In an effort to help Bishop Sylvester reduce his stress level and his blood pressure, Ida Mae Babbit, the president of the Omni 2nd Ward Relief Society, suggests the group attempt to handle any slight problems that come to their attention--without mentioning this little tidbit to the bishop, of course.

When the women of the Relief Society discuss how they could help one family who might be in need, their "attempt to handle any slight problems that come to their attention" blossoms into an amateu More...

Fill your thermos with hot cocoa, stuff some chocolate chip cookies into a Baggie and grab a copy of The Bishop’s Handbook of Instructions. You’ll want easy access to all three as you begin your raucous romp with the dysfunctional Relief Society presidency in Valor Publishing’s new release, Secret Sisters, by five-time author Tristi Pinkston.

Pinkston’s heroine, Ida Mae Babbitt, a well-intentioned bulldozer of a Relief Society president, is a “git-er-done” kind of woman, and when ward and family More...

Secret Sisters by Tristi Pinkston

This new foray into humorous mystery for Tristi is a big hit. The mixture of humor with mystery is a good mix, as it lets us see the human side of a Relief Society group of sisters.

Ida Mae Babbitt is the RS President of the Omni 2nd Ward and it is her job to see that everything is ok with all her sisters in the ward. When she notices the ward stats are low, it's her responsibility to see why this is happening and when she learns that one family is having financia More...

I currently serve in a Relief Society presidency, so when the opportunity to read a comedy about a Relief Society presidency that spies on one of its sisters in order to help her came along, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to put some levity into what can be a pretty burdensome calling.

Ida Mae Babbitt is the perfect Relief Society President. Ready at a moment's notice to help any and all that fall within the boundaries of her stewardship, she has the time and the resources to be that per More...

My new book club actually picked a different book to read, but it wasn't at the local bookstore, and I had wanted to read this anyway so when I saw it I picked it up. I finished it in a few hours and chuckled all the way through.

The story takes place in a fictional small town in Utah. (At least I'm pretty sure there is no town in Utah called Omni, but I could be wrong.) A Relief Society president, Ida Mae, and her counselors, Arlette and Tansy, are the typically middle-aged/elderly ladies that h More...

Secret Sisters is the perfect mix of reality and an entertaining story. Is it likely that a Relief Society presidency will spy on the sisters they visit teach? Probably not. But it could happen. The unlikeliness of the situation is what makes Secret Sisters so hilarious.

Tristi has created characters that you can't help but love. Ida Mae, Tansy, and Arlette each have their own distinct personality, and Tristi has done a remarkable job giving each of them a voice that you can recognize.

While Sec More...

I read and reviewed this book on my blog last year. I have no reason why I didn't enter this on my books here at goodreads. Sorry Tristi!


Every once in awhile a book comes along that you sit down to read and finish in a few hours. When I read the book "Secret Sisters" by Tristi Pinkston , that is exactly what I did. Here are a few reason's why:

1.The book is only 276 pages long.

2.This book is printed in the cutest format, similar to the "Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events" books. That More...

I'm a First Reads Winner!

Brownie points to the author right from the start - not only did I get my book within days but it was signed to ME! How spectacular is that? Thank you!

The book itself was fun and entertaining. I read it in a day and was pleased to see that there will be more books in this series.
I'm not sure if my Goodreads profile screams "LDS religion" or not but I don't know that this book would be half as entertaining to a non-LDS person. I would hesitate to recommend this to someone More...

What do you get when you combine three elderly women, a family in need of financial help, a young man with a sense of mischief, and a cat with an attitude problem? You get my latest novel, "Secret Sisters." My three main characters - Ida Mae, Arlette, and Tansy - will keep you in stitches as you follow them through the woods, sneaking up on persons unknown, gathering up important clues and bringing the villains to justice. Add hacking in to the computer at the DMV and trailing their accomplice o More...

The book had a cute storyline, a group of Relief Society Presidency members in a small town investigate a mystery...there are laughs and even a little romance (sorta). My complaint...I honestly don't know when this book is supposed to take place...it was written in 2010...and mentions cell phones...but it also talks about using a pay phone (I can't remember the last time I saw one or used one), boy and girl diapers (I haven't seen those since the early to mid 90s) and the use of a film camera (a More...

If I had to sum up this book in one word, it would have to be, FUN!

I finished Secret Sisters in a few short days and loved every minute with the the quirky, relatable, and often humorous characters. The country setting was perfect, the pacing spot on and everything seemed to flow and jive really effortlessly.

By the time I finished, I felt like an honorary member of the gang, or maybe even an extended family member. I don't normally read alot of cozy mysteries, but this one has me yearning for mo More...

I don't remember how I found this book but I am glad I did. It is really cute and a light breezy read. Sure, a few things are frankly near impossible, but they are told well and in a way that you can still relate to (such as the need for variety and excitment in life). If you have had had over $2100 in car repairs right during school clothes shopping season and while your husband is numb to his knees during an MS exacerbation, it is exactly perfect. It also gives a few reminders of things like t More...

Not only are the characters quirky, cute and really well developed, the plot line is a lot of fun. Secret Sisters is a mystery/comedy and Ida Mae is a spunky, sweet and well meaning lady who only wants to help others and ends up getting in a little too deep. When a family in her small town is in need Ida Mae tries to find a way to help out only to end up feeling like there might be something else going on.

