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164th out of 660 books
—
636 voters
Bundle of Trouble (Maternal Instincts Mystery #1)
by
Diana Orgain (Goodreads Author)
First-time mom Kate Connelly is bringing up baby- and bringing down a killer.
Kate Connelly may have found the perfect work-from-home Mommy job: private investigator. After all, the hours are flexible, she can bring the baby along on stake-outs, and if you're going to be up all night anyway, you might as well solve some crimes. But when a body is pulled from San Francisco B...more
Kate Connelly may have found the perfect work-from-home Mommy job: private investigator. After all, the hours are flexible, she can bring the baby along on stake-outs, and if you're going to be up all night anyway, you might as well solve some crimes. But when a body is pulled from San Francisco B...more
Paperback, 296 pages
Published
August 4th 2009
by Berkley
(first published July 7th 2009)
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Bundle of Trouble
Diana Orgain
(Synopsis)
Within 24 hours Kate Connolly, mother of new born Laurie and wife of Jim Connolly, finds her cozy life spiraling out of control when she answers the phone and finds the San Francisco Medical Examiner on the other end of the line. A badly decomposed body has been pulled from the bay and authorities believe it may be the body of Jim's brother George because George's bags are found on the pier near the body. Kate goes into labor just after the phone call and...more
Diana Orgain
(Synopsis)
Within 24 hours Kate Connolly, mother of new born Laurie and wife of Jim Connolly, finds her cozy life spiraling out of control when she answers the phone and finds the San Francisco Medical Examiner on the other end of the line. A badly decomposed body has been pulled from the bay and authorities believe it may be the body of Jim's brother George because George's bags are found on the pier near the body. Kate goes into labor just after the phone call and...more
First in the Maternal Instincts Mystery series based in San Francisco and revolving around a new mother who doesn't want to go back to work.
My Take
I'm torn. Orgain writes well. And I can't stand her stupid protagonist. What mother takes her newborn baby out to chase down a murderer? This just boggles my mind. And stupid. Omigod, she's constantly forgetting stuff---I will give her points for never forgetting her baby. She doesn't want to go back to her job because she just wants to stay home with...more
My Take
I'm torn. Orgain writes well. And I can't stand her stupid protagonist. What mother takes her newborn baby out to chase down a murderer? This just boggles my mind. And stupid. Omigod, she's constantly forgetting stuff---I will give her points for never forgetting her baby. She doesn't want to go back to her job because she just wants to stay home with...more
I love cozy mysteries- they're the perfect thing to curl up with if you aren't looking for something extremely heavy to read. They're also great in those instances where you may not be able to read everything in one sitting & need something that can easily be put down & picked up.
This particular cozy mystery surrounds the character of Kate, a woman going through all of the highs & lows of being a new mother. If worrying about tummy time & thank you cards wasn't enough, she also h...more
This particular cozy mystery surrounds the character of Kate, a woman going through all of the highs & lows of being a new mother. If worrying about tummy time & thank you cards wasn't enough, she also h...more
This was recommended to me by one of knitters in the "Mystery Book Talk" group on Ravelry (a social networking site for knitters and crocheters), and I'm really glad that I followed-up on it.
It's a cute concept - first-time mom Kate Connolly goes into labour just as she and her husband Jim receive a call that a body found in the San Francisco bay may be that of Jim's brother George (it isn't, although George is missing).
Soon, the body count is adding up (as is the diaper count), and Kate finds...more
It's a cute concept - first-time mom Kate Connolly goes into labour just as she and her husband Jim receive a call that a body found in the San Francisco bay may be that of Jim's brother George (it isn't, although George is missing).
Soon, the body count is adding up (as is the diaper count), and Kate finds...more
Has it really been almost 2 and a half years since I had a newborn? Those foggy groggy days of too little sleep seem like yesterday! So I could certainly relate to Kate's new-mommy issues in Bundle of Trouble (A Maternal Instincts Mystery).
