With the help of retired detective Al Hockey, Juliet has become a PI and works part-time, usually with infant Sadie in tow, and is still finished in time to drive the carpool (though the fines from picking Ruby up late from school are starting to add up). Al’s wife keeps a close eye on the financial end of her husband’s enterprise and Juliet knows when transsexual Heavenly walks into the office that she shouldn’t have offered Heavenly a sliding scale to help find who murdered her sister Violetta. But Violetta was a big help to Juliet in the past and Juliet has a soft spot for her.

The police department has pretty much written off Violetta’s death as another drug-addicted, black prostitute killed by a pimp or a John, but Juliet learns that there has been a string of similar murders and convinces Al they should interview the hookers and even stakeout the area one night. When the person who most likely committed the crimes is found, Juliet is hopeful, but then she learns that Violetta was not killed by the same person. She goes back to the drawing board, starting with those nearest and dearest to try and find who would kill a young woman desperately trying to regain control of her life.

Juliet Applebaum is a no-nonsense type of mom who keeps her sense of humor about her, whether it is on a stakeout or while bathing her children. She is very tolerant of her screenwriting husband who often works until dawn and sleeps much of the day away, and has worked with him to create a lifestyle that suits them both and provides a healthy atmosphere in which their children can grow up. Juliet puts her heart into this investigation and is very saddened where it leads. While the police were willing to write off Violetta’s death, Juliet feels everyone deserves an answer. Her investigative style is straight forth, the way she lives her life.

Bye-Bye, Black Sheep is quick read that has the trappings of a cozy mystery, but with an investigation through a grittier side of LA. Waldman’s seventh Mommy-Track mystery will satisfy old fans and win new ones.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry