This is the first book I have read from this author and it was a wonderful read! It was full of wonderful characters and rich relationships. Delia, the main character lives in Maine and works for Maine's Child Services agency. Delia is ready to move on from this job and open a bakery with her sister. She has one last case, to place a child who was found wandering down the highway. Delia is moved to find out who this child belongs to and what has happened to her. The plot is full of twists which were fascinating and I found it hard to put down. Great book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I cannot recommend this book enough! You will eat it up.

The Tiger in the House followed Delia, a social services worker, who is winding up her last few weeks at work before opening up a bakery/cafe with her younger sister, Juniper or J Bird who were orphaned when they were 19 and 13. Their parents, including their schizophrenic father, died in a fire set, presumably by their dad.

Delia is a compassionate social services worker, caring deeply about the kids she oversees, not wanting any of them to fall through the crack. And that is why she is leaving. Working in the system is hard, seeing kids and their families is tough. After a while, it wears on you. Before she gets too complacent, Delia wants out and what better reason than opening a cafe with her sister Juniper.

Her last case is tough, little Hayley is lost and cannot tell them what she has seen or what she knows, even with the aid of a wonderful foster mom and her delightful cat. She was found covered in blood, 3 bodies left behind in a house not far from where was discovered. Who are they? What were they doing there? Where are Hayley's parents? It is hard to get kids to talk,especially when they are traumatized. Kids regress quickly and Delia and her company have to work carefully in order not to cause the girl more pain.

Helping her is a gorgeous detective Mike Moretti, her boss Ira, and Hayley's foster mom, Erica. If only all foster parents could be like Erica. Foster care would be not quite so bad a place for the thousands of kids that enter into it every year.

While everything with Hayley is going on, Delia's ex boyfriend from childhood, Tyler, has returned. He moved away shortly after the fire and Delia hasn't seen or heard from him since.

Moretti thinks the deaths are related to drugs, sending Delia off on an adventure that will forever change the lives of everyone she knows.

This book is wonderful! Foster care and social services gets a bad rap and this shows the good side of it. Of course there is a bad side but it is not easy work for anyone, the foster parents, the social workers, and especially the kids who have it the hardest of all.

I look forward to reading more of Sheehan's work! ( )

Unable to settle down and do a proper review, but will as soon as I am able.