Formula for Murder

Kate Connolly is a new mother, on her way to have photos taken of her 3-month-old daughter for the family’s Christmas cards when she’s rear-ended by a hit-and-run driver with French diplomatic plates. She and her husband visit the French consul in San Francisco and receive no satisfaction from the snobby French, although her husband has ducked into the underground parking garage and seen the damaged vehicle. Then, a reporter whom Kate has spotted leaving the French consul is found murdered in Golden Gate park. Could the cases be connected? Kate’s going to find out.

Formula for Murder (A Maternal Instincts Mystery) is the third in a series about a new mother turned PI, although each novel stands alone. It’s briskly-paced and enjoyable without being too sentimental. Kate juggles life with a three-month-old along with her job and her attempts at Christmas shopping, and manages to do so more successfully at some times than at others. Her intuitions and determination serve her well, as does the fact that she has a husband, friend and mother all nearby to help with the baby. The novel is a fun blend of murder mystery and new-mom craziness. One thing I enjoyed were the realistic touches—like when Kate returns from following a suspect to find she’s gotten two parking tickets, or the necessity of sending frantic texts to her husband, telling him to go ahead and feed the baby formula. She struggles with the guilt that every working mother faces, yet forges ahead knowing she can’t rest without finding the murderer before he strikes again.

Kate and her friend Paula crash a posh fundraiser where they overhear something in the ladies’ room that helps everything fall into place. She and her mother, with baby in her car seat in the back, bring a picnic on a stake-out outside the French consul’s home. Kate is constantly making lists for herself, and crossing out the things she decides she just won’t get to, a trait I found endearing.

She’s not just an everywoman though; she researches people’s backgrounds, puts pieces together, and solves most of the case on her own without the help of her boss, retired policeman Galigani.

The one thing that bugged me about this novel was how difficult the French were. It made me cringe a bit, although I don’t know why—I have lived in France and can attest that while many French people are lovely, there are some who delight in making your life more difficult. It’s the same anywhere.

Formula for Murder (A Maternal Instincts Mystery) is an enjoyable mystery, just right for a rainy spring afternoon or a summer’s beach read.

Elizabeth remembers how hectic new motherhood can be even without adding crime chasing to the mix! Read more of her life with 3 teens at her blog planet nomad.