The Storyline
New mom Kate is planning to enjoy her maternity leave and isn't too excited about returning to her office job. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she gets a phone call about a body pulled from San Francisco Bay that might be her brother-in...more
The Storyline
New mom Kate is planning to enjoy her maternity leave and isn't too excited about returning to her office job. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she gets a phone call about a body pulled from San Francisco Bay that might be her brother-in...more
Better than I had expected. My opinions on this book have flip-flopped quite a bit since hearing of it. When I read about it, I thought it could be a 4* book, but after the author event I attended... I was thinking maybe it would be more of a 3* book. Mostly because the author began to go into detail about how she structures her protagonist's sleuth-development along with the child's development. Personaly, I don't like the author to 'hold-my-hand' through a book. So this explanation of hers had...more
This was a cute, if predictable, foray into the genre of chick lit. I've read mysteries where the heroine/investigator runs a coffee shop, a bakery, a catering service, an antique store, a winery but stay-at-home mom is a first. That being said, the reason I like the others is that I get to glean tips and trivia about the topics (other than crime) that interest and occupy the protagonist. Motherhood, I know about. I know that it's hard to get any sleep with a newborn. I know those last few pregn...more
Ms. Orgain has certainly caught me on her first novel in the new series "A Maternal Instincts Mystery." Her book, "Bundle of Trouble" was a joy to read.
I love her characters, Mommy Kate, the newest Sleuth, Papa Jim who is a realistic person, a baby-loving Granny, screwed up Uncle, and a P.I. that I think is going to join the fray as the series continues, or at least, I hope he will.
There is a body, There is luggage, There is a baby (oops am I sure? Yup, a new-born,) and suspects lining the chapt...more
I love her characters, Mommy Kate, the newest Sleuth, Papa Jim who is a realistic person, a baby-loving Granny, screwed up Uncle, and a P.I. that I think is going to join the fray as the series continues, or at least, I hope he will.
There is a body, There is luggage, There is a baby (oops am I sure? Yup, a new-born,) and suspects lining the chapt...more
This book had a lot going for it, but in some ways didn't quite come together.
On the plus side:
I loved the gimmick-- new mom becoming a Private Eye.
Kate's character. Interesting, fleshed out, person I could identify with.
The setup for the mystery was good.
All the details about those first few weeks of motherhood.
On the minus side:
Too many characters meant we didn't get to know anyone other than the protagonist.
The writing never quite sucked me in.
All the details about those first few weeks of m...more
On the plus side:
I loved the gimmick-- new mom becoming a Private Eye.
Kate's character. Interesting, fleshed out, person I could identify with.
The setup for the mystery was good.
All the details about those first few weeks of motherhood.
On the minus side:
Too many characters meant we didn't get to know anyone other than the protagonist.
The writing never quite sucked me in.
All the details about those first few weeks of m...more
I'm so glad Diana Orgain contacted me through email in January to read her book "Bundle of Trouble". I would've never known about her series about Kate Connelly and her future P.I. job. I also wouldn't have such a comical and fun book to read...that makes me realize I need to lighten up on motherhood. I tend to be very over-protective of my children and love them so much...that sometimes I'm just like Kate, "Is she breathing...am I producing enough milk, and am I being a great mother?"
Kate Conn...more
Kate Conn...more
When Kate Connelly's first baby arrives, she’s totally stressed out. Not because of labour, no, but because of the bags of her brother-in-law. They are found on a pier in San Francisco and there is a chance that he is drowned.
After birth, she becomes not only a mother, but also an investigator. The case seems to become more and more complicated as she discovers the dead body of an old high school friend. And after being rated poor on breastfeeding, she has to work on that too (and a lot of other...more
After birth, she becomes not only a mother, but also an investigator. The case seems to become more and more complicated as she discovers the dead body of an old high school friend. And after being rated poor on breastfeeding, she has to work on that too (and a lot of other...more
I really enjoyed this book - it was an easy-to-read mystery book, with a lot of feelings associated to becoming and being a newborns mother. It was nice to be able to connect with the main character and reminisce on the past when my two boys were born and I had the exact same feelings. The storyline was very interesting and I couldn't seem to put down the book, the mystery kept leading the reader to believe one thing and then the next chapter it would suggest something completely different. Fort...more
Bundle of Trouble is the first in the series ‘Maternal Instincts Mystery’. The second book is called Motherhood is Murder and the third, Formula for Murder.
