After Kate is certain that Laurie is okay from the crash, she and husband Jim head to the French Consulate where they are stone-walled as they try to get answers.  As they leave, they notice two television reporters leaving the Embassy as well, sparking Kate’s curiosity.  The next day, one of the reporters is found dead in Golden Gate Park and Kate’s instinct tells her Nancy Pickett was murdered because of something she suspected or found within the Embassy. 

An invite from best friend Paula to a gala at the Embassy puts Kate in the right place at the right time to see the young man who hit her car and to meet Nancy Pickett’s soon to be ex-husband who wants to hire Kate to look into Nancy’s death, and to clear his name.  Kate adds “solve Nancy Pickett’s murder” to her ever-evolving to-do list and turns to her licensed PI mentor, Galigani for his assistance. 

Luckily, Kate has a terrific husband, fantastic mother (on whom Galigani has a not so secret crush) and a helpful, though eight month pregnant, best friend to help get ready for Christmas, buy a new car and put a murderer behind bars.  

Formula for Murder is a fun, fast-paced murder mystery with a sparkling heroine who faces the new mom challenges of never wanting to be away from Laurie, afraid she’s not a good enough mother and still wanting me-time, or time with her husband or best girlfriend.  Readers will have to suspend a little disbelief that a woman this concerned about being a perfect mom is so willing to bring Laurie on stake-outs and put herself in dangerous situations, but once this is accepted, the plot moves along at a good clip. 

The mystery is well-plotted and more than a little complex offering several good suspects and motives.  It is also refreshing not to have the heroine entangled in a love triangle, but adds a light-hearted touch to have Kate’s mother adored by two men.  Formula for Murder is good fun that will have readers happy to watch Laurie grow up while her mother solves murders with her in tow.                                                  

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry