The Whistle Blower

Well... this is one of the cutest cozy mysteries I've read in I-don't=know-how-long. Frivolous, I suppose, but then I was totally up for frivolousness! <br /><br />The main character is a soccer mom who steps into a murder while being her typical soccer-mom self. And, with the help of an angel (Bob, if you can imagine!), she sets out to solve the murder. (The angel's real name is Binadab, but since everyone has trouble pronouncing it, he refers to himself as Bob.)<br /><br />I just loved it! I could read and not have to think hard, but just enjoy every single aspect of the telling.<br />I loved it so much, that I just purchased the second in the series and so far it's just as adorable!<br /><br />Read it! Read it! You won't regret it!<br /><br />

During her son's soccer game, one of the refs drops dead on the field. Sandra is close enough to hear his last words and this circumstance leads her into a jumble of investigation and reffing middle-school soccer.<br /><br />Many of the Goodreads reviewers deemed this story sweet and lighthearted - I felt the exact opposite! There was a fair amount of uncomfortable subtext and since my thoughts will be spoilers to someone who hasn't read the book, I'll cover them with the spoiler tag. To be clear, there's a serious SPOILER in my spoiler so be warned! :)<br /><br /><input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="b5f365ab-eb24-4ba0-bbd7-1cf0160b71fd" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="b5f365ab-eb24-4ba0-bbd7-1cf0160b71fd">Sandra is bored and unfulfilled in her life. Her husband is so emotionally unavailable that at first, I suspected he was having an affair. In a way, he is - he is so involved in his own life that it is as if he was having a little something clandestine with himself. When Sandra decides to take up a new interest, he immediately (and simultaneously) derides her desire, crushes her dreams and then takes it on himself to make it a reality. I fervently hope that his about-face at the end of the book (which was brought about by Sandra's near-death, no less) is a permanent change. Additionally, it really tugged at my heartstrings how genuinely weepy Sandra was and how gun-shy she was about standing up for herself. Again, that changes at the end of the book and again, touch wood, she will continue to do so as the series progresses.</label><br /><br />Two caveats, then: a religious theme runs through the story (I like it, but there may be "thems that don't" in the audience) and once you dig below the surface, it's not as fluffy as it appears.

<strong>Very cute. </strong><br /><br />This was a very cute book, with a clean, wholesome and engaging plot. I enjoyed it and will probably read the next one too.

<strong>Cute</strong><br /><br />First book I've read by this author. I enjoyed it. A fun story with a cute protagonist. A few chuckles and laughs. I'll definitely read some more in this series.

This story is about a soccer mom who encounters an angel and becomes a soccer ref in order to solve a murder. Sandra's life is very predictable until a soccer ref dies on the field and she's the first one to reach him. His cryptic last words send her sleuthing in spite of opposition from her family. Good story.<br /><br />But I think it was just not my type.....<br />Half of the story I liked it but I found it boring from my personal view.<br /><br />But you can give a try. I think you might like it ?

This is the second book that I have read by this author. I really enjoyed and was surprised by the ending of that first book. This book was almost as good if not better. What is even more surprising is how the author created a series from the main characters. I was amazed and the little details the author took to make the ending such a masterpiece. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In my opinion, it was a book anyone could enjoy especially if you like divine intervention and an unbelievable ending.

3.5 stars for this fun little cozy mystery. Sandra is bored with the day in/day out life of a mom and housewife, but gets more than she bargained for when she's the last person her son's soccer ref speaks to before he drops dead on the field. When she is later approached by an angel to help her figure out what happened to said ref on his watch, she enjoys some amateur sleuthing. As she gets close to the answers though, her own life is placed in danger. This book had a really fun premise and the story-line was rather enjoyable. While the characters lacked the depth I'm used to in my suspense novels, that is appropriate for a cozy mystery. And while Bob the angel seemed to be a bit of a bumbler, it did add some charm to the story. I enjoyed the side story about Sandra's son, Peter, and the pre-teen drama he was experiencing. And it showed that even church can be a place where bullies roam free. All in all, this was a quick and fun read - great for a summer weekend. Special thanks to the author for an e-copy of this book. I was not obligated to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Sandra is a bored housewife who wishes she had a little more something to look forward to in her life other than soccer games, spit up, and school meetings. Is that too much to ask? And then she happens to be the last person the ref at her son's soccer game speaks to before he dies right in front of her. Life is now suddenly a little more interesting - even if she doesn't really want it to be. Sandra is also pretty sure she may be losing her mind when Bob, the Lord's angel, shows up and convinces her to help him solve the murder. How can you say no to God? So Sandra dives into her new undercover assignment and learns that sometimes having someone supernatural on your side makes things a bit safer. <br /><br />I loved this book. It was a super fun "who-dun-it." Sandra was very likable (and relateable...says the housewife reading it) and I adored Bob, the angel. If you're looking for a fun beach read, this certainly fits the bill.

<strong>Absolutely brilliant! Loved it</strong><br /><br />What a great read by the author of Gertrude. Has vines of the Colleen Helme but is much more realistic and shows a real understanding of how bullying can affect you. Children (or adults) don't need platitudes, they need action to stop it! Wonderful to introduce an angel as her sleuthing partner. A great plot that revolves around a senior ref's death on a football field. An ordinary mum is enlisted by a middle school guardian angel to look into the death. Even though she's run ragged by her children, husband and commitments. Watch as an unfit ordinary female becomes a football ref and starts to unravel the mystery of the deaths she witnessed. Plus there is the side issue of her eldest being bullied at church. Can she solve the murder? Can she asked for a little device intervention to stop her son being bullied?<br />Wonderful characters that lend real emotion to the read and pull you into a story that will hold you until the end.

The Whistle Blower (Wing and a Prayer Mysteries #1), my twenty-first outstanding read from author Robin Merrill. I've had this book since June of 2019 &amp; never gotten around to reading it, my mistake. Outstanding Christian fiction, with well-written with characters &amp; a plot you can buy into with unexpected twists &amp; turns. Being a youth, high school &amp; college soccer official it was obvious that the author has experience as a soccer official, and the mystery is even better.“I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).