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Bad guys, There's a soccer mom on your trail.With three kids, Sandra's life is a whirlwind of activity. Yet, sometimes she's a little bored.

When a referee drops dead during her son's soccer game, and a short man claiming to be an angel asks her to help investigate—suddenly, life's not such a routine.

The angel (is he really an angel?) tells her to go undercover as a soccer referee, which, of course, is ridiculous. She hasn't run anywhere since high school.

But Sandra will find out she is still capable of far more than she thought—with a little help from above.(This is the first book in the Wing and a Prayer Cozy Mystery Series.)

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2019

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Robin Merrill

63 books117 followers

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5 stars
157 (44%)
4 stars
113 (31%)
3 stars
65 (18%)
2 stars
15 (4%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Sheila Holmes.
Author 27 books58 followers
August 28, 2020
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!

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.)

I just loved it! I could read and not have to think hard, but just enjoy every single aspect of the telling.
I loved it so much, that I just purchased the second in the series and so far it's just as adorable!

Read it! Read it! You won't regret it!

Profile Image for Lise.
865 reviews
March 21, 2021
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.

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! :)



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.
Profile Image for Laurie.
390 reviews2 followers
January 17, 2021
Very cute.

This was a very cute book, with a clean, wholesome and engaging plot. I enjoyed it and will probably read the next one too.
Profile Image for Marianne Nichols.
355 reviews11 followers
June 7, 2021
Cute

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.
Profile Image for Priti.
35 reviews
September 23, 2021
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.

But I think it was just not my type.....
Half of the story I liked it but I found it boring from my personal view.

But you can give a try. I think you might like it 😊
Profile Image for Jonathon Robert Wright.
Author 4 books7 followers
February 4, 2023
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.
Profile Image for Erin Laramore.
729 reviews66 followers
July 3, 2020
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.
Profile Image for Lisa.
69 reviews
June 10, 2019
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.

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.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews45 followers
October 12, 2019
Absolutely brilliant! Loved it

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?
Wonderful characters that lend real emotion to the read and pull you into a story that will hold you until the end.
Profile Image for Roger.
4,774 reviews20 followers
Read
October 15, 2021
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 & never gotten around to reading it, my mistake. Outstanding Christian fiction, with well-written with characters & a plot you can buy into with unexpected twists & turns. Being a youth, high school & 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).
928 reviews6 followers
August 14, 2020
Wow! This is the first book by Robin that I've read, and it won't be the last! I was hooked from the first chapter, and had to keep reading to find out what would happen next! It was funny, it was sad, it made me laugh out loud! There were a few things I didn't see coming, and Nate made me want to hit him upside the head a couple of times! Sandra and Bob were a hoot at times, and Peter's a great kid! I love mysteries, suspense, so this was great for me!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
Profile Image for Nicki.
92 reviews
June 12, 2019
Someone has murdered a soccer ref but why? And who? Stay at home soccer mom, Sandra, was at the game, and finds herself with, a little divine intervention, sleuthing out the killer.

The book is a quick read. I found myself trying to follow the clues and figure out the who before the end. But, as with a good storyteller she kept me guessing. I found the characters likable, and well developed. The book is for a beach day, or a summer afternoon by the pool.
Profile Image for Michele Howell.
205 reviews
February 25, 2020
Enjoyed the humor in this cozy mystery

A soccer mom who heard a dying coaches last words in her son's soccer field takes her on a mission with "heavenly" Bob. He thinks it may be his fault and he needs to know if by him no paying better attention to his charge, had caused his death on that field. Together they are on a mission to find out who killed the coach! Lots of laughs along the way. It also touches on bullying of her son and how it makes him feel.
Profile Image for Readingwithnee.
107 reviews2 followers
September 10, 2020
I quite enjoyed this book, it's an entertaining mystery book about a housewife who went undercover as soccer referee with the help of an angel to investigate the mystery behind the sudden death of a referee in her son's soccer game. I loved the main character, Sandra, she was very thoughtful, brave, and loyal to her family. It was a happy ending, but things that happened during her undercover journey wasn't predictable.
Profile Image for Nicole.
2,629 reviews10 followers
June 23, 2021
Clean and wholesome murder mystery (?!) about a soccer mum who teams up with an angel in an attempt to solve the murder of a soccer referee. Firstly, I loved the idea of a Middle School sports angel. Secondly, I did not like her husband and was glad that she started to learn to stand up for herself. He took her and his family for granted, thinking too much of himself. Thirdly, I loved the religious overtone. It was gentle and quite sweet; definitely not preachy.
339 reviews2 followers
June 13, 2019
Good clean, mystery!

