Dead Ball — Judith Arnold

"She's got to solve this murder. The soccer team's schedule depends on it. So, who pulled the trigger of the nail gun that killed construction tycoon Arthur Cavanagh? His widow, who'd sworn to kill him if he ever cheated on her? His hostile teenage son, who felt neglected by his father? His foreman, who'd regularly fought with his boss? The angry environmentalists, protesting his latest development? Or the blond mystery woman who'd been seen with him the night of his death? Lainie Lovett needs to find the culprit before the bumbling local police charge her with the murder. They're determined to pin it on her after she was caught snooping around the crime scene. All she wanted was information on behalf of the victim's wife, her friend Patty. After all, getting Patty off the suspect list was a friend's duty -- not to mention that if Patty were charged, the Colonielles might lose her for an entire season. Lainie has three passions in life: her nearly-adult children, her job as a fourth grade teacher in the very rich and very historic Massachusetts town of Rockford, and the Colonielles, her team in the Under-Fifty Women's Soccer League. Before she can call, “Penalty!” Lainie is up to her shin guards in trouble. Charged as an accessory to murder, Lainie is suspended from her job. She needs to clear her name, reclaim her classroom, and figure out whether she's ready to start dating again, especially when the object of her affection -- sexy foreman, Bill Slavik -- may have set her up to take the fall for Cavanagh's murder. "