About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Amateur private investigator and new dad Charlie Shaw gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to track down a young girl’s missing father in Rob Phillips’ award-winning debut.
Charlie Shaw is low on sleep. And cash. Otherwise, life is going pretty well for the ex-crime reporter: He’s happily married to his college sweetheart, he’s a first-time dad to the most adorable baby girl in existence, and he’s making ends meet as a rookie PI. But when Charlie meets Friday Finley, a frightened sixteen-year-old runaway on a stakeout-gone-wrong, his world gets a little more complicated.
Friday is looking for her estranged father Shawn, an unreliable alcoholic who left when she was young—and who also happens to be her only shot at avoiding the foster care system since her mother’s death a few weeks earlier. At first, Charlie believes the man is simply hiding out somewhere, avoiding his responsibilities as usual, but the more he investigates, the more unsettling—and dangerous—Shawn’s disappearance becomes. When his own family is threatened, Charlie realizes he’s in over his head, but can he back out now that he’s begun to care for Friday as his own?
A perfect blend of humor and high stakes, Stakeouts and Strollers is a heartwarming story of fatherhood, family, and what it really means to be a “Girl Dad.”
My Review
Charlie Shaw and his wife have a six-month-old baby. Their first child and they find that sleeping is the last thing they can expect to get for a long time. To make matters worse, he’s also low on money. He takes a job as a private investigator, but it’s all new to him since he's never done this before. Luckily, his new boss is very patient.
On his first case, things don’t go as well as planned. He runs into a teenage girl doing some surveillance of her own. Charlie learns she is looking for her alcoholic father. He’s the only family she has to prevent her from being put in the foster care system. Charlie is immediately drawn to her situation and wants to help. He’s not sure where the search for her father will lead, but he has to help this girl.
It turns into one dangerous situation after another. It’s a bumpy ride, but Charlie vows not to let the girl down.
This story has a nice mix of drama and comedy with a wonderful cast of characters. Each one is well-written and nicely developed.
Charlie being a new “girl dad”, driving around with a baby monitor, and being a brand new P.I. is unique. It’s a nice change from a typical cozy mystery being culinary, book or animal related. I love those sub-genres, but this was different. There is a bit more violence than your typical cozy mystery. I was intrigued right from the start.
The storyline is interesting and takes several twists and turns. I kept trying to figure out what was going on, but I kept guessing wrong. It’s a captivating mystery. It’s fast-paced and fun while being serious at the same time.
It would be great if this turns into a series. I’ll be there for the next book, if there is one.
For reading challenges:
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2026
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2026
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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