Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Blog Tour and Book Review: DECEIVED (A Kelly Pruitt Mystery #3) by Mary Keliikoa


Synopsis 

In the third thrilling book in the Kelly Pruett mystery series–Her world was falling into place. Then women started dropping off the map. 

PI Kelly Pruett finally feels like she’s coming into her own. With her personal life well on track, a gig uncovering what drove a client’s granddaughter underground could be good for business. But after her undercover operation at the homeless shelter reveals rampant drug dealing, she’s suddenly kicked off the case… just as another girl goes missing. 


Vowing to expose the truth even if it means pro-bono work, Kelly is taken aback when her half-sister helps her hunt down answers in a tent city brimming with distrust. When her investigation doesn’t move quickly enough to save a second woman from a vicious murder, Kelly doubles her efforts unwilling to accept defeat. 

Review 

Kelly Pruitt is trying to establish herself as a PI, as good as her father was, with the compassion of her mother. But she doesn't want to talk about her mother's death. She's thrilled when the highly placed attorney asks her to find out what's going on at the homeless shelter and hopefully find his granddaughter. Only then he decides she needs to stop, only Kelly is worried that his granddaughter and Robin aren't the only ones missing. She's no longer getting paid, but she's determined.

As a main character, Kelly is complex. Over the course of solving the mystery, she comes to terms with a number of issues. The focus on homeless women, including Ruth, who mistakes Kelly for her mother, is well done. The tent community and the loyalty of homeless girls to each other provides a unique setting. The story is well-written, well-paced, and Keliikoa hooks the reader early. I had my suspicions as to the person behind it all, but there are multiple suspects. This is the third in the series. It can be easily read as a standalone. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

About the Author 

Mary Keliikoa is the Shamus finalist and Lefty, Agatha and Anthony nominated author of the PI Kelly Pruett mystery series, and the Misty Pines mystery series featuring former Portland homicide detective turned small-town sheriff. Her short stories have appeared in Woman’s World and in the anthology Peace, Love and Crime. 

A Pacific NW native, she spent years working around lawyers and admits to being that person who gets excited when called for jury duty. When not in Washington, you can find Mary on the beach in Hawaii. But even under the palm trees and blazing sun, she’s plotting her next murder—novel that is. 

Author Links 

Website   

Purchase Links 

Amazon  –  B&NBookshop.orgAppleKobo 




4 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great read. Looking forward to reading the book.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the great review and blurb. The book sounds intriguing. Love the cover!

    ReplyDelete