We first get involved at the end of Kate’s pregnancy. She receives a phone call from the Medical Examiner’s Office. A body has been found in the bay, her brother-in-law’s possessions have been found at the end of the pier. Then she goes into labour.
I have to admit that in the beginning I wasn’t caught up in the story and wasn’t sure whether I...more
We first get involved at the end of Kate’s pregnancy. She receives a phone call from the Medical Examiner’s Office. A body has been found in the bay, her brother-in-law’s possessions have been found at the end of the pier. Then she goes into labour.
I have to admit that in the beginning I wasn’t caught up in the story and wasn’t sure whether I...more
As Kate Connolly delivers her first child, she and her husband learn of the disappearance of her brother in law, George. Once the glow of new motherhood wears off, Kate is off to pick up George's belongings and finds herself spending her short maternity leave discovering the identity of a murderer. Kate's mother (and new grandma) is on hand for quick babysitting duty and her husband supports this foray into what could become a new line of work for Kate. I enjoyed that the crime wasn't too easy t...more
I had read the second book in the series before this first one and found it decent, so I decided to get the first one. After re-reading my review of the second one, I feel the same about this one. To many characters, but the reason for murder was kind of weak. I didn't figure it out, but that might be because I read it at night when I was half asleep. I like the main character and the insight into mommyhood, which is still something I hope to never experience anytime soon.
So yeah, if you are a...more
So yeah, if you are a...more
Kate is pregnant and just starting labor. Before she gets to the hospital, she gets a phone call regarding her mysterious brother in law, George. She becomes obsessed with finding out what George has to do with a recent murder. Even after the baby is born, instead of going to her old job, Kate becomes a private investigator ... just not officially. The mystery runs deeper than Kate realizes, and people keep dying.
I couldn't wait to read this one; it just seemed like such fun. I had to laugh at t...more
I couldn't wait to read this one; it just seemed like such fun. I had to laugh at t...more
Kate Connolly isn't getting much rest during her maternity leave. It's not only the diapers that smell funny when a nosy private investigator implies that Kate's missing relative could be connected to a murder. With enough determination to fill a diaper bag, she sets out to track down the truth. After all, catching a killer should be painless compared to giving birth.
If you like babies, you'll be tickled pink over "Bundle of Trouble." From new mom anxiety to tummy time to dealing with grandma's...more
If you like babies, you'll be tickled pink over "Bundle of Trouble." From new mom anxiety to tummy time to dealing with grandma's...more
“A mother’s work is never done,” - Anonymous
For new mom Kate Connelly these words right true as she brings her newborn home, tries to help her husband find his brother, contemplates changing careers, and solves not one, but three murders.
Life was simple for Kate and her husband before their daughter was born. But as she went into labor, they received word that a decomposed body pulled from the bag could be her brother-in-law.
After the birth of Laurie, Kate learns the body wasn’t her brother-in-l...more
For new mom Kate Connelly these words right true as she brings her newborn home, tries to help her husband find his brother, contemplates changing careers, and solves not one, but three murders.
Life was simple for Kate and her husband before their daughter was born. But as she went into labor, they received word that a decomposed body pulled from the bag could be her brother-in-law.
After the birth of Laurie, Kate learns the body wasn’t her brother-in-l...more
Orgain does a good job balancing the motherhood aspect of the story with the murder mystery, and her writing style pulled me in from the first page. I liked Kate and thought her initial worries, perceived failures, and fumblings were very realistic, though how she found time during the first six weeks of her daughter’s life to seek out a killer is beyond me. I had to admire her ambition and determination.
