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Maternal Instincts Mystery book cover 1
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Maternal Instincts Mystery
Series · 13
books · 2009-2023

Books in series

Bundle of Trouble book cover
#1

Bundle of Trouble

2009

From Publishers Weekly In Orgain's charming debut thriller, office manager Kate Connolly becomes a supersleuth and a new mom in the same week. From the moment she and newborn Laurie lock eyes, Kate can't imagine returning to work after her six-week maternity leave, but in expensive San Francisco, she and her ad exec husband, Jim, need every bit of both incomes. Then a dead body is fished out of the bay and linked to Jim's estranged brother, George. Both the police and PI Albert Galigani, hired by the dead man's mother, believe that Jim and Kate know more than they're revealing. Kate is determined to find the elusive George and get some answers, but she soon gets in over her head. Galigani serves as a charming mentor as Kate navigates the twists of motherhood and an uncomplicated but engaging plot. (Aug.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Review "[AN] ENTERTAINING NEW SLEUTH." -GILLIAN ROBERTS, AUTHOR OF THE AMANDA PEPPER SERIES "A charming, gutsy, wry character who will make you laugh so hard you'll forget the labor pains." -LOUISE URE, SHAMUS AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR Book Description: A body has been dredged from the San Francisco Bay. Kate Connelly, pregnant and ready to pop, has reason to fear it may be her long lost brother-in-law. Battling sleep deprivation, diaper blowouts and breastfeeding mishaps she muddles through her own investigation, Mommy style: To do: 1. Find Killer 2. Figure out hideous breast pump. 3. Avoid cranky cop. 4. Send out Make birth announcements – need pink paper. 5. FIND KILLER
Motherhood is Murder book cover
#2

Motherhood is Murder

2010

From the Bestselling Author of Bundle of Trouble A fun new installment to the Maternal Instincts Mystery Series Nights out are hard to come by for new parents. So when Kate’s new- mommy club, Roo & You, holds a dinner cruise, she and her husband leave baby Laurie with Kate’s mom and join the grown-ups for some fine dining on the San Francisco Bay. But when one of the cofounders of Roo & You takes a fatal spill down a staircase, the police department crashes the party. Suddenly every mom and her man has a motive. Kate’s on deck to solve the mystery- but a killer’s determined to make her rue the day she joined the first-time-mom’s club… To Do: 1. Buy diapers. 2. Make Laurie’s two-month check. 3. Find good “how to” book for PI business. 4. x Find dress for the cruise (done) 5. x Ask Mom to babysit (done) 6. Exercise.
Formula for Murder book cover
#3

Formula for Murder

2011

Sleuth and first-time mom Kate Connolly and her baby are the victims of a hit-and-run, but escape unharmed. A witness identifies the car's French diplomatic license plates, yet when Kate and her hubby try to get some answers, they get le cold shoulder . But there's something going on at the French consulate that's dirtier-and far deadlier-than any diaper.
Nursing A Grudge book cover
#4

Nursing A Grudge

2013

A laugh-out-loud page-turner Bringing up baby Sleep deprivation, diaper blowouts, and breastfeeding mishaps are status quo for new mom Kate Connolly. But when she decides to turn private investigator in order to work from home, her To-Do List expands exponentially: 1. Buy diapers. 2. Get back in shape. 3. Order lock pick set… Bringing down a killer Her friend Jill’s boyfriend falls to his death under questionable circumstances. Juggling mommy duties and unorthodox investigation techniques, Kate must determine whether the scathing review Jill wrote about a local restaurant is connected to his untimely death…and whether the killer might strike again. Investigation, Mommy-style Kate races to solve the case before Vicente Domingo, the new, sexy PI in town swoops in and saves the day. He’s drop-dead gorgeous, but she’d like to tell him to drop dead for poaching her last client. As bodies pile up faster than dirty diapers, can Kate uncover the truth about what happened to Jill’s boyfriend between nap times, diaper changes, and playdates? Or will Become A Bonafide P.I be the last entry she makes on her To-Do List? “An over the top, good-time cozy mystery. With a feisty heroine and with lots of humor, plenty of intrigue and suspense, and a little baby cooing, this novel is a delightful treat to read.” —Fresh Fiction “You’ll love keeping up with this amazing mother and sleuth in this fun, fast-paced series.” —Camille Minichino, author of the Miniature Mystery Series
Pampered to Death book cover
#5

Pampered to Death

2017

Girl time is hard to come by for new moms. So, when Kate's best friend, Paula, invites her to Spa Day, Kate jumps at the chance for break from diaper duty. But when a body is recovered from one of the saunas, it may prove that the guest was Pampered to Death! The killer has an agenda and it may include deadly face masks! Suddenly everyone has a motive and Kate must solve the mystery before the next victim falls prey to a ghastly seaweed wrap.
Killer Cravings book cover
#6

Killer Cravings

2018

A Humorous Cozy Mystery An over the top, good-time cozy mystery Bringing up baby—Bringing down a killer While staking out a cheating husband, Kate can't help but to indulge the cravings from her newest pregnancy. Little does she know the owner of the bakery has her eyes on Jim, Kate's beloved husband. Things turn deadly as Kate's cravings take over. It's up to Kate to keep her Family Life on track while solving another deadly whodunit!
A Deathly Rattle book cover
#7

