Author: Rob Phillips
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 336
Date of Publication: March 17, 2026
My Rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
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.”
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 THOUGHTS:
Charlie Shaw, a new dad juggling his role as an amateur private investigator, finds himself in a challenging situation. Like many new parents, he’s struggling with sleep deprivation and limited time. Despite these obstacles, Charlie’s responsibilities demand that he take on cases, even those with potential danger.
One of Charlie’s new cases takes on a personal significance. Friday Finley, a sixteen-year-old girl, is desperate to find her father after losing her mother. While she doesn’t anticipate a warm reunion, she recognizes that he’s the only living relative she has left. Either Friday finds her father or she’ll end up in the foster care system.
Maybe because he is the father of a six-month-old daughter, Charlie’s concern for Friday deepens. He hopes for a reunion between her and her father, hoping that he can turn his life around. However, danger lurks for both Charlie and Friday, and it becomes evident why they’re struggling to locate her father. Despite these challenges, Charlie remains determined to find Friday’s father.
What a delightful debut novel! All the protagonists, including Charlie’s long-suffering wife, were enjoyable. The story is excellent, with humor that keeps it light-hearted. I’ll definitely be reading more by Rob Phillips in the future.
Many thanks to Minotaur and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Rob grew up in the Dallas area, where he became an Emmy-winning sportswriter covering the Dallas Cowboys for print, radio and television. Rob and his wife are proud parents to a spunky senior King Charles spaniel and a lively young daughter who’s still waiting for her first stakeout.
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