SOLVED. Mystery--female detective has foster kid, both have unusual names. [s]

[Rachel]

I figured it out myself!

Susie Steiner’s Manon Bradshaw series! Her foster kid is named Fly. I was pretty close! I came across it on a list of new mysteries coming out in spring 2020.







This is a mystery novel for adults. I'm embarrassed to ask because I am pretty sure I have read two books (so it's a possible series) about the same woman. I keep a spreadsheet of books I've read (over 200 this year!) with notes but I don't keep track of the character names. I've googled but haven't come up with anything. I have read this book (or books?) in the last 2-3 years and I got at least the first one as an ARC from Netgalley then came across the second one at the library so they must be fairly new books. I'd say 2017-ish.

In the first book the main character, who I feel is a woman detective in a police department (or a similar professional job involving the police), gets involved in a case with a kid she takes a special interest in. I think the detective's name is something starting with M and possibly it's a name that is often a male name like Marlon or Marian. I remember it being a "thing" where people ask her about her name. She is single and dating in the book.

The kid's name, I think, was a nickname about being small like Flea or Bug. In the second book, I think there is a time jump and the main character is fostering the kid (or at least taking care of him) and they have moved to the suburbs where he stands out because he is not white like their neighbors and this causes some issues. For some reason, I thought it was a British book but now in writing this out I'm not sure. At the very least, it takes place in a big city and then they move to the suburbs which neither of them is excited about. The kid keeps going back to his old neighborhood and cutting school if I'm remembering correctly.

I remember pretty much nothing about the actual mysteries. The characters made a much bigger impression, clearly.

Thank you!

[Juels]

Maybe the Detective Inspector Marnie Rome series by Sarah Hilary? First book is Someone Else's Skin.

Someone Else's Skin
No Other Darkness
Quieter Than Killing
Tastes Like Fear
Come and Find Me
Never Be Broken

[Rachel]

Juels wrote: "Maybe the Detective Inspector Marnie Rome series by Sarah Hilary? First book is Someone Else's Skin.

Someone Else's Skin
[book:No Other Darkness|24..."
No, I don't think this is it. I'm pretty sure her name was more unusual than Marnie and the backstory doesn't sound quite right-I'm pretty sure she didn't have a brother. I also don't have any history of reading these books on my Kindle.

Thank you though!!

[Juels]

No problem. I'll keep my eyes open.

[Rachel]

Just figured out what it was—Susie Steiner’s Manon Bradshaw series! Her foster kid is named Fly. I was pretty close! Came across it on a list of new mysteries coming out in spring 2020.

[Kris]

Glad you found your book series, Rachel. Here's the link to the first book - Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner.