Kelly Pruett sits down for a Q&A with dru’s book musings responding to twenty or more questions so that we can learn more about her. Are you ready? Let’s get to know Kelly.
What is your full name?
Kelly Pruett
How old are you?
31
What is your profession?
Private Investigator
Do you have a significant other?
Yes. I mean, we haven’t really solidified anything yet—like a full drawer of his clothes at my house, or his toothbrush hanging next to mine—but I think he’s quite significant. And he has me definitely thinking about those things.
What is their name and profession?
His name is Kyle Jaeger, and he’s a cop with the Portland Police Department.
Do you have any children?
Oh, I do. I have one daughter and her name is Mitz. She’s nine and was born deaf, a result of Waardenburg syndrome.
Do you have any siblings?
Sort of. . . Half counts, right?
Are your parents nearby?
No. I lost my mom when I was 14, and my father died a couple of years ago. But my ex-mother-in-law has been a mother figure to me through the years, even though we are constantly working through some issues.
Who is your best friend?
I’m in between besties at the moment. The woman who I thought was my best friend slept with my husband, now ex, and trust issues have been a thing since.
Do you have any pets?
Floyd, my basset hound. Except during the heat of summer, he comes with me on my investigations. And in this latest case I’m handling, he actually puts his nose to the test and helps me come up with some clues. Come to think of it, he is my best friend.
What town do you live in?
Portland, Oregon, although it’s often referred to as Stumptown or Rose City.
Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Portland has well over a million, so I’d put it in the bigger category.
Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I live in my childhood home which I inherited from my dad when he passed away.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
The kitchen. Not because I cook because believe me, I only do that when Mitz is visiting and not well even then. But because a lot of great conversations happen there, and it’s where Kyle cooks. My ex-mother-in-law has put together some incredible meals there too.
Favorite meal and dessert?
Lasagna is Kyle’s specialty, although any of his Italian dishes are good. As for dessert, I’m Team peanut butter all the way, so anything combining that with chocolate, will make my day.
Do you have any hobbies?
Does solving cases count? Because that’s what I love to do the most.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
The beach. Mitz loves collecting shells and Floyd loves chasing seagulls. When they’re happy, I’m happy.
What music do you listen to?
Country music.
Do you have a favorite book?
Sue Grafton’s books featuring her PI Kinsey Milhone are my favorite. I mean, I want to be as good as my dad as a PI, but Kinsey is smart, resourceful and kick ass. I could read that series all day long—well, when I’m not solving my own cases of course!
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Curled up on the couch with Mitz watching a movie of her choice. Floyd at our feet. And popcorn. Lots of popcorn.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Resilient. Because that’s what I’ve had to be with all the changes in my life from divorcing my childhood sweetheart, to raising my daughter, and taking over my father’s PI agency and attempting to be half the investigator he was.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Definitely professional, and I have the Oregon private investigator’s license to prove it. As for who I work with—well, I generally work alone, but I do rely on the knowledge of people in key places. Of course my path has crossed with different law enforcement agencies throughout my investigations. In fact, in my current case, Detective Kuni of Riverview, Washington and I will be having more than a few conversations. And I do count on my police officer boyfriend, Kyle, to offer up some insight and advice as well.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
The best part of being a PI is there’s no such thing as a typical day. During the work week, the only givens are getting up and making sure Floyd is taken care of. Aside from that, my day can begin with me doling out some trial subpoenas to a witness and end with me on a stakeout. If I’m lucky, I’ll nab a case in between and then I’m off and running.
What is a typical day when you are on a case?
Because each case can be so different, there’s no real routine there either. But I can tell you this: it’s all about following the clues. I start out asking a few questions, and see where it leads me. Then I hope that it doesn’t get me into trouble. Thankfully, I’m a fast learner. So I’m constantly adjusting and working the angles to be the best private investigator I can be. And that’s important because my daughter is watching and I want to be a good role model. I also have my father’s shoes to fill—and I aim to fill them.
Denied, A Kelly Pruett Mystery #2
Genre: Private Investigator
Release: May 2021
Purchase Link
A high-risk pregnancy. A dangerous secret. When her case turns deadly, can this investigator avoid racking up a fatal debt?
Despite her injuries, PI Kelly Pruett is eager to get back to work. So when a mommy-to-be hires her to locate her estranged dad, Kelly is thankful for the straightforward missing-persons case. But as she rummages through his trash in search of clues, she uncovers gambling debts to gangsters. . . and a blood-soaked severed finger.
With her investigation no longer cut-and-dried, Kelly’s hunt takes a deadly turn when her quarry is found driven off a cliff to his doom. And she’ll need more than her cop boyfriend’s help to expose the truth when the mob sends her a cease-and-desist notice with an explosive ending.
Can the determined detective take on the mafia and make it out alive?
About the author
Mary Keliikoa is the author of the Lefty and Agatha award nominated PI Kelly Pruett mystery series and the upcoming Misty Pines mystery series featuring Sheriff Jax Turner slated for release in September 2022. Her short stories have appeared in Woman’s World and in the anthology Peace, Love and Crime: Crime Fiction Inspired by Music of the ‘60s. A Pacific NW native, she spent a part of her life working around lawyers. Combining her love of legal and books, she creates a twisting mystery where justice prevails.
When not in Washington, you can find Mary on the beach in Hawaii where she and her husband recharge. But even under the palm trees and blazing sun, she’s plotting her next murder—novel that is.
All comments are welcomed.
Thanks Kelly for sitting down with dru’s book musings.
Thank you so much, Dru! Kelly and I love being here!!