Bundle of Trouble is a fun book that I liked but didn’t love. I wasn’t really pulled in by t...more
Bundle of Trouble is a fun book that I liked but didn’t love. I wasn’t really pulled in by t...more
An interesting twist where a brand new mother, on her maternity leave, solves a mystery and decides to totally switch careers from office manager to private investigator, all in 6 wks time while recuperating. While her husband gets fired from his job and just in the nick of time, at the end of her maternity leave, lands a bigger and much better paying job which allows her to do this. The book has some interesting twists but there are several unreal parts that make it difficult to pull together.
I loved this book! It was fun, fast paced, and seemed realistic (unlike a lot of other cozies where you have to suspend logic in order to continue reading). The main character, Kate, makes funny to-do lists throughout the book that keep the reader on track and also offer a good laugh. I loved Kate and the new mother angle (even though I don't have kids myself) and I'm counting down the days until I can buy the next book in the series and start reading!
I do like this new character a lot but I get stuck on these new Mom's actually taking their new babies into danger. If their smart and clever enough to solve the mystery certainly they are c lever enough to figure out the situation might be fatal. But I like the plot and characters a lot and will be anxious to read the next outing .
This is a cute new mystery series featuring Kate Connolly, a young mom who hopes that a new career as a private investigator will supply the funds for her to stay home with baby Laurie. Kate's first case comes about when her brother in law, George, is missing. The writing is good and the plot was well done. I will be reading more by Ms Orgain.
I loved this book! It was a quick, enjoyable book that had be laughing and nodding my head as a mother of young children. Man could I sympathize with Kate Connelly as a mother! I am going to buy Motherhood is Murder as soon as I can get to a bookstore!
A nice read. It was a fast read and a well put together story about a new mom. The story had some plots I haven't seen before and some nice surprises. The story part about the PI was good also and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
Kate is a new mother. She just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, but there's a shadow clouding her mind. Her brother-in-law's bags are found on the Pier, the same day a badly decomposed body is pulled out of the bay. With the police asking questions and detaining her husband in the murder investigation, she's determined to find out what's going on - all with her new baby in tow.
I haven't yet had the joys of motherhood, but even still I found this book an entertaining and fun read. It didn't t...more
I haven't yet had the joys of motherhood, but even still I found this book an entertaining and fun read. It didn't t...more
Typical cozy mystery. I thought I might dig this since I'm a mom, but all it really made me think was how glad I am that I didn't breastfeed! I thought this book seemed a bit rushed, plus the characters were pretty cookie cutter.
Kate is overly obsessive about being a good mom to her newborn daughter. She's also obsessing about a few recent murders that her brother in law is somehow involved in. Good story but the resolution is a little crazy IMO.
2-28-11:
I don't think I will finish this book anytime soon. I'm about halfway done (I've read 13 chapters) but I just don't like Kate for some reason. Maybe she's just annoying me because she isn't resting right after having a baby. I guess I like to live vicariously through characters and I don't want to haul a newborn baby around while trying to solve murders.
UPDATED 6-11-11:
After a few months and a lot of tries, I finally finished it! I still don't like Kate very well. Actually, the only char...more
I don't think I will finish this book anytime soon. I'm about halfway done (I've read 13 chapters) but I just don't like Kate for some reason. Maybe she's just annoying me because she isn't resting right after having a baby. I guess I like to live vicariously through characters and I don't want to haul a newborn baby around while trying to solve murders.
UPDATED 6-11-11:
After a few months and a lot of tries, I finally finished it! I still don't like Kate very well. Actually, the only char...more
This is a very funny book, and anyone who has kids can totally related to the antics of juggling diapers and feedings and stake outs and murder. Looking forward to #2!
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Diana Orgain was born in San Francisco, CA. As a child she loved Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries and dreamed of being a writer one day. She went on to earn her B.A and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from SFSU with a minor in acting. Diana has acted professionally in many theater roles and national commercials. She' wrote several plays, which were produced in San Francisco State University. Bundle...more
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