Nursery Crimes, the first installment in Ayelet Waldman's delightful new mystery series, introduces readers to Juliet Applebaum, a public defender turned stay-at-home mom. Juliet shares parenting duties with her screenwriter husband, but she's bored with playdates and trips to the park. That is, until she finds a way to spice up motherhood--with murder...

Getting accepted at Hollywood's hottest preschool is every bit as cutthroat as getting cast in a Hollywood film. Even Juliet's own two-year-old, Ruby, got butted out of the Billy-goat room. But when the school's principal is killed in a hit-and-run accident, Juliet wonders if someone is taking the competition too seriously. And even though she's eight months pregnant, with a toddler by her side, Juliet Applebaum decides to get off the mommy track--to track down a would-be killer.

Reviews

"Delightful...filled with quirky, engaging characters, sharp wit, and vivid prose. I predict a successful future for this unique, highly likable sleuth."
-- Judith Kelman, author of After the Fall

"A funny, clever, touching, original, wacky and wildly successful debut."
-- Carolyn G. Hart, author of April Fool Dead