While there was a dead body, I still consider this a Christian cozy and it was a nice change but it wasn't over the top with the religion. No gore, sex, or rough language. The characters where believable and you could relate to them. I was kept guessing until the end! I would like to see where this series goes.

I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
Profile Image for Carol L. Caldwell.
Author 8 books8 followers
November 20, 2020
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.
Profile Image for Pam C..
241 reviews5 followers
August 14, 2021
From stay-at-home mom to Angel assisted sleuth. Fun to read, easy to like characters, and a very engaging storyline. Sandra, the lead character, is smart and relatable, and on a dangerous adventure. Can't wait to pick up the next book in the series! If you like good writing and clean storylines this one is for you. Definitely recommend.
747 reviews3 followers
September 8, 2023
I loved the light-hearted humor! The use of a stay at home mom juggling a full life getting mixed up in the middle of a murder and asked to help solve it by an angle that is invisible to everyone else was actually quite funny. I have to admit the invisible angel I thought was going to ruin the book, but it ended up being my favorite part.

recommended 👍
📚 📚📚📚
188 reviews
June 2, 2020
Quick read. Originally bought in large print to give to my mother and decided to read it first so we can discuss it after she has read it. Some Christian influence in this mystery. First book I've read from this author.
Profile Image for Marsha  Ronquist .
249 reviews4 followers
August 22, 2020
So much fun to read.

I do not usually read this type of story. I enjoyed it immensely. A little fantasy, a little mystery, a little humor and a lot of fun. Light and easy reading. Entertaining and relaxing. Sandra is a special soccer mom, wife and mother.
260 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2020
Amazing

I totally enjoyed this book. It was well written, had believable characters and the story moved right along. I loved the idea of Bob the angel making personal contact. Such a fun read and happy ending.
1,328 reviews8 followers
March 17, 2021
Really nice cozy

I enjoyed this easy going often humorous book with it’s true depiction of wifedom and motherhood. The lengths she goes to to help protect and support those around her is incredible and makes her husband notice her again. Really delightful.
255 reviews
July 25, 2021
Light story line for a quick read

It is a different writing style for mystery story, humorous, light and easy to read. It looks like the author is trying to cheer up the soccer Moms by inserting an angel. It worked.
230 reviews
December 17, 2021
A soccer mum meets an angel

What a great book. Lots of authors write about angels helping people out. Robin Merrill has the contented housewife helping the Angel out. The story includes her becoming a soccer ref, a kidnapping and assault with a toilet part.
359 reviews
January 15, 2022
Cute cozy mystery

This book by Robin Merrill has it all from babies to soccer moms to school principals to bullies and bad guys! It even includes an angel. It's humorous and captivating. You won't be sorry for spending a little of your time between the pages of this book!
May 29, 2022
Exciting and Funny.

A great read.
Very amusing and realistic about family life.
I recommend this book as it also involves no sex scenes and relies on the story and it’s characters.
Profile Image for Megan Childres.
59 reviews
July 8, 2022
Fun, fast paced mystery!

I’m always on the lookout for a good, clean mystery and The Whistle Blower is definitely one of those! It was fun and fast paced and had some great relatable characters! I can’t wait to read the rest of the Wing and a Prayer Mysteries!
367 reviews1 follower
February 4, 2020
Enjoyable cozy mystery with a Christian angle. Good for an escape from more serious literature without coming across any objectionable language or sexual references.
101 reviews2 followers
August 28, 2020
5

Very rarely do I give a five star, this book was all around good and leaves you feeling good. That to me is worth a five star rating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

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