Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Believer by Annie Mare, Ruthie Knox Narrator: Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
Series: Prairie Nightingale #3
Published by Brilliance Audio on September 8, 2026
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 319
Length: 9 hours, 36 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eBook
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
Prairie Nightingale, PI, has it all: great kids, a private detective agency run by brilliant women, and maybe a handsome FBI situationship. When her daughter’s best friend asks her to look into a bitter family estrangement, Prairie is reluctant to take on a case that requires even more life/work balance than she’s already attempting—especially with her parents visiting from out of town. But when everyone she talks to takes her deeper into a labyrinth of lies, control, and secrets, she and her team begin to untangle the history of a couple with a knack for gathering fervent followers … and collecting criminal charges.
The existence of a cult is difficult to prove, and this one’s members are less than forthcoming, requiring Prairie and her fellow agents to deploy all of their available tricks and talents. Joyce is uncovering shady history and false identities, Emma’s partnered with ex-members to appeal to her podcast audience, and Prairie and Foster find themselves following the money and working undercover. Even Prairie’s parents chip in: as residents of an Oregon commune, they know the ins and outs of high-control groups. And, to Prairie’s horror, her daughters sneak in a spy mission of their own.
The Prairie Nightingale series is a collaboration between two of my favorite authors.  It’s a new mystery series about a professional homemaker turning into a private investigator. I absolutely LOVE it. Prairie is a divorced mother of two girls.  She co-parents with her ex Greg. He is successful and not a bad guy, just one who really didn’t pay attention to Prairie, other than as his personal attendant. His mother Joyce, lives with Prairie and helps with the girls. I would read these in order for the character and romance developments.
The firm has had several big successful cases and they don’t want to do the chase cheating spouses type work. But the things that do interest them are not always profitable and they do need to make some money. Case in point, Prairie’s daughter Anabel’s friend Kai comes to try to hire her. Kai’s cousin Brittany started working at a coffee shop and then went to a new church, and then disappeared. Kai wants to hire them. They can pay $50 a week since they are starting a job at Starbucks.
Prairie goes to the coffee shop with her visiting parents and whoa, is it creepy. The team doesn’t think it’s worthwhile but her father says something and they decide to take a look. Off it goes then. Kai’s parents and Brittany’s parents also want to get in on paying so that works out.
Then one of their cold cases they do also takes off about another missing girl and those parents are thrilled to hire them since the police didn’t even look at it. The coffee shops lead to churches and it just gets weirder. Her daughter decides to help by taking a music lesson from the church’s music director and scare Prairie to death. It turns out to be great information they add to the connected cases.
One of the church men is sitting outside the school trying to recruit teens. After all cults love teen girls. Prairie and the other moms at school are fighting that. One of the cult guys follows Prairie and it has gotten unsafe.
Foster has been gone traveling a bit and finally arrives home. They want to spend time together but the case keeps getting in the way. They do finally do and Foster plays roles undercover with her which are scary and funny. They make some progress with their relationship.
There are other family developments with the girls. After seeing the teen runaways and rebellions in her cases, Prairie talks to Anabel about what she wants to do which is great.  Greg is making some changes. Maelynn is her hilarious honest self.
I always think somehow I will find this series silly but I never do. I love the character diversity and how unique they are as individuals. These are also people who care about others and go through ordinary human troubles and decisions. The cases are bigger than expected but luckily they have widespread contacts, and good ones like Foster. My understanding is there are more books written and I’m here for them.
Narration:
The narrator is new to me, although she does also narrate the sapphic romances these authors have written (I read the ebooks for those.) I was very comfortable with her voices and the differences for the age and gender felt appropriate. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed for this one.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Annie Mare
Annie Mare (she/they) writes queer contemporary mystery and romance. If you enjoy their books, check out the books they co-author with Ruthie Knox, including both queer romances (as Mae Marvel) and mysteries (as Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare). Annie’s romances have been critically recognized and bestselling. Annie lives with her wife, two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, one cat, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
Also published as Mary Ann Rivers.
About Ruthie Knox
New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox writes contemporary romance that’s sexy, witty, and angsty—sometimes all three at once. After training to be a British historian, she became an academic editor instead. Then she got really deeply into knitting, as one does, followed by motherhood and romance novel writing.
Her debut novel, Ride with Me, is probably the only existing cross-country bicycling love story. She followed it up with About Last Night, a London-set romance whose hero has the unlikely name of Neville, and then Room at the Inn, a Christmas novella—both of which were finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. Her four-book series about the Clark family of Camelot, Ohio, has won accolades for its fresh, funny portrayal of small-town Midwestern life.
Ruthie moonlights as a mother and bakes a mean focaccia. She writes both mystery and romance, usually with co-author Annie Mare. You can find Ruthie’s books under the pen names Ruthie Knox (mystery and het romance), Mae Marvel  (queer romance), and Robin York (New Adult romance). Ruthie and Annie are married and live with two teenagers, two dogs, multiple fish, two glorious cats, four hermit crabs, and a bazillion plants in a very old house with a garden.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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- 🎧 Believer by Ruthie Knox, Annie Mare @ruthieknox.bsky.social @anniemare.bsky.social #MiaHutchinson-Shaw#BrillianceAudio #7thFloorBooks #LoveAudiobooks #KindleUnlimited🎧 - September 1, 2026
- 2026 Autumn Semester Library Love Review Link Up + Giveaway @angelsbooknook17.bsky.social @booksofmyheart.net #LibraryLoveChallenge #Giveaway #LibraryLove #LibrariesRock - September 1, 2026
- Sunday Series:Rizzoli & Isles series by Tess Gerritsen @tessgerritsen.bsky.social @tanyaeby.bsky.social #DeirdreLovejoy @penguinaudio.bsky.social#BrillianceAudio #LoveAudiobooks #SundaySeries - August 30, 2026
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER
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