BookOpinion

BOOKOPINION REVIEW: Ayelet Waldman’s heroine in “The Cradle Robbers,” Juliet Applebaum, is a clever cross between Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone and Joanne Fluke’s likeable character, Hannah Swensen. An ex-criminal defense attorney and now a stay-at-home mom, Juliet has just embarked on a new career with colleague Al Hockey, a retired ex-cop. Completing this cast of intriguing characters is Peter, Juliet’s screenwriter husband, who expertly juggles cooking and child care with a flair that causes every wife’s mouth to water.

In this episode, Juliet is hired by Sandra Lorgeree to track down the lost son that she was forced to relinquish to foster care when she was sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking. But to Juliet’s surprise, she is touched by Sandra’s vulnerability and desperation and determines to find little Noah and restore him to the loving care of Sandra’s aunt or cousin. Before Juliet can do more than make a few cursory phone calls, she receives the unwelcome news that Sandra has been murdered, knifed by another inmate.

Appalled by this development, Juliet is fiercely determined to hunt down this baby and the killer of Sandra, as well. Her investigation takes her into the horrors of prison life for women who give birth while incarcerated as well as the mysterious “Lambs of God” organization that place their newborns into foster care of couples that quietly disappear into thin air.

What happened to little Noah? Will Juliet’s persistence produce the father of this baby? And will he even want to claim his own child?

“The Cradle Robbers” is an even paced, well written novel with characters that are likeable, quirky and, at times, hilarious. I found no flaws in this book and highly recommend “The Cradle Robbers” as a must read for anyone who loves a well thought out mystery. Juliet Applebaum is everyone’s sister or best friend, and you will easily identify with her insecurities and foibles.

But, “The Cradle Robbers” is the latest issue in the Mommy-Track mysteries. I highly recommend that you begin your journey with Juliet by reading “Nursery Crimes,” the first installment in this delightful series and continue with the stories in the correct sequence. You will find a great deal of information in the previous books that will give you a better understanding of Ayelet Waldman’s unique characters.

I really loved these books…not earthshaking, perhaps, but not fluff either. Ayelet Waldman pens a good story with a fascinating plot and beautifully rounded characters. I think you will enjoy them as much as I did.

– Elizabeth Channery