A Deathly Rattle

2020

Private detective and new mom, Kate Connolly, is no stranger to solving crimes with a baby on her hip. But in just a few months, she’ll have three babies, and her to-do list has never been longer. When someone shoots rival PI Vicente Domingo, Kate jumps to take the case. Is the would-be murderer someone Vicente’s been investigating recently? Or does it have something to do with a shadowy secret from Vicente’s past? Can Kate crack the case before the would-be murderer comes back to finish the job—or before her mom decorates the twins’ new room in the world’s worst nursery theme while Kate’s not looking? Jump into the latest installment of the Maternal Instincts Mysteries, a laugh-out-loud, page-turning clean cozy mystery series by USA Today Bestselling Author Diana Orgain.
Rockabye Murder book cover
#8

Rockabye Murder

2021

There’s murder on the dance floor—literally. All Kate was supposed to do at this swing-dance lesson was master the triple step, which seemed like a breeze . . . when she wasn’t pregnant with twins. But now a dead body has lindy-hopped its way off the studio’s roof, clutching a cryptic note with a dire warning: if the studio goes ahead with the upcoming 1950s-themed benefit dance, one of the attendees will die on the dance floor. Kate’s got a case to solve and the clock is ticking, but her favorite babysitter is MIA. Can she solve the case before the killer strikes again? To do: 1. Help Mom’s boyfriend shop for engagement rings. 2. Learn how to do the Charleston without falling on my face. 3. Buy even more diapers. 4. Solve a murder—fast. Jitterbug into the eighth book of the Maternal Instincts Mysteries, a laugh-out-loud, page-turning clean cozy mystery series by USA Today Bestselling Author Diana Orgain.
Prams and Poison book cover
#9

Prams and Poison

2021

The only constant is . . . murder. When Kate’s best friend Paula is hired to renovate one of San Francisco’s famous Victorian-style “painted ladies,” it seems like the gig of a lifetime. But when a stiletto-brandishing tenant chases Kate and Paula off the front steps, it quickly becomes clear that finding the perfect paint swatches is going to be the easy part. And that’s before a skeleton in a Victorian-era gown tumbles out of the attic. Kate knows she has to take the case . . . but what’s she supposed to do with nine-month-old Laurie now that her main babysitter’s found a new job? Her mom hasn’t been much help since she’s started juggling a string of dates with two men—her boyfriend who wants to propose and an ex who’s back to sweep her off her feet. Can Kate solve her most complicated case yet between interviewing new nannies and overseeing her own convoluted garage-turned-nursery renovation? Or will all this change be the death of her blooming PI career? To do: 1. Find the perfect nanny. 2. Write a thank-you note to Mom’s ex-boyfriend. (Weird.) 3. Research electricians to make sure the next one won’t light the house on fire. 4. Crack the case. Dive into the ninth book of the Maternal Instincts Mysteries, a laugh-out-loud, page-turning clean cozy mystery series by USA Today Bestselling Author Diana Orgain.
Lethal Lullaby book cover
#10

Lethal Lullaby

2021

Hush, little baby, don’t say a word. Killer’s gonna find you in Alcatraz. Kate’s going to prison—Alcatraz, that is! When her brother, Andrew, comes to San Francisco on a business trip, Kate takes some time off sleuthing to hang out with her family and tour the city’s best sites. She thinks the hardest part will be playing nice with her Instagram influencer sister-in-law. But then Andrew’s work rival winds up dead—and Kate, nearly seven months pregnant with twins, is trapped on Alcatraz with the killer. The clock is ticking, and Kate’s to-do list is clear. 1.Escape Alcatraz. 2.Clear Andrew of murder. 3.Catch the real killer. 4.Find a restroom before the twins start playing kickball with her bladder. Will Kate solve the case before it’s too late? And can the family rally together to save Andrew once Kate’s estranged father reappears on the scene? Break out of ordinary life in the tenth book of the Maternal Instincts Mysteries, a laugh-out-loud, page-turning cozy mystery series by USA Today Bestselling Author, Diana Orgain.
Cereal Killer book cover
#11

Cereal Killer

2021

They say nothing compares to striking gold… well, that person was never pregnant with twins and launching a PI business! Join all the usual suspects in gold country as Kate and Vicente Domingo take a romp in his old town, Golden,…oh – and a dead body or two are sure to appear! Can Kate solve her most dangerous case before the killer strikes again?
Double Trouble book cover
#12

Double Trouble

2022

The only thing harder than solving a murder...giving birth to twins... Don't miss Kate's latest adventure and newest BUNDLES of Joy! To 1\. Buy diapers (double as many as I think necessary). 2\. Plan Laurie's one-year birthday party. 3\. Rest. 4\. Do NOT get involved in another mystery... 5\. Okay...solve said mystery before twins are born! Family life has never been so exciting, but after Kate launches her own female detective agency, she may just get more than she bargained for.
Murder Comes Crawling book cover
#13

Murder Comes Crawling

2023

Twins and a toddler might be more than new-mommy Kate Connolly bargained for, but when murder comes crawling there's no one better to keep the streets of San Francisco safe! Join Kate her charming mentor, loving husband, and eccentric mother as they bring down the bad guys and bring up the babies!

Author

Diana Orgain
Diana Orgain
Author · 27 books

Diana Orgain is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Maternal Instincts Mystery Series. She is also the Author of the Love or Money Mystery series and The Roundup Crew Mysteries (Yappy Hour and Trigger Yappy). Diana is the New York Times Bestselling co-author of the Scrapbooking Mystery Series with Laura Childs. Diana's latest release is 4 Sleuths and a Bachelorette, a fun collaboration with USA Today Bestselling Authors, Leslie Langtry, Traci Andrighetti, and Arlene Mcfarlane. Right now she's working on the next release in the Maternal Instincts Mystery, Murder Comes Crawling. To keep up to date with the latest releases visit Diana at www.dianaorgain.com Series: * Maternal Instincts Mystery

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