Lucky for Ida Mae, her presidency is more than excited to help out and her nephew, a wanna- More...

Another "night stand drawer" read where I can't remember where I got the book from. This is an LDS book about a Relief Society presidency that is so worried about an unemployed family not having food to eat that they set up surveillance so they can see if hubby actually brings home food. I thought it might be too silly for me, but I have to say I thought it was fun. Not the greatest resolution ever--that seemed a little rushed and simplified---but the characters were a good combination of witty, More...

This book was a mystery, however I have figured out what was going on with Nick, pretty early. Thanks to a teacher I had in the 12 grad who taught me how to analyze books.

I like the side stories within this book, Tristi brings out a lot of good points. I do agree with the book synopsis of this book Ida May, have brought the Relief Society to a completely new level! My mother who was at one time a Relief Society president, agreed with that statement as well.

The book it's self is a fast easy,delig More...

Secret Sisters is the first Tristi Pinkston novel I have read and it won't be my last. I grabbed this book as I was rushing out the door yesterday to take my son to a meeting. It was such a fun, light easy read. I was 50 pages into the story and hooked by the time his meeting got out. I finished the book up before going to sleep last night.

This made for a great Sunday read. I enjoyed the crazy way Ida Mae and her Relief Society Presidency went above and beyond to fulfill their callings. Enlistin More...

Relief Society president Ida Mae Babbitt never meant to break the law or become a spy, but when she discovers that one of the members of her ward is in trouble, and the woman denies it, well, a little investigation doesn't seem out of line.

As Ida Mae and her presidency, Arlette and Tansy, become embroiled in adventure and deep secrets between taking care of the needs of various members of the Omni 2nd Ward, the murder of one of their suspects shakes them to the core. But with no cooperation fort More...

I love books that make me laugh out loud and Secret Sisters does just that. Hysterically funny, this is story that gives new meaning to the phrase, Relief Society Presidency. Ida Mae, genuinely concerned about the welfare of a young family in her ward, finds herself on a stakeout in the woods with her nephew, Ren, and her Relief Society counselors Arlette and Tansy. Ren has a penchant for designing/inventing spyware and Ida Mae finds herself caught up in his enthusiasm. Soon, she is placing a su More...

"Secret Sisters" is a story about a Relief Society presidency in a small Utah town who take their calling above and beyond what is required of them--but all with good reason. A family is struggling in their ward and these ladies try to help but are told that everything is fine. So...bring in Ida Mae's nephew. He helps them rig up some spy equipment so these characters can monitor the situation more closely. While doing so, a mysterious situation is discovered.

Although the story is about a group More...

After reading "Agent in Old Lace," i was really looking forward to this series by Tristi Pinkston. I was just not in to this one about a Relief Society Presidency turning to spying. I scan-read a lot. I am going to try book 2 in hopes that I will like it better but I am afraid that as long as it is from Ida Mae's perspective, I will feel somewhat the same as I did about book 1.

What do you get when you mix a bunch of well-meaning grannies (well, they’re not all grannies, but the image fits), with family in need, a technology geek, and a mysterious bad guy? Lots of laughs.

I know Tristi personally. She makes me laugh. In fact, I think she should do stand-up comedy. Her sense of humor and skill of delivery are both quite good. In fact, at the 2009 LDStorymakers Writers Conference last spring, she had me laughing so hard that I had to wipe tears from my eyes.

This book is a More...

I am not sure about this book. It involves a Relief Society Presidency and some of the sisters in their ward. They start to be concerned about one particular family. It is interesting to see how far the presidency will go as they try to unravel the mystery involved.
I enjoyed it for the most part, but once again it was a little strange.

Fun, humorous book with lively, entertaining, and realistic characters. I enjoyed the mystery, but even more I enjoyed the characters. The dialogue flows well and is believable and I laughed out loud at parts. Ida Mae is hilarious. Each character is so individual, I felt like they could be ladies living in my neighborhood. I recommend it!

The good part is that this is a clean story with an amusing plot. I generally like Tristi's books, so I thought I would give this one a try, but unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into the story. Perhaps the characters rang too close to real life with some overbearing Relief Society Presidents I have been associated with in the past.

At first I thought, "No way. Uh-uh." Then I kept reading this fun farce of a story and the characters drew me in, like long lost episodes of "The Golden Girls"--I love these Secret Sisters!
A light, good-natured read with just enough suspense to keep you turning pages. This will be a fun series to follow!

Sorry, I just didn't buy the whole premise of this book. Maybe it's from serving in church leadership positions in one way or another, but I just couldn't see a RS president going this far out. The story line was way too far off from reality.

I am torn between three and four stars on this one--I'd give it 3-1/2 if the system would let me. The book is fun, the characters are great, but it stretched credibility a bit too far. (Of course, that's part of why it was fun.)

What a fun book!! I read part of it on a short jaunt our family took, and had to endure all the sideways looks my hubby was giving me as I laughed out loud in so many places! I definitely need to pick up more of Tristi's books!

Totally fun cozy mystery about a Relief Society presidency just trying to make sure a family in their ward has everything they need, which branches into much craziness. Made me laugh out loud many times.