationship with the handsome police officer. I am impressed with this mystery by this debut author and I hope she will continue with many more books in this series.
I recommend this first book in this cozy P.I. mystery series.
How many parents have been totally fooled by their children, even when those children are adults. How many just sort of didn’t want to know the truth or maybe didn’t want to admit it to themselves? Even worse, how many have had to find out the truth after it’s way too late?
Even though Kelly Pruitt is a “newbie” Private Investigator, she intends to help just such a family as mentioned above. I liked this character from page one. She walks the walk and talks the talk. This book has all the elements for a good P. I. book. A great main character, a little family turmoil, a young cute kid, a good case, and an underlying humor of her ability to laugh at herself. Oh, and a big old dog. Gotta have a dog, don’t you?
I think you can probably tell I thought this was a good read. It’s a quick read, but it has its mystery and its suspense. The push and pull of a woman wanting to work, a woman having to prove that she can be successful while also being a valuable part of the family added to the story. It wasn’t overdone. Each piece seemed to be interwoven through a good story only to add more interest.
Derailed is Book 1 of a series titled “A Kelly Pruett Mystery”. It looks to me as if this may be a debut book for Mary Keliikoa. Let’s hope she doesn’t get “off the track” and not get Book 2 written again soon.
Wow! This is a fantastic debut series! Keliikoa’s writing talent shines strong with this first installment to her Kelly Pruett Mystery series. From start to finish, I was on a roller coaster ride, following Kelly through the twists and turns of her first solo PI mystery.The plot line and the amazing characters that Keliikoa chiseled were fantastic! I stayed up late into the night, turning page after page, needing to know what was happening, who did what and was Pruett going to solve the case.
If you love a good mystery novel, filled with incredible who dun it’s, edge of your seat unexpected turns, mind blowing twists, then grab this new book up now. Keliikoa will keep you guessing with each page turn, and by the end of the book, you’ll be ready to solve another mystery with this awesome female PI! Well done, and hats off to the author! I’m a forever fan!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Mary Keliikoa
DERAILED
BY Mary Keliikoa
This was a non-stop, suspense filled ride from the beginning to end. So much mystery surrounding the accidental fall of Brooke Hanson onto the train tracks of an oncoming train. Or was it on purpose?
That seems to be the question when Brooke’s mother hires Private Investigator Kelly Pruett to look closer into her daughter’s death. This is PI Pruett’s first case since inheriting her late father’s business. One that she grew to know and love working under his wing throughout growing up.
Despite a recent divorce and co-parenting their Deaf child with her ex-husband Jeff, there is no question that Mitz is very loved. No one anticipates the trouble, time and risk that comes to them all when PI Pruett dwelves deeper into the case that puts them all in danger. Soon, threats and physical assaults are at play.
Brooke’s blood alcohol content was indeed high at the time of the fall but the more people that are questioned that knew Brooke, unearths a little more about Brooke’s life and surprisingly those who played a role in it. There are many suspects, even her own mother! PI Pruett remains undeterred and is risking it all to find out the truth. How much is too much to risk?
I loved the one main POV for this novel. It kept it finely detailed and rich with very realistic characters that I did not lose interest at any point. I was mesmerized by Mrs. Keliikoa’s writing, as it was greatly researched and had a brilliant thought out plot. I loved that our protagonist was a novice and we got to see her growth and I’m looking forward to more novels with PI Pruett in the future.
Book 1 of the Kelly Pruett mystery series did not disappoint! This was such a satisfying read with so many twists and turns, especially towards the end! Kelly has taken over her father’s PI firm after his death and is pulled into a situation she wasn’t quite prepared for-murder, lies, a possible budding romance, and lots of interesting family dynamics. What more could you ask for? I enjoyed getting to know Kelly’s character, but was a little put off by her controlling ex husband. I hope she eventually starts to stand up to him for herself and her daughter I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
PI Kelly Pruett’s father left her two things… his investigative agency, and a message that said if Georgette Hanson ever came to her for help, she should give it, no questions asked. Less than a year after her father’s death, Kelly’s making her way mainly as a process server, just scraping by. So when Georgette turns up with a check for $3,000 and a request to look into her daughter’s death, Kelly’s not just putting food on the table for herself and her Deaf daughter Mitz, she’s fulfilling her father’s dying request.
Brooke Hanson’s case proves a tough one to crack, though, leading Kelly into some unexpected corners of Portland’s underworld, including a peek into high-end BDSM clientele Brooke worked with, and gradually Kelly begins to realise there are some powerful people who don’t want anyone looking into Brooke’s death. People who’ve already killed once… and then another body turns up.
This is very well written, and the author avoids falling into the traps which can come with writing about BDSM as an outsider. Kelly’s not part of the lifestyle and isn’t interested in participating, but she does her best not to judge, accepting people’s right to choose what they do in their private lives, and BDSM practitioners aren’t vilified – indeed, they are mainly the victims in this story, something that’s quite representative of the realities of the lifestyle. I also really liked Kelly’s relationship with her Deaf daughter, though I thought her judgemental ex who apparently wanted her to sit at home like a good little housewife needed a good slap upside the head.
First in a new series, this has the potential to turn into something really good. Kelly’s an excellent and sympathetic character with an intriguing cast of side characters around her. I’ll be interested to see where the series goes from here. Five stars for an excellent mystery novel with an exciting new heroine.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via the publisher.